In celebrating 20 years of UMS this year, things are changing a lot. In the past UMS has been a 4 day, then 3-day music festival including national, regional, and local acts. This year in the shadow of COVID-19 it is a new event entirely.
This year it is a 3-hour virtual music festival, variety show, and telethon to benefit the Colorado Music Relief Fund. The Colorado Music Relief Fund was created to support all of those who help bring music to our lives — host of talented and dedicated individuals, crews, and businesses working on stage and behind the scenes. https://www.comusicrelief.org/home
Hosted by Christie Buchele and Sam Tellent, UMS will include live performances broadcast from the Hi-Dive, and music video premieres. This year’s lineup includes the following local woman acts:
Diet Cig, the hyper-duo of Alex Luciano & Noah Bowman are back with a new single after a hiatus after their LP Swear I’m Good at This. Luciano how the track came about
“This song centers around my very real and frequent experiences with night terrors and other bizarre sleep activity. If we’re close enough to have ever shared a room, you know what I’m talking about. This song goes out to you.
The idea of night terrors also represents the fact that no matter how hard I try to curate a specific and perfect version of myself, the embarrassing, weird, unlikable parts are always going to be there too. The people I’m closest with will always end up seeing them when they inevitably come hurling out of me like my night terrors in the middle of the night. This song’s about holding onto that hope that the real ones will like me even with all my weird freaky stuff underneath. Even when I’m screaming at them in my sleep from across the hotel room.”
Diet Cig will be touring in Europe and US beginning in May. For info visit http://dietcig.com/
Poppy returns with her new album I Disagree which drives into metal and industrial territory while still keeping Poppy’s unique vocal style. Her latest single is “Anything Like Me” which is about how people think they know you…when they don’t
Her previous single was “Fill the Crown”
I Disagree is Poppy’s final work Titanic Sinclair and follows their work on her debut album Am I A Girl?I Disagree marks Poppy’s new relationship with Sumerian Records. Poppy is known for being prescient on pop culture both good and bad. Her songs strike to the heart of social media. Be prepared for a visual and audio feast of music. She is currently on a worldwide tour.
FEMMUSIC once again previews Australian Music Week. This 3 day festival includes 150 artists and a conference bringing the topics of the industry. The festival includes veterans like Petra Caswell & Jackie Marshall mixed with newcomers like Jess Spajr. Here are some of our top picks of artists to see:
Ange – From Barcelona to Australia, Ange brings a refreshing R & B pop sound. She is working on her debut EP. https://www.angmusica.com/
Arna Georgia – Georgia released her debut EP Midnight Carousel in 2017. She is a country singer-songwriter with quick wit and imaginative lyrics. https://www.arnageorgia.com/
Mardi Wilson – Wilson is a Brisbane Alt Folk musician. She has been touring and is now working on recording new material https://www.mardiwilson.com/
Rebel Fox – Rebel Fox recently released “Perfect Storm” the first song off their upcoming EP. This duo is folk country heading somewhere between Civil Wars & Shovels & Rope. https://www.rebel-fox.net/
Tiali Eliza – Eliza comes from the Central Coast and has a mix of alternative rock mixed with jazz. It is something that is revolutionary. https://www.tialieliza.com/
Mondo Music & Tech Conference, Finnish Tech Design & Art (FTDA), Guild of Music Supervisors, Nordic Culture Fund, Business Finland present 3 Finnish Arts as part of the IGNITE VULNERABILITY: Empower Yourself & Be The Change. The artists are:
No Voice Hush’d is a night of music and art. It features music by What Would Tilda Swinton Do, Irrevery, Water Gh0st, Cherry, Crowd the Airwaves, and more.
There is art by Lillian Sthereva, Gwaldys Le Roy, Domenica Garcia, Luisa Muhr and others. A complete listing can be found on the webpage.
