Loudini Interviews Ashley J

Ready and eager to soar through air waves across the globe with her infectious new single “Dare Ya”, Ashley J brings a fascinatingly diverse background, artistically, musically and otherwise, to her emergence into the pop-world.

Growing up in Orlando, the multi-talented singer/songwriter held her own with her four brothers and friends by achieving a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do at age 5, and First and Second Degree Black Belts not long after. When she wasn’t training with her brothers and father, she was off with her mom to ballet classes. In her spare time, she was found writing song lyrics on her bathroom wall that her parents had to continuously repaint. Later attending the Dr. Phillips High School of Performing Arts in Orlando, she scored leading roles in theatre, dance and musical productions – while also active in shows at the First Baptist Church.

Influence-wise, Ashley J gravitated to pop greats like Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Christina Aguilera and Michael Jackson – but she also loved Johnny Cash and cites her all time musical hero as Dolly Parton. So when it came time to pursue her career as a writer performer, she gravitated first towards country music. She and her parents Googled music producers and knocked on their doors in Nashville. Ashley, whose family spends time vacationing near Pigeon, also visited Music City frequently and attended ASCAP conventions where she learned from and hooked up with prominent songwriters and producers.

While enrolled at the University of Tulsa to pursue a Bachelor’s in Business Law, she wrote, recorded and produced several pop and country songs in Oklahoma and Nashville including a duet titled “This Love’s Forever” which was created for a well known country music couple and was recorded and produced at the Blackbird Studios in Nashville.

Ashley J, who ultimately realized that her vocal gifts were more suited to being a pop singer, brought this constantly in motion whirlwind of talent, energy and tenacity to her exciting transition to the pop-world. Already with two billboard charting hits (her first single “One and One” charted in Billboard’s Top 20 Dance and second single “Cali” hitting into the sweet spot of Billboard’s Top 10 Dance) Ashley J is hitting the charts hard and is ready to release her third single, “Dare Ya”.

“”Dare Ya” is such a special song for me. I tend to write all of my music based off of current or past experiences in my life, and this song really tackled some feelings. Lyrically, I wrote the song based off of a compilation of text messages and letters I have received that really hit home for me, and motivated me to be the person that I am and want to be. So putting these feelings and words of wisdom into this song really gives homage to those I have it dedicated to. It has that “pick me-up edge” that makes you want to move and feel free. It’s a song that can be relatable or inspire anyone.”

Ashley J made the definitive switch from country to pop, after a trip with her parents to Los Angeles, where she met with President of Electra Star Group, Michael Blakey. Falling in love instantly with her music, Michael decided to bring her on board. As she says, she “landed in the best hands the music business has to offer” and signed her first recording contract.

In December of 2015, Ashley J graduated form the University of North Texas with her Bachelors Degree. With her musical dreams coming true every day as a recording and performing artist, she is also setting her sights on someday owning and running her own record label.

“In regard to my decision to stay at the University and finish my degree while all of this is going on,” she says, “I like to say that those who have the backup plan won’t need it and those who don’t, will. I am grateful to be working with so many talented industry professionals who are helping me in my career, but I also think it’s important for artists to understand every aspect of the business. Life throws you curveballs all the time so you have to be prepared for anything.

“I’m really having a great time, and I’ve never felt more a part of the industry than I am right now,” Ashley J adds. “I feel that I’m in complete control of who I am and what my music and message is. ‘Dare Ya’ is all about taking chances, and being free with love. Pushing yourself past your limits and out of your comfort zone. It’s the perfect way for me to let people know that I am here and excited to relate to them and touch them emotionally on many different levels.”

http://ashleyj.net/bio/

Loudini Interviews Angie and The Deserters

Born in Upstate NY in a small town called Potsdam in what many refer to as the North Country, singer-songwriter Angie Bruyere spent her childhood running through the backwoods and roaming the train tracks, living the simple life that inspires imaginations of which lyrics and melodies are made. Settling in Southern California at a young age, Bruyere began a modeling career that took her on a journey around the world...experiences that can be felt throughout many of her songs.  Pen and paper always in hand, she began writing poetry and playing her guitar, lending itself naturally to combining her two passions into what has become a body of musical work that she continues grow daily.

