IMR Magazine - Indie Music Reviewer

There has been a common theme in many of the Indie Acoustic artists. Adjectives like upbeat, fun and uplifting pepper the articles for these musicians throughout this issue. The Well Pennies personify those three words and wear them proudly.

The husband and wife duo of Bryan and Sarah Vanderpool hit every note and sing every key in their six track self-titled EP. Met while working solo in the Boston music scene, they have found a perfect fit in their harmonies while they trade back and forth throughout the album.

It is Sarah’s voice that will knock you off your feet though. Imagine Norah Jones’ with more body. The composition and the musicianship are quite impressive, and you can hear the Bryan’s background in percussion coming through. Each song is layered with such texture that beat can be felt without their being a drummer to provide it.

Whether it is in the hopeful song “I Hope You Notice Me,” or the love song “You Make It Easy,” you can feel the heartfelt lyrics and emotions that are projected through. In the first you are the young boy or girl at the junior high dance with butterflies in their stomach. The second, you are skipping on cotton candy clouds, holding hands with your loved one, while eating a lollipop.

It always amazes me how often we find music that blows what is being pushed at us on mainstream away. “Nothing To Do” is one of those songs that that just make you love being a fan of music. One of those cross-over tracks that could easily rise on multiple charts, it just has that perfect combination of beat, hook and message that draw a crowd.

“All the Pretty Girls” and “Feels Like Home” are pure showcases of Sarah’s voice. Imagine Zooey Deschanel and Feist for the first and add a country flair to the second. As with each of these songs, it will have you bouncing in your seat.  “String Around My Finger” is a classic country song with nice fiddle work and finger pickin’.

Currently making Los Angeles their home, The Well Pennies worked with producer Michael Woodrum (Joss Stone, BC Jean) to record and release this first release this past January.  The duo provide an amazing combination of vocals, musicianship, music writing and emotion that is hard to find elsewhere. They are truly a hidden gem.

Rating: 5/5 Stars!

Album name: The Well Pennies EP
Release Date: January, 2012
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Band Members: Bryan Vanderpool (guitar, banjo, percussion, vocals), Sarah Vanderpool (piano, accordion, vocals)
Website: www.thewellpennies.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/thewellpennies

Original Article

Have you ever seen one of those old fashioned 3-D puzzles? The individual pieces of wood, if spread on a table, look like a jumbled bit of refuse. Pick up a piece and you can see that it is part of a puzzle, but without putting it together with the other pieces, it never gets appreciated to its full glory.

A band has the same basic premise. Individually, each musician can be seen as an artist and performer, but when combined with the other band mates, that is when magic happens. It is different than with a solo artist who is in full control and leads a group of players. A band has collaboration and give and take between the musicians. There is a different feel compared to an artist and a backing band.

Horse Bones is the first band to be covered for Indie Acoustic, and while it is led by Tyler Godfrey, Ben Wilson, Dillan Stracke and Dan Fields round out a very nice quartet. Born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah, this may very well be the first band of Mormons you have ever heard. Influenced, but not driven by their faith, it has inspired a sample of roots rock music comparable to much of what is out there gaining attention these days.
The indie folk/Americana tag is being placed on a broad range of artists these days, from Bon Iver and Fleet Foxes to Mumford and Sons and the Avett Brothers. It is the hot style right now and there is no shortage of talent. Godfrey and the boys could be categorized with these bands, but that would only paint half the picture. Drop the big brush and focus on the details.

While there is a foundation based on roots rock and folk music, there are distinct elements of other styles such as the country twang of the guitar, a harmony that harkens back to 60’s psychedelia and some good ole’ blues mixed in. The two tracks we were given for this issue were live tracked and you can feel the raw emotion in the lyrics.

Both “Colusa” and “Desoto” are therapeutic songs. Written about a broken relationship, each word is a release and the music cleanses the soul. The first track stays close to home in a slow burner. “Desoto” opens up a bit with a little fun in the upbeat tempo. The off-key piano that jumps in and out after the first few verses are a beautiful touch that create great texture in this track.

I had the chance to ask Tyler Godfrey a few questions about the band and Salt Lake City. Here is what he had to say:

For those of us who don’t know the band, describe Horse Bones…

I would say Horse Bones is approachable because of the honesty and rawness, especially on the debut EP Peninsula we just released, because everything was live tracked including the vocals. When I first started writing I had just gotten out of a difficult relationship and making music seemed to be the only thing that helped.. That definitely comes out on the record. I find it kind of hard to put us into a genre, but we’re probably in the Indie Folk area of music.

