Destry

For today's feature I have to give credit to the amazing iPad app BandADay, readers with an iPad should really give it a try! Last week I stumbled upon the folkpop duo Destry. Destry consists of Michelle DaRosa and Tyler Odom, who have known each other for the better part of ten years but it’s only been in the last two years that they have gone from friends to band mates. Both of them experienced success in previous musical acts, Straylight Run and Northstar/Cassino respectively, but their time together in Destry has brought them in a different direction. Old fans and new were introduced to the project with their debut release “It Goes On” in late 2009. The duo believes it is their new record that will showcase their musical direction and capabilities with Destry. The songs are dreamy, upbeat, 60’s pop beauties that are equal parts charming and engaging. If “It Goes On” was an introduction, the upcoming release "Waiting On An Island" will be a band-defining album of work that will allow Destry to stand on it’s own.

@ Boston, USA

♫ Indie, Folk, Pop

♥ This Island (mp3)

♥ Don't Break My Heart (mp3)

▸ Facebook

▸ Official Website

+ Full Album Stream

Free Music: Jenny & Tyler

Jenny and her husband Tyler met at the University of Delaware. They met in a bus on their way to church. They started leading worship together and from there began writing songs and eating omelets on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. They spent the first year singing together in the stairwells of the student center. The acoustics were incredible. Sometime that fall they started dating and well, as they say, the rest is history. They are really different, but those differences are part of what make us a great team. Tyler pushes me Jenny to try new things and Jenny keeps him somewhat grounded. Their different musical backgrounds inspire us to create new music. If it weren’t for Tyler, Jenny probably would be writing cheesy country songs and Tyler’d be a virtual Jack Johnson impersonator. In 2007, they released a record called A Prelude. an album with songs that were really just the beginning of what they were to become as a duo. In 2008, they moved to Nashville. In 2009, they quit their day jobs and released This Isn’t a Dream. That spring, they toured for the first time. They traveled consistently for the next year, playing in houses, coffee shops, churches, colleges, and bars. Met all sorts of interesting people, some of whom now feel like extended family, and learned a lot about ourselves. This past summer, they decided it was time to make another record. Gathered a group of songs and went into the studio (aka our friends’ closets, living rooms, and basements). They're really happy with the result. Faint Not chronicles our journey. "As writers, songs allow us to communicate experiences and truths when we can’t find the words to speak them. Our hope is that the songs will resonate with you. We don’t know what the future holds, but we’re thankful for where we are today. Definitely be sure to try out their FREE album!

@ Nashville, USA

♫ Folk, Rock, Pop

♥ Song For You (mp3)

▸ Facebook

▸ Official Website

+ FREE album

+ Spotify

Christina Perri

Not a lot of artist featured here on LMLI are already as succesful in the charts as today's feature. Despite her succes and big record label deal I still thinks she deserves your attention. And definitely should not be labeled as the standard pop artist because this girl shows real promise and authenticity. At just 23, Christina Perri has already lived a handful of lives. She's toured the world as an assistant to a rock band, spent a year at a prestigious university, became a wife and then an ex-wife, produced popular music videos, made olive oil in Italy and even served as a fashionista barrista in Beverly Hills. The whole while, music had been tapping her on the shoulder, trying to lead her down a path as a musician. It seems that fate grew tired of this shoulder-tapping approach as well and went for an old fashioned sucker punch. Last June her song when her song “Jar of Hearts” was featured in So You Think You Can Dance, and became a major hit song with the track sold 200,000 downloads in three weeks. Suddenly a hot property, Perri signed a record deal with Atlantic Records and is in the studio finishing up her debut album, with an eye toward a late fall release. Though she's a newcomer to the pop charts, Perri has actually been preparing for this moment since she was a child. Perri first sang in public at her Holy Communion at age six. Piano lessons began at age 8, followed by musical theater from age 11. At 9, her piano teacher "fired" her (as she puts it), because "I would change the endings to all the songs because I didn't like the way they were written. I liked my version better." Perri picked up a guitar and taught herself to play from watching VHS tapes of Blind Melon (whose guitarist, Christopher Thorn, recently sent her a congratulatory email via MySpace). The songs Perri is recording for her debut album are all about love. She excels at setting dark, tumultuous emotions to stunning, pretty melodies, something Fiona Apple and Alanis Morissette excelled at back in the day. "I would love to bring that back for a younger generation," Perri says. "I had them to listen to when I was young, but girls today don't really have their Fiona or Alanis. And writing about love and heartbreak is just who I am. I've tried so hard to write about other things, but ultimately this is what comes out of me. I have zero capability to do anything that is inauthentic to who I am.

