Album Review: “Sun” – Lara Eidi. Words: Sammy Stein.

Lara Eidi is one of life’s polymaths. Known for her genre-bending style and captivating presence, she describes herself as a jazz/folk/vocalist/songwriter/pianist/educator/workshop leader. She created the songwriting podcast ‘The Notes Between’ and was a founder of the educational music platform Phonica Music Coaching.   As if this is not enough she is also a sought-after vocal …

Single Review: “Mindfulness” – River Nelson.

This track starts off with a jazzy gospel part that’s just two chords over some lush strings.  When Andy Kettle sent me this, he had me from the chord progression.  But this is not where I was invested.  Oh no.  No no no. The hard hitting drums?  Nope.  The lack of bassline?  Oh yeah I …

Album Review: “Greek Street Friday” – Ian Shaw. Words: Sammy Stein.

I first heard Ian Shaw in 2021 when I reviewed Hannah Horton’s album ‘Inside Out’ on which Shaw was the guest vocalist on tracks ‘Frozen Light’ and ‘Breathing Out’. Horton told me, “I mentioned I was recording a new album and he (Shaw) offered to take a listen and then wrote the lyrics for ‘Frozen …

Blog interview: Ria Barkr

Hello Ria, How are you?  Good. Super excited to be talking to you. Thank you so much for having me on.  Congratulations on the release of Alpha She – how does it feel?  I’m feeling very proud of this body of work. I started writing the EP during the pandemic and to see everything from …

Blog interview: Kendra And The Bunnies

Hello Kendra how are you?    Hello!! I am so good! Thank you for inviting me to interview!   Congratulations on the release of “I’m A Showstopper” how does it feel?   My favorite thing to do is release music. I love the process so much from songwriting to recording and performing. I’m thrilled.    What’s …

Blog interview: B.K.W.H

Hello B.K.W.H how are you?  I’m good thank you!  A mixture of excitement, optimism and slight nervousness….Which I think is  fairly normal for a single campaign. Congratulations on the release of “Can’t Beat The Weekend” how does it feel?  It feels great!  The reception has been amazing.  People really seem to be into the single.  …

Single Review: “I Wish You Well” – Chidi Digital and ROT8TIONS

This is an instrumental of sublime levels… The drums are dusty and warm, reminding you of old jazz records, fused with a vinyl crackle, and it just whisks me back to listening to records on a really good hi fi system, it just sounds so natural. You can’t always get that with a sample of …

Single Review: “The World Is Here For You” – Immy Owusu

This track grooves on nicely! It reminds me of the music that we used to play in my house growing up in so many ways – the analogue sounds including the organ, which I’m going to hazard a guess at being a Vox. The synth lead gives it away that this artist is influenced by …