‘Un-Natural Disaster’ (Collide Mix) is the first song to be previewed from the soon-to-be-released album ‘Beauty Re-Envisioned’, which will contain an extremely wide variety of remixes and alternate versions of many of the tracks that appear on their debut album ‘Finding Beauty in Chaos’. Both albums are produced by Ministry’s Grammy-nominated producer Michael Rozon at Ciravolo’s own SAINTinLA Studio.
This track breaks the constraints placed on the debut album, not only due to the addition of synthesizers but also in the wicked unleashing of a blistering guitar solo by guitar guru Zakk Wylde.
“Zakk plays more notes on this solo than I did on the entire album, but with taste, technique and a ton of flair,”
Michael Ciravolo laughs.
For this project, Ciravolo – a New Orleans native – teamed up with King’s X’s dUg Pinnick, who previously lived in Houston. Their shared experiences and memories of the chaos caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Harvey, along with the ‘beauty’ of those who came to help the victims, profoundly shaped the song’s music and lyrics.
“When Michael sent me the music and asked me if I would sing and play on it, I immediately said yes. I think it rocks!! And some deep lyrics were my thoughts. Since I come from Katy Texas, where it flooded a few years ago very badly and, not very far away, it was the same for New Orleans, I thought it was appropriate to sing about the un-natural disasters that are happening due to man’s ignorance,”
says dUg Pinnick.
“It was fun putting my bass part on the track and a big surprise is on the same song with Ice-T and Zakk Wylde. What a great opportunity, I’m glad to be a part of this project. And the video shoot was wet!! Lol! And so much fun… and even captures the serious topic of this song.”
Ice-T, famed rapper, actor and frontman of Body Count, also spits out a poignant exclamation point to the extent of these tragedies.
“This song really hits close to home as I was born and raised in New Orleans. I lived in Los Angeles when Katrina hit, but watched as friends and family lost everything. My elderly Aunt was evacuated as the city’s services shut down, and sadly she did not survive the move to Alabama. She along with at least 1200 others lost their lives as a result of this devastating hurricane,”
says Michael Ciravolo.
Vicente Cordero, who directed the accompanying video, also directed the three previous Beauty In Chaos videos, delivers a visually stunning interpretation of this song. Production credit for all four goes to Industrialism Films.
Originally from New Orleans and now based in LA, Michael Ciravolo has played guitar in Human Drama for the past 30 years, most recently on ‘Broken Songs for Broken People’ (2017). Perhaps best known as President of Schecter Guitar Research, he has also played live and recorded with Michael Aston’s Gene Loves Jezebel since 1998.
The debut album ‘Finding Beauty in Chaos’ features numerous music luminaries, including Wayne Hussey (The Mission), Simon Gallup (The Cure), Robin Zander (Cheap Trick), Pete Parada (The Offspring), dUg Pinnick (Kings X), ICE-T (Body Count), Michael Aston (Gene Loves Jezebel), Michael Anthony (Van Halen), Dirk Doucette (Gene Loves Jezebel), Ashton Nyte (The Awakening), Pando (A Flock of Seagulls), Evi Vine, Betsy Martin (Caterwaul / Purr Machine), Marc Danzeisen (The Riverdogs), Kevin Kipnis (Purr Machine / Kommunity FK), Rudy Matchinga (Red Scare), Johnny Indovina (Human Drama), and Tish Ciravolo (StunGun/ Daisy Rock Guitars).
LINKS:
https://www.beautyinchaosmusic.com
https://www.beautyinchaosmusic.com/bic-blog
https://www.facebook.com/beautyinchaosmusic
https://www.instagram.com/beauty.inchaos
https://twitter.com/MichaelCiravolo
https://soundcloud.com/33-3-music-collective
https://beautyinchaos.bandcamp.com
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Jammerzine’s The Week in #Indie for 12/9/2019
This episode from Jammerzine features exclusive interviews with Joan Jett’s Blackheart Records’ artist Fea and Crooked Ghost’s Ray Clark. Premieres from Aidan & the Wild, Beatific, Beauty in Chaos, Chinese Man, Scratch Bandits Crew, Baja Frequencia, Greta Jaime, Johanna Kuvaja, The 1865, and The Black Watch.
About Fea
Fea is one of those bands who will get what they work for based on the caliber of their music. I can say this because it is evident all over the exclusive interview above. Formed by friends who developed into a family, Fea is one of those tight bands that are lockstep in sound and unified in ambition.
And, in this interview, we get the entire band! With the perspectives of all four, we get the story behind the band, their new album titled ‘No Novelties’, their upcoming video for ‘Girlband’ and, importantly, the methods and meaning behind the music. Fea shows they are not only a band that will last but will thrive.
Fea’s latest album, ‘No Novelties’, is out now via Blackheart Records.
