- Peacekeepers
Anthony Levone delivers hard hitting truth in his latest single “Peacekeepers”. The rhymes flow effortlessly over a track mixing classic 808 style beats with gentle cascading waves of keyboard and synths. A deep emotion is revealed behind “Peacekeepers” crushing swagger, Levone, featuring Fooly23, is an artist with a message for the people. Lyrics like, “the smarter man is hated, but never intimidated, he lives to fight another day, kid, while… Continue reading Peacekeepers - Let the trade winds blow
“Just sit back and relax, and let the tradewinds blow…” grab a cold drink and get ready to drift off on the warm breezes and chill vibes created by Sam Sims on his latest single “Tradewinds”. This secret treasure of a song will have you groovin along with its reggae/rock feel and ultar singable hook. With a shot of Marley and a long pour of pure Sam Sims’ soulful vocals… Continue reading Let the trade winds blow - Tim from W.U.P.
Music LIfe Now had a chance to catch up with Tim Montalvo the lead singer and songwriter from the Central Jersey band “Wake Up Paradise”. The band just released a new single “Fever” that is streaming now. (links at the end of this review) Tim, how did this all start for you? Well the band itself started back in 2013. We made 2 EPs together. After I left the band… Continue reading Tim from W.U.P. - Fever!
“Fever” is the latest single by Wake Up Paradise. This explosive pop-punk anthem absolutely makes a statement from the electro tinged opener through the incendiary shout chorus. “Fever” is a song that leaves a visceral impression and a crick in your neck from rocking so hard. The emotional vocals delivered by singer-songwriter Tim Montalvo provide the gasoline soaked rag that ignites this bonfire of a track. The lyrics and performance… Continue reading Fever! - G/D in 71′
Fox Theatre, St. Louis, MO 12-10-71 Looking back is not always a good thing. However when it comes to the Grateful Dead it is often a very good thing! On the cusp of the 50th anniversary of the Dead’s historic “Europe 72” album and with numerous reissues planned for 2022, this review focuses on an American show that took place in December 1971, just a few months before the band… Continue reading G/D in 71′ - The Strong, Weak, and Weary
KT blends a wide range of American roots ranging from Texas Two-step to Afro-Cuban rhythms on his new album “The Strong, Weak, and Weary”. KTs lyrics are front and center on these songs presenting his plain spoken and direct messages of love, loss and unity. The album opens with a shuffle “Make Love with Me” that would be perfectly at home on an Austin honky tonk dance floor. The song… Continue reading The Strong, Weak, and Weary - Tyler Quintanilla
The latest single by genre bending artist Tyler Quintanilla is a cinematic journey titled “Sexual Tension”. The haunting keys and beats are accompanied by mysterious voices echoing into the abysse. The track is avant garde reaching across time and space to deliver a transcendent emotional sound experience. We wish this track would keep going and take us farther down the rabbit hole; definitely has us waiting to exhale. Quintanilla’s previous… Continue reading Tyler Quintanilla - ASH ACID
Rock has a new heroine in the form of Ash Acid. From the first crack of the snare drum to the last chug of the guitars “Waiting with the Sun” delivers the goods, pure face-melting rock. The song’s psychedelic surf cover art sets a tone of wonder that perfectly invites you to hit play on this savage rocker. Acid delivers sharp edged lyrics with a masterful sneer that reflects her… Continue reading ASH ACID - Got Back?
