Browsing Tag

pianist

I saw him in the Mirror: James Harker modifies our view on Spinning Plates

Posted on 24 July 2023

One half of the fantastic duo Vast & Harker, James Harker shows us how love can turn our moods around and sings with pulsating passion on his catchy new release, Spinning Plates.

James Harker is a classically trained London, UK-based indie pianist, history teacher and alternative songwriter who has returned from a long break and shows us his evolution from indie folk.

Taken from the brand new 10-track album Limerence, James Harker is on fire with a soul-healing melody to be proud of for its magnetic appeal. This is soaring stuff and delights our senses with a family-friendly soundtrack.

Spinning Plates from the experienced UK-based indie pianist James Harker is a cloud-floating single to get enthusiastic about and might change perspectives. There is so much to sink our teeth into as we are reminded about the special sauce needed, to be truly happy in this ever-changing world.

Turn this up on Spotify.

Listen up on IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Cameron Owen diaphanously covered Les Miserables’ Bring Him Home

Posted on 8 May 2023

After Cameron Owen’s cover of Bridge Over Troubled Water left us insurmountably arrested, we couldn’t wait to feel our emotions swell with the orchestral crescendos in his latest single, Bring Him Home.

The compellingly diaphanous ballad is as graceful, delicate, and powerful as an angel’s wing for the way the theatrical pop cover of the Les Miserables prayer comes to life through the minor piano keys and his unfaltering vocal lines fusing as the ultimate aural redemption story for humanity.

Just as Les Miserables conveyed the resilience of the human spirit and its ability to endure heartbreak while still keeping courage, love and passion at our core, Cameron Owen’s reworking of the number will serve a poignant reminder of our innate inner capacity for beauty.

Bring Him Home was officially released on April 21; stream it on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Jazz pianist legend Marcio Garcia is at his graceful best on Nocturnal

Posted on 25 April 2023

Featuring 2x Grammy award-winning conga player Giovanni Hidalgo, Marcio Garcia is at his majestic best with an ear-calming melody to play all night as the rain flows cheekily from gutters on Nocturnal.

Marcio Garcia is a multi-talented Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic-born jazz pianist, composer and educator who was classically trained at various prestigious institutions.

”Marcio has performed at the Festival de Jazz Restauración Santo Domingo, White Plains Jazz Festival, Monterey Next Generation Jazz Festival, Five Points Jazz Festival, Dazzle Jazz Club, Carnegie Hall, Blue Note NYC, Nublu, The Bitter End, Birdland Jazz Club and Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola in Lincoln Center.” ~ Marcio Garcia

Known as a prolific creative who has performed on some of the best stages, Brooklyn-based Marcio Garcia is radiant here and shall cause some blushes to project out from the deepest part of our souls. This is spellbinding stuff from a true master of his craft, who has blessed all tired hearts with something rather special. Just what the world needs more of right?

Calm all worries away on Spotify.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Lebanon-born Armenian pianist Hovig Nassanian reminds us of that tragic day on April 24

Posted on 10 March 2023

Taken from his 3rd solo piano 11-track album called Tributes, Hovig Nassanian sends us into an emotional and rather intimate experience loaded with deep memories called April 24.

Hovig Nassanian is a well-respected Lebanon-born Armenian indie pianist who lives in Cyprus with his wife and young son who has also started learning the piano.

”April 24 is a solemn day for us Armenians. Every year, on this day, we commemorate the death of 1.5 million of our people during World War I – the Armenian Genocide at the hands of the Ottoman Turks. Many of our leading intellectuals, poets and musicians were killed on April 24, 1915. I first wrote this tune around 20 years ago, as part of a musical project to honor the memory of the genocide victims. The project did not materialize, but the tune has been buzzing in my head ever since…and now finally, I recorded it as a tribute to the sacrifice and suffering of my people.” ~ Hovig Nassanian

As one of the classiest acts around no matter the genre, Hovig Nassanian displays his unparalleled skillset in the best possible way with a quite sublime rendition. Mellow in nature and quite understandably restrained, at a mournful memory which will be seeped into many generations to come.

April 24 from the experienced Armenian indie pianist Hovig Nassanian is one of those hugely memorable tributes which still scar many hearts. Performed with deep intensity and bringing us a real message that so many might have forgotten, we find a moment to close our eyes and remember those who were lost rather tragically.

Listen up on Spotify.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Italian-Ghanaian pianist BeccasMelodies keeps it rather mellow on the Playground

Posted on 4 February 2023

With so much serene beauty and a tranquil state of affairs to take us all back to school days, BeccasMelodies washes all the stress away with a youthful track to remember fun times with on Playground.

BeccasMelodies aka Rebekah Obeng is an Italian-Ghanaian pianist and music producer who makes timelessly calm classics to relax even the most stressed mind.

”Her latest track “Playground” evokes a sense of nostalgia and innocence. It’s a place where people of all ages come together to play and have fun, and she wanted to capture that feeling in her music. The playground also symbolizes the idea of embracing childhood and letting go of adult responsibilities, which is a refreshing and powerful message.” ~ BeccasMelodies

Gliding rather freely and without anything flashy to get confused about, BeccasMelodies gets us away from a sleepy slumber and back into munching peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

Playground from Italian-Ghanaian pianist and music producer BeccasMelodies is one of the more tranquil singles anyone is likely to release in 2023. Soaked into so much mellow vibrancy and taking us on a lo-fi dream to get engaged with, this is a rather memorable track to fuse tightly inside.

