Hailing from California, Matt Ernst, Ethan Wallace and Nathan Kaplan brought their respective talents to New Orleans, where their love child, Dana Ives, was born. As time progressed, they brought on Taylor Law, a native Louisianian bassist. Dana Ives is best described as the musical sweet spot where lucid, screeching guitar melodies lay overtop aggressively raw drums and vocals, providing the perfect marriage of indie-rock and post-punk. The band’s sound reflects Ernst’s upbringing in the Los Angeles garage-rock circuit and Wallace’s experience drumming in the California hardcore scene. Combined with Kaplan’s synthesizers and samples and Law’s raw and aggressive bass techniques, Dana Ives creates a unique and dynamic experience that separates them from other alternative-rock bands. With their upcoming record “So Happy It’s Time” due August 2022, Dana Ives will be performing new material that ascends to a higher level of aggression and rhythm not heard in full form on their previous record.
Skot the Idea is a rising American-Nigerian artist born and raised in Rockville, Maryland. He also lived in London, UK for almost a decade during his early life, where he found a love for electronic music. Blending this with his background in the US and love for hip-hop, his sound is fresh and dynamic, which is showcased on his brand-new EP, 3 to Thrive Through. The EP is led by main single “When The Tune Hit”, a feelgood party anthem. Packed with infectious melodies and a huge anthemic hook, it showcases Skot’s impressive songwriting abilities and will no doubt be etched into everyone’s head after one listen With ‘When the Tune Hit’ I tried to embody that song that when you first hit the party is the one to make you start grooving”, says Skot the Idea. “The song also takes the listener through my mindset when I make songs like this, interwoven with how I like to get busy and enjoy a night out. I’ve wanted to make songs as vibrant as this for a while and have become attached to the sound, which will be featured in more projects to come.” Follow Skot The Idea on social media
Sometimes things happen for a reason. Other times it’s destiny. Whatever it was, when Lou Cuello put together Born Lost in November of 2020, after nearly a 5 year hiatus from music, it became obvious that something very special was happening. The goal was to form a no nonsense rock band with teeth. Something totally original that also paid homage to those who paved the way. In a Philadelphia rock scene which was littered with “70’s copycats” and “Sabbath wannabes” his goal was to bring something fresh and new to the city of brotherly love.
Britain’s fiercely independent Alternative Metal outfit Shadow Smile announce the release of their epic new single ‘Dearly Departed’. A deeply heartfelt and emotionally charged track exploring the grief and loss of losing a close loved one. Encompassing a fusion of classic metal and modern electronica – the Sheffield (UK) outfit continue to strive forward, pushing musical boundaries with their original-yet- timeless sound. A fast rising and exciting new rock act whose sonic concoctions will equally resonate with fans of contemporary metal-core acts like Bring Me The Horizon, While She Sleeps etc and stadium metal heavyweights such as Ghost and Avenged Sevenfold. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7RFILuhIY8 Recognised for their dark theatrical visuals, aggressive yet melodic music and anthemic vocal hook-lines, Shadow Smile are the latest hot contenders to potentially follow in the footsteps of many successful bands that have emerged from Sheffield’s ever-thriving music scene. Since forming in 2019, the South Yorkshire quartet have tirelessly built a fanatical cult-following – despite the limitations of the Covid pandemic lockdowns. With previous self-released singles already having been championed by taste makers such as BBC Introducing, Kerrang! Radio, Hard Rock Hell and many more, Shadow Smile now look to the future armed with a bigger refined sound and relentless ambition to firmly establish themselves on the UK rock scene. Their soaring emotive vocals, arena-destined choruses, explosive metal-edged guitar riffs and ability to effectively blend modern metal with classic hard rock overtones – will inevitably help them to stand out from the crowd. Produced by Daniel Jeffery and mixed by Jim Pinder at UK’s renowned Treehouse Studios (Bullet For My Valentine, Bring Me The Horizon etc) – ‘Dearly Departed’ is one of the band’s stand alone single releases for fans whilst work is underway with their as-yet-untitled and entirely crowd- funded album expected in 2013.Shadow Smile is Connor McGovern (Vocals), Adam Smith (Guitar), Ethan Goebel-Todd (Bass) and Joe Fletcher (Drums)Officially released on 29th July 2022 – ‘Dearly Departed’ is available on various digital platforms.