According to recent studies, female-identified persons represent about a third of all gallery-represented artists globally; in the songwriting world this number goes down to a little more than a tenth. In the NYC rock/punk scene in particular, female-identifying musicians must fight several orders of magnitude harder than their male peers for their voices to be heard.
No voice hush’d is a representation of our method to rectify this, starting here in NYC through the uniting of female-identified artists across disciplines. Art videos, paintings, installations and more share a literal and figurative stage with the performers and poets performing that night, their works united by their creation from a non-male perspective. Muchmore’s, the venue for the night, is a Brooklyn space with DIY tendencies known for its inclusiveness in programming.
No voice hush’d focuses on the artistic power of this group, providing for them a platform of support and a spotlight for their work.
Reflecting upon current political circumstances, all proceeds from ticket sales will go towards the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) to support the fight against abortion restriction.
Grace VanderWaal has sold out the Bluebird with her “Ur So Beautiful” Tour. This star who first came to fame on America’s Got Talent now has millions of followers and two full length albums to her name. She has a line of Fender Ukulele’s, and a non-profit called Little Miracles. At age 15 VanderWaal brings a bedroom pop sound with a majestic quality to her music. Her latest singles include “Ur So Beautiful” and “Waste My Time”
The title track of Dog Party’s latest album is a pop-heavy blast about a relationship gone wrong called “Hit and Run.” This California sister duo glides easily from punk to surf in a tight set. Lucy is on drums and Gwendolyn is on guitar. The sisters are not bound to their instruments and switch often.
Dog Party is prolific. They have 6 albums dating from 2009. They are professional touring artists. They recently finished touring with Bad Cop Bad Cop and are opening tonight for CJ Ramone.
This all-ages show is a collection of the best of the best. The Turn It Up House Band includes Abby Travis, Beck Wreck, Blare Bitch, Bere Fennelly & Sharon Needles. The guest vocalists is the all-star lineup of Alice Bag, Nina Diaz, Lisa Kekaula, Kristine Nevrose & Drew Arriola Sands.
That’s just the house band. There will also be performances by Solve J Schou, Phranc, The Groans and much more. This is a feminist catalog of music from the past 20 years, and the next 20 to come.
In celebration of the solstice, Willow has brought together a night of women artists. Persephone’s Circle was Seattle’s reaction to Lilith Fair and we wrote about it in 1999 – http://femmusic.com/wp/index.php/tag/persephones-circle/
Now it is back with a line-up of Willow, Mary Lydia Ryan, Nancy Coltom, J.R., Elizabeth Carpenter and Tiger Zane. Information on the artists can be found at:
If you haven’t heard of Shaed recently you haven’t been listening. Their song “Trampoline” has been rocketing up the charts after being featured in an Apple MacBook Air commercial. The band’s recent release is the Melt EP and includes songs like “Thunder”
https://shaed.lnk.to/SHAEDISOU
Shaed is coming to the 25th Anniversary Westword Music Showcase on June 29, 2019. This showcase is filled with local bands, as well as national and international headliners including CHVCHES.
FEMMUSIC had a recent e-mail interview with Chelsea Lee about the band’s amazing journey.
FEMMUSIC: What was the biggest challenge making Melt?
CL: I think one of the biggest challenges was choosing what songs made the most sense to release for this chapter of our careers. We had written so many songs for Melt and wanted to make sure we were creating a cohesive EP. We ended up choosing the songs that best reflected our musical journey at the time.
FEMMUSIC: How did you approach making Melt differently from Just Wanna See?
CL: Just Wanna See was a collection of some of the first songs we had written together – we weren’t living with each other at the time so the songwriting process was a bit all over the place. Max and Spencer would send me tracks, or bits and pieces of songs, and I would try to contribute in whatever way I could from afar. Now we all live in a house right outside of DC with a studio, so it makes writing so much more fun and convenient. Obviously, our songwriting has grown and evolved over the years as well.
