Jen Dan

Really poignant lyrics on this track, Andrew, with that heart-tugging twist at the end of the song. And yet the vibe of the retro-folk-pop track is so warm and engaging. 
Love the nostalgic and personal music video that accompanies this song. 
This song is a beautiful blend of folk and piano pop, with its brisk and upbeat acoustic guitar strum, snappy drum beats, and thoughtful piano notes that have a voice of their own.
And your vocals are so gentle and heartfelt. A soulful number and music video. Bravo!
Moving on about building up a fanbase, I'm not sure I have any insightful advice on this, except to say that it's hard to just rely on your own self-promotion (although posting on socials and Groups is still a good idea). 
So my suggestion is that you reach out to the plethora of music sites/blogs/writers and see if you can make inroads for coverage in that way. 
If you follow that path, make sure to target sites/blogs that make sense (i.e., cover similar types of music that you play).
Hope this info can help you in your music career! Wishing you all the best.

Jen Dan

Wow, you're a creative powerhouse, Andrew! 
This is a really catchy and upbeat retro-pop track with a sweet sound that belies the more bittersweet nature of the lyrics.
I'm enjoying the full production, swingin' instrumentation, and your joyful, warm, and yet wistful vocal delivery.
I can definitely hear this briskly romping track, or parts of it, being in a TV show or commercial. 
The crisp and kicky drum beats definitely propel the song along, and of course the lively guitar lines are spot-on.  Definitely an engaging vintage pop-rock number. Well done!

Jen Dan

Wow, a really cool track that's definitely a stylistic hybrid!
The song takes the listener on a journey, from its relaxed classic pop start with jangling guitar chime; then a quick addition of skewed psych-guitar overlay and harmonizing vocals,  a bit of dreampop reverie interlude, and then the sudden introduction of a fiery guitar-driven indie rock ending.
While the composition is made with disparate parts, it all holds together with the mostly continuing supple bass undertow, mellifluous guitar line, and kinetic drum strikes. 
I'm definitely into the way the song changes, morphing from a casually sung (yet tuneful) retro-/psych-pop number imbued with some dreamy aspects to a cathartic indie rock conflagration. 
I'm excited to hear the rest of your output and wish you all the best for your album release.

Jen Dan

Lovely unfurling acoustic folk/classic pop track here, with the most positive and (self-)empowering lyrics! 

Your, yes, sweet vocals gently flow along with the rich, up-beat instrumentation and pop-centered composition. Very enjoyable in music and lyrics, especially during the dark days that we're enduring now.

I also wanted to touch upon your specific request about coverage ideas, as well as musical style. IMO you should create and play what you feel passionate about, so if that's acoustic pop one day, and indie rock the next, just go with your own flow.

About promotion, it's even more difficult these days (since the pandemic hit) due to the lack of live shows. Everyone is now trying to get coverage online at music sites/blogs, and there's only so much space/time for platforms to run articles.

But since online is the main way to go now (and radio too, but I don't know that end of it), I would suggest either working with a PR agency or directly contacting music websites, writers, and bloggers with a pitch.

You can also use Facebook Groups and post (about) your music in the appropriate groups. And I'm assuming there are other platforms/groups like this online you could join and promote your music.

Just some suggestions! Hope at least some of this can help you out. :)

Jen Dan

Hey Victoria! 
What a beautiful tune here that melds dynamic rock and melodic pop - and has something meaningful to say. I love your insightful lyrics that can be taken in different ways; from information and interaction superficiality and creating fake personalities in the social media realm, to the fine line between our true selves and what we want, or need, to project to the world to get by in it.
Your vocals are smooth, but soulful with your heartfelt emotions shining through on the rousing chorus sections.
I'm really enjoying the stirring guitars on the chorus, and it's cool how the folk-pop verses slide into the lively '70s-rock-imbued chorus parts with added keyboard notes. The kicky drumming also lifts the sonics up nicely.
Well done and very catchy!
Just a quick word about marketing the track/video: This is probably obvious, but you should try to reach out to editors/writers at various music sites that you enjoy and that feature the type of music you play and request coverage - any type: news, interview, premiere before the release date. Hope it works out well for you!

Jen Dan

Nice to meet you, Lauren and Ben!
What a delightful spring-feeling song that dances lightly with willowy vocals and sprightly guitar reverberations, sparkling keyboard notes, and a  briskly shuffling pace.
I'm enjoying your melding of the indie folk and neo-soul styles, where the composition both flows smoothly and has a more staccato rhythm. This juxtaposition creates an interesting tension to the number, that is bolstered by the sweetly airy, yet at times emotionally searching vocals.
The birdsong that bookends the track is lovely, and the engaging music in between feels like it's unfolding naturally. Well done!

