Welcome to another love fest of free music. After the June edition of Indie Overdose, I thought it might be difficult to reach the level of talent that we have seen. Apparently word is starting to get out though. We received another slightly overwhelming group of submissions and the cream has certainly risen to the top.
Please remember that these musicians need our help. Support them and give them some Indie love so they can continue to offer this wonderful music to the rest of us music lovers that wait for this day like it’s our birthday each month.
“Dose Day” is one of the highlights of my month working on IMR. I love to watch with excitement as people check out all the great tracks. Your feedback would be awesome. Let us know how we are doing and which tracks you really like. You can comment below or over on our Facebook page.
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Here they are boys and girls. The July 2012 Indie Overdose artists:
***** The Big Dose *****
Jenn Grinels – “Don’t Wanna Be Happy”
Location: New York, NY
Genre: Pop
Band Members: Jenn Grinels
Website: http://jenngrinels.com/blog/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jenngrinelsmusic
Reverbnation: http://www.reverbnation.com/jenngrinels
It seems that Jenn Grinels has become a regular around IMR this year. She was an honorable mention in both our Women of Indie and Indie Acoustic issues and we covered her album brokenHEARTbreaker in March. This is her first time on the Dose though. In the words of our very own Melissa Landrin, “You’ll travel back in time when you listen to the third track, “Don’t Wanna Be Happy.” It sounds like it could be released in an era decades before Jenn’s time. The woodwind arrangement and use of horns makes this a refreshing change of scenery from most of today’s popular music.”
Bus Stop Poets – “Beautiful Day”
Location: Detroit, MI
Genre: Rock, Pop Rock
Band Members: John Mabilia–Guitar/vocals, Randy Nelson-Drums/percussion, John Edick-Bass
Facebook: www.facebook.com/busstoppoets
Before even getting into the song, the name of the band is priceless. The boys from Detroit have combined a catchy hook with a retro pop sound reminiscent of early Weezer. It has worked as they recently announced on their FB page that the track was picked for some regional Chevy ads in August.
Nina Yasmineh – “Hollow”
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Genre: Pop/Rock, Singer-songwriter
Band Members: Nina Yasmineh
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NinaYasminehMusic
Yasmineh provides a beautiful soundtrack for the heartbroken with “Hollow.” The lyrics show a vulnerability songwriters strive for regularly, but rarely reach. The vocals are under-stated as if she is afraid to really let go, and the use of strings only increase the drama of the tune.
We Roll Like Madmen – “Breaks”
Location: Clemson, SC
Genre: electronic, dance
Band Members: Chris Tollack, Jordan Young
Website: http://www.werolllikemadmen.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/werolllikemadmen
We were lucky to have WRLM play at the 2012 IMR Music Festival. They were the late night act on our first night and ended up with half the staff on stage dancing and Nate Kieser, IMR founder and publisher with mic in hand. Now on the verge of the release of their first album (Who is Heady Crystals? Drops July 20th), we had the chance to grab their first single. I dare you to sit still as Young and Tollack do their thing.
Air Marshal Landing – “Dagger”
Location: Toronto, Canada
Genre: Indie/Pop/Rock
Band Members: Matt Simmonds (vocals, bass, keys); Cory Adrian (vocals, guitar); Graham Drummond (drums; synth)
Website: http://airmarshallanding.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/airmarshallanding
There’s something brewing north of the border…and it’s not Molson beer or the Blue Jays. Air Marshal Landing has one of those songs in “Dagger” that just grows on you. A catchy hook, a chorus that would have fans yelling in unison and some crafty musicianship all come together in a very fun track.
In Color – “Searching”
Location: Orlando, FL
Genre: Indie/Pop rock
Band Members: Evan Schulte, Brenden Raulerson, Kevin Ojea, Mike Ferraris
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/weareincolor
I covered In Color back in October with their EP We Are… They’ve been busy since then. They’ve grown from a trio to a quartet and have worked hard on a new release. Our little sneak peek into what is to come shows that the band still knows how to create that pop rock sound that draws people in. “Searching” is the perfect extension from the tracks on We Are… I hope somebody catches this one live on video somewhere as that anthemic bridge has “crowd participation” written all over it.
