Let Me Like It

♥ Piece Me Back Together (mp3)
♥ Ode To A Mountain (mp3)

Melodica, Melody and Me

Sometimes, submissions in my mailbox immediately convince to be featured on LMLI. Today’s feature is one of those submissions I, unfortunately found way too late partly caused by my temporary hiatus this summer, is Melodica, Melody and Me, shortly MMM. Their catchy but o so beautiful folksongs dragged me in right from the first seconds of their “Piece Me Back Together EP”. When checking their profiles on the internet, I discovered they’ve found quite a following in the two years they’ve played so far. But it wasn’t always so. All six members of MMM went to Graveney school in South London and lived in nearby Brixton. They use to meet up in Rudi’s attic to smoke weed and play guitars. Quiet, introverted, it was a way for them to communicate without having to talk. During this period they wrote some of their most beautiful songs. Delicate, heartbreaking folk ballads about the first throes of love. But the bands nervousness towards the outside world meant the songs might never have left that room. Two things happened that changed both their sound and their confidence. First, the few songs they chucked on Myspace gained an immediate cult following. Second they started to blend their Bert Jansch and Bob Dylan folk influences with the music they were hearing on the streets of Brixton. Despite their massive and growing following, the band are reluctant to get too drawn in by the machinery of the music industry. They very reluctantly have a twitter account let alone a youtube channel, they aren’t “synchronising content across web platforms”, they’re just writing and playing music. By letting the music speak for itself they’ve commanded a genuine word-of-mouth phenomenon. So don’t miss out, and be a part of it! (even if you like social media like me ;-) )

@ London, UK

♫ Acoustic, Folk

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Field Mouse

Two years ago, I played Rachel Browne's selftitled solo debut EP quite often, now she's back with Field Mouse. Field Mouse is the music of Rachel Browne and collaborator Andrew Futral. Their debut album, entitled You Are Here, is a modern collection of melodic, lush pop sensibilities filtered through dreamy reverb, paired with sincere reflective songwriting. Rachel also cites childhood car rides with her mother listening to the Talking Heads and The Clash during her years growing up in New England as musical influences. Starting from the garage as most musicians do, Rachel cut her teeth in several bands since the age of 13 and continued throughout high school and college. She decided to get a formal education in music, attending the music conservatory at Purchase College, where she met and began working with Andrew. It’s been non-stop collaboration since, with musicians such as Toby Goodshank, Arms and Legs, Kyle Gilbride, Apse, Gregory & the Hawk, and Kiss Kiss to name a few. Most recently, Field Mouse have formed a solid lineup including Allison Weiss on bass and Geoff Lewit on drums, and plan to tour in support of You Are Here.

UPDATE: You can even download their album for FREE, just for a tweet: click

@ New York, USA

♫ Indie, Rock, Pop

♥ Good at Me (mp3)

♥ Where You Go (mp3)

▸ Official Website
+ Full album stream

Monday, November 29, 2010

Maryanna Sokol

Althought it was only last week, I honestly can't remember where I discovered Maryanna Sokol. But that won't stop me from sharing this talented singer-songwriter with you. As a daughter of a jazz-turned-classical guitarist mother and jazz trumpetist composer-turned-piano technician father who met at acclaimed Berklee College of Music, Maryanna rarely, if ever, entertained any option but to grow up to be a career musician. Her early childhood was spent studying piano, violin, voice, and guitar, and figuring out creative ways to get out of practicing for lessons. She composed her first music at the age of 3, when her parents encouraged every vocal improvisation and dabble on the piano as a “song.” After an obligatory but healthy obsession with The Beatles at a young age, followed by an active junior high and high school career in choir, orchestra, musical theater, and various local performing groups, Maryanna attended Southern Methodist University and Sam Houston State University in TX In pursuit of her education, she re-visited the art of songwriting, soon composing catchy and clever songs that appealed to educators and students as well as hard-drinking, honest folk in bars. With influences ranging from Leonard Bernstein to Regina Spektor to the ever-growing hype over the impending end of the world, Maryanna writes songs that weave the unabashed soulfulness so often found in the classic Americana singer-songwriter style with discriminating pop sensibilities. Her debut album, “Landfill,” is filled with infectious folky pop songs that all music lovers and especially fans of Ingrid Michaelson, Bess Rogers and Jenny Owen Youngs wil cherish.

