Nashville based singer/songwriter Connor Leimer just released his latest single “Brooklyn,” which has heartfelt but sweet lyrics and paints a bittersweet picture of love. “I never know just how to feel, I never know just how to feel about you,” sings a confused Leimer. The chorus “You’ll go back to Brooklyn and leave me here” absolutely tugs at my heart, as will most of this song. While the lyrics aren’t the brightest, the feel of the song has an upbeat bop to it. With a jazz feel, Leimer is reminiscent of Michael Buble, but in indie fashion. “Brooklyn” is a simple yet meaningful song that suits a rainy day, or a corner spot in a cafe, reading an old book. This is just the beginning for Connor, as this is the first song off of his upcoming project with Nashville sensation Matt Rollings.
“Mirror Mirror” is the latest single by German based band, Sky Blue Skin. “Mirror Mirror” is creepily powerful and has a femme fatale power vibe to it with sultry vocals. “Love is mean and cruel, plays it for a fool,” purrs the vocals. Sky Blue Skin shows no mercy on “Mirror Mirror.” It is no “falling in love” track. In fact, the band is just here to remind you that your heart will be broken. “And once again you end up all alone,” and “I never want to see your joy,” are lyrics without a happy ending. I loved the western rock feel that Sky Blue Skin brings to “Mirror Mirror.” Even more, I love how the band makes love seem dangerous, unattainable, and in the end downright foolish and stupid. This is definitely a power song, and listening to it made me feel like a heart breaker myself. Check out Sky Blue Skin’s latest “Mirror Mirror” below.
IAKO is excited to release his debut EP Queen of Balance. Raised in Venice, IAKO (also known as Jacopo Rosetto) draws inspiration for his music through memories of canals, poetry, and relaxing soundscapes. His EP consists of six tracks in total which include his single “Paint” and “Queen of Balance.” “Paint” is a soulful track with powerful lyrics. “My heart is yours/You can paint it as you want,” sings IAKO. A love song of hopeless infatuation, the track is almost, in a sense, sad. “You can play with it as you want,” IAKO says of his heart. Combining the sounds of IAKO’s beautiful voice, piano, and lyrical thoughtfulness, “Paint” will take your heart home.
Title track “Queen of Balance,” remains a little more fast paced but keeps a somber mood. “I’m no king, and you’re the queen of balance,” proclaims IAKO. Also realizing sadness, IAKO asks “Why would you crush the fortress we built?” A plead to his queen, IAKO sings of the king he will never be. My favorite line is “You bring me down, so down,” because while hurt remains, how can you not see the person you love a royalty regardless of actions? My favorite song on this EP is “Vanishing Point.” Unlike most of the tracks, “Vanishing Point” starts off with a jazzy upbeat feel. It remains hopeful and references art in a fascinating way. “We’re just two parallel lines, so close but so far from the vanishing point, from the vanishing point.” “Take my silence, and decorate your walls,” the song pleads.
Queen of Balance is an emotive display of indie-folk with lyrical creativity that really makes you want to listen.
Queen of Balance is out now. Keep up with IAKO here.
Punk-folk band Mike Llerena & The Nerve, just released their first single “Crossfire.” The band is from Gainesville, FL plan to release their debut LP “Old Haunts & New Horizons” on June 15th. “Crossfire” is an enthusiastic rock song and has a 90’s rock feel. “All my force, all my metal, all my reason and you still won’t settle,” rhymes Mike on lead vocals. The song has the perfect amount of “punk angst” to it. “Caught in the corner of a crossfire,” the chorus reinstates the tracks frustration. Aside from the lyrics, Brian Jones on bass and Scott Marshall on drums, really bring the rock to “Crossfire” in a cohesive manner. While their LP won’t be out until June, you can hear the new track below.
Boca Raton, Florida native Brandyn Burnette, just released his latest single “Run”, inspired by Burnette’s journey as an artist and a person. The song is melodic, funky and jazzy. “Drinking too much coffee- didn’t get my education, but no that didn’t stop me,” sings Brandyn on his road to success. “Run” was inspired by Burnette’s decision to leave a full ride scholarship to pursue his dream of creating music. The song is very inspirational and has a great message for ambitious youth. My favorite line is “When that moment comes, will you grab it by the horns and run?” While Brandyn knew that he may not “get his education,” that did not stop him from following his passion. This is why “Run” is so powerful and uplifting.
On his journey, Burnette says,
Each chapter has helped me reach the next level of my emotional and artistic development. I would take the qualities and experiences I loved about a certain place or time with me, leave others behind that didn’t fit, and start over as a newer, better version of myself, finding my own lane among those influences.
Alternative rock band Beard Bates just released their latest single “Lion Sheep Birds.” The one man show is versatile as a singer, songwriter, producer, visual artist, designer, and author. Like the title, the song is very unique. It begins with a slow, eerie intro, creeping up on you until pleading vocals. A lovesick song, “Lion Sheep Birds” weaves a story of remorse, regret, and memories. “If I could go back, you know I would/I’d come back and save you from the horrible sting.”
Teetering between alternative rock and folk the track remains special in its own way and is inspired by Beard’s near death experience. “I almost died while scaling the wall of the Bronson Canyon cliffs in Los Angeles. I shouldn’t have been scaling loose rock walls in cowboy boots, but I was perturbed and in a rebellious state of mind,” Bates tells Buzzbands.La.
“Soothe The Soul” is the latest single by alternative-rock Ward. “Soothe The Soul” is the artist’s second single, following the lovely “Crush.” “Soothe The Soul” is personal for Ward as he shares his journey and goals as an artist on the track. “Soothe The Soul,” is in fact soothing and expresses the hope and search for personal freedom “I felt loose…like I felt then,” ponders Ward. For me the most powerful lyrics are “I’ve been living my life as some other guy, I’ve been living my days as somebody’s son…whose soul knows better.” “Soothe The Soul” came into the works when Ward realized he didn’t like the life he was living. As a tech executive in New York, Ward quit his job and moved to Los Angeles to pursue the life he wanted- the life of an artist and musician.
The L.A. based, We’re No Gentlemen just released a new video for their latest single “Promises”. The band was recently featured on Imperfect Fifth’s site with the release of their last music video for “Night.” “Promises” shows the band in playing in an intimate venue, with fans running to them. The video pans from each band member giving us an intimate look at We’re No Gentlemen.
Front woman Amanda Gabel really takes the lead as she sings to the camera and dances with fans on stage. The video is classic and incorporates fans and audience members jamming to “Promises”. The song itself channels early 2000’s rock with a garage feel. “Promises we make, promises we break, it’s too much to take everything is fake,” sings We’re No Gentlemen. My favorite is “Change me, no they cannot break me…I already broke in” as the band states that they are here to stay.
The Centeno’s are more than just a family from New Jersey. Together, they are rock band The RocknRoll HiFives. Before fatherhood, Joe Centeno spent his days as a touring musician. Now he is joined by his daughter Eilee Centeno, his son, and his wife, and their latest single “Hold On” is pretty impressive.
The rock track starts out with sultry female vocals and sounds of very evident guitar, bass and drums. “Blonde hair, red dress- she got you drooling, you’re such a mess,” the song starts off. “Hold on, I’ve got something to say to you,” beats the chorus. Lyrically, “Hold On” is creative and sassy as it tells the tale of a female vixen who literally has a “hold” on you. “I need another minute with you,” the song muses. Their debut LP will be out June 29th via Little Dickman Records.
