Jammerzine has an exclusive interview with the musical masterminds behind the project known as x-blu. Fresh from the heels of their new single titled ‘Fear’ (review HERE), x-blu are having a stellar initial year of inception with a solid debut and a bright future.
In today’s interview, we talk with Gary Parker (guitar, key boards, vocals and production), Dani Tagen vocals, production, and creative director), and Sybil Mayard (vocals, keyboards, production and digital director) about the beginnings of the project, ‘Fear’, and what is coming in the near future for x-blu. Consider this the ‘I heard about them when….’ moment while you watch. Enjoy!
Check out our other features with x-blu HERE.
About x-blu
x-blu are an Avant-garde/Post Punk band who formed at the beginning of this year in Thamesmead, SE London and are influenced by The Velvet Underground, Joy Division and Doves.
In this short space of time, the band have already built a reputation for passionate live performances and the innovative use of digital media. They are a band from diverse backgrounds and equality and diversity are at the heart of their ethos. x-blu are Gary Parker (guitar, key boards, vocals and production) Dani Tagen vocals, production, and creative director) and Sybil Mayard (vocals, keyboards, production and digital director).
Whilst encapsulating Punk, Soul and Electronica they are a digital media band working in visual art, film, music, poetry, live performance and video. This is their debut single ‘Fear’.
LINKS:
https://www.instagram.com/xblu.music
https://www.facebook.com/xblu.music
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUADoM-aX56VME65giJIKSQ
https://www.x-blu.com
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Live @ Home for June 27, 2020
Live @ Home is a new chapter in discovering music, with artists performing straight from their homes into fan’s homes around the globe. Going through Jammer Direct’s multiple streaming platforms via PC/Mac, Mobile, Tablet, Radio, and Television in true HD and Dolby Digital surround sound that reaches a worldwide audience.
Brought to you as a joint venture between Jammer Direct and KES Entertainment!
With concerts, events, festivals, and concerts effectively canceled for the near future, even after things get back to somewhat normality people will be slow to get back out there. Musicians need a way to reach out with their music, Live @ Home is that game-changer that will let recording artists of all genres and levels reach out to fans along with gaining new ones.
If you are watching these performances on Jammer Direct’s official Roku Channel, you can use the QR Code embedded in the video to vote via your phone or tablet device.
These performances are also being simulcast on our flagship online radio station JammerStream One, which began at 12 Noon (U.S. Eastern) on June 27th HERE.
This Week’s Episode features performances by:
- Sarah Jordan & Matt Von DONATE TO ARTIST
- The DuShane Band DONATE TO ARTIST
Vote for your favorite artist this week!
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About the Artists
Sarah Jordan & Matt Von
Sarah Jordan & Matt Von
Sarah Jordan and Matt Von are a brother/sister duo that shares a passion for music that seems to be part of their natural chemistry. Being a seasoned pop soulful performer, Sarah brings pure emotion, while Matthew’s vocals are storytelling, understated, and pure. Sarah and Matt are independent singer-songwriters, who made a decision in 2019 to collaborate as a duo.
LINKS:
https://www.sarahandmattmusic.com
https://www.facebook.com/sarahandmattmusic
https://www.instagram.com/sarahandmattmusic
https://open.spotify.com/artist/0oBIoUBSGc5v4nUgAQWykf
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/artist/sarah-jordan-and-matt-von/id1459590335
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrMlRiBtt80u4Fd1CXAWxkQ
https://soundcloud.com/sarahandmattmusicDuShane Band
DuShane Band
Formed in late 2012, DuShane is a culmination of southern rock and country. The band consists of vocals, electric/acoustic guitars, bass, drums, pedal steel, violin, and keyboards. Formally of the band, Law and Order (MCA Records), lead singer DuShane brought up on the Nashville/Memphis sound but also uses his New York City roots to create their “Urban Country” Americana sound.
The Band is a blend of acoustic and sonic texture that is reminiscent of classic country and southern rock and shimmers with modern studio sounds and arrangements.