Jen Dan

Hi guys! This is exciting news that you'll be releasing your upcoming Macro album on May 28th! 
This title track is a lovely introduction to the LP as it gently and unhurriedly unfurls with glowing synth notes, like the slow dawning of a new and breathtaking day. You can picture the sun rising above a bucolic valley as the track moves forward.
There are also subtle lower notes that sound like rushing wind and a gentle, but drawn out press of buzzing notes that form a shadowy and more foreboding base. This burgeoning build up contrasts with the brighter, airier ambient tones of the song.
The lighter shimmering synths become more intense, like the sizzle of the sun on the wilderness, to the point of scorching the earth near the end. That sound overtakes the rest of the instrumentation, creating a disconcerting feeling of erasing the calmer nature of the landscape envisioned in the mind's eye...
But this too passes out of view, as the more serene ambience remains until the final moments of the song.
This absorbing and transporting track definitely takes the listener on a journey - at once meditative, but also filled with measured change. Impressive!

Jen Dan

Wow, Ross - First off, I'm slayed by your lyrics. So perceptive about a broken-up relationship, acerbic in intent and wordplay, and poetic. 
And of course the cold, snowy winter-time video feeds into the bleak feeling of the lyrics.
The song itself is a beautiful indie electro-folk track touched with poignant emotions, lightly yearning vocals, mellifluously flowing acoustic guitar lines, a subtly glowing electro/synth atmosphere, shuffling pace, and echoed sporadic percussion.
While your music and voice are captivating, it's your lyrics that really strike at the heart and leave a strong mark. Well done!

Jen Dan

Hello Federico! 
What a lovely and contemplative track that flows gently at its start and then segues into a haunting folk-steeped song. I love the wistfully trembling vocals that also possess a lamenting urgency. The gliding acoustic guitar lines accompanied by the light piano notes are beautiful, as well as the reemergence of the bittersweet strings swell and ebb.
The vulnerable emotions are tangible and the lyrics are poetic. 
Each part of the composition could stand strongly on its own; the words like a poem, the strings like a symphonic instrumental; the yearning vocals and gentle acoustic guitar notes like a folk song.
To bring all these elements together in one moving piece is very creative and a success, IMHO. Bravo!!

Jen Dan

Wow, another shape-shifting atmospheric track from your upcoming album. This foreboding composition sidewinds with industrial grime (and, yes, grind) and buzzing noise at first, then becomes rife with deeper resounding guitar reverb, a bright flow of horns that add urgency and lift, as well as the sinuously delivered, but emotive and pressing vocals.
Definitely takes the listener into another headscape, displaced from reality and pushed into a dystopian view (although maybe this actually isn't too far from what it's like now!).
Thanks for creating another striking song!

Jen Dan

Wow, what an intriguing mash-up of sounds, that are actually meticulously layered and shifting over the course of the atmospheric composition. 
I love the tug of war between the mainly gritty and urgent vibe and some calmer sonic elements.
I'm tuning into the alt-rock, electro/industrial precision collision, where parts recall the track "Perfect Drug" by NIN (IMO) - probably due to the opening and continuing restless and limpid rippling of guitar (?) notes that are peppered with scratchy percussion and lightly beeping electronics.
And then the soulful, but pressing vocals materialize, with emotions under pressure, and vivid lyrics about the passage of time ("memories changing" and "darkness to light").
There's a definite ominous feeling to much of the instrumentation (the low-register grind of bass line or similar sonics), but in the mid-section of the song there are a couple of lulls in the tension, where a languorous guitar line is injected, as well as more expansive synths - but it's a very brief respite, and soon the menacing feeling creeps in again with the occasional subdued blare of vehicular horns and industrial noises, which give the impression of downtown city streets.
The crafting of all these different sonic aspects into a whole song that moves along with mesmerizing power is 
really exciting to hear. Wonderful job!

Jen Dan

Wow, this is a beautiful and contemplative acoustic/synth instrumental, Federico!
Very intricate (but not overly so) and involving soundscape that tantalizes the ears/mind.
I'm enjoying the melding of classical/acoustic and electro/synths elements. Very atmospheric/cinematic, with the base of delicate and gliding acoustic guitar chime, and then layers of soft synth-strings diffusion and rustling to dotting percussion.
I really like the contrast of that with the grittier, burgeoning electronic sound that sporadically materializes, which gives the track more shadows and bite amid the shuffling, trip-hop pacing. 
I also like when the intensity rises a bit with heightened and buzzing synths towards the end of the composition. 
Overall, an absorbing and exploratory piece that engaged me all the way through. Kudos!

Jen Dan

Cool tune, with an important and uplifting message to move on from toxic people and relationships. 
The lyrics are very concise, where you imply a lot with just a few words (like "molehill mountain" to describe one of the  faults of this toxic person). 
And it's interesting how the mood changes slowly from rueful to hopeful (following the lead of the lyrics that also change from being stuck in a rut to breaking free from the relationship).
The mid-tempo Americana style is a good format to convey these perceptive sentiments because there's space for the words to be heard amid the music. 
The clean and clear up-close guitar lines are very enjoyable, with the deeper bass line and measured drum beat creating a ruminative vibe.
I'm also digging the heartfelt, plaintive vocals that carry a bit of twang at the ends of phrases.
All-in-all, a good job!

