Carter Hulsey (born June 28, 1988) is an American alt-country singer songwriter from Joplin, Missouri. Being raised by his mother and father gave him daily musical exposure to the likes of Willie Nelson, Elton John, and Jerry Jeff Walker — all on vinyl, of course. At age 13, Hulsey found his father’s acoustic Guild guitar, and his long love for music finally came to a head. He started writing songs. Hulsey’s sound and talent was developed with four bands prior to his breakaway as a solo artist in 2008. Hulsey blends honest lyrics, catchy melodies, undeniable hooks, folk and rock.
Three albums and five years later, Hulsey released his newest album, Drive Out, on February 4, 2014. This album that takes a modern twist on “country” with raw emotion, a deep groove and clever storytelling. The strength of the material and performance suggest Hulsey has curated his personal sound and his music is all the better for it. The low-key folk-rock blends with an ambient sound to create a haunting and unique vibe bound to keep the listener coming back for more. Hulsey has a talent for continuing the deep felt conversation with listeners with an intentional voice for love, loss, travel and the grit of southern culture with ease. Hulsey harnesses the story, channels, and delivers to the listener.
Hulsey is known for his captivating live performance delivered with intensity and purpose. It is often lamented that this sound that cannot be captured in the studio. Hulsey’s writing style is that of the un-reliable narrator, assuming the character of others with a talent in telling their story. His concepts and narratives are inspired by great storytellers such as Steven King, Kurt Vonnegut, Jack Hit and David Sedaris with musical influence by Todd Snider, Ryan Adams, John Prine, Guy Clark, and Gillian Welch.
When the new millennium arrived the music industry was in the midst of a new music revolution. The free delivery via shared files online created a new “outlaw” brand, that would prove instrumental in the way music would be not just delivered but created. One of the breakout bands to not just embrace but help shift the tectonic plates of the music industry was Crazy Town. As one of the first hybrid brands, they brought a new ball into the game. Equal parts urban and suburban, Chevrolet and Bentley, they rolled onto the music scene with a slow build that erupted when a “Butterfly” entered the room. The two founding members, Seth Binzer and Bret Mazur were introduced to each other by WILL I AM of the BLACK EYED PEAS. Binzer brought in his long-time friend DJ AM and Crazytown was born.
The band was all the buzz in the industry, the talk of LA. Crazytown-mania created a classic Hollywood record label bidding war in which Columbia Records ultimately won. It was the Columbia/Sony worldwide reach which appealed the most to Crazytown and that reach had them touring the world and eventually garnered them a number 1 record in more than 15 countries, and selling more than 6 million copies of their first album, THE GIFT OF GAME. The success of their worldwide smash hit Butterfly in 2001was inescapable and reached iconic status.
In 2003, CrazyTown released the follow up to GIFT OF GAME, titled DARKHORSE. Couched by record executives to deliver a harder sound, the band did not follow their instincts in the studio. DARKHORSE was not the follow up record the band wanted to, or should have delivered. The luke warm reception by the media, and lackluster sales of the sophomore effort strained the relationship between the label and the band. Whether or not Crazytown was a vicitim of the changing playing field or of their own success, they found themselves without a record deal soon thereafter. Mazur and Binzer decided to take a little hiatus and re-energize for what would be Crazytowns third record. Binzer went on to have great success with a solo effort and Paul Oakenfold’s Starry Eyed Surprise. Mazur went back to his roots as a Writer/Producer/remixer working with the likes of The Plain White Tees, Julien K, Hollywood Undead and many more.
Months turned to years, and it wasn’t until Bret called Seth to discuss releasing an album of unreleased Crazytown songs that the spark was re-ignited. They decided to get back into the studio and add one, or two brand new songs to the mix. In Mazur’s words “I just felt like we had all these songs that our fans would love to hear! Why let them die in my hard drive.” One or two new songs turned into a complete reformation of a new Crazytown. “We are taking it back to our roots, for the love of what we do”, stated Binzer.
