Misha Kolesoski: The Catacomb Suburbs

We don't get many musical adaptations and retellings of books. In the late 90s, there was Pranzo Oltranzista, and before that, there was the high concept War of the Worlds album. This is why I was very eager to listen to Misha Kolesoski's album, The Catacomb Suburbs - a musical retelling of the 18th Century Gothic novel by Horace Walpole, The Castle of Otranto.
This is quite an astounding take on things. Between the composition, the layers of violin, electronics, and vocals the set distinct moods for each part - something new reveals itself every time I listen to this album all the way through. It is  as moody and intricate as the book, itself (from what I remember), and I'm very tempted to dig out my copy and read through it while this album plays as an accompaniment.

Misha Kolesoski is versed in traditional concert composition, as well as electronic and multimedia productions. If you thoroughly enjoy The Catacomb Suburbs, you can follow Misha on Facebook, YouTube, and his official site.

fREEX

fREEX band is at the forefront of a new, “Free Expression” style of music that is a totally new genre. Just as Grunge sprung from the collective of spectacular 90s Seattle bands, great bands in the SF Bay Area right now are creating a sensation with new sounds. And fREEX is the reigning champ of this new scene.


Originating from the East Bay Area, fREEX has honed an alternative post punk sound that rocks. You can follow fREEX on Facebook, and check out their music on their official site, as well as iTunes, Google Play, and Amazon.

I recently had the great opportunity to interview fREEX and received some awesome answers from California:

Tersichore: What moved you to music instead of, say, financial statistics?
fREEX/Califiornia: I have always been into music. Through High school, University, and even Law School! The freedom of expression and communication of joy, angst, and rage is what makes playing music important to me.

T: How long have you been doing this?
fREEX/Califiornia: fREEX has been around for about ten years. We still find new sounds, music, stories, emotions. Hopefully each new song feels hot and fresh and urgent. Cut us off when we cover Louie Louie!

T: I'm not going to ask about your influences (because everyone asks that), but who are you listening to when you're not making music?
fREEX/Califiornia: I like new sounds and truly alternative music. Some older stuff still sounds fresh: Nirvana, Dead Kennedys, Prince. Too much Alt rock-today sounds like bad 90s rock.

T: Plans for the future?
fREEX/Califiornia: Perform and record. Delight and arouse and confront and entertain.

T: If you wanted to impress something on your listeners (or the readers of this article) what would it be?
fREEX/Califiornia: The world needs new expressions. Even commercial radio relies on finding the New New. You can seek it just as well as anyone else. Listen to a thousand songs to find a band that talks to you in a new way.

SAVV: Alternative Energy

Show me an artist who enjoys doing their own thing, and who sees the journey as the real experience instead of the celebrity status, and I will follow that artist so I can listen to the areas they are exploring, and how they turn their life and musical experiences into their own original work.

Enter: SAVV

SAVV has a deep foundation in the Golden Age of Hip Hop, but since going solo, has ventured into jazz, funk, trip hop, rock, and experimental sounds - in addition to mastering the technical aspects of production in the studio.

For example, take a listen to Day$, off of the upcoming EP, Alternative Energy:
The lyrical callbacks, the vocal experimentation, and the musical layers can leave you finding something new each time you listen to this, while remaining a cohesive piece unto itself.

Second up, we have Beautiful Music, and it is:
SAVV knows how to use words - combining a laid back, romantic tone with some bare, sweat on the sheets gritty lyrics that set a perfect mood.

Lastly, I offer you Forreal:
What can I say about this? If the previous two tracks were depicting moments and moods, then Forreal is like a personal and social mission statement - SAVV is here, he's going to take things to a new level, and if the rest of you can keep up, then we'll all be better off in the long run.

Can't get enough? (I can't - I've been spinning these on a constant loop, and I know you'll do the same once you listen.) Then you can follow SAVV for show dates and behind the scenes info straight from the studio over on Facebook and Twitter.

Al-x

I don't frequently review artists from the "pop" genre. However, to review pop artist Al-x as simply "pop" would be doing her a great disservice. Al-x covers the spectrum of high energy songs, electronica, dance (as in, her tracks are great to dance to, and she dances as part of her live performances), a touching acoustic ballads that make listeners take time to reflect.

So without further hesitation, here is the premier of Al-x's new video, Always:


In the world of Al-x, pop music covers an entire spectrum of moods, and she delivers unapologetically, much to my (and many others') delight. Al-x brings much more than amazing composition that works hand-in-hand with her lyrics - she dances and plays guitar. In other words, she is a force to be reckoned with - combining emotional, intellectual, physical, talents with (let me wax a little paradoxical here) untamed precision.


Al-x has an international following, and in drawing from her skills as a singer/songwriter/dancer, Al-x is able to tap those universal feelings and bring everyone together with her songs.


It has always been that, if I wanted to find songs that reflected changes in my own feelings or thoughts, I would have to build playlists and dig through a bunch of artists to find what I need - and by that time, things have passed. It can be very frustrating. With Al-x's music, I get all of that, and she always has something new just over the horizon.


You can get all of her music through iTunes, CDBaby and on the Official Al-x Site. To find out the latest news about Al-X, such a show dates, upcoming singles, videos, and more, you can follow her on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Red Martian: Ghost Into The Fog

It's not often that I get the pleasure of listening to a band that combines a layered experimental sound, judicious use of electronics, and vocals that call to mind the late, great Johnny Thunders. All of this and an awesome shoegaze sound that hits me right in the nostalgia. And if any of this is piquing your interest (and it should), then you will want to pick up Ghost Into The Fog - the latest album from Seattle-based band Red Martian.

