Tuesday 30 December 2014

Myrna Braza (The Soul Queen Of Bergen) blends Soul, Pop and Funk to create something unique

Myrna Braza was born in Bergen, Norway and her heritage comes from both Norway and the Philippines.

Her soulful music has earned her the nickname The Soul Queen Of Bergen and her recently released EP - Moments demonstrates why as it blends together Soul, Pop and Funk.

Since the start of her music career in 2009, Myrna has released an album, EP and several singles all of which have been well received and earned glowing reviews.

Her latest music video Go clocked over 2 million views in just under 3 weeks.

The press has described her talent as "timeless and beautiful", but this is only the tip of the iceberg for her musical achievements.

Myrna has toured Norway and the UK, performing at intimate venues and jam packed festivals.
She's also supported American Artists such as Dwele and Ryan Leslie and to cap it all off she's also won Artist Of The Year and has attracted a huge following on social media - all this from an independent and unsigned artist is pretty darn impressive.

Myrna is busy working on her next solo album - "Story Of I" , which she hopes to release late this year or at the start of next year.

Go begins with funky beats and breath taking vocals and then Myrna entertains us with catchy vocals and addictive lyrics.

The music video is simplistic i.e. no flashy and over the top effects and that is the charm as Myrna utilizes dancers to add an extra level of creativity to her beautiful music.

Website - http://www.myrnabraza.com/ 
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/myrnabrazaofficial
Twitter - https://twitter.com/myrnabraza
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCURU1aXT3K8V84wmI2rOTkA


Post By - Boulent Mustafa

Monday 29 December 2014

Must See Gigs for 2015


As most of you know I have an eclectic taste in music so this list of gigs I want to hopefully attend in the new year reflects this.

Big Bads - Their delightful vocals and amazing creativity know no bounds and their most recent musical offering left me wanting more.

Ruth Willow - I can't wait to catch her amazing soulful voice live, so look forward to her hopefully performing in London.

Fifi Rong - This sensually voiced electronic singer/songwriter is another act that should not be missed.

Cigdem Aslan - A true Rebetiko superstar with an impressive voice to boot.

Next up are two folk powerhouses Joanna Weston and Pandora's Diary, these two are each incredibly talented singer/songwriters and musicians in their own right.

Lauren Aquilina, I missed out on seeing her unique vocal talent and lyrical genius so far but next year I intend to recitfy this.

Benjamin Yellowitz - His vocal and guitar skills are second to none, so I'm looking forward to his launch party next year.

Greyce - This talented artist earns another gold star in the soul department with captivating vocals and mesmerizing lyrics - she's certainly a class act when it comes to her music.


This concludes my review of 2014 and on that note I hope to continue bringing you more beautiful music for your auditory pleasure.

Wishing you all a happy new year and here's to a prosperous 2015.


Post By - Boulent Mustafa

Sunday 28 December 2014

2014 - A Musical Review


Thanks to my Indie Music Blog I have been inundated with new for my listening pleasure and a few tunes have really impressed me.

Electro Pop Duo Colour Space Colour's track Upside Down Inside Out got me hooked with addictive vocals and catchy Sax Beats.

Ruth Willow's soulful vocals are a thing of beauty, the first time I heard her debut EP it left me speechless .... that voice is simply amazing.

Meresha is a lyrical and musical genius with a creative vision that should not be ignored, from the emotionally charged Vida or the melodically perfect and seamlessly produced Acid Bass - Meresha is a musical beacon to rival the ever increasing pop clones that have over saturated main stream music.


Post By - Boulent Mustafa

Saturday 27 December 2014

Best Gigs Of The Year - 2014

2014 has led to more awesome live music as I continue to discover more wonderful and talented musicians thanks mostly to the wonders of social media.

May saw me catch not one but two unmissable events. 



The first was the launch party for Héllena's single Dream Big and she is one impressive artist not just vocally but also in terms of stage presence - this lady certainly knows how to captivate the crowd.



The second was the uniquely voiced and guitar wizard Charlene Soraia.

The only let down was that she performed as a support act so I'm hoping to catch her when she hopefully headlines next year.



July saw another of Muzical Mindz's Souls Of Fusion events and the night already featured an impressive line up from Americana Duo Sister Sidney to Soul Sensation Noel DaCosta.

In order to help Muzical Mindz with the success of this event in terms of attendees I brought along the acts I was promoting and Scarlett asked if she could perform one song - I already knew she had an impressive voice but her live performance blew me away ... WOW.



