ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: 9.15.11

Thursday, September 15th, 2011

With songs like “White Dress” and “Loving You is Easy”, Ben Rector quickly rose to the top of the charts with his 2010 album release, Into the Morning. Now just a year later Ben has a new record on the charts, Something like This, released earlier this month. The album kicks off with Rector on saxophone in the song “Let The Good Times Roll”. I must say the guy is pretty talented. I wonder if he will whip out a violin jam in his next album? Maybe a slide whistle solo even. Make sure to check out his new album Something like This, available on iTunes and Amazon.

– Jesse

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Artist Spotlight: Andrew Belle

Monday, March 7th, 2011

Photographer / Luca Venter

Wow, it has been far too long since there was an artist spotlight on here. To be honest, I have no excuses. All I have is a gift to share with you.

This gift is worth more than money. This gift is worth more than fame. This gift is the kind of gift that will lift your spirit and bring joy to your heart. This is the gift that makes a rainy day the kind of day where you sit inside and crack open that antiquated box of crayons while hanging out by the window as little streams of water glaze the glass. This is the kind of gift that turns your Sunday afternoon into the kind of day when you walk around the park in your bare feet as the fresh, spring grass makes its way between your toes. This is the kind of gift that sings softly to your soul as the stresses and anxieties of your job overwhelm. This is the kind of gift that would wake you up like the sun through the morning shutters if you let it. This is the kind of gift that would sing you to sleep if you allowed it.

This isn’t my gift to give. This is just my gift to tell you about.

There is a very talented young man named Andrew Belle. This is his gift. This is his talent.

Where do I even start to talk about Andrew? Maybe I should start with his music.  There is something special about his music, that’s obvious, but the more I listen, the more I realize there is something special about his voice. If I had words to adequately portray his voice I would write them here. But since all I have are my thoughts, I’ll just say that there is something special… something unique… something calming… something intriguing about his voice.

When I first heard his album The Ladder, I played “Static Waves” on repeat nonstop. Eventually I ventured on to the other songs and I found them all entirely wonderful. Over the last week his is the only voice that has played through my speakers and I would love to encourage you to let him be that voice for you this week. Let me give a couple shout outs to my favorite songs.

We play “The Ladder” and “Static Waves (feat. Katie Herzig)” on the air.

“Oh My Stars” is by far the most played song off of this album for a number of reasons. First, the phrase, “Oh my stars” has somewhat of a sentimental value to me, and second, I find the lyrics to be some of the most beautiful I’ve heard in some time.

I also love “Open Your Eyes”. I am always a sucker for songs that have a piano part that says, “Hey, I’m thoughtfully and beautifully arranged, but this song isn’t about me, it’s about the story.” Plus there’s an emotional build that starts about half way though and has you ardently enthralled until it seems like the clouds could break and sunshine could burst right through.

I could go on and talk about every song, but instead I’m going to challenge you to be the judge. Form your own thoughts. Make your own opinion. Just don’t take my word for it.

Before I go, I want to give you one more reason to love Andrew Belle. He’s not only a passionate musician, but has also taken up cooking… and not only that, but blogging the food he makes. Big win.

Speaking of blogs, check his out here.

Listen to his music here.

Support his work here.

For good measure check out Tenn of Ten.

This blog has been brought to you by Elisha Guido.

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Artist Spotlight: Future of Forestry

Tuesday, August 17th, 2010

Not too long ago I posted a blog about how Future of Forestry was coming out with their final installment from their Travel series. The time has come (and even passed) for the long anticipated EP.

On July 29th Future of Forestry’s Travel III EP was released for the delight of your ears and my own. I was dare to go as far as to say that it was released and will delight your heart and my own. It’s been a couple weeks, but I have finally made time to listen to the album in it’s entirety. I so love the sound of this album. The melodies and lyrics merge to compose a mood that is all together haunting and soothing in the same. I feel the only way I can explain the ambience is to relate it to a blank canvas that is continually being painted on with emotion. There are no acrylics; there are no watercolors; emotions are the medium and passion is the brush. All I know is that when I listen to their music I feel as if I lose myself in a world of beauty and intrigue.

Right now we are playing “Protection” and “Your Day’s Not Over” on the radio and I love them both so much. Expect to hear these songs more often.

You can listen to all of the songs and read their lyrics by heading over to their website.
From there you can also find links to other resources like their facebook, twitter, myspace, etc.

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Artist Spotlight: Pomegranates

Tuesday, July 13th, 2010

If you’re looking to spice up your summer then go no further than Pomegranates. They’ll give your plans a tasteful kick just in time to make you the coolest cat in town. Right now I think this guy is in the lead.

Pomegranates are refreshing and wonderful in ways that I have a hard time explaining. I suppose I can only explain how I feel when I listen to their music.