If you were lucky enough to catch the sneak preview of their new track “Lemon Face” you know they mean business. A full record release is in the works for 2014. Well poised for reinvigorating their fans and banging out new ones, the band launches live with a handful of Southwest US dates, including the legendary Whiskey A Go Go in Hollywood. Then it is off to Europe in June to own their slot at uber music fests Rock In Park & Rock Am Ring in Germany, and NovaRock in Austria, before crushing it at Download in the UK. The tour is rounded out by other high profile festivals, and some headline shows.
Crazytown is back. Crazytown is wiser. Crazytown is better. Crazytown is now!
Crystal Bowersox, a northwest Ohio native currently calling Nashville home, has built her life around music. Crystal’s love for music developed at an early age from a need to find peace in a chaotic world. Through art and creation, Crystal was able to direct her energy and emotion, finding a way to mend a mind in turmoil. For her, music was always the most effective form of catharsis, and she would play for anyone, anywhere. In her own words, “my guitar was an appendage. I couldn’t live without it.”
Dead set on a career in music, Crystal moved to Chicago as a teenager, where she spent her days performing underground on subway platforms in between working odd jobs. While in the big city, she broadened her musical horizons and shared her talents with a variety of venues, ultimately auditioning for the ninth season of American Idol. Crystal’s time on the show proved to be well spent, as she immediately left the the soundstage for the recording studio. Since her introduction to the world through television, Crystal has released two LP’s, two EPs, and several singles. Additionally, she has used her talents to benefit several causes close to her heart, and has become an advocate and inspiration for people living with Type 1 Diabetes.
However, it is what’s in front of her, not what’s behind her, that will define Crystal’s personal and professional evolution. The accomplished singer-songwriter is set to release a new project – a live album, recorded at the Kitchen Sink Studio in Santa Fe, New Mexico, cleverly titled Alive. Not only is the title a play on words, representing the rawness of the tracks, but it pertains to the place where Crystal currently is in her life. That place is one of joy, fulfillment, and stability for Crystal and her eight year old son, Tony.
To create her newest project, Crystal called on her “chosen family” of musicians. The combination of keeping those she cherishes close to her and taking an honest look at life has resulted in the truest music she has released to date. Crystal has drawn on her various influences — across folk-pop, classic rock, soul, blues and country — to make the kind of music that resonates with her spirit. It is both tender and tough, rough yet polished, and it encompasses many genres without falling neatly into one category. As one of her songwriting partners describes it, Crystal has “a voice like dirt and diamonds.” Her music is intended to bring a positive message of love and light to the world – things that folks will be able to take with them on their own journey, so that they, too, can feel truly alive.
Similar to her beginnings, Crystal intends to make music that has healing power, but at this point, she sees far beyond her own troubles. Her live show is a safe space for concertgoers. Attend a Crystal Bowersox show, and you just might see a grown man cry and a child dance simultaneously. You’ll also likely get the chance to meet her personally; Crystal is typically the first one to arrive and the last one to leave the venue. Meeting with the fans and hearing their personal stories is something Crystal considers a blessing in her life.
By reliving her own painful moments in song, Crystal hopes to transcend that pain, lifting herself and her audience to a higher place. In the opening lines of “A Broken Wing” she sings, “I know there’s beauty in the burden / And even on my darkest day that sun will shine.” Crystal’s story is one of resilience and perseverance, and it’s evident in every note of her newest release, Alive.
Sometimes blessings come disguised as roadblocks. Such is the case of “More Music More Family”, the new release from soulful singer-songwriter Cas Haley. The Texas-based artist was successfully recording, touring and building a fanbase when he was sidelined by an accident that hampered his ability to sing. The idea for More Music More Family came about during treatment, as Haley reflected on how to pursue his career in a way the included his family and better represented his lifestyle.
Crowdfunded through a Pledge Music campaign and recorded over a month at Steelgrass Farm in Kauai, Hawaii, More Music More Family was co-produced and co-written by Andrew Terrett, aka Tubby Love. Its tracks address the universality of life lessons with positivity and uplifting melodies. The album borrows the best of Haley’s previous efforts, drawing on influences of reggae, soul, blues and rock. It captures an organic, live-record feeling with high-quality sound.
Featured artists on the album include Trevor Hall, Mike Love, Freewill (Luminaries) and Drew Misik (New Reb).
