Often called one of the greatest songs ever written and as the Beach Boys’ finest record, God Only Knows from Pet Sounds and produced by Brian Wilson, is a wonder to behold. Brian enlisted about twenty session musicians who variously played drums, sleigh bells, plastic orange juice cups, clarinets, flutes, strings, French horn, accordion, guitars, upright bass, harpsichord, and a tack piano with its strings taped. In this video, he breaks down the song with Beatles’ producer George Martin.
Seth Rogen To Launch Original Podcast Series With SiriusXM’s Stitcher
SiriusXM announced today that writer, producer, director, entrepreneur, and philanthropist Seth Rogen will launch his first podcast with Stitcher, the pioneering podcast company and SiriusXM subsidiary. Rogen’s podcast, a series of personal stories produced with a rich sound design, is expected to debut later this year.
Each week, Rogen will indulge his endless curiosity about people and the world we live in by inviting a range of guests to share a single story – whether hilarious, harrowing or heartwarming – and bring it to life through rhythmic editing, as supporting interviews and archival tape are woven in alongside a tuneful sound design and score.
The as-yet-untitled project will be available via Stitcher’s comedy podcast network, Earwolf, home to popular and award-winning shows Office Ladies, Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend, Scam Goddess, How Did This Get Made? and Comedy Bang! Bang!.
Rogen’s new podcast is being developed and produced by Richard Parks III, who will edit the stories and add his signature approach to sound design and music, which can also be heard on Richard’s Famous Food Podcast, and in Parks’ collaborations with The Flaming Lips, McSweeney’s, and KCRW. Frida Perez and Earwolf’s Colin Anderson will serve as Executive Producers. Additional support comes from Earwolf’s Associate Producer Renee Colvert, Senior Producer Josh Richmond, and Managing Producer Amelia Chappelow.
“Recording and editing these episodes has been a thrilling and rewarding experience,” Rogen said. “Bringing people’s stories to life in these sort of ‘audio documentaries’ has given me amazing insight into what makes up the most impactful moments in people’s lives and how they contextualize these moments. I think Frida, Richard and I have been able to do something that even I am shocked by: produce what seems like an original podcast.”
“Richard’s journalistic track record, leftfield sense of humor, and propensity for wildly creative audio made him the perfect producer to realize Seth’s vision” says Colin Anderson, Vice President of Comedy at Stitcher. “Together, they’ve created something truly unique, which feels right at home at Earwolf.”
“We are very excited Seth wants to bring this series to life at Stitcher and SiriusXM,” said Scott Greenstein, President and Chief Content Officer of SiriusXM. “The vision Seth and his team have is to venture beyond typical celebrity-based podcasts, and that is to go deep into how a single moment can change a person’s life. We’ve seen over his career that Seth is unafraid to explore new territory, and so we are excited to follow him on this journey of discovery.”
The show will be available on Stitcher, SiriusXM’s mobile app, Pandora, and all major podcast listening platforms.
Bob Dylan Center To Open In Tulsa, Oklahoma On May 10, 2022
The Bob Dylan Center will open on May 10, 2022, welcoming visitors from around the world to access and interact with more than 100,000 exclusive cultural treasures found in The Bob Dylan Archive. These include handwritten lyric manuscripts to some of the world’s most treasured songs, previously unreleased recordings, never-before-seen film performances, rare and unseen photographs, visual art and other priceless items spanning Bob Dylan’s unparalleled seven decades as one of the world’s most important cultural figures.
Located in Tulsa’s burgeoning arts district just steps from the city’s renowned Woody Guthrie Center, The Bob Dylan Center is being designed by renowned architectural and exhibit design firm Olson Kundig, led by design principal Alan Maskin. The BDC will feature cutting-edge and immersive technology in a multimedia environment that is designed to be as impressive and revealing to visitors new to Dylan’s work as it will be to long-time fans and afficianados.
Among the many highlights that will be found at The Bob Dylan Center are:
- An ever-evolving curated display of elements that illuminate the depth and breadth of the Bob Dylan Archive collection.
- An immersive film experience that will initiate visitors through an innovative cascade of archival music and film, directed by renowned Dylan chronicler Jennifer Lebeau.
