Mara Kaye and Carl Sonny Leyland – “Dystopian blues”
-They DO make music like they used to. I’m not sure a professional musicologist would guess that this song is from 2021. It sounds like it’s a hundred years old and brand new all at the same time. Mara Kaye’s vocal is quintessential traditional jazz/blues music… and Carl Sonny Leyland plays the piano so well we’re not sure if he loves it or is mad at it. The combination of Kaye’s vocal and Leyland’s keys make a magic that we rarely hear in Americana these days and we’re absolutely thrilled to support it here. This is a hidden gem of the highest value.
Micah Edwards – “Girl from the valley”
-The chilled out groove of this track is sure to find a lot of fans from our readership. The vocal is accessible, relatable, and conveys the lyrics really well. The feel good vibes from the bass to the flute make it feel like a truly throwback sound. Fans of old school Motown (and related studios) will find a lot to like about the sweet swing of this engaging new track. Tap your toes and smile your way through this fantastic track from Micah Edwards.
Nathan Graham – “Somebody else”
-If you’re a fan of blues music and fantastic electric guitar playing, check out Nathan Graham. There’s a real spirit and energy to this track that puts a smile on my face despite the sad lyrics. It’s about being so in love with someone that you can’t possibly move on or accept someone else instead. The bluesy groove and pop rock instrumentation works really well on this one. It reminds me something along the lines of Lenny Kravitz. Smooth, endearing, bluesy, and full of a sense of cool that the listener simply cannot shake. Throw this on a playlist and never look back.
