11 Officers Injured Breaking up Unlicensed London Music Event
Sufjan Stevens Announces New Album ‘The Ascension’, Shares “America” Single & Video
The post Sufjan Stevens Confirms the arrival of the latest album ‘The Ascension,’ Single & Video shares “America” is released on the LIVE music site.
Sufjan Stevens has announced his eighth solo studio album, The Ascension, which will be released on Asthmatic Kitty Records on September 25. The LP’s first single is out today, the final track on the album entitled “America,” along with a Stevens-filmed video.
From the Press Report:
“My objective for this album was simple: Interrogate the world around you. Question anything that doesn’t hold water. Exterminate all bullshit. Be part of the solution or get out of the way. Keep it real. Keep it true. Keep it simple. Keep it moving.”
“America” and “My Rajneesh” will be launched digitally on July 10 as a double-sided 12-inch single July 31 with “My Rajneesh.” See the video below and preorder the 12-inch here.
SUFJAN STEVENS-THE ASCENSION
1. Make Me An Offer I Cannot Refuse (5:19)
2. Run Away With Me (4:07)
3. Video Game (4:16)
4. Lamentations (3:42)
5. Tell Me You Love Me (4:22)
6. Die Happy (5:47)
7. Ativan (6:32)
8. Ursa Major (3:43)
9. Landslide (5:04)
10. Gilgamesh (3:50)
11. Death Star (4:04)
12. Goodbye To All That (3:48)
13. Sugar (7:37)
14. The Ascension (5:56)
15. America (12:30)
The post Sufjan Stevens Announces New Album ‘The Ascension’, Shares “America” Single & Video appeared first on LIVE music blog.
Benevento / Russo Duo Releases LP’s on Vinyl for Bandcamp Friday, Pre-Order Now!
The Benevento / Russo Pair was melded into Joe Russo’s Almost Dead’s broader spirited Grateful Dead project, so their initial project was largely quiet as late. But with the epidemic of the coronavirus COVID-19 causing us all to sit home for a little while, it looks like they dove through the files and wanted to eventually get around to publishing their two major albums on vinyl for the first time. They also placed Play Pause Stop back on streaming channels, and even introduce five live tracks to the mix.Something special coming tomorrow from two dudes who had a band many years ago… and now Steal Your Face on the reg!
— Royal Potato Family (@royalpotato) July 2, 2020
It’s Bandcamp Friday! The online music shop generously waives all of its revenue share today, while RPF pays 100% of all… Posted by The Royal Potato Family on Friday, July 3, 2020
Money Matt Is the Rapper to Watch Out For
Ohio is ripping at the seams with so many notable up-and-coming artists, and one of the rappers to watch out for this year is Money Matt.
With the world paying attention to Ohio’s music scene, he is amplifying his voice to define a new sound coming from Cincinnati, Ohio. He is a two-time award-winning artist and independent musician, and he has since generated over a million streams.
At a young age, he already knew that music was going to be something he would do for the rest of his life. It all started when he had a severe eye injury that he started looking for a way to release his anger. He explored different outlets, went on to play sports, and had the natural talent for it, but it did not spark something in him until music.
When he came upon freestyling, he realized it gave him a way to release. So when he started doing so, he never stopped since. “I always had used music as a means to get away from my reality and express myself in my own way,” he shares.
And since then, he practiced, freestyled, and developed his craft. He later on went on a journey of looking for his sound in music and working on his song depth and flow. It took him almost five years to perfect freestyling by writing for six to eight hours every night. However, in 2012, he got his first studio set up and began to record.
His time at the studio led to his debut single, “No Beats Just Bars,” which became the foundation of #MoneyMattTakeover2017.
His career was not an easy one. After encountering struggles early on, he realized that beyond making music, he wanted to make a name for himself as a positive leader—like an NFL or NBA player—to the youth. For him, glorifying violence is not the way we need to spread positivity to the youth.
“They need to see that being yourself is going to get you in farther places than creating a facade that most people in everyday life do not live,” he says.
Money Matt is someone all people will admire. His positivity is not only shown through the music he puts out, but also through his genuine demeanor to his fans, the charisma he brings on stage, and the willingness to work with other artists in the independent music scene.
The tracks that he has released so far convey a message that has since been heard worldwide and a brand that is for the unity of all people. The real reason behind his name proves his humility. In his tracks, “Like Yesterday” and “A1 Grind”, he mentions that money isn’t going to change him.