In the past 8 years, CHRIS WEBBY has released 12 full length projects, 8 of which were given away completely for free. All of his releases have been known to cause a big splash. He has the first artist to ever crash the server at the largest online mixtape site, Datpiff.com (he was also the second to do it and has done it a 3rd time this past July with the release of Webby’s Lab 2). His debut album, Chemically Imbalanced (10/27/2014), debuted at number 25 on the Billboard Top 200, number 3 on the Billboard Hip Hop Charts, and number 4 on the Billboard Indie Charts.
The Numbers speak for themselves. WEBBY’S body of work has built him a large and notoriously loyal fan base. His online presence is massive, boasting 260k on Facebook, 132k on Twitter, 93k on Instagram, 24m + plays on Soundcloud and a whopping 90 million + views on YouTube with 122k subscribers.
His widespread fan base not only continuously proves their ferocity online, but also through their continuous support of his live shows, resulting in 6 of his own headlining national tours. He has had sold out shows at famous venues from Webster Hall in New York, to the Troubadour in LA. After a 50 city tour run with Tech N9ne in 2015, WEBBY’S wrapped 2016 with a sequel to his mixtape Webster’s Laboratory entitled Webster’s Laboratory 2 which was release in July 2016 and has already had 450,000 listens and 59,000 downloads. As well as a critically acclaimed 22 date fall tour.
In 2017 WEBBY brought back his highly successful #webbywednesdays dropping new music, videos, content and merchandise every Wednesday starting with the release of “Night Crawler” on March 15th. WEBBY will be dropping all new music throughout the end of 2017. The
newest release is the anthemic “Weirdo” featuring Justina Valentine .
You’ve either got soul or you don’t. David Ryan Harris most definitely does. The singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist has built an impressive catalog of soulful stories that instantly captivate.
“I’ve always thought soulfulness comes from telling stories in a way that makes people relate to them,” he says. “That’s what it is. People believe in what you’re saying, because you’re singing from the heart.”
That’s exactly what Harris has done throughout his near three-decade career. Whether it be in early bands such as Follow For Now and Brand New Immortals or over the course of six full-length solo albums, he tells stories that resonate. He’s carried this same spirit while performing with the likes of John Mayer, Dave Matthews, and Santana or producing for Cassandra Wilson and Guy Sebastian—with whom he co-wrote the RIAA platinum-certified “Battle Scars”. Most recently, it drove 2015’s Lightyears, which boasted guest spots from John Mayer, India.Arie, and Nikka Costa. Along the way, he received acclaim from All Music Guide, Glide Magazine, Elmore Magazine, Performer Magazine, AXS, Relix Magazine, and many others in addition to performing on Fox, CBS, and The CW in between packed tours. His next chapter unfolds on his 2017 seventh offering Songs For Other People. Culled from collaborations with co-writers, the songs orbit around a cinematic theme.
“I wasn’t really intending to make a record,” he admits. “There were some great songs that I’d written for other people and they just never found homes. I was affording myself a pretty wide open space which I don’t normally inhabit on my own, and I got really excited because there were no boundaries musically. The title is literal. The songs are for and about other people.”
In order to track Songs For Other People, he tapped the talents of drummer Terrence Clark who he met on YouTube, keyboard player Zach Ray, and GRAMMY® Award-winning producer Mike Elizondo [Eminem, Dr. Dre, Fiona Apple, Maroon 5] on bass. They cut the album’s seven jams in less than three weeks’ time during 2016.
On the record, Harris brings a pronounced sense of passion and power to pop music. The single “Coldplay” balances delicate clean guitar and airy percussion with his dynamic vocal range, fluctuating from a soft croon to a simmering and soaring falsetto.
“Basically, the song walks you through the beginning of a relationship until the end, and this girl’s love for Coldplay is the backdrop,” he goes on. “The guy finds the tickets in his drawer, and it immediately brings him back. I think everybody has had one of those ‘Coldplay Moments,’ as I like to call them.”