Leemz and Yungphnx dropped “Got Back?” a club beat that sways from mellow jazz vibes to speaker crushing four-on-the-floor with an infectious montra “baby got back”. As the track flows, it breaks apart into sparse segmentations until it almost disappears, only to reappear with a crushing half-time bounce. Got Back? has tons of subtle samples mixed in that emerge as you relisten which is a great touch that adds a… Continue reading Got Back? - Down the Rabbit Hole
The synth-rock single “Rabbit Hole” by L.A. based trio Cherry Glazerr features vocalist Clementine Creevy as she whispers the chorus in our ear “Try too hard not to be distasteful, will you let me down the rabbit hole?” The lyrics are abstract enough to be personal without being specific to Creevy’s point of view. The tone of the song is dark and reminds us of a hot night, top down,… Continue reading Down the Rabbit Hole - benzii
Freezing cold beats and arrangements invoke a seriously dangerous landscape in this single, Defense Mechanism, by dream pop artist benzii. The vocal performance is white hot and reminds us of the very best of Florence and the Machine and Bjork while still presenting a very personal expression. We were fascinated by the video which had us worried about the fate of benzii as she is enveloped by the black water.… Continue reading benzii - Cool Company
Old school, cool, funk vibes that get the speakers bangin’ and bootys movin. Cool Company’s latest single Foatin’ features a deep drum and bass groove, horns, and vocals that provide a time machine of sound. The duo has a knack for finding the pocket and staying right in it. This track features vocals by Philadelphia based Soul Pop artist Nic Hanson. The combination has us hooked on this low key… Continue reading Cool Company - Swaye ~ Feel It
Indie pop rock has a new champion in the fresh sounds of Swaye. The latest single “Feel It” delivers a perfectly sage and satisfying song rich with distant chorused guitars, synth keys and driving drums. The vocals welcome you in and speak directly to the attraction of first love and yearning that all good pop tries to deliver. “Holding on to you, what do I have to prove? Close your… Continue reading Swaye ~ Feel It - Numbah
Model, singer, actress Kylin Kalani has her sights set on target with this pop tune “Numbah”. Kylin’s lyrics flow with a hip hop style and somehow still capture the melody with precision and grace “Hey boy, you want my number, got the anesthesia to put you under” the track features up tempo body-movin’ synth strings, claps and beats. The song gives you a sense that under it’s playful veneer lies… Continue reading Numbah - EXUM
Midnight pop that tempts the senses with visions of inner voices and demons with “Dark Kept Secret”. EXUM provides a moody synth pop jam in a minor key. “I am the voice of your demons, I’m leaving”. The track has an infectious drum beat and enough ear candy to keep you listening as the repetitive chorus seeps into your consciousness and leaves an unsettled sense of wonder. Is this track… Continue reading EXUM - Aqueous Live!
Indie rock-jam seamonsters Aqueous just released a new live album “Live! From Philadelphia September Eighteen 20” featuring the band as they expand and morph their way through an ever changing sea of sonic soup. If you love not knowing what will happen next and the pure joy of musicians pushing the limits, this album is for you. Aqueous features grooves and screaming lead guitars like many “jam” bands however their… Continue reading Aqueous Live! - The Shoos
The Shoos latest single “Distance” is a moody, ethereal rock anthem! The song features evocative vocals surrounded by rich chiming spaced out guitars that break free into razor sharp power chords and driving drums. The epic shout chorus is perfectly complemented by personal verse lyrics like “Many times I’ve tried to trace your heart on mine and I’m always left asking… can we go the distance?”. The band has a… Continue reading The Shoos - Where Are You?