When I listen to music I like to pretend it is the music playing in the background of the movie of my life. Sometimes my life is quite thrilling and other times it’s not terribly exciting. Some days I might chase down criminal bad guys with my ever witty sidekick, Lenny. Other times I may just be driving down a dirt road with a truck that is too big and has no air conditioning. It depends on the music really.

I’ve never been surfing, but I imagine if I were to be in a movie, Pomegranates music would be playing in the background as I took on a 50ft wave. (I just assume that’s a good size wave.) I’d be sporting my fake Ray Bans and I’d absolutely have a ton of totally noticeable white sunscreen on my nose. I’d probably spend the morning long boarding or riding my red bike cruiser. I’d grab something cheap and delicious for lunch like a fish taco then hit the waves with my buddies. We’d spend the day grabbing great waves and laughing about how awesome everything is. We’d roast s’mores on the beach after a long day and tell stories about how tight life is and how super legit the waves were. I imagine we’d all be driving really old-school vehicles like Rabbits and VW buses. As we drove home we’d have the windows rolled down, the warm night’s breeze in our faces, our hands out the windows flowing with the wind, and the stars would be out in full force. Pomegranates would be playing the whole time making every minute ten billion times more radical feeling.

That’s what I imagine life would be like if I were in a movie and Pomegranates made up the soundtrack. Here’s the thing though, they are from Cincinnati, Ohio. That is the beach and that is not 50ft waves. That doesn’t matter though. I think the music just meets you where you are. (Or where you’re not, but imagine you would be?)

The band started in late 2006 when Jacob Merritt (drums) and Isaac Karns (keyboard, guitar and vocals) got together to make music. Eventually Joey Cook and Dan Lyon came along and joined the band. They’ve put out two albums, Everything is alive (2008) and Everybody, Come Outside (2009). Also, look forward to their new album coming out later this year called One of Us. I think it’s going to be the bee’s knees.

Check out their myspace or facebook or website to enjoy the sweetness of Pomegranates. Also, feel free to be awesome and listen to their music.

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Artist Spotlight: Castledoor

Tuesday, May 4th, 2010

Did you ever find yourself listening to boy bands in the early 2000’s? Did you ever listen to Plus One? Did you ever enjoy the sweet melodies and harmonies that flowed from their lips? Were they so continuously played that you put yourself to sleep by singing their songs in your head? If you did (unlike myself), you should be able to recognize some of the same pleasant vocals from the band Castledoor. If you didn’t (like myself), I think you should still be able to appreciate the greatness of this not so well known indie band.

Made up of several members, Nate Cole and Gabe Combs are probably most well known for their time spent in the Christian Pop boy band, PlusOne. Though as of recent, Gabe Combs has decided to move on to new things, Castledoor isn’t going anywhere or at least most of the members still plan on sticking together. Nate, Liska, Joel and Brando still plan on making music together and a “Flashlight EP” should hopefully be releasing soon and are saying they feel the best is yet to come.

Close your eyes. Now image you are in a wonderful land of green fields where paper flowers sprout from the ground and illustrated creatures of kind fall from the sky bringing with them delightful treats like colored balloons and an assortment of lollipops. The sun literally wears a giant pair of sunglasses and can’t help but smile at the woodland creatures frolicking in the fields. The scene is eclectic, yet strangely relaxing. Ahead of you is a massive willow tree that also wears sunglasses and dances to the wind. Now picture a band is under the massive willow tree singing tunes that are sweet like honey to your ears. Now open your eyes. I bet you never even closed them. That’s just how Castledoor rolls. Their music can take you to another land even if you’re working hard at your nine to five job or trying to write that research paper that’s due tomorrow.

Castledoor is our artist spotlight for the month of May. This is exciting for me because it’s so unexpected. They kind of came out of nowhere with their high pitched vocals and unique music style. I don’t even know what genre of music to group them into. Genre classification or not, Castledoor has definitely been a favorite here around the station. If you listen to the radio then it’s very probably that you’ve heard the songs, “Dumpster Diving” and “Fifth Tambourine.” How could we not play such a unique and intriguing band?

A couple things about the band that are kind of interesting. In March they were awarded a nice little treat by The International Songwriting Competition (the top songwriting competition in the world) with “Fifth Tambourine” being the submitted song that also came in second place at the competition that was judged by artists and celebrities like tom waits, black francis, james mercer, timbaland, robert smith & the kings of leon. That’s pretty cool.

With all of that being said, and although they’ve been around for five years and have lost a couple members, I agree that “the best is yet to come.”

Seriously, check out their myspace or swing by their facebook to encourage them and thank them for being so awesome.

Here’s a little video treat for you as well.

Castledoor “Dumpster Diving” from Castledoor on Vimeo.

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