@ New York, USA

♫ Acoustic, Folk, Pop
♥ Story Always Goes (mp3)

♥ Two (mp3)

+ Spotify
+ Full Album Stream

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Dark Dark Dark

A few days ago when I asked a friend [click for his website] for new music I should not miss out on, he recommended me Dark Dark Dark. This Minneapolis based chamber-folk sextet began in 2006 as a collaboration between multi-instrumentalists and singers Nona Marie Invie and Marshall LaCount. These two inspired songwriters bring together disparate influences – including minimalism, New Orleans jazz, Americana, Eastern European folk, and pop – creating something altogether singular and absolutely epic. This diversity is their greatest strength. They use contrast - in texture, tone, and imagery - to build their own deeply-experienced world into the songs. For Wild Go, their beautiful sophomore album, which arrives October 5, 2010 they expanded the sound they captured on their 2008 debut, The Snow Magic. They’ve continued with the line-up that solidified on their critically-acclaimed Bright Bright Bright EP (March 2010), and pushed further with more nuanced arrangements and more personal content. Making Wild Go, an album you should not miss out on!

@ Minneapolis, USA

♫ Alternative, Folk

♥ Daydreaming (mp3)
♥ Bright Bright Bright (mp3)

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Ida Jenshus

There were months, even years that I visited last.fm daily, but with all the recent changes, most of them not for the best in my opinion, it's often if I even visit my profile more than twice a week. What has not changed is last.fm's sometimes brilliant 'artist recommendations'. A very recent example is today's featured Ida Jenshus, which was recommended to me because I listened to Dylan LeBlanc a lot lately. Ida Jenshus, who plays the guitar since she was ten decided at age seventeen that she wanted to be a musician. After winning a talent show at the Norwegian television, Ida soon released her debut album "Colors of the Sun" which featured eleven songs, written over a five year period.She already decided her music style was going to be along the lines of Alison Krauss, Nanci Griffith and Emmylou Harris and Gram Parsons when she discovered them as a teenager. The release of her debut brought her many things like playing on country music festivals, community centers, churches and ski jumps all with her band, whoo she loves and who make her touring worthwile. Last month, two years after her succesful debut, Ida released a more personal and intimate sophomore album. "No Guarantees" features clearer country elements but is also heavier and rockier on the other hand. Ida also tried to stay closer to her live sound; not necessarily perfect all the time, but shows more nerve. Ida, for me is a perfect example that talent show winners can also be succesful, by staying true to themselves.

@ Trondheim, Norway

♫ Acoustic, Folk Pop, Country

♥ My Baby's Gone (mp3)

♥ Better Day (mp3)

▸ Official Website
+ Spotify

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Gregory Page

Sometimes the love of music goes from one person onto the other, and Gregory Page is a perfect example of that very process, a friend of a friend of mine recommended Gregory to him and not much later that friend told that "I had to listen to this new artist" So, now it's my turn of pointing you to this amazing singer-songwriter, that should've been way bigger in the (music)world by now! Enjoy and don't forget to spread the love! Gregory David Page was born in England to Armenian and Irish parents who met while they were on tour with their bands en route to the Middle East. Page was brought up in North London into a musical family where he studied classical guitar and composition at Trinity College Of Music. Upon moving to America he began a series of odd jobs, namely as a cab driver and cook he also began tirelessly writing and recording his own brand of music. It's hardly an exaggeration to observe that the voice and music of Al Bowlly had a definite effect on Page's career. Mr. Gregory Page's new album "Promise of A Dream" a collection of his earlier albums, that was released for the European market, is one you should not miss out on.

