What is a concept album all about? And could Vivaldi’s Four Seasons considered to be one of the first concept albums ever made? In an interview with Mike Rutherford, one of the founding members of the English Rock band Genesis, Rick Wakeman is looking to back up his theory.
Lady A Offers What A Song Can Do (Chapter One) Available June 25
With a renewed sense of inner strength and hope, the multi-Platinum band Lady A announce details today behind their upcoming WHAT A SONG CAN DO (CHAPTER ONE) (BMLG Records) collection, set to be released June 25. After spending last year in rediscovery mode while recommitting themselves to their original intention, the trio emerged with a new, refined vision. The seven-track ensemble, produced by Dann Huff and with each track penned by at least one member, reinvigorates their signature rich vocal harmony, vivid emotional writing and a smooth fusion of Country, rock and pop. The new music is not dedicated to the struggles of 2020, but it was born alongside them and adds a layer of uplifting depth to Lady A’s catalog. WHAT A SONG CAN DO (CHAPTER ONE) will be available for pre-order this Friday (6/11) here alongside its gentle and wise new track “Things He Handed Down.”
“There’s an interdependence that we have with each other, and music is at the center of that to me,” Hillary Scott said. “We are all living in the now together…we’re all a work in progress, and that is what we wanted to share with these songs on the first chapter.”
With a renewed appreciation for their music and the friendship that made it possible, Lady A offers an honest self-examination while striving to be present and preaching empowered affirmation, all with the sonic blend they’re best known for. Together, they explore musically through a pure-Country lens of love, loss and laughter. The quintessential Lady A title-track for WHAT A SONG CAN DO (CHAPTER ONE) opens the trio’s hearts to a fresh start, while songs like “Talk of This Town” and “Fire” use third degree romantic burns as a metaphor for adversity. “Worship What I Hate” takes a brutally-honest look at who we become if we’re not paying attention and “Chance of Rain” reminds us not to play it safe in matters of life and love. The gentle “Things He Handed Down” dusts off some heirloom wisdom, questioning how it’s put to use.
WHAT A SONG CAN DO (CHAPTER ONE) TRACK LIST
- “Talk Of This Town” | Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott, Nicolle Galyon, Jordan Reynolds
- “What A Song Can Do” | Charles Kelley, Sam Ellis, Ryan Hurd, Laura Veltz
- “Like A Lady” | Hillary Scott, Dave Barnes, Michelle Buzz, Martin Johnson, Brandon Paddock
- “Things He Handed Down” | Charles Kelley, Julian Bunetta, Jesse Frasure, Thomas Rhett
- “Fire” | Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott, Justin Ebach
- “Chance Of Rain” | Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley, Topher Brown, Justin Ebach
- “Worship What I Hate” | Dave Haywood, Hillary Scott, Natalie Hemby, Amy Wadge
Built around rich vocal harmony, vivid emotional writing and a smooth fusion of Country, rock and pop, Lady A have long been a model of mainstream success. Their 11 No. 1s, 18 million albums sold, 34 million tracks, five billion digital streams and a global touring footprint prove the point. Known for their 9X PLATINUM hit “Need You Now,” which is the highest certified song by a Country group, they have earned CMA Awards Vocal Group of the Year trophies three years in a row and countless other honors including five GRAMMY Awards, Billboard Music Awards, People’s Choice Awards, Teen Choice Awards, a Tony Award nod and were recently inducted as members of the Grand Ole Opry. The 34-city LADY A: WHAT A SONG CAN DO TOUR will launch July 29th in Uncasville, CT with special guests Carly Pearce, Niko Moon and Tenille Arts, with a portion of the ticket sales going towards LadyAID, the group’s philanthropic fund. For more information visit www.ladyamusic.com.
Pop Dynamo ANDREW CASSARA Says “Gimme More Bass” with the Release of New Official Video
At upwards of a quarter-million streams worldwide, it’s more Freak on Repeat for multi-award nominated Canadian pop dynamo Andrew Cassara and his latest official music video for “Gimme More Bass” — available now.
