… percolate; verb – gerund to be precise.
1. [Liquid or gas] filter gradually through a porous surface or substance.
2. [Of Coffee] be prepared in a percolator…

Let’s get this straight, a musician who [claims] the fruit of their labor embodies the essence of distilled rainwater in its purest form. Nothing sounds more refreshingly soothing; my thoughts exactly while listening to “What I do.” Luscious vocals lull us on a cloud of choral-soulful-electro/synth-chill-folk-alt ~ just fabulousness. I haven’t heard the organ included in any releases of late; brava, Leach. The variety of instruments, vocal styles, attention to detail, and ultimately raw talent demonstrate an artist ensnared in the vastness of musical possibility. I predict a non-conformist, Sherlock; Millennial Spirituals.

Put it to the test, imagine, your version of crystalline leach –

Millennial Spirituals was released March 15, 2016

female vocals on tracks 2, 5, and 6 – Alyssa Frost
electric guitar on track 3 – Richard Carpenter
drums & percussion on track 5 – Bobak Loftipour
drums & percussion on track 7 – Jeff Taylor
mastering – Mark Chalecki

Te quiero para siempre, Amy; but oh, look what we have here…

“No one calls you honey when you’re sitting on a throne”… snap, yes! 

Valerie; I can’t help the chills for yet another mysteriously delectable Valerie. Winehouse immortalized the mystical Val; yet, Broussard grounds the sound of “Wicked” in, am I hearing this right? Westernized cabaret soul… adorned with a smooooth beat.

Local to New York & Philadelphia [incredibly hot music spots right now] Valerie showcases a range of talents on her Sound Cloud, revealing a diverse & qualified musician. Her deliberate and precise execution of theory is evident in her musical portfolio thus revealing a singer/songwriter dedicated to the rhythm within her.  Eloquently written in her biography, Broussard’s “haunting lyrics and sweeping melodies…” attribute to her luxurious mystique. Budding from a frequently featured artist into a confident soloist, Valerie Broussard’s talents display refreshing and powerful purpose.

I think I found my Valerie…

Maybe I should blame my fiery zodiac, or just admit… Sharing this list exposes the soundtrack of my year thus far, a personal and utterly biased list. I can’t speak for you, but, if you take a gander you might just find yourself learning moves you’d never dreamed feasible (or flexible enough for). Two quick confessions and then we’ll commence musically, I promise. As a small town high school English teacher, the music industry is comparable to Dante’s second ring of hell, a daunting fiery pit of passion, authenticity, and soul; a niche I am gingerly stepping into through wonderful role models and musical talents. Finally, my draw to the music is through my synesthesthetic (new word?) viewpoint. I see the notes morph through spools of color across my lids, they roll, bubble, pour, through my veins. It’s a direct reaction to the art and dedication of the artists. Alas, enjoy. Make space to dance, lay, and free your body from our daily mundanities.

Here’s a Soundcloud version of the playlist, with a few added bonuses not found on Spotify:

Cheers, 2015. 

Nimino is on the brink of a tumultuous adventure of sleepless nights and symbiotic artistry survival. Nimino transitions the crux of a night into dreamlike dawn with his smooth decrescendos and soulful influences. An emerging artist from Brighton, UK, Milo Evans transfixes crowds with his fluctuating rhythm ensuring a fluid denouement of the night’s antics. Milo’s youth is riddled with the heavy influence of the dubstep scene in Brighton; a mecca where dubstep fans could transcend the barriers of life through a jolt of music and a slap of salt air. He takes a softer approach to the electronic hub that had emerged, creating soft ambient tunes to sooth the soul’s transition before emerging into the salty sunshine.

I am always struck by an artist with a calling. Passion is a devil that strikes inopportunely, yet a calling shines through the face of aversion, failure, and perseverance. Milo has graced the stage since 14, his artistry will remember his innovation in the face of a jarred musical scene, introducing soothing ambients to a future of listeners.

Sources:

Wed Ogden of ThatDrop.com

http://bit.ly/1jXAPfK

Huffington Post: Artist of the week

“…who we are chasing stars, won’t you dance with me?” Lose It

A band mature in musical identity and purposeful touring have played together for ten years with no shortage of albums to bring back a sound that transformed music from generational tradition into what Rock n’ Roll did for our parents’ souls. Between The Lines transcends the intensity of Rock to relax the mind and engulf us with a now vintage psychedelic influence. Relax with Elephant Stone, rightfully named the Stones of Hindustani Rock. 

Press the picture to check out their band site. 

Tell us about the process of writing and creating Crystal Stills, what inspired you? How did you build upon each other’s strengths to produce this song? 

The process was very natural, and similar to how most of the songs on the ‘Future Protocol’ EP were written. I walked into the studio to hear a beat Theo began, there was a steady drum groove and piano undertone. I sat in for a while listening and eventually started singing the main melody for the verses. From there, we built the infrastructure for the whole piece and shortly after roped in the full band to track their instruments.

The lyrics indicate a potential heart break, do the healing powers of crystals play a role in the poetic license? 

You could say so, I believe that was the creative interpretation our animator derived from the lyrics. We gave her a lot of space in regards to the visuals save for the very apparent hand our manager, Mr. Michael Delle Donne, played. Both Abi and Mike bounced several ideas off each other throughout the story-boarding process.

Is there anything else in particular you want me to highlight?

We have a Residency in July at the famous Pianos, in NYC. We will be playing every Thursday of the month. We could not be more excited about it, as we are also officially moving into the area! Trey Schibli and Theo Klein