Be. Hear. Now.
MWL Interviews - Ballyhoo
Ballyhoo - Last Night
Coral Thief - Words I Say
Trevor C Jones - Never Want To Leave
Episode 15 - Feat. Yann Tiersen + Datsik + MORE!
Episode 14 - Feat. Rachael Yamagata
Episode 13 - Feat. Portugal. The Man
MWL Live episode 12 - Feat. These Days
MWL Live Episode 11 - Feat. Eliot Lipp
MWL Live - Episode 10 - Feat. The Green
MWL Live Episode 9 - Feat. Chamberlin
MWL Live Episode 8 - Feat. Minnesota
MWL Live Episode 7 - Feat. Digitalism
MWL Live Episode 6 - The Halloween Episode
MWL Live Episode 5 - Feat. Stephen Marley
MWL Live - Episode 4 - Feat. Alabama Shakes
MWL Live - Episode 3 - Feat. Minus The Bear
MWL Live - Episode 2 - Feat. The Lonely Forest
MWL Live Episode 1 - Feat. DMX
MWL Live catches up with Marco Benevento!
MWL Live Interviews Y La Bamba!Absinthe Junk Video Release at 12th & Porter, Nashville, TN
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Check out Absinthe Junk’s new album, Death in the Afternoon, available on vinyl!
Photography By: Jenny Jem George | Ambassador of Nashville, TN | @JennyJemGeorge | Shutterbuzz Photos | Beat-Play & Music Without Labels, LLC
This is Nashville, but leave your “dirty south” labels at the door. The most organic rap in the country is coming from this city, and one of it’s leaders is Openmic. In the latest video interview, he talks about his most recent experiences from the stage to the studio. The main theme: the game is changing. Nashville is growing, but in the rap and hip hop community, flourish is an understatement. It’s not just about coming up with lyrics that flow and make sense. Creativity lies at the heart of what Openmic does with his music, and the words seem as though they’ve become natural instinct. But, don’t take my word for it:
As you can hear, this is not just your run of the mill student. Openmic grew up “under the guidance of his father and renowned jazz musician Rod McGaha,” who continues to provide insight into his music to this day. After years of recording and developing his skills, Openmic has had the opportunity to open for artists like artist Wale, Dom Kennedy, Big K.R.I.T, Yelawolf, and more. It’s not just Tennessee that is taking notice. I think you’ll understand when you hear for yourself. Here’s the latest track from Openmic, “Im’a Fool Freestyle:”
Hear it as inspiration and encouragement that anyone can have the confidence to be great at what you do. You’ll hear even more significance on his latest album, “For The Rebels,” featuring other local artists and collaborators that continue to influence the scene. There’s an awareness of pop culture, but an honesty of staying true to oneself, being educated, and still grinding it out pursuing your dream. Keep listening and make sure you check out Openmic when he opens for Big KRIT May 16th at Limelight in Nashville. Click on the album art below to hear the latest and get on all things Openmic.
By Steve Harpine | Nashville Ambassador | @Steve_MWL | Beat-Play & Music Without Labels, LLC
Zooey Deschanel is quite the over-achieving artist. Her big break came in the early 2000s, when she began landing support roles in films such as Almost Famous, The Good Girl, Elf, and more. Today, Zooey is widely known as the star in the Fox series, New Girl, but it was over six years ago that her singing career began it’s launch. Fans heard Zooey sing before, most memorably in Elf with “Baby It’s Cold Outside.” Three years later, Zooey teamed up with singer-songwriter/producer M. Ward, who encouraged her in the songs she was writing. In 2008, the duo, artily named She & Him, released their debut album, Volume 1. In an interview with Venus Zine, Deschanel described her feelings about starting a career in music.
“I always thought I would be able to sing and act, but at a certain point, it became difficult for me to share the music part. So I was writing a ton of music, but not really doing anything with it. I didn’t really know exactly who to collaborate with … until I met Matt, and everything seemed to fall into place.”
She & Him released a new album, Volume 3, this week with eleven original songs by Deschanel and three covers. Zooey’s voice retains a transparent tone throughout the record, often giving playful melody to lyrics about love and relationships. Have a listen to the first single, “Never Wanted Your Love.”
As you can hear, the record has a totally natural vibe. Crisp drums, tight bass lines, appropriate string and horn additions, and M. Ward’s phenomenal guitar playing give the album somewhat of a throwback feel. There’s a sense of Motown throughout, and the mastering process still left a rawness in the tones and grooves on the record. Sometimes it sounds like you’re right there in the room. Most of the album is a bit of a romantic walk back to a California beach in the 1970s. It even has background vocals tracked by indie pop group, Tilly and the Wall. Have a listen to the first song from the record released on She & Him’s Soundcloud, “I Could’ve Been Your Girl.”
Volume 3 is fun, but classy at the same time. It’s perfect for your summer trip to the beach mix or your playlist for the drive to this weekend’s drive-in movie. Mostly impressive is Zooey Deschanel’s songwriting and composing ability. She truly has a cool sense of melody and a knack for hearing instrumentation. With help from M. Ward, She & Him has become a quaint act for a classy show date. They kick off their summer tour in Nashville at the infamous Ryman Auditorium on June 13th. Get your copy of Volume 3 and check out She & Him’s summer tour stops by clicking on the album art below!