@ San Diego, USA

♫ Jazz, Acoustic, Alternative

♥ Bon Voyage, Mon Cheri (mp3)

♥ Love Made Me Drunk (mp3)

▸ Facebook

▸ Official Website
▸ Bandcamp

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Amy Seeley

This post has been in the queue forever, (for at leas a year) but the upcoming release of her new record Plum Coulee, is the perfect opportunity to post this now! Having been raised in rural Montana and now living in Portland, Oregon Amy brings the beauty of the isolated backdrop of her upbringing to life through her command of the piano. Her greatest influence has been the music of Tori Amos, together with the elegance of Sarah McLachlan and the quiet, folk elements of Iron and Wine and Sufjan Stevens. For the past three years Amy has been playing solo shows throughout Alberta, and in December took her songs to Europe for performances in the UK, Germany and Amsterdam. The miles have given way to a stunning and articulate interplay of emotions and geography. “The Trees Are Glad You’re Back” is the first full-length release by Amy, following up on her successful “Call It Life” EP released in 2005. Which was followed by her latest release Eight Belles.

@ Portland, USA
♫ Indie, Folk, Pop
♥ Mile Marker (mp3)
▸ Myspace
▸ Official Website

Friday, November 19, 2010

Benjamin Francis Leftwich

After two months of barely looking at it, I checked the mailbox of LMLI last week, and it was flooded wit 1500 new e-mails. (don't worry, keep them coming) The last few days I started organizing and reading the first bunch and when reading his e-mail and watching his first music video "Atlas Hands" Benjamin Francis Leftwich instantly became my next featured artist. 21-year-old Benjamin Francis Leftwich with his floaty, melancholic vocals leaving him somewhere between Jose Gonzales and Iron and Wine is influenced by Elliot Smith, The Beatles, Kate Bush, Ryan Adams, Sigur Ros and Bruce Springsteen. Benjamin released his debut EP 'A Million Miles Out’, last month. Produced by Ian Grimble (Mumford & Sons, Manic Street Preachers, Siouxsie & The Banshees), will be followed by a full length in March 2011. Although born and bred in York, Benjamin is of South African and Australian descent; he sees Sydney as a home-from-home and has been writing songs for the album there as well as in London. As a self-taught guitarist, Leftwich has had plenty of time to perfect his craft; he began playing at the age of ten and realised early on that song-writing was a natural means of expression to him. 'I like the way a song can grab you for a couple of minutes and take you somewhere, and how the different elements in a track can make you feel.' Growing up on a diet of The Rolling Stones and Nina Simone, Leftwich discovered Placebo, Bob Dylan and Elliot Smith in his teens and quickly began playing out on the York music scene. Written whilst in the secluded countryside of Southern France, the four tracks on ‘A Million Miles Out’ have a sense of hopefulness. Having previously played with Mercury-nominated I Am Kloot, Fionn Regan and Lisa Mitchell, Benjamin Francis Leftwich will be playing a string of shows across the UK later this year.

@ York, UK

♫ Acoustic, Folk Rock
♥ When You Were Young (mp3)

♥ If the Creek Don't Rise (mp3)

El May

Coming posts are old drafts that never got posted, but nontheless are definitely worth checking out! First up is the Perth-born, Sydney-raised multi-instrumentalist El May who recently returned to the stage in her native Australia opening for some brilliant acts including Feist, Explosions in the Sky and The Brunettes. Her first EP "Sound the Key Note" made me love her right away. And her selftitled debut album that can be fully streamed on Bandcamp HERE, only reinforced that feeling. El May spent a lot of time as a peripheral member of many stellar acts like Luna, Ben Lee, Crooked Fingers, Britta and Dean, ect. Lara Meyerratken fronts before starting her own band: El May. The Her indelible sense of harmony made a big noise (quietly) as the secret weapon on Ben Lee's Awake Is the New Sleep. Independent film lovers will recognize her song "Hero" as the one sung by Michelle Williams in "The Baxter."

@ California, USA
♫ Acoustic, Folk, Pop
♥ I Remember (mp3)
▸ Myspace
▸ Official Website
+ Full "El May" albumstream

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Dylan LeBlanc

Not too long ago, a friend introduced me to the music of Dylan LeBlan and I've been listening to his debut album ever since. LeBlanc grew up hanging out amongst the session musicians at Fame Studios. By age 7, LeBlanc was already learning how to play a picking style on the guitar and began writing his own songs when his father bought him a guitar for his 11th birthday. When he turned 15 he began to hone his songwriting by playing live whenever he could, often traveling hundreds of miles on his own to play to just a handful of people. His musical influences include Townes Van Zandt, Neil Young and Spooner Oldham. As soon as he was of legal age, LeBlanc was signed to Fame Music by Rodney Hall. Part of the deal was that LeBlanc got access to the studio, where he recorded his debut album. In early 2009, Rough Trade Records founder Geoff Travis was introduced to LeBlanc's music and signed him to Rough Trade. LeBlanc's debut album Paupers Field was mixed by Trina Shoemaker and features guest vocals from Emmylou Harris.It was released on August 23rd and quickly became one of my favorite releases of the year.

