Tag Archives: new music

dividing-the-darkness
News and Touring

Steve Rivera – New Album ‘Dividing The Darkness’ and QnA

New Album ‘Dividing The Darkness’ available NOW on iTunes

itunes.apple.com/album/dividing-the-darkness

At this point in his ever evolving career, pianist and composer, Steve has taken it to the next level with the release of his stunning new album, “Dividing The Darkness,” To fulfill his creative vision for this project, Steve chose to work with one of the premier new age and contemporary instrumental producers in the world; the Grammy winning founder of the legendary Windham Hill Records, Mr. Will Ackerman. Along with Will’s roster of world-class studio musicians at Imaginary Road Studios, Steve has created an album that has garnered critical acclaim from highly regarded reviewers in the genre, who have described it as having “an astonishing level of sophistication, intensity, and heartfelt emotional expressivity,” In fact, the maestro Ackerman himself refers to the emotional range heard in Steve’s recording as: “a testament to the resilience of the human soul and the power of hope,” And in Steve’s own words: “When one’s talent is realized and pursued in a positive way, its limits may be nonexistent,”

QnA with Foghorn Media

Foghorn Media: What inspired you to become a pianist/composer? Who are your early influences?

Steve Rivera: I have always had a passion for music. I grew up with music in the home. My musical interests comes from several places. My family was and is very musical. My dad plays piano and sings, my older brother Robert (who passed away 6 years ago) was active playing piano, and one of my younger brothers plays piano and is a proficient guitar player. I first started playing music at a very young age. My dad often tells of a story that when I was about 5 years old he came home from work and I was really excited to show him a new song that I wrote.

FM: Tell us a little about how you write. How do the songs come? What gets you going creatively?

SR: Well in regards to how I write songs, it all depends on why I sit down and what I am trying to write. Other times I will just have a tune rattling around in my head and then I will sit down and work on it. I may just be moved by some emotion (happiness, peacefulness, anger or disappointment) and sit down and want to express those emotions through music.

FM: Your bio mentions “you took a break from music to work for a professional ice hockey team” us what went on there and more?

SR: Well back in the mid 90’s I had went to my first ice hockey game and fell in love with it. Growing up in Southern California I surfed and skated my whole life, but I had never ice skated before, let alone play ice-hockey. I started playing ice-hockey and shortly after that I had the opportunity to work for the Los Angeles Kings Hockey team as one of the assistant equipment managers. It was during the Wayne Gretzky years.

FM: What is the first record you bought and why?

SR: Oh wow. If my memory serves me correctly it was Iron Maiden’s ‘Number of the Beast,’ I really liked the album cover.

FM: What current Australian acts inspire you?

SR: Well obviously my current favorite Oz artist has to be Fiona Joy.

FM: Tell us a little about your music and what a crowd can expect at a live show ?

SR: I describe ‘Dividing The Darkness’ as “retrained simplicity that is emotionally moving,” Being that I was classically trained I can easily move up and down the piano to “show off” how good I am. But with ‘Dividing The Darkness’ I wanted to create music that was moving, flowing, and open. Knowing that I was going to have award winning musicians included on the album, I really wanted to leave them room too. So while my album is definitely piano driven, I have always thought of ‘Dividing The Darkness’ as a musical whole, so much more than just piano.

FM: Favourite artists of all time?

SR: Mozart.

FM: Favourite film?

SR: Wow. There are so many. A wide variety from, ‘The Usual Suspects’ to ‘Blazzing Saddles’ and ‘The Princess Bride’ to ‘Awakenings’ and ‘As Good As it Gets,’

FM: Favourite book?

SR: Les Miserable by Victor Hugo

FM: What are your future plans for 2016/2017?

SR: That is a really hard question that I don’t think I can give a knowledgeable answer too. I would really like to see my music move forward, but I realize that while I will do everything in my power to be present and do what I can to move things forward at the end of the day it is really not up to me. There are so many things that happen in life that I have learned no matter how much I plan or prepare life can and does take turns of its own. I am just really excited about finding out what the future has in store.

Website: steveriveramusic.com
FB: facebook.com/Steve-Rivera-Music

Halfway Homebuoy (AUS)
News and Touring

Halfway Homebuoy Upcoming Shows and New Video

UPCOMING shows for Halfway Homebuoy!

15th Oct – Lass O’Cowrie Hotel, Newcastle

19th Oct – Foghorn Brew House, Erina

3rd Nov – Vibes Coast Hotel, Budgewoi

11th Nov - Bellevue Hotel, Tuncurry

30th Nov – Frankies Pizza, Sydney

3rd Dec – Central Coast Party Charter

11th Dec – Beaches Hotel, Thirroul

And heres the NEW VIDEO

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Get new EP ‘The Door’ here: itunes.apple.com/au/album/the-door-ep/id1129622828

If you haven’t yet, read through a QnA with the boys to kick off their latest EP The Door –

Q & A with Jack and Curtis………

What inspired you to become a singer in a band?