The debut album of the band -COBALTO+ entitled “Citus Mutus” was published and distributed by Artist First on December 14th 2018. In 2019 “Fascist money” comes out a song in three different versions, from pop electronics to Tech house. Hop! special remix on sale at the beginning of 2020 in two versions: the Light version and the Long version, a song with a trendy European sound, alongside the successful German electronics. For the band’s 40th Anniversary (1980-2020) the new single “Now Forever” was released on July 10 with Artist First for the whole world, Produced with Tim Palmer, Cover Art by Marino Bocelli, Artistic Advisor by Robi Bonardi. The video of the song is online from July 17 2020 on the band’s official youtube channel, also on July 31 2020 a special edit of the single be released, with an equally unpublished cover.In January 2021 the band -COBALTO + is recognized in the compilation produced by Spittle records-Goodfellas, as the reference New wave band of the Lombardy region, releasing in the original version “Presagio” the first single from 1981 ever marketed.On 05-02-2021 it is the turn of the second single with the co-production of Tim Palmer: Shine now has the outlined sound of the post-virus and is accompanied by the video recorded between Italy and Colombia.On April 16, 2021 (Rillo production-Artist First) officially comes out on all digital platforms, Atmosphere Plus Remastered, accompanied by the relative video.The revision of the Joy Division song will be marketed from 30 June 2021, accompanied by an EP boxet containing 5-remixes of internationally renowned DJs, by the record label “Opilec Music, with relative promotion, and will be followed directly by a English company that will promote the package in the main cities of the world such as: London-Paris-New York-Tokyo-Sidney. In 2022 the new, third single of the production with Tim Palmer will be released, to follow the new album that will definitively consecrate the band in the Olympus of the producer’s discography among the most quoted in the world.
Nzondi’s alternative rock song “Teenage RockStarr” was written, performed and produced by him. It features the iconic Fredro Starr from the legendary group Onyx and David Moreno (Puddle of Mudd) on drums. The song was inspired by a character in Nzondi’s upcoming vampire book written called “Blood-Teens”. Influenced by mostly Seattle-bred bands like Alice In Chains, Soundgarden, Jimi Hendrix Experience and Nirvana, Nzondi’s “Teenage RockStarr” carries the energy of Rage Against the Machine-charged track. Nzondi earned a BFA from Long Island University. Ace Antonio was born Acemandese Nzondi Hall in Elmhurst Hospital in Queens. Hall received his BFA with a concentration in drama from C. W. Post, Long Island University. He is also the author of the Bram Stoker award-winning novel, Oware Mosaic (Omnium Gatherum, May 2019), as well as the horror novels, Lipstick Asylum: Where the Dead Rise (Omnium Gatherum, September 2021), Confessions of Sylva Slasher, (Montag Press, April 2013) and a non-fiction book, Lord of the Flies: Fitness for Writers (Omnium Gatherum, April 2017).
John was born in Ketchikan, Alaska, raised in Northern California, and immigrated to Canada in the early Seventies. His musical education was growing up in the Bay Area in the Sixties and absorbing the great music that he encountered there as a teenager. This included the psychedelic bands like the Grateful Dead, and then Jefferson Airplane, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Big Brother and the Holding Company, Moby Grape, Steve Miller, Santana, the Doors, Allman Brothers, Eric Burden and the Animals, Creedence Clearwater, Taj Mahal, Elvin Bishop, the Charlatans, Tower of Power, and many more. Groups like Cream came through on tour, John Lee Hooker, the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Canned Heat, and the hippie subculture in the Bay Area was quickly introduced to Chicago Blues greats like Muddy Waters, James Cotton, Little Walter, Freddie King, BB King, Buddy Guy, and Albert King. He spent hours listening to Bay Area radio stations serving up a tasty mix of R&B and Soul music 24 hours a day. Radio stations like KDIA and KFRC documented the era of the Summer of Love and seemly blasted out every window.Like many of his generation, the inspiration for his musical journey really began with the Beatles and the Rolling Stones when they first toured America. Swept up in the wave of Beatlemania, all the hip kids began to wear their hair long and wore pointy Beatle boots, paisley shirts, beads, amulets, and tight pants. He got his ear pierced and got beat up regularly by the ‘greasers”, as we use to called them. He spent many weekends going to shows at the Fillmore West in San Francisco, hung out at Golden Gate Park and the Haight Ashbury frequently, and attended free rock concerts that were held throughout the Bay Area. He was at the historic Human Be-in at Golden Gate Park in 1968. John’s first guitar was a Silvertone Arch Top that he somehow magically plugged into his mother’s stereo, and then promptly blew out the speakers. John’s music has its roots and its beginnings from his powers of observation gleaned from those magical and mystical times…and from more serious themes while ‘adulting’ as the years passed. His wry and mildly sardonic songwriting is a direct reflection of his own personal experience; the triumphs, pain, and failures of relationships, yet he still finds optimism even in the darkest places where many of these stories lay waiting to be told. Now living in the Slocan Valley, nestled in the mountains of British Columbia, John continues to write songs and play with his band Friendly Giants. They are recording their first LP.
