Signing with Sony Music Publishing less than a year after their inception, British-American trio Raynes formed in 2017 and have since released three singles that have earned them features in Billboard, Earmilk, and Atwood Magazine, among many other publications. Now, their singular blend of folk, pop, and world music is being featured on television shows, commercials, and tastemakers’ playlists, generating buzz in the UK and the US alike. Mat Charley and Joe Berger, both born and raised in North Dakota, met in college, where Mat, a producer and multi-instrumentalist was usually skipping class to write songs. Before long, the two had recorded a handful of demos and realized that the songs were good enough to build a band around. Knowing that they would need a strong vocalist, they took to the internet to find the missing piece of their project. After months of searching, they finally struck gold when they came across a video of Mark Race, a native of Durham, UK. The trio’s differences have proven to be a winning combination. As Raynes, they combine their diverse influences to form a group whose taste spans the globe, incorporating elements of folk, Americana, and baroque pop with Celtic and world […]
With evidently powerful religious roots, Phaze3 delivers a veritable tour de force through just 11 songs in her new album “A Warrior’s Call”
Do you know Phaze3? If you don’t, you should, because you don’t know what you’re missing. It’s okay, I don’t blame you, I wasn’t aware of this wonderfully talented artist, either, until I heard her latest musical offering, her recently released Gospel album, entitled “A Warrior’s Call”. With evidently powerful religious roots, Phaze3 installs herself into your speakers and into your home and delivers a veritable tour de force through just 11 songs. Rather than simply qualifying as a musical album, “A Warrior’s Call” is a spectacle of faith, light, and ultimately hope. It’s definitely what you want to be listening to if you’re feeling a bit low because if there is one artist who has the power to pull you out of that, it’s Phaze3. Coming at you as she does from a long career as a ministry worker, spiritual healer, and religious leader, Phaze3 delivers a beautiful, highly melodious album that speaks overtly of God, but also on a much deeper and more personal level, of your own personal faith. It is a masterful album in the sense that it delivers one solid track after another and offers healing and strength. The first tune I heard off of […]
Music Mirror UK reflects on upcoming album Circadia by Thirteen Being
Thirteen Being is a collaborative project set up and run by Vincent Kane aka Vin100 bringing together his friends’ musical skills. Starting out in London 2008 as Being, Vincent brought together friends who were musicians, DJs, producers and nightclub event organisers to craft a style electronica, which flows from dance dream and they call Inner-Space-Age. The name Being was inspired during a long studio session that ended in drawing symmetrical patterns on white label records. This transformed into Thirteen Being to mark the move away from city life to the West Country in 2013, where they are currently based. Vincent grew up surrounded by psychedelic rock during and graduated into enjoying Drum and Bass, Acid-House, Techno and Jungle. In the 1990s as a teenager, Vincent loved DJing and promoting club nights. His Thirteen Being collaborators include soundscape producer Hector Hernandez with stage name Hektagon, instrumental knowledge from David Clark, technological input from Marcus Oaten and Breaks producer, DJ at Fabric, writer and arranger Mark Ford, known as Merka. Doors were opened for Vincent after meeting Ambient House pioneers The Orb in the late 1990s and their Alex Paterson has continued to be inspiration and support. This alliance led to Vincent […]
Music Lanterns takes a shine to Robby Valentine’s latest releases
