Christmas Series #6: Jillian Edwards

With the tumultuous beginning to this year, and with my birthday right around the corner...I bring some good cheer. This singer is one of Steven Curtis Chapman's daughter-inlaws and she's just..what we need.

The Woman Who Wins

This lady will always be in my top three female vocalists. I found her surfing the Noisetrade.com, back at the end of Summer '09. Her music has only become deeper, and her talent shines bright in it all.

I referenced her with this old blog post, but I need to talk about her own stuff. 

The song that really got me was this "Nonfiction Love Song," but it only was uphill from there. 

"Hurry upp!! Get to some Christmas." Ok ok, here we go. Well, actually, if you clicked that link you'll find her Facebook page and lives videos..like the one mentioned above. Listen, she's friends with Ellie Holcomb, so why not just take my word for it and go support her! 

Their side project together is pure..perfection. 

I love her Christmas music, and her whole EP is great. Of course though, her original songs are SAHLLID. 

"All My Christmases" is that kind of foot-tapping sugary sweetness you want around this time of year. No matter how different it is this year, it's still Christmas. Nobody can stop it. It comes quicker every year, they say. So put on some Jillian Edwards and sit back and sip something warm. 

Merry Christmas!!!!!! And Happy New Year!

It's Just About a Young Summer

And so, it was time for more. More classiness. More beauty on the inside and out. More fantastic earcandy! So yes, Young Summer is sweet.

While named Bobbie Allen, Young Summer is quite the moniker for this kind of pure magic. If you're looking for that indie/pop/electronic sound, but are tired of hearing guys work at it..you have found the perfect woman. (Yes, women win, often. This one is no exception. Appropriate that i'm posting on Mother's Day? More of a fact that women just keep winning? My mom wins all the time.)

Singing with that real and raw emotion that i can't seem to get enough of, one can certainly feel it in every word sung. Something about the, realness, just resonates and hits me right in the heart. i Hope it does the same for you.

In talking about how she's on the rise and building a stronger fan base, Coachella in California certainly helped! Nono, she should have been on the lineup for Coachella, but she did support Odesza in a few songs! and that was a flawless performance that maybe (hopefully) made Zyra a little concerned?... Anyway, please, go to Young Summer's page and he'p her out! She's close to 10,000, but that's not near enough. Being on the radio more is a necessity and so many people are missing out!

Hm? What Was That? Hem!

                            Some twang, but it fits well!                               via

Well, reader, as you can see from my previous post...i'm coming at this sight from a different angle. i Don't want to bore you, but i've got to tell you!! There are so many artists out there that deserve more attention, and i want to give you the band name, a song to find, and the link to find out more. Exploring music is what i love, so join me!

Some more pretty vocals for ya' in this post! Hem's album Funnel Cloud is a good one with some sort of a country and folk sound. They've got some twang, but with the harmonies and smooth vocals it works nicely! Check out the song "Not California" to find out what i'm talking about.. Great tune, but....makes me sad because CA is my home, and everywhere else i can blare this song...ahem. Enough about that.

So please, these guys need some help over at the Hem page! And, enjoy a li'l bit of countray!

If Feeling Alone, Just Remember We Are Lonesome Animals

                           Such a Lovely sound!                              via

Sorry about the inactivity friends! Shuckidarns..getting caught up in Summer. Needed to help you all out though so here's Somethang! Well...i was hoping i'd have more info on these lovely subjects. It's crazy how secretive this group is!! Next to impossible to find pictures, bio, let alone names! For starters, i know they work with William Fitzsimmons, or did in the past.

Especially for this album, Soft Light, he had a pretty big hand in it i'm pretty sure. In other words, if you like that Fitzsimmons but would like a female version..holy..shmokes. Have you found it!

Frankly, the only reason i know of these pretty mellow voices and sounds is because of Fitzsimmons! If it weren't for him...whew. Don't know how long it'd be before i'd hear of them, let alone find them online! Lonesome Animals don't even have a standard facebook page if you look at the URL. Naturally, not having much out there on the World Wide Web, their 'likes' are Far from where they should be!

Think of it as more of that stuff to just..relax to. Go to sleep to, lie to and hope you don't fall asleep during, or any number of activities..ahem. It can be sorta' folk, with an ambient touch most likely as well. Tuneage. That's what it is.