Last July I happened to stumble across one half of the Israeli Band Marbl at one of Be On The Scene's Open Mic Events, this talented keyboard player astounded me with her amazing vocals.

When I found out the band were returning to UK shores for a London Tour, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to see them perform live.



At the end of November, Jess King had been invited by Hannah Judson to perform at the first MuseFest event and like with Marbl - this was another event not to be overlooked.

I had already become a fan of Jess's Jazzy vocals and heartfelt lyrics so to see her live was a wonderful experience, she's really in the zone when it comes to performing live.


Post By - Boulent Mustafa

Friday 26 December 2014

The Four Fours entertain us with catchy rock from deepest Derby

The Four Fours are an alternative rock trio from Derby and they reckon their music is ridiculously catchy.

The lineup is Matt on Vocals and Bass, Chris on Guitar and Backing Vocals and Rich on Drums.

The trio were previously involved in Math Rock Wonder Band You Slut! (Check them out on Spotify), this is why The Four Fours draw some influences from the Math Rock Genre.

July saw the release of their double sided debut Single Count To Ten / Messing With History.

Count To Ten is overflowing with energetic beats, powerful vocals and addictive catchy lyrics hooks and killer guitar riffs.

Messing With History begins with super charged instrumentals, vocals delivered at the speed of light an an addictive guitar arrangement.

Website - http://www.thefourfours.com/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thefourfours
Twitter - https://twitter.com/thefourfours
Soundcloud - https://soundcloud.com/thefourfours
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9zfnG8z3XEZwMJl9bo-8pg

Post By - Boulent Mustafa

Wednesday 24 December 2014

West London based Indie Band Sheabou draw influence from Brit Pop to Indie Rock to Punk

Sheabou are a female fronted Indie Band from West London and their lineup is as follows.

Lucy on Vocals, Alan on Guitar, Baz on Bass and Roger on Drums

The band's influences range from Brit Pop to Indie Rock to Punk so expect bags and bags of variety from their music.

This track features a mesmerizing guitar arrangement, catchy drum beats and Lucy's beautiful vocals, plus thumbs up to the powerful lyrics.

The rest of their soundcloud offers some equally enjoyable tracks.

Suspension Of Disbelief is a musical ray of light.

Just Go has more of a rock feel to it but Lucy's vocals still impress and lyrically this track won't disappoint either.

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Sheabou
Twitter - https://twitter.com/sheabou
Soundcloud - https://soundcloud.com/sheabou
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/user/sheabou


Post By - Boulent Mustafa

Tuesday 23 December 2014

Blue Plasma Orb serve up Blues Flavoured Classic Rock



Blue Plasma Orb are a blues flavoured Classic Rock band that formed in 2012 with the intention of creating music that would appeal to the fans of Guns 'N' Roses, The Police and The Beatles.

To begin with there were no plans to form a band but in late 2012 Billy asked his friend Greg to help retrain him on the Guitar.

This led to original riffs which led to four new songs and then Bone was brought aboard to provide Bass and Vox which resulted in a complete line up.

Billy Bishop - Guitar
Bone - Bass and Vocals
Rich Smith - Drums
Greg Peters - Lead Guitar

The next logical step was to begin work on a debut album and this saw the light of day in July 2014 in the form of 12 tracks.

The band have already started work on lyrics for the follow up album and their first professional music video is in post production so keep an eye out for that.

Fight is chockful of energetic riffs, powerful vocals and captivating lyrics.

Strange Things features a eclectic mix of instrumental beats and lyrics with depth.

Rocket is a mix of catchy beats and first class lyrics.

Lover contains electrifying riffs and lyrics that will rock you with their emotional intensity.

Lazy Days is a slow paced melody, with laid back vocals and calming beats.

Lightning N'ver Strikes Twice is a catchy melody on all fronts - instrumentally, lyrically and vocally - it entertains us on all levels.

Elo is a captivating melody with smooth riffs and heart felt lyrics.

Night Flight dazzles with addictive riffs and upbeat vocals, hats off to some of the lyrical hooks.

Whatcha Gonna Do is fast and upbeat with its addictive instrumentals and energetic vocals.

Summer Girl is an assortment of super charged instrumental beats and summery lyrics, well with a title like that its too be expected.

It's Been Such A Long Time is another corker of a tune, with mesmerizing vocals and killer beats.

Fire And Ice wraps up the band's debut album with the same calibre of music we've grown accustomed to - smooth beats, breathtaking vocals and amazing lyrics aplenty.