FEMMUSIC: Tell me about “Trampoline.” How did the song form in the band? How has the song’s breakout from Apple changed your lives?
Trampoline was the second song we wrote in our house. It started with us watching old home videos of Max and Spencer and there was one clip of them where they are about 3 or 4 jumping on a trampoline. This sparked the first lyric – “I’ve been having dreams, jumping on a trampoline” and from there we tried to create an ethereal song about embracing your fears.
Apple was a huge, huge blessing for us – the commercial was seen all over the world, so it definitely expanded our audience. The commercial has opened so many doors for us – “Trampoline” is doing really well at alternative and pop radio and we’re playing almost every single festival this year, including Summer Sonic in Japan, so it has been amazing.
FEMMUSIC: I’ve heard you’ve been working with various producers lately. Who would be your ideal choice of a producer to work with? Why?
CL: This is such a tough question because there are so many incredible musicians, producers, mixers, etc. in this industry that we would die to work with. A big one for us is Mark Ronson, because everything he touches is gold.
FEMMUSIC: Can you describe your songwriting technique?
CL: Our songwriting is super collaborative. We generally wake up in the morning, have breakfast, and then walk into our studio to write. We generally try to write songs organically with an acoustic guitar or piano and then build out a track from there.
FEMMUSIC: What song (not your own) has had the biggest influence on you and why?
CL: Again we have been influenced by so many people – Frank Sinatra, HER, Radio Head to name the tiniest few.
FEMMUSIC: What challenges, if any, have you faced as a woman in the music industry? And how did you overcome them?
CL: To be honest, I don’t see many challenges. I feel like being a female in this industry is super empowering for me. Being on stage, singing songs that we’ve written together is such an amazing feeling and makes me feel like super woman. I just want to encourage young girls and women to follow their dreams… as corny as that sounds.
FEMMUSIC: Whom would you most like to collaborate with, or tour with? Why?
CL: Right now – SZA. Her latest album was on repeat for weeks and was so incredibly inspiring.
FEMMUSIC: What’s one thing would you like to change about the music industry?
An evening of music and memories. From folk to blues this trio will wow in a reunion tour.
Cris Williamson is a legacy of her own. Founder of the first woman owned and themed record label, Olivia Records. She is a feminist activist voice with 31 albums, and her newly released Motherland as 32.
Grammy winning multi-instrumentalist Barbara Higbie has done everything from Jazz, Bluegrass, Classical, Irish and more. She has worked with Carlos Santana. Her latest release, Scenes from Life came out in 2014.
Teresa Trull is a longtime collaborator with Higbie. She took from gospel to rock and has performed with Holly Near and Joan Baez. In 2011 she moved to New Zealand to found New Zealand Horse Help.
This year’s Canadian Music Week is overflowing with artists including Azealia Banks, Sunflower Bean, LA Witch and more. Here are 15 artists who should also get your attention:
Akabane Vulgars on Strong Bypass – This Japanese band is more rock than punk with purpose driven lyrics. https://akabane-vulgars.jimdo.com/
Art d’Ecco – Art D’Ecco is a glam rock artist whose music is filled with original arrangements. Much more than a sight for the eyes. http://artdeccomusic.ca/
Annie Sama – Annie Sama is a producer who is also involved in music and fashion. The music is bold with hints of a revolution. https://www.anniesama.com/
Cheap Tobacco – This Polish band is one of the stars to watch in this year’s festival. They have been awarded being Poland’s top Blues band 3 years in a row and have toured internationally. This is Blues of Jack White meets Wolf Alice. http://cheaptobacco.pl/
Ella Mar – This Israeli artist will be releasing her full length album this year. She has studied jazz and it brings a lyric driven shadow to her music. http://ellamarmusic.com/
Grizzly Coast – Alannah Kavanagh leads this rock band whose recent video “Half Light Boy” is featured this month on FEMMUSIC. https://www.grizzlycoastmusic.com/
Joan Smith and the Jane Does – This rowdy Toronto rock band is the fight waiting to erupt. http://www.thejoansmith.com/