Their excuse for not going on tour yet is needing somebody to take care of their plants?! Shoot..i'd be more than honored and Thrilled to do that if i could meet them and attend a show! Please take a listen and...take it Easy.

If Thirsty for More Indie, Try [a] Mint Julep!

                       It's a nifty intermixing of sorts!                         via

ANOther duo? Well sort of! In other words, you hear pretty much solely the female vocals in this group. However, they work together to be mixer/producer/writer and her husband Keith Kenniff does a Good portion of it...he's quite the character, for the lack of a better description.

"Character" may just be perfect however because he is all over the place. Don't believe me? Go to unseen-music.com and Explore! You'll realize quickly just how much "all over" he really is.

The sound of this particular group is a little like a mixture of States and Feather & Belle. Here's why, of course the pretty vocals connect, and then guitar or synth comes in and makes it, well. In the vocals there is a sort of echoing that occurs that give it a more electronic sound and the synths only add to this.

But, it can also be pretty wild with electric guitar and some fun crashing beats. Just go over to Keith Kenniff's Soundcloud page and listen to "Aviary"...ahah..or download it at that page as well!

(Tip: There are other free downloads all over that page! Check 'em out please! If you aren't TOO keen on some MJ, than check out his incredibly ambient and magical projects like Goldmund or Helios!)

They call it an "electronic indie rock" because of all the electric sounds that can be so prominent and the overall harder sound to the project. It's a nifty intermixing of sorts and i'm sure you'll like it! The Mint Julep facebook page is regrettably not thriving with 'likes,' so feel free and listen away!

The Beauty of Feather & Belle

Feather & Belle are pretty unique, but too pretty as well.     via

Now, who are these charming, stunning, bathed in talent ladies? First the one on the right, Laura, kills the violin in multiple acts including on tour with Owl City and Trans-Siberian Orchestra. The one on the left, Kelsey, sings in the Kopecky Family Band as well as Feather & Belle. i'm quite sure they have a marvelous time together making music because it is beautiful what they have created.

i Do not know of another indie group that has strings so prevalent and so powerfully intermingled with vocals. It is such a neat, clean, pure, classical sound..it's hard to find enough words to describe it! Kelsey's voice intertwines phenomenally with the violin strokes, and sometimes plucking (which i cannot get enough of)!

Despite the popularity of the other projects these two are involved in, their own duo work has not received that boost yet! They have some great songs that show their diversity and talent like "Hidden Staircase" that can be found on the right of that page.  In addition there is certainly some synthesizer, but the strings always seem to just mix in so well. Here's to hoping another album is in the oven because...they've only put out "Pockets Run Deep" and us fans are ready!

i Have personally met Laura on more than one occasion at Owl City shows and i know she is genuinely nice and such a great person all around. Although i have yet to meet Kelsey, i know if she is anything like her best friend, she is right up there on my list of "Coolest Individuals." Please check out this pair as they are just..pretty unique, but too pretty as well..!

States Put You In a Great State

                                       States are ready to rock!                                   via

Copeland... Lydia... If you have finished heaving sighs of sadness about those two celebrated names, or at least one of them, you can continue reading. If you haven't heard of those two bands, well, i guess the bright side is that you didn't ever feel any remorse for either band when they broke up.

Basically, how States was formed was that when these two ended, two guitarists from Copeland met up with Mindy White from Lydia and the result is..(can't resist) Stately!! Think kinda' rock-ish with apparent indie-infusion throughout for understanding their sound. Fuzzy electric and pure electric guitar is all over this band, with drums casually smashing quite a bit in the background.

If you don't know anything about the White's singing power, well it's time to be acquainted! If you're into bands with strong female leads, you've found your favorite indie band without a doubt. She is unique and can hit those higher notes quite well. If you want to listen to softer songs, look up their EP (it's around it's just hard to find, try youtube.com!) which i think is really good!

However, if you're desperate for tunes right now and you're ready to rock (so to speak), their album is Room to Run and i hope you'll find there is not only plenty of room to do just that, but to jump around and have a good time as well! While these guys have several 'likes' on the old social media hub that no one uses (facebook), they need the support like Hey Ocean! because they're that good and deserve more fans!