Is there a story or importance behind the band name?

Not really, our friend came up with it and sort of just stuck because we needed to call ourselves something for live shows haha..

Where did you all meet and how did the band form?

I originally formed Horse Bones in Denton, TX but things didn’t really work out there so I moved back to Utah and started playing with Ben Wilson who plays bass and sings in a band with our guitarist and drummer Dillan Stracke and Dan Fields. The four of us have been together since February of this year, so not too long ago.

What is the music scene like in Salt Lake City?

It’s a small big town, if that makes any sense, but the music scene in Salt Lake and Provo (30 mins south) is blowing up. A lot of bands are getting signed it seems like. We’ve played and become friends with some really amazing acts here.

Take us through the process of writing a Horse Bones song…

Most of the songs are written about personal experiences and feelings going on in my life at the time. Sometimes I can start and finish a song in a day or two, and other times I can sit there for hours and come up with just a line.. but regardless we love the process and the work it takes.

What subject matter inspires you?

Well I think with all of us being raised Mormon has somewhat of an influence on our subject matter, but I wouldn’t say it inspires us. It’s evident on the EP that some of the songs have references to my upbringing. But I’d probably say that I get a lot of inspiration from my life experiences and the process of learning from them.

How is the full length album coming and will there be any differences compared to the tracks on the EP?

We’re actually in the process of recording our full-length right now, and it’s quite a bit different than the way we live-tracked our EP. I think our sound on the record so far has evolved into something surprisingly different, because of the way we’re writing and recording. We all write and record our parts separately, so it’s putting a different spin on things and it’s turning out to be pretty cool. It should be finished by the end of summer and available this Fall.

Who were your musical influences growing up and who are you listening to now?

I was raised with Bob Dylan, Neil Young, and 60’s Americana that my dad grew up on. But I’ve gone through different phases as most of us do, but i’d say I’ve been listening to a lot of Grizzly Bear, Tame Impala, and Fleet Foxes lately.

Are there any plans to get on the road where and IMR reader might get to see you live?

Oh yea, we’ll be hitting the road for a small West Coast tour this summer, and then after our full-length is ready we’ll pretty much be touring non-stop to promote the record and build a good fan base. I think that’s the best part of music though, actually seeing a band you’ve grown close to and then experiencing it live with them, it can be a real special thing. So, we definitely look forward to touring and getting to meet a lot of our new and current fans.

What does it mean to be an IMR Indie Acoustic winner?

It’s exciting and a great honor, thank you so much guys!

We’ll be looking forward to that full length album and hope to catch these guys live in the future. Those readers on the west coast should keep their eyes out for Horse Bones. If they hit your town, go support them and show them some love!

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars!

Album Name: Peninsula
Release Date: April, 2012
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Genre: Acoustic, Folk, Indie Folk, Americana
Members: Tyler Godfrey, Ben Wilson, Dillan Stracke, Dan Fields
Website: http://www.horsebonesmusic.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/HorseBones
Reverb Nation: http://www.reverbnation.com/horsebones

Original Article

Many acoustic artists could quiet a room from just strumming their acoustic guitar and singing their lyrics. Emily Wolfe is no exception, especially when she belts out the following lyrics from  “Dance on the Record Grooves”, the first song on her debut album Director’s Notes.

If you leave the light on your face
Is making me feel like your a dream
Cause I’ve been chasing love down empty streets
And they cut me clean
Promise I’m not perfect
But I promise that I’m perfect for you

So we’ll put the needle down and record grooves
Honey we’ll shake the pain away and feel it in our ankles
And I’ve been wrong and I’ve been right, but I’m not running to fall behind 

Throughout her album her voice echoes and it gives off an angelic feel to her voice. She sings all of the vocals and plays all of the instruments on the album, including acoustic guitar and drums, which she learned to play when she was seven. She might sound like Sarah Bareilles to some listeners, only difference is she rocks on a guitar and not a piano.

Emily Wolfe is a folk musician from Austin who hopes and dreams to perform and play music for the rest of her life. I had the opportunity to interview Emily and here is what she had to say about her background, music, and her passion.

ES: Tell me a little bit about your background in music- how you got started?

EW: Well I started playing music when I was seven. I took guitar lessons with a music teacher an hour away from my house in North Carolina. He tried teaching me how to read sheet music, but I was bad at it, so he taught me how to play drums instead. Then I picked up guitar and piano later. Then I moved to Texas when I was 10 and in high school I was in marching band and played french horn.