@ Hollywood, USA

♫ Folk Rock, Pop

> Jar of Hearts (mp3)

> Bang Bang Bang (mp3)

▸ Official Website

▸ Facebook

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)

▸ MySpace

▸ Official Website

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)

▸ MySpace

▸ Official Website

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

♥ If the Creek Don't Rise (mp3)

▸ MySpace

▸ Official Website
+ Spotify

Nic Dawson Kelly

Sometimes you discover great new upcoming talents by attending gigs of your favorite artists. (sometimes you don't haha) The same happened when I found out that a Nic Dawson Kelly is going to support Laura Marling in Amsterdam this coming monday.

Born up north in Sheffield, and now residing in the south where he switches his time between Brighton and Reading, Nic has lived all over, travelling from place to place and taking in Derby, Leeds, Reading, Brighton, Galway, London, Argentina and France along the way. “Due to all the moving about I didn't get too much of a solid education, what I did learn was from my father’s bookshelf and the records that I'd hear from the back of the car. My first tapes were Buddy Holly, The Everly Brothers and Dylans "Street Legal" but I suppose influences would run through a wide range of people. Dylan and Waits the obvious. Describing himself as “a polite tear-away in youth who saw enough courtrooms to thankfully grow out of it!” Nic has worked more crap jobs than he cares to remember, “just to keep myself afloat and carry on doing what I loved doing...writing.” It is this experience which brings such a refreshing sense of honesty to Nic’s songwriting. “I try and write, musically, what I see. I suppose it's a simple as that. Writing how I feel or react or suppose is ongoing, conflicting almost. The songs on the record are changeable, a snapshot of the last few years.” Having already gained a reputation as a mesmeric live performer, Nic has played on bills with the likes of Jamie T, Laura Marling, Adele, Jason Molina and Richard Hawley, and a UK tour is currently being planned to coincide with the album’s release, although don’t expect the live show to be a carbon copy of songs from the album: “When they're played lived they may be different. That's a show after all, right?” Well I honestly can say that I'm really looking forward to seeing the live interpretations of his songs this monday. Meanwhile I'll continue on listening to his amazing debut album called ‘Old Valentine’ that was released last October. Thanks Laura, for introducing me to this incredibly talented singer-songwriter.

@ Brighton, UK
♫ Acoustic, Folk Rock
♥ Marilyn (mp3)
▸ Myspace

Sarah Jaffe

Not too long ago I stumbled upon this amazing singer-songwriter from Texas through Myspace. Sarah Jaffe was born on January 29, 1986 in Lufkin, TX. She currently lives in Denton, TX, a city where the musical talent runs deep (it’s also the home of Brave Combo, Midlake, and Robert Gomez). Sarah released her Even Born Again EP in August 2008. She just finished recording her first full-length album, Suburban Nature, in December 2008 that will be released this April. Last week I managed to get my hands on Suburban Nature, that is filled with 14 amazing songs that sometimes remind me of PJ Harvey or the more recent Emily Jane White. Sarah Jaffe's vocals are so intimate and real that I can feel it in my bones. I easily dare to say that this might actually be the discovery of the year for me and that "Suburban Nature" definitely will be in the higher regions of this years top list. I can't wait to see what this year has in store for her, when someone manages to deliver so much quality with a first album, I'm sure it will all be good things. Don't miss out!