Little Coyote – Teagan Johnston is a Toronto artist who recently did a European tour. Her music is edgy alternative that pricks your ears up. https://www.littlecoyotemusic.com/
Madison Olds – This Canadian singer-songwriter should be on everyone’s radar with songs including “Blue” and “Thank You.” https://www.madisonolds.com/
Man In Motion – This Mexican electronic project has thriving beats with the vocals of Sarmen Almond. http://maninmotionmusic.com/
Sorrey – Emilee Sorrey fronts this shoegaze band from Prince Edward Island. They will be releasing their full length album later this year. https://www.facebook.com/esorrey/
The Greeting Committee – Addie Sartino is the frontwoman to this band who plays exploratory lyrics with soaring beats. http://www.thegcband.com/
Thayer Sarrano is a multi-faceted artist. A visual artist, a classically trained musician, and a touring musician. Her music has a minimalist ethereal quality to it. She comes to Denver a month before the release of her 4th studio album, Wings Alleluia. The album was made in Athens, Georgia and is released by The Guildwater Group. It includes “Oh My Soul”, “These Arms”, “White Shores” and “Grace Goes On”
She is touring with Johnny Hickman. FEMMUSIC was honored to speak with her about the new album.
FEMMUSIC: What was the biggest challenge making Wings Alleluia?
TS: This was the first time that I played most parts and made a lot more arrangements for male voices, etc. That was helpful to get the vision into the sound, but it also made a lot more room for self doubt. Also I like things pretty murky, but I wanted the lyrics to be clear because they are more positive. So that was always a dance with the mixes.
FEMMUSIIC: Wings Alleluia is your 4th studio album. What lessons have you learned from your other projects?
TS: Each record I feel like I get a little closer. I learn how to communicate better, from more engineering terms and less colors, to just knowing how to better achieve what I want. I feel lucky as a session player too to be able to see so many different styles of working and dynamics in the studio.
FEMMUSIC: Tell me about your sketchbook? How does your visual art influences your music?
TS: Visual art helps me communicate the stuff I can’t say. It’s like a middle man for writing. I will have an experience or understanding from somewhere that I can paint or draw or whatever. Then at some point, I will find I am describing that image in my lyrics.
FEMMUSIC: You have a number of artists involved with the album. Tell me how the Athens music scene has influenced your music?
TS: I’m thankful for Athens because it’s a very inspiring, supportive, and “original” community. I’ve learned so much seeing bands, playing with a lot of bands there, and working at Camp Amped (teenage rock camp at Nuçi’s Space). People involved with the camp are my family, bandmates, engineers, etc. This record was fun because I got so many of the people I have sung harmony or accompanied in the past to sing with me.
FEMMUSIC: What song (not your own) has had the biggest influence on you and why?
TS: Woah… I can remember so many defining moments. It’s impossible to pick one!
I remember the first time I heard Bob Dylan’s song “Isis”… I think I was 7 or 8. It was a new feeling for me at that time. I remember just thinking “yes.”
FEMMUSIC: What challenges, if any, have you faced as a woman in the music industry? And how did you overcome them?
TS: I’ve been really lucky to work with only really good men in the studio and on tour who are secure and respectful. Every once in a while on tour, you come across somebody condescending or creepy, and you handle it case by case. Sometimes people just don’t know how to talk to people because they have their own issues, and so they can learn from you too.
FEMMUSIC: Whom would you most like to collaborate with, or tour with? Why?
TS: Neil Young, because Neil Young… tour with Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, make a record with Daniel Lanois .
FEMMUSIC: What one thing would you like to change about the music industry
TS: I have been living and working through a difficult phase in the industry where the system devalues art and there are a lot more expectations for artists outside of making art now. I don’t know how to change that on the big level personally, but I do believe it will change. Music is bigger, and we will keep making the work that must be born, and that is so important that I can’t let the insanity get me down.