The freshly pressed visual lands on the heels of Cassara’s not one, but two 2021 Ottawa Music Industry Coalition Capital City Music Award nominations — Artist of the Year, and Album of the Year for 2020’s Freak on Repeat (Deluxe Version).
“Gimme More Bass is one of those songs that kind of surprised me,” Cassara shares of the deep-grooved and dazzling track. “It happened so quickly; at the beginning, it was just a melody that was really catchy and it felt like, in the blink of an eye, it came to life.
“Growing up, I was the biggest Backstreet Boys fan and ‘Gimme More Bass’ feels like I’m sticking to my roots, but that I’ve fused that ‘boy band’ pop sound with my love for retro funk and disco.
“It’s groove pop and it just feels like home to me.”
Describing the pop dynamo’s style with mere words never seems to do it full justice; hearing and feeling his music are really the only ways to fully appreciate the multi-talented artist’s ubiquitous and undulating blend of funk, disco and pop.
With streams topping 250,000+ across platforms, and fuelled by influences ranging from Shawn Mendes, to the Bee Gees, to artists like Jamiroquai – who, like Cassara, blur stylistic lines fluidly – both “Gimme More Bass” and Freak on Repeat (Deluxe Version) (SGMGroupArtists), may sound familiar, but are impossible to pigeonhole.
“Creating this song, along with the rest of Freak on Repeat, has been one of the most liberating and eye-opening experiences of my life,” Cassara reflects. “I promised myself I would write with true authenticity, and tell the stories and feelings that make me who I am in that very moment.
“Making this album changed me as a person,” he continues. “When I tell you I laughed ‘till it hurt, that I cried, that I danced like a fool…
“I broke down, and I smiled more than I ever have in my life while making this record, and that’s what creating art is all about.”
With previous releases including Lavender Feels, The Big Bang, and Freak on Repeat in its first iteration — as well as a series of singles — Cassara has performed in the US, South Korea, Singapore, Japan and Sweden. He’s slated to appear at Sweden’s Future Echoes Festival and Lithuania’s What’s Next In Music Fest this year, and has previously shared the stage with artists such as Shawn Mendes, Chromeo, Tyler Shaw, Lauv, and more.
He has also headlined the Youth X Canada Tour, performing for and engaging with audiences at youth centres across Ontario in an effort to encourage young people to share their own stories and mental health struggles.
“We owe it to ourselves to be fearless of judgement, to be our true selves, and to give ourselves the unconditional love we deserve,” he shares. “It’s something I’ve come to terms with, and I hope it resonates through my music.”
Toronto Prog-Metal Trio DEREV Shake Things Up with Hard-Hitting, Thought-Provoking ‘Leap of Faith’ Album
The latest to land alongside their newest EP, Leap of Faith, Canadian prog-metal rockers Derev have unleashed their heaviest track yet; “Turab” is available now.
Featuring guest vocalist Adel Saflou, the five-minute hard-hitter includes the Derev members Armando Bablanian, Michel Karakach, and Liam Horrigan, and picks up right where the album’s previous single, “Futile,” left off…
Think: intense guitar riffs, chest-pounding drum beats, and mesmerizingly groovy time changes — all backed by the track’s thought-provoking nature sparked by the trio’s poetic and harrowing lyrical efforts.
Meaning ‘earth’ in Arabic, “Turab” was written with the purpose of “questioning things that are culturally presumed as absolute truths,” the band says, using the culture of war as an example to question the “honour” of sacrificing oneself for “the land.”
“Is it really an honour,” the query, “or is it just another presumed truth we were raised to believe, and never question?”
Sonically, “Turab” is arguably the heaviest track on the entire six-track EP. Perfectly complementing the dense nature of the lyrics, it opens with an urgent, palm-muted guitar melody and intermittent, rapid-paced drum fills, before breaking out into the pummeling, Tool-esque riffage that drives this anthem.
The band’s intent was to blend the heaviness of metal with the atmospheric feel and rhythms of old school prog-rock, all while experimenting with Middle Eastern guitar scales derived from the members’ respective origins — Bablanian is from Kuwait, and Karakach is from Syria.