5/5

Key tracks: Better Than Nothing, Clementine, Summer Begs, Pretender

@ Denton, USA
♫ Indie, Folk, Alternative
♥ Better Than Nothing (mp3)
♥ Clementine (mp3)
▸ Myspace
▸ Official Website

Josh Pyke

It didn’t take long before Josh’s unique voice and song writing style, influenced by the likes of Elliott Smith, Evan Dando, and Sparklehorse, began to find favour amongst music tastemakers, critics and Triple J listeners. The first taste, the assured ‘Kids Don’t Sell Their Hopes So Fast’, found high rotation on Triple J and soon ‘Silver’ and the gently sweeping ‘Doldrums’ followed to similar praise and airplay. Josh signed to Ivy League Records and shortly afterwards travelled to New York for some further writing, performing and demoing and upon return set about recording what was his debut release under his own name, a mini album entitled “Feeding The Wolves”. “Feeding the Wolves” signified a great deal more than a change in name: It revealed a huge step in the development of Josh as an artist and songwriter. The subject matter was as broad as titles like “Beg Your Pardon”, “Private Education”, “Middle Of The Hill” and “Goldmines” suggest, however it’s Josh’s lyrics that draw this collection of songs together into a complete package. He cleverly dissects human emotion and feelings and shows them for what they are: complex, abstract, fascinating. With production by the much-lauded Wayne Connolly “Feeding The Wolves” had the artist now rightly known as Josh Pyke letting his talent flow without constraint. The words seem to tumble out of him: honest, evocative, and emotional all at once. The playing - again mostly all Josh - is one moment sweetly melodic, then turning urgent and insistent as needs be. This range of feelings, packaged so they bounce around inside your head like good songs do, and given so generously, go together to make “Feeding The Wolves” the sound of an artist beginning to realise an enormous potential. In 2007 Josh released his first full-length album ‘Memories and Dust’. Although the record features three of the stand-out tracks from ‘Feeding the Wolves’ there are a further 8 tracks of similar quality, including the title track, which was the first single taken from the new batch. The release is again through Ivy League Records. Josh’s second album Chimney’s Afire was released 4 October 2008 and was recorded at Sydney’s Linear Recording studios. The first single off the album was “The Lighthouse Song”, and the second was called “Make You
Happy”.

@ Sydney, Australia
♫ Indie, Acoustic, Folk
♥ The Lighthouse Song (mp3)
♥ Make You Happy (mp3)
▸ MySpace
▸ Official Website

Tim Myers

After having heard him sing on several songs of other singer-songwriters I like (e.g. earlier featured Lindsey Ray and Mozella) Tim really caught my eye, and I was pleasantly surprised to discover that he has been releasing his own material as well. Music has been the driving force for Tim from a very young age. Being compelled by piano at age five, guitar and bass were introduced to him shortly after. At eighteen, he joined the Platinum selling band OneRepublic. Myers entered the studio with the group, writing and performing on their debut record, “Dreaming Out Loud”, prior to leaving the band a few years later to embark on his solo career. Myers’ soon-to-be-launched debut solo album will have its pick from over one hundred tracks, which he has compiled in the last year. Recently, iTunes release of Myers’ “The Good Life EP” was highly successful in presenting his carefree tunes, “A Beautiful World” and “The Good Life”. A true songwriter and visionary, Tim Myers does more than write ‘good’ songs. He creates synergy between him and the listener by evoking intimately warm, fresh and cheerful emotions. He finds influence in music's greatest songwriters; John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and Bob Dylan. By also seeking inspiration from The Beatles' catchy melodic rhythm and lyrics, a touch of The Beach Boys-esque harmonies, while infusing his own modern twist, Myers has introduced a unique style of songwriting to the world. A writer and poet, Myers also often finds inspiration from America’s most prominent authors and poets like Charles Bukowski, T.S. Elliot, C.S. Lewis, George Orwell, and Ralph Waldo Emerson. Aside from working on his own music, he continues to produce, write and collaborate with several other noted artists such as Tyrone Wells (Universal/Republic), Lindsey Ray (Original Signal/Epic), Days Difference (Universal/Motown), Mozella (Universal/Motown), Mitchel Musso (Disney), Social Code (Universal/Canada), Schuyler Fisk (Independent) among many others. With his notable success and consistent yet unique songwriting, Tim Myers will continue to make a strong impact as an artist in the constantly evolving music industry.