Today, he recently released his song, Double Up, dubbed as the summer banger of the year.
Indeed, as an upcoming rapper, his original style, universal sound, and positive outlook will surely spread for Money Matt to rise as one of the biggest rappers in the music game today.
Learn more about Money Matt on his website.
Rapper Rulla Is Philly’s Newest Rising Star
Today, there has never been a lot of music to sift through. New releases are growing in frequency, trends come and go, and new rappers are popping out from anywhere. However, amid all of the noise, the ones who stay are those who know how to keep their music fresh and Rulla is working toward just this.
This North Philly rapper is only 21 years old, but over the years, he has maintained his steady mark in the industry and is teasing new music that just gets better and better every year as he discovers his own boundless potential. He’s already oozing with talent as it is. To think he may have unlocked some new, incredible ways to level up his game is exciting to look forward to.
With a proven track record of making absolute slappers (“No Cap” and “Right Now” are just some of his biggest releases to date) and signed by none other than Philly’s music mogul Jimmy Dasaint himself, he doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon.
Raised on the hard streets of North Philly, Rulla has been looking for ways to express his anger, and he found it through music. Since his teenage years, he has been writing and performing music and was later on discovered for his level of quality and compelling storytelling.
In 2019, his quality-driven artistry and dense flows were recognized when he won the Best New Artist at the Philly Hip-hop Awards. For him, it was a validation of all of his hard work throughout his years of practicing, writing, and developing his craft. But more importantly, it was a time to reflect and humble himself that if it were not for the people who helped him to get to where he is now, it wouldn’t be possible.
For his fans who are wondering what’s up with him nowadays, he is cooking something really good. His music can be heard on the soundtrack for the upcoming feature film THE KARMA EFFECT, coming late this year. Rulla is also set for his upcoming release and is currently working with Grammy award-winning producer Carvin Haggins and a few local producers for this upcoming album project. Although everyone is hoping to hear more from him, there is more to come from this hip hop prodigy.
Throughout many years, the Philly hip hop scene has been bright so far. Many artists have paid homage to the city, yet none of them have truly been able to make a lasting mark on the game. This is what makes him a truly rising star to watch out for. However, he is even more poised to go beyond just Philly and becoming one of hip-hop’s biggest stars. On the heels of his success, the rap scene is excited to hear his new album.
In this upcoming album, the Philly rapper steps not only out of his comfort zone but making this a career-defining album. For sure, this debut album will help pave the way for his legacy.
To know more, follow Rulla on Instagram.
How Spencer Kiel Went from College Dropout to Helping Thousands of Musicians Dominate On Digital Channels
Every musician dreams of the day that their music reaches thousands of listeners regularly. That’s where professionals like Spencer Kiel come in. The music marketing expert is best known for building a system that exposes songs to thousands of listeners and gets rappers and artists thousands of listens a month.
Spencer is a marketing expert, music aficionado, and entrepreneur. Also known for his nickname Swishh, he owns a marketing agency of the same name that caters to rappers and artists who are looking to grow their online following and music streams.
The company has helped over 1,800 musicians reach more people through their social accounts in just the last few months. The results come from the depth of experience and success that Swishh has had in the past. A musician himself, Spencer is an avid songwriter. He has been actively recording songs since 2017. Swishh has been working with artists for over four years. In that time, he has noticed how the far majority of talented musicians struggle when it comes to marketing themselves.
His solution was coming up with a marketing automation system built on a partnership with the UK-based platform Audiu, also known as Repost Exchange, which the marketing consultant uses to bring more awareness and exposure to musicians’ works.
Spencer’s journey to where he is today did not come easy. In July 2017, after deciding to quit college as a freshman, he started on his entrepreneurial journey. He began with a sales job that taught him the foundations of sales. After rising to a managerial position in less than a year and absorbing all he needed to know, Swishh left his job and pursued his first business venture—a highly profitable eBay store.
After automating his business and scaling it, the online store exponentially grew. But that was cut short after Spencer’s eBay account got suspended for an unknown reason. He tried to revive the account but to no avail. After that, he found himself muddied with a forty thousand dollar debt and no money to his name.
