Wednesday, April 21, 2010

STEVE PALMER BAND RELEASES FIRST ALBUM, APPARITION, ON 4/20



Tour de Force Disc Melds the Best of Classic & Modern Rock with Storyteller Songwriting
Palmer & His Top-Flight Band Celebrate Debut at April 27 Release Party in Nashville

(Nashville) Aficionados of intelligent, big-hearted and hook-filled American music are sure to be delighted by Apparition, which introduces a band that continues the proud tradition of such heartland rock trailblazers as Creedence Clearwater Revival, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and others into the new millennium with a sound that’s invitingly familiar while at the same time tantalizingly fresh. The album will be released on April 20 on Palmer’s own Arythmia Records, distributed by Caroline/EMI. Fresh from a well-received 11-date tour opening for Bob Schneider, SPB will mark the event with a party and performance at aVenue in Nashville on Tuesday, April 27 (details below).

The Steve Palmer Band is the latest addition to Nashville’s burgeoning rock scene, and on Apparition they offer real deal rock that’s both timeless and transcends genre. Drawing from rock music’s golden age of the 1970s to renew and expand that sound and spirit with contemporary élan, the album features 12 powerful and emotive songs rich with the ghosts and specters of love that’s been lost or gone wrong, dreams of passion, and the poetic visions of a sharp storyteller and emotional chronicler. Singer, songwriter and rhythm guitarist Palmer is backed by a crew of seasoned players with a collective century of studio and concert experience: background vocalist Vicki Hampton, lead guitarist Bryan Ewald, drummer Tony Morro, Hammond B-3 organist/pianist Larry Hall and bassist Anthony Setola.

The disc was recorded live off the floor with minimal overdubs at Nashville’s Blackbird Studios, the ground zero recording facility for the city’s rock community thanks to fellow habitués like Kings of Leon and Jack White. It was co-produced by SPB and producer, songwriter and drummer David Huff (a former member of the group Giant) and mixed by recording veteran Jim Ebert (Butch Walker, Jason Falkner, Cowboy Mouth, SR 71).

The Denver-born Palmer has nurtured his dream of recording and performing a new yet lasting rock sound since he first started playing guitar and writing songs while growing up in Connecticut, making his singing and playing debut in sixth grade. By junior year of high school he had made his initial solo quarter-inch reel-to-reel recording of his songs, followed soon by studio sessions at age 17 in Plymouth, England. His studies at Northwestern and Georgetown and subsequent professional career were “to keep one foot in society and the other one on the peripheral, dreaming and writing,” Palmer explains. He perfected his creative vision recording in top studios in the Chicago area, Indiana, Connecticut (with first-call New York City session players) and in and around the Washington, D.C. capital region.

I draw from the music I know and love,” notes Palmer. “I grew up with bands like Kansas and such legends as Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel, and also all the solo artists who were first and foremost songwriters: Joni Mitchell, Dan Fogelberg, Bob Dylan, James Taylor and Cat Stevens. And my biggest rhythmic influences were artists like Yes, Led Zeppelin and Joan Armatrading, and all the great jazz artists like Count Basie, Stanley Turrentine, Oscar Peterson, Joe Sample and Weather Report.” Other touchstones include everyone from The Beatles to Crosby, Stills & Nash to Chicago to country icons like Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings, to name a few among many. With SPB, he matches such inspirations with the punch of modern-day heavyweights like Pearl Jam and 3 Doors Down as well as the fluid improvisational virtuosity of the Dave Matthews Band.

In 2002, Palmer dedicated himself to pursuing music 24/7, and on moving to Nashville last year found the players to unite behind a common purpose and a place to make the recordings he envisioned. With SPB now in it together for the long haul, the band has leased headquarters space in Nashville’s Marathon Village, where they’ve set up a rehearsal studio that will double as a tracking facility. Taking today’s indie DIY spirit to heart, Palmer has started his own record company with a full production house alongside subcontractors, and put together a promotion, marketing and distribution team.

The release of Apparition will be followed by intensive cross-country touring throughout 2010. “Getting this CD out to the public is my lifelong dream,” Palmer says. “I am very happy with it and thrilled to try to get our sound out there and finally play in front of people.”