- A recreation of an authentic studio environment where visitors will experience what it was like to be present at one of Dylan’s historic recording sessions.
- The Columbia Records Gallery, which will provide an in-depth look at the creation, performance and production of timeless Dylan songs such as “Like a Rolling Stone,” “Tangled Up in Blue” and “Chimes of Freedom.”
- A screening room that will showcase Dylan-related scripted films, documentaries and concert performances, including never-before-seen material unearthed from the Archive.
- A multimedia timeline of Dylan’s life from his early years in Minnesota through the present day, written by award-winning historian Sean Wilentz.
- The Parker Brothers Gallery, which will explore the creative process through the work of other innovative artists, in an initial exhibit curated by influential author Lewis Hyde
One sterling example of the treasures to be found in The Bob Dylan Archive is a recording of Dylan performing “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right” in the autumn of 1962. This heretofore-unknown recording was made by Milton (Mell) and Lillian Bailey, friends and early champions of the young Bob Dylan when he was a fixture in New York’s Greenwich Village folk scene. This version of the song, recorded in the Baileys’ apartment at 185 East 3rd St., features alternate lyrics and is the earliest known recording of the song that was eventually released in 1963 on The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan. The song can be downloaded at https://bit.ly/3ycz9X1 courtesy of The Bob Dylan Center.
Another example is a recently unearthed image of Bob Dylan on stage during his 1974 tour with The Band, taken by renowned photographer Barry Feinstein. That photo can be downloaded at https://bit.ly/3ycz9X1, also courtesy of The Bob Dylan Center.
59 Productions, world-leading specialists in design for stage and live events (including the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games, the record-breaking David Bowie Is exhibition and the decor concept design for The Met Ball), is collaborating with Olson Kundig on the exhibition design and media development.
“In revealing the existence of The Bob Dylan Archive to the public in 2016, Ben Sisario wrote in The New York Times, “It is clear that the archives are deeper and more vast than even most Dylan experts could imagine, promising untold insight into the songwriter’s work.”
The three-story façade of The Bob Dylan Center will face downtown Tulsa’s hugely popular public gathering space, Guthrie Green, and will depict a rare 1965 image of Dylan, donated to the center by renowned photographer Jerry Schatzberg.
Founding Memberships in The Bob Dylan Center, which include lifetime memberships to the both the BDC and the Woody Guthrie Center as well as permanent recognition on the Center’s donor wall, are available now at bobdylancenter.com. Annual memberships to The Bob Dylan Center will become available later this year, including combined membership opportunities for both the BDC and its neighbor, The Woody Guthrie Center.
Both The Bob Dylan Center and Woody Guthrie Center operate under auspices of the American Song Archives, a project of the George Kaiser Family Foundation (GKFF). GKFF acquired Dylan’s vast archives in 2016 and Guthrie’s in 2010.
Information regarding public admission to The Bob Dylan Center will be released later this year.
Rapper Tom MacDonald Purchases Eminem’s $100,000 NFT Beat & Uses It To Make His New Single
Asserting himself as one of the biggest underground artists in the world with over half-a-billion YouTube views, hundreds of millions of streams, and over 100,000 albums sold exclusively on CD directly to fans (you read that right), Tom MacDonald once again shocks the system with his new single, “Dear Slim.” Recently, he made headlines for purchasing Eminem’s new original beat “Stan’s Revenge” as a NFT for $100,000. As a lifelong “Stan” himself and possible heir to Shady’s public enemy #1 persona, he rapped over that beat for “Dear Slim.” The video picks up where Eminem’s “Stan” video left off. Tom not only embodies Eminem’s most iconic character, but he also writes a stark letter to Slim in the visual. It’s complete with Stan’s Monte Carlo now soaking wet and covered in seaweed from the climax of the original clip—when he drove it off a bridge and into a river 21 years ago…
The Temptations Kick Off 60th Anniversary
Motown/UMe is pleased to announce the kickoff of the 60th Anniversary celebration of the legendary, Grammy Award-Winning Temptations. The Temptations are one of the most revered and prolific musical institutions of all time. Motown luminaries, The Temptations, are today, one of the most iconic, bestselling brands in the entertainment world. With Otis Williams, the founding and sole surviving member of The Temptations, their popularity is ever-increasing and their track record of continuing to sell decades worth of history-making music is breathtaking.
