Tag Archive for 'Regina Spektor'

SOUL SISTER

Published by Kate B on August 28, 2009 in Artist Feature. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , .

jess

Ladies, have you had your fill of dubious dudes who ask for your number then never call? Or pursue you relentlessly, and then when you finally start to respond, lose interest and move on? Jess Godwin feels your pain. More than that, she’s put it to music. And not just any music—big, soulful R&B that comes out swinging and demands your attention, if not your love and respect.

This is not to say that men won’t appreciate Godwin’s fiery piano invectives; many will. But Godwin has a way of succinctly summing up the single lady experience with wit, intelligence and brass that will have a lot of women putting their hands up even higher than they did for Beyonce. In her potent soul single, “Three Weeks Shy,” she takes a negligent love interest to task by asking, “If I had worn the blue dress, if I had a burger, if I had been blonde / Would you have tried to reach me sooner?” Her expressive vocals swing from lilting jabs to heart-wrenching explosions, putting her somewhere in between Regina Spektor and Alicia Keys. After the seismic soul chorus of “Three Weeks Shy,” Godwin cools things down, singing sweetly and simply, “Let’s call it what it is / Just that not in to me.”

Maybe he’s not, but the rest of us most definitely are.

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DOWNLOAD OF THE WEEK: ROSE WALKER

Published by Sam C. on July 20, 2009 in Download of the Week. 1 Comment Tags: , , , , .



 

Atlanta songstress, Rose Walker, is making sweet, soulful indie pop and penning lyrics that would bring a smile to any Tori Amos fan’s face. And listening to this week’s free download “Always For You,” reminds me of why everyone became instantly enamored with Regina Spektor’s Begin to Hope album. “Always For You” begins on a bittersweet note with Rose accompanied by electric piano, but when the rest of the band kicks in, the song rapidly shifts in emotional tone. So if you enjoy straightforward, well-crafted pop songs with an honest delivery and catchy sing-a-long hooks, then Rose is your girl!  Give it a good listen and be sure to buy her fantastic self-titled EP.

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LIVE FROM T5: A SPOTLIGHT ON THE COMPETITION

Published by Sam C. on July 16, 2009 in Artist Feature and Playlists. 7 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

Earlier this month we launched the JetBlue “Live from T5″ contest. Artists from a variety of genres are entering their best acoustic songs into the competition channel for a chance to win a live set in JetBlue’s new T5 terminal at JFK International Airport in New York City. One grand prize winner will be selected to open for a headlining act at a “Bowery Presents” show at the Terminal 5 venue in Manhattan. Here are a few entries in the competition to keep an eye out for:

Jetty Rae

Jetty Rae

“I Love You” by Jetty Rae

Jetty Rae is a soul-folk singer/songwriter out of Ann Arbor, Michigan. “I Love You” opens with a melancholy violin solo which introduces Rae’s sultry vocals. This track is sure to be a favorite for fans of Ingrid Michaelson and Regina Spektor.

“His To Break” by Jara Johnson

Break up songs are a dime a dozen, but on “His to Break” Iowan singer/songwriter Jara Johnson bears her soul. Between the accompanying mandolin and Johnson’s sincere performance, you can feel your heart melt with each line.

“Stones Throw Away” by Bronze Radio Return

Bronze Radio Return

Bronze Radio Return

Fans of Joe Purdy will be right at home with Bronze Radio Return’s intimate, folksy delivery on “Stones Throw Away”. With breathy vocals and a touch of bluegrass with slide guitar, this track makes anyone feel right at home.

“I Think Its Sweet” by Kaylan Rexer

Kaylan Rexer’s ironically bittersweet “I Think Its Sweet” is musically an uplifting track, but its lyrics have a very different tone. Centered around “people getting stuck in their hometowns and having dreams but not working hard enough to reach them,” this track showcases Rexer’s talent as a songwriter.

“Lost Boys” by Paper Bird

For those of you who dig Alison Krauss and The Little Willies, you should check out Denver’s Paper Bird. The seven-member group features a banjo, multipart harmonized vocals, slide guitar and an upright bass to keep the whole thing together. It’s the perfect track for when you’re feeling a little “Oh, Brother Where Art Thou”.

“Looking Over My Shoulder”

by A BIG YES…and a small no

One of the original Bethany’s favorite OurStage discoveries is a happy-go-lucky Brooklyn indie pop group by the name of A BIG YES… and a small no. Their entry into the contest, “Looking Over My Shoulder” is funny and folksy love ballad featuring vibraphone. Yes, a vibraphone!

A BIG YES...and a small no

A BIG YES...and a small no

Unfortunately time and space doesn’t permit me to write about every awesome Live from T5 entry—and believe me there are many—so I will have to stop here. Don’t forget to check out the contestants for yourself and participate by judging.  You could win a free pair of tickets from JetBlue!

The Curse of the Grand Prize

Published by jayschneider on April 24, 2009 in Editorial. 3 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , .

The coveted Grand Prize at OurStage is as illusive as it is dangerous. We were curious about what happened to previous Grand Prize winners, so We put on our “Where are they now?” caps and found an astonishing truth. The OurStage Grand Prize may be just as cursed as opening an umbrella indoors. Sure, there’s glamour, exposure, and of course that $5,000, but something the artists didn’t plan on was an end to their band. That’s right, we’ve found a few cases where an artist will rise to the top only to find that their days as a band are over. Don’t believe in black cats and broken mirrors? Check out these groups and their stories. Draw your own conclusions about the curse of the Grand Prize.

northernroomInspired by Coldplay and U2 (among others), Northern Room has been a familiar face on OurStage. Building synth melodies, energetic drumming, and soaring vocals are just a few of the characteristics that afforded this band a grand prize win in July of 2008 with their song “Last Embrace“. They were even featured on our blog during the July competitions, showcasing an interview between OurStage’s Alyssa Jayne Hale and lead vocalist, AJ. Despite their large scale aspirations, just months after winning the grand prize, the band played a farewell show and called it quits. Thankfully, the band’s inspirational and uplifting music can still be heard on their OurStage profile. Check them out and pay your respects to a timeless grand prize winner from deep within the OurStage archives.oddway

Dig even deeper into those archives and you’ll find Oddway, a female-fronted rock band from Boston. Their sound can be compared to artists ranging from Sublime to Alanis Morisette. The bluesy, soulful melodies of singer Petrina Foley pair so well with the skillful guitar playing of Ryan Ordway that they seemed destined for greatness. After winning the first ever grand prize at OurStage in March 2007, the band enjoyed a month or two more of success in the charts. Then they met their fatal end, the well-meshed sound was just not enough to prevent artistic conflicts of interest that lead to the breakup.

ryanordwayTwo well-accomplished OurStage artists have since risen from the ashes of Oddway. Singer/songwriter Ryan Ordway has recently enjoyed success in the charts; fronting his own solo act has given him the artistic control he needed to thrive petrinafoleyas a musician. Additionally, lead singer Petrina Foley has also posted her own badges of honor in the singer/songwriter (female) channel. Her style brings back memories of Oddway with a slightly more indie sound, suggesting hints of Ingrid Michaelson or even Regina Spektor.

Of course, a curse is only what you make it. The truth is, these bands achieved the highest honor that OurStage has to offer, and their music supports the award. So maybe the Grand Prize isn’t cursed after all. Oddway produced some phenomenal solo artists and Northern Room’s lead singer is optimistic about future musical goals for the band members.

So go ahead, keep listening, because in the music industry, you make your own luck. Our artists will keep submitting their songs even if a few of them will be throwing salt over their shoulder or knocking on wood.