While every song on Derev’s EP orbits a concept, it’s not a concept album. Similar to how “Turab” pulls no punches against the spoils of war, each track contained within Leap of Faith was written to cover a different weight-laden and timely topic.
The common theme among them is about seeing things from a different, unconventional perspective, ultimately taking the risk of action to make a change rather than accepting the status quo.
This idea is where the title Leap of Faith spawned from, they add.
Though Leap of Faith will be the first many metal fans ever hear of Derev, these undeniably talented band members’ earliest rumblings could be heard long before this new inception… With Bablanian and Karakach first meeting in high school while living in Kuwait, “we were unable to pursue the project at the time due to the circumstances of living in the Middle East,” they share.
In the meantime, Karakach received his dental degree in Syria before immigrating to Canada, actively drumming and songwriting along the way. For his part, Bablanian received an engineering degree from the University of Toronto while also part of Canadian metal band, Till I Conquer — with whom he released an EP and three singles. Horrigan — also a UofT engineering alum — used to be in the Ottawa-area band Open Season; he’s also released a solo alt-rock offering under @t_ii_f.
“Turab” and Leap of Faith are available now.
Country Artist LISA RICHARD Brings Good Vibes & Good Company with New Single “Together”
In an homage to the bright side of life, award-nominated Halifax, NS country crooner Lisa Richard spins a tale of good vibes, good company, and good times on her single “Together” — available now.
“‘Together’ was written a few years ago with my co-writers Rick Tiger and Jeff Wanex in Nashville,” Richard says of creating the track. “We wrote it after one of my trips to Europe where I got to perform in Budapest. I remember thinking that, although the majority of the audience didn’t understand English, they could fully understand the music I was playing. It’s true what they say… Music is a universal language!”
On “Together,” Richard utilizes all that country music stands for: a simple, but poignant message, buried in the roots of family, and friendship. “Being ‘Together’ is always my favourite place to be, and that is the feeling I wanted to encompass in this song,” she says. “The lyric video for ‘Together’ is created by Warren Robert; we wanted to remind people of that special feeling we all get when we are with the people we love and care about — family, friends, loved ones, and the joy of spending time in places that make us happy.
“The take-home message in this song is to not take any of these things for granted, and to enjoy every minute of being ‘Together.’”
Nominated for Country Artist of the Year at the 2018 Music Nova Scotia Awards, and selected for the Songbird Super Series Showcase at the 2019 East Coast Music Awards, and the 2019 WSM Grand Ole Opry Radio Songbird Jubilee in Nashville, Richard has notched a considerable resume of industry recognition.
Her 2017 offering, Tangled Up, showcased her illustrious singing chops, and earned the budding country star airplay on radio stations from her home in Canada, the US, the United Kingdom, and beyond. Her stunning rendition of Dolly Parton’s classic, “Jolene,” continues to garner a staggering number of viewers, having crossed more than 100,000 streams since it was posted.
A native of New Brunswick, the troubadour has spent much of her tenure in the industry wowing audiences and commanding stages all over the world — including alongside country greats like Vince Gill, The Time Jumpers, and more.
After spending the past few years recording and releasing singles highlighting her incomparable vocal range and ability to write the songs that resonate with the everyday person, Richard is gearing up to release her sophomore album later this year.
The resurgence in excitement surrounding “Together” is a testament to the global climate we’re all facing in 2021; written in pre-pandemic times, it’s impossible to ignore the melancholy mood of sadness tucked over all of us like a cloud as we forge through — Lisa Richard’s “Together” is a reminder of gentler, simpler, and simply better times.
“I had no idea (the song) would be so relevant two years later,” she says. “I hope everyone gets a chance to be ‘Together’ again soon.”
My Next Read: “Depeche Mode” by Anton Corbijn
Since the 1980s, Dutch master Anton Corbijn’s timeless and brooding aesthetic has cemented Depeche Mode’s reputation as effortlessly cool. With over 500 images from Corbijn’s personal archives, some never seen before, as well as Corbijn’s handwritten captions, and an in-depth interview with the artist, this is the eagerly anticipated, wallet friendly successor to our 2020 limited edition. Created with the full collaboration of the band, DM by AC visually amplifies Anton Corbijn’s stunning impact on the world’s biggest cult band and celebrates one of the most creative and enduring collaborations in rock history. You can get it here.
