Nneka is one of the most badass artists of substance on the global circuit who sings and stumps about topics of substance. And not only topics associated with the plight of her own native home of Lagos, Nigeria. She gets the big picture, the global interconnectedness of it all. A modern day female Bob Marley, Nneka is a true indie spirit with that "it" thing who has collaborated with a great many established artists such as Ziggy and Damian Marley as well as many presently more obscure artists such as the rapper known as Chiliscote of Germany in the videos below.
Nneka & Babatunde & Chiliscote - "La historia es nuestra"
She is not new. She has worked many years in full groove mode. But for those who have missed out on Esperanza Spalding so far, now is the time. Esperanza Spalding has delivered a fresh approach to real jazz, not smooth jazz, but the real thing! And she can and does break style and genre boundaries as if they do not exist.
As a bassist myself, I dig anyone who can sing and play bass simultaneously. But Esperanza is no ordinary singer or bassist. She takes it all to new levels. She is remarkable beyond any word. She is kind and genuine, which makes her all the more desirable to listen to.
This particular episode of Austin City Limits featuring Esperanza Spalding is a great show to watch, for this is Esperanza captured beautifully, playing live and showing what she can really do and who she really is.
Saw Trixie Whitley at The Satellite in Silverlake California on December 1, 2012. The show was amazing. She's a great minimalist who avoided pomp & circumstance, opting for authenticism that runs deep in her cells. Trixie delivered up music with her sensitive grace and style, with soul so deep.
She thanked the audience several times and meant it, for one could hear a pin drop as the venue fell silent between songs. Quite rare in LA, as all eyes were on Trixie and her every move and word. Near the end, Daniel Lanois stepped in to play along. It was one of the most memorable intimate shows of 2012.
This song below by Trixie is so excellent, it stayed on repeat for too many plays to count. It seems to have some ethereal commentary attached when heard with the video by Anton Coene, which is a nice work of photographic art that seems to touch on the controversial subject of geoengineering.
Sarah Holbrook comes from a family of talented artists. Her father was a working musician when she was a single digit. She and her three sisters tagged along to gigs and eventually become working musicians themselves and have their all sister band named SHEL made up of Sarah, Hannah, Eva and Liza.
SHEL Is (left to right) Liza (Percussion + Vox) Sarah (Violin + Vox) Eva (Mandolin + Vox) Hannah (Keys + Vox)
Sarah also is an accomplished director. She went to school for videographer before she dropped out of school to be in SHEL full time, but that has not stopped her passion for being a director of photography. She just finished this video submission for a group known as The Civil Wars, which invited all film makers to make their own video to their song. Her sister Hannah, the pianist in SHEL, is featured in this video.
Director - Sarah Holbrook
Band - The Civil Wars
Song: 20 Years
We apologize for the inconvenience, but the video is presently unavailable. We are aware of the problem and are working to resolve the issue.
One of the greatest indie minded artists on the planet, Nneka, will play what should be a very intimate show at Hotel Cafe in Hollywood, California on Saturday, November 3, 2012. Hope to see everyone there!
THE SHOW HAS BEEN SOLD OUT! Click here to get your tickets (ONLY $12.50) before they are all gone :)
Nneka - Africans
Nneka - Shining Star
Nneka - The Uncomfortable Truth
Nneka - Do you love me now (live session @ streets of Paris)
Well Done! In this time of friends getting angry with one another over political ideology, this film is good timing. Kudos!
Text from the filmakers"
"Americans" is a short, public service film starring Sean Penn and Kid Rock, directed by Jameson Stafford. The goal of the film is to tear down the one-dimensional political stereotypes portrayed by the media by confronting them head on. It reminds us that what really matters is that we're all Americans, with diverse thoughts, opinions and stances on issues. We are millions of unique, individual parts, the sum of which comprise a whole that is the shining beacon of freedom throughout the world.
The film reminds us to be proud of our differences, and to never forget that we're all in this together as Americans.