By Steve Harpine | Nashville Ambassador | @Steve_MWL | Beat-Play & Music Without Labels, LLC
Absinthe Junk at The Rutledge, Nashville, TN
CLICK ON THE PIC FOR MORE PICTURES OF ABSINTHE JUNK!
Check out Absinthe Junk’s new album, Death in the Afternoon, available on vinyl!
Photography By: Jenny Jem George | Ambassador of Nashville, TN | @JennyJemGeorge | Shutterbuzz Photos | Beat-Play & Music Without Labels, LLC
At 25 years old, James Blake has built a reputation as one of the most brilliant producer/singer-songwriters in the UK today. He began releasing music on an imprint level during his years at Goldsmiths, University of London. His third EP, CMYK, gained traction through BBC Radio 1, but it was his new single and cover of “Limit to Your Love” by Feist that started to churn the waters. 2010 became a significant year for Blake, as recognition spread from music awards and in the UK to media attention from US outlets like Pitchfork. At the same time, he was finishing up work on his self-titled debut album, which dropped in February 2011. The album boosted Blake’s career with collaborations, performances, and more recognition for his art. Fans and listeners all over the world have been anticipating his sophomore album, Overgrown. Check out the first single, “Retrograde.”
Overgrown released this month on April 8, 2013. The album is dynamic and confident. The production is on a whole other level than what we’re used to hearing in contemporary music. Similar to contemporaries like the XX, Blake seems to take his time through each sound and effect that goes into a record. From sounds used in the groove, to the unique synths incorporated throughout the album, his songs take on a level of dynamics and creativity that many of today’s artists have not yet ventured into. Overgrown also features guests Brian Eno and RZA. There’s no doubt that his relationship with Jamie Lidell has affected the writing on the album, as James admitted in an interview with Hot Press. Blake has also described his music as “melodic bass music,” pointing out that his dub influences extend both to the traditional dub music and garage music. Well, we can certainly hear that! Have a listen to the title track, “Overgrown.”
It’s received rave reviews on nearly all music outlets, as well as Music Without Labels. I’d expect to hear even more of James Blake this year in the US, as his writing and production skills will for sure be in high demand by a number of todays top artists. Thanks, James, for making music your own and not being afraid to be yourself in your art. As we’ve seen countless times before, it’s been one of the most effective characteristics of artists who break quickly. Get Overgrown today by clicking on the album art below!
By Steve Harpine | Nashville Ambassador | @Steve_MWL | Beat-Play & Music Without Labels, LLC
This week’s featured music (on the left side bar <<) is from one of my favorite bands of the past year, Ghost Beach. The New York City group has been delivering their “tropical grit pop” singles for awhile, gaining more fans with each release. They’re on tour this month with fellow producer and friend, Chad Valley, and if you happen to catch a show, you’ll be in for a real treat. Chad even remixed one of their most recent projects, “Tear Us Apart.” The single dropped in October this fall as a free download on their website, setting up their release of Modern Toungues EP. The five-song EP debuted in November, primarily through digital distribution markets iTunes and Spotify. Their singles have already become summer party favorites, so I have confidence that you’ll be blasting this set at your next big shebang.
They hit you with a fresh wave of post-80s beach pop, with bright guitars and synths over big grooves that allow you to reminisce of all things fun and sunny. It’s no doubt that they’ve found their sound when you listen to the production. Influences such as Daft Punk, Depeche Mode, The Police, Tears For Fears, Brazilian Girls, and Thievery Corperation are heard, but certainly not duplicated. The Ghost Beach duo consists of Josh Ocean (vocals, bass, synths) and Eric “Doc” Mendelsohn (guitars, synths, MPC). They began to develop the whole project about two years ago, but it’s not just music that has brought attention to the band. Artists vs. Artists is a campaign that began with the way that Josh and Eric have approached music distribution from the beginning: as free to fans who want it. It approached a whole new level when it appeared in the form of a 15,000 square-foot video billboard in Times Square.
Our hope with this campaign is to stimulate the discussion on exactly what ‘piracy’ means to different people. To an older industry sector, it’s a dirty word that implies theft. From a younger, purely consumer standpoint it’s another term for distribution. As it stands now, we’re more closely aligned with the music consumer – in the sense that we are for this new distribution model, as evident by our efforts thus far to make Ghost Beach original music available for free to fans.
We think that working towards a digital retail/stream model, something similar to Spotify or Rdio, is the future of music - using the Internet as a force for connectivity and development rather then seeing it as the enemy. We subscribe to media futurist Gerd Leonhards ‘music like water’ philosophy that, one day, individuals will just pay a music bill – similar to their water bill, cable bill, electric bill – for unabated access. In this (hopefully attainable) Utopian music society, music will be available to consumers at a fare rate and artists/labels will be compensated with a fair royalty rate. In no way do we want to encourage theft of intellectual property. However we definitely support the idea of music distribution adapting to new technologies rather then fight against them.
Join the debate by using #artistsforpiracy or #artistsagainstpiracy hashtags and at artistsvsartists.com. Pick your side and share your voice on this incredible platform created by one of the summer’s hottest indie bands, Ghost Beach.
By Steve Harpine | Nashville Ambassador | @Steve_MWL | Beat-Play & Music Without Labels, LLC
Oh No Fiasco Live at Marathon Music Works, Nashville, TN
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Photography By: Jenny Jem George | Ambassador of Nashville, TN | @JennyJemGeorge | Shutterbuzz Photos | Beat-Play & Music Without Labels, LLC