Saturday, July 29, 2017

Van T

  "ocean blues..."

If it were possible to meld the heart of Mazzy Star, the soul of PJ Harvey, and pure poetic prowess of Throwing Muses’ Tanya Donelly into a solitary star she’d go by the name Chantel Van T.
In 2013 Van T played Oppikoppi’s acoustic Ray-Ban Stage. Twenty-four months later she’s signed, sealed, and delivered a five track EP, Tides.
Van T saw the release of her highly anticipated, full-length debut album, We’re Still Running in 2015. Recorded by Matthew Fink (Matthew Mole, Tailor, The Black Hotels, Shadowclub) and Chris Tucker at Dark Pop, strings captured at Jazz Worx, with production concluded by Fink, "We’re Still Running" kept good company in attracting some of South Africa’s finest talent to the Van T pool. 11 unfaltering, beautiful tracks, each with a tale, a purpose, and armed with ability to turn lovers of detailed and delightfully engaging stories, sung in song, into loyalists.


Chelsey Danfield





CHELSEY DANFIELD – ‘COWBOY’

A couple of weeks ago we came across a single release from a new artist from Ontario, Canada, Chelsey Danfield.

‘All We Ever Do’ was intriguing because it sounded like something that Taylor Swift would have recorded about 3 years ago. A good pop country song with fiddles and a slight ‘attitude’ about the vocals.

She has now released her debut album ‘Cowboy’ which doesn’t include her single or the B side ‘Headlights’, but does include hugely enjoyable traditional country dancehall tunes that deserve our attention.

It seems that the Taylor connection barely extends beyond the single. Chelsey imposes her own style and personality on the album and it’s as good a debut as we have heard for some time. Crank up the speakers and cue ‘Die Alone’ which opens the album.

I defy you to sit perfectly still throughout this one! A mix of classic country and rockabilly that combines to produce an authentic dancehall favorite. ‘Drank The Town Dry’ takes the pace down a notch, to begin with but soon explodes into another swinger that retains the infectious toe tapper that won’t disappoint.

She seems to be rubbing shoulders with the Nashville players having shared a stage with Little Big Town, Kenny Chesney, and Dwight Yoakum, so let’s hope that this album is the start of something special.

There is certainly room at a higher table for Chelsey and I certainly recommend checking this one out on the usual streaming platforms.

Artist Biography



 From the   fields of   her family’s   soybean and   miniature pony   farm, this   24-­‐year-­‐old   singer/performer/songwriter has  just released  her  1st  album entitled  “Cowboy”  featuring   12  original songs.  It is  currently available  on streaming  and retail  outlets worldwide.    

“Growing up  outside of  a  one stoplight  farming town  called  Maidstone  Ontario,  I  realized quickly  that country  music told  my family's  story.  It was  who we  were and  what we  did.   Whether it be   bailing   hay,   riding   a   skittish   pony,   attending   a   funeral,   anniversary,   or   birthday  party,  country  music  was  how  we  communicated,  celebrated,  mourned,  worked  
and  lived.”    

“The songs  that  I  write are inspired  by the lives  of my  grandparents and  sometimes slightly   exaggerated recollections  of events  that have  occurred in  my personal  life.  Regardless if  it be  about an  honorary ex or  a  valiant escape  from the hospital,  my songs  come from  a  really genuine  place.  I'm  passionate  about  country  music  that  tells  a  story  and  either  transports   you  to  another  place  and  time  or  makes  you  fall  in  love  with  where  you  are  at  that  very   moment.“  




 Chelsey has shared  stages with the  likes of  Little  Big  Town,  Dwight  Yoakum,  Mark  Chesnutt,   Kenny  Chesney,  Lone  Star and most  recently at  Ft.  Irwin  Army  Training  Base at  Ft.  Irwin   Nevada for  four thousand  U.S.  Army troops  opening for  Blue  Oyster  Cult.    