LINKS:
https://fea210.com
https://blackheart.com/fea
https://www.instagram.com/fea210
https://twitter.com/fea210
https://www.facebook.com/fea210
https://open.spotify.com/artist/3nKEqmxHdIu4WbtE2kKvya?si=ApteZrsqR_q6lnjCxVbFNAAbout Crooked Ghost
Ray Clark is a musician that knows what he wants and is constantly learning and executing the steps on how to achieve as such. And, what he wants now, is for the world to listen to his band Crooked Ghost. Their latest EP titled ‘Colors Bleed‘ is a solid set of original material that really lets the creativity and diversity of Crooked Ghost shine.
Today we get to talk with Ray, frontman for Crooked Ghost, about their beginnings in North Carolina and their new music as well as his new side project with Alex Cannon titled ‘Blank Iris‘, which Ray describes as the ‘soundtrack to a breakdown’.
Check out our review of Crooked Ghost’s single ‘Sinew in Red’ HERE.
Check out our review of Crooked Ghost’s video for ‘Sleepwalker’ HERE.LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/CrookedGhost
https://crookedghost.bandcamp.com
https://www.instagram.com/crookedghost
https://twitter.com/thecrookedghost
https://soundcloud.com/crookedghost
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIgVwlr638HsQbVuTZGH6EQ
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/skeleton-house/1394361906
https://open.spotify.com/artist/1dQla5TZY6h1hmDyAIDtrF?si=5Qufr3YuSmGi_5FdwECCPAAbout Beauty in Chaos
Beauty in Chaos has officially dropped the first video, titled ‘The Delicate Balance of All Things’, from their upcoming album ‘The Storm Before the Calm’. The song is a definitive evolution of the project’s previous album and remixes, with a darker tone and a subdued penchant for the musically macabre with hints of retro goth. You can also definitely see how the working relationship with Michael Ciravolo and Michael Rozon has evolved as they are branching out with their individual creativeness and finding that common ground where genius lurks and originality thrives.
To me, the video is the next step for the project as it involves familiar faces taking things into new directions with a video that is darker in tone, to match the track, and a brilliant mix of storyline scenes cut with performance shots beautifully breaking the fourth wall. In a way, this is what Beauty in Chaos is to me; that subtle balance between fantasy and reality, because this is where dreams become the motivation in us all.
‘The Storm Before The Calm’ album will be released on February 21, 2020, via 33.3 Music Collective. As with the two albums released to date, it will be available at the official BIC Store and Bandcamp.
LINKS:
https://www.beautyinchaosmusic.com
https://www.facebook.com/beautyinchaosmusic
https://www.instagram.com/beauty.inchaos
https://twitter.com/MichaelCiravolo
https://www.beautyinchaosmusic.com/music-store
https://www.beautyinchaosmusic.com/bic-blog
https://soundcloud.com/33-3-music-collective
https://beautyinchaos.bandcamp.com
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/finding-beauty-in-chaos/1436694940
https://open.spotify.com/album/7cmbwIpDm9aAXS4vVjcq4U?si=LZ_9_Bi1SzaZyN7wOIRCvwAbout Beatific
Beatific finally drop their long-awaited EP titled ‘Sunshine’. We originally reviewed their single ‘She Loves Him’ and that was the moment the anticipation began. With the full EP ‘Sunshine’, we get a more complete picture of what Beatific is about and want to accomplish.
Those thick and blended harmonies of the lead single are expounded upon with the rest of the EP present. With added instrumentation such as a serenely played acoustic guitar riff in ‘Perpetual Contemplation of an Infinite Glory’ to the almost retro-esque synth wave of ‘Smile Dangerous’ finalized with an almost purely orchestral rendition of ‘Naftali (My Struggle)’ with a hint of an homage to M83, Beatific solidifies their style and puts forth their intention in the industry as an act that is not only here to stay, but here to play.
LINKS:
https://www.beatificmusic.com
https://twitter.com/imbeatific
https://www.facebook.com/ImBeatific/
https://orcd.co/qkly5eoAbout Aidan & the Wild
Aidan & the Wild premiere their new video for the track titled ‘Pipedream’. At first listen one can usually tell if the music is performed by talented musicians, and ‘Pipedream’ certainly is. Aidan & the Wild is the brainchild of Diederik van den Brandt. And that first listen tells me that he is an amazing guitarist and a prominent songwriter. This song is simply gorgeous. And, while the video is simple, it is quite eloquent and fitting for the track at hand. With a crooning vocal over a tight and layered piece of music, Aidan & the Wild accomplish a quiet sonic bliss that stays in the mind long after that initial listen and captivates the heart for years to come.
