musicfusion-blog

[musicfusion-blog]

Rock the Little Boat: Music by Ajay

(Reblog if you are looking for new music to listen to.)

Ajay Mathur brings us a new album called “Little Boat,” a mix of music, and a variety of songs -also a Grammy Award winning album, from earlier on, that won him praise in 2017. We like the unique, eclectic mix of music he brings us, a new(er) artists in the North American market, creating his songs from Switzerland. - It’s a new kind of rock sound.

We like the live performances that we can attend via his website and uploaded content on Youtube, that make you feel like you are part of the audience- a reminder of what it was like to see the live band who would be playing, when you visited your favorite bar, back in the day - a bit of surprise, where you never know what you’re going to get.

We like it.

It reminds us a bit of the live music that you are treated to, when you go to dinner or for drinks with a few friends, in the underground resto-lounges in Toronto, Ontario.

Best memory of a song ever heard in an underground bar in Toronto, Ontario:

The music just gives you a welcoming feeling, and you never want to leave. In a busy city, music of this kind can be the break that you need - it’s relaxing and hopeful, at the same time. The live version of songs like this, make it all the more better - see what we me, when you watch the song again, played live, here - It’s a good song, and you have time (Stay and Listen):

Trivia: Who’s song is this one, anyway?

Here is the new track we are listening to, and it reminds us of other Country/Rock/Blues bands that are easy to listen to, and good listening for good spirits. We hear the optimism in the singer’s voice, and that’s always a good sign for new musicians. It’s the sound we like to hear, that brings us back for more.

“Here’s The Love.”

Mathur has become recognized in the European music markets and his singles have made the charts, along with acknowledgement of his band, Mainstreet, from his earlier days in the music scene. Their music made top 20 in Switzerland and they could be seen (their music being heard) in Hard Rock Cafe, Tokyo. - They have seen some International success, and are now being introduced in mainstream media.

We are reminded of other Country Rock artists, especially those hailing from Toronto, as noted above, like Blue Rodeo, for example - the band who’s lead singer was dating an actress in Toronto, while he was making music. Songs like these are well known in Canada, and we’re taking a trip through memory lane with tunes like this:

And we like Devin Cuddy, too:

Still wondering?

Waiting for a Miracle - original song (lyrics and music) by Bruce Cockburn, 1987. Later sung by Jerry Garcia - Recorded in 1990 on the Jerry Garcia Band album.

Ajay Mathur - "Little Boat" - we like this music better live, and we would want to see better videos for marketing of the music. We recommend you go see them, or check them out on Spotify.

[musicfusion-blog]

Music We Love: Agency

Agency brings us new music to love - Really good for a new artist, with tracks that you want to listen to again and again - You get hooked. The R&B sound combines elements of Pop and Jazz music, to bring you back to the party in 1999.

Listen, and you’ll get the reference; it’s really similar to the music that we’ve come to know and love so much, by Prince. It’s really cool to see this band bringing us back, and giving us something new at the same time - Quelle Homage (a bitter-sweet memory of a major, music symbol). As far as the mood goes, we love that too! - Think, super upbeat, motivating, party-sound, good workout music; we think you’ll like it too.

The new-release, “Philosophies,” is a bit cheeky. A happy break-up song about the moment when you finally “Wake Up!” It sounds like an upbeat, love-song, at first listen, but when you really tune into the lyrics, you hear lines like “not scared of being lonely,” faking believe in romance where the love is lost, and going your separate way - which is a song of liberation, it turns out. What sounds like ‘I’m gonna stick with you,’ is quite the opposite - “Not gonna stick with you - na na na na na NOooooo” - a bit funny when you listen to it. It’s a good night out song, for singles. 

Listen FREE Here

Even better, we like another track we found, when stumbling into this artist - a random opportunity in the Spotify dark, to get to know a new artist - “Millions (All I See is You).” You get the feeling the artists broke loose to go and find success - no strings attached. Millions is an upbeat, song, in direct contrast to the lyrics in “Philosophies;” you get the feeling of euphoria, with music that is created to stand out “in the crowd of a million people,” and we think they’re doing a good job.

Agency, all we see is you.

They're New. Similar Sounds: Agency has been compared to a few artists, who do the jazzy pop sound, but we can’t help thinking about a few old school tunes, when we listen to the music.

We think there’s a layering in the vocals in this music, and we like the soprano sound that adds the positive, upbeat, can’t get enough of you, hook that keeps you coming back for more. This is really creative composition. Throw back to the song, “Philosophies,” first mentioned, we are all over Prince again, when we listen to it, and if we were D.J.s, we’d mix it together with this song:

Artist: Prince, Song: Gett Off

We think that the music is already there, and we love the influences we hear in its sound. Itseems like there will be alot more to come from Agency, and we can’t wait to hear more.The Verdict: We like it! We also think it’s cool that we found our favorite track in a matter ofseconds, and then read on to learn this:

“MILLIONS was the grand prize winner at Indaba Music for best new artist and track and takes the act into glistening rhythmic pop with a killer chorus and melody.”

[musicfusion-blog]

Motown Memories: Take It Back!