Curtis

The meticulous strain of learning covers and not playing them perfect and or well. If it’s your own song you get to decide what’s perfect and what’s right. It’s a pretty good feeling playing your own music and seeing people in the crowd enjoying themselves as much as you do. Kinda if we get you off then we’ll get off kinda thing.

Jack

My old man played guitar when I was young and I always wanted to play. He got me a nylon string and off I went (he still has that guitar). Dad loved James Taylor, Paul Simon, Dylan, and all of those singer song writers, so I guess that is where it started. My teen years in the 90’s in the UK started the band/rock music for me. It was a great time to be around the music scene in England: Oasis, Blur, The Verve even The Spice Girls – ha ha.

 

Who are your early influences?

Curtis

As I came to the understanding that I wanted to be a musician I really liked musicians that were unique and matter what they were doing you kinda knew it was them. Early on I was influenced by a lot of bands. I try and steal something from everybody. I am a bit of a guitar pedal addict so if they are using some sort of effect they are an influence. It’s my way of hiding that I actually have no idea what I am doing.

 

Tell us a little about how you write, how do the songs come? What gets you going creatively?

Curtis

Usually Jack or someone would come in with an idea, then we try to flip it on its head and make it good, ha ha. No, we jam it out in the room with the boys try new and interesting ideas over the old ones. Really the songs only come together with us pushing each other to be different. I work really hard on them on my own, but no matter how hard you plan and think your idea is right everyone else’s is usually better. That’s the great thing about a band its amalgamation of lots of ideas.

 

What gets us going is being in that room together, when everything clicks and we all get a little smirk knowing this feels right; probably the beers as well.

Jack

Sometimes they just happen. The good ones just flow. It’s usually something I’m angry about. I get some chords going but the melody and lyric is what I find most important. Someone once told me to write what I know and feel don t try to fake it. Which is so true and the best tip I ever heard.

After that I take it to the band. Then they make some noises and change some parts and boom we have a new song. I would say one in every three we write makes it to the live set. One in four get recorded.

 

 

 

Your bio mentions “newsworthy angle/funny story or event’ tell us what went on there.

Jack

The Gibson Guitar endorsement was amazing. We had finished pre-production on our album ‘Burning In The Sun’ and we are hanging out in the studio. Marshall, our Publisher & Label) and all round Legend said ‘You guys need anything else for recording?’ Yeah some good guitars, we said and laughed it off. Next day phone rings, it’s Marshall – ‘Go down to the pro shop, they’ve got some GIBOs for you to use’. I jump in the car, the exhaust pipe falls off on the way over, get to the shop meet the Rep, top bloke, we walk out with a Thunderbird Bass, Nikki Sixx Signiture (took it out of the display case for us) an SG and a Vintage Les Paul.

 

Put about 15 grands worth of guitars in the back of my 1000 dollar car next to the broken exhaust I recovered from the road. A few months after that I was added to the Gibson Artists list. Now I put my fancy guitar into the back of my 1000 dollar car next to the broken exhaust.

 

What is the first record you bought and why?

Curtis

It was a Wiggles tape, I was 7.

Jack

The one and only, Chesney Hawks, went halves with my brother it was a vinyl single, I have no idea why.

 

What current OZ acts inspire you? Ditto for international acts?

Jack

I am inspired by a lot of bands and artist we play with. The hard work they put in and the amazing talent that goes mostly unnoticed. Australia has a massive music community waiting to be heard. Tune into some community radio is my advice. International acts – at the moment I can’t stop listening to Jason Isbell’s last two albums.

Tell us a little about your music and what a crowd can expect at a live show?

Curtis

I like to think or music is always evolving, I’m pretty sure we don’t play anything the same twice, we kinda feel each other out and hope that us having a good time shines through. We can get pretty loud but we love it that’s why we do it.

Jack

We really enjoy the live shows and I hope people see that when we play. As for the crowd we will take anyone who shows up, ha ha

 

Favourite artists of all time?

Curtis

For me, it’s Radiohead , NIN, Queens of The Stone Age, Tool and the two Jimmys’ (Page and Hendrix) with a notable mention to Dave Gilmore. It’s hard though, I’ve been influenced by a heap of bands that I still listen to today. I could be hear all day naming people. Once you find an artist you go and find out who influenced them, it’ a never ending cycle.

Jack

Van Gogh. Can’t pick just one for music

 

You are backstage with ‘insert artist you adore or hate’, what do you say?

