Distant Voices have released their new video for the track titled ‘Lights of The City’. Valdis Stekelis, aka Distant Voices, gives that folk-rock sound a fresh makeover with a styled hook and a vibrant sense of musical self with a song that builds to a beautiful build-up that mentors the music and surrounds the listener.
As of February 17, ‘Lights of The City’ is available everywhere digitally. The ‘Long Road to Home’ album will be released on March 26 and can already be pre-ordered from the artist via Bandcamp.
ABOUT DISTANT VOICES
Straddling several genres at the same time, Distant Voices has announced the forthcoming album ‘Long Road To Home’. Ahead of this, they are previewing the high-velocity rock n’ roll lead single ‘Lights of The City’ complete with a fast-moving video, created by Alit Gonzalez.
Based in London, Distant Voices is the solo project of Valdis Stekelis, who wrote and began writing these tracks in 2019, finally finishing a year later due to the delayed realities of the UK lockdown. The band name itself was chosen during that period to reflect these unusual times, where live music (as we have previously experienced it) is a scarce occurrence and where we consume music with a less personal connection to the people making it.
Like the tracks on the album as a whole, ‘Lights of the City’ was inspired by Stekelis’ travels around Europe, based on events from that extensive journey. This lead track reflects the beginning of this trip with all its excitement and promise, but also a light sense of anxiety about what lies ahead.
This album was recorded at EAS Studios near London in collaboration with producer-engineer Ed Sokolowski, who has worked on albums by Melanie C, Fleur East, Hugel, David Archuleta, and Lukas Rieger. Sokolowki mixed and mastered this album, as well as co-producing it with Stekelis. Joe Montague also contributes drums on multiple tracks.
“This is the first body of work completed under the Distant Voices name, which I am very keen for people to hear and hope that they will enjoy it. The album was inspired by events that happened during my journey around Europe in 2019 and, in fact, they appear chronologically in the tracklisting,” says Valdis Stekelis.
“There is a range of different feeling tracks on the album – from lively to melancholy and also psychedelic. They are tied together – both in terms of the subject matter and also due to the underlying elements of a retro feel with electronic flavor. It was a lot of fun to make and is truly inspired by events that really affected me at the time”.
LINKS:
https://distantvoices1.bandcamp.com
https://www.facebook.com/distantvoicesuk
https://twitter.com/UkDistant
https://www.instagram.com/voicesdistant
https://soundcloud.com/distantvoicesuk
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZGAM_kCRBK52HQlgbCsggA
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Small Town Titans – You’re a Mean One Mr. Grinch
York, PA heavy rock band Small Town Titans have released their cover of the Classic Christmas song “You’re a Mean One Mr. Grinch,” giving the already darkly playful track an even more sinister edge. “You’re a Mean One Mr. Grinch” was filmed live in the studio by Springwood Productions. The band has also released the song on Patreon, a direct to fan social media platform, for their biggest supporters. Subscribing to the group for just a dollar a song on Patreon grants fans new songs first and puts their names in the credits of future YouTube videos.
The Small Town Titans are a power trio from York, PA who love to constantly create, as well as play live. Gone is the notion that a rock band should only release 10 songs at a time every 2 years. In a world where music fans crave new content constantly, the Small Town Titans aim to deliver their brand of art all of the time, drawing inspiration from a new wave of rock bands such as Highly Suspect and Royal Blood, and rock legends such as the Foo Fighters, Audioslave, and Deep Purple. Thanks to their efforts at assembling their own studio in a basement, STT can create and release songs, podcasts, live online concerts, and more with no rules. This artistic change in attitude stems from touring for the better part of 2 years, and realizing how difficult it really is.
After coming home from their last 30 day run, the band had made $4,000. After repairing their vehicle, restocking their merchandise and more, the band was left with $1,000. After putting most of that back into the band’s funds as usual, each member took home $150. This startling reality made STT take a step back and evaluate themselves as a band, a brand, and a business. After firing their manager, the boys soldiered on with the help of their team at Round 2 Records. They began to truly treat Small Town Titans as a legitimate small business more than ever before. Unnecessary expenses were cut, and more creative and innovative sources of new revenue were explored, such as utilizing the direct to fan creation platform Patreon, where the band is currently making $200 every time they release a new song on YouTube.
Instead of trying to make a million fans, STT is focusing on the fans they already have. With a love for playing live, a Small Town Titans show has evolved into more than a concert. It’s an event, with a set list that’s decided right before the show, and plenty of stage banter in between songs. The band simply hits the stage to deliver an energy driven show using guitars, drums, and their voices. Nothing more, nothing less. This approach to their live performances has led to them sharing the stage with acts such as Highly Suspect, Papa Roach, Black Stone Cherry, Pop Evil, and more.
By focusing on their engagement with social media and managing themselves, Small Town Titans are growing like never before and having more success as a business and a brand. The band just wrapped up a weekend long recording session at Hybrid Studios with friend Kevin Soffera, drummer for Seether on the 5x platinum selling record Disclaimer II, and who STT also recorded their last album Reflection with. Six brand new songs were recorded live in the studio, as well as professionally filmed by Springwood Productions at the same time. These new songs and videos will be released throughout the rest of 2017 and 2018. Songs range from the hard hitting “Me, Myself, and Monster” and “Wreck” to the ballad “Dragonfly”, an emotional song written in memory of Phil’s mother, who passed away earlier this year due to cancer, performed live with just one voice and an acoustic guitar.
