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“Happy Kat” McDowell: songs, smiles, cheers and laughs at Witzend release party. By Patrick O’Heffernan

November 11, 2014

“Happy Kat” is not Kat McDowell’s nickname, but after seeing her live at the Witzend Saturday night, that is what I am going to call her because that is what she does – make people happy. And Saturday night she made a packed house, standing room only cheering crowd very, very happy. Not bad for his first major live performance in her adopted LA home. Born in Japan, raised mostly in New Zealand, with many parts of both cultures inside her, Kat McDowell makes music in both English and Japanese that make you sit up and take notice, or just let you happily tap your feet. She combines, pop, J-Pop, calypso, rock, Hawaiian and a positive musical attitude in a mixture that is like sunshine to listen to. She built a successful career in Japan as a gaijun – a non-Japanese, even though she is a native – and that’s a serious challenge . But after many albums, singles, gigs, shows, TV commercials and studio sessions, she was a success there so now she [Read More]

Shawn Mendes new single SOMETHING BIG is out now!

November 7, 2014

The new single Something Big from Shawn Mendes is out now and you can take a listen here: You can pick up the new single on iTunes here and make sure to tell your friends. Let everyone know about Something Big by adding #SomethingBig and #SomethingBigToNumber1 to your tweets. Also, check out the lyric video for his latest single, Life of the Party: You can also pick up his current EP The Shawn Mendes EP on iTunes here. You will be treated to vocals that just capture emotions and takes you on a musical journey with your heart. Make sure to visit his social media sites and stay up to date on his latest news. Also, check the tour dates below and see Shawn perform live: HEADLINING TOUR DATES 11/15 – New York, NY – Best Buy Theater 11/26 – Los Angeles, CA – The Wiltern 11/30 – Toronto, ON – The Danforth Music Hall JINGLE BALL DATES 12/5 – Los Angeles, CA – Staples Center 12/8 – Minneapolis, MN – Xcel Energy Arena 12/10 – Philadelphia, PA [Read More]

Shimon Moore announces first solo show in December

November 7, 2014

We are very excited to announce the first solo show of Shimon Moore formerly of Sick Puppies. Shim has one of the most amazingly powerful vocals and I am so excited to hear that he will be continuing on with his music. That is one voice that cannot and should not be silenced! The solo show was announced via his Facebook page: Here is is! My first solo show. Cant wait to see you all on December 6th at The Asylum! Thanks to Rob and everyone at WCYY for helping me put this on Hit up www.shimonmooreofficial.com for the tickets. I hope he will be announcing more dates including one here in Northern California. We will try and see if we can bring you an interview soon. Make sure to visit his social media sites and stay up to date on his latest news. ~ Marisol Information & Links: Official site – www.shimonmooreofficial.com Facebook – www.facebook.com/shimonmooreofficial Twitter – https://twitter.com/ShimonMoore instagram – @shimonmoore Vine – shimonmoore

Pick up your free download of Veronica from Postcards from Jeff

October 31, 2014

Postcards from Jeff will be releasing a new album in the spring of 2015. Today they are offering a free download of their new song, Veronica. Head over to http://emailunlock.com/postcardsfromjeff/veronica and get your free download. ‘Postcards From Jeff is enigmatic multi-instrumentalist and producer Joss Worthington who writes, plays, records and mixes all his own material to produce snapshots – postcards – of the city life he looks down onto from his home and studio high in the bleak Yorkshire moors.’ Once you take a listen to Veronica you will be excited for the upcoming release. Joss does an amazing job of bringing his words to life when he sings and paints you a picture and scene through his melodies. Make sure to visit the social media sites and stay up to date on the latest news. ~ Marisol Information & Links: Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/postcardsfromjeff/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/postcardsfromjeff Twitter: https://twitter.com/postcardsfromj Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/postcardsfromjeff

Shawn Mendes reveals countdown for SOMETHING BIG IS HAPPENING on November 10th

October 22, 2014

The countdown has begun on Shawn Mendes website and it is for something big! Check out his page at http://www.shawnmendesofficial.com/ which features a countdown for SOMETHING BIG IS HAPPENING set for November 10th. Maybe we could be treated some new music. For now, check out the lyric video for his latest single, Life of the Party: You can also pick up his current EP The Shawn Mendes EP on iTunes here. You will be treated to vocals that just capture emotions and takes you on a musical journey with your heart. Make sure to visit his social media sites and stay up to date on his latest news. Information & Links: Website: http://www.shawnmendesofficial.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShawnMendesOfficial Twitter: https://twitter.com/shawnmendes Instagram: http://instagram.com/shawnmendes Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/qzMendShawqz

Interview with multi-instrumentalist Ethan Teel from The Owl-Eyes

October 22, 2014

Earlier this week, when I visited my 81 year old mother whom is recuperating from an infection in a skilled nursing facility, I was left to hear the complaining from the seniors about the younger generation, and exclamations of “What is the world coming to? Young men and women are not as passionate as they used to be, etc “. I simply do not agree since it seems that the spotlight is often on those that are not creating or passionate about their arts or even life in general. I know a young man who is amazingly talented and passionate in all that he does, that I would like to place in the spotlight and let the world enjoy his great gift of music and that young man is Ethan Teel. The solo project of Ethan is The Owl-Eyes and earlier this year he released his debut EP, Wild Child. Ethan displays his great affection for various genres of music as he experiments with everything from pop, jazz, heavy metal, alternative, metalcore, hip-hop, punk, and so [Read More]

Kat McDowell’s USA debut Rise Above is a winner from the first note by Patrick O’Heffernan

October 13, 2014

The thing about Kat McDowell is that she is just plain fun to listen to. And remarkably, she is fun to listen to in two languages, English and Japanese. And that’s not an easy thing to accomplish, given the difference between the two languages. But Kat McDowell does it so well that in any language her music can make you sit up and take notice, or just let you happily tap your feet. Either way, she is a musical force on a fast track. Born in Japan, raised mostly in New Zealand, with many parts of both cultures inside her, she combines pop, J-Pop, calypso, rock and a positive musical attitude in a mixture that is like sunshine to listen to. She built a successful career in Japan and now is in the USA, Los Angeles to be geographically exact, enjoying its surf (she is avid surfer), its plethora of recording assets and a world class population of collaborating artists. The first fruits of that relocation, the album Rise Above, is due out in [Read More]