Jonas Alaska

Today's feature, Jonas Alaska, is  a discovery I made through Spotify's "What's New" section. Jonas (born 1988), from Åmli, Aust Agder, Norway, released his self-titled debut album in September on Jansen Plateproduksjon. Despite his young age, Jonas Alaska is an incredibly talented lyricist and songwriter with a characteristic sound and a strong voice. After a series of shows, including by:Larm in Oslo in February, many have their eyes on the talent from the south. As a consequence of those concerts, Jonas has played many of the larger festivals in Norway this summer. Artists like Paul Simon, John Lennon and Bob Dylan are often mentioned as references for Jonas Alaska’s music, but as southern Norwegian newspaper Arendals Tidende wrote about the 22-year old: Despite his tight trousers, harmonica, boots and guitar, he is no copycat of Dylan. Jonas Alaska has his own characteristics and his own sound, also fit for the present. The album consists of 11 songs written by the artist, most of them during the past two years. The songs range from heart-wrenching songs, to ballads with captivating harmonies and up-tempo tunes with elements of Americana, folk and pop - all with an original sound, both lyrically and melodically. Alaska’s lyrics often focus on themes such as love, politics and tragedy, but also the simpler things in life that everyone can relate to. Other than Alaska himself on vocals, piano and acoustic guitar, this incredibly talented team of well-known musicians contribute on the album: Thom Hell: Guitar, piano, organ, vocals Even Ormestad: Bass, piano, keyboards Martin Horntveth: Drums, percussion David Wallumrød: Organ, piano Marius Graff: Banjo Audun Borrmann: Electric guitar Thomas Aslaksen: Drums Marcus Forsgren: Electric guitar. Don't hesitate and give his music a try!

@ Amli, Norway

♫ Folk, Pop

♥ October (mp3)

♥ Tonight (mp3)

▸  Facebook

▸ Official Website

+ Spotify

John Blek & The Rats

When seeing my favorite artists live, I always  hope they bring great supportacts, wouldn't be the first time that a support act becomes one of my favorite artists. The same could have happened if I would go see Caitlin Rose in Germany in the next few days, with her supportact John Blek & The Rats. I really am thankful of Caitlin for mentioning them on her facebook, cause these guys are great! John Blek & The Rats are John (vocals, guitar, banjo), Niall (drums, harmonium), Luke (bass), Aisling (vocal, mandolin, harmonium) and for the Christmas tour Jack (electric guitar). Taking their inspiration from the revelry of music and friends, the bitter end of the bottle, the bruising passage of life and all that comes with it, John Blek and the Rats are a fresh folk outfit from Cork whose melancholy is tempered by a penchant for a good ol’ hodown and a hollerin’. Raised on a diet of the American folk and ballads of their fathers, John Blek and the Rats are a band whose main aspiration is the song. Currently set to release their third EP “A Long Way From Home”, they are on tour which with some international dates in London and Berlin as well. Don't forget to watch their latest music video for Take Me Home.

@ Cork, Ireland

♫ Folk, Pop

♥ Take Me Home (mp3)

▸ MySpace

▸ Bandcamp

Edwina Hayes

Edwina Hayes is a singer/songwriter who has been a regular performer on the UK acoustic scene since 1999. Edwina was born in Dublin in June 1973 and grew up in Preston, Lancashire before moving to the East coast of Yorkshire as a teenager, where she has been based ever since. Dividing her time between the UK and America, Edwina's second home is Nashville where she is much loved as a songwriter and artist. In March 2003 Edwina signed as a writer with Warner Chappell. Her influences include Mindy Smith, Ray Charles, Carole King, Van Morrison, Nanci Griffith, Richard Thompson, Patty Griffin and Bob Dylan. In 2005 Warner Brothers released Edwina's debut album 'Out On My Own' produced by Clive Gregson and John Wood, and her song 'I Want Your Love' from the album was included on the No.1 bestselling CD 'Acoustic Love'.Edwina appears as a guest vocalist on recent albums by Alastair Artingstall, Christopher Holland, Kate Bramley, Jimi Alexander, Shane Lynch, Joan Coffey and Dan Webster.In 2008 Edwina released her second album 'Pour Me A Drink' on her own label Twirly Music. Much more acoustic and reflective of Edwina's onstage style, it continues to attract an increasing number of sales and excellent reviews. Nanci Griffith's June 2009 album 'The Loving Kind' features Nanci's recording of Edwina's song Pour Me A Drink and Edwina's version of Randy Newman's Feels Like Home features in the New Line Cinema major motion picture My Sister's Keeper (June 2009) starring Cameron Diaz and Alec Baldwin. Also in June 2009 Edwina supported Roger McGuinn on his UK Tour and her 3rd album Good Things Happen Over Coffee will be released later in the year.