Jen Dan

Hey Sam! You've got a really cool tune!  
I love the excellent blend of - and contrast between - retro-'80s New Wave and darker post-punk drive on this track. 
A romping drum beat and ever-shifting, ominous bass line are pitted against the dreamier chime of guitar reverb, creating a palpable tension.
And then the glistening synths kick in mid-way, adding even more to the New Wave atmosphere of the music.
I'm enjoying your light and hazy vocals that are touch with a bit of melancholy. 
It's interesting that the song slides into a stirring instrumental ending, extending the mood of the song while focusing on the interplay of the various instrumentation, from those beautifully gleaming guitar notes to the press of buzzing synths. 
An enjoyable hybridized style - Well done!

Jen Dan

Hey JRB! Really cool track - Your lyrics are so poetic and powerful. Your words could just be published as-is, but then you add the musical layer, which adds even more emotional poignancy.
Your vocals are really heartfelt and the instrumental set-up is a solid support for the lyrics and vocals. It doesn't overwhelm them, but bolsters the urgency of the message.
And it's sweet to see you and your bandmates performing in the studio setting. You show how it all comes together with passion and precision.; nothing fancy of gimicky - just your natural selves delivering a compelling song. Well done!

Jen Dan

This is truly intriguing and mysterious music! You've got that vintage 4AD/This Mortal Coil vibe going in 2020, which is no easy feat, but you also add a different spin with the inclusion of some old-school hip-hop interjections. A surprising, but interesting mix of music genres.
The instrumentation is spare, but still atmospheric, with echoed synth notes, spacey reverberations, and the shuffling drum beat that at times opens up with scintillating and emphatic high-hat strikes.
Really love the winding, lamenting, operatic wordless female vocals; very enigmatic and tragic in ambience.
A cool mix of cosmopolitan rumination and grittier street spirit. Looking forward to listening to more tracks off your just released Calming The Shakes EP.

Jen Dan

Wow, what a beautiful song, Raygun Carver (Well, I know that's not your real name, but it's a cool moniker)! There's something quite tantalizing about the intricate arrangement of the instrumentation; how each instrument unfurls in its own time to augment the fluidly moving structure of the song.
I'm leery of tagging your music because I don't want to stick it in a specific box, but I'm hearing a blend of cosmopolitan pop, downtempo, chamber pop, and singer-songwriter noir... All very compelling on this track.
Love how it opens with the unassuming acoustic guitar strum, then gets added depth from Western guitar reverb, and of course your perceptive lyrics sung in a gently hushed tone.
And the instruments keep materializing and vanishing - softly brushed drums, delicate percussion, trembling strings, a winding trumpet line - and then a more buoyantly swaying rhythm that lifts the rumination into a melodic groove.
The video itself is beautifully filmed by Ziad Edris with its saturated black and white footage shot on the  streets of Cairo, Egypt! It's basically a short narrative film with its cinematic feel where the viewer follows a mysterious character, who is actually being followed by someone else...
Super job! Love the song especially. :)

Jen Dan

Hey Barry and/or The Accidental Villain! Cool tune here. I'm diggin' the alt-rock/jazz hybrid vibe of the instrumentation combined with the funky-deep rhythmic groove. 
Also, the lyrics are really realistic, thoughtful, and thought-provoking. The main line of "If you take it away, what would you be left with?" really hits home these days where a lot has been taken away from the average person due to the pandemic...
The vocals are direct and sincere, and I like how they escalate in emotion over the course of the song; from more casual to more intense. All of the backing vocals are cool too, especially those ghostly "Oohing" vocals during the calmer lull in the song.
Speaking of which, it was a nice break from the action to have that pause with the focus on just the vocals, a bit of guitar, and cymbals tick.
But of course the whole dynamic is good, with the lively drum beat and cymbals crash, and that especially active bass line after the calmer break.
And the increasing urgency by the end of the track gets the blood flowing, where the guitar lines sweep it all up, including the vocal exclamations, into one big churn. Nicely done!

Jen Dan

This soundscape opus is true to your moniker Levitated! That uplifting, but also calming vibe emanates throughout this track. A beautiful unhurried, unfurling of a variety of sounds, with the beginning infusion of nature (the nighttime crickets hum) and heartbeat pulse. Then the gradual addition of more percussion, with a sandy rasping rhythm, sharp finger snap, and other crisp 'n' crunchy sonics.
I'm also diggin' the flow of echoing globular electronic notes and the build up and opening up of the song with a steady, marching-forward pace and the inclusion brighter reverberating electronics and quirky robot-like mechanics noises that still come off as warm and glowing in the context of this copacetic song.
Definitely engaging and relaxing at the same time. You mention this is a less 'busy' number than others you've composed, but there's definitely a lot of different sounds coming together smoothly on this one. Lovely and a mood-brightener!

