In this episode of Jammerzine’s The Week in #Indie we feature exclusive interviews with Johnny Indovina and Mark Balderas from rock legends Human Drama, #indie upstart Jonny Kosmo, and the original sounding Proper Nouns. Also new original music and videos from Aleks Grey, Electrobuddha, Max Embers, Royals, Yelpy, and Razorbats.
About Human Drama
In this Jammerzine Exclusive, we talk to literal legends of music in the form of Johnny Indovina and Mark Balderas from Human Drama. And by legends, I mean immensely talented musicians and true human beings. Human Drama is one of those sacred icons of music having evolved musically for almost five decades and showing no signs of slowing down while doing everything on their own terms. This, to me, is that unspoken achievement rarely achieved and almost never accomplished.
Their latest album, titled ‘Blurred Images‘, is a continuance of their evolution of revolution that began with ‘Hopes Prayers Dreams Heart Soul Mind Love Life Death’ and refined and remolded through ‘Broken Songs for Broken People‘. Retaining that core sound while evolving into new forms of music is the sign of true musicians and artisans.
On ‘Blurred Images’ throughout, you get a set of personal takes on the snapshots of life. You will hear about this in detail in the interview. Musically, the album is blurred in genres at times yet comes together succinctly as a concept. Some will say that this fits a metaphor of a scrapbook filled with images, but personally, I feel that it is a single canvas of paintings molding into one another. Not knowing where one begins and another ends, but, collectively, make something whole.
LINKS:
https://www.humandrama.net
https://humandrama.bandcamp.com
https://www.facebook.com/johnny.indovina.7
https://twitter.com/JohnnyIndovina
https://instagram.com/johnnyindovina
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZF4F-IRFJXU5GJeQDfr4cg/featured
http://sevendaysinmexico.com/
About Jonny Kosmo
Jonny Kosmo has given an exclusive interview to Jammerzine. I announce that because, when you hear his music, you will see. This artist is a true original. From his music to his life and everywhere in between.
And, in this interview, we talk about his new album titled ‘Pastry’, to be released June 4th on Feeding Tube Records and Dinosaur City Records (AUS). We also talk about his innovative video from ‘Pastry’, for the song ‘Fool’ (video below), featuring animation with personality by Peter Nichols (his YouTube link below).
Whatever your musical tastes are, I think it is safe to say that you will find space on your plate for Jonny Kosmo. His music comes from that part in all of us that wants to know our individuality and inner child. Jonny has found both and made them partners.
“There are two sides to every coin. “Fool” is about how our character struggles can also be our greatest assets. In this case, it is love and connection with another that allows the defensiveness and protection of the fool archetype to shift to that of a fool for life. I aimed to capture the movement from the rigidity of taking ourselves too seriously to the humor of being human. This song is accompanied by a video made by Kevin Kearney, Peter Nichols (animation), and myself.”
Jonny Kosmo on ‘Fool’ video
LINKS:
https://www.jonnykosmo.com
https://www.facebook.com/jonnykosmo
https://twitter.com/JonnyKosmo
https://www.instagram.com/jonnykosmo
https://open.spotify.com/artist/6VyZH1zto2r7gkSYsUUBEx?si=Xm38MBHARQ-OW0AI3du-Cw
https://soundcloud.com/user-626752313
About Proper Nouns
Spencer Compton from Proper Nouns is our special guest in today’s Jammerzine Exclusive interview. Having just released their new album titled ‘Feel Free’, Proper Nouns are at that magic moment where they get a wider audience and those original fans can start saying ‘I remember when they started’.
In today’s interview, we get a personal glimpse at the man behind the music as well as the beginnings of Proper Nouns and how to overcome the trials life throws at you, both internally and externally, and convey them in the music. This can be inspirational.
LINKS:
https://linktr.ee/propernouns
https://www.facebook.com/propernounstheband
https://propernouns.bandcamp.com
About Aleks Grey
Aleks Grey has released his new single titled ‘B.A.B.Y.’. Standing for ‘Being Alone the Breaks You’, tells the story of not taking that chance in life. Finding that special someone. I’ve been there myself and thank God my fiancé is braver than I am.
Having said all of that, the song starts off with that Aleks Grey that has evolved into a more complex and thoughtful songwriter and such a different and diverse artist with a stellar track that is as pertinent as it is polished. This song sounds like a million dollars. And that, folks, is the secret to getting your name out. Listen. Learn. Love, baby!
LINKS:
https://www.instagram.com/aleksgrey
https://www.facebook.com/aleksgreymusic
https://open.spotify.com/artist/5ZDk9lPM0xUAZyzJqGZMn9?si=85SmSROuQ2mtIz-720et_
About Electrobuddha
Electrobuddha is set to drop the new single titled ‘Biba Love’ on June 4th. An almost retro-anthem with psyche-rock roots, ‘Biba Love’ sonically marches forth with the musical history of the past few decades and brings a dirty hook and raucous beat you won’t soon forget.
LINK:
https://linktr.ee/markhamiltonmccaffer
About Max Embers
Max Embers is set to drop his new single titled ‘Wildest Dreams’ on Friday. Before then, however, we get that exclusive first listen, and, this one is a privilege. It is a privilege because not only does ‘Wildest Dreams’ fit the sign of the times, it does it with such an earnest and honest way about it and a clear and vivid musical side that you will not only relate but rely on.
‘Wildest Dreams’ has a subtle orchestral vibe with Max’s weathered angelic vocals guiding and gliding throughout. Some songs need not shout the message in your face. Some just need to give you their heart. This is the latter. Beautiful. And over too soon.