Jack

Kanye West can you please shut the fuck up

 

Where do you see Aussie music heading?

Curtis

I’m really not sure, I’m hoping away from the computer. Hopefully, more performers and lesson button pushers. Don’t get me wrong there is a lot of talent in some of them and I enjoy it, wish more of them would use it as an instrument and less of a cheat.

Jack

I think we might be on the bottom of a cycle. The music industry is playing catch up with the internet and more home production and electronic music is flying around. We also have the reality music TV shows that are finally loosing their appeal. I believe that one band will come along and start up a big music movement again like Oasis did for the UK in the 90 s. Maybe it’s time for the smaller independent labels to rise as the big ones struggle. It’s music so you just have to wait and let it do its thing.

 

What are your future plans for 2016/2017 

Curtis

We are looking at playing as many shows as possible, doing what we love. Work on new material continue to work on us as band and just do what we do.

Jack

Tour Drink Sleep Repeat. Play shows keep writing and most importantly, enjoy it.

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ONEDAY_SC_PACKSHOTweb
News and Touring

Slow Club – One Day All Of This Won’t Matter Anymore

Slow Club New Album “One Day All Of This Won’t Matter Anymore”
Available 19 August 2016
Out on Moshi Moshi/Planet

How do you keep a band interesting after ten years? It’s a question
Slow Club’s Charles Watson and Rebecca Taylor must have asked
themselves as they started work on their fourth album.The answer
seems to be producer Matthew E. White, the master of Southern-
gothic folk, whose in-house band at Richmond’s Spacebomb Studios
provided the consistency and tone the album required. Almost every
track was played live in the studio, allowing the long-established
session band’s natural chemistry to augment Charles and Rebecca’s,
with the double advantage of recording being very effective, and also comparatively quick.
“One Day…” contains some of the best melodies they’ve yet created.
The duo’s knack for writing hooks and melody has, if anything,
become stronger. There are choruses here you instantly feel you’ve
known your whole life, like ‘Ancient Rolling Seas’ timeless, reassuring refrain of “I’ll Always Be By Your Side”, or ‘Champion‘s Dolly Parton via- Linda Ronstadt anthem of self-celebration through the darkest times.
Perhaps best of all are a pair of songs to be found at the top of what
traditionalists would call “side 2”- ‘Rebecca Casanova’, a slice of
widescreen, four-to-the-floor pop that recalls soft-rock giants
Fleetwood Mac in the way it channels heartbreak onto the dance floor, and ‘Tattoo Of The King’, a tale that takes Neil Young and the Doobie Brothers to the disco.
SlowClub3 - Laura McCluskey- low res
Josh Johnstone (AUS)
News and Touring

Josh Johnstone – Debut Album – Call In Whispers

‘Call In Whispers’ – Available NOW

Find it here: 

iTunes – itunes.apple.com/call-in-whispers

CD Baby – cdbaby.com/callinwhispers

Spotify – open.spotify.com/callinwhispers

About Josh Johnstone:

For the past 12 months Josh has been busy in the studio writing and recording his debut album ‘Call in Whispers’ with Eskimo Joe’s Joel Quartermaine Producing . The now completed album was released in April 2016 and is by far Josh’s best work to date. The first two singles from the album, ‘Rain Dancer’ and ‘Front Light,’ have been servicing radio and were added to various station playlists, including National and Local ABC shows.

Taking cues from the sounds of Boy & Bear, The Temper Trap, Matt Corby, and Bob Evans, Josh marries them with the pop sensibilities of acts like Foster The People and Empire Of The Sun. His experience writing for a range of stylistically different projects – as well as co-writing with Joel Quartermain (Eskimo Joe), Davey Lane (You Am I), Steve Parkin (Basement Birds), and Jen Chloer – has given him the perfect education to meld rock and pop together in sublimely diverse and catchy ways. Make sure to pick up a copy of ‘Call In Whispers’ today!

Heres a recent Interview with Josh –

QnA with Foghorn Media

Foghorn Media: What inspired you to become a singer/writer? Who are your early influences?

Josh Johnstone: I guess like many songwriters, it all began when you were growing up and maybe in the car going on family vacation and changing the words of popular songs on the radio to be about your own silly personal jokes.  I come from a long line of musicians on my father’s side of the family. Making up silly songs around the lounge room fire was one of the most fun, interactive, bonding, and mentally stimulating things you can do with your family and friends. Early influences would be my parents record collection; Tom Petty, The Rolling Stones, Kinks, Lovin’ Spoonful, Led Zeppelin, Neil Young, Cream, Leadbelly, Taj Mahal, Traveling Wilburys, The Beatles, Bob Dylan, John Lennon.