This is a favorite artist of The-Indies. She is not only a serious talent as a songwriter, musician, singer, and arranger, Annmarie also puts on great events to advance other emerging independent artists, bands and songwriters of substance. She is the quintessential cool girl.
The Indies is proud to feature these two live recordings, with interviews, of Annmarie on Treble Clef Live performing her song titled My Special Love and a song called Trapped, originally recorded by her band, Saucy Monky with bandmate Cynthia Catania. Enjoy!
Annmarie Cullen - My Special Love (Live on Treble Clef Live)
Annmarie Cullen - Trapped (Live on Treble Clef Live)
Connect direct with Annmarie Cullen at AnnmarieCullen.Com or at the website for a fantastic band she fronts with Cynthia Catania at SaucyMonky.Com
Please support The Indies on these social platforms:
The Indies presents Muse and the music video for their song titled Madness, which is the first single from their album titled The 2nd Law. The music video was directed by Anthony Mandler.
From a small family farm with a father as a musician in Fort Collins Colorado, SHEL is a band of four sisters and the acronym for their names: Sarah, Hannah, Eva and Liza. They are wonderfully organic musicians, songwriters and vocalists with a special purity that is authentic with skills well honed. Each of them on their own are creative powerhouses in their own right.
Please press the play button on the video below and choose the high
resolution & full screen options. At the conclusion of this song,
over one hour of handpicked music videos will continue to play
automatically.
SHEL - Stained (Live TV Performance)
Since this post was originally created, each of the members of SHEL have started other music and life projects and there are no active links for the band at this time. Please check back later.
Please support The Indies on these social platforms:
Posted the tasty song from the France based duo known as The Dø two posts below this one. That was their official video to their studio recording of The Wicked & The Blind.
Now here is a live version of that same song that is recorded quite well, with the video production being top notch. It's one of those great live videos that trumps even a great studio recording. The sound is ethereal, exciting and unique all at the same time. The Dø has that "it" thing performing live :) One of the great indies of today.
One of the baddest of the badasses of hard edged Stevie Ray Vaughn/ZZ Top/Hendrix inspired guitarists, Lopez just put of this recent track below
Lance Lopez - Tell The Truth
Below is a mixture of Lopez' earlier work.
The first recording below features: Lance Lopez - Guitars/Vox, John Garvin - Drums, Daniel Williams - Bass. Recorded at the Dallas Sound Lab in August 2003
Engineered by Don Moore - Produced by Lance Lopez and Eric Gales
Lance Lopez - Didja (Studio Version)
Lance Lopez - Every Dog Has It's Day
Lance Lopez - Skank (Studio Recording)
Above recording features Lance Lopez - Guitars***Jamil Byrom - Drums***Wes Stevenson - Bass. Produced by Lance Lopez ***Engineered by Don Moore. Recorded at Bass Propulsion Laboratories - Dallas,Tx additional overdubs and Mixing at Soundcrafter Ranch - Wylie,Tx. August-October 2005
LANCE LOPEZ - SALVATION FROM SUNDOWN
Written by LANCE LOPEZ Produced By JIM GAINES - Recorded at LUMINOUS SOUND - DALLAS,TEXAS and ARDENT STUDIOS - MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE Engineers: CHRIS BELL, ADAM HILL & JIM GAINES
Mixed by PETE MATTHEWS & JIM GAINES - Mastered by BRAD BLACKWELL - Euphonics Masters, Memphis
L L - GUITARS/VOX TONY VALDEZ - BASS CODY NORMAN - DRUMS
Lance Lopez - El Paso Sugar (live at WDR Rockpalast)
The Indies is pleased to present more music with that "it" thing. This is a great band known as The Dø and their music video to the song titled The Wicked & The Blind from their album titled Both Ways Open Jaws. Enjoy!
A classic video clip of Avery*Sunshine when she was working out her song titled I've Got Sunshine before it was recorded in the studio and eventually gained some attention. Was recently at a international 5 star hotel that has her playing on their loop and was pleasantly surprised to hear the studio version of this song on the FM radio long after it was released. A artist and a song with legs, as they say. Staying power!