@ Shreveport, USA

♫ Folk Rock, Acoustic

▸ Official Website
+ Spotify

Monday, November 15, 2010

The Staves

In the last few months, probabely even the last year, MySpace made way for facebook for, in terms of finding new music. The Staves is one of those new talents I stumbled upon on FB. I love folk (pop), female vocals and music from the UK and guess what The Staves has it all! The Staves are comprising of sisters Jessica, Camilla and Emily who blend their distinctive voices into beautiful, spell-binding harmonies, singing their delicately crafted songs with a folk-twist here, a nod to Americana there and a distinctly British sound. Their first release, the "Facing West EP" which was recorded at Highfield Studios, in Liverpool, can be ordered from their facebook page, it's also fully streamable HERE

@ Watford, UK

♫ Folk, Acoustic, Pop

♥ Mexico (mp3)

Friday, November 12, 2010

Leonie Meijer

This post was supposed to be online five months ago but never made it online. Leonie Meijer is an ambitious musician from Amsterdam. She is primarily known for her beautiful renditions of current pop songs by various artists and performs throughout the Netherlands in various configurations. Currently she is working hard but writing her own songs. The first time I heard Leonie sing, was at a concert of Gianmaria Testa, and she blew me away! As a little girl soon became clear that the platform has a familiar place for her. At the age of 14 she began singing, and since then it is impossible to imagine her without music. She followed several courses such as The Academy of Contemporary Music (Lelystad) and the Conservatory of Amsterdam. Private vocal coaches have made Leonie since childhood continue to develop her beautiful voice to a level that Robbie Williams to get nervous. A few years later, in 2009, she gave her first concert in Theatre Theater Bellevue, Calotte Club, with its large repertoire, Dutch. From this collaboration emerged the song "Twijfel". "Kind in de mijnen" written especially for the Sunday Foundation, a foundation established by Sander de Kramer and Hugo Borst. This was so well received that she decided to challenge this year with the Grand Prix of the Netherlands to enter, and in March 2010 it was announced that she was selected are Quarterfinal! Janco van der Kaaden (percussion) and Robert Kramer (bass) accompany her here. In this contest will play Leon in English repertory. She now is a finalist in a dutch talent tv show called The Voice Of Holland, I am glad she is finally getting the attention she deserves. Can't wait till the day that I'll be able to buy her first album, that day will surely come!

@ Amsterdam, NL
♫ Acoustic, Singer-Songwriter
♥ Twijfel (mp3)
♥ Kind in de Mijnen (mp3)
▸ Official Website

Rumer

According to the Slow Songfacts, Sarah spent the early years of her life in Pakistan, where her father was the chief-engineer of the enormous Tarbela Dam, 30 miles to the northwest of Islamabad. The youngest of seven children, living in an expat colony without TV or newspapers, Rumer and her family would often sing and write songs together. Her brother Rob gave Rumer her first guitar; which she taught herself to play, and on which, years later, she wrote all the songs on her debut album, Seasons of My Soul. The singer/songwriter spent her teenage years in Carlisle at Newman School before leaving at 16 to pursue her ambition. It has been a hard slog but years later she is finally hitting the big time and gradually becoming a household name. She now hopes her success will inspire other young people to follow their dreams. Having had her single listed ahead of its release on both Radio 2 and Magic FM, she is also preparing to support Jools Holland on his UK tour this autumn – the finale being a show at the Albert Hall.

@ London, UK

♫ Jazz, Acoustic, Pop

♥ Long Long Day (mp3)

▸ Myspace

I'm back..

Hi everyone,

sorry for not getting back at you earlier, but I have been incredibly busy for my classes, and since I'm in my third year of my Psychology major, it's also really important to give it all the time it needs.