Website
http://www.bpoband.com/

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Blue-Plasma-Orb-Band-BPO/446106975451886

Twitter
https://twitter.com/BluePlasmaOrb

Soundcloud
https://soundcloud.com/bpoband 


Post By - Boulent Mustafa

Monday 22 December 2014

Dinosaur Crush deliver powerful vocals, catchy guitar riffs and energetic beats

Dinosaur Crush started as a three piece alternative Punk Band in Reading, after the trio met at University.

Fast forward two years down the line and they are now a 5 piece band with their lineup consisting of:

Kat Hooper on Vocals
Matt Davis on Rhythm Guitar
Den Fox on Lead Guitar
Sam Arbon on Bass Guitar
Chris Taylor on Drums

Their debut EP was recorded in a bedroom studio and they have performed in and around the Reading Area and are now looking to perform in more venues throughout the South Of England.

Noise is their debut track and showcases Kat's powerful vocals, superfast and catchy guitar riffs and energetic beats blended together with upbeat lyrics.

Website - http://dinosaurcrush.com/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/DinosaurCrushMusic
Twitter - https://twitter.com/DinosaurCrush
Soundcloud - https://soundcloud.com/dinosaurcrush
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/user/DinosaurCrush/videos


Post By - Boulent Mustafa

Sunday 21 December 2014

The Vanilla Milkshakes entertain us with 13 tracks of lively vocals and beautifully arrangement instrumental beats

David McGhee grew up in Florida and at the age of 18 a family emergency saw him relocated to Denver, Colorado.

Inspired by the music video for the Offspring's The Kids Are Alright, David started playing the guitar and singing and he formed a few bands but in between inconsistent gigs and his heroin addiction sadly they didn't last long.

David suffered heavily for 7 years as he was plagued by suicidal thoughts, homelessness and his ongoing heroin problem, however thankfully there was light at the end of the tunnel.

A medical diagnosis revealed David had Aspergers and this led to therapy which turned things around and helped him enjoy life.

In 2013 David met his boyfriend Frank Registrato who just happened to be a drummer/vocalist, Frank then introduced him to Bass Guitarist JanKarl Hayes - it was discovered shortly after that JanKarl could also sing and from this The Vanilla Milkshakes were formed.

Their debut album - How To Ruin Friendships And Influence Douchebags was recorded in an astonishing 17 hours, this was 13 less than Nirvana's debut album.

After School Special delivers energetic guitar riffs and powerful rockstar vocals.

At Odds With God begins with a smooth and laid back instrumental sequence but its not long till the speed at which the lyrics are delivered gets cranked up.

Brand New Sound starts with a nice arrangement of percussion beats and then proceeds to entertain us with catchy rock beats.

I'm No Prize Myself showcases lively instrumental hooks and catchy upbeat lyrics, well mostly upbeat.

Idiot Colorado is another catchy track, thanks to the guitar arrangement and lively vocals.

Tall Boy / Ska Boy dishes out melodic beats and more quirky lyrics.

You're Not Cool entertains us with catchy guitar riffs and killer percussion beats which give the track an upbeat feel when you take the somber lyrics into consideration.

Seattle begins with a smooth and laid back intro but then the tempo shifts up a gear or two as it entertains us with cool lyrics and a catchy chorus.

Kreep kicks off with an addictive guitar arrangement and super charged vocals.

Dance! Robot! Dance! opens with a delightful melody which despite the sad lyrics gives the song happy and feel good vibes.

The One That Goes is a belter of a track with energetic rock beats and lightning fast lyrics.

I Need A Dollar is a slow paced melody with a bluesy feel to it, at least the lyrics feel like they've been inspired by the genre and hats off to the delightful instrumental arrangement.

Despite the quirky lyrics, The Vanilla Milkshakes entertain us with 13 tracks of lively vocals and beautifully arrangement instrumental beats.

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thevanillamilkshakes?ref=ts&fref=ts
Twitter - http://twitter.com/punkymilkshakes
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/user/thevanillamilkshakes/videos



Post By - Boulent Mustafa

Saturday 20 December 2014

Mandolin Based Indie Rock from the Feral Conservatives

Feral Conservatives are a Mandolin Based Indie Rock Band from Virginia Beach and consist of Rashie Rosenfarb on Vocals, Mandolin and Bass and Matt Francis on Drums, Pedal Noise and Feedback.

2013 saw the duo tour the East Coast and New England and this led to them recording a series of singles with Mark Padgett (Mae).

The Light In The Hall is a double A-Side Single which hails the dawn of a new direction for the band.