“I’m gonna ta-ake it ba-ack. - Takitback! I’m gona ta-a-a-a-ake it back. - Takitback!” We have the chorus stuck in our heads. It’s a throwback to motown music, and we’re kind of into “Idiot Grins,” right now. These people are from Oakland California, and we are surprised to see the video after listening to the music - We’re having a bit of a Milli Vanilli complex. It’s cool though, but the singers don’t really suit the tunes, in terms of their look. We suggest they get out the suits and ties, and maybe show us the five piece jazz band that we were expecting. We thought you guys would look more like this:

The single, “State of Health,” featuring the Byrd Sisters - “Wa-Oooh!” is a great track, that you can get into right away. The band is made up of six: front-man John Hansen; Michael Conner (organ, etc); Evan Eustis (bass); John Hansen (piano); Michael Melgoza (drums) and Randy Strauss (guitar). With their musical collaboration with the Byrd Sisters (singing backup), we get that feel-good Sunday Service feeling - you can hear the spirituality, singing in praise, in the background, and we think that’s why we connected to this song, right away.Here’s the first track we listened to, and liked right away:

Similar Sounds:

We’re waiting to get our hands on more, but our minds are filled with hundreds of other relatable songs. The sound of this music reminds us of hitting the high notes that get you out of your seat, and keep you coming back for more, such as the lovely lyrics and top-track tunes, like “Respect,” by Aretha Franklin.

And the memories keep coming; we’re listening to Smokey Robinson, and feeling this tune right now too. It’s the best kind of sing along music you can find - really good, feel good vibes, with soothing harmonies, too - it’s comforting to get wrapped up in this style of music:

Song Title: "Tracks of My Tears"

There’s other more recent artists who’ve adapted this style to suit their music too, but we’ll let you do the searching - It’s good stuff. Right now, we’re thinking of the serenades we hear whilst on lovely vacation or holiday. The feelings you get from their music can transport you to another place and time, bringing back good memories. Here’s another favorite, we can’t help thinking of - makes you want to get out the maracas, and bask in the ocean side sunshine:

Artist: The Sandpipers, Song: Guantanamera

We like the blend of the different sounds we hear in their music, and we’ll be waiting for more.

For now though, we are still listening to the first song, and also this one too - because he said something about it, and we're also stuck in the 80s - Get out of here if you're too young to appreciate it:

[musicfusion-blog]

Ferentz and Felons: Hudson County

Disclaimer: We do not condone the use of drugs in this viedo, and you must have reached age of majority in your area, in order to read further and view this video. We also have some suggestions for the re-naming of this band (see below), and don't support felonies or breaking the law.

Ferentz and Felons, is a band made up of front man, Zak Ferentz (Guitar), Robert Dudziak (Bass) and Matt Waz (Drums). Ferentz writes songs for the band, with an emotion-filled fight and sadness, that everyone can relate to, especially in the dead of winter. If you know small towns, or you know oppression and struggle, than this might be a good band to have in your head, as you go about your daily life. We like the hopefulness that the music brings, with its edgy sound.At first listen, we think you’ll like it. Their sound reminds us of many alternative bands that we are used to hearing on the radio, although we are missing a bit of the adrenaline that we hear behind the vocals in other musicians. We think the mood behind the music is a bit of sadness, and maybe going as far as a bit of anger, but that it’s holding back on us a bit, with some modesty, as well. We would like to hear a bit of variation with the acoustic sound, like you would get on the stage, if seeing the band perform live, for the fourth and fifth time - that the mood would change the melody, a little bit more.

Listen to the single, “Hudson County,” and you’ll see what we mean. The music is derived from stories in Ferentz’ life, and he writes from the heart. The singer grew up in Hudson County, New Jersey, and lived a life of struggle “on the streets” as he puts it. Growing up, he watched his family deal with the harsh realities of addiction and times of poverty, too; his outlook on the city who “abused” him, is a negative one, and he talks about moving on to a better life, someplace else. He calls the band members the felons because of the life that he lived in his teens, and we would like to hear a bit more about that, though the raspiness of his voice (i.e. breaking or growling) every time we hear the chorus. Listen here:

Listening to his other tracks, we can hear more of a happy tune, and we love the sound of the band, matched with the voice of Ferentz. This second track is the alternative to the first one.

Similar Sounds:

Influences of Ferentz and the Felons include familiar, comforting acoustic sounds from much loved musicians that we can all relate to, like Neil Young, for example. The music of Young and some of his lyrics remind us of the story of the band, and the music itself.

Artist: Neil Young, Songs: Old Man, Heart of Gold

What we like most about them, however, is the look of the band and the people that they appear to be - not too pretentious, for newcomers, just down to earth guys, like the ones you’d know in real life, with a good, solid look about them. We find this relatable, especially when they sing about leaving the city that they’ve spent so much time in:

The sound of their music and their song-writing style, reminds us a bit of artists and bands like this - maybe we might see some slower songs, where Ferentz pours his heart out to us:

Artist: Edwin McCain, Song: I’ll Be

We really like this music, and can’t find a single artist or band that it is most similar too, but the sound is familiar (not copied) - it’s a mix between acoustic guitar, alternative music and a hint of rockstar. We hope there will be more to come.

The Verdict: It’s good, but we want to see a bit more emotion poured into some of the more mellow or less-melodic parts of the music (e.g. the Chorus in Hudson County - “Hudson, I’m leaving you”). We also have a few name suggestions - as suggested in the photo above - "Ferentz Adherence," "Ferentz 3ppearance," or "Ferentz Unforgotten." We want to feel what the music means to the band, and we’ll keep listening until we hear it.