Here's the second original from Sarah Solovay, a live performance of her song Gone that could really use a few more views!
We were recently tipped-off to Sarah Solovay, an up and coming performer from New York, a 17 yeard old singer-songwriter who has already met with some great success, including opening for John Mayer and a featured song on the U.S. show 90210. Here is the first of two of her original songs we'll be featuring today.
Not just a great cover artist, a great original talent as well!
And here's the second feature from Danna Richards, Day number 123, the original, Blind Man's Paradise.
Totally talented, both in vocal talent and songwriting...
If you're following us here, you'll recognize this entrant for sure. Here' is Nicole's entry for part III of the Kina Grannis co-write project. By now you can really hear the song taking shape!
If you're interested in seeing some samples of the work that went into the Kina Grannis co-write project, check out this video, and the next to come this afternoon. This one was George Azzi's talented entry into the contest.
Not to take anything away from the fantastic covers we've been finding on YouTube, but it is refreshing to hear good originals, too, like this original song with a message from David James Martinez.
Category : The Videos
AJ Rafael delivers a new original song, all his own and his own sound. Have a listen to this song, inspired by the movie (500) Days of Summer.
Category : Articles
One of the most important pieces of advice young singers and beginning musicians get is very simple: Don’t give up. You may hear this from close friends, family members and a few loyal fans but even then you wonder of the challenge of music success is worth all the trouble.
If you are learning songs or writing songs and hoping for chances to sing them to an audience, chances are you have experienced times of being “up” as well as “down.” Sometimes you can’t wait to talk and laugh with others. At other times you are just wishing you could avoid all contact with people. These changes can be a challenge but they may provide you with all the material you need to make music.
No matter what you use as “ingredients” for your new song you may discover that one of the major challenges in music is creating songs and performing for people who tend to “seek the lowest common denominator,” in the words of one university music professor. It may be hard to keep reminding yourself that when you bare your soul and sing about your deepest emotions the listening public might not seem to be all that interested.
That’s just the reality of the world we live in, a world of mass entertainment in which music and video are available all the time. We have television and the Internet sending us video and audio constantly. The choices are often decided by large companies who seem to dictate what will be popular. If our music doesn’t seem to be the public’s “choice” at the moment, it may be difficult to keep going.
It’s important not to give up when faced with these challenges because music has always been the universal language. It still is! If your melody is good and you are sincere when you sing or play, people from the other side of the planet can enjoy and benefit from hearing you, even if they don’t understand the lyrics. Remember that even the great folk, jazz and classical music of the past seems to be buried in a hurricane of “average” music at times. But it was still created and performed by passionate musicians and singers.
The true challenge of music is continuing to believe and create when high standards are constantly under attack. If you believe in what you are writing and singing, you must continue to stand for what you know is right. How can this be done? Part of the answer lies in technology. Songwriters, singers and musicians can record and distribute their creations without waiting for an international entertainment corporation to open doors for them.
Young artists, musicians, singers and writers have to continue creating intensely personal work so that future generations will have real choices. Remember that university professor we mentioned earlier? He has challenged young performers by stating that these new artists must find the correct path in a jungle of sound. That’s why we should never give up!
Category : The Videos
Here is a refreshing original from Maribelle Anes, a surprisingly strong young talent who is sure to go places with her strong voice, songwriting skills, and playing to top it off.
Really an impressive original by Justin Taylor. Great sound, great voice, check it out and follow the links to more from Justin on Amazon, iTunes, and YouTube.
Ellen Chang broadcasts all her talents in this video - her singing, songwriting, and acoustic talents, as well as a fair amount of video editing and compilation talents, too. A very nice original song by Ellen that will bring a smile to your face.
Category : Articles
It may seem that learning a song or writing your own song, then making a video is enough to get you started. But what you have done is started promoting your music. There are some other important steps in this process. We should look at them as the best tips for selling your music.
First of all, these steps should be taken in the right order. If you leave out an important step or two, or rush to the end of the list, you might find yourself to be a struggling young musician rather than a successful independent performer.
Make sure you have good music to offer. Practice and fine tune your performance so that you give listeners and video viewers something of real value. If you want to be known by your own name, settle on that and don’t change it during the growing period. When it comes to name recognition, give them something they can rely on.