FM: Tell us a little about how you write. How do the songs come? What gets you going creatively?

JJ: My writing comes in bursts. Often I’m on tour/playing five or more shows a week for most of the year. During this time you see so many other bands, amazing performances at festivals, you meet hundreds of interesting and inspiring people, you experience all these different cultures. So there is so much inspiration for song writing. However, with the hectic tour schedule, I don’t really feel like writing much. When I finish a long tour and have a week or two off, it all comes out then. I pretty much wrote the crux of my album in two separate week bursts. I guess its all about giving yourself a lot of great experiences and people to draw creativity from, and then allowing yourself the space and time to let those things come out.

FM: What is the first record you bought and why?

JJ: I was a 90’s kid; the first time I bought my own CDs was in my early teens. I got a five stacker CD player from Cash Converters and the nice guy there said “why don’t you pick five CDs from the rack to fill that new CD player of yours,” So I took ‘Blood Sugar Sex Magic’ by RHCP, ‘Nevermind’ by Nirvana, ‘The Real Thing’ by Faith no More, ‘Vs.’ by Pearl Jam, and ‘Gravediggers Union’ by Soul Asylum.

FM: What current OZ acts inspire you? International acts?

JJ: I really love Boy & Bear, The Temper Trap. But on an up and coming scale, The Elliott’s (Melbourne), Timothy Nelson (Perth), and Eli Schoen (Perth). We have a lot of talent out there. Go see a live a band, real music made by real musicians.

FM: Tell us a little about your music and what a crowd can expect at a live show.

JJ:  All I hope is that they enjoy themselves, the songs, the music, the band and the atmosphere.

FM: Favourite artists of all time?

JJ: Picking a favourite is too hard. It’s like asking a parent to pick a favourite child. I guess I would maybe say Tom Petty, John Lennon, or the collective works of the members of Traveling Wilburys

FM: Favourite film? Place? Animal or pet?

JJ: Films: ‘The Big Lebowski,’ I’ve seen it way too many times. As I have with ‘The Castle,’ I prefer comedy to drama. My favourite place to tour is Eastern Europe (Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania) and favourite pet is my parents’ dog, Millie.
FM: Where do you see Aussie music heading?

JJ: I think the general public needs to support local bands a lot more than they do. Xfactor, The Voice, and Idol are all continuing to destroy the music industry and creating short term throwaway gimmic songs and artists. Something needs to change if you ever want to see classic artists with 20 year careers and countless hit songs again.

FM: What are your future plans for 2016/2017?

JJ: I have just completed all of the launches around Western Australia for my album. The regional touring was a heap of fun and the city shows were more like massive parties with new and old friends than anything else! I am now in Melbourne about to play a launch here, and then I head off on a 2 and a half month tour of Europe, USA, and parts of Asia. It also looks like another tour is already being set up for the USA in March next year. Aside from that, I am planning to make a music video for every song on the new album: five down, five to go. I will be releasing them over the next few months so keep an eye out!

joshjohnstone.com

facebook.com/joshjohnstonemusic

soundcloud.com/joshjohnstonemusic

Instagram: joshjohnstonemusic

Skipping on Daisies
News and Touring

Chris Boscole – QnA with Foghorn Media

Get Christopher Boscole’s new album Skipping On Daisies now available!

Find it here:

iTunes – itunes.apple.com/Skipping-on-daisies

CDbaby – cdbaby.com/SkippingOnDaisies

Spotify – open.spotify.com/SkippingOnDaisies

QnA with Foghorn Media

Foghorn Media: What inspired you to become a pianist? Who are your early influences?

Chris Boscole: I actually started as a violinist and then switched to viola. While I had played around in the meantime on the piano in the house, I didn’t start studying piano seriously until my teenage years. My mother, who was a classically trained pianist, was a big early influence. I was also influenced by jazz artists, such as Oscar Peterson, Bill Evans, and Keith Jarrett. I was lucky to be able to study at that time with the bassist/pianist Gary Peacock (of the Keith Jarrett trio). Later I found my own natural piano style was similar to David Lanz, Liz Story, and George Winston.  I met David Lanz and filled in occasionally at David’s piano bar gig in Seattle. I started doing my own shows around town, playing cover tunes, while working on my originals, and things progressed from there to my first album in 1986. Recently I performed at the Whisperings All Star Concert in Costa Mesa and got to meet Liz after all these years! Lately I listen to a lot of mellow classical piano and other contemporary pianists that come up on my Christopher Boscole Radio pandora channel.

FM: Tell us a little about how you write. How do the songs come? What gets you going creatively?