Little Pieces opens with delightful instrumentals, catchy beats and beautiful and soothing vocals whilst Logan's Song is more energetic and upbeat with its use of instruments and vocals.

These tracks were engineered, mixed and co-produced by Mark Padgett and showcase two distinct but equally enjoyable musical styles.

Website - http://feralconservatives.com/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/FeralConservatives?ref=tn_tnmn
Twitter - https://twitter.com/feralconservtiv
Soundcloud - https://soundcloud.com/feralconservatives/


Post By - Boulent Mustafa

Friday 19 December 2014

25 years in the music industry and Austrian Rock Band King Size are still going strong

2014 sees Austrian Rock Band King Size celebrate 25 years in the music industry.

In this time they have performed over 800 gigs across the world and scored a few top ten hits thanks to Don't Say Goodbye, Show Me The Way, Machinery and Change Your Mind.

They have also toured with Thin Lizzy and shared stages with the likes of Oasis, Whitesnake and Slade.

During their extensive music career the band have undergone several lineup changes, a couple of hiatuses due to the state of the music industry and health reasons and they also released numerous albums including their well received debut album - No Message and also live albums and compilation of rare tracks.

25 years after the band first started out and despite their ups and downs, they are now signed to NRT Records and have just released a double CD album - Dangerous Girls and Beauty Queens and this is just the beginning of King Size's rebirth, as there are quite a few treats for fans in the pipeline including the cryptically named project - Greatest Tits.

2014 also saw King Size release the 15 track album - Around And Around, the band showcase a plethora of talent across the board. These guys have really taken advantage of their long musical tenure and based on the quality of the tracks it would seem that they are constantly honing their skills. 

Around (The Beginning) opens the album with a dazzling array of catchy beats.

Machinery entertains us with not only more catchy beats but also killer guitar riffs and powerful vocals.

Winners And Losers is a belter of a track with energetic beats and emotionally powerful lyrics.

Could This Be Love is a smooth melody with gentle instrumentals and deep and heartfelt lyrics.

Love? (Reprise) begins where the previous track ends, I suppose you can even call it a sequel - except this time it's just slow melodic beats.

A Song Is Born is a lively tune with beautiful and motivational lyrics.

Rock 'n' Proll is a wondrous musical arrangement with super charged beats, a beautifully laidback and an emotive vocal performance.

Around And Around is another rock number with beautiful guitar riffs and inspirational lyrics.

Second Skin is a lyrically powerful tune and the funky beats are delivered thick and fast.

Change Your Mind kicks off with powerful beats and an electrifying vocal performance.

Good News begins with a captivating instrumental arrangement that screams rock and roll and lyrics that could come straight from Jerry Lee Lewis.

Will We Ever Learn is another heartfelt song with lyrics that will make you sit up and think, King Size are outstanding when it comes to their verses and its instrumentals just add gravitas.

Isabel is another laid-back acoustic number, it radiates over us lyrically and vocally and also in terms of its gentle melody.

Welcome to LA is a rocktastic corker, with a captivating instrumental arrangement and motivational lyrics this song grabs our attention from the outset.

And Around (The End) concludes this outstanding album with a musical treat, the piano arrangement is simply exquisite and is a delightful way to finish off King Size's 15 wondrous tracks.

Website - http://www.king-size-rock.de/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/kingsizeaustria

Post By - Boulent Mustafa

Thursday 18 December 2014

Jimmi Nolan makes us happy with positive lyrics and beautiful vocals

Born and raised in Melbourne, Australia and then moving to the Gold Coast prior to entering his teens, Jimmi struggled to deal with the challenges of life and practically kept to himself.

I say practically because he used lyrics as a form of self expression and coupled with his Irish roots saw him finish school and subsequently make his mark on the South East Queensland Music scene.

His knack for writing lyrics saw him work with numerous artists including Aria Award Winners George.

His local success drove him to embark on a journey which led him to London and a gig at the Mau Mau Bar on Portobello Road.

His debut EP - Life Carries on was recorded in Notting Hill with the help of accomplished producer Andy Schrav, who worked with the likes of Paper Aeroplanes, Renny Field and The Hussy Hicks.

The EP also features The Hussy Hicks and the rhythm section of live band The Foreign Beggars.

Make Me Happy described by its title does just that, with a upbeat intro, the quirky sound of the ukulele, positive lyrics and beautiful vocals.