Recently I took an audio engineering class at a local community college. My professor really liked my music, had a studio and I was able to record my album.

ES: What inspired you to start playing acoustic music?

EW: I think that acoustic music is more genuine. I think you get the feeling out of singing and playing guitar only. There are no other instruments interfering with your music. It’s more natural.

ES: How did you come up with the title for your album? 

EW: I was writing my lyrics last summer when I was going through a bad relationship fall out. The title of my album comes from Shakespeare’s play As You Like It and the quote about all the world’s a stage:

All the world’s a stage;
And all the men and women merely players:
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts,

I wrote at that time because it was cathartic to get through everything. I felt like I was playing all the parts out, like Shakespeare goes on to talk about the infant and the school boy. I was going through the seven stages of grief and I know it took me seven months to recover. But the whole time I felt like I wasn’t directing my life, someone else was directing my life.

ES: What artists are you inspired by? Who would you love to perform with??

EW: I’m inspired by Ryan Adams, Amy Milan (Stars), Sarah Jesse, Simon and Garfunkel, The National and Jenny Lewis. And, I would probably have to say Ryan Adams, because I’ve always been fascinated by him; seems like a cool guy. He’s made so many albums, he’s prolific. It would be fun to learn from him.

ES: What’s it like to play your music for fans and just share your passion? 

EW: It’s the best feeling. There’s an energy cycle in live shows that is amazing. You give out energy to the audience and they give it back to you. It’s what I want to do for the rest of my life. When I write my lyrics I hope people connect with them. I hope people listen and react to certain parts and say wow I always wanted to say that but never knew how.

If you live in the Austin area please check out Emily Wolfe, she’s opening for Wild Child on June 15th and will be playing at the Austin City Limits Music Festival this fall.

Rating: 5/5 Stars!

Album Name: Director’s Notes
Release Date: February, 2012
Genre(s): Folk Pop/Indie Rock
Location: Austin, Texas
Members: Emily Wolfe (all vocals & instrumentation except for bass and cello - Joshua Zarbo: bass, Diana Burgess: cello)
Pertinent Album Info: Engineered by Tim Dittmar at Las Olas Recording in Georgetown, Texas; Mastered by Pete Johnson at  Woodford Mastering
Website: emilywolfemusic.com
Facebook: facebook.com/emilywolfemusic
Twitter:  twitter.com/emilywolfemusic
Reverbnation: reverbnation.com/emilywolfe

Original Article

When you first listen to Nick Urb’s music, you will probably assume he is a seasoned acoustic musician. Well, you know what happens when you assume, right? We Were Able is actually Nick Urb’s debut album, but you would never know it. His soft, gentle vocals and music arrangements on each song are proof that making music is what he is meant to do.

Along with his musical talent, Nick is also filled with nothing but positive energy. As he states on his ReverbNation bio, “I think there is way too much negative in the world and my music offers me the chance to just escape from all of it. So please just take a listen and hopefully it gives you a place to go.” Urb’s music will definitely give you a place to go in order to escape. With smooth vocals, relatable lyrics, and a calming blend of instruments, Nick Urb deserves to be put in the same category as artists similar to his style like Brett Dennen, Joshua Radin, and Damien Rice.

On the first track, “Matter of Time,” there is a sense of hope and positivity. He knows that things will happen for him one day through his hard work and determination. The use of brushes on the drums gives the song a catchy and almost infectious feeling. “Violet” is bound to be another popular track, in which Urb sings a sweet love song listing everything he loves about the significant other in his life. It’ll have ladies saying, “Aww” and might even inspire men to play the song for their significant other if they are having trouble putting their feelings into words.

It was impossible to not put Nick Urb on IMR’s elite list of musicians for the Indie Acoustic Issue. He is the perfect example of an indie acoustic musician and will do big things in his future. IMR had the opportunity to ask Nick some questions about his inspirations, music, and what he hopes to achieve through his music. Here’s what he had to say.

What inspired you to write your first album, We Were Able?

Well, I was in another band that was quite a bit heavier, and whenever I would write a song that I didn’t feel really fit with that style, I would just save it. That was probably around seven years ago. So most of the songs are really old. We Were Able is really just a collection of all the songs I wrote that weren’t really a fit with the other band. I put old versions of some of these songs out a long time ago and people really seemed to like it. Kids would always come up to me at my other band’s shows and ask when I was going to release my own stuff, so I decided to pick out some of the ones I liked most and make an album.