CB: While everything worth doing takes a measure of work and effort, I find that creativity comes when one stops trying and just relaxes into the music. This being said, one must set aside time everyday to practice, hone and refine their craft, and not rush the art, just let it be natural. The sound of an excellent piano is very important for me to be inspired, and I feel fortunate that life has rewarded me at this time with a 9’ Steinway model D Concert Grand to practice and record on at home.

FM: Your bio mentions a fun quiz, tell us about that.

CB: I took a “what musician are you in another life” quiz once and it came back as “rock guitarist -Jimi Hendrix,”

FM: What is the first record you bought and why?

CB: I was the last child of three and inherited most of the music in the house from my older siblings. I remember listening to a lot of heavy rock in the 70s and 80s with my friends, and going to big rock concerts. When I started buying music, it was every jazz pianist I could find for cheap at the used record store. We also had a great library and I listened to a lot of the music available there.

FM: What current Australian acts inspire you? International acts?

CB: I’m not familiar with much music in Australia, as I have never been there. Although I am aware of Fiona Joy’s music, which I really enjoy. As I live in Kauai, I follow most of music on the internet, and am inspired by good pianists like Rubinstein and music of impressionist composers, easily available on youtube.

FM: Tell us a little about your music and what a crowd can expect at a live show.

CB: Another of my loves is photography and recently video production, which I have combined with my music in some Youtube videos under my name.  When the venue has the facilities, I like to do my multimedia show combining my photography and music live.

FM: Favourite artists of all time?

CB: Keith Jarret, Bill Evans, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, George Winston, David Lanz, Michael Jones, Liz Story, David Nevue, Jim Brickman, David Benoit, Dave Grusin, Ralph Towner, John McLaughlin, Frederic Chopin, Claude Debussy, Erik Satie, J.S. Bach and Ludwig van Beethoven

FM: Favourite food or drink, and a story associated with it if there is one.

CB: Big salad for dinner! Not much into drinking at my age over 50…been there done that! After one beer I am a couch potato.

FM: What are your future plans for 2016/2017?

CB: I worked hard recently during the first part of the year to get out Skipping on Daisies. Now just got the piano tuned and currently working slowly on a new recording project, kind of a best of/favorites album for 2017.  Later this summer, traveling on the mainland, doing some hiking/camping and seeing some old friends. It’s good to find that balance. Some more sheet music is in the works for release this fall.

 

christopherboscole.com

facebook.com/Christopher-Boscole-Pianist-Composer

youtube.com/ChristopherBoscole

 

 

halfwait press shot
News and Touring

Halfwait QnA with Foghorn Media

Halfwait QnA with Foghorn Media

Foghorn Media: What inspired you to become a band? Who were your early influences?

Halfwait: We all grew up in the 90s listening to bands such as Nirvana, Silverchair, Offspring and Blink 182 and always admired them. We looked up towards the thought of playing on the big stage and connecting with people through our music.

FM: Tell us a little about how you write, how do the songs come? What gets you going creatively?

HW: Depending on our moods and what is happening in our lives at the time can determine on the feel and direction of the song. Usually Chris and I have created a good balance of teamwork with structuring songs, but in most cases I write something on guitar along with a melody and bring that into the studio and we build a song around that. With the lyrics, I write about topics that mean something to me or are around me at the time. I’ve been writing poems from a young age so it makes it a lot easier for me to convert it into lyrics for a song.

FM: What is the first record you bought and why?

Jon: ‘Nevermind’ by Nirvana. My brother was into it at the time and that’s the only CD we had in the house. I grew to like the sound of the recording and held it highly in sound quality.

Chris: ‘Follow The Leader’ by Korn. I wasn’t a big fan of Nu-Metal but I always admired people with long hair or dreadlocks, which ultimately drew me to the band. I also liked The Offspring which was my favorite band at the time.

Nathan: ‘Frogstomp’ by Silverchair. I thought it was really well put together.

FM: What current Australian and international acts are inspiring you?

HW: The Deadlove and Violent Soho as they are bringing the 90s scene back to Australia and we dig and admire that. For international artists, we are inspired by and have respect for Mallory Knox for their journey and growth in the international music scene. But also  bands that have been around for a while such as Metallica, Blink 182, Offspring, and Green Day.

FM: Tell us a little about your music and what a crowd can expect at a live show.

HW: Because we have the 90s built into our style the crowd should expect hard hitting drums, strong bass lines, and scratchy guitars with clean vocals. There’s a lot of energy in our performance creating a really great atmosphere.

FM: Favorite films?

Jon: ‘Step Brothers’
Chris: ‘Pulp Fiction,’ because no matter how many times I watch it, I always find something new that I haven’t noticed before about the movie.
Nathan: ‘Django Unchained,’

FM: Where do you see Australian music heading?