Small Town Titans are actively forming a team of like minded individuals in the new music business who are just as driven and passionate as they are, rather than waiting to be discovered. As the band continues to grow their fan base online this year, they will also hit the road, this time with a smarter game plan, a stronger fan base, and a passionate team behind them.
LINKS:
http://smalltowntitans.com
https://www.facebook.com/smalltowntitans
https://twitter.com/smalltowntitans
https://www.instagram.com/smalltowntitans
https://www.youtube.com/smalltowntitans
https://www.patreon.com/smalltowntitans -
Beauty in Chaos ft. Tish Ciravolo – Look Up
Los Angeles-based Beauty in Chaos has announced the impending vinyl release of their debut album ‘Finding Beauty in Chaos’. Slated for November 30, 2018, 33.3 Music Collective will be offering almost 80 minutes of music, curated by guitarist Michael Ciravolo on deluxe CD and limited-edition heavyweight, colored vinyl. Ahead of that, they present their new single ‘Look Up’ feat. Tish Ciravolo. The accompanying video was produced by Industrialism Films and directed by Vicente Cordero.
Earlier the band previewed the singles ‘Man of Faith’ feat. Wayne Hussey of The Mission and Simon Gallup of The Cure, as well as ‘Storm’ feat. Ashton Nyte (The Awakening, MGT).
Born of frustration and creativity, this project an audio assemblage curated by LA-based guitarist Michael Ciravolo and produced by Ministry’s Grammy-nominated producer Michael Rozon at Ciravolo’s own SAINTinLA Studio.
“Once I set up my turntable, I immediately listened to a bunch of vinyl from the late ‘80s 4AD period and shoegaze. Cocteau Twins, Lush, Slowdive and, of course, My Bloody Valentine. Inspired, I picked up my guitar and run it through an excessive amount of delay and reverb. Once I hit on that main riff, I knew it would be a perfect song for my wife to sing. I thought she delivered a melodic and lyric homerun,” says Michael Ciravolo.
Originally from New Orleans and now based in Los Angeles, 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. In 2015, he was joined by wife Tish Ciravolo, founder of Daisy Rock Guitars.
“When you randomly meet someone and instantly know that you want to create a history with them, that is what I call magic. Everyone’s family history is different but I wanted to change what I had grown up in and create a loving home life including dogs, cats, and kids,” says Tish Ciravolo.
“My fear is now, with the advent of cell phones, that people are so busy looking down at their phones they are missing life. See the moon outside my window? See the stars up in the sky? There is magic in the air – don’t miss that magic, that chance in life to randomly meet someone that you want to create a history with and ‘Look Up’.”
Hopping from band to band and inching ever-closer but never getting to that elusive record deal, Tish Ciravolo became the quintessential L.A. rock queen, having played in numerous bands including Rag Dolls, The Velvets, They Eat Their Own, StunGun and eventually her own band Shiksa and the Sluts.
Combining a lifelong passion for making music with a desire to “level the playing field” for dedicated female guitarists and bassists of all ages, Tish Ciravolo founded Daisy Rock Girl Guitars in 2000. Ciravolo’s dream that “every girl who wants to play guitar is welcomed and inspired to do so. This was my chance—my duty—to change the culture and provide her and all girls with a better, more inviting experience.”
Ciravolo’s focus on female empowerment and females in music has been immortalized by her induction into the Museum of Making Music, the world’s premier museum showcasing the history of the music products industry. In 2009, Tish participated in NAMM’s Oral History project and received Guitar Goddess Magazine’s “Trailblazer Award.” In 2010, Daisy Rock was inducted into The Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix, AZ, and Tish received the Searchlight Scholar award from the Women’s Executive Leadership Summit at the University of Wisconsin School of Business. At the 2012 NAMM Show, Tish Ciravolo was honored with the “She Rocks Award.” Ciravolo has spoken at Ted Talks, the Musicians Institute, and NAMM and has been featured in national and international media outlets such as USA Today, People, Time, Newsweek, CNN, MSNBC, ABC, NBC, FOX, VH1, the Premier Radio Network, BBC Radio, and the Associated Press.
The debut album ‘Finding Beauty in Chaos’ also features a beautiful collection of music luminaries, including Wayne Hussey (The Mission), Simon Gallup (The Cure), Robin Zander (Cheap Trick), Al Jourgensen (Ministry), 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 (Evi Vine), Betsy Martin (Caterwaul / Purr Machine), Marc Danzeisen (The Riverdogs), Kevin Kipnis (Purr Machine / Kommunity FK), Rudy Matchinga (Red Scare) and Johnny Indovina (Human Drama).
‘Finding Beauty in Chaos’ will release on vinyl on November 30, but is already available on CD and digitally, including on iTunes, Spotify and Bandcamp. CDs and vinyl can be ordered from the Beauty in Chaos website.
SINGLE CREDITS
- Tish Ciravolo – vocals
- Michael Ciravolo – guitars
- Michael Rozon – live drums and bass guitar
- Written by Michael Ciravolo and Tish Ciravolo
- Recorded, mixed and produced by Michael Rozon
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 -
Living Colour @ Woodstock Festival Kostrzyn, Poland
Woodstock Festival Poland is a huge free summer music festival held the beginning of August in Kostrzyn nad Odrą, Poland.
Setlist:
- Middle Man
- Type
- Ignorance is Bliss
- Desperate People
- Sunshine of Your Love
- Love Rears Its Ugly Head
- Tomorrow Never Knows (The Beatles cover)
- Go Away
- Time’s Up
- Cult of Personality
- Should I Stay or Should I Go (The Clash cover)