What type of music did you listen to growing up?

I listened to a lot of different stuff. My dad would always be playing great, old rock stuff like Journey, Boston, Van Halen. I loved Michael Jackson for all the pop/R&B type stuff. A lot of Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan. Frank Sinatra was on a lot. So really, anything.

Who has influenced your style of music?

That’s a tough question. I think it’s more the events in my life that influence my music. As for artists though, I listen to a lot of Lisa Hannigan and Damien Rice stuff. John Mayer and Joshua Radin are big ones too. Iron and Wine, William Fitzsimmons, Bon Iver. Anything that I feel actually has some emotion to it. I have to believe it. If it seems like the artist is putting on some sort of false front, I’m not a big fan.

I really enjoyed the music arrangement and lyrics in “Matter of Time.” What inspired you to write this song?

Well, one of my best friends from growing up is in a very successful band that’s always on the road. I’ll talk to him, and he tells me stories and shows me pictures and whatnot. Every time I talk to him, it just really reminds me how much I want to be doing that. “Matter of Time” is really just about the passion I have for what I do and the determination I have to make something of myself.

Where do you stand with making a profit on your music and how do you feel about musicians who are giving away their music for free?

It’s really tough for me. I mean, on one hand you have to make money to be able to live as a musician, but on the other hand, I feel so bad taking money from someone for something that I just enjoy doing. If I was able to have some success and save up some funds to live for a while, I would absolutely give away my albums for free. Radiohead is a great example of this. They made their living, then to give back, they let people pay what they wanted for their album. As a bonus for your readers though, I am going to give away We Were Able [Editor’s Note: Keep an eye out for a CD Sampler of all Indie Acoustic artists coming June 4th] for free for the month of June. Being so underground, free stuff always helps you get out more.

What’s next for Nick Urb? Will you be touring in the future?

I have a few shows coming up in the next few months. Just some local festivals and stuff like that. I’m trying to put together a tour right now actually for the end of summer, early fall. I have some friends scattered around the east coast, so I’ll probably start there. Everything is still in the very early planning stages, so Facebook and Twitter are a good place to look if people want updates on all that.

What do you hope to achieve with your music?

Happiness. I just want to tour and play music, meet as many people as I possibly can. I absolutely love having conversations with new people. Every person has such a different outlook on everything. My music is always something that I can sit and play when I need it. Whether that be for 10,000 people, or just me alone at home. My music offers me an escape from everything going on around me. None of the hassles and stresses of our modern world matter when I’m playing. I can just forget them for a while. I hope my music can resonate with people and offer them the same peace that it gives me.

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars!
Album: We Were Able
Release Date: March, 2012
Genre(s): folk, acoustic, indie, pop
Location: Clawson, Michigan
Band Members: Nick Urb
Facebook: www.facebook.com/nickurbmusic
Twitter: www.twitter.com/nickurbmusic
YouTube: www.youtube.com/nickurbmusic

Original Article

Nicholas Williams is Whetherman. Singer, songwriter and more; Whetherman is creating sunny, soulful folk music that is irresistible. Being completely independent since 2009, Whetherman has taken to producing, booking, managing and promoting his albums on his own dime.  Wind in the Trees is his latest release, and what a gem it is. Acoustic guitars, harmonica, tambourines all combine to create this sound that will lift your spirits and feed your soul.  At times crooner, other times folk singer, Whetherman’s voice is just as unique as it is reminiscent of other great vocalists that have come before him.

I had the chance to ask Whetherman  a few questions (one being where he got his name from, and it’s a very cool story) and his down-to Earth answers made me appreciate and respect him and his music even more:

KC: First, let’s talk about your stage-name and why you chose it:

NW: Well for the first 5-6 years that I started performing and recording albums, I was under my own name “Nicholas Williams.” I had no idea what style or niche I wanted to embody during that time, and I came to somewhat of a crossroad during college where I chose to keep my worlds a bit separate. I took into account the number of singer/songwriters doing the same thing I was doing, with much less common names, and decided to take some time off to hone in on a pseudonym and generate a style I could call my own.I came across an old book I remember reading when I was younger, called “The Phantom Tollbooth.” The message behind the book is what grasped me… question your surroundings and consider the suspected “norms” in our society, open up the adventures in your mind. After looking into some of the characters, I decided on “The Whether Man” who the young boy Milo meets first in the story. He brings up the idea of uncertainty and he’s the first of many who will effect Milo’s perspective. One of my favorite quotes from him is “Whether or not you find your way, you’re bound to find some way.”  With the music I create, I want to help people not only gain/lose certain emotions, but change the way they look at things. It only seemed appropriate, but I had no idea how hard it would be to communicate that it’s not spelled “Weatherman” haha!