Drawing much of her inspiration and influence from such bands as Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty and The Rolling Stones, it wasn't until she discovered her deep  love for artists such as Gram Parsons and Willie Nelson that her country, Americana rock style was born. Her unique sound and soul sets her apart from many other artists of her kind as her mesmerizing vocals full of rasp and roughness make her a force to be reckoned with, revealing the authenticity and edge of her Americana / outlaw country ways.

In 2014 Angie released West of The Night featuring singles such as "Mason Jar" and "Goodbyes."  Soon after the album's release, Fender highlighted her as Artist of The Month and brought her in to re record both singles in their Fender Sessions Live Jams. "Bruyere's sultry voice stood out, as she possesses a distinctive purr that is both sweet and dangerous at the same time".

Armed with her brand new single entitled "Country Radio", the upbeat track showcases her Americana/Outlaw roots and is the first single off of her forthcoming EP, Blood Like Wine, produced by Jeff Hutchins ( Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, Clint Black, Shania Twain).  It is a song of lust and longing, an affair of the soul, if you will.  Written about a love affair between a girl and a country singer that she's only heard on the radio, it leaves the listener feeling that there may be a bit more truth to this story than perhaps Bruyere would like us to know...perhaps there was a meeting, indeed.  And perhaps we know his music well...

Angie's upcoming Blood Like Wine EP was recorded at the legendary Castle Recording Studios in Nashville, TN.

Angie has toured extensively throughout Europe and the US, and has enjoyed performing in many of her hometown's premier venues such as The Troubadour, Pappy and Harriet’s, The Whiskey A Go Go, The Roxy, The Mint, and many more.  She's looking forward to coming to a town soon near you in support of her Blood Like Wine release. Thank for listening...hope you enjoy the ride.

Loudini Interviews Emmaline Muchmore

Emmaline Muchmore  is feeling reborn. After a long dry spell between albums, the Minneapolis electro-soul singer has unleashed a torrent of creativity that will result in a new EP due in February.

She credits her recent productivity to a newfound sense of freedom that came with teaching herself the recording software Logic. Instead of relying on the studio expertise of others, Muchmore can now make music exactly the way she wants, on her own time. “It’s been exciting to me to take over the whole process, and be able to do it all myself,” Muchmore says. “That’s quite different from what I was doing before, and it’s allowing me to get deeper at, and closer to, the way I want the songs to turn out.”

They’re turning out great: soulful, sultry and empowering, with strong beats and hypnotic swirls of keyboards surrounding Muchmore’s expressive, alluring voice. There’s a mix of power and vulnerability in her music that’s impossible to resist, and it comes from her own life experience.

“I’ve got a unique perspective in a way,” Muchmore says. “I’m not 25. I don’t have a girly, soft voice. The female hero artists I have, they have soulful voices, and they are not shrinking violets having stuff done to them. They’re in control of their lives and they’re singing it loud and proud and joyfully. That’s the space I want to occupy.”

It’s a space she’s earned, but there’s more to it than that: it’s a space that has come to represent something vital for Muchmore. “I really absolutely need the creativity of this kind of thing in my life, and I haven’t made enough time for it in the recent past. I’ve felt the lack of that pretty deeply,” she says.

Muchmore released her first album, Inviolate, in 2001. The follow-up, Just a Cherry, came in 2005. Since then, she’s toured England and performed onstage with other musicians around the Twin Cities, but it took years before she started working seriously on her next project. “Life and other things happen,” she says. “But I’m always writing, and always recording ideas. The trick is to complete them.”

That’s almost a self-fulfilling prophecy: Once Muchmore learned to make music on her own, she got excited about the music she was making, which has inspired her to make more music. It has also led her writing in a more personal direction.

“I’m trying to connect more personally and be more revealing and honest, instead of creating story songs about others,” she says. “I still really enjoy doing that, and I think I kind of got known more for doing that on my earlier songs, but on this latest batch, I’m trying to tap into something a little more raw and vulnerable.”

That takes confidence, which comes from knowing that being the one in charge is more than possible: it’s potent. Teaching herself to record had the added benefit of giving Muchmore a sense of her own capabilities, and she’s reveling in the discovery. “It took me a while to get there, but now I do know what direction I want my music to take, and how I want it to be perceived — and I can control most of the elements,” she says.

So how does Muchmore want her music perceived? “As a strong, independent woman heading up a super-soul groove machine,” she says. Sounds just right.

