Jenny Lindfors: The Blazing Sun + Don't Tempt The Shadow + Step To The Right

 

Irish, with a Swedish last name, and now based in London, singer-songwriter Jenny Lindfors released her debut album 'When the Night Time Comes' in 2008, followed it up with the three-track EP 'Step to the Right' in 2012, and is currently recording her second full-length.

Like virtually all female folk singers with a guitar she is compared to a young Joni Mitchell, yet both her sound and her effortless, exquisite phrasing are in fact much closer to those of James Taylor, Bill Withers, as well as the late, great Eva Cassidy.

In 2011 Rumer invited Lindfors to open for her on a spring/summer tour of the UK plus one gig in Paris. This year she is planning a small tour for September and recently asked fans to suggest "cozy, special" UK venues via Facebook:

www.facebook.com/jennylindforsofficial

https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/jenny-lindfors/id263382142


Speaking of Rumer, here is my post from last summer:

http://latenightdj.blogspot.com/2012/08/rumer-house-is-not-home-sara-smile-slow.html

Luke James: I.O.U.

 

 

Just turned 29 yesterday, New Orleans native Luke James went to the same high school as the slightly younger Frank Ocean, and like Ocean, he got his start writing songs for big names in the music industry before making a name for himself as an artist by way of buzz generating mixtapes.

'#Luke' dropped in 2011 and included the Grammy-nominated single "I Want You"; it was followed up last year with 'Whispers in the Dark' which was made available as a free digital download.  His debut studio album 'Made To Love' will be released July 16. The first single 'Make Love to Me' came out in January.

The second single "I.O.U." dropped in February: its irresistible mix of Luke James' gorgeous vocals, a hypnotic beat and a killer bass line puts this track solidly alongside the best material that Frank Ocean and Miguel have delivered. (Maybe the three of them could do a Three Tenors style concert?)

NOTE: James opened up for Beyoncé on the just wrapped European leg of her 'Mrs. Carter' world tour. Make sure to check the links for updates on future solo concert dates.


www.facebook.com/whoislukejames

http://whoislukejames.com/

Mark Owen: Stars

                                                 

Mark Owen of British band Take That released his fourth solo album 'The Art of Doing Nothing' yesterday; the tragic-comic video for the excellent first single "Stars" was published last month.

Owen still has a few shows left on his June tour schedule: June 16 in Glasgow, June 23 in Frankfurt, and June 24 in Berlin.


http://www.markowenofficial.com/live/

https://www.facebook.com/MarkOwenOfficial

Savoir Adore: Empire Of The Light + Dreamers

Deidre Muro and Paul Hammer (son of Jan Hammer) aka Brooklyn duo Savoir Adore self-released their second full-length 'Our Nature' last year; it was rereleased this week via Nettwerk Records. 

A ten-date June tour of the U.S. with a full band kicks off tonight in Boston. They will also be performing at the Bunbury Music Festival gig in Cincinnati on July 14.

NOTE: If you think the band moniker looks a little off, you're correct: the duo purposely chose their 'grammatically faulty' name, a playful twist on the well-known French term 'Savoir Faire'  [English term: know how]


https://www.facebook.com/savoiradore/app_123966167614127

marstal:lidell: Memory Is A Dream Machine + Heartbeat Beating Me Up + Icicles Melting

Henrik Marstal and Anna Lidell  of Copenhagen duo marstal:lidell self-released their five-track debut EP 'A Dream Machine' March 22.  Recorded last summer in Brooklyn, it features various guest musicians, including drummer Jaleel Bunton of TV On The Radio.

A second five-track EP entitled 'one divided by one' dropped June 3; hopefully, videos will be published to accompany a few of the new tracks. 

The duo occasionally performs live: check their Facebook page for updates.


www.facebook.com/marstallidellmusic

https://soundcloud.com/marstal-lidell

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/a-dream-machine-ep/id621960119


NOTE:
Anna Lidell was a close friend of Danish Jonas Sekyere Thomsen who was murdered in Copenhagen last November; the two students were next door neighbors at Copenhagen University's oldest dormitory 'Regensen'.  Following Jonas' untimely and senseless death, Lidell wrote a poignant tribute song in Danish with her musical partner Marstal and made it available as a free download. 

The links below: my posts about Jonas from November; the tribute song-video is included in the first post.

http://latenightdj.blogspot.com/2012/11/trentemller-miss-you-posted-in-honor-of.html

http://latenightdj.blogspot.com/2012/11/rip-jonas-thomsen-sekyere.html

Frank Ocean: Lost

Frank Ocean has several gigs lined up this summer, most of them at festivals.

NOTE:  The June 27 Copenhagen date as well as the July 9 London date are reportedly sold out.


http://www.songkick.com/artists/4673933-frank-ocean/calendar


The single "Lost" is taken from his stellar, highly acclaimed 2012 album 'Channel Orange.'  The touring/travel footage for the video was shot and edited by Francisco Soriano.

Quadron: Better Off (Feat. Kendrick Lamar)

The new album 'Avalanche" from Danish duo Quadron drops June 4 on Epic.  Coco O. and Robin Hannibal, now both based in Los Angeles, unveiled the Motown-style first single "Hey Love" last month and followed it up this week with the release of the outstanding track "Better Off" which features Kendrick Lamar whom they worked with on his album 'good kid, m.A.A.d.city'.  (Coco and Robin can claim membership of Copenhagen musical collective Boom Clap Bachelors whose track 'Tiden Flyver' was sampled by Lamar for his current hit "Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe". )

So far, thirteen North American dates have been scheduled for the summer; there is also a show in Mexico City October 12.  First gig up is June 5 in Los Angeles at the Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.


06-05 Los Angeles, CA - The Masonic Lodge at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery
06-12 Boston, MA - Brighton Music Hall *
06-13 New York, NY - Highline Ballroom *
06-15 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club *
06-16 Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer *
06-18 Seattle, WA - Nectar Lounge
06-19 Vancouver, British Columbia - Fortune Sound
06-21 Portland, OR - Hawthorne Theater
06-23 San Francisco, CA - Stern Grove
07-27 New York, NY - Central Park Summer Stage #
08-03 Montreal, Quebec - Osheaga
08-24 Monterey, CA - First City Festival
09-14 Atlanta, GA - One Music Fest
10-12 Mexico City, Mexico - Corona Capital Festival


NOTE: several of the dates above are not yet listed on Quadron's Facebook page, but here is the direct ticket link to the Wednesday June 5 concert for those of you who live in the L.A. area:

http://hollywoodforever.ticketfly.com/event/279803-quadron-los-angeles/


Remaining dates:

https://www.facebook.com/quadronmusic/events