The powerful indie rockers Sometimes Julie return with a triumphant new album for 2021. “Where Are You?” opens with the thunderous track “She Can’t Kiss You” that brings the heat fueled by hard rocking guitar fire and explosive drums then captures you with the sensational lead vocals of Monica Sorenson. The song reminds us that rock-n-roll will never die especially with a bittersweet edge like this! Sometimes Julie are socal… Continue reading Where Are You? - Naëve
On the irresistible new tune “L.A.M.E.” by Naëve opens with gritty guitar and bass lines joined with joyful hand claps that immediately connect and pull you into the groove! As the track blossoms we are greeted by soaring lead vocals reminiscent of soul greats like Aretha and Winehouse. The musical style can be described as pop, however the vibe is 100% retro soul that swings along as Naëve’s intoxicating vocals… Continue reading Naëve - Home Thru Hell
Psychedelic singer-songwriter garage rock? Yes please! We were thrilled to hear the collaboration of Deap Vally (duo) and impasarios of sound, The Flaming Lips, on this new set of material as the supergroup “Deap Lips”. The song we gravitated to “Home Thru Hell” features the vocals of Deap Vally (Lindsey Troy and Julie Edwards) on a track that is heavily lipped. The lyrics and vocals keep the track rooted and… Continue reading Home Thru Hell - Comfy Covers
Have you listened to a cassette tape that was left too long in the hot sun, like on a car dashboard? Maybe your turntable needed the belt replaced, or maybe your boombox was just about to run out of battery life? The sound created is off, there is something wrong, but you love it, and when it ended you just wanted more. That’s what just happened as we listened to… Continue reading Comfy Covers - Love’s Heart Beat
Roots rock and reggae has a champion in Mike Love’s latest single “HeartBeat” which features an authentic reggae rhythm layered with hints of blues and soul. The tune opens with quiet affirmations by Love in a hushed voice “How much do I owe you? You gave me your heartbeat” before opening vocally over the mellow minor key based groove. The lyrics are intimate and positive, something that Love does remarkably… Continue reading Love’s Heart Beat - The Best Things
Neo Soul duo Kindred the Family Soul, aka Kindred, deliver an uplifting message with their latest single “The Best Thing”. The lyrics remind the listener to look inward not outward to find the love and joy in life. The importance of family and life balance are front and center in this gentle verse beautifully sung by Aja Graydon. With lyrics like “It’s so easy to lose focus in this world… Continue reading The Best Things - SunDub
Brooklyn based SunDub represents the best of the east coast reggae scene featuring modern production and exceptional vocals by Joanna Teters. On the band’s latest single “Ain’t Nobody” Teter’s voice is rich with soul and fresh power rarely heard in new reggae releases. Her verse reminisces on love and offers up passionate imagery like “I’m flying through the stars, hope this night will last forever” before taking us to the… Continue reading SunDub - You and Me
The 2020 single “You and Me” by Kyle Ahern, touring guitarist for reggae phenom Rebelution, delivers a warm and gentle west coast reggae breeze. The song offers up a moonlit beach party vibe featuring mellow keys, guitars and deep bass that keep this jam groovin’. With earnest lyrics like “take a lift tonight, the vibes so right” and “It’s so easy to love you, just you and me” provide the… Continue reading You and Me
Artist Interviews
- Tim from W.U.P.Music LIfe Now had a chance to catch up with Tim Montalvo the lead singer and songwriter from the Central Jersey band “Wake Up Paradise”. The band just released a new single “Fever” that is streaming now. (links at the end of this review) Tim, how did this all start… Continue reading Tim from W.U.P.
- Music is a powerful tool
We were thrilled to catch up with U.K. soul-pop artist Naëve and learn a little more about her latest single and new band! Naëve thank you for taking the time to talk with us today! Let’s start with the new single L.A.M.E. we hear a very personal experience there, where… Continue reading Music is a powerful tool - Kathleen Elle
We had the pleasure to catch up with Jersey Shore singer-songwriter Kathleen Elle to talk about her latest album and experience with streaming shows during covid lockdown. Okay let’s start with the Brainwaves album. We heare a real real rock vibe as well as the singer-songwriter sound that you weave… Continue reading Kathleen Elle - Fern!
We wanted to learn a little bit more about this unique band and were lucky enough to catch up with band leader “Fern” from Foes of Fern. Let’s start with the band name, Foes of Fern. Where did that come from? So I had spent a lot of time In… Continue reading Fern! - Sam Sims
Thanks for taking the time to talk with us today. Let’s start with the latest single “Breathe”. Where did this song come from? This song was written on a mountain top in Nicaragua. I was helping the community with donations such as clothing, guitars, and music lessons. I was also… Continue reading Sam Sims - Michael Jaskewicz
We enjoyed Michael Jaskewicz’s new album so much we had to sit down and learn a little more about it. Okay let’s start with the album title “Crooked Tree” where did that come from? – Crooked Tree started with my own personal infatuation with trees, especially the crazy odd ones that… Continue reading Michael Jaskewicz