The Temptations signed their first contract with Motown on May 15, 1961. The members of the group at the time of the initial contract signing with Motown consisted of Otis Williams, Paul Williams, Eddie Kendricks, Melvin Franklin and Elbridge Bryant. By 1964, the group had evolved into what became known as the world-famous “Classic Five”—Otis Williams, Paul Williams, Eddie Kendricks, Melvin Franklin and David Ruffin.
Now 60 years later on May 15th, 2021, to commemorate and mark this historic occasion, the Temptations’ 60th Anniversary campaign is being launched and will run through June 2022. The year-long campaign includes national and international concert tours, an upcoming Anniversary album, new video series, and celebratory events along the way, including the re-opening on October 16th of the Broadway musical, Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations, based on Otis Williams ‘personal journey plus recognition of Otis Williams’ 80th birthday on October 30th.
The Temptations’ 60-year legacy spans generations. What began in Detroit in 1961, when a remarkable combination of soulful voices united, was the genesis of an epic journey that has introduced multiple superstars to the world and produced some of the greatest musical masterpieces in the Modern Era.
Otis Williams stated, “I’ve been blessed to take this journey with Shelly Berger, my manager and dear brother, and with all my brothers-the Temptations. Now, to be the last one standing from the classic lineups can be hard sometimes, but I know God left me here for a reason, and that was to continue to share with new generations of fans, the great music that we started back in that two-story house in Detroit, known as Hitsville USA. Music is a universal language, and I know our music, throughout the years has brought people joy, comfort and sometimes even hope. I truly hope that was our greater purpose on earth. Some of the greatest moments in my life have been watching countless fans, from different walks of life worldwide, come together around any one of our songs. Reaching this milestone in my career hasn’t always been easy but it’s gratifying to know that our fans have always been there, every step of the way. I am truly grateful to each and every one of them. We, plan to go back on tour later this summer and, me and my brothers, Ron Tyson and Terry Weeks, Temptations for the past 38 years and 24 years respectively, along with Willie Greene, Jr., and Mario Corbino look forward to sharing this special anniversary with all of you.”
President & CEO, UMe Bruce Resnikoff said, “The Temptations evolution during the 20th and 21st centuries is one of the greatest American music stories of our generation. They are among the most legendary artists in the business, and their meteoric rise to superstardom exceeded all expectations and changed the course of music history, here and around the world. It is a tremendous honor to recognize not only the group’s legacy, artistry and distinguished catalog of music, but also the sole-surviving member of the classic group, Otis Williams, who continues to carry the torch forward for fans today.”
Shelly Berger, the Temptations long-time manager, added, “This is a landmark moment. We wish to thank the venerable Bruce Resnikoff for taking this journey with us and for years of unwavering support. This trailblazing experience with the Temptations, and Otis in particular, is still exhilarating and rewarding sixty years later. To work with a group as gifted as the Temptations, I quickly realized early on that I was at the epicenter of music entertainment globally. Our journey together, throughout the group’s evolution, has been and continues to be a treasure trove of memorable experiences. The Temptations’ music is timeless, and Otis’ tenacity, genius and vision has been the glue that has remained at the heart of the group since the very beginning.”
The Temptations story is undeniably, a road map through American history. The group’s distinguished heritage, influence and contributions to African American and American culture in general, and to the global music landscape is awe-inspiring. The Temptations were pioneers. They were among the first African American groups on mainstream television programs in the 60’s. The phenomenal television exposure popularized their music and coupled with the support of DJ’s across the country, led to chart-topping success, not only on R&B lists but on Billboard Hot 100 charts too. On their renowned Motortown Revue bus tours during the height of the civil rights and voting rights movements, they often faced racism and discrimination first-hand, but they were not detoured. Instead, they raised their voices with songs that were socially relevant in the country. Many of those songs are still meaningful today. Their songs were also an inspiration to American soldiers fighting in the Vietnam War. Quite often, on concert tours, the Temptations are welcomed by Military Veterans sharing stories about the inspiring effect of their music.
