SOUNDCLOUD: https://soundcloud.com/ckandtherisingtide/friends-single

“Friends” is the first single from CK and the Rising Tide’s soon to drop debut album and it heralds the arrival of an important new band on the alt-country/indie scene. The mix of CK Flach’s impressive songwriting with musical contributions from Danny Boudreau’s violin and keyboards, Wayne Flach’s guitar playing, and bassist Chris Brant’s virtuosity fully realizes the talent present on CK’s earlier solo effort Empty Mansions. Instead of taking a side step or diversion, CK Flach has opted to further open the sound for his songs by bringing these additional musicians into the picture and the four of them frame “Friends” in satisfying colors. The vividness of the performance hints at even greater songs in store on their first album. This is a powerful and unique effort that gets under the skin from the first listen onward.

URL: www.kimdivine.com

Kim DiVine previously toured the country in a musical webisode series titled “Kim & Seana,” sponsored by Ford Motors. Kim’s original songs have been placed in multiple network and cable TV series, indie features, and she has been recognized for her songwriting from the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, among others. Kim has also featured in NBC’s Grimm (Valentine’s Day Webisode), “Perfect Kind of Love” in the trailer for NBC Comedy, “Welcome to The Family”, “Little Things” Featured in the trailer, film and soundtrack for “Cowgirls N’ Angels” (Samuel Goldwyn Films) and even sang on the Jay Leno show.

SOUNDCLOUD: https://soundcloud.com/severinemusic/down-the-rivers/s-A6o6z

Born in the US but raised in France, singer/songwriter Severine has launched her own solo career after playing and touring with bands for many years prior. She’s performed live everywhere from Paris to New York and has established a career based upon being driven, focused and dedicated to accomplishing her musical goals.

2016 brought change to her career as she split from group musical activities for the time being and buckled down to learn the recording software Ableton. These modest beginnings brought the fruition of an unexpected solo career with Severine writing and recording on her own for the very first time. Tapping into producer extraordinaire Anthony “Rocky” Gallo, a popular producer that has worked with everyone from Bon Jovi to rapper Common, Severine set about the task of laying down her second single “Down the Rivers” which draws inspiration from multiple musical sources including Radiohead and Portishead.

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/surrealnation/

The five songs included on Surreal Nation’s I Know Better establishes the Delaware five piece as one of the sharpest alternative rock acts working in the indie scene today. Vocalist Nikita Yvonne (Nikki Nation) is a singer with rare musicality and a natural wont for artfully expressing emotion, but the grit and gravel she can whip up with her voice matches up nicely with the rock style the band works in. I Know Better has a songwriting point of view that’s Surreal Nation’s own and never suffers from indulging hoary clichés or pouring old wine into new bottles – instead, they employ a point of view all their own for even time tested subject matter that imbues the songs with a surprising level of freshness. I Know Better’s track listing shows focus and the brief release unfolds for audiences in a dramatic, but never overwrought, way.

URL: https://www.lharmonic.com/

LHarmonic, the third studio platter from singer-songwriter Leo Harmonay, is a six song collection that finds Harmonay’s considerable songwriting powers reaching heights that his great previous efforts scarcely touch. Harmonay calls the Hudson Valley area in New York State his home and he’s built quite a regional legend for himself as one of the most talented and diverse songwriters working today. He accomplishes a great deal without ever sounding overwrought and his audible influences never risk imitation despite the fact. The EP includes one bonus cut, a live performance of one of the new studio songs, but it does nothing to mar the completeness and well rounded aspects making the release one of 2018’s best yet. Leo Harmonay has built a loyal following for good reasons and this release poises him to expand it exponentially. Get in on this artist today because he’s far from his peak and only getting better each time out.

URL: https://suleheitner.com/

Canadian singer/songwriter Sule’s new single “Love Me” is another high point in the rapidly blossoming solo career of the latest musical export from our northern neighbors. He’s already achieved an appreciable level of notoriety thanks to his Season Three appearance on La Voix, a Canadian version of America’s The Voice airing out of Quebec, and this latest recording is the likely catalyst for Sule to further expand his profile and gain a bevy of new followers. He’s achieved some fame as a compelling live performer as well and there’s every indication in “Love Me” that it will prove a powerfully entertaining concert number for him. All the necessary ingredients for worldwide fame are here – he’s a charismatic, considered, and intelligent performer who brings passion to intensely human experiences and shows no signs of slowing. “Love Me” is definitely an early contender for single of the year.

SOUNDCLOUD: https://soundcloud.com/reinamoramusic/02-trouble

Reina Mora makes an sensational splash onto the scene with her first single, “Trouble”, from her first studio release Bird’s Eye View. The single is a power packed reminder that many young performers are capable of bringing the heat older listeners associate with the most physical of classic rock and pop while maintaining a distinctly modern look. “Trouble” is an expertly produced affair that memorably frames her voice but, likewise, never diminishes the importance of the musical arrangement or the performance of her musical collaborators. Everyone comes out of this song smelling like a rose. “Trouble” brings just that to listeners, but it’s the best sort of trouble, delicious, and primed to have a good time. Reina Mora couldn’t have dreamed of a better debut than this and it gets her career off to a resounding, transformative start.

URL: https://www.universaldice.com/

Universal Dice is one of those bands that have been plugging away on the margins of the mainstream music scene for a number of years and never getting the widespread attention they deserve. Their latest effort, a sixteen song rock opera called birth, love, hate, death, will likely make some head way with them raising their artistic profile while still throwing down a gauntlet of sorts for listeners. These are easily digestible tunes, but main songwriter Gerry Dantone isn’t happy with just entertaining audiences with some snappy collection of cuts – instead, he brings accessibility and intelligence together in a single package that manages to balance giving a good time to the audience while still asking them to involve themselves with interesting characters that Dantone’s songwriting gives powerful voice to. It’s an effort from front to back that should more than satisfy the band’s longtime fans and earn them reams of newfound respect.