HW: With bands like Violent Soho on the rise, I think we will see the youth growing up listening to music similar to what we did. And with people who grew up in the 90s, like us, wanting the music that they heard in their youths back will revive the grunge scene.

FM: What are your future plans for 2016/2017?

HW: We will be finishing off this EP, which we are currently recording, followed by touring Australia, and in between that time we will re release our first EP and an acoustic EP. Then we are planning to go back into the studio in 2017 to record our debut album whilst playing various shows and promotions for a national tour after the completion of the album.

 

 

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soundcloud.com/halfwait-fly-away

Alexi
News and Touring

Alexi Musnitsky – QnA with Foghorn Media

Alexi Musnitsky QnA with Foghorn Media

Foghorn Media: What inspired you to become a pianist? Who were your early influences?

 Alexi Musnitsky: I chose piano at an early age, four years old. After seeing my sister play, I wanted to try and I just stuck to it. I was raised with classical piano, but I was never one to adhere to the rigors of “solfege.” I was lucky that my teachers let me explore my own way to express the music and they were pleased with the results. I am also a fairly quiet person, as some people say “still waters run deep.” I don’t express my feelings or emotions in words. But I do have experiences, good and bad, happy and hurtful. These feelings come out in my playing. This is why I switched from playing others’ music such as classical and began composing my own pieces. To me this is not songwriting, but a form of communication – a way for me to express the feelings I have and to let out some of the memories I keep inside.

FM: Tell us a little about how you write, how do the songs come? What gets you going creatively?

 AM: This is a difficult question for me to answer because I do not have a method or process. There is no plan or template nor do I set aside any specific time to “sit and write.” Rather, I focus on my feelings. For example, a good friend was feeling a bit lost and going through something I went through myself. So, one rainy Paris morning I remembered my feelings at the time and sat down and played.

FM: Your bio mentions working with a French/Belgian project called Daybreak and then with Will Ackerman. Tell us about that.

AM: I was contacted by Will Ackerman and asked to go to his studio, Imaginary Road Studios, to record. This is a story I think other aspiring artists should hear because there is a real “dream come true” aspect to it. I simply started to compose at home on an upright piano with a digital system, an analog to digital converter, and a Mac with Garage Band. My father likened the style to his favorite Windham Hill artists. I posted some of the music on Soundcloud so my friends could hear it. Somehow the music caught peoples’ attention and this gave me the courage to write an e-mail to Will Ackerman. Will answered and, to me, that is the most amazing part. A cold call to world champion of my music style and he answers. It took the financial help of friends and family, crowd funding, borrowed money, frequent flyer mileage, and my Aunt and cousin in the US to get me to Vermont and the Imaginary Road Studios. I entered a studio with Platinum records on the wall and Grammy awards on the shelf and I sat down with Will Ackerman, Tom Eaton and Eugene Friesen and played.

FM: What is the first record you bought and why?

AM: My sister is 3 years older so I followed some her music, such as David Bowe. I had my own Classical piano training so I listened to Glenn Gould play Bach inventions and went to see Lang Lang and Krystian Zimmerman. And I am a big fan of ColdPlay.

FM: What current Australian acts inspire you? International acts?

AM: Well, I am still a fan of ColdPlay. However, since releasing ‘Zia’, I have gotten to know Fiona Joy from Australia – she won this year’s ZMR award for best piano solo album. When I listen to Ludovico Einaudi’s music, I sometimes think “I wish I wrote that.”

FM: Tell us a little about your music and what a crowd can expect at a live show?

AM: The crowd would not be what you would expect. When I was a young child I had played at some hotel resorts in Spain and even the Amstel Hotel in Amsterdam. As you could imagine, it was an older crowd and they seemed to appreciate the music from such a young person. But then I performed for a charity at a Paris university to a young crowd where other artists were definitely not my music style. The result was amazing. The place went silent and remained focused throughout my playing – and then wanted more.

FM: Favorite film? Book? Place?

AM: My favorite film is “The Green Mile,” Favorite place to be is on the ocean in a sailboat. I am certified as a French national sailing instructor and every summer I teach sailing on the Brittany Coast.

FM: Favorite food or drink and is there a story associated with that?

AM: Growing up in France really helped because I eat almost every kind of food. Right now I am thinking of Lasagna… Favorite drink comes from my American side and is Dr. Brown’s Black Cherry soda.

FM: You are backstage with Andrew Lloyd Weber –  what do you say?

AM: I would really like to write music to be used in film (or stage). I think that emotions being portrayed through imagery and music is special. I remember seeing Phantom of the Opera on Broadway and I went home and started playing that night.