Elsewhere, “Kerosene” proves both incendiary and intoxicating all at once as it paints a portrait of “a heartbroken guy who’s drinking kerosene and wants to do some damage.” A clean riff drives the upbeat swing of “Good,” which culminates on the unshakable refrain, “You’re the kind of bad girl that would make a good wife.” With its mellotron hum and narrative lyricism, “Average Joe” tackles longing and regret through a tongue-in-cheek visual. “It’s this dude hiding in the bushes looking at his ex-girlfriend with her new guy,” he adds. “The protagonist doesn’t realize he’s the one who’s average.”
In between returning to the road on guitar duty for John Mayer in 2017, Harris will be performing across North America on solo shows. No matter what he does, that sense of soul ultimately defines him.
“When anybody listens to Songs For Other People, I’d love for them to experience a feeling of escape,” he leaves off. “These little vignettes are relatable, but they’re also a respite. Everyone can relate to heartbreak and love. It’s real.”
Daniel Powter creates music the way most people breathe—it’s simply what he does as a way of getting along. “I write songs to make sense of the world around me,” says Powter, a native of British Columbia now living in Los Angeles with his two young children. “And that’s how I’ve been since I was 10 years old, long before anyone else was listening.”
Daniel Powter creates music the way most people breathe—it’s simply what he does as a way of getting along. “I write songs to make sense of the world around me,” says Powter, a native of British Columbia now living in Los Angeles with his two young children. “And that’s how I’ve been since I was 10 years old, long before anyone else was listening.”
People started listening—in the tens of millions—in 2006, when Powter’s song “Bad Day” became a worldwide smash, one that Billboard named the top Hot 100 song of that year. Today Powter uses any number of metaphors to describe the experience. “Obviously, it was incredible—a lightning-in-a-bottle moment,” says the singer-songwriter, whose major-label debut single impacted across Europe and in Australia before taking off in the United States thanks in part to its prominent placement on American Idol. “To have people all over the globe singing along to your music—it’s what every songwriter dreams of.”
Looking back, Powter can see that the weight of “Bad Day” eventually began to take its toll on his creative energy. “It was a double-edged sword,” he admits. “Kind of a blessing and a curse. I was touring the world and performing for thousands of people, but I felt like the song was starting to define me.” He laughs. “I actually found myself getting almost angry about it.” Powter even made a follow-up record that reflected some of those heavy feelings. “Then I realized that the only person my anger was affecting was me.”
The weight finally lifts on Powter’s new album, Turn on the Lights, an effervescent set of summer-ready pop songs about life, love and what happens in between. Produced by veteran hitmaker Howard Benson (Kelly Clarkson, Gavin DeGraw, All-American Rejects) at his Bay 7 Studios in Los Angeles, Turn on the Lights catches Powter in a soulful, irresistibly uplifting mood.
“Let’s get stupid dancing with Cupid tonight,” urges the Grammy-nominated singer over a strummy groove in lead single “Cupid,” “Don’t it feel all kind of right?” In “Crazy All My Life” he claims he’s done trying to be cool (“I want more!”), while the piano-based “The Day We Never Met” examines a relationship in reverse—“almost like a musical version of the movie Memento,” Powter explains.
It’s not all sunshine and rainbows, of course: “Come Home” ponders the necessity of friendship during hard times. But even in its darker moments, Turn on the Lights retains an essential optimism that Powter says reflects his newly positive mindset these days. “For the first time in a long time, I felt like I didn’t have anything to prove while I was writing this record,” he explains. “I was just writing music because that’s what I love to do. And I think in that process I kind of grew up a little bit.”
Powter composed many of the songs at home on piano, and as a result the music began flowing more freely than it had in years. “I was calling my friends, putting the phone to the speaker—like, ‘Listen to this!’” he remembers with a laugh. “They’d say, ‘Wow, how long has it been since Daniel did that?’”
Once he got the songs to his liking, Powter called in Benson, who proved to be an invaluable partner. The producer assembled a top-notch band (including drummer Josh Freese and guitarist Tim Pierce) and established an atmosphere in which the music could truly grow. “Howard totally got what I was trying to do,” Powter says. “So much of what’s out right now feels like it was made by computers. But we really wanted this to have an organic sound—like humans were playing the instruments.”
