The Impersonators came into being after the demise of Finnish pop/rock band Carmen Gray in 2013 when Tommi Tikka, the other half of Carmen Gray’s songwriting team, joined forces with lyricist Antti Autio to write some new songs.
While Carmen Gray had recorded for major labels, such as Sony and Warner, The Impersonators’ story was going to be different from the get-go. With this particular group, Tikka wanted to have complete artistic control over the songs he recorded to avoid generic and sterile production typical for modern pop/rock.
For quite a while, Tikka auditioned musicians for the new group. However, after three failed attempts to put together a lineup that did justice to the new songs, he decided to make The Impersonators a group of two songwriters rather than a group of four or five musicians. Hence began the search for a great producer rather than the right musicians.
Finally, in early 2017, Tikka teamed up with Janne Saksa, a seasoned professional in making records, who became Tikka’s collaborator in the studio and took over the head producer’s reins from him. Together, they’ve arranged and produced the group’s two singles “You Are The One” and “Burning Blue.”
The best way to describe the sound of The Impersonators is to call it sixties-flavored “alternative pop/rock”. Their goal is to nurture and cultivate the creativity, spirit, and warmth that graced the pop records of yesteryears.
LINKS:
https://impersonatorsmusic.com
https://www.facebook.com/ImpersonatorsBand
https://twitter.com/1mpersonators
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Marc Durkee – A Way to Escape
Yarmouth, Nova Scotia’s solo atmospheric prog artist Marc Durkee is a big fan of Swedish metal hitmakers GHOST. Covering their songs over the years, he’s has posted his latest acoustic rendition of ‘He Is’, which can be viewed on his youtube channel where other past covers from personal favorites can be watched.
“I really enjoyed Ghost’s “Prequelle” album they released this year. I’d already done a few acoustic covers of songs from it, which were well received, so I decided to throw it back to one of my favorites from their previous album.”
Inspired by Katatonia, Tesseract, Anathema, Devin Townsend, Coheed & Cambria, Marc Durkee’s music can be described as “a blend of progressive, metal/rock, doom metal, post-hardcore, and post-rock.”
Durkee’s new album ‘Remain In Stasis’ will be out on out January 18th, 2019 and is loaded with deep meaning to this courageous and talented solo artist, as he explains.
“The first meaning of this release is personal. I’ve been stuck in a state of depersonalization for almost five years now. For me, it’s been a chronic symptom of dealing with years of depression and stress, and it’s unrelenting. When it’s at its worst, it removes mostly all motivation and enjoyment from my life. While that is unfortunate, it does serve as a major source of inspiration for song-writing…The second meaning is more political and universal. I feel that humanity is at a unique point in our history, with technology and social media allowing us to communicate and express ourselves in ways that were previously unimaginable. And yet, nobody really DOES communicate. It seems as though it’s mostly used as a platform to bicker over political ideals and agendas and create discourse, or for anyone to use as their own personal performance venue. Everyone wants to be seen and heard, even those who really don’t deserve to be.”
Marc Durkee is one artist who really does deserve to be heard, and when ‘Remain In Stasis’ is released, all the world will hear him.
LINKS:
https://durk.bandcamp.com
https://www.facebook.com/marcdurkeeofficial
https://www.instagram.com/darcmurkee -
Jamo Gang feat. DJ Premier & Slug (Atmosphere) – The 1st Time
Jamo Gang (Ras Kass, El Gant, and J57), have teamed up with Slug of Atmosphere and DJ Premier for the new posse cut ‘The 1st Time’. The undeniable production of DJ Premier shines through on this track with verses from all three members of Jamo Gang, and the ever smooth/reflective flow of Slug (Atmosphere.) With the visual also being a directorial debut by J57, Jamo Gang are here to stay!
So sit back to a timeless beat, some incredible verses from some of the best rappers in the game, and just enjoy it!
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Fjords – Sulwyn
Fjords, Wales’ finest purveyors of indie electronica return with their new single, “Sulwyn” on 14th July, 2014. “Sulwyn” pronounced, sill-win is a traditional Welsh christian name that means,’bright as the sun’. The track is released via the band’s own Crookedman Records.
Drawing on influences that range from Japan, Gary Numan, Joy Division and Simple Minds “Sulwyn” marks a shift towards a more thoughtful late seventies, early eighties sound. Singer Sonny Dagur
penned the lyrics whilst in Brooklyn and describes the song as ‘a bit of a letter to myself’. “Sulwyn” was recorded at Monnow Valley and is FJORD’s fourth independent release. The band choose the striking artwork to accompany the release by emerging digital artist Rognvald Leslie of The Faroe Islands.
Formed in 2010 Fjords came together following a Steve Lamacq interview on BBC 6 Music. At the time Sonny’s old band, Don’t Tread On Spiders were breaking up, Sonny seized the moment and used the Lamacq radio interview to advertise for band members. Happily for all concerned Fjords were the result.
Fjords play The London Welsh Sessions on Friday 6th June at The London Welsh Centre, Gray’s Inn Road WC1 plus a special show on 11th July from Acapela Studios, (site of the recent Gruff Rhys American Interiors album launch) where their set will be streamed worldwide from this converted chapel outside Cardiff. Fjords plan to further experiment with new technologies hosting a series of live Google Hangout chats plus using QR Code and NFC tags on posters allowing fans to download “Sulwyn” for free.
Fjords are Sonny Dagur – Vocals & guitar, Alex Mann – Bass & vocals, Scott Bradburn – Guitar, Gareth Bodman – Synths, Hannah Mathias – drums & drum pads.
Airplay support for Fjords includes Amazing Radio, BBC Radio Wales & Nation Radio.
Links:
http://www.myspace.com/wearefjords
http://www.twitter.com/wearefjords
http://www.wearefjords.com
http://www.wearefjords.co.uk
http://www.soundcloud.com/wearefjords