Web: bigphatband.com

Seeking: Review

Style: Jazz

We have recently heard from Grammy-nominated jazz composer Gordon Goodwin on Raymond Scott Reimagined, the tribute to the Gershwin contem- porary, on which “Cutey and the Dragon” achieves symphonic success. Takes on Count Basie’s “April in Paris” and “Anything Goes” are also exciting and imaginative. Horns, strings, piano, pitched percussion and a great electric guitar trade off as main voices, which keeps these compositions fresh. His Big Phat Band is an 18-piece jazz orchestra, and, with Goodwin as leader-arranger, achieve a uniform sound, while spotlighting its talented soloists.

Web: Spotify

Seeking: Booking, Film/TV, Distribution
Style: Rap, Hip-Hop

Tampa four-piece hip-hop “boy band” Barely Legal pick up where Brockhampton and N*E*R*D* left off, with an electric mix of hype, harmony and personalities. After hearing “Killing All the Fun,” album opener on the Barely Legal Tapes, Vol. 2, a cool R&B track, filled with skits, synths, sound pads and smooth vocals, we wanted to hear more, which doesn’t always happen. “Watch Ya Head” has big Pharrell energy, especially in the building refrain. Each rapper makes a stellar appearance, and then passes the mic. Demonstrating versatility, the mood changes on “Catapult,” a downright bitter, depressing song about an ex, that offsets the heaviness and anger with jazz guitar and lounge vibraphones. Barely Legal are rising stars.

Contact: stringer@davestringer.com

Web: mantraamericana.com

Seeking: Review
Style: New Age Chant, Roots

With lyrics in the Hindi language, artist Madi Das (who is Berlin-born and now lives in Australia) still manages to convey a welcoming, jubilant message, each song an invitation for the listener to stand up and join the group in singing the robust call-and-response choruses. “Tam Pranamami” has a warm, gliding spirit, with a touch of twang that’s nice to hear. The mellow “Shri Ramachandra” again showcases the vibrant spirit of the backup singers, who are supported by traditional Eastern instruments as well as a mandolin. Our favorite is “Ramani Ramana,” where Madi Das is a strong lead singer rather than a part of the congregation. This is East-meets-West music that invites, encourages and inspires participation.

Web: newpants.com

Seeking: Film/TV Placement
Style: Contemporary Christian

James Becker spearheads St. James Way, whose new album features songs that are, by turns, acoustic, calming, gentle and inspiring. These songs are fully arranged to uplift the listener’s spirit with a gust of emotion. Those qualities make Becker’s recordings ideal for the Contemporary Christian market.  “Call Out My Name” and “Will You Be My Friend” epitomize this artist’s ability to convey a genuine glow of heartfelt sincerity, whether as a giver of aid and comfort (“I will come to you.”) or as a receiver (“Isn’t love wonderful when you’re around?”). In the song “Without You,” a tribute to a friend, Becker shows what he and his high tenor voice can do with a full band (strings, horns, drums, electric guitar).

From its reverb-laced production to its palm-muted guitar, sublimely soggy drum tone, warm organ breezes, soaring guitar fills, and especially his rustic lead vocals (backed up effectively by a harmonic female singer), Nicholas Johnson achieves the ideal sound for his material, whose novelistic lyrics often explore the underbelly of our everyday world. “Middle of Nowhere, Ohio” is a perfect example of his art. On the moody, downtempo “New Vampire,” he give his pedal-steel player plenty of room to whine, and he does it effectively. The organ player excels again on “The Damned and the Lonely,” where all the strengths of this project are on display. All that’s lacking right now is a drop-dead killer tune that’s catchy as a cold. 

Web: josybofficial.com

Seeking: Distribution, Film/TV, Licensing
Style: R&B, Hip-Hop, Pop

If you like R&B pop with a subtle hip-hop glaze, check out Josy B, whose production, from its sometimes risky choices to its successful execution, is a pleasure. And she shows lots of edgy personality in her vocals, as in the smoldering, underwater vibe of “Crybaby,” which brims with spit and sass: “You’re the one beggin’, like a fucking crybaby!”  The song is seasoned with cool-sounding bells, synth swells, and tinny 808 drums, not to mention ghostly whispers. The downtempo yet upbeat “xx bad” has a dancey beat, an FX’d vocal and a toy piano part.  Catchiest of all, and the one that really shows off this artist’s vocal appeal and arrangement ingenuity, is “btw.” It all adds up to music with solid commercial appeal. 