Focus your efforts on develop contacts – a network – rather than trying to get signed by some major corporation. Connect with local fans, people who might need musicians and singers to fill time etc. Put up a Web site, even if it is very simple. A lot of music connections are made online these days. If you want lists of pro connections to get you started – A&R, Record Producers etc try this link.
Work with your listeners, your family and your close friends. Remember that one of the most important tips for hopeful singers and musicians is this: include others in your efforts. Let them help with promotion, the Web site and so on. Have a recording – CD, video or both – available as soon as possible. Even if you are playing in a local community center for little or nothing in the way of pay, have something the audience members can take home.
At this point you should probably think about where you fit in with other types of music. What is your niche? This can help you get attention from a loyal following. As you are promoting your music, don’t rely on what you have already done or what you did in the past. Make new music. Learn new songs. Keep it fresh!
One of the great rock musicians of the classic era (1960s and 1970s) said that when you start out you should play for anyone who will listen. Go out into the world and play some live gigs. Get experience. This will give you the best opportunities for mixing with your potential fan base. You will also be able to sell CDs and give away business information like flyers and cards with your information.
As you begin to promote music, always keep this essential thought in mind: A very small number of singers and musicians “make it” with a huge recording contract. The vast majority of musicians and singers make their way in the world of music with self-promotion, direct contact with fans and even with assistance from loyal, hard-working members of the fan base. Promoting your music is the key to success.
Our best recommendation to take the effort out of this if you want to know more is John Oszajca’s Music Marketing Manifesto.
If you're looking for something original with a great beat and a great sound, from a band that knows how to put some effort into their work, this is a video to see (more than your average YouTube vid, we might add). Check out this original song by Call 2 Consciousness and you'll surely be looking for more from them, too.
We all know one of these (drama queens, that is) and here's a song to finally pay tribute to them. As Mark says, it's a simple song with a good, simple sound. To me it recalls something of a Motown feel, watch it and see if you agree!
Category : The Videos
Two long-time friends came back together on their oldie-but-goody original, and remixed this new version of their own original. It's got quite a professional sound to this semi-mellow tune. Nice to see these guys breathe some new life into some older work!
Category : The Videos
Here's a great original by a band with excellent sound, and obvious songwriting talent. Excellent vocals, a strong leading voice, and instrumental talent as well (love the addition of the harmonica), you'll enjoy this acoustic version of their song from their debut album, "Writing on Rooves".
Category : Music News!
Rocky Dawuni walks the talk. Fist held high and dreadlocks flowing, the Ghanaian reggae artist is a rebel among rebels, tackling serious social issues with uplifting ballads and reggae rockers. All while working to challenge everything from infectious diseases to clean water to poverty across the rural communities of his homeland.
On Hymns for the Rebel Soul, Dawuni’s infectious, groove-driven music refuses to play by the rules. He sings about the struggles against corruption, war, and despair, drawing on his own experiences while melding bluesy Motown horn lines with Afro-beat grooves and Arabic percussion. Add highlife afro-pop guitar mingled with polyrhythms and Scandinavian melodies and Dawuni re-imagines a fearlessly global, one-love reggae with contemporary African ingenuity.
Let’s rewind a few decades to where Dawuni’s instinct to innovate emerged in the middle of an army camp under a military government. Under a dimly lit African sky, Bob Marley’s iconic “Uprising” album blares from P.A. speakers at an outdoor bar crowded with soldiers; a little boy takes note of the politically charged lyrics and a rebel is born.
As music entwined with his passion for speaking truth to questionable power, he “went pro,” he says, as a young psychology student at the University of Ghana. “My first band was an accident,” he laughs. “In my first year, I met these four guys who were students there and musicians. Everyone was saying, ‘Why are we in the University if we want to be musicians? Why don’t we form a band?’” And the seeds were planted.
In the late 1990s he took the plunge, and soon Dawuni found himself traveling the world – ultimately releasing multiple CDs and working with musicians like Bono and Stevie Wonder, as well as providing music for U.S. television shows including Weeds, ER and Dexter.