In the 70’s, the rising Black middle class fueled growth in arts and entertainment for Black Artists and the Temptations were among the groups at the forefront of that wave. Their influence on mainstream and global artists, such as the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Tina Turner, Annie Lennox, Jose Feliciano, and others, is notable. Artists who have recorded Temptations’ songs these past 60 years reads like a “Who’s Who” of the music recording industry. By the 80’s, the Temptations’ resilience is visible and singular. They launch a reunion tour that unites David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks with the lineup at the time, and headline on the Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever network television special. Before the decade is out, they are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
As the 20th Century nears its end, the Temptations send a message to the world that they like their album Phoenix Rising, will keep rising up and singing their way into the hearts of fans. They win several more awards and both “My Girl,” what many call their magnum opus, and “Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone” are inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, in 1998 and 1999, respectively. In the decades to follow in the 21st Century, the group is awarded their fourth GRAMMY for their “Top 20” R&B chart album, Ear-Resistible, awarded Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance and they receive a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, the group’s fifth GRAMMY.
In addition to The Temptations’ phenomenal catalog of music, it is worth noting that the group’s famous choreography, sophisticated style and wardrobe revolutionized stage performance in the music world forever. Their famous trademarks, the Temptations’ walk, and the well-known four-headed microphone, both inventions of their own, are indelibly stamped on their enduring legacy for eternity.
The First Time Americans Saw EDM, Thanks To Soul Train and Donna Summer
Produced and co-written by Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte, I Feel Love was recorded for Donna Summer’s fifth studio album, I Remember Yesterday in 1977. The album concept was to have each track evoke a different musical decade; for “I Feel Love”, the team aimed to create a futuristic mood, employing a Moog synthesizer. Influencing David Bowie, Brian Eno, The Human League and Blondie at the time, dancing to the song was pretty culturally relevant, too, as this appearance of the song on Soul Train brought electronic dance music to America for the first time.
Dead & Company Announce 2021 Tour
DEAD & COMPANY – Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann, John Mayer, and Bob Weir, with Oteil Burbridge and Jeff Chimenti – is thrilled to announce its 2021 tour, kicking off August 16th in Raleigh, North Carolina, and running through Halloween, with a three-night stand at the iconic Hollywood Bowl on October 29th, 30th, & 31st.
The 31-date tour also includes a night in New York at Citi Field (August 20th), two nights in Boston (September 2nd & 3rd), two nights at Wrigley Field in Chicago (September 17th & 18th), and two nights in Denver (October 22nd & 23rd), among others. A full listing of these 2021 tour dates can be found below.
Tickets will go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, May 21 @ Noon local venue time through Ticketmaster.
To ensure fans get tickets in their hands directly, Fan Registration is now available HERE until Sunday, May 16th @ 10PM PDT, through Ticketmaster’s Verified Fan program. The Verified Fan Presale begins Wednesday, May 19th @ 10 AM local through Thursday, May 20 @ 10 PM local venue time. Supplies are limited.
Dead & Company is excited to announce that they will continue their work with longtime sustainability partner REVERB. This summer the band has committed to a comprehensive carbon offset program via Reverb’s unCHANGEit Climate Campaign, covering all projected emissions from this year’s tour – including fan travel to and from shows. These Dead & Company tour offsets will immediately fund important projects around the world and here at home that directly fight climate change and greenhouse gas emissions.
Dead & Company will once again offer a variety of enhanced experience packages that range in amenities from Loose Lucy’s Lounge access and early venue entry to branded lawn chairs and limited-edition screen-printed posters, paired with premium concert tickets. Travel Packages that bundle concert tickets with local accommodations will also be available. All enhanced offerings and travel packages go on sale May 19th at 10AM local venue time. For full details, visit HERE.
The tour and all venues will be following all mandated precautions in accordance with state and local regulations so as to provide the most secure, Covid-19-free environment possible.
Check deadandcompany.com for complete tour information.
