Confessional singer-songwriter Luis Mojica has released his new single ‘City Friends’. Earlier, he announced his new album ‘How A Stranger Is Made’, to be released in early October, while teasing the first single ‘The Ranger’.
This album features production from Mercury Prize-winning producers David Baron (Bat For Lashes, Peter Murphy, Lenny Kravitz, The Lumineers) and Simone Felice (The Lumineers, Bat For Lashes, Dan Mangan) and mixing by three-time Grammy award-winning producer Justin Guip (Levon Helm).
Mojica’s new long-play is intimate and empathic – a beautiful tapestry of piano-driven songs that quite intimately express his healing journey through shamanism, sexuality, trauma and ecstatic joy.
“I wrote this song while walking in NYC’s East Village. The St. Mark’s bookstore had just closed, my favorite tree in Washington Square Park was severed in half, and all around me, my beloved neighborhood was changing so rapidly. I walked around feeling so much loss and, this song became a container for me to pour all kinds of loss I had experienced into it. The loss of friendships, lovers, cities, cultures, the identity of self. I finished the song years after leaving the city for Woodstock, NY. You can hear a duality in the track: a somber, lonely piano and vocals against an upbeat drum and then a full-on ecstatic sounding chorus. It was my way of celebrating the loss, gentrification, and the betrayal – in hindsight. It all brought me to a new life that was much better for me. So I became grateful for the forced growth and transformation,” says Luis Mojica.
“I asked 25 of my friends in Woodstock, NY to each lip-sync one line from the song to create a diverse cast of individuals threaded together with the same sentiment: “I lost something”. The song, originally about NYC, became an anthem for us in Woodstock as we’ve experienced so much change in class, culture, and business. Woodstock is quickly evolving and that old, messy, timeless wild that attracted us to the area is disappearing. I shot the video at the last dive bar, now closed and abandoned, that graced Woodstock’s main street. The video features all locals of Woodstock, most of them my dearest friends, as an almost anthropological project to preserve and document this fading era of people and place”.
‘How A Stranger Is Made’ follows up Mojica’s first studio album ‘Wholesome’, released on August 2016 after two years of touring with the avant-garde cello band Rasputina. He toured this album, which features his unique style of live looped beatboxing and rich vocal harmonies, both as support for Rasputina and as a headliner. The album’s limited pressing sold out quite quickly and now is only available digitally.
A pianist and vocalist now based in Woodstock, New York, Mojica began developing his unique musical style in the crowded apartments and crumbling theaters of NYC’s East Village. In 2012, he moved upstate to the mountains of the Hudson Valley, where he’s become renowned for both his holistic healing work, as well as his musical compositions.
Piano-based, his songs blend his 3+ octave vocal range to create choir-like textures, as well as utilizing unusual character voices and harmonies that explore androgyny, spirituality, and unorthodox male identity. Mojica’s music and sound esthetic is inspired by Leonard Cohen, Tori Amos, Patti Smith, Joanna Newsom, and Kate Bush.
The scenario, filming, and direction for this video were all handled by Mojica himself. Video editing was performed by Joel Patterson at Mountaintop Studios in Petersburgh, NY. The accompanying video was written, filmed and directed by Kelly Merchant with editing and compositing by Fredo Viola. Merchant also took the photo for the cover artwork, while Viola designed it.
SOURCE: Official Bio
“Perfect for those who enjoy the visceral sound of Bjork, the hypnotic vocals of Thom Yorke and looking for something new in the scene”
– Music Existence“Mojica’s music requires refined aesthetics and discernment and is damn near a new wrinkle in the sonic territory”
– Mark S. Tucker“Convincing delivery, it seems he is speaking right to the listener in the same way Tori Amos, Devendra Banhart, Kate Bush and Ani DiFranco manage to. His muse has obviously led him into some deeply personal, vulnerable places. Through his music, Mojica radiates creative joy, making this a thoroughly enjoyable listen”
– Big Takeover Magazine“Luis Mojica’s vocals really are an instrument unto themselves and the pinnacle of what makes this album a jewel among the thistles”
– Band Blurb“The harmonies are exceptional. From the opera style to the beatboxing. I haven’t been this impressed this much with vocal harmonies since I heard Fleet Foxes”
– No More Division“Mojica’s voice is an instrument in itself; it soars as he sings and his beats are like bullets puncturing through the track”
– Mookychic
LINKS:
http://www.luismojica.com
https://www.facebook.com/luismojicamusic
https://luismojica.bandcamp.com
https://www.instagram.com/luis.mojica.music
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl-Z3peOvHwczSYyv4J-IVA/videos
https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/luis-mojica/763703531
https://open.spotify.com/artist/0kqaE6tmzfgC4hk6CKXlr7
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Methods – Fires
After the release of their debut single, Sanctuary, and a number of live shows throughout 2017, Methods return with their new single ‘Fires’.
Described by singer, Ash Bradley: “Fires is a song about the break up of a relationship. About two people who have been together for a long time, growing apart. Both using actions to show their feelings, instead of speaking to each other. Thoughts get locked away. The only way for them both to move forward is for it all to end.”