Dawuni has always attempted to compose music that reflected what he calls “global consciousness,” a sense of shared destiny that transcends nationality. Hymns distills this vision, juxtaposing sonic influences from his many recent journeys. “Jerusalem” was written and recorded in Tel Aviv. Over a lilting guitar-based groove that uses a Middle Eastern harmonic sense, an Arabic dumbek rhythm punctuates Dawuni’s lyrics; he speaks of the historic significance of Israel, as well as its impact on his own spirituality.
“Take it Slow (Love Love Love)” was conceptualized and composed during his tour with a group of Finnish pop stars. Incorporating Scandinavian sensibilities, the song features thick vocal harmonies and an unexpected touch for a reggae track: a Finnish folk flute.
Despite Dawuni’s jet-setting and genre-bending ways, his songs speak powerfully to local issues in Ghana. Dawuni aims to change minds about everything from educating young women to accepting people living with HIV, using both pop and traditional music to critique and to inspire.
“First, I am Ghanaian,” Dawuni explains. “I harness local elements into a whole organic form, while the arrangements overall use a contemporary global palette.” While “Walls Tumblin’ Down” is a nod to the old palm-wine acoustic guitar style, the root of highlife music in Ghana, his voice floats over a lush layer of strings and bluesy background vocals.
While singing about the struggles of the everyman, Dawuni “walks the talk.” Many reggae musicians spread the good vibes of peace and love through their music, yet few put their money and time towards real efforts on the ground. Dawuni’s intention has always been to use his music as a primary tool for social change. “I have always used my concerts as a platform to engage social issues,” he says, “and not only as a spokesperson. I personally organize local musicians to work with communities and help them find sustainable solutions to problems on the ground.”
In addition to working with celebrities like Elle MacPherson on behalf of African causes, Dawuni has joined with UNICEF, the Carter Center, and Product (RED) to make a lasting push to stem poverty and quell the spread of HIV/AIDS. “I met some people living with HIV in Ghana,” he recalls, “and they told me that my involvement has gone a long way in helping to reduce stigmatization, encouraging more compassionate responses to the disease. They said they could feel a sea change. This just confirmed my commitment.”
And Hymns for the Rebel Soul will keep all who listen, thinking and grooving.
Category : The Videos
A nice start for this original song by Rafe, who's already receiving lots of suggestions to make it even better. A simple song with heart with lots of possibility (Rafe is also offering tutorials on his main site page for those who want to cover his original song).
Category : Music News!
Parked next door to a sandwich truck sits a hand-built, mule drawn “Gypsy wagon,” like an apparition from a bygone era, in the driveway of a contemporary hillside home in Hollywood, California.
Belonging to Fishtank Ensemble, it embodies the wild and wooly journeys of the band’s eclectic and eccentric members—vocalist Ursula Knudson, violinist Fabrice Martinez, guitarist Doug “Douje” Smolens, and bassist Djordje Stijepovic—who share a vibrant passion for unbridled creativity and music with Roma roots. The quartet with a quirky name blazes new musical trails on their new album, Woman In Sin due out May 11, 2010.
“We all met at a performance space called the Fishtank,” explains Knudson, who often finds herself explaining the group’s unusual moniker. “It had lots of windows, so passers-by could peer in on the activities inside like a fish bowl.” The budding ensemble then spent the weekend learning an entire repertoire of Romanian folk music. They quickly got a local gig, when someone asked the name of the band. Caught off guard, Knudson recalls, “I just blurted Fishtank. It doesn’t fit, and I actually like that.”
Their gallop across traditional and original sonic landscapes began in Europe, with serendipitous inspirations, irresistible urges, and love at first sight. It stretches from the echoing caves of Granada to the bombing of Serbia, from rollicking Venice to brooding Transylvania. “We were all guided by unseen forces and random acts of fate,” Knudson reflects.
As a teenager and promising musician, Martinez hitchhiked to Istanbul, collecting a treasure trove of instruments along the way. As jeeps with armed men patrolled the city, Martinez played illegally on the streets to collect enough money to fly back with all his instruments. “One day out of the blue I heard this music near a theatre,” recalls Martinez. “It was just one old guy playing violin and singing in an alley. Nothing more, and I loved it!” Inspired, Martinez returned home to Paris and immediately sold all his instruments, leaving him only with a violin that had been in his family for years. “I wasn’t interested in other music anymore, just the violin,” he says. “I resurrected this long-neglected family heirloom.” His fiddle led him to learn from some of the finest Roma players in Europe.