Jen Dan

Wow, guys! This infectious and pumpin' tune really shows off a different side of your musical abilities - and one that is a welcome surprise, at least to these ears. 
After hearing some of your prog-/space rock music, I didn't think this ska-punk genre would be your next move, but it's a strong one!
Again, you wrap your perceptive lyrics in an interesting sonic style. Love the pogo-ing rhythms with pummeled drums, a rubbery bass line, and bright 'n' jagged guitar lines. The casual sing-exclaiming vocals exude a cool reggae vibe, while the lyrics stick in the mind, especially, "When we all turn to dust / Tell me, who did you trust?"
Another ace track! And one that I'll definitely be promoting as music writer who's looking for good stuff to shout about!

Jen Dan

Heya guys! Wow, I'm really digging your song and accompanying video. What a compelling opus with such perceptive and uplifting lyrics. You narrative, that "the question is the answer," is very philosophical and mind-expanding.
The space-rock track is atmospheric and absorbing; love the opening of subdued Western guitar reverb and the slowly unfurling introduction of the other instruments: low bass line tug, measured-pace drum beat - and then the sudden fiery rise of searing guitar lines.
The vocals are just like I like 'em: worn-in gritty, with a searching and then assured passion.
The video for the track definitely adds another dimension to the lyrics, with the traveling through the vastness of space capturing the epic nature of the song.
All-in-all, a must-listen track and must-look video!!

Jen Dan

You slay, Danny Blu! What a killer track with super-sharp lyrics and attitude on 11. 
Love the super-catchy song structure with seductively biting verses that ramp up into rampaging chorus sections.
I dig your industrial-influenced dance rock/synth-pop hybrid sound that's perfect for the club - or for dancing around in the livingroom like a maniac.
The video is also killer and really brings the song to life (kinda ironic, dealing with the subject matter! LOL).
Anyway, love that brief, sweet ending to the otherwise dark and macabre (yet still sexy) imagery running through the vid.
Consider me a new fan! I now have to track down everything else you've done. :D

Jen Dan

Heya guys! I'm diggin' the song. Love the contrast between the sweet lyrics and the ska-punk vibe.
The track got me hoppin' from the get-go, with the peppy ska rhythm and kicky drum beat. The bass line really adds a dynamic dimension as well, and its richness is nicely set up against the sharper guitar line buzz.
The lyrics "I think I've said too much / Is it better to say too little?" made me smile - and think.
Vocals are on the money for this type of song, with a combo of roughness and melody, and I love the shouting of the title on the chorus parts.
All in all a fun, upbeat, and tuneful cut. Very enjoyable.

Jen Dan

Laid-back and engaging song that still has an emotive pull. Love the rich, yet still airy-feeling vocals. Nice dreamy flow and I dig the eye-catching video that opens up the view to a different part of the world (Ecuador).  Well done!

Jen Dan

Hello! 
This pleasing, slowly winding downtempo-imbued track has a lot of other ambient sounds and rhythms running through it with laid-back ease.
Hypnotic and flowing, yet with a kicky beat, and rife with electronic zigs, zags, and reverberations and echoing clacks give it a starry-eyed effect, like voyaging from one satellite to another in the vast realm of space.
It comes across as an exploration, where the regular to staccato beat changes up the mood, including an ending that adds morphing squelchy notes.
An enchanting tune that kept my attention due to its interesting atmosphere and ever-shifting sonics.

Jen Dan

Wow, what a beautiful and moving tribute to the late, great David Bowie with nods to his lyrical genius and mystery,  and an appropriately reflective ambience to pay respects to a musical (and more) master.
The hymn/lament is crafted with care and balance, from the poignant lyrics, heartfelt vocals, subdued acoustic guitar strum, lighter piano notes, and a spare, solemn backdrop of what sounds like extended synths and maybe vocals.
The second guitar with deeper reverb adds to the pensive mood by the last half of the track and the smooth flow continues throughout.
I especially liked the rising chorus filled with bittersweet uplift and stark lines like, "Let's drive away" from the verse, which then move to "We're already gone" on the chorus.
That transition of thought and feeling, from expectation (of leaving or running away) to realization (that it's already happened) is complex and conveyed to the listener who experiences the words as they materialize.
Very thoughtful and touching.

Jen Dan

Wow, this is dynamite!!  You've got the whole rock package here going, stamped with some catchy pop melodies!  And the production is super-sharp and clean. This should definitely be rocking the mainstream airwaves, and I mean that is a good way.  
I love the rich sound that balances rock grit and pop flow.  It's so cool to have the punchy drum beat prominent in the song, and the angular guitar lines supporting and winding around the stark drums.  
And of course, Arielle, your strong, but sweet vocals that get really expressive on the chorus.
Speaking of which, that chorus lifts off like a sleek rocket, sweeping the listener up, up, and away!  Love it!
The lyrics can't be too complex in a sing-along rock song, but what you do say/sing is relevant and gets your point across.
All killer, no filler in my opinion.