LINKS:
http://www.aidan-music.com
https://www.facebook.com/aidanandthewild
https://www.instagram.com/aidanandthewildAbout Chinese Man, Scratch Bandits Crew, & Baja Frequencia
Chinese Man, Scratch Bandits Crew, and Baja Frequencia drop the mega-collab in the form of their new single and video titled ‘The Drop’. I’ll start this by saying ‘Holy shit this punches you in the face from the start!’. And it really does! Like a force ghost hell-bent for revenge, ‘The Drop’ starts off strong with all those elements you love about each of these artists colliding like a crossfire of shotgun blasts and only goes up from there. This song is an ode to adrenaline.
What I take away with me after viewing the video is totally tongue-in-cheek, in a way. What I mean by that is I get the feeling that the video is trying to convey that we are all controlled by the environment around us and our emotions and perception are defined by what we experience or told to experience. The pool and the diving represents a choice. Do we jump and take the dive into independence and rationality knowing we may not survive the fall, or do we stay on the diving board and remain listless, suspended and non-moving. The choice is up to each and every one of us.
LINKS:
Chinese Man : https://CMR.lnk.to/ChineseMan
Scratch Bandits Crew : https://CMR.lnk.to/ScratchBanditsCrew
Baja Frequencia : https://CMR.lnk.to/BajaFrequenciaAbout Greta Jaime
Greta Jaime releases her new single titled ‘Internet Love’. I have to say that Greta’s voice is simply amazing. You can tell she has that special talent that all great vocalists have in that she finds the pitch and plays around it with sheer power and honest emotions. And, when you place her over a solid beat, bassy rhythm, and hook-filled chord progression, you have musical magic. ‘Internet Love’ is one of those catchy and memorable tracks that lingers with you and grows on you with a fondness only given to those things that are cherished.
LINKS:
https://www.gretajaime.com
https://www.facebook.com/GretaJaimeMusic
https://soundcloud.com/gretajaime
https://twitter.com/Greta_Jaime
https://www.instagram.com/gretajaimeAbout Johanna Kuvaja
Nordic vocalist Johanna Kuvaja has unveiled the colorful new video for her debut single ‘Shower’, an upbeat catchy single with a style sounding like the personified love child of Aqua, Katy Perry and Kylie Minogue.
Written by Kuvaja, the single was mixed and mastered by award-winning London-based producer Sefi Carmel, who has been mixing music of real icons such as David Bowie, Phil Collins, Bruno Mars, Michael Buble, Massive Attack and Birdy. The song itself was recorded in Helsinki, Finland at Saumaa Records by Mikael Forsby, who also provided instrumentation.
“This video symbolizes new beginnings. I had a colorful, messy life with many problems (deteriorating health, loss of my house, marriage, and job), but I am also a really colorful personality. The meaning of the video is that we have the power to recreate ourselves and to rewrite our story. Figuratively speaking, I took a shower, washed away my past and started fresh. I followed my heart and recreated my life and it all worked out,” says Johanna Kuvaja.
LINKS:
https://www.johannakuvaja.com
https://www.facebook.com/Johanna-Kuvaja-2086970581607223/
https://www.instagram.com/johanna_kuvaja
https://twitter.com/JohannaKuvaja
https://soundcloud.com/johanna-kuvajaAbout The 1865
The 1865 release their new video for the track titled ‘John Brown’s Gat’. For those who do not know, John Brown was a man living in the 19th Century who believed that no one should be enslaved. He believed in this simple truth so much that he turned to the gun. And he paid for it with his life. So it is of special importance that The 1865 to shed light on such a figure, especially in today’s age of conflicting stories.
The track and video are simple and to-the-point. Which is how it should be. The truth is the same way. It cannot be denied. If you watch the impeachment hearings you can see this. The obstructors tend to speak more, and louder because the truth is hard to fight. John Brown would be a fan of The 1865 if he were alive today.
The album ‘Don’t Tread On We!’ is out now, available digitally via Apple Music, Spotify and directly from the band via Bandcamp, as well as numerous other online stores. It is also available on black and red vinyl in a vintage style jacket with a lyric/coloring book.
LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/the1865band
https://the1865.bandcamp.com
https://twitter.com/the1865band
https://www.instagram.com/the1865band
https://soundcloud.com/massappealrecs/sets/1865-dont-tread-on-we
https://open.spotify.com/artist/0V0ykZPvAxhUYzvTRu25dU?si=OfnMJODwRW2O8reeyhjEcA
https://music.apple.com/us/album/dont-tread-on-we/1448751051About The Black Watch
The Black Watch drops their new single titled ‘Crying All the Time’. The song starts off like a rocket hellbent for space with a chiming, bright, and tube-like guitar riff that sets the tone for business as the beat marches with steady velocity. This song does not mince words yet retains that style that only comes from The Black Watch. But I have to say again that this is a guitarist’s song as that is what sets the tone for me. Layers of that classic grit surrounding the lucid and subtly harmonic vocals announce the song to all those that are listening. This is a ‘stop what you’re doing and pay attention’ type of track.