‘Fires’ is released worldwide via Hellhole Records on Friday 15th June. Methods first headline live show, presented by Baddies Boogie and taking place at The Sunflower Lounge, Birmingham, on Saturday 12th May, will kick-start the ‘Fires’ tour and is set to be one of those ‘Where were you?” moments.
Methods are a Wolverhampton/Salford based, five-piece who create a sound that can only be described as dark electro indie. Influences are drawn from the likes of Joy Division, Depeche Mode, Primal Scream, Editors, Interpol and any other music that catches the creative ear of Methods.
Formed in 2015 after a mutual need to create something special and meaningful.
Ash Bradley – Vocals
Jon Nash – Synths
Ryan Deakin – Guitar
Adam Hall – Bass
Pete Bates – DrumsNot ones to follow the crowd Methods produce a mixture of dark, gritty rhythms with a good helping of uplifting synths and guitars, topped off with some of the best lyrics around. 2017 saw the band solidify their sound playing a number of gigs testing it out and unleashing Methods to the world, the response has been good and momentum is gaining.
The band released their first single ‘Sanctuary’ in August 2017, recorded with the legendary producer Gavin Monaghan at Magic Garden Studios.
During December they supported The Twang on their 10th Anniversary Love It When I Feel Like This Tour.
Most recently their music has been used by Wolverhampton Wanders FC on the goal of the month and heard by thousands of people.
2018 is set for much bigger and better things. The band are constantly writing and recording new material and are currently working towards their next single release.
Methods are the hardest working band around and 2018 is their year.
“Fires is a song about the break up of a relationship. About two people who have been together for a long time, growing apart. One side is a dominant person and controlling. The other side wants to be loved. Both using actions to show their feelings, instead of speaking to each other. Thoughts get locked away. The only way for them both to move forward is for it all to end.”
Ash (singer)LINKS:
http://methodsmusic.co.uk
https://twitter.com/methodsmusik
https://facebook.com/methods2
https://instagram.com/methodsofficial -
Red Devil Vortex – Something Has To Die
L.A. Based Metal Rock Band Red Devil Vortex has released the Official Music Video for the debut, title single off of their upcoming EP, Something Has to Die, due out May 4th but available to pre-order NOW! Directed and edited by Raphael Bittencourt, “Something Has to Die” showcases the trio’s unique re-interpretation of the heavy rock genre.
“Working on this EP was a lot of fun. Augustus is a great friend of ours and he’s a very creative producer. He enhanced our creativity and we didn’t put any limits to the creative process. It’s chaotic, energetic and beautiful in its own way. It’s the type of music to make love and war to.”
– Gabriel ConnorAbout Red Devil Vortex
Red Devil Vortex is a band from Los Angeles, CA, brought to life in 2016 by Gabriel Connor (Lead vocals / bass), Pablo Kravicz (Guitars / vocals) and Iago Marcondes (Drums / vocals).With the intention of creating a bombastic atmosphere through the music, visuals and live performances, Red Devil Vortex has its kick start with the release of the first single, “THE FALLEN”, in October of 2016, followed by several live performances in Los Angeles and SoCal area, sharing the stage with artists like Uli Jon Roth, Dayshell, Saliva and I Am Morbid.
Forging a solid partnership with producer and songwriter Augustus Cryns (Butcher Babies, Anti-Flag, Westfield Massacre) after having worked together on “THE FALLEN”, the band enters the studio once again in November of 2017 to record their first EP.
‘Something Has To Die’ will be released worldwide on May 4th, 2018. It features five original songs that bring a great listening experience with high energy guitar riffs, chaotic melodies, and a strong message about strife and survival while facing your demons. The pre-sale started on April 13th, 2018, along with a music video for the title track.
LINKS:
http://www.reddevilvortex.com
http://www.facebook.com/reddevilvortex
https://twitter.com/reddevilvortex
https://www.instagram.com/reddevilvortex -
Jaz Mattu – Gosh You Can Talk
Kent, UK born, Jaz Mattu blends rock, pop, and funk with his music to create a truly unique sound. He sings, plays guitar, bass, synths, and drums – but is the first person in his family to pick up a musical instrument, which he did at the age of 13 after seeing Nirvana’s Smells like Teen Spirit video on MTV.
He pleaded with his mother to get him a guitar and for some reason she did. It seemed to keep him out of trouble and off the streets during those “difficult teen years!”
He took a break from music until finishing university and starting his “proper” job as a software engineer, where he sat at his desk on his first day and figured there was no way he could do that job for the next 40 years… and so he decided to get back into music again.
His 4 track Saachrine Times e.p. came out in January 2017 and was the starting point of the Sanguine Man album. The album is available now and contains 14 tracks of quirky pop, music to rock out to and music to reflect over.
Jaz played plenty of jam nights in Kent with his backing band from 2017 onwards and has now started playing in London at venues like The Fiddler’s Elbow, The Dublin Castle and The Water Rats. He’s currently booking more gigs as we speak.
LINKS:
https://www.instagram.com/jazmattuofficial
https://twitter.com/jazmattusounds
https://www.facebook.com/JazMattuOfficial
http://jazmattu.com