KC: Going back to the recording of Wind in the Trees, it feels as if you recorded this somewhere in the countryside. It’s very organic, breezy and beautiful! Was that your intention when recording?

NW: Why thank you! :) The organic topic was the first thing that was discussed between co-producer/engineer Matt Grondin and myself. Matt has always been quick to point out the easy-going feeling behind the folk songs that I’ve been writing in the last albums, and I wanted to elaborate and evolve that in the most tasteful way possible for this record. There are several ways to make this happen throughout the tracking/mixing process, but what we decided was to lay down each guitar and vocal part together for every track, and build the supporting sounds around it, something I hadn’t done in my three previous albums. This isn’t common, mostly because of the “bleed” between microphones and the difficulty in going back and re-recording each instrument/vocal take. The organic sound is already captured when this is successful, it’s almost as if you’re sitting next to me while I’m playing, which in turn has much less of a production feel. With the songs, I do my best to create beautiful music (be it sad, nostalgic, sweet) and the instrumental accompaniment has to parallel that. Matt and I played most of the instruments that you hear, and we happened to have a world-class percussionist/friend in town named Nate Werth (from a group called Snarky Puppy) who was able to lay down his parts in less than 2 days of work. We definitely had not intended to record the entire album in 7 days during the brainstorm stages, but the result ended up being the most natural recording process I’ve had the chance to go through.

KC: Right now you are doing a Kick-starter campaign to help support a nationwide tour. Do you think sites like Kick-Starter and Bandcamp are helping indie bands and musicians stay independent?

NW: Absolutely! I was very impressed when I discovered Kickstarter. There aren’t many online platforms that use incentive programs to generate funding. When you enable listeners to be rewarded for contributions to artists and bands, everybody gets what they want. In staying independent these days, there’s a lot of continued discussion about piracy/rights/royalties and how they affect artist income. I think there’s a big misconception with the amount of control we as independent artists have, on both sides of the spectrum. Yes it’s absolutely hard to sell music… people are quick to buy applications on their phone for .99 cents, the same cost for one song that can make or break a career, for those seeking that path. But there’s never been a time such as now, where the range of reach has been more accessible and effective. Websites like Kickstarter and Bandcamp are newly forming editions that are helping this independence and put money in the hands of the creators, surely. But it’s literally a matter of how much you decide to put into it using the available technology and your own two hands creating the product. You don’t need a label to make a living in music anymore, which is a beautiful thing for a control freak like myself :)

KC:  ”The Sun and Penelope” is such a wonderfully catchy song. How did that song come about?

NW: That is very kind of you to say! I have a tendency to have at least one ukulele based track per album (besides the first release “Bull” ) and I had actually written the words to it when I first moved from Chicago to Florida in 2009, though it wasn’t recorded for another two years. The story line is pretty simple… you get dumped, they leave, you chase, you try again, they leave, you chase, you try again. Musically, I had a lot of influence from classic greats like Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles and Sam Cooke, and I think the combination of moving to the beach and listening back to some of these artists created the feel for that tune. The G7 chord and the turnaround progression in particular brings me back to a different time of music.

KC: How did you react when you heard you were chosen to be a part of our Indie Acoustic issue?

NW: Well of course I was very excited! I hadn’t had a review of an album or magazine press in a few years, and the pleasant surprise of not only getting into IMR but a specialized issue that relates to my genre is an accomplishment I’m very proud of. I’m grateful for any opportunity I can get!

———————————-

Whetherman is now on tour and could really use your help! Check out his music, and if you are so inclined help support independent artists so they can keep creating music that we all love.

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars!

Album Name: Wind in the Trees
Date Released: 2011
Genre(s): Folk, Acoustic
Location: Neptune Beach, Florida
Band Members: Nicholas Williams- Singer/Songwriter, Guitar, Harmonica, Ukulele
Website: http://www.whetherman.net/#!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Whetherman
KickStarter: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/whetherman/support-whethermans-nationwide-tour

Original Article

There is a much sought after trait in a musical artist; the ability to transport the listener’s emotions to another world. In this regard, Helen is a magician. When she sings, “I can make you smile without even trying” on her album Treehouse, she isn’t lying—her musical emotions are purely contagious. When she is happy, you are happy. When she is sad, you are sad. Lucky for us, Helen Austin is usually very happy.