Eric Clapton To Release Anniversary Deluxe Edition Of Classic Debut Album
This summer sees the Anniversary Deluxe Edition of Eric Clapton’s eponymous first solo album, originally released in August 1970. It is being issued on 4CD and 1LP (standard black) formats and will also be released digitally. The front cover artwork for the LP differs from the 4CD artwork illustrated above. The album will be launched on 9th June with the release of two tracks: After Midnight (Delaney Bramlett Mix) & Blues Power (Eric Clapton Mix) The album represents one of rock history’s most successful reinventions. After emerging as one of the seminal guitar heroes of the ’60s, the English superstar decisively re-established his musical priorities with Eric Clapton. It marked Clapton’s transition from flamboyant instrumental icon to well-rounded recording artist, downplaying sonic pyrotechnics in favour of a song-focused ensemble approach that would lay the groundwork for his massively successful solo career. For the occasion, he surrounded himself with a new cast of American musicians, tapping into a rootsy musical foundation that provided an inspired framework for his talents. This Anniversary Deluxe Edition presents Eric Clapton – Eric Clapton in three separate mixes: The Eric Clapton Mix, The Delaney Bramlett Mix and The Tom Dowd Mix (The UK Version). The Eric Clapton mix is being released in full for the first time. This anniversary collection also includes some singles, alternate versions and session outtakes.
The full Eric Clapton Anniversary Deluxe Edition tracklist is:
4CD:
CD1 (The Tom Dowd Mix – The UK Version)
All mixes released on CD and vinyl
Slunky 3.40
Bad Boy 3.59
Lonesome And A Long Way From Home 3.50
After Midnight 3.14
Easy Now 3.03
Blues Power 3.15
Bottle Of Red Wine 3.12
Lovin’ You Lovin’ Me 3.39
I’ve Told You For The Last Time 2.36
I Don’t Know Why 3.23
Let It Rain 5.06
CD2 (The Eric Clapton Mix)
Slunky 3.34 unreleased mix
Bad Boy 4.20 unreleased mix
Lonesome And A Long Way From Home 3.58 unreleased mix
After Midnight 3.19 released on Life in 12 Bars Soundtrack
Easy Now 2.57 released – this was the only EC mix inserted into the original 1970 Tom Dowd mix LP
Blues Power 3.53 unreleased mix
Bottle Of Red Wine 2.58 unreleased mix
Lovin’ You Lovin’ Me 3.44 unreleased mix
I’ve Told You For The Last Time 2.32 unreleased mix
I Don’t Know Why 3.35 unreleased mix
Let It Rain 5.18 released on Life in 12 Bars Soundtrack
CD3 (The Delaney Bramlett Mix) all mixes released on 2005 Deluxe Edition CD
Slunky 3.35
Bad Boy 3.44
Easy Now 3.00
After Midnight 3.19
Blues Power 3.20
Bottle Of Red Wine 3.09
Lovin’ You Lovin’ Me 4.07
Lonesome And A Long Way From Home 3.52
I Don’t Know Why 3.45
Let It Rain 5.02
CD4 (Singles, Alternate Versions & Session Outtakes) all titles released on 2005 Deluxe Edition CD except COMIN’ HOME (Alternate Mix) which is a previously unreleased mix
Teasin’ 2.17 Performed by King Curtis with Delaney Bramlett, Eric Clapton & Friends
Comin’ Home (Alternate Mix) 3.44 Performed by Delaney & Bonnie & Friends featuring Eric Clapton unreleased mix
Blues In “A” (Session Outtake) 10.28
She Rides (Let It Rain alternate version) 5.08
I’ve Told You For The Last Time (Olympic Studios version) 6.49
I Don’t Know Why (Olympic Studios version) 5.14
Comin’ Home (single a-side) 3.15 Performed by Delaney & Bonnie & Friends featuring Eric Clapton
Groupie (Superstar) (single b-side) 2.50 Performed by Delaney & Bonnie & Friends featuring Eric Clapton
1LP
Side A
Slunky
Bad Boy
Lonesome And A Long Way From Home
After Midnight
Easy Now
Blues Power
Side B
Bottle Of Red Wine
Lovin’ You Lovin’ Me
I’ve Told You For The Last Time
I Don’t Know Why
Let It Rain
David Duchovny To Release Third Album ‘Gestureland’ August 20
David Duchovny will release his third album Gestureland August 20th (GMG/King Baby). The set is the follow-up to Every Third Thought (2018) that All Music called “eloquent, alt-rock-kissed country-folk in the vein of Wilco and the Wallflowers.”