FM: What are your future plans for 2016/2017?

AM: I honestly did not know what to expect from releasing an album nor anticipated the reaction of people listening to it. I can say that the positive feedback has been a huge motivator and I am now composing new music and planning to play concerts.

 

 

Social
www.aleximusnitsky.com

www.facebook.com/AlexiMmusic

www.soundcloud.com/AlexiMusnitsky

News and Touring

New Releases this May

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The Mezcaltones – New EP

New self-titled EP from The Mezcaltones available May 20th

Sydney is a long way south of Mexico but The Mezcaltones still know a thing or two about sultry nights and dangerous days – not to mention sultry men and dangerous women.  Blend Tarantino vibes with a mix of sizzling Mexican nights, add some Mezcal tequila (the spirit of Mexico) and you have THE MEZCALTONES.

The Mezcaltones embody the style and attitude of those famous Tarantino flicks, with a little Robert Rodrigues Tex Mex, the 60’s surf rock guitar sounds of Dick Dale and Link Ray, the lavishness of Mexican dance, the sexiness of Salma Hayek From ‘Dusk Till Dawn’, and… you get the vibe.

Comprised of six experienced musicians who came together through their love of cool tones, The Mezcaltones create down and dirty Tex Mex sounds. Their unique style transports you on a journey of intoxicating nights.

Facebook – facebook.com/TheMezcaltones

Website – themezcaltones.com

 

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Halfwait – New Single

New single “Fly Away” is available May 20th

Based in Sydney, Halfwait is a three piece post grunge band composed of Jon Barca, Chris Tallon, and Nathan Stalenberg. ‘Fly Away’ is the first single off their forthcoming EP, which they are in the process of recording. The EP will showcase a new dynamic sound from the band, showing their growth from when they started in 2012.

Facebook – facebook.com/halfwait

Youtube – youtube.com/halfwait

Soundcloud – soundcloud.com/halfwait

Reverbnation – reverbnation.com/halfwait

Spotify – spotify.com/halfwait

Instagram – @Halfwaitofficial

 

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Lily Duval – New Single

New single titled ‘Weatherman’ available May 27th

Based in Sydney, Lily Duval has been performing in blues and folk clubs for many years and has now stepped out of the studio with two new original tunes. Taking her stage name from her Grandmother who was also a performer Lilly has developed a distinctive voice and style which has struck a chord with local community radio Blues Programs. Her writing comes from her own experiences and also long time influences such as Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell and Janis Joplin.

Her latest release, ‘Weatherman’ was recorded at Damien Gerard Studios with the talented Scott Bird playing electric and acoustic guitar and with Andrew Beck on Bass. The addition of an Indian drum gives the track a fuller earthier sound.

The song was written to express Lily’s concern for people who are homeless. The lyrics came from a conversation with a young homeless man who spoke of his disappointment and resignation with life and why he felt for him life was easier on the streets, provided the weather was good.

Facebook – facebook.com/lilyduval

iTunes – itunes.com/lilyduval

 

The Posies (USA)
News and Touring

The Posies New Album “Solid States”

The Posies NEW Album ‘Solid States’
‘Solid States’ will be released in Australia and New Zealand on British indie label Lojinx, via Planet, on 6 May

UPDATE:

The Posie’s new album “Solid States” was reviewed by Bernard Zuel in the Sydney Morning Herald and received four stars!

Find it here: http://bit.ly/1WB4PPG

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Make sure to head over to What’s My Scene and read their interview with Ken Stringfellow! whatsmyscene.com/star-scene-ken-stringfellow

First interview is done! Check out Ken from The Posies on PBS “Mixing Up The Medicine” with Crispi! Airing at 6pm on 26 April!

Australian Pre-Release Links
Click the links below

iTunes – www.itunes.apple.com/au/album/solid-states
CD – www.jbhifi.com.au
Vinyl – www.jbhifi.com.au/music/Whats-Hot/alternative-rock/solid-states-vinyl

Rock ‘n’ roll has rarely been as smart, soulful or satisfying than it has in the hands of The Posies. During an on/off career that’s stretched across four decades, the Seattle-rooted outfit, led by musical polymaths Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow, have shaped and re-shaped their muse, creating one of the more compelling catalogues in modern pop.

The Posies 3 (Credit - Dot Pierson)

With SOLID STATES, their 8th album, The Posies mark dramatic changes in the lives, the music, the evolution of the band.

When the Posies long time drummer, Darius, died suddenly and unexpectedly last year, Posies founding members Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow were devastated. Hard as it was to continue without such a close friend and great musician, the moment called for a reinvention. For now… the idea of the band getting into a room and banging out the music, garage band style, was over. The ideas coming from Jon and Ken were fragile and the moods contemplative. Death, divorce, loss. Even the joys of life are fleeting enough as to be treated with care and respect.