That is why I decided to change things a little at LMLI, go back to the basics that was and still is sharing great music with you. Not in all posts I'll review the artists, but instead will copy some information for the ones that want to know a little about the artists, instead of only listening to the songs.

And that new version of LMLI will start TONIGHT!

Please still feel free to send your recommendations and promo's as it helps me to decided what to put on this blog.

Thanks for your patience!

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Jessica Frech

Call it fate, call it whatever you want but if I had not logged into MySpace today, the first time in months, I would not have discovered singer-songwriter Jessica Frech. Jessica is a guitarist, ukulele player, and enjoys performing barefoot. An interesting quirk to an interesting show where the songbird from Nashville, TN always brings a unique performance that is entertaining and funny. Along with Jessica’s honey and smoke voice, she combines acoustic instruments with a twist of creative wordplay to form humorous and bright imagery that everyone can relate to. Jessica’s sultry voice is compared to such artists as Norah Jones, Ingrid Michaelson and Sarah McLachlan. After years of performing at state fairs, festivals, coffee houses and songwriter nights, Jessica decided to hit the studio for some recording time. Her latest EP “Grapefruit” contains six original songs; happy, zippy tunes that are catchy and fun. Her style crosses musical borders from jazz, to soul, to folk-based pop. Keep an eye on this young rising star that is enthralling audiences with her cleaver lyrics and engaging performances. Jessica Frech is sure to be shining brightly in a very short time.

@ Nashville, USA

♫ Folk, Pop

♥ Jewelry (mp3)

♥ Sinful Wishing Well (mp3)

Monday, August 30, 2010

Alina Orlova

When I stumbled upon Alina Orlova's music on Spotify, I immediately knew that I found something spectacular, that would end up high in my year's top list. Alina's high, hrilling vocals combined with the indescribable beautiful piano parts provides an unique musical experience of balkan folk pop, you will not easily forget. Orlova's fame preceded her first studio album when she was awarded an alternative music award A.LT back in her home country, whilst at the same time also being named a "Breakthrough of the year 2006" Her song Nesvarbu was voted by the readers of highly popular Lithuanian youth magazine Pravda as the best debut of the year. In 2008 her debut album Laukinis šuo dingo (The Wild Dog Dingo, named after a Russian book (by Ruvim Fraerman) for school children about teenage love) was released under the MetroMusic label Later the same year Orlova held concerts in Russia, London, Liverpool. According to her fansite, she is going to perform in Poland, Ireland, participate at Europavox festival in France, and elsewhere. Orlova received positive recognition both worldwide and in Lithuania where she is seen as a huge success - her "cozy" gigs are highly anticipated there. "Mutabor", Orlova's second album, was released last month in Lithuania, while her first album got a re-release in the UK.

@ Vilnius, Lithuania

♫ Alternative, Folk

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Caitlin Rose

Sometimes I feel guilty for not sharing stuff with you earlier, today's featured artist, the talented singer-songwriter Caitlin Rose from Nashville is one of those forgotten hidden treasures. When I listened to her first EP, "Dead Flowers" on her BandCamp in the summer of last year I immediately liked her. She sound like someone that you could meet on the street, singing honest songs about love life and everything in between, and that will make you wait and listen, even in the rain. Her recently released debut album "Own Side Now" which I only discovered today, renewed my love for her, and I could not find it in my heart to keep her away from you any longer, so don't hesitate and start listening!

@ Nashville, USA

♫ Indie, Folk, Pop

♥ The Mermaid Parade (mp3)

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Phosphorescent

And here's another one that I have been listening to quite a lot during the last few months, it was his last album "Here's To Taking It Easy" that made me start listening to all of is his amazing albums and music. Don't miss out! Phosphorescent, fronted by Matthew Houck, is an indie folk/alt country band that is often compared to Iron and Wine, Will Oldham, and Neil Young. Phosphorescent currently resides in Brooklyn, New York and is signed to independent label Dead Oceans. Houck's career began in 2000 when he released the Hipolit album under the name Fillup Shack. A tour of England and Spain followed, and while the European press drew comparisons to Bob Dylan and Will Oldham, the London Evening Standard declared him "the most significant American in his field since Kurt Cobain." Houck's first release as Phosphorescent, entitled A Hundred Times or More, appeared in 2003 on the Warm label. The 2004 EP The Weight of Flight was his last release for the label, as the 2005 full-length Aw Come Aw Wry landed on Misra. Two years later the release of Pride began a relationship with the Dead Oceans imprint. To Willie, Phosphorescent's tribute to Willie Nelson, arrived in early 2009, followed by the all new Here's to Taking it Easy in 2010.