Email: info@emmalinemuchmore.com 

Loudini Interviews JJ McGuigan

Hello everyone! I want to share with you some of the things about me that are important in my life.  I am very much an advocate for mental health awareness.  At age 16 I was diagnosed with OCD and Depression, among other things.  Life since that time has not been the same.  I have been on a journey of self discovery and learning ever since. I am constantly trying to find new ways of not only helping myself to heal each day but to try and see if I can help someone else as well, and music plays a big part in doing both I believe.  I hope you find my music to be insightful and emotionally striking.

JJ McGuigan was born in Wichita Kansas where he currently resides. He found a passion for music at the age of 13 when he received his first drum set. He later picked up guitar and started writing songs at the age of 20. He attended Newman University where he played for the Men's basketball team and was an assistant coach there while attending Full Sail University. His main focus and passion is writing songs with an emphasis on lyrical creation. He has just recently wrapped up a 5 song EP that was sung by Garrett Crow and is writing another album with guitarist Brian Elwick.

Loudini Interviews Von Sell

When Von Sell released "Ivan" back in 2015 at the request of some friends, the electro-pop artist developed a following seemingly out of nowhere. A few releases later and the Brooklyn-based artist decided to return to his debut single, giving it the finishing treatment that could only come from 2 years of experience and reflection. With cascading synthy layers, a strong pop sensibility and driving, gritty basslines, "Ivan (Revisted)" is a gem of a pop hit, and our favorite new earworm. Check out the new single from Von Sell streaming below. - Olivia Sisinni

Synth pop solo artist Von Sell hit us up with the twinkly synth-bomb of “Ivan (Revisited)” – we dig it, so now we’re sharing it with you. Von Sell originally posted this song as a demo but has “revisited” it to make it into the synthy delight it is now. We think Von Sell sounds like Passion Pit or Caribou – sparkly synth arpeggios and blasts of synthesizer pepper the track throughout.

Hometown

Berlin, Germany

Biography

http://hypem.com/track/2k03n/Von+Sell+-+Ivan+(Revisited)

Current Location

Brooklyn, NY

General Manager

Annie White:
Annie@whitekatmusic.com

Xtina Prince:
xtina@theblindyouth.com

Press Contact

Melissa Natasi
melissa@citybirdpublicity.com

Loudini Interviews Anousheh

Anousheh is known for her epic melodies, and the Grammy-nominated songwriter has captivated audiences both overseas and in her hometown of Richmond, Virginia. She started writing at her piano as a young girl, and found a home in her first album, “Let the Ground Know Who’s Standing on Him”– an intimate collection of piano-driven musings and haunting melodies.

Shortly after this release, Anousheh went outside of her genre and into the whirlwind of International House music through her-chart topping collaborations with Deep Dish and DJ Sharam. What started as a few simple collaborations resulted in unprecedented success, including a top ten spot on the UK pop charts, global radio play and trip to the Grammys in 2006 for her “Say Hello” Best Dance Recording nomination.

Anousheh released an EP in 2012 ("The Trouble I Find"), this past June Anousheh decided to turn to crowd-funding for her next album. With the help of some amazing friends, family and fans, Anousheh was able to raise $16k on Kickstarter for the production and release of her long-awaited full length. Her new album is set to release in early 2015- sign up for her newsletter here for updates on the new album: http://www.anousheh.com/email-sign-up.

Awards

Grammy Nomination for Best Dance Recording 2006, "Say Hello" by Deep Dish feat. Anousheh

Current Location

Richmond, VA

Press Contact

info@anousheh.com

Booking Agent

booking@anousheh.com

Loudini Interviews Robert Miller of Project Grand Slam

Genre

Jazz Rock Fusion

Members

Robert Miller - bass/leader/composer;

Marcello Casagrandi - piano and keys;

Mario Castro - saxophone;... See More

Hometown

NYC

Record Label

Cakewalk Records

Affiliation

Distributed by SONY/RED

Robert was born and raised in New York City.

“I first took up the bass when I was 14. It was 1965 and the Beatles and the rest of the British Invasion bands were in full swing. I had been playing the trumpet throughout school, but suddenly the trumpet just wasn’t very cool. The guitar was in. So I bought a guitar, taught myself a few chords, and started a band of sorts with a few friends. I became the bass player in the band simply because I already knew the treble cleff and somebody had to learn the bass cleff. My entire musical career evolved from that!”

From that moment on Robert Miller became immersed in music and began the steps that would lead to Project Grand Slam a/k/a PGS, for which he is the leader, bassist and composer.