As of November 22, ‘Crying All The Time’ is available across music stores and streaming platforms such as Spotify as well as Bandcamp. The full ‘Brilliant Failures’ album will be released on January 24.
LINKS:
http://johnandrewfredrick.com
https://www.facebook.com/theblackwatchmusic
https://theblackwatch.bandcamp.com
https://twitter.com/blackwatchmusic
https://www.instagram.com/theblackwatchmusic
https://open.spotify.com/artist/7F0pMIrR6GIb49HDXza8dnClick 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’. -
Tommy Down Drops ‘Superficial’ (The Week in #Indie Segment)
With a smooth groove and sometimes staccato-like rhythm within the lyrics, Tommy Down delivers a memorable track in the form of ‘Superficial’, which is steeped in melody and simply memorable in the aftermath. And now matter and antimatter collide musically with the help of Decca Records artist Rhys Lewis.
This dynamic duo chisel out ‘Superficial’ in a way that is anything but. This song is deep. Musically, creatively, maybe even spiritually on a guttural level. The chorus has such a lyrical delivery of the song title that it is actually still in my head. That is the mark of genius. When a song stays with you and becomes a part of you. That is more than superficial.
About ‘Superficial’
Produced by rising Decca Records star Rhys Lewis, ‘Superficial’ sounds like the brainchild of Nile Rodgers and Sade scoring a Boogie Nights sequel. Managing to tactfully balance its glossy velvet-toned nostalgic influences with a raw and stripped-back production approach, ‘Superficial’ sees Tommy Down analyzing the psychological perils of a generation addicted to selfies and social media. It’s all captured in the contradiction at the heart of its narrative: guy judges a girl for taking a selfie with him, yet harbors a desire to see himself tagged in it the next day.Ultimately ‘Superficial’ navigates the complex, maddening, and circular logic of technological overthink by asking us if we’re even perhaps a little attracted to the idea of our own narcissism. Maybe the fact that we go into these things ambivalently makes us more woke anyhow? It’s three minutes of clever, concise and thought-provoking pop that puts Down both sonically and lyrically on a standout path. With Tommy starring as himself and his own conscience, alongside live bandmate and Cold Feet actress Sylvie Briggs, and Raffy Ellison, the accompanying video, (directed by Toby Harris), is a colorful, slick and tongue-in-cheek dramatization of the lyrics.
About Tommy Down
Tommy Down is the sharp-suited and incisive lyricist and frontman to Harker Moon. He started the project in 2015 with schoolmates Hal Briggs, Ben Phillips, Olly Jay, and Joe Caplin. The band peddles an uproarious blend of rock, soca, funk, and roots with a trademark relish for old-school feel-good vibes. Tommy has been writing music and recording since he was fourteen, and since leaving university a year and a half ago, has been dedicating himself to it fully. In that time, he’s already netted a few accolades and picked up a wealth of practical experience – winning an award for ‘Best Original Composition’ at the UK Open Mic Competition, for instance. He also started performing as the male vocalist for Bristol University Jazz Orchestra in 2015 and now gigs in venues across London including the Camden Assembly.Tommy’s broad knowledge of musical styles and emphasis on innovative stylistic fusions make him one of the most interesting emerging British artists. >From London to New York he has also been forging some eminent collaborations this year, including Jeff Silverman, Charlie Perry (who helped produce Jorja Smith’s Lost and Found), and John Shave & Jason Pebworth from the Grammy-nominated “Invisible Men” – the hitmakers behind songs by Britney Spears and Rita Ora. Both as a bandleader and as a solo artist Tommy unequivocally shines, but it’s in the latter category that we’re seeing his unique artistry in its full resplendent glory.
LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/Tommy-Down-138191366266833
https://soundcloud.com/nii-amar-children
https://www.instagram.com/tommydownmusic -
Scott Swain – ‘Like Nothing Else’ Video Premiere
Scott says: “This song is written about the film ‘Event Horizon’. I remember being blown away when I first saw this film. It’s a slow burner, in so far as it takes some time for things to get going (essential for the tension to build), but when it does get going things go from intense to just damn dark!
Enlightenment is always sold to us as a positive thing which arises from discipline, dedication, and peaceful reflection; in this film, however, Dr Weir (Sam Neil) gains enlightenment through utter darkness, from literally going to hell and coming out on the other side.
The mistake he makes, in my opinion, is letting this darkness consume and control him. We all have darkness in us – call it Thanatos if you want – however, we don’t have to let this eat us up and destroy us”.
LINKS:
http://scottswainmusic.com
http://facebook.com/scottswainmusic.com
http://twitter.com/scottswainmusic
http://instagram.com/scottswainmusic
http://scottswainmusic.bandcamp.com