LINKS:
http://www.maxembers.com
https://www.instagram.com/maxembersmusic
https://www.tiktok.com/@maxembersmusic
https://twitter.com/maxembersmusic
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC36Mpr76HE8JuljZY7iOOig
About Royals
Royals have released their new single and video titled ‘Jaded’. Those first few notes make it obvious that Royals are master songwriters. The hook is strong and the song is solid. But there’s a message behind the music, and it is solid. The song is a lesson and a guide in this trying time of isolation and COVID. We are all there, whether we are still trying to figure out our new lives or we are resigned. ‘Jaded’ sings that we are not alone, and that change is here. We can all make our strength that strength of adapting, and learn that we are not alone, even if we are jaded.
LINKS:
https://www.royalsofficialuk.com
https://www.facebook.com/RoyalsOfficialUK
https://www.twitter.com/royalsbanduk
https://www.instagram.com/royalsofficialuk
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdxK48ctaYPF-IPdGaKJNzg
About Yelpy
Yelpy has released his new video for the track titled ‘Heartbeats’. Written masterfully and capturing that moment and emotion within the moment, ‘Heartbeats’ accompanying video is a visual aid to that future memory and style that is always copied but almost never improved on, except here. Simplistic video captures soar with the consistent hook that is the style of Yelpy. This is magic.
LINKS:
http://www.yelpy.net
https://www.facebook.com/YelpyPage
https://twitter.com/Yelpy
https://instagram.com/yelpy
About Razorbats
Razorbats have officially today released their new album titled ‘Mainline Rock ‘N’ Roll’. Multiple eras clash in multiple ways and collide with originality in this new album that showcases Razorbats’ songwriting and musicianship. There isn’t a single song that doesn’t deserve a foot stomp or a headbang in a solid rock album with signature riffs and distinct hooks. This is an anthem as much as it is an album.
LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/razorbats
https://instagram.com/razorbatsofficial
http://razorbats.com
https://razorbats.bandcamp.com
Click HERE to watch Season 7 of Jammerzine’s ‘The Week in #Indie’.
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Black Bordello Releases Eponymous Album (The Week in #Indie Segment)
Black Bordello have released their eponymous album. A solid fusion of a little of everything from Fusion to vintage show and everything in between but one thing is for sure, this is all Black Bordello. In all of their glory. And this is what I love about #indie music. That unbreaking originality and melding of influences. This is the love of music put to record.
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’.ABOUT BLACK BORDELLO
After a few years of gigging in and around London, Peckham’s Black Bordello is an established live force. Following a succession of well-received singles ( Spectre Man, Backache, Leeches ) The London group has released a full-length debut album that melds Vaudeville, Jazz, and Gothic Rock in one complete and overwhelming maelstrom.
Originally the project of Sienna Bordello, much of the album’s material dates back to Black Bordello’s 2017 inception, although it has now been honed to streamlined perfection. However, as the band’s line up has stabilized, a singular sound has emerged that fuses the band’s seemingly disparate influences.
Sienna’s influences come from across the board from “the loaded rebellion” of PJ Harvey and Poly Styrene to the emotional integrity of Bessie Smith and the post-modern vibe collages of Post Normal. The latter of which she was introduced to by her university lecturer the late, great writer Mark Fisher. “I sheepishly told him I couldn’t make music because i didn’t have any of the right ‘stuff’. He told me that was bollocks and showed me some bands who recorded at home without all the fancy gear and software, Garage Band and Audacity became my playground as I discovered there is no right way”
Of her own musical beginnings, Sienna says ” I got very into pre-war Jazz and started singing standards at the Jamboree in the Cable Street studios, where I later ended up illegally living. I would get up and sit with the band and sing a song or two, normally Billie Holiday or Bessie Smith, as dancers with day jobs partnered up and practiced swing dancing in hoards on the old scratched parquet floors. I had fun but it wasn’t always easy”
After Sienna’s scatting was deemed too experimental for the jazz standards group, she looked for a new musical vehicle. After bonding with keys player Andrew Marriott over similar fish tattoos at a Brockley party, Black Bordello swiftly took shape, with the group taking their name from Sienna’s family restaurant ‘Il Bordello’.
Now roughly 3 years after the band’s first show, a fully realized self-titled album is finally ready for release. From the Dreaming era of Kate Bush’s theatre of ‘Leeches’ to the heady prog swagger of ‘Prufrock’, a wild range of music is on show. ‘Baby’ is a noisy Jazz sprawl and ‘Spectre Man’ is as maudlin a ballad as you’re ever likely to hear. This is a vital debut album by one of the capitals most exciting new bands.
LINKS:
https://www.blackbordello.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/siennabordello
https://open.spotify.com/artist/0LhmtJ38vRhd35Eg3oC1nt
https://music.apple.com/us/album/leeches-single/1503188893 -
An Interview With San Eco
When creativity meets originality you have some damn good music. But that is a rare occurrence. So it is particularly pleasing to see it incarnate. And that is in the form of U.K. duo San Eco. Formed by the merging of Morris Cowan and Tom Edney, San Eco is the end result of two unique minds verging on musical brilliance.
And today we talk to one-half of that melting pot with Tom. And we get the origin story and creative process explained as well as a glimpse into the future of all that is San Eco.
LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/sanecosounds
https://beatphreak.co.uk/artists/san-eco -
Jammerzine’s The Week in #Indie for 8/15/2016
Every week Jammerzine gives you the latest independent news for the underground.Go to http://jammerzine.com for the latest news in independent and unsigned artists. Hosted by Brody Ramone!