That’s the vibe he’ll continue to provide this year on the road, where Powter says he couldn’t be more excited to return. “I love making records, but what I really live to do is play concerts,” he notes. “And that’s kind of been a big life lesson for me—that the beauty of a ‘Bad Day’ or a ‘Cupid’ is that it gets people interested in what you’re doing, so that they come see you and find out what you’re all about.”
Until recently, Daniel Powter fans might’ve thought they knew what he was all about. With Turn on the Lights, he’s got a lot more to show.
Elliott Yamin was born in Los Angeles and soon after, his family moved to Pasadena, CA where he first discovered his vocal talent while singing with his neighbors. Yamin later moved to Richmond, VA as a youth, and soon found employment singing cover material in a local jazz group and working as a DJ on a local R&B radio station. It was here that he auditioned for American Idol and won a spot in the show’s competition during its 2006 season. Simon Cowell described him as “potentially the best male vocalist,” while guest Stevie Wonder encouraged him to pursue music full-time.
Yamin launched his recording career with his highly anticipated 2007 debut album Elliott Yamin, which debuted at Number Three on the Billboard album chart and was the highest-debuting album by an independent artist in SoundScan history. The self-titled disc achieved gold status in the U.S. and Japan (where he continues to maintain a large audience), and yielded the hit “Wait for You.”
In the wake of the first album’s release, Yamin received considerable media exposure on countless television shows, while gaining extensive performing experience by touring around the world with his live band. In late 2007, he released the Christmas-themed Sounds of the Season: The Elliott Yamin Holiday Collection, which would be reissued in expanded form the following year as My Kind of Holiday. Yamin’s second official album, Fight for Love, followed in 2009, spawning the successful singles “Fight for Love” and “Can’t Keep on Loving You (From a Distance).”
Yamin’s international touring activities have included several trips to far-flung locales on behalf of a variety of charities, relief groups and peace organizations. He’s also worked tirelessly as an activist and spokesman for a number of organizations promoting awareness, advocacy and aid for those living with diabetes.
Yamin’s close rapport with his fans has allowed him to road-test many of Let’s Get to What’s Real’s songs. “I’ve been fortunate to get out there and play a lot of this material before the album was released,” he reports, “Everywhere we’ve been so far, the fans have responded really positively. My fans tend to feel personally invested in what I’m doing, and it feels like they’re with me on this part of the journey too.
“Despite his success and sense of history, Mr. Paul remains an artist with his eye on the future and an interest in discovering the transformative potential in his music.”
– The New York Times
Some artists document their lives through their music. Others chronicle their times. It’s a rare artist who can do both, telling their own story through songs that also encapsulate the essence of people and places who have helped define their era overall. Woody Guthrie comes to mind, and so does Bob Dylan. Bruce Springsteen certainly as well. Yet few others, for whatever genius they may possess, can relate their own history to the history experienced by those who find that common bond, be it in a coming of age, living through the same realities or sharing similar experiences.
Ellis Paul is one of those gifted singer/songwriters. Though some may refer to him as a folksinger, he is more, for lack of a better word, a singular storyteller, a musician whose words reach out from inside and yet also express the feelings, thoughts and sensibilities that most people can relate to in one way or another, regardless of age or upbringing. The exhilaration of the open road. A celebration of heroes. The hope for redemption. Descriptions of those things that are both near and dear. The sharing of love… intimate, passionate and enduring
Originally formed late in 1969 after the demise of supergroup Blind Faith, Baker (formerly GBO & Cream) hit on the idea of reinventing the Big Band sound of his youth. After sell out debut shows in Birmingham and London’s Royal Albert Hall on 12 & 15th January 1970, many agreed in hindsight that Airforce 1 well and truly brought the African influence into the popular arena for the first time.
With a changing line up of star musicians, two albums, Airforce 1 and 2 were released in 1970, to critical acclaim that remains to this day. Now in 2015, after successfully touring with his Jazz Confusion, Ginger has decided wear his wings one more and travel in a new direction with blues, Africa, vocals, rhythm and harmony. Airforce 3, will feature previous material (including Cream & Blind Faith) and add exciting new arrangements whilst showcasing new talent and collaborating with old friends.