Eternal Frequency   

Web: eternalfrequencyband.com

Style: Hard Rock

Sharon Groom   

Web: sharongroom.com

Style: Blues, Rock, Americana

Kika   

Web: kika1.bandcamo.com

Style: Indie Rock/Pop

Robert Minott   

Web: robertminottmusic.com

Style: Reggae

Annie of the Canyon   

Web: linktr.ee/annieofthecanyon

Style: Folk

Move Like Creatures   

Web: movelikecreatures.com

Style: Indie Pop

Stormy Strong   

Web: stormystrong.com

Style: Alternative

Joe Marcinek Band   

Web: joemarcinekband.com

Style: Jazz-Rock

Angela Predhomme   

Web: angelapredhomme.com

Style: Singer-Songwriter

Jason Shand   

Web: jasonshand.com

Style: Pop Rock, Singer-Songwriter

Chagell Guevara   

Web: chagellguevara.com

Style: Rock

Doxy   

Web: linktr.ee/doxyband

Style: Indie Rock

Brooklyn Summers   

Web: Soundcloud

Style: R&B/Soul

Mykii J   

Web: Spotify

Style: Hip-Hop/Rap

MC Holy Ghost   

Web: mcholyghost.com

Style: Hip-Hop, Rap

The Mystical Hot Chocolate Endeavors   

Web: themysticalhotchocolatenedeavors.com

Style: Alternative Prog

UNI*   

Web: linktr.ee/unireign

Style: Rap, Hip-Hop

IZ.M.B   

Web: bluecollarrecordsllc.net/artists/iz-m-b

Style: Singer-Songwriter

Scarecrowz   

Web: scarecrowzottowa.wixsite.com

Style: Hard Rock

Sluka   

Web: sluka.com

Style: Enigmatic Rock

Web: ohlonesomeana.com

Seeking: Film/TV, Booking
Style: Indie, Rock, Folk

Fronted by Evan Bailey, this foursome achieve an airy, naturalistic, uncluttered delivery, with Bailey’s Jackson Browne-ish vocals leading the way. It’s not the prettiest voice, but as on “Rushing Lattice,” its tone of honesty is loud and clear.  We especially like the backup singing by Ashley Maiden, who sweetens the punch on every tune. Next, the band’s humanistic core is what propels “I’m Glad You Got Out,” the singer expressing his regrets to a lover who left. The organ is excellent in the arrangement.  The downtempo 3/4 waltz-time “Dirt Road” has great drum and fuzz bass elements, but like the previous tune, we wish the band would inject more dynamics. There’s definitely room for them to shift gears, cut loose.   

Web: chagallguevara.com

Seeking: Booking
Style: Rock

The fivepiece Chagall Guevara has mounted a polished, super-tight, arena-rock attack that never lets up. There is an overall ‘80s undertone to this band (led by singer Steve Taylor) and though the melodies are familiar and the lyrics could be better, these guys can probably rock any venue.  Sporting a heavy riff, “Resurrection #9” is a solid rocker and Taylor’s gravelly vocals get good support from a backup contingent. When it all gels, you have the Guevara sound. “Got Any Change” has an amazing mix, including drum fills panned from left to right.  The sheer excitement of arena rock is again captured on “Surrender” with its megaphoned lead vocal and a grand finale in which the whole Chagall Guevara gang chimes in.    

Web: ghostenyc.com

Seeking: Label, Film/TV
Style: Electro-Pop

N.Y.C.-based electro-pop artist GhostE shows her experience, sonic sophistication and gift for infectious pop hooks on recent recordings, such as “Slow Motion” and “Deep Water,” both of which feature lyrics about troubled relationships, sounding at times akin to the work of Imogen Heap and Enya. These are songs whose melodies and stories are smart and whose production has an equally deft futuristic precision, where even the fingersnaps are alluringly fx’d. “Brick By Brick” is perhaps GhostE’s most tuneful song, a candidate for a hit single. Its message (“fight or flee, which will it be?”) is strong and calls upon the artist to show a winning defiance and resolve.