Gestureland builds on the musical and lyrical themes of its predecessor while exploring some new territory as heard on the first single ‘Layin’ On The Tracks.’ Duchovny felt passionately about putting a song out around the election as the country braced. It premiered on Rolling Stone.com and of the track he says: “I just wanted to go on record in a way that was both personal and political.” The songwriting for Gestureland is indeed a mix of political and personal exploring how people are more immersed in a virtual world, everyone making gestures rather than truly connecting.
“The album represents three years of song writing over which time I think we developed into a band so there’s a stronger element of deep collaboration here. The songs are obviously inspired by present day life and problems but we hope to make them universal. We also stretch our sound a little ——getting both heavier and lighter at different times. You want to know which songs are about me. None of them. They’re about you,” says David Duchovny.
Recording for the album started in February of last year at Outlier Studio in update New York and was finalized after a long pause due to Covid earlier this year at The Birdhouse in New York City. Joining Duchovny once again on the album is Colin Lee (Keys), Pat McCusker (Guitars, Synths), Mitchell Stewart (Bass), Keenan O’Meara (Guitars) and Davis Rowan (Drums.) McCusker talks about finishing the album “Shortly after our time at Outlier, the pandemic hit. After a month or so of being in full lockdown mode, we started recording overdubs and vocals at our studio in Long Island City. To have our own space to be able to finish Gestureland safely throughout 2020 was a blessing. The more we’ve all worked together, the more we’re all taking risks and tapping into new influences.”
Tracklist:
1. Nights Are Harder These Days
2. Holding Patterns
3. Chapter and Verse
4. Everything Is Noise
5. Stay Until
6. Tessera
7. Layin’ On The Tracks
8. Playing At The Same Dream
9. Call Me When You Land
10. Mind Of Winter
11. Pacific Coast Highway
12. Sea Of Tranquility
David Duchovny is best known as an award winning actor, director and novelist starring in the smash TV shows The X-Files and Californication winning a Golden Globe for both. His first novel Holy Cow was released by Farrar Straus and Giroux in February 2015 and hit the New York Times Best Sellers’ list. This was followed up by his second novel, Bucky F*cking Dent, released globally in 2016 which also hit the New York Times Best Sellers’ list. He released his third Nationally bestselling novel Miss Subways in 2018 and his most recent novel, released earlier this year Truly Like Lightning is now in development at Showtime. He just released The Reservoir, an audible original and recently wrapped shooting on The Bubble a new Judd Apatow film. On the music front, Duchovny is eager to take the show on the road “I always get such a kick playing live. We make our show into a whole evening, and take people on a journey. I can’t wait to do a version of this album for a tour.” Live dates will be announced this summer.
Big Wreck Team Up With Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger For New Single ‘Middle Of Nowhere’
Canadian rock powerhouses Big Wreck and Chad Kroeger of Nickelback have joined forces on the thunderous new song “Middle of Nowhere,” available now at radio and all digital retailers and streaming services. The song is co-produced by Big Wreck frontman Ian Thornley and Kroeger.
Thornley and Kroeger have been friends for many years and have always toyed with the idea of working together on a project again, but with both bands constantly on the road, schedules never aligned. The global pandemic provided them with an opportunity. Last fall, Thornley and Big Wreck bassist Dave McMillan spent a week isolated at Kroeger’s house in BC. They brought with them the concept of “Middle of Nowhere” and worked on it with Kroeger throughout the week. Big Wreck put the finishing touches on the recording in Toronto a few months later, but most of what fans will hear was created during that week at Kroeger’s home studio.
