Browsing Tag

grammy nominated

The Grammy-balloted artist, Luanne Hunt, has released her ornately picturesque 21st studio album, Portraits in Song

During her 27-year career, Luanne Hunt has released 21 studio albums and picked up three Grammy nominations along the way for her refreshingly authentic take on modern country. With her love of folk-rock feeding into her sonic signature, her music is as diverse as it is nostalgically comfortable. Her latest album, Portraits in Song, captures her talent at its finest. It is a testament to her determination to strive for excellence and hit emotional chords along the way; you’d be hard-pressed to find a more elegant soul in country-folk-rock.

The album starts on the instantly arresting single, “It Was Always You”; the ardently visceral single is brimming with shimmering soul through the orchestral scoring and Hunt’s ethereally ornate vocals that cherish the notion of perpetuation affection. Her 70s folk-rock influence comes to the forefront in Midnight Rain & Roses, which will undoubtedly be a hit with any Stevie Nicks fans. The arcane production paired with the warmly overdriven guitars and Luanne Hunt’s vocals that become the epitome of beguiling is matchlessly stunning.

Here’s what Luanne Hunt had to say about her 21st album:

“I consider ‘Portraits in Song’ to be my crowning achievement thus far; it reflects my love of folk-rock artists in the same vein as America, Crosby, Stills and Nash and Van Morrison. I can’t get enough of the songs from the 60s and 70s era, they truly are the bar I always set for myself.”

The album also features the Latin Grammy Award-Winning drummer, Heitor Lima, the world-renowned piano player, Hal Ratliff (Righteous Brothers, Grass Roots), and the acclaimed Canadian composer/conductor Jordan Grigg.

Portraits in Song is now available to stream on Spotify. Or you can head over to her official website to purchase the album.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Stükenberg calls for socio-political peace with their idyllically transformative single ‘Blind Unity’

US Indie multi-instrumentalist, producer, engineer and Grammy-nominated songwriter Stükenberg’s latest release “Blind Unity” operates on a celestial level. Hit play and you’ll feel the pure weight of the emotion it contains crawl beneath your ribs as you drink in the idyllic peace-inspiring tone.

The mellow progressions prop up Stükenberg’s resounding vocals as they bring harmony to the conversational lyricism which offers so much imagery Blind Unity becomes so much more than an aural experience.

His succinct way of reflecting reality and commonality back at you is practically unparalleled. Emotion and introspection are fed in fragments, but together, they weave an intricate tapestry which illustrates the frustrations of navigating 2020. Ultimately, Blind Unity is an invitation to put rise above the hysterical partisan ideals and misconceptions which is tearing our society apart more than whoever is sitting in the White House ever could.

You can check out Blind Unity which is part of Stükenberg’s 2020 album Double Plus Panic via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Grammy Nominated Instrumentalist John Burke Releases “Rift”

John Burke is an artist and composer with a vibrant, kaleidoscopic twist and a unique approach to his sound. “Rift” is an exciting shape-shifting tracks that combines folk, classical music and other influences into a driven mix. Clocking in at over 8 minutes, “Rifts” echoes the work of celebrated composers such as Yann Tiersen or Alexandre DeSplat, just to mention but a few.

The beautiful string sections complement the round piano chords beautifully, almost as if the strings and the keys were chasing one another in a playful whirlwind, like autumn leaves before they touch the ground. The beat of the song is minimalistic and bare-bones compared to the intricate melodic arrangements, but it does a great job at keeping it all together.