Like the very best acoustic performers, less is more for Helen. Without the bells and whistles, Helen’s full personality is let out to shine as bright as a sunny spring day. The opening song on Treehouse, “Everybody,” shares a life philosophy in simple affectionate terms that wrap around the listener’s heart like a warm hug. The closer, “Wonderful Day,” is the theme song you’ve always wished was playing whenever you go out for a stroll.

With a sweet bobbing voice and lyrical playing, Helen’s sound fits right in with the likes of Kimya Dawson and the plethora of bands starring Kimya Dawson, but without the sense of ironic detachment. Helen’s words and notes are real in the way the best moments in life are real, and she is sincere in every phrase without losing one precious moment of quirkiness.

A mother of two, Helen Austin is able to look at the world in child-like wonderment, but also has the maturity to reflect on and articulate that wonderment. Her songs, like her album’s namesake song “Treehouse,” where she suggests to herself, “I gotta get out of my head,” are reminders that there is a world out there to explore.

Helen is not all rainbows, though, or at least, she knows that oftentimes rainbows have to follow dark clouds and heavy rain. The songs “Don’t Ask Again” and “Something to Cry About” delve into the darker side of the emotional spectrum, and in “It Takes a Lifetime,” we travel with Helen into true tragedy.

Whatever the feeling, Helen helps us feel it. She was nice enough to discuss with me her life, her music, and how each one affects the other (if they can be separated).

How many kids do you have? If you’d like to, tell me about them.

I have 2 kids… a girl and a boy nearly 15 and 10. My daughter plays fiddle and does backing vocals at gigs with me and she is also an aerialist so is incredibly strong. My son also plays fiddle and is one of the cheeriest people I have ever met :)

How do you think being a mother informs your music?

Being a mum means that I don’t have a whole lot of time, which means I have to use it wisely. Sometimes I only have 15 minutes, so I start a song or something. They are also great critics… especially as I am recording a kid’s album right now. I have also just finished recording a new album with producer, Bleu, in LA and my teen daughter’s feedback was invaluable. After all she is a rabid music purchaser (and I do make her BUY music).

Does it present any unique challenges?

The older the kids get, the more important it is that I am around a lot so they do come first… so the hours they are at school is serious music production time and I quite enjoy that deadline of 2pm… I get a lot done :)

Who is the song “It Takes A Lifetime” about?

The song ‘It Takes A Lifetime’ was written for a documentary ‘Taylor’s Gift’… still in production. It is about losing a teenage daughter and then donating her organs and the parents have started a foundation to raise organ donation awareness. The song will be featured in the doc when it comes out.

You are quite the prolific songwriter, taking part in challenges like “Song of the Week” and FAWM’s “50 songs in 90 days.” Have you unlocked some secret songwriting technique?

The secret to songwriting is to do it a LOT… that is why I like the challenges. It makes me write and there is a forum to put the songs for feedback. Treehouse came out of the 2010 “50 Songs in 90 Days” challenge. Although I didn’t finish the challenge I got enough songs to choose from to make an album.

You started out as a classical flutist, right? Does that kind of musicianship translate to what you do now? Is it present at all, or is your current music a different kind of experience you had to start from the ground up?

I did start out classically on flute, violin and piano, but university changed that and I discovered singing and writing. The classical background has been so handy when producing. Having all that theory and knowledge to contribute to arranging a song really helps. It also gives me lots of confidence when out in the world of other musicians. It’s a language all of its own which I feel really comfortable in.

Do your songs usually come from specific snippets of your life, or from more general emotions you have on certain subjects? Like, is the song “I Can Make You” about anyone in particular?

My songs used to be very autobiographical, but as I write so much I now draw from all sorts of things. Usually rooted in something I feel, but it could be a book, a movie, a friend. I am really lucky in my own life… great husband of 20 years and great kids, that when I want to write a sad song I either think of something that someone is going through or draw on past experiences. “I Can Make You” is probably related to watching my daughter and her friends and all the boy stuff. Lots of songs start out being about nothing, just words and then they evolve. It’s interesting to find out what I’m really thinking about subconsciously.

You’ve had your music featured on the show “One Tree Hill,” the movie Mayor Cupcake, and MTV’s “My Life as Liz,” to name a few. Whats the process involved in having your music featured in media?