This is a simple one or two mic recording in a rehearsal room with her background singers as they were figuring out the flow and tightening up the song before hitting the studio to lay it down for real. But this IS real too. Shot on a camcorder, it captures true true essence of Ms. Sunshine: Her songwriting process, her soul and her true indie spirit. Ahhhmazing stuff!
Super Indie, Gaby Moreno, is playing Cafe Largo in Los Angeles on Tuesday September 4, 2012. The show is to celebrate her latest record titled Postales. Although Postales is a record made entirely en Espanol, Gaby will perform a variety of English and Spanish songs at Largo.
Buy Your Ticket Here: http://largo.laughstub.com/show.cfm?id=180526
This trailer for the upcoming indie film, Craigslist Joe, grabbed my attention this morning. The film which is set for release August 2, 2012, is clever, interesting and funny enough to get me out to the movie theatre.
One of those great timeless songs that never really got heard, yet, by one of those extraordinary talents who is still a little bit too obscure. Cree Summer is badass. This video is more than a video.... it's work of art. Enjoy!
They sing and rap in French and English. At first I assumed that this act off the Bonsound imprint called Radio Radio was out of Europe, but it turns out they are Canadian.
The beat at the beginning of this first track, below, bored me from the get go and I just about clicked to another song. But then the lyrics start: "She makes more money than me, she drives a better car than me... I eye ... just wanna cry eye". This song made me laugh many times and served as long overdue morning laugh therapy. As I heard more of this unique and interesting project, the music really grew on me. And so did the seriously excellent film making.
Radio Radio - Guess What?
The above video, Guess What?, was directed by the talented director of photography, Jonathan Bensimon. It was produced by Cherie Sinclair/Sarah Siddons/The Field. The colorist/SR. Flame was Daniel J. Kelly and JR. Flame was Nicolas Pellicelli. The Editor was Geoff Ashenhurst. Post Production by Motor/Flame Artist with Post Producer Catherine St-Hilaire.
This next track is strange... Feels like some sort of suspended reality, like being put to sleep on drugs in the hospital. The video is strange... Strange is good. I like it.
Radio Radio: Galope
The above video, Galope, was directed by Arnaud Brisebois. The Producer was Josh Usheroff of Black Box Productions Ltd. The Cinematographer was Jonathan Decoste. 1st Assistant director was Aurélie Bernos. Art director was Gregory Nowak. The stylist was Sydney Krause. Make up was Amélie Bruneau Longpré. The hair stylist was Martin Alarie. The editor was Elisabeth Olga Tremblay. Post-production by Mokko Studio. The colorist was Thomas Halle. Great work to all!
Here is another track that made me realize that Radio Radio takes their music videos seriously through excellent cinematography.
Radio Radio - Dekshoo (Penny Loafer)
Dekshoo was Directed by Jérémie Saindon, produced by Sach Baylin-Stern, Antler Films, Dir of Photography (DP) Christophe Colette, Dir of Prod. Josh Usheroff, Fashion Dang Trinh, Editor Sébastien Delporte, Make up: Jennifer Dionne
Post Production: Vision Globale
This next video is far out and the track itself is great, even though I have no idea what they are saying in French, yet. I'm digging the groove and the flow of the rap.
Radio Radio - Cargué dans ma chaise
The above video was directed by Gabriel Allard Gagnon and the director of photography was Iouri Philippe Paillé. The artistic director was Stéphanie L'Allier. Editing and post production by David Valiquette with graphic design by Noémie Darveau Gabriel Allard. Mettant en vedette le shaman Tiburcio Kan May. Production by Ménaïc Raoul. Executive producer was David Valiquette and director of production was Dominique Duneton of Yucatan Productions.
When thinking of San Francisco, some think of Bill Graham days, or modern day things like the band Train which emerged from there. Now there is The Mowgli's with their song titled San Francisco. Thanks to Ryan for the tip.... can't remember Ryan's last name... darned beerzheimers.