Of course, the Posies still retain their legendary melodic abilities, their trademark vocal harmonies and their lyrical agility. The band has always been exploring, growing. The multi­year gaps between albums are typically spent in countless other projects that bring new skills, sounds, experiences and people to the picture. The band will present the album live in a new format, incorporating laptop elements along with guitars, keyboards and drums. As artists, the band feels it’s their duty to take risks and explore.

The Posies 4 (Credit - Dot Pierson)

“…little has changed in the band’s bracing blend of big, crunching guitar chords, complex keyboard ornamentations and sumptuous, alternately smooth and tangy vocal harmonies,” Derk Richardson, San Francisco Gate

“…try as they might to control their destiny, Auer and Stringfellow were connected to The Posies in what soon started to seem like an unbreakable metaphysical bond … it should be a wonder why the duo didn’t give in to the inevitable sooner: There’s obviously a lot of life in The Posies’ camp,” - Matt Schild, Aversion.com

 

Official Site 
www.theposies.com
Facebook
www.facebook.com/theposies
Twitter
www.twitter.com/theposies
Instagram
www.instagram.com/theposies
Lojinx
www.lojinx.com/theposies

 

 

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News and Touring

The Hollerin’ Sluggers Radio Interviews and Charts!

Tuesday June 14th The Hollerin’ Sluggers on Alive 90.5 with Ross Fear!

Listen to the interview anywhere in the world with the online link: www.alive905.com.au/ross-fear-australian-spectrum-show

Show starts at 9pm!

The Hollerin’ Sluggers’ album ‘The Promised Land’ is OUT NOW and has debuted at number 7 on the AMRAP Airplay charts.

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/au/album/the-promised-land/id1037212987

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Upcoming Shows:

March 24, Thursday — The Sands Hotel — Narrabeen, NSW

April 8, Friday — The Record Crate — Glebe, NSW

April 16, Saturday — Housefox Fest — Narrabeen, NSW

July 10, Sunday — Avalon Bowling Club — Avalon, NSW

August 27, Saturday — Nomad Brewery — Brookvale, NSW

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Check out our Q&A with the band below!

Foghorn Media: What inspired you to become a singer/writer and form a band?

Hollerin’ Sluggers: Love of music. The need to entertain and make people feel good for a few hours.

FM: Who are your early influences?

HS: Artists that improvise and explore different realms of rootsy music, like Hendrix, Zeppelin, Cream, The Doors, Aussie rock from early 70s onwards.

FM: Tell us a little about how you write, how do the songs come? What gets you going creatively?

HS: We come up with a riff or a groove and jam it out first up, then we mould it into a song and whatever it needs to make it work. We enjoy exploring different structures. The band has evolved from the first album, our new material explores new realms.

FM: What is the first record you bought and why?

HS: AC/DC – like most people did in the day, they brought gritty powerhouse blues/rock to Australia.

FM: What current OZ acts inspire you?

HS: Anyone playing hard and touring their butts off on their own back and living the dream. Playing from the heart and not conforming to formulas.

FM: What about international bands?

HS: Joe Bonamassa and Gary Clark Jr, Clutch, Sea Sick Steve, Jack White

FM: Tell us a little about your music and what a crowd can expect at a live show.

HS: We aim to get everyone up and dancing and going crazy by the end of the show. If there is a rafter to hang off or a speaker to jump off, Owen will find it. If you come to our gig and your feet don’t start moving and your hips don’t start swaying you’re probably dead.

FM: Favorites: film, book, place, pet? Story?

HS: Favorite film – ‘Song Remains The Same,’ Favorite book – ‘Sex, Thugs, and Rock n Roll’ by Billy Thorpe. Favorite place – Narrabeen. Favorite pet – dog/galah/fish. Favorite story – Andy used to judge and breed German Shepherds and left it behind when the Sluggers was formed to pursue his musical dream of one day playing in a packed stadium.

FM: Favorite food or drink?

HS: Nomad Beer – they gave us some kegs, a shirt, and a hat. We’re easily pleased.

FM: You’re backstage with one of your influences mentioned earlier, what do you say?

HS: Can we jam with you guys?

FM: Where do you see Aussie music heading?

HS: There has always been pop music for the commercial market and cover bands in  the pubs/clubs and will continue to be so. However, there is a real swing back to original bands playing modern venues not considered the traditional music houses, such as pizza/wine bars and retro records bars.

FM: What are your future plans for 2016/2017?

HS: Touring with some great artists and playing some kickass gigs, recording second album, and getting some national and international airplay would be nice.

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