Chelsey hooked  up with  Billboard  Hot  100  #1  hit producer  and former  Iggy  Pop/David   Bowie lead  guitarist  Stacy  Heydon.  This collaboration  led to  her  1st  album release  “Cowboy”   on  AMG  Records. 

 Her  “Cowboy”  album was  recorded in  one of  Nashville’s  treasured location  Ronnie’s  Place.   Ronnie  Milsap’s  studio has  been a  mainstay in  the  Nashville recording  community for  over   50  years  and continues  to inspire  modern day  artists with  the same walls  of resonance  that recorded  and shaped  the familiar  sounds of  the legends  of country  music’s  past and  present. 

Chelsey and  the band  laid down  every track  “live off  the floor”  capturing a  live feel  ensuring an honest and   true musical   rendition targeting   the very   heart and   soul of   each song  
recorded.  


Wednesday, July 5, 2017

Reanne Kyla

Reanne Kyla

With the release of her “Chronicles of A Fervent Heart EP”, singer songwriter Reanne Kyla brings a new feel to a classic genre. Lush with addicting progressions, an honest lyrical approach, and an almost dream like vocal style, the record boasts the aesthetic of folk pop anthems. Though the songs are diverse from one another, there is a glue that holds them all together. Most importantly, the EP never loses sight of the emotional platform great songs are built from.

The first single, “The Crave” is instant indie classic. Complete with beautiful vocal hooks, a swelling of ambient guitars and a pop undertone throughout, the song seems to breathe and build as it continues on.

“The single is about the longing to leave the past behind and move forward to create a new adventure. The album title “Chronicles of a Fervent Heart” means the story of a passionate heart aka the story of my life. The songs on my album reflect parts of my story. The Crave specifically reflects the awe that I experience when in nature. It also displays my adventurous spirit and reflects my love for creation” explains the songwriter of her single.

Although the single does speak volumes for the EP, to get a real understanding of where Kyla is coming from, it should be heard in its entirety.

“Being at Prairie College I was able to further develop my craft and form my “mother-tongue” sound. The ambience carried throughout the album using complimentary instruments gives a unique texture and sound; the harmonies, pedal steel, and haunting electric guitar” says Kyla of the musical approach for the release.

Having a love for music since she was a child, Reanne Kyla started taking piano lessons in elementary school, and later picked up guitar at the age of 11. Quickly realizing there was something special about the guitar, Kyla simply couldn’t put it down. Throughout high school, she spent time playing in rock bands and performing in annual Battle Of The Bands where she went on to win both individual and band awards. Though the experience was great for the songwriter, it wasn’t until attending Prairie College that things changed for her. While attending, she was under guidance of Juno Award winning songwriter Brian Doerksen who helped her grow musically during the next two years. While at Prairie College, Kyla had the opportunity to record her first album. Although this was an exciting opportunity for her, she feared her material wasn’t good enough yet to record. Using her fear as a motivator, she focused on her songwriting even more and eventually began to learn about the recording process. As a result of passionate heart and hard work, “Chronicles of a Fervent Heart” was completed.

The EP is now available for streaming and downloads on most major digital outlets and Kyla is performing around Calgary as she plans to move towards Western Canada over the summer.

To learn and hear more of Reanne Kyla, please visit: https://www.reannekyla.com/

 Passionate Canadian singer songwriter Reanne Kyla leaves a lasting impression while creating a relaxed atmosphere with her unique sound that serves the acoustic chill / soothing ambiance genre. Her distinct songwriting and evoking lyrics encompass her love for creation in her latest EP Chronicles of a Fervent Heart.

Reanne began developing her musical craft at a young age. Growing up in rural Alberta, Reanne had the opportunity to take leadership in various rock and contemporary bands as an electric guitarist. In pursuit of a musical career, Reanne attended Prairie College's Music & Worship Arts program, under the knowledge and guidance of Juno Award winning songwriter Brian Doerksen. Her time at Prairie has molded and shaped Reanne’s style into an art of its own, immersed in both passion and deep meaning.

Reanne is now performing across Southern Alberta.


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