Listen up to this new single on Spotify. View more vibes on IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

World class Italian composer Stefano D’Amico takes us through the Wormhole

Posted on 17 November 2022

Skyrocketing through the atmosphere and flying so high into the night, Stefano D’Amico is rather outstanding on a song which will guide many smiles into a world of possibilities above on Wormhole.

Stefano D’Amico is a world renowned Italian film composer/pianist/orchestrator who creates neoclassical music and soundtracks which are heard all over our beautiful galaxy.

”In 2020 I put my passion for music and for environmentalism in ‘Tribute to the Earth’, my EP which
tells the beauty of our planet: rain, sunset, the moon, the green nature. Its purpose is to raise awareness on the importance of protecting this natural patrimony.” ~ Stefano D’Amico

Currently studying deeply inside composition, orchestration and film scoring, the impressive Stefano D’Amico is rather prodigiously first-rate here. He’s made a true masterpiece for the world to feel united inside, as the imagination floats into what is actually out there if we look far enough.

Wormhole from the multi-skilled Turin, Italy-born and based indie film composer Stefano D’Amico is a stunning release which deserves to be used in many blockbuster movies. Drenched in so much goodness and pure energy for our consciousness to be enriched by, we find a single to simply put on repeat.

Hear this new song on Spotify and see more on the IG page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Andreas Fevos (feat. Alex Bappo) – Metamorphosis: Live the Scintillating Sonic Fantasy

Posted on 11 November 2022

For his debut solo single, Metamorphosis, which came after touring Europe as a concert pianist, the Athens-born pianist, composer and producer, Andreas Fevos collaborated with Alex Bappo to set a strikingly narrative jazz score.

Together, they created a theatrically vibrant feat of jazz, which starts with the rapid tempo of neoclassic keys before the complexity of the time signatures consumes you within the extended release that exhibits Fevos’s love for theatre and storytelling. With interludes between the wild yet professionally tamed progressions, you just can’t help living in this constantly evolving metamorphically scintillating sonic fantasy.

With a PhD in Piano Performance and currently a PhD candidate in Composition for Visual Media at UCLA, you can rest assured that you’re in extremely deft hands through the often-times frantic expression of his ingenuity.

Metamorphosis was officially released on October 22nd; stream it on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Let You Stay: California’s Sophie Reynolds just wants a sign on tell you everything

Posted on 26 September 2022

Taken off her upcoming EP, Sophie Reynolds just wants a reason to give a budding romance a chance even if it could all fall apart so quickly on her beautifully honest new single, tell you everything.

Sophie Reynolds is a 21-year-old indie South Pasadena, California-based singer-songwriter, pianist, and guitarist who first started performing her original music in 2018.

”Surrounded by music, Sophie grew up singing all over the house, at church, and school showcases.” ~ Sophie Reynolds

Gloriously genuine and soothing all ears with a dreamy disposition that will be hard to forget, Sophie Reynolds is rather special on this gorgeous soundtrack for those who want to make sure first, before opening up their precious hearts. Guiding us into her mind so thoughtfully, we find an outstanding young artist who tells a story that many of us have faced in our lives.

tell you everything from South Pasadena, California-based singer-songwriter Sophie Reynolds is a romantic single that is laced with realness about that precise moment where everything could change for the better or worse. Sung with a calming nature that will have you closing your eyes and imagining that look of wonder from a past lover, who was just waiting for that all-important reassurance.

Sometimes you just have to stop for a few minutes to see if they are real or just a passing memory.

Listen up to this lovely release on Spotify and see more on her IG page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

LA Jazz Scene Icon Sam Hirsh Created Melodic Chemistry with Amber Navran in His Seminal Single, Hot Slow

Posted on 3 August 2022

Taken from his LP, Quarantine Dreams, Sam Hirsh’s standout single, Hot Slow, featuring Amber Navran, is everything it says on the tin. Rather than cooking up a tried, tested, and uninspired blend of soul, Hirsh delivered jazzy melodies which artfully blossom around the smoky – almost trip-hoppy – whispered vocals.

In the LA jazz scene, the pianist, composer and educator is renowned for the soulful energy in his compositions; they are everything people who bemoan ‘they don’t make them like they used to’ could ask for. Better yet, right from the first hit, Hot Slow is smooth enough to melt into. For the same reasons I fell in love with California by Mr Bungle, I will be giving Hot Slow plenty of repeat attention.

Hot Slow is now available to stream on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Graceful Berlin-based artist Raluca is quite scintillating on her excellent new single Thunder

Posted on 30 July 2022

With a wonderfully deep lyricism that reached the bottom of our soul on her previous single, Could I, Raluca shows us her incredible talents yet again on the leaving-heart breakup infused single Thunder.

Raluca is a classically trained Berlin, Germany-based indie pop singer-songwriter, pianist and guitarist who has Romanian blood flowing within her veins.

”She writes and sings about identity, love, the weight of loss and the possibility of new beginnings. Basically of life, with all facets. The result is energetic, yet at times soothing. Easy and deep at the same time. A blend of darkness and light given a voice.” ~ Raluca

Produced by David Nichols, Raluca urges us all to swiftly avoid those ghastly ghosts amongst us who don’t feel anything at all. For your precious heart’s sake, it’s best to hide away before your valuable shine is stolen forever by someone who just wants to use you as they see fit.

Thunder from the multi-talented Berlin, Germany-based indie pop singer-songwriter Raluca is a call to be left alone forever from a former lover who just wanted quiet away from that sapping energy. Courageous to the core and featuring striking vocals that will burn slowly on your ears, this is a single performed so majestically by a truly talented artist.

Check out this fine new single on Spotify and see more via the IG page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen