Posts Tagged ‘Folk’

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

This is seriously beautiful.

That is all.

Suck it, Taylor Swift haters!

[Related Post: The Civil Wars Cover 'Disarm' By The Smashing Pumpkins]

By: Maria Ciezak
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Nothing else enhances my week quite like discovering free singles on iTunes. This week, it’s Swedish duo First Aid Kit, and their single Emmylou (off of their record Lion’s Roar). I am totally intrigued with this number. The single pays tribute to some of the girls’ favorite country musicians, including: Emmylou Harris, Gram Parsons, June Carter and Johnny Cash.

Two sisters with a robust love for folk, indie, country, and most of all, kick ass harmony. I recollect hearing of these girls when they did a stunning cover of The Fleet Foxes, resulting in a huge internet fan base. Maybe it’s me, but this tune puts me in a state of widespread calmness. Check it out.

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

One of the most striking moments in the new film Martha Marcy May Marlene is when twisted cult leader Patrick, played by the brilliant John Hawkes, performs the song you’re about to hear. I remember sitting in the theatre in total trance mode, seduced by the magic this song creates meshed with Hawkes chapped vocals.

JAW DROPPINGLY BEAUTIFUL.

Do yourself a favor and see this movie. One of the best films of the year in my opinion. The story, cinematography, acting; all brilliant.

And to everyone posting about J.Lo’s performance from the AMAs last night: THIS is what REAL music sounds like. No props, audio backing or shirtless male props required.

Song (live version) + trailer below.

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Seriously, Jay-Z? SMDH!

“Jay-Z, as talented as he is, has the political sensibility of a hood rat and is a scrotum. To attempt to profit off of the first important social moment of 50 years with an overpriced piece of cotton is an insult to the fight for economic civil rights known as #occupywallstreet.”

-GRIM / Occupy Wall Street Leader

[On Jay-Z profiting from Rocawear's OWS t-shirts, in which the rapper donated zero percent of the proceeds to the cause]

BTW, the video below is jawesome.

By: Maria Ciezak
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Getting to know a fresh, ferocious artist; Alessi’s Ark.

MARIA CIEZAK: Thank you for taking the time to chat with me! You have been singing for quite some time. How has life changed for you since the release of ‘Time Travel’?

ALESSI’S ARK: It has been really nice to play a mixture of these newer songs from the album at the shows and to share the music in new areas. I was on tour with John Grant in Europe when the album was released over here in the UK and it was my very first time visiting a lot of the cities we travelled through. It was a double treat, being able to visit at all and to be able to share the new songs. I also really, really recommend having a listen to John Grant if you haven’t already.

MC: Do you write your music yourself? And where do you get your song inspiration from?

AA: Yes, I do write my own music. Sometimes I go through spells of not feeling very inspired when the feeling is there, inspiration can flow and be found just about anywhere; in overheard conversations, through the movements of leaves, conversations and stories shared with family and friends, dreams, past experiences and the imagination itself.

MC: What do you enjoy more, recording in the studio or taking your music live on the road?

AA: Both are special experiences in their own way. While recording you can be more in control of the environment and can really make a studio feel like a handmade den, which makes playing very comfortable. It is equally lovely to see other places and be able to meet others through playing the songs in their neck of the woods.

MC: ‘Kind of Man’ and ‘The Fever’ are two of my favorite tracks. Are there any songs you enjoy performing the most?

AA: On this upcoming tour I’ll be playing solo but when playing with the Ark we have fun playing ‘Must have grown’ as it has bloomed a new ending that ebbs and flows nightly.

MC: We are so excited to see you tour here in America. A high profile support slot with Laura Marling. What kind of trouble do two talented young ladies get up to out on the road?

AA: Nothing too disgraceful!

MC: Who would you perform your dream duet with?

AA: I think Jim James’ voice is beautiful.

MC: For those people just getting to know you, what are some words of inspiration you can leave behind?

AA: Trust your stomach and follow your heart.

By: Caitlin Hoffman
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Martha Wainwright is my go-to gal for playful sensuality and bracing bilingual performances. Her transition from tragic to titillating is seamless. Her diction, even moreso. Every word she sings (whether in English or French) slips in your ear and stays there.

In 2009 she compiled a tribute to Edith Piaf, a notable French singer in the Canadian community. This was a far cry from the edge produced in other albums, straying away from expletive titles and leaning into pastel pallets.

Usually, I am not into covers. I prefer bona-fide beats and genuine verse. But somehow she makes the tribute stuff work. She does Edith justice, and more than once the album brought tears to my eyes. (Why are words always more tragic when sung in French?)

Best way to find out what she’s all about is by dipping into her original work. Then once you know her well, wade your way into her recent endeavours. No matter which way you go, you’re going to find beauty, and a whole lot of feeling.

My favourite song of hers is a bleeding heart on a record. Bloody Mother F*cking A**hole is painfully honest, a perfect pick for the badly wounded, a lullaby for the misfit. My second favourite is her take on Une Enfant, a tune that stills the heart.

Take your pick and open up to art.
　

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

I’ve been diagnosed!

“My music is solely happy at some points, but there’s always a dark kind of thing running through my songs. I am just kind of a dark person. There’s always a place in my head I go to to write songs, and the darker it is, the more genuine it feels to me. Everyone’s different, but I’m just one of those. I think a lot. I think too much, even when I’m really happy.”

–EG

[Related Post: Ellie Goulding Covers Rihanna]

BTW, the beautiful song you’re about to hear is an unreleased demo.

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Stunning songbirds, Joy Williams and John Paul White of indie folk duo The Civil Wars, will be performing live July 8th and here’s your chance to catch the show!

For $5.99 advance & $7.99 day of show (yup, about the cost of a happy hour cocktail), the concert will be streamed online via Liveset starting at 10:45PM EST. The best part? The experience is interactive, so The Civil Wars will be able to respond and comment on the ongoing conversation from fans who will be logged on watching the concert.

Rayland Baxter joins The Civil Wars as the opening act.

To purchase your digital ticket, please go HERE.

This pair is effing amazing, so you don’t wanna miss out! Ya heard?

[Related Post: The Civil Wars Cover 'Disarm' By The Smashing Pumpkins]

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

This past weekend, amidst a deeply personal conversation with a friend, Disarm by The Smashing Pumpkins poured through the radio in the background. Immediately it transported me back to a place of fragile emotion, when I first listened to the song years ago.

“The reason I wrote Disarm was because, I didn’t have the guts to kill my parents, so I thought I’d get back at them through song. And rather then have an angry, angry, angry violent song I’d thought I’d write something beautiful and make them realize what tender feelings I have in my heart, and make them feel really bad for treating me like shit. Disarm is hard to talk about because people will say to me ‘I listen to that song and I can’t figure out what it’s about.’ It’s like about things that are beyond words. I think you can conjure up images and put together phrases, but it’s a feeling beyond words and for me it has a lot to do with like a sense of loss. Being an adult and looking back and romanticizing a childhood that never happened or went by so quickly in a naive state that you miss it.”

–Billy Corgan

The Civil Wars (a new favorite!) recently covered the classic track via Paste Magazine. Watch the cover reel below.

Yay for music music!

By: Maria Ciezak
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

This girl never seems to fail to impress me. Christina Perri has dropped another track entitled Penguin and I can’t get it out of my head. I loved Lonely and Jar of Hearts and can barely stand the wait; the album needs to drop! Her vocal talent and lyrical content can be greatly appreciated and respected as real, raw music. Homegirl has talent.

This song is light, fluffy, and done right. Cute and poignant, this track can relate to almost everyone. Give it a listen.

By: Caitlin Hoffman
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

I dig musicians with soul. And not just the kind of soul that gives magic to the groove. I mean the soul beneath the skin that so many philosophers debate about. The spark that wants to make a difference in the world.

Jack Johnson is a musician with that kind of soul. Part musician, part surfer, part family man, but all about the love. He has promised to donate $50,000 to the Japan Tsunami Relief Effort, and that’s a move that deserves a pat on the back. Jack and his band were actually in Japan when the earthquake hit, mid-way through their To The Sea tour. The experience was so rattling for him that it awoke his inner philanthropy. He describes it as such: “My family and I were in our hotel room on the 29th floor in Osaka when the earthquake hit. Although it was an extremely nerve-racking experience, it was nothing compared to what those closer to the epicenter are going through. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of the families that have been affected by the earthquake and tsunami. We are making a donation to help with the relief efforts and hope to be back in Japan soon to reunite with friends and play more music.”

What’s more, all of the moolah he’s making from his tour is going directly to charity.

I only hope that more men like him get out into the world and keep on making music. He has an attentiveness that comes through his music’s mellow vibes.

Let’s all have a round of applause for Jack Johnson, a man who uses his music to make a difference, not as an excuse to hit on groupies and throw up backstage.

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Recently, I had the pleasure of seeing Joshua Radin (with opening acts Justin Nozuka & Andrew Allen), live in concert via the Best Buy Theatre in Times Square…

The general consensus is that Joshua Radin is a cutie pie, an A+ type of man dipped in whip cream and covered in rainbow sprinkles. Because honestly, let’s face facts: the guy’s sweet. Yet after seeing him perform live, I think that statement is only partially true. Missing from that statement is the fact that Radin’s substance isn’t sugar coated or sugar based at all. It’s apparent when Radin takes the stage and tells his often quirky stories of past ex-girlfriends and awkward moments in baby making, that Radin is a man whose heart has been shattered and put back together time and time again with a guitar pick and a microphone.

The man comes across absolutely genuine and real on stage and that aura of energy is one of the reasons he is so beloved. The minute he starts to strum, the audience is mesmerized and captivated by his marshmallow voice — his lyrics and emotion as comfortable as peanut butter and jelly — yet as beautiful and exotic as white sand.

Ok, I’m gonna take a moment to step away from the writer mentality and quickly say that my favorite moment of the whole damn show was when Radin — who works with the amazing organization Little Kids Rock – brought three kids on stage from a public school in the Bronx (which he had visited earlier as a part of the organization’s mission to save music programs in public schools), and had the three students play along with him as he performed Brand New Day, all three of the girls strumming along on their acoustic guitars. The audience went wild — not only for the heart that seems to bleed from this artist — but for the utterly normal, giving, non-egotistical being that he comes off as being.

Radin’s low-fi sound is one that shouldn’t be missed live.

Opening acts Justin Nozuka and Andrew Allen were also incredible. I have seen Nozuka in concert before and he always delivers and packs a punch. One exciting note on Nozuka’s behalf is that he mentioned his plan to record with India Arie. Something I definitely look forward to hearing in the future.

Canadian singer/songwriter Andrew Allen comes off as quirky on stage, wrapped in a package that is full of a marketability factor that should ultimately be used as an advantage for him as he tries to make a splash in the States.

Go.see.this.tour.

The end.

By: Maria Ciezak
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

I have discussed my hometown girl Nicole Atkins several times on this site, and all hail the empress, she is back with newfangled music. Just-released single Vultures is a record that will grab you, shake you up, and demand your foremost focus. Working with a new label, Nicole has released this lead track, showcasing a style that is fervently murky, austere but not without a core mood. The jam begins sounding like a shadowy, lovely classical rock tune but swiftly shimmers into a buoyant blues-infused groove with Atkins blaring pipes. “I can disappear, from who I’d like to be. Simply run away, and hide behind the sea,” she sings. Wherever she decides to go, she goes with all of her heart, carrying her music along the journey.

For the past few years, Nicole’s been pushed by critics as an indie spotlight act. Her touring schedule has been jam packed, performing with artists such as Rufus Wainwright, Regina Spektor, and recently wrapped up a stint opening for admired musicians, the Black Keys.

I am continuously awaiting her second album, entitled Mondo Amore, which seems to have a little more rock attitude and complexity, an album I’m sure it will live up to the hype. I believe the key to a successful musician is not to set limits, and Ms. Atkins supports my theory like a citation.

Check out Vultures and watch Atkins attack.

By: Maria Ciezak
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

[Photo Cred: Vivo in Vino]

A beautiful session! My girl, Nicole Atkins, recently belted out You Belong To Me live during her session at Paste. For all of you love-struck hopefuls, feel free to carry this song in your pocket with you. It’s an adorable performance, so enjoy!

[Related Post: Artist To Watch: Nicole Atkins]

By: Caitlin Hoffman
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

No, that’s not an insult. Sometimes for folk to be raw, it’s got to be tuned low. That’s where it really piques. That’s when it really halts the brain, really steers ourselves to concentrate on the spirit in the sound.

Perhaps folk isn’t the best refuge for the fellow with a heavy heart and shifty eyes, for the person who needs to rid themselves of annoyances and monsters.

When I’m listening to the genre, the anxiety in me sometimes wants to scream, ‘Speed it up!’, but that’s because I’ve neglected my urges to stop and smell the roses. It’s those simple little tastes of life that really decorate our senses with something special. And that’s exactly what Little City is — a little sprinkle of beauty in an otherwise mediocre space. Their little candle flickers are enough to keep you warm. They are an inactive experience, speaking to you without moving their lips. They are, very simply, easy listening.

Not to say they’re pure-bred, straight-laced folk. Nah. They have enough sizzle from their contemporary influence to draw in different mellow backgrounds. And some of their songs, like the one below, have been marinated with enough salty attitude to make your lips purse. With unexpected pops of colour from cellos and violins, spurred on by the grace of their charmed, sweet centre, they are a liberation from the predictable.

Give yourself a chance to slow down and really listen to Little City. That’s when you’ll feel it. There’s a point of the musical sensation where you have to stop seeing, stop thinking, even stop breathing, just to feel the power completely. Give Little City a few seconds of silence, and that’ll be enough for the transaction to complete.

Just check out the power in their live piece of Lincoln Learning French. It’ll be enough to get you psyched for their new EP, just released a week ago.
　

Lincoln Learning French (Live Performance) from Little City on Vimeo.