Ghost Into The Fog is produced by Gordon Raphael (Strokes, Sky Cries Mary, Regina Spektor), and showcases the great composition and musical diversity that Red Martian has to offer.

You can purchase Ghost Into The Fog over on Red Martian's official site, and for the latest news on show dates and behind the scenes info, you can follow Red Martian on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

I had a chance to ask Red Martian a few questions, and here are their responses:

Tersichore: What moved you to music instead of, say, financial statistics?

Red Martian: We are actually moving from music to financial statistics. In fact, based on my calculations we will never amortize the cost of being a band. Therefore, it is a much wiser choice to go into financial statistics.

T: How long have you been doing this?

RM: Mathematically speaking .. 2015 - 1999 = 16 years .. apparently. But the numbers do not lie. Did you notice I have a degree in financial statistics? Just got it via FTP.

T: I'm not going to ask about your influences (because everyone asks that), but who are you listening to when you're not making music?

RM: BROWNIAN NOISE. And a mix of white noise. And more precisely .. crows and seagulls fighting over pizza humans provided for them. We also listen to the garbage collector making their rounds at 4:30am because apparently that is the best time to collect garbage on Capitol Hill!

T: Plans for the future?

RM: In the future, we will quit financial statistics and move into music making. Statistically speaking, this knights move (of sorts) is sound advice.

T: If you wanted to impress something on your listeners (or the readers of this article) what would it be?

RM: How about depress? this album is about losing, loss and being lost. It is about feeling something and feeling nothing. It is about realizing there are places you can never go to. It is about a giant elephant walrus and about a girl.

Nick Festari Releases Debut EP: This Is Me Slower and Faster

He’s already made a name for himself on the Euro Dance scene and, more significantly, in Japan, where bands and singers have performed songs written by him.

Now singer-songwriter Nick Festari has turned his musical magic to Pop, releasing his debut EP This Is Me Slower and Faster.

Nick writes, sings and performs on all six tracks on the genre-busting EP, placing romantic ballads alongside edgier, Punk-Rock tinged tracks.

The 80s Electro-inspired instrumentals for You Wanna Make Me Fly (I Know You Belong To A Dream) were born in Nick’s home studio one new year’s day. The song’s lyrics evolved from the romantic feelings Nick was developing for someone he was working with.

Wings Of An Angel is a beautiful ballad with a gentle piano melody. The heartfelt lyrics depict the story of a man walking in the cold rain and thinking about his failed relationship.

The upbeat The Song I Wrote For You is a throwback to Nick’s Eurodance roots. Its rich vocal melodies include catchy pop hooks you’ll be humming for days.

Listening to Green Day, Nick instantly fell in love with Viva La Gloria, which spurred him to create Don’t Throw The Dice. Piano, violins and Nick’s vocals gently open the song, before giving way to powerful guitar riffs that underpin a full-bodied Punk-Rock attack and anthemic chorus.

There Will Be No Prize is the first song which Nick crafted specifically for the EP. Inspired by The Lego Movie, this Electro-pop track, complete with catchy chorus, is about an online game where players try to build a new universe with Lego bricks as they grapple with the origins of the universe and its ultimate prize: total satisfaction.

Don’t Slam The Radio is a retro-style Pop ballad that Nick first released in 2013. Having received positive reviews, he’s given the song an orchestral makeover for his new EP.

EP out now

This Is Me Slower and Faster was released on July 27 and is available via iTunes and Amazon.

Track Listing

1. You Wanna Make Me Fly (I Know You Belong To A Dream)
2. Wings Of An Angel
3. The Song I Wrote For You
4. Don’t Throw The Dice
5. There Will Be No Prize
6. Don’t Slam The Radio

Nick Festari wrote the lyrics, sang, composed, performed and produced all the music on the six tracks on the EP.

Follow Nick Festari

Website - http://www.nickfestari.com

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/nick.festari?fref=ts

Twitter - https://twitter.com/nick_festari

Soundcloud - https://soundcloud.com/nick-festari/

Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCohKX92lpEIV5GWC2nvfIaw

Qualia: Triptych

It's not often that I encounter music that pushes the listener to go beyond the audio experience. I recently had a chance to listen to Triptych - the upcoming EP from Seattle-based artist QVALIA, and it not only makes me want more, but it also makes me want to dive into each track and experience each layer of composition.

At first blush, these are tight tracks with smart lyrics and clever arrangements that fall somewhere between the realm of the post-New Wave music rom the 80s, puzzle/RPG games of the 90s, and full-blown movie soundtracks with shades of Hans Zimmer and Tangerine Dream. Dig a little deeper and the notes have texture, and evoke images - triggering synapses from the other senses as they try to keep up with your ears. Triptych is the sophomore release for QVALIA (solo artist, Michael Hazani), coming off of the soundscapes presented in the debut album, This is the Color of My Dreams (which you need to experience).


The Triptych EP is set to be released on September 15, 2015 on Amazon, Spotify, and iTunes, as well as on Qualia's SoundCloud & Bandcamp pages!. In the meantime, check out the official QVALIA site, and for the latest news, you can follow QVALIA over on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.