Dead & Company 2021 Tour:
Mon-Aug-16 Raleigh, NC Coastal Credit Union Music Park
Wed-Aug-18 Bristow, VA Jiffy Lube Live
Fri-Aug-20 New York, NY Citi Field
Sat-Aug-21 Philadelphia, PA Citizens Bank Park
Mon-Aug-23 Bethel, NY Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
Wed-Aug-25 Darien, NY Darien Lake Amphitheater
Fri-Aug-27 Saratoga Springs, NY Saratoga Performing Arts Center
Sat-Aug-28 Hershey, PA Hersheypark Stadium
Thu-Sep-02 Mansfield, MA Xfinity Center
Fri-Sep-03 Mansfield, MA Xfinity Center
Sun-Sep-05 Hartford, CT The Xfinity Theatre
Tue-Sep-07 Cuyahoga Falls, OH Blossom Music Center
Fri-Sep-10 Clarkston, MI DTE Energy Music Theatre
Sat-Sep-11 Cincinnati, OH Riverbend Music Center
Mon-Sep-13 Maryland Heights, MO Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre STL
Wed-Sep-15 Noblesville, IN Ruoff Music Center
Fri-Sep-17 Chicago, IL Wrigley Field
Sat-Sep-18 Chicago, IL Wrigley Field
Wed-Oct-06 West Palm Beach, FL iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre
Thu-Oct-07 Tampa, FL MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
Mon-Oct-11 Charlotte, NC PNC Music Pavilion
Tue-Oct-12 Atlanta, GA Cellairis Amphitheatre at Lakewood
Thu-Oct-14 Dallas, TX Dos Equis Pavilion
Fri-Oct-15 Woodlands, TX Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion Presented by Huntsman
Fri-Oct-22 Greenwood Village, CO Fiddler’s Green Amphitheater
Sat-Oct-23 Greenwood Village, CO Fiddler’s Green Amphitheater
Mon-Oct-25 Phoenix, AZ Ak-Chin Pavilion
Wed-Oct-27 San Diego, CA North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
Fri-Oct-29 Los Angeles, CA Hollywood Bowl
Sat-Oct-30 Los Angeles, CA Hollywood Bowl
Sun-Oct-31 Los Angeles, CA Hollywood Bowl
Dead & Company was formed in 2015 when the Grateful Dead’s Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann and Bob Weir joined forces with artist and musician John Mayer, Allman Brothers’ bassist Oteil Burbridge, and Fare Thee Well and RatDog keyboardist Jeff Chimenti. The result was one of the most successful touring bands of the decade. Since its formation, the band has completed six tours, playing to 3.4 million fans, and has become a record-breaking stadium act. Having toured consistently since its 2015 debut, the band has grossed $255.5 million and sold 2.8 million tickets across 149 reported shows.
Dead & Co. has headlined iconic stadiums across the country including Folsom Field, Autzen Stadium, Citi Field, Fenway Park and Dodger Stadium. Additionally, the band broke Wrigley Field’s all-time concert attendance record.
In between tours, Dead & Company hosts its annual “Playing in the Sand” all-inclusive Caribbean concert vacation in Mexico and features three nights of Dead & Company playing on an intimate beach. Due to overwhelming fan demand, a second weekend was added to 2022’s Playing in the Sand. Both weekends have sold out.
STYX And COLLECTIVE SOUL Celebrate Getting Back On The Road With Their First-Ever Multiple City Tour Together
The long wait is finally over for STYX and COLLECTIVE SOUL fans, as both bands are rested, healthy and ready to hit the road for their first-ever multiple city tour together.
Tickets for various cities, as well as exclusive VIP packages from each band, will go on sale starting Friday, April 23, as well as Friday, April 30 at StyxWorld.com and CollectiveSoul.com.