Smolens also found himself pursuing a passion he couldn’t deny and tracing a Roma route of his own, thanks to some flamenco recordings he just couldn’t get out of his head. He had grown up in the L.A. rock scene, playing drums and hanging out with Billy Idol and Slash of Guns ‘n’ Roses, and had no intention of picking up a new instrument. “I tried to resist for years,” Smolens laughs, “but in the end, I had to learn to play flamenco guitar. It grabbed a hold of my heart.” This unexpected calling led Smolens to the heartland of flamenco—learning from Gitano flamenco masters in the caves of Granada, Spain—and inescapably shaped his musical future.
Passion struck opera-trained American Ursula Knudson as she stood in a mass of masqueraded partiers at Venice’s notoriously decadent carnival one year. “Everyone was just staring at each other. After becoming bored with this scene, I went to a casino where Vinicio Capossela was playing,” recalls Knudson. From across the crowded room, as if by fate, her eyes met with those of a stranger: Martinez, who was playing with Capossela at the time. “He came up to me and we began talking about music,” she continues. Despite having respective fiancés, a year and a half later the two were married. Guided by hidden forces, they soon began their romantic wagon wanderings through Transylvania, and eventually wound up in Oakland, where they teamed up with Smolens.
These traveling troubadours soon picked up exceptional Serbian bassist Djordje Stijepovic, who literally wrote the book on upright slap bass and has lent his trademark slapping style to some of the best rockabilly, Gypsy, bluegrass, and blues acts around the world. Growing up in Serbia, he got his hands on recordings by Elvis and the Stray Cats despite bombs, sanctions, and political upheaval. His masterful bass playing won him gigs with local Romany stars in smoky bars and coffeehouses from the tender age of 13, where the unique pulse and flash of the Balkans became second nature to the omnivorous musician. After moving to US he fulfilled his rock'n'roll dreams playing in a band with Lemmy from Motorhead and Slim Jim Phantom from the Stray Cats.
All these diverse roads led to California, where Fishtank Ensemble became an egalitarian society of like-minded musical overflowing with talent that lend to its rich and varied sound. As this wandering caravan forges new musical trails, each member contributes their own aesthetics and experiences to the collaborative creative process. “I like to start songs,” Smolens notes, “but I really love when the band helps finish them. We all end up shaping them and creating something unexpected.”
Woman in Sin teams with a polyglot array of personally-felt folk influences channeled into vivid original songs like the sexy title track, written by Smolens with extensive input from the group to showcase Knudson’s striking looks and torch-singing persona. Providing a solidly swingin’ foundation for the band, Stijepovic’s bass is virtuosic, upbeat, and sensual by turns, especially in a sultry duet with Knudson, the jazz standard “Fever.”
On “Cou Cou,” Smolens and Knudson mix French and English in a playful tease of original lyrics as Knudson’s girlish voice gracefully drifts between the guitar and violin, with a wink to the Hot Club of France. Reveling in the sounds of Django Reinhardt while adding rock ’n‘ flare, Smolens’ flamenco-tinged gypsy jazz guitar style shimmers.
Echoing the memories of Martinez’ days as a circus performer, a musical saw (played by Knudson) warbles a high-pitched haunting refrain on the lilting waltz “Espanolette.” “The saw is my thing,” says Knudson with a smile. “It works because I am a singer, and it involves the same bodily intuition. People always tell me that they can’t tell the difference between the saw and my voice.”
Stijepovic keeps the party going with an original take on an irresistible Balkan dance form with “Djordje's Rachenitza”. “It’s a big thing in Bulgaria and Serbia,” Stijepovic explains,” but the 7/8 groove also gets people dancing anywhere. So I just had to write my own.”
Inspired by a Kurdish melody, “Nadim” is a blisteringly fast and darkly entrancing jaunt that features percussive bass slapping, virtuosic violin solos, and technically skilled guitar work. The title of the song pays homage to a melody by Martinez’ favorite violinist, Nadim Nalbantoglu. “It was incredibly hard to figure out,” Knudson explains, “but Fabrice loves a challenge. We all worked from the basic melody and arranged something very Fishtank Ensemble sounding.”