@ Los Angeles, USA
♫ Indie, Alternative, Folk Rock
♥ The Lucky Ones
♥ The Good Life
▸ Myspace
▸ Official Website

Free Music: The Wind Whistles

Tom and Liza are the Wind Whistles and they live together in the suburbs of Vancouver, Canada. As an indie folk duo, they both sing and both play acoustic instruments (guitar,bass). Sometimes they play alone and sometimes they bring friends, more times not. They think they sound like a cross of Lemonheads and Violent Femmes while people tell them they sound like a cross of the Decemberists and the Moldy Peaches. Beginning in the spring of 2006, they’ve done the usual artist thing: demo, radio, festivals, tours, friends and lots and lots of shows. In 2007, they have released their first full length “window sills” and try to spread it around as much as they can. That’s why they have decided to re-release their 12-track LP under a creative commons license. Aaahh-records, your new favourite netlabel for absolutely charming music, is very proud to have “window sills” their first release and will do its best to promote the album. In April, Tom and Liza have quit their jobs and headed across Canada with the the Greenbelt Collective, then they will head alone to Europe in May, June, July, August, and back across North America in September and October starting from the East Coast. Annually the Wind Whistles organize the Annually the Wind Whistles organize the celebrated local Beanstalk Folk Festival; a festival in which the ‘Folk’ is a loose term for some of their favourite artists that aren’t rock or too loud. The Wind Whistles are notorious do-it-yourselfers and love to meet generous and creative people that make beautiful things happen. So, please do not hesitate to get in touch with them. Get the FREE album here.

@ Vancouver, Canada
♫ Indie, Folk, Pop
♥ Gold Fever (mp3)
♥ Communication's Dead (mp3)
▸ Myspace
+ Free album "Window Sills"

Susie Ro & Ayla

Susie Ro & Ayla is an harmonious folk soul duo, consisting of two incredibly talented songstresses: Susie Ro and Ayla who first made name for theirselves in music by releasing several albums and playing countless gigs. The combination of their voices will astound you with a mix of strife and serenity, politics and peace, and their enchanting vocal prowess compels the heart and evokes the soul. These two travelling Sirens wander this land weaving the tales of their journey through beautiful melodies sewing the seeds for the fruition of a conscious future. They've toured Spain, "hitching there with no money and a guitar we sung our way, stumbling upon tipi communities and glorious secret beaches where we lived and played and mingled our voices with astonishing musicians. Living from busking and selling the new album, from smiles andthe heart-opening generosity of others" And are just about to embark on another kind of journey through the United Kingdom. Recently they released their first album as a duo called "She and I" featuring 12 beautiful soulful folk tracks. You can order it at their MySpace.

@ Brighton, UK
♫ Acoustic, Folk, Soul
♥ Silver City (mp3)
♥ As The Ivy Grows Tall (mp3)
▸ Myspace

Gileah and the Ghost Train

I found Gileah and the Ghost Train through Gileah Taylor the lead singer of the band that also has a soloalbum called: The Golden Planes which I highly recommend as well. Therefore "Be The One" a track from that album is added as a bonus! In Gileah and the Ghost Train, Gileah's voice is just as beautiful as on her debut solo album, but now together with Ava Quigley's voice and the rest of the band, you'll hear a different side of it that I also immediately loved. I think I've found my new favorite band and singer for the next few weeks...!
Gileah and The Ghost Train write songs about doubt, faith, sin, heartbreak, love, and redemption. Gileah’s biggest influences are literary; Flannery O’Connor, Thomas Hardy, and George MacDonald. These guides give the record a powerful sense of drama. Although Gileah and The Ghost Train have been playing together for a number of years, this record marks their official debut as a band. The self-titled LP features Gileah Taylor as the voice and songwriter and Ava Quigley as the second voice/rhythm guitarist/hottest omnichordist ever. Joining them are the ghost members of The Ghost Train, guitarist Kevin Woerner, drummer Ben Phillips, and producer Allen Salmon. Allen wrote with the band, arranged the songs, laid down some wicked bass tracks, and created a majestic tone for the record.