STYX–James “JY” Young (lead vocals, guitars), Tommy Shaw (lead vocals, guitars), Chuck Panozzo (bass, vocals), Todd Sucherman (drums, percussion), Lawrence Gowan (lead vocals, keyboards) and Ricky Phillips (bass, guitar, vocals)–had previously announced their return to Las Vegas with a two-night engagement at The Venetian Theatre inside The Venetian® Resort Las Vegas on September 25 and September 26, which will include an exclusive set list and brand-new stage production. Today, due to popular demand because the first two shows quickly sold-out, a third date has been added on September 24. Tickets for the newly added show will go on sale to the general public Friday, April 23 at 10am PT. STYX fan club members will have access to a pre-sale beginning Wednesday, April 21 at 10am PT, while the Venetian’s Grazie Rewards club members and Live Nation customers will receive access to a pre-sale beginning Thursday, April 22 at 10am PT.
After 14 years, STYX’s 16th studio album, THE MISSION, was released June 16, 2017 on the band’s label, Alpha Dog 2T/UMe. The highly anticipated two-disc reissue of THE MISSION was released on July 27, 2018 via Alpha Dog 2T/UMe, which includes a CD of the original album, as well as a Blu-ray of the album mixed in 5.1 Surround Sound accompanied by stunning visualizations for each of the album’s 14 songs based on the album artwork. It originally debuted on various Billboard charts, including: #6 Top Rock Albums, #11 Physical Albums, #11 Vinyl Albums, #13 Current Albums, #14 Billboard Top Albums, #16 Retail, #17 Mass Merch/Non-Traditional, #29 Digital Albums, and #45 Billboard 200 (includes catalog and streaming).
COLLECTIVE SOUL–Ed Roland (vocals/guitar), Dean Roland (rhythm guitar), Will Turpin (bass/background vocals), Jesse Triplett (lead guitar/background vocals), Johnny Rabb (drums/background vocals)—have performed a handful of socially distanced shows within the past few months, including a sold-out New Year’s Eve show in Kissimmee, FL at the Promenade at Sunset Walk, as well as a three-night sold-out stint at the Coca Cola® Roxy in Atlanta, GA.
COLLECTIVE SOUL’s tenth studio album, BLOOD, was released June 21, 2019 on Fuzze-Flex Records/ADA. Upon its release, the critically acclaimed album garnered impressive debuts on various Billboard’s charts thanks to devoted fans whose support continues to help the band celebrate their 25th anniversary, including #3 on Alternative Albums, #4 on Independent Albums, #5 on Rock Albums, #12 on Digital Albums, #15 on Top Current Albums, and #19 on Internet Albums.
Check out the tour at the following stops, with more shows for STYX and COLLECTIVE SOUL to be announced soon:
With Collective Soul:
Wed 6/16 St. Augustine, FL St. Augustine Amphitheatre (STYX only; on sale April 30)
Fri 6/18 Alpharetta, GA Ameris Bank Amphitheatre (on sale April 23)
Sat 6/19 Southaven, MS Landers Center (on sale April 23)
Sun 6/20 Brandon, MS Brandon Amphitheatre (on sale April 30)
Thu 6/24 Lincoln, NE Pinewood Bowl Amphitheatre (on sale April 23)
Fri 6/25 Bonner Springs, KS Providence Medical Center Amphitheatre (on sale April 23)
Sat 6/26 Camdenton, MO Lake Ozarks Amphitheater (on sale April 23)
Sun 6/27 Oklahoma City, OK Zoo Amphitheatre (on sale April 23)
Fri 9/24 Las Vegas, NV The Venetian Theatre (STYX only; on sale April 23)
Sat 9/25 Las Vegas, NV The Venetian Theatre (STYX only; SOLD OUT)
Sun 9/26 Las Vegas, NV The Venetian Theatre (STYX only; SOLD OUT)
KELE FLEMING Soothes & Sways with New Spin on Single, “Sea In Me”
It’s not just a clever conjugation that Canadian indie folk pop songstress Kele Fleming’s new single “Sea In Me” feels like a rushing of the waves when it bursts out of your speakers.
Yes, you are swaying. Yes, you are losing yourself in the oceanic prowess of her incredible, soothing vocals. Yes, the instrumentation lifts you up, and whisks you away with the tide.
It’s calling for you, this song. It’s calling for all of us.
A follow up to her previous, well-received effort, “The Latest Meme”, “Sea In Me” is an anthem that strings Fleming’s enchanting traditional roots with her perchance for rock and roll together — and features an acoustic remix from Jesse Waldman.