The process in getting my music licensed was really exciting… it was my goal so I really worked hard at finding the right publisher and contacting as many music supervisors as I could. I have written a couple of blogs about it (http://passivepromotion.com/4-steps-to-film-and-tv-placement, http://passivepromotion.com/4-steps-to-film-and-tv-placement)
to help others head in that direction. I am lucky to have a great publisher and am now signed to them exclusively, and they are involved in my new album with Bleu.

You’re working on a children’s album right now, right? Hows that going?

The kids album is going great and I am going to get my daughter, Daisy, to play and sing on it. Every gig we do people ask if she is on my album so I am going to make it happen. I have so many kids sounding songs that it may be a double album. Some songs are for kids and some are for the parents.

What else do you have planned? What’s next?

As I said, I have just finished a new album with Bleu. It is very different to my other stuff… a kind of organic, electronic sound. It keeps the integrity of my vocals with some amazing and varied production. Bleu has produced people like Demi Lovato, The Jonas Brothers and Selena Gomez… his own stuff is power pop. Both the kids album and the album with Bleu should be out sometime after September.

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars!

Artist: Helen Austin
Album:  Treehouse
Released:  January, 2011
Genre(s):  Alternative, Folk, Acoustic, Pop
Members:  Helen Austin
Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/helenaustinmusic
Reverbnation:  http://www.reverbnation.com/helenaustin
Website:  http://www.helenaustin.com/
Bandcamp:  http://helenaustin.bandcamp.com/album/treehouse

Original Article

A hush can quickly overwhelm anyone who might fall victim to the hypnotizing sound of Roger Gupton, Raleigh, North Carolina’s resident indie protégé. What might sound like upbeat melodies, brimming over with hope and climactic hooks, can quickly bring your head out of the clouds, when finally you realize how melancholy the lyrics really are. Yet there is something completely satisfying about this, as your ears receive the sweet and your mind, the sour.

“Out of the silence
Shrugging it off
You wait for the moment
It’s already gone
Out in the silence
The permanent frost
Gone in a moment
Forgotten & lost”

Gupton’s simple lyrics put much of the focus on the density of his melody driven tunes, as its complexity proves that he is indeed a man of many hats. Acting as producer, engineer and arranger during the production of his tracks “Out of the Silence” and “Three Days” (released in 2010) Gupton has also provided most of the lead instrumentals.

Although though there is nothing cryptic about his music (or rather his lyrics for that matter), Gupton transmits an air of mystery with his smooth, honeyed voice, making you wonder what else there could be beneath his surface.

Roger Gupton’s sound is raw, light and very pleasing to the ears. So what inspires this artist? What makes him tick? Here are the answers:

Describe your sound. Who is Roger Gupton?

I’ve been told that my music is introspective, and I guess the lyrics are, but I don’t really know how to describe my sound. Folks try to do that, and usually start naming other artists that they feel (or hope) their music sounds like. I think doing that puts their music in a box before it’s even been heard. It’s not that I feel I’m reinventing the wheel or anything like that. I’d just prefer for people to listen to my songs and make up their own minds. I can say I’ve always enjoyed records that are immersive, something you’d want to put headphones on for and listen to the whole thing from front to back, and my hope is that mine can be like that for others.

Who are some of your musical influences?

I get inspiration from different things … books, movies and of course, lots of music. I just saw St. Vincent a couple of nights ago, and the show really knocked me out. At home, I’ll put on all kinds of different things. I love Bjork’s music, Kate Bush, Ricki Lee Jones, Miles Davis, The Jayhawks, The Beach Boys, Willie Nelson, Joni Mitchell, Brian Eno, Simon & Garfunkel …  symphonic music is wonderful too. I think it’s good not to listen too much to stuff that sounds like the music you’re making.

If you could jam with any artist who would it be?

Folks I’d like to play with … maybe Jon Brion. Not that he needs anyone else to make music with… or Dennis Wilson. I’ll bet he was fun to hang out with.

Do you write and compose your music alone, or do you have collaborators?

I generally write alone, and songs come in different ways. Sometimes a little piece of something, maybe a melody or the way one chord moves to another will strike me as interesting and that’ll get the ball rolling. But one recent song was a co-write with David McConnell, who was a collaborator, producer and engineer on Elliott Smith’s last album, From a Basement on the Hill.

What does it mean to you to be an independent artist?

Being an independent artist means accepting the responsibility of wearing a great many hats, all at once. It also means eating a lot of peanut butter sandwiches.