Tutored by friends and former producers Joe Hardy, Mac Reinhold, and Shane Keister, The DuShane Band was able to produce and engineer and record their first independent record. DuShane’s first single “Alabama Rain” released in early January 2017 has received receiving warm reviews and gaining popularity from fans with different musical tastes, and with a release of DuShane’s first music video for “Summertime” the band hopes to gain popularity with the country and rock fans as well as appeal to a broader global audience.
The band’s newest video, “Alabama Rain”, opens up with an anthemic intro that brings a familiarity to the song, comforting the listener as they brace for the story’s impact. The line, “Johnny turned 20’s from the poor side of town” kicks off the first verse, putting you in the main character’s shoes. DuShane completes the verse with, “One day he got married and found a way / He had a new baby boy and landed a job / without any skills had to work twice as hard, working the steel mills 14 hours a day.”
Then, tragedy strikes- the mill shut down. What’s more? There is a second child on the way. Without a job or pay to support his family, Johnny hit rock bottom. He was left with no choice but to enlist in the military to make ends meet. The video ends with Johnny coming home a hero, reuniting with his family, and the fulfillment of his promise that they would never know that “Alabama Rain.”
All in all, “Alabama Rain” is a song of hope. The Johnny character featured in the story is all too relatable for a large portion of the United States right now due to the outsourcing of jobs and the shrinking of the middle-class. The lyrics in this song can speak to the hearts of those affected by these conditions and serve as a point of inspiration. The fresh sound and undeniable relatability of this song is sure to hook country and Americana music fans, and we’re so excited to watch the DuShane band flourish with the release of this video.
LINK:
https://www.dushaneband.comAbout Jammer Direct
Jammer Direct is a multi-platform and online promotional and media company that includes video, radio, and print entities in the form of the brands Jammer Direct, JammerStream Radio, and Jammerzine.
These multiple platforms are defined as follows:
- Jammer Direct is a video network consisting of a vast selection of music videos of every genre as well as live concerts, original films and documentaries, and original programming. This network now includes what is called JDTV, a television version of Jammer Direct found currently on Roku (channel link HERE), Amazon FireTV (channel link HERE), and soon to be on Pluto TV, TubiTV, and more this year (2020).
- Jammer Direct is also getting into original television programming and film with the TV show for independent musicians titled ‘Jammerzine’s The Week in #Indie‘ (link HERE) and films such as the Beauty in Chaos’ documentary ‘Behind The Beauty: Remixing The Chaos‘ (found on Jammer Direct HERE, as well as Amazon Prime HERE, and AppleTV HERE).
- JammerStream Radio is a four-station radio network split into genres of music submitted to Jammer Direct directly from the artists, their labels, or their representation. The stations also have original content and programming. JammerStreams radio stations are also available on all online radio stream platforms (search JammerStream) as well on Amazon’s Alexa and Alexa for Auto (link HERE).
- Jammerzine is an online magazine featuring daily premieres for songs, albums, and videos, as well as exclusive interviews and content.
Collectively, the brand known as Jammer Direct (Jammer Direct, JammerStream Radio, and Jammerzine) generates over 2 million unique views per month with an average stay time of between 30 and over 40 minutes for the artists that they feature (links HERE & HERE).
LINKS:
https://jammer.direct
https://jammerstream.jammer.direct
https://jammerzine.com
https://twitter.com/jammerdirect
https://twitter.com/jammerzine
https://www.facebook.com/jammerdirect
https://www.facebook.com/jammerzineAbout KES Entertainment
KES Entertainment provides worldwide digital and US physical music and film distribution for record labels and artists. Our marketing and promotion team specializes in structuring tailored campaigns, assisting the artist with connecting to their fans, and creating new ones.
Our most popular services:
- Spotify playlist campaigns
- Social media marketing
- Vevo artist video channel
- (Vevo is the worlds leading music video and entertainment platform, reaching approximately 26 billion viewers per month).