He switched to music as a career and became an audio engineer. Although he was good at it, the money wasn’t enough to help him erase his debt. So he took a day job at Amazon, where he worked nine-hour shifts every day. In the evenings, he would spend all his waking hours on his music side hustle. He learned how to market himself and his musicians through piles of audiobooks, which he would listen to during his shifts.
In the third quarter of 2019, Spencer opened a SoundCloud account and Instagram page. He started uploading his original tracks. As soon as the songs hit digital waves, they started to spread like wildfire. Swishh was getting thousands of plays per track when more seasoned rappers were only getting hundreds. Musicians started to approach him and asked Spencer to market their songs for them.
Today, Spencer is serving more and more musicians by helping them grow their reach every single day. The most notable artist he works with, Noza Jordan, is signed to OTF records which was founded by Lil Durk.
After hitting 10k followers on Instagram in April 2020, the marketing guru left his day job to work on Swishh Music full time. He is extremely passionate about guiding musicians through the process of expanding their reach and monetizing their music. His company’s slogan is “helping music brands make noise,” and being true to his word, Spencer is creating a buzz for thousands of rappers and artists today.
To learn more about Swish Music and Spencer’s work, visit his Instagram account.
How Cha$e Mill$ Is Inspiring People Through His Story and Music
Life is never always going to be easy, and oftentimes, we get knocked back down by its many challenges. However, as the old saying goes, it doesn’t matter how many times you fall, what matters is that you always get back up. As someone who has gone through quite a struggle in his life, Cha$e Mill$ knows the feeling of being knocked down many times, and through his songs, he aims to inspire people to get back up and fight like he did.
Jamal Harris, more popularly known as Cha$e Mill$, is an up-and-coming songwriter, brand ambassador, host, and hip-hop/rap artist from Maryland. A talented rapper known for his constant wordplay, clever metaphors, raw sound, and a unique backstory, Cha$e Mill$ aims to inspire many people to live their best lives through his music and story.
Gifted with a good heart and an even greater talent for writing and rapping, Cha$e Mill$’s music tells the story of love, loss, and redemption that the 27-year old artist has gone through in his life. With powerful, hard-hitting songs like “Let Me In”, “You Can’t Relate” and “Living Legend” on his The Growth, Vol. 1 mixtape, the Litty Music Group-signed Cha$e raps about his pain and struggle as he shares with his audience a story that is truly unique yet fully relatable.
Born Jamal Harris on September 29, 1992, this rapper on the rise has gone through quite a roller coaster ride in his life, describing his story as one “filled with pages of laughter, grief, and unforgettable memories.” As a child, Jamal Harris was raised in several areas of Maryland which reflects how diverse his style is in general. He grew up alongside his two younger siblings and was caught between two divorced parents. His dad was active but wasn’t always available, and so Cha$e and his siblings grew up with his mom, who remarried and moved them to Frederick, Maryland, where he also went to high school.
Amid all the struggles he was facing, the young Jamal always had refuge in the form of music. While his mother never really listened to music, except for ’80s and ’90s R & B, it Cha$e’s dad who was so into the underground rap culture that had Cha$e interested. Growing up, Cha$e was inspired by Lil Wayne, Three 6 Mafia, 50 cent, Tupac, Nas, and many more. He first tested his musical talents at 13 years old, writing lyrics in a composition book every night before going to bed. By the time he was 15, Cha$e formed a group called DC Connect, with his cousin recording music on an MP3 player in their basement. At the time, Cha$e never took music seriously, only playing around with it for fun.
It wouldn’t be until 9 years later that Cha$e decided to take his talent for writing music seriously. In those 9 years, he had gone through quite a lot in his life—going in and out of jail by the time he was 18 years old, being homeless for 2 years, losing his child’s mother and the custody of his son, as well as losing friends and family. However, despite these struggles, he was always persistent and chased his dream, inspiring his eventual rap name Cha$e Mill$.
Despite facing many challenges in his life, Cha$e Mill$ has always gone through everything with a smile in his face. As he says, “I have an opportunity to get my foot in the door of music and make an impact on millions of people’s lives with positivity.” Ultimately, Cha$e Mill$ aims to create songs that inspire people, encourage them to be themselves, and tell them to always strive to be better versions of themselves—just like he did.
To know more about Cha$e Mills, you can check out his website, stream his music on SoundCloud, or follow him on his Twitter and Instagram accounts.