“It’s a love song,” the Victoria, BC-based singer/songwriter reveals in one of her Youtube Music Mondays on her official channel. “I wrote this about the giant Pacific Octopus that lives at the Vancouver aquarium.”
The simplicity in its message is its testament to its complex orchestration; the song having been written by Fleming and Ron Yamauchi, the track can be found as the latest single off her fourth and most recent album, The Song I’ll Write For My Whole Life (2020) — a ten-track offering after a four-year hiatus.
Integrating haunting melodies with lyrics that’ll both inspire and break your heart, “Sea In Me” is a new-school chanty that promises to seep inside your soul and stay there.
Its subsequent music video is a gorgeous sweeping panoramic of the great outdoors. The beautiful music video was shot by local legend R.d. Cane at Spanish Banks Beach in Vancouver. It is a lush and compelling video that is intentionally minimal, with only a quick cameo of the artist herself due to the restrictions of time and the nature of the song.
As the song pushes forward, it’s the thunderclap of Fleming’s dynamite vocals that will coerce you to close your eyes and soak it in. Her descant melodies cascade like a rapture over the crescendo of the chorus, magically transporting you into an air of transcendence. That’s the wizardry of Fleming’s capacity to captivate and mesmerize her audience through compassion, longing, hope, and promising a leap to the finish that makes the journey worth taking. When you reach the finale of “Sea In Me”, you’ll be bound to wanting the rush all over again.
When the tide calls, and it’s time to put the sounds and symbols of the world around you away for another brief moment in time, step out to the porch. Into the sun. On the dock by the lake. Around the campfire. And give this new record a spin. Once Kele Fleming invites you into her swirling universe of truths, and storytelling, you’ll be thankful to tread on the waters of “Sea In Me”.
Roots & Blues Artist STEVE PAUL SIMMS Goes For Broke on New Single “No Money Comin’ In”
Raw, real, and authentically blues, “No Money Comin’ In” is the latest confessional from Canada’s own Steve Paul Simms.
With “No Money Comin’ In,” the blues riff conquers your groove, willing your body to move. Available now, the grungy rock and blues anthem is a toast to a commonality we’re all facing in the height of this global pandemic — a lack of the benjamins. And Simms bets it all on this track, getting right to the heart of the matter with the truth — the good, bad and ugly of it all.
“Written at a challenging time, when love ultimately won out over financial hardship, the song allows the listener to imagine their own ending to the story,” Simms explains, adding that the track is “dedicated to the triumph over life’s hardships.
“There’s a lot of light and laughter here too.”
A travelin’ troubadour with a melody on his sleeve and a song on his heart, Simms is a natural-born performer with a knack for telling stories that humanize life experiences in ways we all understand. Born in Wales, Steve Paul Simms’ repertoire refutes the boundaries of genre; the singer/songwriter fluidly intertwines his tracks between pop, ragtime, jazz, blues, soul, country, Broadway, and old-fashioned rock and roll.
For more than 20 years, Simms has spent his life spinning yarns, performing on stages as both an actor and a musician. He boasts a collection of more than 200+ written tunes across his tenure of performing arts, and has honed his craft through years of busking, contributing to the Tranzac Club in his now-hometown of Toronto, private and public concerts on Zoom, having performed in more than 60 theatrical productions across Canada, and more.
“No Money Comin’ In” is the latest to land from Steve Paul’s fourth album, Ingrid and the Messenger Boy — a 12-track collection of fables, homages, and testaments to the human experience, pop culture, love, and everything in between.
Recording in Toronto, Simms brought together a host of talent to flesh out the track; the song boasts Bob Cohen on guitars and bass, organ and piano from Ed Michael Roth, drums by George Morellato, moaning vocals compliments of Chantale Groulx and Linda Elaine Lucas, in addition to SPS on lead vox and rhythm guitar.
“Nothin’ will ease your mind like money — poets are paid to tell lies,” croons Simms, and that’s how to tell fact from fiction. A musician ready to bare it all, and lay our crosses out to dry. Steve Paul Simms isn’t here for poor excuses. He came to gamble on the richness of a song that paints the picture of our times.