Website - http://jimmi-nolan.squarespace.com/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/jimmi_nolan
Soundcloud - https://soundcloud.com/jimmi-nolan
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkNxVk1U1DMZQgipYG_zHPg

Post By - Boulent Mustafa

Wednesday 17 December 2014

Chicago based Static In Verona delivers 16 tracks of musical awesomeness


Chicago Musician Rob Merz has been writing and recording for over 18 years and this has seen him involved with numerous Chicago Bands, now he's flying solo with his Static In Verona project, where he is responsible for everything.

Following on from the release of his debut album in 2009, Rob has drawn on influence from various quarters such as Shoegaze, Classical Music and Jazz.


This fusion of genres culminated in the follow up album - Everything You Knew Before You Knew Everything.


With a rousing orchestral opening to 16 tracks, the prologue is a melodic masterpiece which sets the benchmark for the album.


Bitter Branches begins with a powerful guitar intro, energetic percussion and smooth vocals.


Rosemary (Bury Me) has a heavyish bass line and heart felt lyrics.


White Knuckles entertains us with beautiful vocals and atmospheric beats.


Roman Candle revs up the tempo with a fast piano melody and catchy vocals delivered at a lightning fast pace - this song is a real musical treat.


Black Windows' vocals are a thing of beauty and coupled with the instrumental arrangement, this track is a delight to the ears.


Friendly Fires begins with catchy beats and more of Rob's amazing vocals.


[Song For K] is a laid back track with subtle instrumentals.


Something ... Anything is another energetic number with breathtaking vocals.


Blindfold kicks in with powerful beats and soothing vocals.


Look Like Gold features catchy guitar riffs which go hand in hand with heartfelt lyrics which come straight from the heart.


Trembling Timbre is a upbeat melody thanks to the beats and tempo.


Loud Night/Quiet Morning delivers more musical smoothness, Rob certainly has the formula for cooking up some amazing tunes.


False Dawn features a haunting melody intertwined with beautiful vocals, which merge into catchy melodic beats.


Epilogue almost concludes Static In Verona's second album with its calming and ethereal sound.


As a treat Rob furnishes us with a beautiful remix of Friendly Fires.


Website - http://staticinverona.com/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Static-In-Verona/126836710706649
Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/staticinverona
Soundcloud - https://soundcloud.com/staticinverona/
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXFnST-_Zkg1lFfYD9mhf6w


Post By - Boulent Mustafa

Tuesday 16 December 2014

Catchy Rock beats courtesy of Montreal based Rosebuddy


Rosebuddy began their musical journey in 1994 and the trio recently released Forward-Looking Statements which was showcased at Pop Montreal 2013.

The trio made up of James Misata on Drums, Neil Briffett on Guitar and Yuri Mohasci on Bass
specialize in Rock/Pop Punk and Alt Rock flavoured tunes.

Whose Army begins with catchy instrumental hooks including an awesome guitar arrangement and beautiful lyrics delivered by powerful vocals.

Away With Words has a slightly more somber feel to it but features a homage to Blink 182's What's My Age again.

Multiplied By Two has a smooth intro, which then transitions into powerful vocals and a melodic instrumental arrangement.

All The Ships At Sea is musically upbeat with the Guitar and Maracas however vocally and lyrically it feels somber.

Forward-Looking Statements features a first class instrumental arrangement, sublime vocals and catchy lyrics.

Website - http://www.rosebuddy.com/ 
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/rosebuddyband
Twitter - https://twitter.com/rosebuddyband
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/user/rosebuddyband/videos

Post By - Boulent Mustafa

Monday 15 December 2014

Musical silk thanks to the beautiful song Pentavibe by Angela Terace Trippe


Angela chronicles her life lyrically and melodically, she was born to sing as vocally she is soulful, passionate and unique.

She was asked who she sounds like but there is no answer to this as she enjoys to dabble in all genres.

Angela tinkled the ivories at the tender age of three and her passion for music led to her receiving training as a classic pianist and more recently Angela has developed an interest for pop, indie and rock music.

She prepares her own lyrics and music, is responsible for the arrangements, plays all the instruments bar the guitar and even masters and produces her own songs plus she even finds the time to collaborate with musicians from all around the world - Angela is a musical juggernaut.

Angela was born in Brooklyn, New York and music flows through her family tree as back as her great grandparents, her family has always embraced music one way or another.

Pentavibe features smooth synth beats, a beautiful piano melody, catchy instrumentals, delightful vocals and heartfelt lyrics - this song is musical silk.

Website - http://www.angelateracetrippe.com/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/AngelaTeraceTrippe
Twitter - https://twitter.com/angelaterace

Post By - Boulent Mustafa