Coco O’Connor’s “When I Was Your World” Serenades The World in Rough Times
Singer/Songwriter Coco O’Connor is bringing inspiration into the lives of music fans all over through her songs, message, and example. Hailing from a humble life in Alabama, the artist is quickly turning into a star. While her journey has not been comfortable, things are coming full circle for her.
Coco’s musical journey started back in 2015 when she independently launched her first album. The indie compilation quickly turned into a hit and collected a significant following. O’Connor took it to the next level by releasing “This Ol’ War” in 2018, a seven-track EP, which became a critically-acclaimed sophomore entry. One of the album’s entries, “The Devil, A Wounded Man, And Me,” went on to win an award in the 2019 International Acoustic Music Awards (IAMA) during their 15th annual ceremony.
Proceeding after gaining recognition, Coco returned to the studio with a determination to bring her music up another next level. She started working on new songs that would return the artist to her musical beginnings. “It has a lot to do with going back to my roots where I grew up,” says Coco.
An Alabama native, Coco shares how much love she has for her origins.
“When I was 10 years old, I started writing songs.” continues Coco. “See, I loved Dolly Parton, and my momma told me, ‘well, you need to learn to write songs like Dolly.’ So, thus began my journey into songwriting, and I haven’t stopped chasing songs ever since.”
In early 2019, Coco was able to sign with a major record deal. She went straight to recording at Blackbird Studios and Dog Den Studios in Nashville. Guiding the singer/songwriter star through the process was powerhouse producer Bill McDermott, who had worked with artists like George Strait, Tim McGraw, and Emmylou Harris. Steve Marcantonio, who did sound work with Dolly Parton, Roseanne Cash, and Vince Gill, and John Lennon engineered Coco’s record. World-renowned Will McFarlane ( Bonnie Raitt) and The Shoals Sisters (Etta James , Allman Brothers) brought the Muscle Shoals sound to O’Connor’s album.
The result is a diverse album entitled “When I Was Your World,” which was released back on March 13, 2020. The album collection strings together ten beautiful tracks that instantly captured the hearts and minds of music fans throughout the nation and the world. The centerpiece of the album is her song of the same name. Coco wrote “When I Was Your World” sometime between 2015 and 2016. The artist was holding on to the song for the right time. The album of the same name felt to her like the best time to introduce it to the world. O’Connor’s daughter, a rock for the artist through the roughest of times, served as her inspiration to the track.
“I was just blown away that I was ‘the world’ to this little, new person in my life,” shares Coco. “So during a songwriting session with Rick Beresford and Deanna Walker, I blurted out the title, they loved it, and we were off to the races.” The team felt there was something special and soulful about the composition. Coco shares how she and the group felt a surge of emotions as they wrote the last lines of the song. “When I Was Your World” deals with all aspects of any relationship. It speaks on the freshness at the start, the eventual end, and all the ups and downs in between.
The album was released at the peak of the Coronavirus crisis but has still seen a tremendous amount of success. In March, the album sold thousands of copies and continues to see momentum. It received high praise as Coco had received hundreds of messages on Facebook and other channels about how much people love what the album “When I Was Your World” has to offer.
To follow Coco O’Connor’s music and life, check out her website and Instagram.
Christian Rapper ‘’MrBigFaith’’ Taking Over So-Cals Rap Game!
For some people, taking the long and arduous journey to success is for fulfillment and bettering one’s self. Does one do it for money? Or perhaps one goes through challenges for fame. After all, being successful in life is everyone’s dream. But for independent Christian rap artist Michael Brown, also known as MrBigFaith, success is a journey that connects him to a much bigger purpose.
Whether it concerns his music or his clothing brand, Michael D’ Angelo Brown dedicates his actions to God. After a near-death experience, Brown had an epiphany which made him rethink the way he was living his life. Seeing that it wasn’t worthwhile, he left his old ways of thinking and surrendered to God. There and then, Brown knew what God’s calling meant and his life started to finally take a much more meaningful shape.
But Brown did not have this particular kind of dedication overnight. The change came difficult for him. He was a notorious gang banger and was used to carrying out his actions with violence. When Big Faith got a prophetic word revelation in 2017, he left his lifestyle behind. He started fresh in life. Brown dedicated his life to Music Ministry. Since then, MrBigFaith has been roaming the streets for a different reason: to serve God through music.