What gives you a better high? Playing live shows or hitting the recording studio?

I enjoy both playing live and recording, but the most satisfying musical experiences I’ve had have been onstage.

What can we expect from an album of yours?

It would be easier to tell you something you shouldn’t expect from a record of mine: a collection of love songs, for example, or auto-tuned vocals. You also probably wouldn’t dance to any of it either.

You have two singles released so far, so what’s next for Roger Gupton?!

What’s next for me is to complete an album, which is in the works now … and lots of shows. Then, more writing, recording, rinse, repeat.

Rating: 4/5 Stars!

Singles: Out of the Silence, Three Days
Date Released: 2010
Genre: Indie rock/ acoustic
Location: Raleigh, NC
Band Members: Roger Gupton, with some instrumentals provided by Evans Nicholson, Melinda Mckee, Greg Readling, Rob Farris
Website: www.rogergupton.com
Reverb Nation: http://www.reverbnation.com/rogergupton
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Roger-Gupton/159281600773568?sk=app_2405167945

Original Article

EDIT:  12:51pm EDT.  Publisher’s note:  Anna is one of Indie Music Reviewer’s top twenty five artists featured in our upcoming issue “Indie Acoustic” which will come out on June 4th. Be sure to sign up for this issue through our facebook page to see all twenty five an an “overwhelming” honorable mention list.

Whether you are having the worst day of your life or even if you are already on cloud nine, you can hit play on any of Anna Johnson’s songs and be swept away into a blissful place. She definitely has a Colbie Caillat feel to her music, but with a unique twist that makes her sound her own. Anna’s album, Winding Road is a great example of how making music from your heart can really reach the listeners. She has mastered the way to let people feel how she feels by keeping her music stripped down without the unnecessary “flash.”

Anna Johnson released Winding Road on March 14^th, 2012 during a concert in her hometown of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. Anna provides not only the vocals, but also plays guitar. Julia Johnson (vocals, violin), David Mitchell (nylon string guitar), Chris Wright (drums, percussion, third vocals) and Jason Navo (bass guitar) can be found on this album as well. Being an unsigned artist, trying to record an album can be very troublesome at times, so Anna really lucked out by living and working in Nashville, TN. Anna is not only endorsed by McPherson Guitars, who provided gorgeous instruments for her to play, but the album was recorded at McPherson Studios on Music Row (in Nashville).

Anna seems to be a genuinely humble person and had this to say:

“I have to give special thanks to the other studio musicians who partook in the adventure of creating, Winding Road, too, including Blair Masters, Ben Clark, Glen Duncan, Jason Webb, Adam Lester, and Sean Savacool. My parents deserve a massive round of thanks, as well, as they have been the most supportive, encouraging and loving people I could ask for in my life! They allowed me to venture out in the world of music, and they’ve been learning and growing by my side ever since.”

You know how most albums have one or two songs that just do not seem to be up to par with the other ones on the album? Each song found on Winding Road holds just as much greatness as the one before or after it, creating a non-stop listening pleasure. Though all of the songs on this album hold a certain cohesive bond, you can find just enough diversity to look forward to what comes next. Albums can, at times, be somewhat redundant… not Winding Road. You’ll find soothing, heartfelt tunes like “I Hope You Love Me Someday” to more upbeat yet romantic tunes like “Someday.”  Three songs stood out the most and can be found towards the end of the album, but in no means do I suggest skipping over any of these songs. I know that listeners will find at least one (or more) song to call their favorite.

So grab your favorite iced cold beverage, whether it is lemonade or iced tea, throw on your sun hat, kick back on your deck in your lounge chair and hit play. Be prepared to forget your troubles and drift off into a peaceful tranquility. Even if you are too busy to kick back, throw in Anna Johnson’s Winding Road and go about your busy life. You’ll find that no matter what you are doing, your spirits will be lifted and you can accomplish your tasks with a sense of calmness.

Rating: 5/5 Stars!

Album Name: Winding Road
Date Released: March, 2012
Genre(s): Pop/Folk/Americana
Location: Nashville, TN
Band Members: Anna Johnson, Julia Johnson, David Mitchell, Chris Wright, Jason Navo
Website: http://www.annajohnsonmusic.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/themusicanna
Tumblr: http://www.annajohnsonmusic.tumblr.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/themusicanna
Reverbnation: http://www.reverbnation.com/annajohnson
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/annajohnsonmusic

Original Article