The Bellrays are bringing punk back to Denver with their Preachin’ the Gospel of Punk Tour. The Bellrays are Lisa Kekaula and Robert Vennum and they’ve been playing music for over 30 years. Their first self-titled album came out in 1990. This tour comes with their new album Punk Funk Rock Soul Vol 2. The album includes tracks “Black Lightning” and “Bad Reaction.” The band just released a new video:
This Riverside, California band mixes blues, punk, gospel into a vivid experience as all live music should be. The Atom Age and Hot Apostles are opening this show.
Red Bull Music takes over Los Angeles again with a series of events that celebrate everything from LA’s Punk History to Mexican Music and Robyn. Highlights include:
February 7 – San Cha – Opening night with LA based singer-songwriter San Cha, La Victoria, Yanga, and more. https://www.facebook.com/ElSanCha/
February 15 – Her Smell screening – Elisabeth Moss is Becky Something in Alex Ross Perry’s new film. Perry is one of many guests due to attend
February 16 – The Decline of Western Civilization screening – The tour-de-force film about the LA punk scene will be screened with Director Penelope Spheeris in attendance
February 22 & 23 – Robyn – Swedish pop artist Robyn will be playing for 2 nights including music from her album Honey http://robyn.com/
Cursive has been playing for 2 decades and continues to bring new original visceral music out. Their tour is based around their 8th studio album, Vitriola, released in 2018. The album reunites Tim Kasher, guitarist/singer Ted Stevens and bassist Matt Maginn with drummer Clint Schnase, Patrick Newbery on keys and Megan Siebe on cello. Cursive runs a course that borders hard rock and indie folk with screaming vocals mixed into arrangements that engage the senses. The album evokes anger at the world with songs “Free To Be or Not To Be You and Me”, “Under the Rainbow” and “Noble Soldier/Dystopian Lament.” Their single “Life Savings” calls Capitalism into question while the video shows greed in action
Vitriola was released in 2018 on Cursive’s own label 15 Passengers and is produced Mike Mogis. The band is on a headlining tour with Summer Cannibals and Campdogzz.
Grammy nominated artist Brandi Carlile announced this festival in the summer. It is inspired by Lilith Fair with all women headliners. Carlile has had a long tradition of going to Mexico for the winter. This time she has brought an impressive line-up:
Brandi Carlile – Nominated for 6 Grammy’s Carlile’s latest album is By the Way I Forgive You. She is a wonder and joy who is proving her dominance in the music world. http://bytheway.brandicarlile.com/
Maren Morris – Country artist Maren Morris is known for her album Hero. She has been a rising star who is quickly going beyond “rising.” https://www.marenmorris.com/
Indigo Girls – With 15 studio releases, and more live albums, separate projects and more…The Indigo Girls have a history of music and activism that has shaped the world. http://indigogirls.com/
Margo Price – Grammy Nominated as Best New Artist, Margo Price made a mark with her album Midwest Farmer’s Daughter. She blew it out of the park with All American Made. http://margoprice.net/
Patty Griffin – Grammy Award winner Patty Griffin has a large catalog of songs that speak right to the soul. http://www.pattygriffin.com/
Lucius – Jess & Holly make up the sublime harmonies of Lucius. They have worked with and toured with Roger Waters and have established an enviable place. https://www.ilovelucius.com/
KT Tunstall – Tunstall released her latest album Wax this year. Tunstall is a wild rock and rock artist with quick humor and solid songs. http://www.kttunstall.com/
The Secret Sisters – Laura & Lydia Rogers’ third album You Don’t Own Me Anymore was produced by Carlile and features this resilient group at their best. https://www.secretsistersband.com/home
Ruby Amanfu – This Nashville singer-songwriter has been featured on Beyonce’s Lemonade and is known for her appearances on Nashville. https://www.rubyamanfu.com/
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