Foxfeather is a sultry Alt Americana duo founded in Boulder, CO in 2013 by Carly Ricks Smith (lead vocals), Laura Paige Stratton (acoustic/electric guitars, keys, vocals), and is often supported by various instrumentalists for a full rock sound. They are a local staple in the Colorado Front Range, and also tour nationally.
They released their debut EP, Foul Moon, in 2014. In response to this release, The Marquee stated that “the group is overflowing with talent” and “Carly Ricks Smith has a spectacular voice which lies somewhere between the folky soprano of a young Joni Mitchell and the jazz-heavy range of Lake Street Dive’s Rachel Price. It’s powerful as well as delicate.” Andy Eppler of The Prairie Scholars said “it’s sexy. It’s original. These women have crafted something very special and instantly likable on this album.”
Foxfeather released their first full length, self-titled album in October of 2016, which Rooster magazine described as “time warping…it’s an emotional ride into the forest of folk with low-hanging country branches slapping you in the face without apology… its got a good thing going” (Rooster Magazine).
LINKS:
http://www.foxfeathermusic.com
https://twitter.com/FoxfeatherMusic
https://www.facebook.com/foxfeathermusic
https://instagram.com/foxfeathermusic
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Novanta – Lovers
Highlighted by the contribution of Stella Diana’s Dario Torre (vocals in “Outside noise”) and Marco Barzetti, aka True Sleeper (vocals in “To realize”), “Some are stars” is a four-song EP whose making took no less than three years. During this time Manfredi Lamartina, leader of the project, has radically changed his composition approach. Novanta is no longer a solo project, but a duo that also includes drummer Agostino Financo Burgio (Nicolò Carnesi, Hank, Moque). The sound is no longer lo-fi: cleaner, with more impact, also thanks to the work of Lucantonio Fusaro, Claudio Piperissa and Luca Ferrari, who recorded and mixed the album at Faro Recording Studio (Varese, IT).
What kind of music is “Some are stars”? Manfredi Lamartina, founder and leader of Novanta, likes to call it “ceiling-gazing”: a mix of dream pop, post-rock and synth-wave to listen to at very low or very high volumes. No middle ground.
LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/novantamusic
https://novanta.bandcamp.com/
https://soundcloud.com/novanta
https://twitter.com/novanta_
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAP0yD_6tWlCP1XgeJMKN0Q
https://lapaurafanovanta.wordpress.com/ -
Joel Rothwell – Oxygen
While these days, rubbing shoulders with well-known faces at events such as Cannes Film Festival may be commonplace, Bury-born Joel Rothwell’s down-to-earth nature and clean-cut image have stemmed from the family around him nurturing his long-harnessed dream to become a chart-topping success. With a stylishly crafted formula of honest story-telling accompanying his guitar-driven electro-pop sound, the first of 4 inspired songs recorded with Brighton producer Toby Scott – ‘Just Don’t Know’ tells the story of a chance encounter, forbidden attraction and the inherent dilemma faced from within.
Rooted from a childhood spent with his eldest sister Rebecca imitating their musical heroes, the stars have never seemed too far out of reach, which has led to formulating a creative partnership which has seen them writing together for a number of years. More recently, through his father’s film company, Joel was able to enhance his credentials as a multi-talented performer in his latest film project SKINNED, which also featured his songs ‘Satellite’, and the as yet unreleased ‘Animal’.
It was recording and preparing to release his debut album under the Steelworks Studio label, under the support of songwriter and producer Eliot Kennedy (famed for working with the likes of the Spice Girls, Bryan Adams, Lulu and Take That), that led to Joel taking part in his biggest gig to date. The Vulcan Experience aircraft hanger at Robin Hood airport in Doncaster was host to a sell-out charity event that raised over £65,000 for Help for Heroes, in which he shared the stage in following none other than Gary Barlow.
From being wrongfully expelled from Bolton School until the age of 16, it was at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School in Blackburn where he nurtured his ability and pursued his dream of a career in music. Joel is now based at a studio in the vibrant Spinningfields area of Manchester, while also having spent time writing and recording at Tileyard Music in London alongside chart musicians such as Sigala, Mark Ronson, and Ella Eyre. Through a blend of passion, talent, and determination, Joel firmly believes he has what it takes to stand out in such a competitive industry and match the ambition of his dreams.
LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/thatjoelrothwell
https://www.instagram.com/thatjoelrothwell
https://twitter.com/joelrothwell
http://joelrothwell.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQN6VLKZZ6M -
Ask Carol – Run With You
Ask Carol have released their new video for the track titled ‘Run With You’. And, with this being their first actual music video, there is no better way to make their visual debut than with the eye candy set forth with ‘Run With You’. Constructed not only as a visual accompaniment to the song but as an artistic statement in of itself, the video gives visual punctuation to the percussiveness of the song while highlighting the hook and becoming almost a canvas for the song to paint on instead of the music becomes a soundtrack. This is essential because, as someone who reviews music every day, is exactly what a music video should be; an introduction to the music.
ABOUT ASK CAROL
“Run With You” is Ask Carol’s first-ever real music video, made by the band themselves, under the corona-lockdown. Filmed around Carol’s home in the Norwegian woods, this short story portraits two girls, two sisters, desperate to getaway. One of the sisters is in a bad, abusive relationship, reluctant to get away, while her sister tries to convince her otherwise. Eventually, she’s had enough, and the abused sister takes matters into her own hands. They escape together as the story unfolds in a dark, Nordic environment that sets the mood for this dramatic story. Given the special circumstance of the corona-lockdown and that Carol, Ask (Ask is a real Norwegian name) and Carol’s sister was quarantined together, the three is the only people involved in the music video. Carol and Ask filmed, produced, directed, acted in, and edited the music video, and Carol´s sister played the sister in the movie. A real Corona-lockdown DIY project.
“Run With You” is Ask Carol’s first single of 2020, a catchy disco-punk alt-pop tune with a retro vibe. Intimate vocals and grungy guitars setting the mood, with a dreamy background and pulsating beat.
The first of several releases planned for this Summer and Fall, leading up to debut album early 2021. The song was written long before these challenging corona times, but lately, the song has come to mean something more to us. We feel it represents a longing for just going away, to get away from it all, a feeling that has grown more intense as we all have to stay home for such a long time…
LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/askcarol
https://www.askcarolmusic.com