Ashley LeBlanc is an award-winning country music singer/songwriter born and raised in Brantford, Ontario. Singing Martina McBride and Shania Twain shortly after she learned to talk was the first sign she had a passion for music! Ashley’s sound can be described as Patsy Cline meets The Chicks meets modern-day Kacey Musgraves. She combines the heartfelt honesty of traditional country with the powerful vocals of Natalie Maines, and the lyrical craft of today’s country. After learning how to play guitar at a young age, learning to sing camenaturally. After hearing Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn on her Dad’s jukebox, she knew the world of country music and classic songwritingwas where she belonged. After her Uncle gave her a classic record playershe started collecting old vinyl LPs, and studied the songs from a time intraditional country where talent and strong voices mattered most. Ashley began singing in church, school, at retirement homes and local coffeeshops. She was able to improve her skills on guitar and vocals, while developing a strong interest in writing her own music. After releasing her first EP at 13, she continued to write songs and take lessons, learning from talented musicians who mentored her along the way. In 2019, she released her debut album “The Luckiest Girl in the World”. Ashley wrote all the music and was joined on the album by some of Canada’s top musicians including Steve Petrie, Steve Smith and Sean O’Grady. After a successful CD release party, her songs received airplayon indie radio stations across the globe—Canada, Germany, Australia,Texas and Nashville. Ashley performs most weekends near her hometown at summer and fall fairs, charity events, local pubs and breweries. She has sung the National Anthem for the OHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs, performed at the famous St. George Applefest, and on CHCH Morning Live in Hamilton. Since March 2020, she has been performing on Facebook and Instagram live to stay connected with her fanbase. In August 2020, her album won International Gold Album of the year at the (ISSA) International Singer Songwriter Awards, and her video for “Rain” won a bronze award for Best International Video. In September of 2020, she began studying Community Music at Wilfrid Laurier University. Since 2020, she has been co-writing new music with talented songwriters such as Douglas Romanow, Mariya Stokes, Jane Bach, Benita Hill, Antionette Olesen, Tori Hathaway and Eva Jerde. In 2022, she will be releasing a new full length album recorded in both Toronto and Nashville. Stay Tuned!
Meel Vignetting is a singer, songwriter from Gauteng. She is a self-taught guitarist who, at the age of six knew creating music was all she ever wanted to do. Meel started writing her own songs from the age of twelve and soon formed her 1st band with a few school-friends. She has since been in and out of the band scene for many years then, in 2016, ended up a solo acoustic act. In 2019, Meel started incorporating other musicians in her act again and can now be booked as a solo, duo or full band performance. Her influences stem mostly from 90’s alternative, rock and grunge and you can certainly hear a slight yodel as stamped by her most influential artist, Dolores O’Riordan from The Cranberries. Meel also has many male vocalists that influence her singing style, which makes for quite the unique tone. Her lyrics relate to real-life scenarios and personal life experiences. A demo EP was recorded in her living room during hard lockdown and can be found on all streaming platforms. More recordings may be expected in 2022, with her newly found set band members, Rohan Mostert on Guitar, Wesley Ward on Guitar, Zadelhoff on Bass and Reino Stols on Drums.
Bernice is a longtime singer/songwriter with a background in classical guitar. Her primary genre is folk pop/rock, but she enjoys dabbling in different musical styles. Her sound has been compared to the styles of Michelle Branch, Ingrid Michaelson, Natalie Imbruglia, and the like. She is originally from Sycamore, IL and now resides in the Nashville, TN area with her husband and their baby girl. Her debut album, “Save Me,” was released in 2020, displaying her unique style of infectious melodies and intricate lyricism. Her leading single, “Left Behind,” was featured internationally on Radio Alfa in Salerno, Italy. In 2021 she released two singles: “Down,” which was featured in the UK publication, Stargazer Music Magazine, where it received a stellar review, and “Free of You,” which surpassed her previous releases in streams and quickly became her most popular track – that is, until 2022, with the release of “Little Fires.” This track and music video reached over 15k streams and 500+ views, respectively, in just a little over 2 months, and it has had airplay on numerous radio stations worldwide. It also made the Top Ten for “Best Alternative Song” in the World Songwriting Awards – Spring. Recently Bernice was also featured on the cover of Artenzza Music Magazine, in which she did an interview about her relationship with music and songwriting.