In November 2015 PGS opened for Scott Weiland (formerly of the Stone Temple Pilots) at the Gramercy Theater in NYC. In May 2016 PGS opened for 4-time Grammy Award nominee Boney James at the Bergen Performing Arts Center in NJ. In July the band was the featured performer at the F.M. Kirby Center For The Performing Arts in PA, and in August the band performed at the Tin Angel in Philadelphia, Garcia’s at The Capitol Theater in Port Chester, NY (after YES), and at Rockwood Music Hall in NYC. In October PGS will again open for Boney James at the Ridgefield Playhouse in CT, and in December the band will be the featured performer at the Highland Lakes Concert Series (NJ).

PGS has also appeared at many of the better clubs in NYC including the Blue Note, Iridium, the Cutting Room, and a continuing monthly residency at The Groove.

In August 2016 the band released its 4th album – “The Queen’s Carnival” – featuring nine original tunes written by Robert that are rich in texture and diverse in feel, while still staying true to the PGS sound. Plus Robert’s totally reimagined cover of The Kinks’ “You Really Got Me” (feat. Lucy Woodward on vocals).  As Robert says, “The new album is the work that I’ve been building towards my entire career. It truly captures the two musical genres that have informed my composing and playing – rock and jazz. I consider this a breakthrough album for me and the band.”

“The Queen’s Carnival” has received uniformly rave reviews, including: “Unquestionably one of the year’s best albums!”; “An inspired album…a work of ensemble genius!”; “A uniquely powerful work!”; “A sonic cavalcade of different shades and textures!”; “An album of wide ranging taste and distinction!”; and “Smart, stylish and sophisticated!”. The title tune from the album has similarly garnered rave reviews such as “Party powered happiness!”; “Percolates with restless kinetic energy!”; and “Crackling hot Latin song craft!”. The Official and Live videos of this song have been viewed over 500,000 times to date. And the band’s unique cover of The Kinks’ “You Really Got Me” has been called “Astonishing”; “Stunning”; and “Breathtaking”.

PGSʼs prior album (its third) – Made In New York – was released in September 2015 and featured two celebrated singles, “New York City Groove”, Robert’s love letter to his NYC home, and “Fire”, Robertʼs reimagined version of the Jimi Hendrix classic. Both singles featured The Voice semi-finalist Kat Robichaud on vocals. The band and Kat also filmed videos for “Groove” and “Fire” that have been viewed over 150,000 times to date. The reviews of the album and “Fire” were extraordinary, with words like “fantastic”, “damn fine album” and “hard to resist” for the album, and “superb”, “brilliant”, “excellent”, “stunning” and “unbelievable gem” for “Fire”.

“I played rock music exclusively until I was 19, and one of my earliest bass heroes was Jack Bruce of Cream. In fact, don’t tell anyone but I added a little bass figure to “Fire” as a kind of personal homage to Jack Bruce.” I then took up jazz by studying with Jimmy Garrison, John Coltrane’s bassist.”

Robert was a staple of the Boston music scene in the 1970’s, when jazz fusion came into vogue with Miles Davis, Weather Report, Return To Forever and others. His fusion band (which included Anton Fig of Letterman fame) played along side Gary Burton, Sonny Stitt, and Jacki Byard, among others, and played steadily at all the Boston area clubs.

Fast forward to the 1990’s when Robert formed The Robert Miller Group. Their first album, “Child’s Play” (1994), contained Robert’s first original compositions and featured such luminaries as Al Foster (Miles Davis), Randy Brecker (Brecker Brothers), Tony “Thunder” Smith (Lou Reed), Anton Fig and Jon Lucien. The band went on to play at several festivals including the Telluride Jazz Celebration and the San Bernadino Jazz Festival (along side Bruce Hornsby, War and Bela Fleck).

Robert originally began PGS in 2007. The bandʼs first two CDs, Play (2008) and Spring Dance (2012), had three top radio singles – “The Captain Of Her Heart” (feat. Judie Tzuke on vocals) from Play, and “Catch You Later” and the title song from Spring Dance. In 2009 the band also had a featured role in an episode of the hit NBC-TV series Lipstick Jungle starring Brooke Shields and Kim Raver, with five of the bandʼs tunes featured in the soundtrack and Robert having a speaking part.

Says Robert: “What I’m trying to achieve now with PGS is to combine the power and beat of rock with the complexity and improvisation of jazz in a new and exciting way that takes the music to a whole other level”.