@ Florida, USA
♫ Folk-Rock, Indie, Pop
♥ The Emergency (mp3)
♥ The Sattelite (mp3)
♥ Be the One (mp3)
▸ Myspace

The Online Romance

The Online Romance is an eloquent, rich-with-harmony chamber pop group from Portland, Oregon embodied by Becky Brosnan, electric guitar; Lauren Carter, electric piano; Kirsty Hall, electric organ & percussion; Mike Larson, electric bass; Nick Lawrence, drums; and Jack Saturn, acoustic guitar. All members contribute vocals in some capacity. The Online Romance's music will appeal to fans of musicians like Belle & Sebastian, the Beach Boys, Mirah, the Shangri-Las, the Left Banke, the Supremes, Ted Leo + Pharmacists, Cat Stevens, the Beatles, the Dixie Cups, Burt Bacharach, Saturday Looks Good To Me, Nick Drake, Elvis Costello & the Attractions, Camera Obscura, the Zombies, the Shins, the Toys, P:ano, and any other group who revels in tight harmony and baroque arrangements. The Online Romance has thus far released material on the Recursive Delete imprint and is currently searching for some Daddy Warbucks to take them all the way to the top of the pops. The band is currently expanding its catalogue of show-ready tunes, performing with some of the brightest touring talent, continuing to work on its debut LP, and looking forward to what 2009 will bring. [source]

@ Portland, USA
♫ Folk Rock, Alternative, Pop
♥ Ladybug, Don't Smile (mp3)
▸ Myspace
▸ Official Website

Gifts for you!

It's christmas in two days and that's why I want to share this legal free albums with you.

Merry Christmas!

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Alex & Sam
Sounds Like This: Volume One
Indie, Pop, Folk
See You Through (mp3)
Myspace

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Brooke Waggoner
Fresh Pair of Eyes EP
Indie, Pop
Hush If You Must (mp3)
Myspace

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Jonathan Clay
The Acoustic Sessions
Acoustic, Indie, Folk
This One's For Me (mp3)
Myspace

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Jarah Jane
Underwater Balloons
Acoustic, Folk Rock
Stay Awhile (mp3)
Myspace

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Sean Fournier
Oh My
Acoustic, Folk Rock, Pop
Another Like You (mp3)
Myspace

Leerone

Unfortunately I can't remember the first time that I find out about Leerone's music, I bet it was somewhere on the internet. All I can recall that her name was one I've never heard before ( an Israelian name?) and I was really wondering how you should pronounce her name, something I still haven't figured out.
Leerone was born in the Israeli port city of Haifa. Her family relocated to America when she was still in diapers. Growing up, Leerone attended school in suburban LA while spending summers in her Middle Eastern homeland. “The experience definitely changed me,” she said in 2005. “I think having two homes makes you more open and critical of who you are, because you’re more aware of the things that are shaping you.” If Leerone’s lyrics often sound more like diary entries than standard-issue pop poesy, it’s because the Los Angeles singer-songwriter has consistently endeavored to raise the bar for musical confessionalism. Indeed, on her previous EPs, including “In This Life, On This Road” (2003) and Hail to the Queen, Leerone plumbed the depths of her psyche with the zeal of a woman-child possessed. Now comes "Imaginary Biographies", a full-length album that is at once a work of story-spinning fancy, and an exercise in point blank self-analysis. It’s comically characteristic that Leerone would scrawl pictures while being interviewed. The gears of her fevered imagination are constantly on the grind. In the latest exhibition of her all-encompassing creativity, Leerone not only composed and sung all the tunes featured on Imaginary Biographies, she conceived and designed the CD art. Come to find out, she even designs her own stage clothes (is it any wonder that the singer’s independent record company is called Fussy Music?).

@ Los Angeles, USA
♫ Indie, Folk Rock, Pop
♥ To Fill The Void (mp3)
♥ Rosie Lee (mp3)
▸ Myspace
▸ Official Website

MissinCat

MissinCat is a Singer/Songwriter based in Berlin. She played for six years as the bassist of the Italian rock–pop band Vertigini. With Vertigini she has released a record and toured all over Italy. In December 2006, under the Moniker of MissinCat, Caterina Barbieri founds her solo project. From the beginning she imagines her songs to be extremely minimal and intense, accompanied by simple acoustic guitars and little else. In June 2007 MissinCat wins a price of the biggest Italian summer festival Heineken Jammin Festival: She gets the chance to perform on the stage of the Heineken Jammin Festival with artist like Incubus and Pearl Jam. The Heineken Jammin Festival will also be the sponsor of the recordings of her first album. In summer 2007 MissinCat meets Carlos Fleishmann from the Berlin based booking agency Creative Talent and starts working with him. In October she’ll perform as the opening act of Amy Winehouse in all the German shows of her European tour. In the meantime she goes to studio to start working on her album where she’ll have a great experience in arranging and producing herself her music. In December 2007 she finished the recording of her debut album "Back On My Feet" that will be released early next year.