Jen Dan

Hello Carisa and Andrew!  What a beautiful, haunting, transporting, and finally, intense epic track you have here.  I love every second of it.  I took me away to someplace ancient and not of this time.
Carisa, your vocals entrance throughout the tune - ethereal, sinuous, and lamenting, you cast a hypnotic spell.
Against the softly passionate vocals lopes the more propulsive, stark smack of the drums, and with the vocals sparkles guitar lines that flow along like a limpid stream.
There's a darker backdrop at times, in the song, made by synths/strings that creates an encroaching nocturnal atmosphere.
The forever moving forward, faster drum tempo, contrasted with the slower, wave pattern of occasional lifting up in supplication vocals is very evocative, making for a cross-dynamic that suggests the inexorable march of time and the inevitable regret of the moment (on a smaller scale) or a life (on a grander scale) that has passed.
Of course your potent lyrics feed into my just stated-ideas, but I think even without the lyrics, those feeling come to the surface.
And what an ending, when the fiery rock guitar line rises like a phoenix from the ashes, like a second voice that intensifies and swirls into distorted noise.
Completely captivating!

Jen Dan

Hello Alessio and Alexey!  Wow, what a cool track and eerie video!  Super job on the cutting edge, story-telling mini-movie and your music fits perfectly with the unwinding of the plot line.  Well, I guess it's vice versa, and the video rundown was filmed and edited to fit the song.  Either way, its a mesmerizing and immersive cinematic experience.
I love how "Cold and Silent" starts off with spare instrumentation and an ominous atmosphere brightened by lighter guitar and electronics.
Krystal Hawes' yearning, slightly anxious vocal tone goes just right with the video's theme, which is a cross between the set-up of the film Ex-Machina and a detective novel turned upside down.
What a super reveal in the video near its end, and the shift to full-blown sonics in the song, as it whips up with restlessly buzzing electronics and an agitated beat.
I don't want to give away the plot of the video, but it is a must-see.  Bravo!

Jen Dan

Hey there!  Well, this is a fun indie pop tune that is tailor-made for summertime.  It's a buoyant pop float with enjoyable lyrics and ear-catching dual male and female mirrored and alternating vocals.
Who wouldn't pick up on some of the nostalgic vibes that this song emits?  What's most interesting is that you focus on 'Art Camp', not just the usual summer camp - so we get lyrics about wanting to "papier-mâché" and "draw and listen to David Bowie."  Who doesn't, at least for that last part?
The beat is crisp and rapid, the KORG notes bright, the vocals (She: light; He: dark) delivered in a robotic, staccato tone, all run through with a buzzy electronic current.
Sweet!

Jen Dan

Super, electrifying electronic rock tune that captures the angst and restlessness of the current tumultuous socio-political times.  

Bleak to defiant lyrics and emotive exclamations are either bolstered by gritty aero-guitar grind, skittering percussion, and electronic buzz or are contrasted brighter synth notes, brisk cymbals hits, and a sharp beat.

The video is old-school cool with colors and images that move along to the rhythms of the music.  Rock on!  Can't wait to hear more from you this year!

Jen Dan

Interesting tune!  I was hooked from the start by its laid-back, neo-soul/jazz flow.  

It briskly simmers with a catchy groove made up of multiple layers of relaxed, but buoyant male vocals, muted fingersnap percussion, delicately plucked guitar notes, and the flitting in an out of jazzy, but subdued horns, light piano plink, cymbal taps, and drum thump.

The song ends - but then there's the sudden addition of organ pulses, ticking cymbals, and a drum beat, which sounds like it could be the intro to another number, or just a different, fun fade to this song.  Nicely done!

Jen Dan

Well, you're definitely swimming in odd electronic/pop waters, but the melody is buoyant and structure is solid, so listeners will just go with the flow of the song.
The atmosphere is hazed 'n' dazed with casual, lightly fuzzed up vocals, which is nice, but the downside is it's difficult to hear any lyrics.  There's also some kind of background noise (maybe from a movie?) where someone is going off with increasing intensity, eventually shouting by the end of the song.  I'm not sure what the intention is for this bit, but I think it should either be toned down some or only sporadically inserted into the song.
I like the laid-back drum beat and touch of cymbals-ticking and the slightly warped guitar line-sounds loops that give the tune its daydreaming vibe.
There were some little electronic squiggles flitting in 'n' out early in the number.  More of that can be added IMO, to give it more texture.
This was an interesting listen and I do like how it's easy to just by carried along by the song's sonic flow.