Adam Havick – “Cheering”
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Genre(s): Alternative/Singer/Songwriter
Band Members: Adam Havick-Guitar/Vocals, Tiffany Schirz-Piano/Keyboards, Jonathan Ahrens-Bass, Douglas Charles Showalter-Producer/Beats, Additional instruments.
Website: www.AdamHavick.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Adam-Havick/321374868816
Our very own Claudia Gemperle reviewed Havick’s self-titled release back in April. She said “’Cheering,’ has a very sweet and playful melody to it. It is pleasantly upbeat and cheerful, making it a good listen indeed.”
Little Rosco – “Living the Dream”
Location: Kansas City, MO
Genre: Indie Rock
Band Members: Josh Colburn, Ian O’Connell, Rick Saunders and Gus Rechtien
Website: www.littlerosco.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/littlerosco
This track must be a crowd pleaser in Kansas City. It has all the elements of a good live song: rocking guitars, pounding rhythm and an anthemic chorus.
Hillary Hand – “Paper Doll”
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Genre: Indie/Pop
Band Members: Hillary Hand
Website: www.hillaryhand.com
Take the style of Feist, throw in the soul of Norah Jones and maybe a dash of Zooey Deschanel’s quirkiness and you might find Hillary Hand. “Paper Doll” blends musical textures seamlessly that provide an aural landscape that is exhilarating to be a part of.
Joe Turner – “Chameleon”
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Genre: Acoustic Rock
Band Members: Joe Turner
Website: www.joeturner.ca
Facebook: www.facebook.com/joeturnerband
With Neil Young-esque harmonica right in the first few notes to open, you just know “Chameleon” has something. Turner wears his emotion and life-long experience in his voice. In a song about moving forward, you get the sense that he is doing just that.
Paul Starling – “All The Good Looking Girls Are Dead”
Location: Thousand Oaks, CA
Genre: Folk/Rock
Band Members: Paul Starling – guitar/vocals, Katy Pearson – guitar, Garrett Miller – drums, GJ Torres – bass
Website: http://www.paulstarling.bandcamp.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/paulstarlingmusic
Starling’s EP Shipwrecked Commotion was recently reviewed here at IMR. Leslie Snyder said “this track features soulful, but “brooding” vocals and a slow melodic retro folk-rock sound. This track is a heartbreaking tale about a lonely man who feels like an “outcast” because all of the attractive young girls are not paying any attention to him whatsoever.”
Mara Measor – “I Want to Love You”
Location: New York (originally Hong Kong)
Genre: Singer/songwriter
Band Members: Mara Measor
Website: http://www.reverbnation.com/marameasor
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/marameasor
Raised in a rural village of Hong Kong on Elvis and Pavarotti, Mara started writing songs while working in Ethiopia. She recently released her first EP with Emmy Award-winning producer and composer Jamie Lawrence. You can almost hear the hope in her voice singing the lyrics to somebody she has already given her heart to.
Xav Ier – “Late”
Location: Canberra, Australia
Genre: acoustic, folk
Band Members: Xavier
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/xavierofficial?ref=ts
Is it possible to combine Dave Matthews with Seal? There is something extremely organic about this song that just draws you in. The orchestration is beautiful and the falsetto vocals hit in all the right spots. Close your eyes. Put on the headphones and enjoy.
T-Ray – “From Your Love”
Location: Atlanta, GA
Genre: R&B
Band Members: T-Ray
Website: http://www.reverbnation.com/teeraybiz
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/officialT.Ray
With a voice like Patti Labelle and a sound like Mary J., T-Ray doesn’t back down in “From Your Love.” With lyrics screaming of emotion and that dirty beat, things must be getting hot in ATL.
Lora Wilbekingsoon – “No More April For The Freeway”
Location: Canterbury, England
Genre: Alternative-folk
Band members: I fly solo
Website: www.lorawilbekingsoon.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/lorawilbekingsoon
“Quirky” would be an understatement when describing Lora Wilbekingsoon. She will draw you in though. Her voice isn’t overpowering. It’s one of those that you willingly lean in to hear. Drop some nice alt-folk instrumentation into the mix and you have a winner.
There it is. Another month of amazing music for you to enjoy. Please check out these artists’ other work and let us know what you think of Indie Overdose so far.
