Songwriter | Music Junkie Press

Dave Mason premieres new version of Dear Mr. Fantasy from forthcoming new album

April 17, 2014

The iconic singer/songwriter/guitarist Dave Mason, the co-founding member of Traffic has premiered a new version of Traffic’s song Dear Mr. Fantasy. The song is off the rock and roll hall of fame inductee’s forthcoming new album, Future’s Past which features new versions of some of his classic songs plus new material is set for a May 13th Release on Something Music/MRI. You can listen to the re-interpreted version of Dear Mr. Fantasy here: “It [“Dear Mr. Fantasy”] came about redoing the chords,” MASON tells USATODAY.com of the bluesy rewrite. “I was doing some shows and I was trying to think of something to make it a little more interesting, so I just started playing around with it. I put it in a minor key instead of a major key, and I sort of developed it from there. Of the new album release, MASON says, “There is a version of ‘World in Changes’ that is absolutely nothing like the original and there is a great live version that is absolutely beautiful of ‘Sad and Deep as You.’ There are two or three [Read More]

James Otto is our Bottle Rock Napa 2014 Featured Artist of the Day

April 16, 2014

Today our Bottle Rock Napa Featured Artist is James Otto. Today I wanted to feature country artist, James Otto. I love James’ vocals. As many of you know I don’t listen to country that often. I guess it can best be explained by the following meme: James has such an amazing voice, he can take you from flirty, seductive, spiritual, comforting, and fun just by the range of his tones. He currently has his third album out, Shake What God Gave Ya and it is a collection of songs that highlight his powerful vocals and brings to the forefront, his heart of soul. The album is a journey of exploration of country-soul and one of my favorites on it is Soldiers & Jesus. The emotionally stirring lyrics are captivating and will feed your soul. In regards to his latest album James explains, “As much as there’s all these different fractures of country music these days—you have pop country, rock country, traditional country, alt-country, and all these things in between—I don’t know why country-soul couldn’t exist [Read More]

Tyson Leslie receives Lifetime Achievement Award at the Midwest Music Awards

April 14, 2014

Congratulations are in order for the amazingly talented Tyson Leslie. Last month we brought you our review of his first solo album, Train Wrecks, Havoc and Heartbreak. You can read more about that here. Well this past Friday, Tyson was bestowed with a Lifetime Achievement Award by Project Backstage as part of the 4th annual Midwest Music Awards ceremony. “What an absolute honor and evening of surreality!” exclaimed Leslie. “It’s been one incredible weekend being among so many outstanding musical peers all in one place. The awards show was unlike anything I’d ever performed, and I was proud, but greatly humbled as well to be a part of something so extraordinary!” Tyson started making a name for himself in the Midwest when he was just a teenager. He began playing guitar in local metal bands, then playing keyboard for another act and moved on to various other instruments. The multi-talented Tyson soon became the go to musician in the Midwest. “Music is pretty well all I’ve known and all I’ve done with the majority of my life, relates [Read More]

Howie Day is our Bottle Rock Napa 2014 Featured Artist of the Day

April 14, 2014

Today our Bottle Rock Napa Featured Artist is Howie Day. Howie has one of the most phenomenal voices that truly speaks to you, whether he is there to cheer you up, inspire you, remind you of a special memory, or comfort you through hard times. There is something magical about his songs, they seem to be the perfect fit to whatever mood I am in. This morning I was rushing around dealing with several challenges and I was running around and I knew I needed to just take a bit of time to quiet down and slow down to reflect. Then, on the radio, came Howie Day’s Collide. First I was greeted with memories of a very special time when I first hear that song years ago. Then I realized the song gave me the perfect time to slow down and reflect and realize that I am doing exactly what I am supposed to be doing. Then of course, I had to hear more from Howie. One of the next songs I listened to [Read More]

Check out BRITROYAL for some emotionally driven songs to feed your soul and bandage your heart

April 13, 2014

Whether you are mending a broken heart, remembering that forgotten love or thinking about the one that makes your heart just dance with beats, BRITROYAL has the perfect music for your every mood. BRITROYAL is the work of twin singer/songwriters Kais and Mazin Oliver from London. BRITROYAL were discovered by American Music Executive, Mark Mazzetti. Mazzetti, a former VP of A&R at A&M Records has been responsible for guiding the music and careers of some of the world’s greatest artists including, STING, JANET JACKSON, BRYAN ADAMS and JOHN MAYER They have spectacular songwriting skills and emotionally driven lyrics wrapped in passionate vocals and sweet melodies. BRITROYAL currently have their debut EP Unfinished out and it is quite a listen. It starts right off with what I think might be my favorite song, Wasted I Love You which has such a catchy melody and lyrics that are raw and emotional. Check out the song here in their video: Ordinary has a captivating intro and is a beautiful song with such touching uplifting lyrics. The perfect song to [Read More]

Robert DeLong is our Bottle Rock Napa 2014 Featured Artist of the Day

April 12, 2014

Today our Bottle Rock Napa Featured Artist is Robert DeLong. Today I want to bring you something a little bit different than what I usually share with you. That is the great new music by Robert DeLong. Robert is a singer/songwriter that is truly a one man electronic band. When he performs live, he is a one-man band who uses MIDI interfaces, a full drum set, guitar, drum pads, keyboards, laptops and game controllers, looping his music live to fuse electronic dance beats with striking melodies and lyrics with emotional heart. What you are treated to is a eclectic and highly energetic performance that brings you anything from pop, dance, house, rock and roll and so much more. I think Bottle Rock Napa has done such a great job at bringing in a variety of music styles and genres for everyone to enjoy. Robert played at SXSW and had everyone taking notice of his creative unique sound. He has been dubbed the ‘2013 Artist To Watch’ by the likes of MTV, Billboard and VIBE and continues [Read More]

Matt Hires new EP Heartache Machine is climbing the charts!

April 10, 2014

Matt Hires released a new EP earlier this week, “Heartache Machine” and it features four new songs and follows up to last year’s “THIS WORLD WON’T LAST FOREVER, BUT TONIGHT WE CAN PRETEND.” What is very exciting about this new EP is that Matt has returned to independent level after spending 6 years with Atlantic Records. Regarding the recent change, Hires said, “Making the leap to independence has been really freeing and invigorating for me as an artist. I love that I’m able to get songs from the studio and into people’s ears in just a little over two months. It’s definitely a little scary, but I think it’s going to be really good for me and good for my fans. With ‘Heartache Machine,’ I feel like I was able to break into a totally new level of honesty in my songwriting and I think it comes through in the recordings.” His return to the independent level reminds me of my favorite quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson: “Do not go where the path may lead, go [Read More]