@ Driffield, UK
♫ Acoustic, Folk, Pop
♥ Feels Like Home (mp3)
▸ Myspace
▸ Official Website

The Lovell Sisters

Again it's Myspace that delivered me this talented americana trio about a year ago. The Lovell Sisters are an extremely talented trio, consisting of three sisters: Jessica, Megan and Rebecca. It's passion that is the fuel to their writing and arranging, and it colors every note they play and sing on Time To Grow, their forthcoming new album. The Lovell Sisters, who have proven themselves time and again as polished performers, have been praised equally for both their virtuosic playing—Jessica on fiddle, Megan on dobro, Rebecca on guitar and mandolin—and their vibrant vocal harmonizing. With their new album The Lovell Sisters are coming into their own. After their 2005 debut When Forever Rolls Around and 2007 CD/DVD Live At The Philadelphia Folk Festival where they showcased their dynamic musical interaction and interpretive gifts, The Lovell Sisters are emerging as songwriters. Prior to recording their new album, The Lovell Sisters had a deal in place with a major record label. When they realized their original material was not a priority for the label, they decided to opt out and remain independent. Time To Grow features five original songs including the title track, “Time To Grow,” and “Distance,” two of my favorite tracks of the album. When asked about the story behind “Distance,” Rebecca says the chords and melody came in a flash while the lyrics took months to refine. With Time To Grow, The Lovell Sisters share their passion for music with their fans, colleagues, and especially each other. “All three of us have different personalities, different strengths and weaknesses,” says Megan. “But we take care of each other, and our various strengths help lift each other up. As sisters, we’re very much on the same wave length and I think people can really see that in the way we interact on stage.” Lovers of musical adventures that are supported by beautiful instrumentals and perfect harmonies are in for a treat!

@ Calhoun, USA
♫ Acoustic, Folk, Americana
♥ Distance (mp3)
♥ Time To Grow (mp3)
▸ Myspace
▸ Official Website

Madi Diaz

Madi Diaz is Kyle Ryan and Madi Diaz. Kyle grew up in Nebraska. Madi grew up in western Pennsylvania. They were friends with fields and cows and ponies and corn and tobacco barns. They both tried to go cow tipping at one point or another. They both found their way to the big cities. Madi's first city love was Philadelphia. Two years later she found love again with Boston. Kyle and Madi ran circles around each other in different groups of friends and bands while trying to become affluent in the trade of music. They met and began to play together somewhere around the fall of 2006. They wrote their first song together somewhere around the early side of 2007. Kyle graduated. Madi ran away from school, books, and dirty looks but continued to reside in Boston. For another year they continued struggling to play gigs and hang with the cool kids and finally it paid off. They met Ty Stiklorius, current manager and friend in the fall of 2007. Immediately sweeping them off their feet, ty began to reach out and make major moves for the two writers connecting them with the esteemed publishing company Cherry Lane Music and letting them sleep on her couch when their new york city gigs ran late. Things grew and changed as they often do and most recently madi and kyle decided to say goodbye to their friends and lovers they had made and make the drive to Nashville. One 16 foot buget truck, one car trailer, 22 hours and many many boxes of sour patch kids later, there they were in the most musically dense city, like, ever. now they can make more music. and they do. all the time. and they love it. and they hope you do too. Madi Diaz released a solo EP in 2007 called "Skin and Bone" and recently released her first EP "Ten Gun Salute" with Kyle Ryan.

@ Nashville, USA
♫ Indie, Folk, Pop
♥ Nothing At All (mp3)
♥ Let's Go (mp3)
▸ Myspace
▸ Official Website

Tristen

Tristen, is a singer-songwriter from Nashville, a city full of talent thatI would love to visit one day! She released two albums (Among the Crowd and The Lightest Kind) and a EP (Something Good) so far. And is definitely a force to be reckoned with!
One such shining example is singer/songwriter Tristen who arrived recently by way of Chicago. The single-named songstress has been bandying a simple, straightforward pop influenced folk style around town for the past year now. Backed by a revolving door backing band, Tristen takes a classic approach to melody sounds neither modern nor retro, but rather takes on a timeless quality that seems it could have come about at any given year between now and 1972. Growing up in Chicago on a steady diet of radio oldies, Tristen started writing pop songs and playing shows at the ripe age of 14. After making a few records, she landed a publishing deal in L.A. and getting a few of her tunes in placed in television and film. It’s an impressive start at such a young age, but shortly she hit what she describes as a creative “glass ceiling” and knew it was time to move on. She started traveling to Nashville to write with a friend and recorded another pop album. Since arriving in Music City, Nashville, Tristen has long departed from her radio pop roots and done well at assembling a crew of capable musicians to accompany her new style. Work on her newest record is slated for this summer but Tristen says it feels like it’ll be her first. In the meantime, she’s been playing as often as possible around town and beginning to branch out into the regional south.

@ Nashville, USA
♫ Pop, Folk, Rock
♥ Some Other Time (mp3)
♥ Pray For Rain (mp3)
▸ Myspace
▸ Official Website