Dutch artist Robby Valentine has signed to Japanese major record label King Records and releases a double album also available on vinyl, all accompanied by a headline show at the Arts Club in Liverpool in March. Robby’s first self-titled album contained his first single Over and Over Again, a big hit in 1991. That year he received the prestigious Dutch Silver Harp award, which celebrates promising musical talent and was recently awarded to Tiësto and Ferry Corsten. Valentine writes, produces and plays all his own material. Black Rain will be the new single from Robby’s latest album Bizarro World, which is already getting extensive UK radio play in the lead up to his Liverpool concert on 12 March. To celebrate twenty-five years making music, Robby launches his latest album Bizarro World on 14th February and the Queen Album, with bonus tracks including his cover of Life on Mars by David Bowie. These are also available on vinyl. Bizarro World is an eclectic mix of pop and rock, blending influences from Queen, Muse and Adam Lambert. Valentine has enjoyed success in Japan and subsequently signed to their major record label King Records while he remains popular in his native Holland. The […]
Music Mirror reflects on Lisa Hugo’s forthcoming Christmas song
Australian jazz pop musician, Lisa Hugo, who is now a resident of the United Arab Emirates, has released a song for the season called “My Christmas Day”. Singing about love and inner discovery, Lisa pens upbeat tunes with a big voice spanning 3 octaves. She is also an accomplished pianist, actress and dancer. Born into a musical family Lisa started with piano lessons aged 6 and sang her first solo in front of 400 hundred people two years later in her hometown Melbourne, Australia. Lisa has been a regular guest singer with the Royal Australian Airforce and Army Bands and the Brussels Concert Band. She has shared the stage with many top Australian performers and been a regular performer on the television show “Good Morning Australia”. At the Dubai International Jazz Festival 2009 Lisa performed as an international act with her Belgian band alongside James Blunt, John Legend, Incognito, Peter Cincotti and Liz Wright. Studying at the Australian College of Entertainers launched Lisa into television, theatre and film as well as musical performances at the best hotels around. In 1994 she toured as the headline act on P&O cruise Line out of Australia. A year later she recorded her first […]
Will Guest’s latest EP and single previewed by Music Mirror UK
The new EP Only Life and single Coming Home will soon be released by UK singer-songwriter Will Guest, who was inspired by music including 70s and 80s funk, rock and acoustic songs by artists such as Damien Rice and David Gray. Will Guest, known for the humour in his performance, is from Northamptonshire where he started composing and performing in local venues and at festivals with his best friend and musical brother, the late Rich Brayshaw. In 2006, Will relocated to Spain to perform at the Anshebeen Irish bar as a solo artist and ended up playing across the Costa Blanca. Incorporating humour into his set, Will delivers a melodic punch of catchy guitar driven rock pop with both a classic and contemporary feel. The songs on his latest EP Only Life reflect on his life and the ups and downs along the way. The band currently consists of Will Guest on acoustic and electric guitar and vocals, Les Tropek on drums and percussion with Santi Costa playing bass. All members have played since their teenage years, inspired by the classic funk and rock albums of the late 70’s and early 80’s, then later by the softer acoustic music from […]
Music Mirror reflects on Wish I Were There by Wave Dweller
Wave Dweller, or Mark Newton based in Earlswood in Surrey, has just released a studio album ‘Wish I Were There’ with a single release ‘Summer’s Day’, now available on iTunes. Nostalgic Wave Dweller’s music is created using a pair of Technics turntables, MIDI keyboard, audio creation platforms and mixing software. The nostalgic nature of the music conveys deep thinking. Mark started creating electronic music aged 15 in 1998. He says: “I would use programs like Dance eJay and Music Maker to create house and hip hop loops. At this time I would record under my own name, and produced music for myself to listen to, and to impress family and friends.” Sound Waves Music became Mark’s passion, and from 2006 he started producing work as Wave Dweller, which stems from ‘cave dweller’ as someone who dwells in sound waves rather than caves. As a teenager, Mark became enchanted and intrigued by his main influences including: The Avalanches, DJ Premier, J Dilla, Fatboy Slim, Mr Scruff and Lemon Jelly. Mark says this is because, “they can take a long forgotten melody, sprinkle it with jazz and soul, and add a punchy beat to transform it into something new for the modern […]
Music Mirror checks out new duo Alchemia’s forthcoming releases