@ Berlin, Germany
♫ Acoustic, Indie, Folk Rock
♥ Shoot! (mp3)
♥ Everything (mp3)
▸ Myspace
▸ Official Website

Lex Land

Within her swooping, fluty tones, you may hear the ghost of torch singers past whispering velvety and soft, or the roar of a mistreated lioness. Her voice has been compared with those of Judy Garland, Rickie Lee Jones and Maria McKee, but her sound is all her own. Lex Land has lived her 21 years entirely in Southern California, from the High Sierra mountains to the sparkling coast, and knows the darkness beneath its beauty. As a pre-teen in Orange County’s Newport Beach, she aspired to operatic stardom, but soon found her distinctive voice better suited to her own original material, written on guitar and incorporating a unique style of finger plcking. While Land studied voice and musical performance at Chapman University, she began recording demos in her bedroom and drawing crowds to Southern California shows. Producer Shannon Edgar heard those demos, went to a show, and immediately wanted to make the most of her multiple talents. Œ’Orange Days on Lemon Street,’ recorded at Ocean Studios in Burbank, CA, was named for the street in the city of Orange where Lex lived while writing its songs, including “As Much As You Lead,” “Could’ve Had Me” and “Easy.” Those tunes blend honey-sweet folk, melodic pop and indie rock, and their confessional lyrics, from the preemptive knowledge of heartbreak to the painful absence of a parent, drip with a truth that lure the listener into her world.

@ Los Angeles, USA
♫ Acoustic, Folk, Rock
♥ As Much As You Lead (mp3)
♥ All We've Ever Done (mp3)
▸ Myspace
▸ Official Website

Skilla

MySpace delivered me this new proof that Sweden is one of the biggest music producing countries in Europe, if not the world. Skilla's songs sound convincing, and just like their bio is telling me, are sung from within. These raw emotions are packed with a nice mix of unique vocals, violin and harminoca that all combined form interesting songs, which you should give a listen.
Skilla are Amanda Savbrant (Drums, percussion, vocals ), Vanja Gottlow (Bass), Nina Christensen (Lead vocals, violin), Elin Hörberg (Keyboards, harmonica, vocals) and Lisa Godin (guitar, vocals) They make music from their inner, and out comes their own version of alternative rock as you never heard it before. They are bloodsisters from Malmoe in the south of Sweden that luckely found themselves dreaming of the same kind of goals and sound. Tomorrow they are going to take over the world and maybe have a beer in a summer somewhere. So far they've released two EP's (Or Die and As In the Book) and they released their selftitled debut album earlier this year.

@ Malmö, Sweden
♫ Indie, Pop, Folk Rock
♥ Australia (mp3)
♥ Seven Seas (mp3)
♥ Summer In December (mp3)
▸ Myspace
▸ Official Website

Thom Hell

"This perfect mix of instrumental pieces and honest vocals should'nt be missed"

I've been meaning to listen to Thom Hell's music earlier, but with the ever going list of new music, last week I had a first listen to his last album, and loved it! The album is full of catchy folk rock/pop songs, perfect for singer-songwriter lovers like me. Some of the songs have beautiful instrumental interludes, that give the album just that little extra. Recommended!
The Norwegian singer-songwriter Thom Hell ((birth name Thomas Helland) is a favourite with the critics as well as with the live audience. Influenced by artists like Paul McCartney, The Beach Boys, Nick Drake, Pink Floyd and Crowded House, Thom Hell proves himself a master of melancholy and good melodies, with a voice filled with nerve and passion, ranging from the highest to the deepest pitch. He has released t EPs and three albums. After using his backing band "The Love Connection" on the two first albums and the following tours, he has now formed a new band backing him as a solo artist. Hell also contributes on Norwegian singer-songwriter Marit Larsen's album Under the Surface where he joins Larsen in a duet for the song To An End.

@ ? , Norway
♫ Acoustic, Indie, Pop
♥ Darling (mp3)
▸ Myspace
▸ Official Website