Jen Dan

Wow, I was blown away by your song and video which both send a powerful message about how most of the time we hide how we're really feeling, even from those we love.  
It's difficult to mix and music and lyrics so that they both get equal treatment - most bands settle either for the mood/atmosphere or what they want to say, but you've combined it brilliantly on this song.
Your sonics are rousing and passionate - I love the punching drums, jagged to burning guitar lines, bass undertow, and emotive vocals, including the group chorus vocals that swell at times during the song.
I also love your lyrics on this track,  because you're exposing a universal issue - How hard it is to express yourself to the ones you care about.  That definitely touches a nerve for me.
And the video ties it all together with the narrative bookends of the couple getting ready for bed and the man asking the woman if she's okay and she says yes - even though she really doesn't mean it.  
We then see her running through a dark forest (representing all the heavy thoughts weighing on her mind, I'm assuming), which is interspersed with performance footage of you giving it your all live as a band.
Definitely a video and song I'll remember for a long time - for all the right reasons!  :D

Jen Dan

Heya Trixie!  So good to hear this new house-inspired electronic pop track from you.  The effect is sharp and clear as crystal in its sonics, lyrics, and production.  The measured paced track has a powerful message about defeating the 'creeping darkness' with love - I dig that!
I'm also into how you layer your vocal lines - the main one is direct and then you have twisty vocal additions in various parts of the song.  There's an air of portent with the staccato tempo, from the well-placed hand claps, breaking glass, and deeper buzzing reverb.
Overall, a nicely done tune with thought-provoking lyrics.

Jen Dan

Hey Justin!  So glad to hear that you're doing well now and in tune with yourself these days.  That definitely shows on this lively funk-pop number with an important message that is definitely needed in the world right now.
I enjoyed the slinky intro to the tune and how it stays at a low-key simmer on the verses, but then gets jumpin' on the chorus sections.
Your vocals are warm and expressive and more emotive as the song progresses, in tandem with the rhythmic, Prince-like groove you've got goin'.
The lyrics are very personal, but universal and I was listening to every word.  At the end of the song I think you should put the background vocals a bit stronger/higher in the mix so you can hear the lines, "Got to bring each other up." more.
Otherwise everything is in its right place (To quote a Radiohead song? LOL) - Nicely done!

Jen Dan

Heya Patrick and Chris!  Wow, your music is definitely a study in contrasts, what with the old-school '50s style rubbing up against modern indie sing-talking vocals.  I like the dichotomy, which is also on display in your sometimes serious, sometimes cheeky lyrics.  

Your appealing and amusing music video definitely highlights your sharp dance moves, Patrick and pulls the listener into the core of the love story of the song.

The carousel-at-the-fairgrounds setting is visually engaging, as is your all-white outfit, and the kinda, sorta, almost one-take shot for the video is a wonderful concept that was well-executed.  I love the switch to black 'n' white footage when you sing-talk about vintage French films.

The music is solid and I enjoyed the rock touch of the electric guitar line amid the more sedate, mid-tempo piano and horns song structure.  Nicely done.

Jen Dan

Wow, such a cool alternative rock tune that sonically shape-shifts from alt-rock to post-punk and even heavy rock!  The deceptively subdued intro, which I think lasts about 2 verses, sets the stage with a restrained, but still restless vibe.
The whole song suddenly and unexpectedly explodes into a fiery post-punk conflagration, with sharply reeling guitar lines and emotive male vocals.  Your voice is perfect for the rock format, but I wish I could hear the lyrics a bit more clearly.  
The rising intensity and post-punk atmospherics of the song is thrilling; those guitars, that supple tug of the bass, the dynamic rhythm of the drums - and then there's another unexpected, but calmer break before the ummm, unexpected, and heavier alt-rock ending.  So cool!  Love the song; love the stylistic surprises.  Can't wait to hear more from you!

Jen Dan

Wowza, guys!  This is a killer track!!  I was not expecting such a rich and varied composition, even after reading that you blend cinematic rock with electronic elements.  That is an understatement!
You cover so much musical ground here, sonically and historically; what I mean is that I hear not only the rock and electronic genres, but also industrial, disco-pop, and post-punk styles all rolled into one atmospheric, but concise number.
A nocturnal, slightly ominous ambience pervades the tune as the verses lurk in the alleyway before you pounce on the more intense chorus sections.  Great vocals, at first slinking by on the verses and then attacking with fervor on the chorus parts.  And I love the extra higher register, siren-like vocal line that adds a heightened emotive feel.  That's also where I get the disco-pop reference from; maybe it's not intended by you, but the higher vox does project a gloriously shining vibe.
Love the electro touches with reverbed, trippingly quick percussion and also the industrial metal clanking beat that's most prominent at the start of the song.
Ace all around!  :D

Jen Dan

Wow, well that was a blast and a half!  Talk about a walk through the sonic jungle... 
Now, lyrics-wise, I'd don't know if you're targeting the red tape and other aggravating practices of corporate America (or other country), but if so, well done!
If not, then I'm not sure what a Mr. Sharpiehead is... LOL
But, seriously, you have an aggressive, pointed sound that you rawly sprawl out over the course of this tune, starting with the strutting drum beat, rumbling, low bass line, and wiry guitar lines.  
I enjoyed the defiant proclamations and spare and unvarnished instrumentation, especially the mix of horns squawk and trills and tangling guitar tumult - Well, I also like the ominous bass line, emphatic drum beat, and menacing vocal venting.  Nicely done!