Showing the band’s versatility and emotional range, “O Dewel,” is a seductively slow-waltzing, musical prayer. Featuring lyrics in Romanes, a West European dialect of the Roma language, this intensely pensive piece produced a powerful spiritual experience in the studio. “It was a magical moment,” remembers Knudson. “On the first take, there was this point where the music swelled and we all felt it. It’s just that kind of a song.” Shifting gears, “Opa Opa” invites the listener to a raucous celebration by evoking images of dancing Gypsies on tabletops. Knudson notes that, “It’s just a dirty party song from Serbia that is like a volcano of sound.”
With a new emphasis on original material and old-school skills, Fishtank Ensemble has matured into their distinctly odd yet remarkably apt name, performing a self-aware selection of twisting timbres and tempos that capture an ineffable joy. “We want to produce music that people have never heard before, taking audiences to new places, so they can experience a range of emotions that we transmit through song,” muses Knudson. “That is the best thing we can offer: our heart.”
Category : The Videos
The surprisingly varied instrumental talents of this singer/songwriter make this a video worth the watch. A bit of an off-beat fast and slow song with an edgy sound that is sure to please the right group of listeners (it's all about your musical tastes, and for that set this one is grabbing lots of attention on the 'Tube).
Category : Articles
This week's article is about songwriting.
If you are a singer and a songwriter, you might want to devote some more time to making your songwriting stronger. You can get a lot of enjoyment out of singing and playing. You may even want to put some of your talent on a video then show it to friends and family. From there you can spread the word using some of the great Web sites (like this one) that help you get your message across.
But what if you are also a songwriter? You can write some words on paper or on the computer, try it out with some guitar chords or on your keyboard and there you have it – an original song. Do you want to take it to the next step? In the new world of music it won’t be enough to sing and play and hope for a record contract. In fact, that is the most difficult way to put your music “in the ears” of your listeners.
If you have placed a video on a site such as this, you already know something about marketing your songs and your talent through social networks, music sharing and so on. Fortunately for young singers and songwriters today it isn’t necessary to make a tape or CD and visit recording studios and radio stations to sell their music. You can reach thousands, even millions of people with good Web sites. But don’t just set up a camera and start singing. Pay a little attention to your songwriting and make your presentation as strong as it can be.
However, there is a little more to this part of the story. If you think the traditional way of getting a recording contract is crowded and impossible, you are right. But the new Internet methods of marketing and the self-recording world are also attracting a lot of new performers. That’s where some quality songwriting can separate you from the rest of the pack.
Start your songwriting in one of two places – lyrics and melody. While a lot of new, young singers can put their thoughts and feelings into words, only a few give enough time to melody. It is important to come up with songs that not only tell a story but also are pleasant to listen to. Even if they are sad but powerful songs the main vocal line must be something that stays with the listener for awhile after he or she hears it.
If you feel that your melody and singing need some work but you want to start getting some attention from the “pros” right away, try sending your lyrics to a couple of lyrics contests, such as the contests conducted by songwriting and music magazines. Before you do, make sure you have your lyrics copyrighted. We can get into the details of copyrights later but the key is to make sure you protect your work. At that point you need to find the right people to read your lyrics or hear your song.
If you need help with songwriting, there are plenty of resources online.
Check out Masters of Songwriting: The Best Songwriting Book Around - Great For Songwriters Looking To Get To The Top In Today's Music Industry. Everything Is Here From Creating Commercial Songs, To Marketing, Digital Help, Global Covers, To Reading And Understanding Publishing Contracts.
Or Professional Songwriting Secrets - A Professional Songwriter Finally Exposes His Hot Tips, Tricks, And Inside Techniques On How You Can Write Unique, Powerful, And Catchy Songs Anytime You Want.
A pretty incredible voice and great acoustic sound in this new original by J.R.A, which had already gained a following and even spurned more YouTube cover versions. It's a video worth your watch just for the mellow acoustic track alone.
Here's proof that you can say a lot without using the entire dictionary. DeStorm rose to the challenge to create an entertaining, upbeat rap in less than 50 words...raising the bar and besting even the challenger by doing the impossible in just 30 words! The crowd is loving this beat!