- Radio Promotions / Mainstream BDS and Mediabase / College / All Genres
- Video Promotion
- OnDeckMagazine.com
LINKS:
https://twitter.com/kesindiedist
https://kesnetwork.com -
La Fleur Fatale Release ‘Skydancer’ Video (The Week in #Indie Segment)
La Fleur Fatale has released their new video for the track titled ‘Skydancer’. Psychadelic in scope and beautiful in grandeur, La Fleur Fatale takes that underground psych and social status as one of the kings of the underground and solidifies that as the next level of their career. Who knew that cool underground could be so catchy?
LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/LLYrecords
https://www.instagram.com/lovely_records
https://jakobmind.bandcamp.com
https://llyrecords.comClick HERE to watch Season 7 of Jammerzine’s ‘The Week in #Indie’.
Click HERE to watch Season 6 of Jammerzine’s ‘The Week in #Indie’.
Click HERE to watch Season 5 of Jammerzine’s ‘The Week in #Indie’.
Click HERE to watch Season 4 of Jammerzine’s ‘The Week in #Indie’.
Click HERE to watch Season 3 of Jammerzine’s ‘The Week in #Indie’.
Click HERE to watch Season 2 of Jammerzine’s ‘The Week in #Indie’.
Click HERE to watch Season 1 of Jammerzine’s ‘The Week in #Indie’. -
An Interview with Ra’s Sahaj Ticotin
Jammerzine has an exclusive interview with a legend of loud in the form of Sahaj Ticotin from the rock band Ra. As the world cautiously opens up and the venues begin to fill, Ra are set to take their music on the road with fellow acts Awake At Last, REDDSTAR, September Mourning, Any Given Sin and Killakoi on select dates. The tour begins this Friday (August 20th, 2021).
In this interview we talk with Sahaj about the new tour and their latest album, ‘Intercorrupted’, Ra’s musical history and where Ra is headed musically.
Ra is a band that, in my opinion, came out at the right time. I remember the late ’90s. I also remember, it was getting a bit boring in regards to music. Ra was my ‘Holy Sh*t!’ moment. That glorious mix of middle eastern and modern western that is ‘Do You Call My Name‘ made me play the guitar in front of my stereo again. Their genre-redefining at the turn of the century turned the century into a place that could survive creatively. ‘Intercorrupted’ is a continuation of such and sees the band take a more accessible and melodic approach. Where could the band be headed next? Actually, there is an answer in the interview.
Watch and enjoy!
About Ra
Formed in 1996, Ra took off in 2002, when their song “Do You Call My Name” from their album From One was released. Their music was described as “exotic yet familiar, heavy yet funky, direct yet sophisticated, sensual yet soulful, unrelenting yet cathartic.”
The band is known for their hit songs “Do You Call My Name,” “Fallen Angels,” “Don’t Turn Away,” and “Broken Hearted Soul.” To date, Ra has sold 400,000+ albums in North America alone.
In the 8 years since Ra’s last studio release (2013’s Critical Mass), Sahaj has been hard at work replicating the formula for his success by producing other artists while the rest of the band has pursued independent projects; however, collectively, they feel now is the time for a comeback. What makes the timing so special is that all original members of the band will be together again to not only create the new album, but tour it as well. After a very successful re-emergence on 2020’s Shiprocked, the band has again tapped into the fan based that sustained them all these years.
About ‘Intercorrupted’
Ra released their new album, ‘Intercorrupted’, via Wake Up! Music Rocks on March 19, 2021. The album has guest features from Lajon Witherspoon of Sevendust and Dustin Bates of Starset.
The band is hitting the road with the two runs announced for August and November.
Prior to the release of the album, the first single of the albums same name debuted in October 2020.
RA ARE:
- Sahaj Tictotin – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
- Ben Carroll – lead guitar
- P.J. Farley – bass
- Skoota Warner – drums
Featured image by Chet Atkins/Sweetwater Studios.
LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/OfficialRA
https://www.instagram.com/officialraband
https://twitter.com/ratheband
https://twitter.com/raband
https://raband.net
https://www.youtube.com/channel/RaOffficial