A brother and sister from Mauritius formed a band called Alchemia in 2014 and they are Summer on lead vocals and her younger brother Yahska on vocals, synths, Djembe, drums and guitar. Alchemia took their name from alchemy, the science of aiming to achieve perfection. Alchemy was a practice by occult scientists to transmute base metals into noble metals such as gold or silver and develop an elixir of life to give longevity. In this spirit, Alchemia want to create a perfect blend of vibes and sounds to be elixir to listeners’ ears. Their influences and inspirations come from French acoustic trance band Hilight Tribe, Swedish reggae band Kultiration, Grammy nominee Anoushka Shankar and British Indian musician Susheela Raman. The album “Mandala” features guest musicians Yantra on guitar, Yatsa on guitar and vocals, Tyaga playing synth, Dholak, shaker, Mantra on Tabla, Djembe and vocals and Raaga providing synths, guitar and vocals. Alchemia have recently featured in magazines including Le Matinal, Kozé, Air Mauritius’ inflight magazine Islander, UK Music Times and Lifestyle magazine. Alchemia have been on Radio One (Mauritius), Music FM, Radio Plus, Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation’s Music FM “Culture Box” and on MBC TV such as their “Morning Show” plus […]
Music Star Emerges from Musicals to Release Soul Rock Pop Single
Raised in London’s East End, making it through the BRIT school with Jessie J, then featuring in high profile musicals and theatre productions; Donna HineZ releases a soul, rock and pop album with her first single Ice Cream out in November. Donna HineZ, 26, was the born in Greenwich, south east London, the youngest of 3 sisters to Jamaican parents and raised nearby in Catford. In between ballet, tap and jazz classes, Donna got her singing practice in early by recording herself on a tape recorder and the sounds of RnB, soul, jazz, pop and reggae emanated from the family living room. Surrounded Surrounded by music and inspired by it, Donna cottoned-on early to the importance of stage presence and learned to have fun while singing by pretending to be on stage. This led to regular showcases for friends and relatives, performing with her two older sisters. Also important in the formation of a future music star were Donna’s rebellious teenage years at school when faced with the ravages of peer pressure. Music again was her escape as she started writing songs and producing them in the music rooms at her secondary school. Donna says: “It felt like home to […]
Live Musician Finds Unlimited Possibilities for Creating Music through Synths and his Digital Audio Workstation
After playing guitar in bands as a student, Sevenski’s music was unleashed by working with producers in digital studios and now he launches a single with 5 club mixes from his own studio. Sevenski is a dance music producer of Russian descent, who was raised in Hampshire, with his own studio in Essex which gives him quick access to London’s mastering studios and clubs. SOUNDTRACKS With a passion for a strong melody, Sevenski’s influences range from film soundtracks to various dance genres, producers like Paul Van Dyke and Ferry Corsten‘s remix of Barbers Adagio For Strings. Axwell, Alesso, Ingrosso, Hardwell, Arty, deadmau5 and Above & Beyond. Comparing the process of creating dance music to playing his material on stage with a band, Sevenski says: “I discovered that apart from some essential technical detail it’s down to personal self-expression….a bit like an artist with a colour palette”. OBSESSION As a student, Sevenski played in live bands before he developed an obsession with Virus synths and computer digital audio workstations (DAW) and proceeded to set up his own production studio. Sevenski says: “I’ve learned a great deal from working with other producers both technically and creatively and Interacting and recording with live vocalists and writing […]
Scottish Producer Pools Extensive Experience To Launch His New Album