Jen Dan

Hello Milo Starr!  Your song definitely had me hooked from its down 'n' dirty, swamp-blues sound to your sweetly ripe, seductive vocal delivery.  Love the zig-zagging rock 'n' roll guitar reverb, punchy drum beat, and sharp lead electric guitar line - all very The Cramps-like - along with your alluring vocals and amusing, story-telling lyrics about a 'vampire daddy' who "...goes to sleep at dawn / Four am / Don't even yawn."
Like you mention in your background info, you have a history of working in film, theater, and comedy and you bring all of this entertainment value  to "Vampire Daddy", taking on different roles, and vocal styles for each part.  
I felt like I was listening to the audio track of and soundtrack for a campy, Rocky Horror Picture Show-like film!  And that's a very good thing.  But I also enjoy how you bookend that with the more traditional swamp-blues sonics of fiery guitar distortion and drum beat stomp.  Well done!

Jen Dan

Wow, "Dysmorphic" is beautiful song and harks back to the golden days/daze of early 90s indie pop.  It radiates a gentle longing through its crisp, but measured drum beat, occasional single cymbals crash, ticking stick percussion, hazily shining guitar strum, and soft, wistful vocals.
The song is subdued, but captivating, a slowly unfurling charmer with nice touches, like the sporadic vocal harmonizing.  
You spin a bittersweet story-teller, where a relationship seems to be in jeopardy, but it's all done very subtly - no overt drama; just inklings of a disturbance, at least from the vocal tone and sonics.
The lyrics tell another, more blunt, story, where the protagonist states, "No one was even right." and the other half, so to speak, declares, "Don't you know... / You're not happening."  Ouch.
But the tough lyrics are couched in such a languid, longing vibe that the words don't sting quite as much as they could.  
Although I'm having a bit of trouble discerning all of the lyrics, I'm really enjoying the overall reminiscing tone and the softer, airier vocal delivery that calms like a balm.  Lovely.

Jen Dan

Heya guys!
You've got a sweet tune going for you here and I can understand The Smiths references for the guitar sonics and the lyrics and The Replacements for the casually delivered vocals.  I'm a sucker for a good jangle-pop tune and yours definitely caught my ear and swept me along for the length of the song.
"Un-Miserable" lightly carries a heavy malaise at its heart (from what I can make out, it's about miscommunication and failed relationships... ummm, maybe?) and it flows with a continually restless pace of briskly hit drums, shimmering cymbals scintillation, and the charming reverberations of guitar chime.  
While I do like the male vocals and the emotionally casual droop at the end of each phrase, I couldn't understand a lot of what was being sung.  I don't know if my ears aren't that sharp, or if you're intentionally muddling the lyrics.  
Interesting addition of the found sound spoken word where someone is talking about having been to a party and "it was crazy".  Sometimes audio clips like that distract or detract, but I think that fits well with the rest of the song.  
The song title, which becomes a mantra by its end, is great - where what is said is maybe not what is meant.  Nice tune!  Now I want to check out other songs you've done.

Jen Dan

Hey guys!  You've got a live wire one here, crackling at the start with the distorted guitars and then smoothing out into a catchy indie rock song.
While the song is molded in the tried and true Verse, Chorus, Verse format, it doesn't bore one bit.  You've got that massive guitar hook for the chorus which really carries the song along.  Nice crisply authoritative drumkit work, sharply enunciated guitar lines that come off like a second voice at times, and some interesting lyrics, especially "All I want is a taste of electric bliss."  Don't we all!  :)
I really enjoyed how the song all came together at its end with the added "Ahhh"ing back-up vocals, the sudden cantering drum beat, and fulminating guitars and cymbals 'n' drums turmoil.  Good stuff!

Jen Dan

Hello Martin!
Wow, just what I needed on this hectic Easter holiday weekend; a beautiful, moving, expansive instrumental that has calmed me down and put me in a more meditative mood.  Your composition would fit perfectly on the soundtrack for an inspiring film.  It in itself is inspiring!  :D
The slowly unfurling start with its sharp, bright, starting-up sounds that dissipate creates immediate interest and then the gorgeous ebb and flow of wistfully reflective woodwind synths and poignant symphonic strings materialize, along with light, contemplative piano notes.
The piano keys that sound like sweet drops of water and the gentle wash of heightened strings are captivating and I love how those sounds twine pleasantly together.  The overall feeling is one of a radiating warmth and understanding - and compassionate uplift with the pull of those heavenly symphonic strings.
Divine!  I wish you and your wife Eva all the best.