“Being able to get in a room and work with Chad from start to finish on a song is a hell of a trip,” said Thornley. “For Big Wreck, this song is a unique exploration into the more straight up rock song. Naturally working with someone who is no stranger to hit songs, we were able to capture the essence of a hooky, fun, rock song, while putting the Big Wreck sound to it. It’s a good bridge for us to get fans some music while they wait for all the other new music to touch down!”
Big Wreck (Thornley, McMillan, guitarist Chris Caddell and drummer Sekou Lumumba) have announced three summer shows: a live stream as part of Supercrawl on July 1; July 2 at Peterborough’s drive-in PTBOLive Summer Concert Series; and July 3 at Toronto’s City View Drive-In.
Formed in in the mid-‘90s, Big Wreck remains one of the highest regarded rock bands in Canada, and music fans around the world know them as one of the most prolific groups on earth. With dozens of radio anthems, platinum albums, and millions of tickets sold, the band is excited to start releasing their seventh studio project later this year, being produced by Ian Thornley with Eric Ratz. There is a new energy in Big Wreck that hasn’t been seen before, and with new music on the horizon, the band is set to embark on the biggest chapter of their career.
Top 9 Colleges For Music Production In The US
Hi Merissa Moore Music production is a job that requires special training and choosing your school wisely is the prerequisite of a successful career opportunity. You will still need to consider internships or joining someone else’s project to start making a name in this competitive industry but the systemized knowledge and solid theoretical, as well as a practical basis, will help you immensely. Fortunately, nowadays you don’t need to rely on self-education only as there are many specialized educational institutions.
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Choose Your Alma Mater
It is impossible to choose the absolute winner and inform you which college is the best one since each option has specific benefits and drawbacks. Though you can choose an option that is the most appropriate for you in terms of specialization, the possibility of networking, and location. Start looking where to write my admission essay while we present the list of schools that are worth your attention.
- Berklee College of Music. Being fully accredited and offering courses from beginner level to Master’s degree, this provider should be among your priority choices.
- Musicians Institute. This is the place where musicians teach other musicians within a creative and motivating environment. Choosing this option is like choosing the best writing service upon reading reviews because it is a sensible decision.
- Northwestern University. More specifically, you should be interested in the Bienen School of Music that is located in the Evanston Campus of this top-level university.
- Frost School of Music. Being a part of the University of Miami, this school embraces an innovative approach and subsequent career opportunities that you should not lose. Requesting Writing Universe experts’ help with complex projects will help you to fully use this school’s potential.
- Boston University. Music is an inseparable part of both city and university life. You will be honored to join the cohort of renowned musicians who studied at Boston University.
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- Manhattan School of Music. If classical music is among things that help you study you may consider pursuing a doctoral degree in classical performance in New York City. Isn’t it a decent career choice? Remember that you still have many other options offered by this reputable institution.
- Institute of Production and Recording. This school is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota and there are several studios that alumni can use during a year after graduation. This may be a benefit for the beginning of a new breathtaking career in the music industry.
- The Art Institute of Austin. Obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree in Audio Production in this school will cover many useful courses from fundamentals to Audio Engineering. This is the option that offers a well-informed specialist ready for further career and educational challenges.
- USC Thornton School of Music. It is not only one of the oldest art institutions but also one of the best for music studies. This private school is located on the University of Southern California campus.
Is That All?
You may find many other options depending on the program that is interesting specifically for you. The United States is a big country and you may enjoy vast opportunities for studying and working. Remember that you may always count on writing experts employed by LetsGradeIt if you need urgent assistance with complex tasks or some time to focus on career opportunities.
Author’s Bio
Merissa Moore works as the admission officer in a reputable institutional affiliation and she sees many success stories. Several truly masterfully written admission essays of prospective students motivated her to write a book describing successful techniques and useful tips. Merissa keeps sharing those tips using social media as she believes that talented youth just need a small piece of advice.