@ New York, USA

♫ Alternative, Indie, Folk

♥ It's Hard To Be Humble (mp3)

Beach House

A lot, I actually think most of you already heard from the amazing dream pop duo Beach House, but since they weren't on LMLI yet and the fact that I have been listening to their last album "Teen Dream" quite a lot the last few months and have seen them play in Amsterdam, I had to share them with you. No one should miss out on the music of this amazing duo. They formed in 2005 in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. The group consists of Victoria Legrand (vocals, organ) and Alex Scally (guitar, keyboards). Legrand is the niece of french composer Michel Legrand. The group has released three albums: 2006’s “Beach House”, 2008’s “Devotion” and “Teen Dream” in early 2010. Within a year of formation, the group charmed indie music enthusiasts across the blogosphere with their languid songcraft. Two months later, Beach House issued their eponymous debut album for Carpark. In September of 2009 Sub Pop Records announced that Beach House had signed and that a follow up album to 2008’s “Devotion”, “Teen Dream” would be released in early 2010

@ Baltimore, USA

♫ Alternative, Dream Pop

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

LMLI is in France

Will be back in two weeks!

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Fiona Bevan

When Spotify was introduced in the UK, I tried it for a few days and immediately loved it. A free legal, way of listening to new music, can't get any better than that right? That's why I was very excited when it finally was available in the Netherlands and have been using it, since. Fiona Bevan might be the first discovery I made through Spotify that's posted on this blog, but expect many other great music, found through Spotify to follow soon! The sweet, fiery warblings of Suffolk singer-songwriter Fiona Bevan have been compared to Erykah Badu, Joni Mitchell and Marc Bolan. Her band simmer and shimmer, her folk songs are inflected with jazz, and her award-winning lyrics pry into the dark corners of love, with a cast of stumbling party-girls, fickle sailors and forlorn lovers sleeping out in trees. Fiona Bevan has been steadily flouncing her blonde afro round gigs in London / Brighton / Manchester / Zurich / Berlin / Glastonbury. She recently faced the judges on Channel 4's "Orange Unsigned Act" with trembling knees and a cheeky grin, and won over Blur’s Alex James with her melodies and guitaring. After a Spring jam-packed with gigging, including the acclaimed Vortex Tour East for the Mayor of London’s East Fest 09, Fiona released her debut solo album called "Plant Your Heart"

@ London, UK

♫ Acoustic, Folk, Jazz
♥ The Revel and the Devil (mp3)

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Josefina Sanner

Not too long ago I discovered this talented female singer-songwriter through a last.fm group called "Scandinavian Girls" Imagine a magical fairy-tale forest, in Värmland (in the middle of Sweden) - soft dark green moss, large gray boulders, stars and sunlight, which is screened through the dense pines. And then move reminiscent of a noisy back street in Paris, with weary steps on rain-soaked sidewalks, cigarette smoke from the small crowded cafes and a false playing saxophone with a few coins in the open saxophone case... there are two distinct environments with Josefina Sanners voice and her songs becomes a very own world. A world full of opportunities, on the border between fantasy and reality, where unexpected things can take shape and form. Josefina Sanner is one of Sweden’s most prolific female singer/songwriters with over 700 written songs. When she now releases her second solo album “Love Case Scenario”, she has drawn inspiration from her childhood landscape. The result is a collection of glittering pop songs that, while being readily available also holding willfulness and exciting secrets and really touch in depth. She and producer Andreas Dahlbäck (who previously collaborated with Anna Ternheim, Thomas Andersson Wiij and Eskobar among others) together have created a minimalistic and enigmatic sound, where Josefina’s unique voice emerges more beautiful and headstrong than ever.

@ Stockholm, Sweden

♫ Pop, Acoustic, Folk

♥ Beatiful Day (mp3)

♥ Row Your Boat (mp3)

▸ Myspace