Reole, with jazz and the Creole of his youth in Louisiana at his roots, likes to keep it real for his jazzy, soulful and funky productions by discovering underground singer songwriters to complete his unique sound of digital processing, using tubes and valves and his own secret ingredients. Texture The in-house producer for audio company Zendell, who create TV commercials for clients including Sony, Suzuki, Yahoo and FIFA, has sought underground singers and songwriters to bring texture and flavour to tracks on his forthcoming album. Reole, a Scottish music producer who lived for a short time in New Zealand, takes his name from Creole, a music style based on folk, which originated in his childhood New Orleans in the 18th Century. Born in Scotland and raised in New Orleans, Reole started his musical life playing brass in the Mardi Gras parades. Reole then joined Ritchie Ruftone on pirate radio and today he produces for Ruftone, who has won both the UK DMC Championships and UK Battle for World Supremacy heats two years running Reole is cutting vinyl to prepare Ruftone to defend his title this year at the O2 in Greenwich. Mainland In March 2013, Reole unleashed his first album Ya […]
Marathon Running Ex-Mod Grandfather Realises Musical Dream after Brain Tumour
James Pearce, 63, wastes no more time to launch his own career as a singer-songwriter after successful surgery to remove a brain tumour. James Pearce was once an apprentice upholsterer before becoming a Mod, riding a Lambretta Zoo SXSpecial and absorbing the music of the 60s and 70s, especially Johnny Duncan and The Blue Grass Boys. Singer Although a self-declared failed guitarist, James took to singing and ran a karaoke night with his brother John, whom James claims is the better singer. This resulted in James recording an album of covers of his favourite songs such as Johnny Duncan’s ‘Last Train to San Fernando’. In 2009 James penned his first song: “She Came Walking”. Happily married with two children, James is now a grandfather, which seems to be all the rage amongst Glastonbury’s headline performers. Dramatically James’ life changed dramatically when he was diagnosed with a large brain tumour in the base of his skull, but this was successfully removed in 2011 by his hero and surgeon Richard Kerr. While in hospital, James first heard about Headway Oxfordshire, which supports change to people’s lives after a brain injury. As a passionate marathon runner, Headway Oxfordshire inspired James to regain […]
Newly signed Kyan supports Paul Young before first single
Kyan Blackwood releases debut album “Freedom Because” featuring Ronald Bruner Jr, a drummer with extensive credits from Motown to punk rock, including recently with Prince in the Dakota Jazz Club. The breakthrough debut album from Kyan Blackwood is entitled “Freedom Because” and features his recent first single “Moving On”. Kyan lives by the moto: “Lets not fight and create a new world instead”. Influences include His music can be described as pop/rock with electro/rock and influences include Depeche Mode, The Jam, T-Rex, Marilyn Manson, Lady Ga Ga and Mozart. Kyan Blackwood originally hails from France but now lives between Los Angeles, Brighton and London. He performs regularly across Europe. As well as singing and songwriting he still works as a make-up artist. Vincent Fournier is his make-up manager as well as lyricist and producer. Fournier and Blackwood created the songs for “Freedom Because” and Ryan recorded at Titan Music Inc Studios (Madonna, Anastasia, Michael Jackson). Kyan said “It was very refreshing and exciting to work with Ronald Bruner (Prince’s drummer). Kyan feels we should all try to just be ourselves because, “I feel we are forced to not be ourselves in this world”. Kyan Blackwood’s debut single “Moving On” is […]
The Gypsy Queens bring a bit of St Tropez bling to Blighty
The Gypsy Queens have announced details of their stunning new album ‘Lost In The Music’ released on June 23rd with new single ‘Do You St Tropez’ set for release on July 14th LONDON, UK, May 29th 2014; The Gypsy Queens have announced details of their stunning new album ‘Lost In The Music’ released on June 23rd with new single ‘Do You St Tropez’ set for release on July 14th. Produced by Didier Casnati the new album includes guest appearances from the multi-platinum selling Hayley Westenra and the critically acclaimed singer songwriter Ben Taylor, and was recorded at the world famous RAK studios in London. Much needed summer feel The album features The Gypsy Queens genre-spanning repertoire of original and classic songs including ‘Losing Myself in the Music ’ written by the GRAMMY nominated Phil Thornalley, ‘Parole Parole’, ‘Sunny’, ‘Jamaica Farewell’ and the first single ‘Do You St Tropez’, giving the album a definite sunshine theme and bringing a much needed summer feel to the UK. The Gypsy Queens have hit the ground running since their debut release in 2012, with prime slots at both Glastonbury and The Isle of Wight Festival and by playing more than 200 ultra-exclusive private […]