Jen Dan

Hi Adam!  I am diggin' your smooth, but heartfelt soul-pop tune!!  From listening to this one song, I'd say you're a class act with mass market appeal, in the vein of a Michael Buble, but exuding a calmer vibe.  I hope you don't mind the comparison, but some of your phrasing does sound Buble-like, and I mean that as a compliment.
I'm enjoying the all the different keyboard sounds that you include on "Virus", from the soft opening lines to the slightly reverberating, bubbly notes that form later on.  Very interesting contrast between the gentle keyboards and the sharper, brighter horn accents.  And you've got a cool groove going on with the crisp drum beat added to the mix.
The overall smooth and subdued vocal and instrumental delivery of the song and the choice of instrumentation give "Virus" a polished, cosmopolitan feel that's very pleasing and elegant.
I like how your emotions change over the course of the song, where at times you're more cool and direct, like when you intone "She convinces me to open my heart", and at others you're in turmoil, like when you exclaim "She's infected me to my core."  Eye-catching imagery to go along with your appealing lyrics.
As far as promotion goes, my advice to you is to contact and submit your music to music sites and individual writers who promote the pop/soul/RnB genres.  You can also tweet about your tunes and post messages at various Facebook Groups.  Build up your social profile (Instagram and other sites), even if it isn't all about your music, so people can find out more about you.  You probably know about all this already, but I just wanted to add my 2 cents.  :)
That's so awesome that you've had the experience of performing on tour with Jamie Lynn Spears.  Try to use whatever connections you have to get more ears on your music.  I wish you all the best in your musical endeavors.  :D

Jen Dan

Hey Vincent!
Wow, for a one-person bedroom project you have a very full and developed sound and I'm especially tuned in to your heartfelt lyrics.
I like how you juxtapose the pleasant and upbeat sonics with your more searching vocal delivery and bittersweet lyrics.  The intro with horn-tinged synths is nice and I love the specific types of synth sounds you use, from the airily floating, sustained synth line that lends a dreamier vibe to the occasional sprinkling of starry and bright synth notes.
The chorus sections are the strongest parts of the song, when you describe someone who is "one of a kind" and how "I came back / because I could not forget / the one I left behind."  Very touching and real.  I also like the addition of the mild guitar line during those passages.
Your sing-talking, confessional vocal delivery works well with your short-phrase, 'page-torn-from-a-journal' lyrics, where your voice presses forward with a slightly crestfallen tone.
The only thing I would change is to remove the 'tropical island'-influenced syncopated beat that plays in the first minute of the song.  You switch over to smoother and not as recognizable beats for the rest of the number, but for the 1st minute I wasn't sure about that breezy island rhythm.  Just my opinion!  :)
Otherwise, this is an engaging tune that had me immersed in your words and vocal delivery.  I especially dug your twisty, rhyming lyrics "So close right from the start / yet so far apart / That's when I had a change of heart." near the beginning of "One of a Kind."

Jen Dan

Hi Shaun! 
Wow, very interesting cover you're done for the Blue Oyster Cult classic tune.  It's always difficult to bring something new and interesting to a tried and true song, but you do bring a fresh take on it in the electro/synth-pop style.
I'm enjoying it from the start with the sinuously unwinding synth line and your drawn out vocals contrasted with the clicking fingersnap percussion and patter of globular electronic notes.
The song spins out in a hypnotic, electro-psychedelic spiral, but you also add a faster peppering of electro notes that builds in intensity towards the end of the song.  Very ear-catching!
I know it's a cover and these aren't your lyrics, but I like how you deliver the line "Romeo and Juliet / are together in eternity..." with a dry, knowing archness.
It's nice how you kick it up a notch by the end of the tune as you go for a more upbeat pace and distorted vocals, both low and high.  Cool cover!!

Jen Dan

Hi Shaun - Great end-of-summer (or, heck, any season at all!) tune you've got here.  I'm enjoying contrast between the laid-back, island-like instrumental vibe and the upbeat, lively tempo.  I like the use of bongos to produce the pleasant, lightly bouncing rhythm and the sprinkling of bright, xylophone-like hits that give the song its sweetness.

Your vocals are mostly mellow, but direct and I like you raise your voice to a higher, pleading register on occasion, giving your lyrics a more urgent feel.  This is a lyrics-packed song and it was fun to follow your words and to figure out where you were going with what you were saying.  I especially like the refrain "If your heart aches for heartbreak / come and call me / I don't want to sleep alone tonight."  

What's intriguing is your song title and the somewhat bleaker/bittersweet lyrics that belie the fun nature of your instrumental and vocal delivery.  "Feeling Sinister" is a veritable study in contrasts!

Not sure who's on female backing vocals, but it add a nice dimension to the expression of the song.  I like the light sweep of synths throughout the tune and that's so cool that you used real horns at the ending of the track!  Love the sharp toots of trumpet and then the smoother flow of other horns.  Again, an ear-catching contrast between the two.

All in all, an engaging song that's perfect for summer, but can be listened to any time of the year!  I appreciate you contacting me about "Feeling Sinister".