Although, after his life-changing decision, Big Faith still faced trials and tribulations. The Christian life is not free of worries, after all. But Brown dealt with his problems with more peace, knowing that his God is in control. These challenges have not shaken his faith. They further strengthened his trust in God.
After his remarkable change, Mr. Brown was named MrBigFaith. His community saw the changes in him. Since then, he has been making an effort to lead a life of example for others.
His new life focuses on his dedication to using his gifts to glorify God and reach people through his clothing line and his music. Brown is not limiting his opportunities to reach people only through traditional means. To him, music is merely a vessel through which God can use him to touch other people’s hearts and bring them closer to his Yahweh.
Michael Brown has explored other genres of music apart from the traditional forms in church. He has spent time in Christian hip-hop music, where he hopes to engage the younger generations. Recently, MrBigFaith has produced two Christian rap EP’s. One called Big Faith, and the other called Shift. Both EPs are available on all music platforms. @MrBigFaith
The very name of his clothing brand based in Los Angeles, All Praise Be To God, serves as a testament of how the word of God turned his life around. What separates Brown from the rest is that his work is, unparalleled in approach. Not only does he touch people through his art, but he reaches them through a more real and spiritual level.
Michael sees his second chance at life as a blessing, so he blesses other people through sharing the Word of God and continually giving back to the community. He has served with Hope on Skid Row on 5th and Crocker, Los Angeles on Sundays where they give out clothes, food, and share the Gospel to homeless people.
Michael recently dropped 2 EPs (Availible On All Platforms). One called ‘Big Faith’ And one Called ‘Shift’. These Projects speak to Michaels thoughts on the world in relation to christianity with an awesome approach.
Michael stands for Christ, not just music. To him, his achievements are made possible not through his works but only through the grace of God. All Praise Be To God!
Spotify: MrBigFaith
Itunes: MrBigFaith
Youtube: MrBigFaith
Soundcloud: MrBigFaith
TikTok: MrBigFaith
Instagram: MrBigFaith
Website: MrBigFaith.com
Email: Mrbigfaith@yahoo.com
Learn more about MrBigFaith by checking out his website.
Kia Kërr: Album ‘Journey With Me’ Released to Impart a Message of Hope
With everything that has been going on recently, it would be nice to have some peace and quiet. Imagine being in a place where technology is turned off, and those rampant thoughts inside your head are shut off as well. With eyes closed, just feel your breath going in and out. Tune out the world. Turn on some music. That will give you peace.
Music is the soul of life and gives immense peace. And with the feeling of disconnect and overwhelm brought by these trying times, music keeps people grounded and connected somehow. This is why musicians like Kia Kërr stay motivated to keep creating more music.
Kia Kërr was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. She challenges the entertainment world to open its ears to a new sound. Her sweet tone, smooth timbre, and vocal range send warm vibrations that pierce not only through her listeners’ ears but as well as their hearts. As she blends her soulful melody with eclectic beats, she proves that she is in a league of her own.
This singer/songwriter has believed music to be her destiny calling at her ever since she was little. At the young age of 7, she was already singing and performing to her heart’s content. And in that pivotal moment, it can’t be any more apparent that music pumps through her veins. The way she captivates her audience is unlike any other.
Kia has performed in countless concerts and venues. Her fans fuel her to keep doing what she’s doing. And albeit being an experienced performer, she still manages to radiate a humble presence on stage. She strives to be a light in the entertainment industry by creating songs about the struggles and joys of life. She uses her music as a platform to ring hope to anyone who listens to it.
Writing her songs and arranging her own vocals give Kia an edge over other artists in the industry. She has a knack of turning her songs into more than just some vessels of beats and rhythms. She makes sure to incorporate her skill in story-telling with the art of songwriting.
For as long as she can remember, singing has always been her source of passion. Nothing sparks joy in her more than when she starts to let her voice out. She aspires to inspire all who will listen. And because she can’t be physically there for her listeners, she just lets her music fill in that gap. Through her songs, she reaches out to those who are feeling a little lost and down. She knows what it’s like to be at that point in life where nothing just seems to go right anymore. This is why it’s really important for her that she writes songs that are filled with hope.
Her new single “Light Lives Here” is already available on all streaming and purchasing platforms. Kia’s album, “Journey With Me”, is now available. The world has been a little too noisy lately, and Kia wants nothing more than for her music to uplift everyone in these trying times. Head on to her website to hear her euphoric and calming melodies.