Apparition release party:
Tuesday, April 27, 5:30 to 8:00 PM
aVenue, 120 Third Avenue South, Nashville
Sandwiches, beer and wine served
SPB performs at 6:30 PM

For more information on Steve Palmer Band go to: www.stevepalmerband.com

THREE TIME #1 BILLBOARD DANCE/POP SENSATION ERIKA JAYNE TO RELEASE NEW CLUB REMIXES OF “PRETTY MESS”


FEATURING REWORKINGS BY Dave Aude, Tracy Young, DJ Escape & Johnny Vicious, Larry TEE, Bill Hamel, Klubjumpers, Peter Rafelson and Marshall Stack


Following up on her three #1 Billboard hit singles--“Stars,” “Roller Coaster” and “Give You Everything”--singer, songwriter and dance pop sensation ERIKA JAYNE is setting her sights back to the charts in anticipation of a new single “Pretty Mess.” Set for release on April 20, the song will be issued as a remix package featuring reworkings by some of today’s most in-demand producers: Dave Aude, Tracy Young, DJ Escape & Johnny Vicious, Larry Tee, Bill Hamel, Klubjumpers, Peter Rafelson and Marshall Stack.

“Pretty Mess” is the title track to her debut album out now on E1 Records and was written by Jayne and Peter Rafelson. The video for the track, cut to the Dave Aude remix, is co-directed by VMA-nominated choreographer and artistic director Mikey Minden (Pussy Cat Dolls, Girlicious, Paradiso Girls) along with famed photographer Mike Ruiz and will be available at all digital outlets. Shot on location at Los Angeles’ Custom Hotel, it gives a sexy and provocative look into the Erika Jayne “pretty mess” persona.

The Atlanta-born, Los Angeles transplant’s last batch of remixes was released in late 2009 with reworked editions of her hit single “Give You Everything" by Paul Harris, Mark Brown and Michael Woods. They shot to #2 on the Music Week Upfront Club Chart as well as #6 on the Music Week Commercial Pop Club Chart (marking the first time she ever landed on the U.K. charts) and hit #5 on Billboard’s 2009 year end Hot Dance Club Play Songs chart.

The track listing for Erika Jayne’s “Pretty Mess” club remix maxi EP is as follows:

    Dave Aude Club 6:20
    DJ Escape & Johnny Vicious Main Mix 9:23
    Tracy Young Club 10:02
    Bill Hamel Remix 5:17
    KlubJumpers Extended Remix 6:12
    Larry Tee & Per QX Mix 6:10
    Marshall Stack Remix 4:32
    Rafelson Electro Club 6:24
    Dave Aude Video Edit 3:32


To view the video that will debut April 15 at Club Tiger Heat at
Avalon Hollywood log on to:

ATLANTA BASED HIP-HOP ARTIST BUCK$ RELEASES NEW SINGLE “IT’S BEEN A LONG TIME”

Krian Music Group announces the release of the single “It’s Been A Long Time” from up and coming artist, Buck$. The single is a collaboration with another noted Atlanta-based artist, Bobby V, and also contains the hard-hitting B-Side entitled “Neckwork.” BUCK$ is presently recording and producing other songs for his upcoming debut album, which is slated for a summer release.

Addressing the issue of how the song came about, Buck$ stated, “It was initially about one woman in particular, but I expanded it to become a love letter to the streets. I originally recorded it in my Atlanta home studio, and after I had the beats, the lyrics just came to me. I actually wrote the lyrics to the song in about seven minutes.” Buck$ recently built what he calls a $100,000 studio for $5,000 by piecing together a vocal booth and soundproofing it with suitable materials that were given to him by friends, colleagues, and even materials that he found on the streets.

Definitely hands on when it comes to his music, Buck$ handles most of the production and beats, as well as writing his lyrics. He does, however, occasionally collaborate with other artists to add that “something special” to the mix. While known as a rapper, though, it is difficult to categorize him as such because he incorporates sounds and rhythms from other genres into his music to produce a sound that is quite unique. Buck$ acknowledges that he is a student of the golden age of hip hop and R&B, and believes that “when you’re on the stage, you should have something of importance to say to the world. I use my real life experiences, even tragedies that have befallen me, as motivation for my music.”

Regarding his upcoming CD, Buck$ stated, “Preparation for the album is in its final stages, but as far as the process goes, I’m still working on new tracks. I never know when the next collaboration will come about. To me, the record isn’t finalized until the due date.”

Critiquing “It’s Been A Long Time,” Jon Peritz of MusicDish said, “It has a very genuine sound to it and is one that fans from many genres can appreciate. Distinctive R&B and hip hop melodies work together with funky rhythms to produce a very energetic, captivating feel good song that makes you want to dance. Bobby V's smooth voice is the perfect complement to Buck$'s rhymes and the two vocalists play off the energetic instrumental track with skill and precision, accompanied by flutes, chants, and percussion. The magnetic hook and backing track bring it all together perfectly.”

Buck$ has worked with and produced artists such as Dem Franchise Boyz, the Trap Squad, D4L, Fabo, Lil Yola, Meathead, and Parlay.

It’s Been A Long Time can be purchased at http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/its-been-a-long-time-ep/id359269521

http://www.myspace.com/buckBMA

Thursday, April 15, 2010

New CD Release from Yoga Sensation Wah!

Yoga music legend Wah! announced the release of her latest album, Maa, due out April 20th, 2010 on the Wah! Music label. This highly anticipated album follows up the successful Love Holding Love (Nutone Records, 2009). Maa is being distributed by BFM Digital, a leading digital music aggregator and distributor of independent music.


Before “yoga” was a household word, Wah! was creating hip, gritty and trendy music that set the scene for what was to become a new genre for music. Soon after, Wah
!, became a sensation in the yoga world with her spiritual, Eastern-tinged sound. She has since developed a large and dedicated following both in and outside the yoga community after more than ten years of touring, recording, and releasing records.


The mystical relaxation music CD,
Savasana, has sold over 50,000 units worldwide and continues to draw attention in the yoga community and beyond. Wah!’s music is often compared to that of Sade, Zero7 and India Arie, but her latest release has a much more youthful sound, incorporating dance beats and electronica.


With
Maa, Wah! combines New Age, world music, and ambient electronica to create a sensuous blend of music that’s ideal for yoga, healing, and radio play. The album features instrumentalists from the pop and hip-hop worlds - Mike Haziza on beatbox, Katisse Buckingham on flute (www.katisse.com), Matthew Martin Kelly on keyboards, Christian Teele on drumkit and percussion, Kirk Margo on guitar, Paul Hollman on keyboards & sampling, and Wah! on harmonium, bass and vocals. Yoga centers have become hubs for social networking and their yoga teachers have quickly filled the role of DJs for this audience. Wah! is a trendsetter in this arena; if you’ve taken a yoga class in the last five years, you’ve no doubt heard her music.


The release of
Maa synchronizes with the release of Nutone Music’s Yoga Revolution, a compilation in which Wah! is a featured vocalist alongside Sting, Sarah McLaughlin, Sheryl Crow, and more. The album will be available in Wal-Mart, Whole Foods, and Barnes & Noble.


"WAH
! injects something a little trippier to create a mellow groove that's luscious and highly addictive." NY Spirit Magazine

Wah! has become a sensation in the yoga world with her spiritual, Eastern-tinged sound.” www.buy.com

Mantra-scene veteran Wah! seems to be halfway between samadhi (union) and ecstasy. Her theme is the oneness of Divine love and eros. Wah! lays down her love dharma in sultry downtempo grooves, throbbing club beats, and spoken-word rap passages. When the groove’s in full gear, she has us right where she wants us: blissed out and deep in the throes of a love that can’t be labeled.” Yoga Journal Magazine/San Fransisco, CA

Maa will be available everywhere music is sold April 20th, 2010.


Track list:

1. Invocation

2. Shakti

3. Parashakti

4. Shanti

5. Love Holding Love

6. Jagatambe

7. Ganga Ma (Everlasting Love)

8. Stay in the Love

9. Bhakti Da

10. Lalitamba

11. Pahimam

12. Shanti (Radio Mix)

13. Om Sri Matre


Says Wah
! in an interview with Daniel Rechtschaffen:
"My goal is simple: I want to clear my own personal energy and feel lighter when I'm done. I weave the audience into my experience and bring them up with me - have you ever seen the back of the hall during the concerts? - just bouncing, everybody up and down, the whole back of the room pulsating with energy... sometimes it's a rush of bliss, and sometimes it's meditative. I'm not looking for it to be anything in particular. I know what it feels like. I know the energy. I know where I am supposed to go. I just bring people on that path with me and enjoy the music."

Wah! will be performing in support of the release of the album. Just a few of these shows include:


Telluride Yoga Festival in Colorado (July 9-11)
The Omega Ecstatic Chant Festival in New York (September 3-6)
Bhaktifest in Joshua Tree, CA (September 10-12)