Justin, Author at ReverbNation Blog

Justin

Artist You Should Know: Phebe Starr

Australian-born/LA-based songstress Phebe Starr has been grabbing the attention from the likes of Paste, Nylon, Neon Gold and more with her powerful, emotive vocals. Read on to get the 411 on Phebe’s new single “Lavender Scars” that just premiered on Stereogum, tour, AUDIENCE Network special, and more.

You just premiered your new single “Lavender Scars” on Stereogum, and they said, “A mark of great artists is the ability to translate devastating moments into resonating beauty, and Starr certainly achieves this in penning this song for a close friend grieving.” Tell us the inspiration behind the track.
The song was written in response to my friend’s father’s illness (Alzheimer’s) and death. I was working alone in the studio when I received her text that her father had passed away. I didn’t know what to say. Life hadn’t really prepared me to handle the harsh reality of loss in my own life or in anyone I was close to. I knew the polite response was always to say something along the lines of ‘I’m so sorry,’ or even more cliché ‘Everything happens for a reason,’ but I felt these words were inadequate compared with the enormity of the situation.

Justin July 22, 2016 Artists

ReverbNation CONNECT and American Songwriter Launch Discover NYC Concert Series

ReverbNation CONNECT and American Songwriter’s concert series, “Discover,” is coming to NYC on August 9 at Rockwood Music Hall. Read on to learn more about the exciting show.

We’re so excited to announce that our Discover concert series with American Songwriter is coming to New York City! The series, which originally kicked off in Nashville, is debuting at Rockwood Music Hall on August 9 to showcase the best emerging artists in the city. For the series premiere, #DiscoverTuesdays will feature Fee Lion, Oh My Love, and Overcoats. Admission is FREE and more details can be found on DoNYC.

Justin July 21, 2016 Events

Artist You Should Know: Little Tybee

Meet Little Tybee, the genre-blending sextet from Atlanta. They’ve been together for over seven years and they’re currently touring the country promoting their new self-titled LP. We chatted with the band about crowdsourcing their new album, how they maintain an engaged fanbase, and more.

Hey Little Tybee thanks for chatting with us! Can you introduce yourselves? Where are you guys from and how did you meet?
We are all Georgia natives, but half of the band is from Savannah, GA (Little Tybee is a actually an island off the coast of Savannah and inspired the name of the band). We have been playing under the name Little Tybee for the better part of 7 years, but I have been playing with most of the members in various projects for the past 12. Ryan (BASS), Pat (DRUMS) and I went to High School together (Savannah Arts Academy) and all moved to Atlanta around the same time to pursue careers in the arts and music. We met Josh, Chris and Nirvana as members of the thriving music scene that was present in Atlanta at that time. We all clicked musically and have been playing together ever since.

Justin July 20, 2016 General

Artist Session: Mark Diamond

Following the release of his moody single "Dark Matter," Seattle-based singer Mark Diamond released an anthemic track called "Losing Control," which features his sultry vocals over cinematics hooks. The track was featured in PureVolume. Both tracks can be found on his upcoming 'Cosma' EP due out July 27. Read on to learner about ‘Cosma,’ Mark’s influences, and more.

Hi Mark! Tell us a little about yourself.
I’m 23 years old, born and raised in Seattle, Washington. I grew up with an international airline pilot as a father and traveled a lot growing up. I look back all the time and think about how all that traveling really gave me my appreciation for the Pacific Northwest and the place I was born. Seattle is beautiful and has definitely been one of the biggest influences in my music.

Justin July 19, 2016 Artist Session Artists Featured

On Tour: Jon Lindsay

After releasing his highly anticipated album Cities & Schools and getting praised by the likes of Paste Magazine and The Big Takeover, singer-songwriter Jon Lindsay is hitting the road for a U.S. summer tour and European fall tour. Read on to get the inside scoop and find a tour date near you.

Following the release of his album Cities & Schools, Jon Lindsay has been releasing a slew of music videos that we can’t get enough of. “Little Queen Drum Machine” just premiered on Paste and its captivating visuals is Lindsay at his best. Paste was also the first to share Cities & Schools and describe the LP as, “a powerful collection of finely crafted pop that has garnered considerable praise for Lindsay.” We couldn’t agree more.

Justin July 18, 2016 Artists General

Life on the Road: The Bergamot

Brooklyn-based indie rock duo The Bergamot have been driving around the U.S. in their Volvo on their 48-state “Unity Tour.” The husband and wife band took a break from their amazing journey to share their top touring tips, update us on the tour so far, and more.

What are your tips for touring musicians?

Touring… The final frontier. The only frontier. You know how you can turn the lights off in a room and for the first couple seconds of walking around you can remember where everything is and how to navigate. Then, after about 60 seconds, you slowly start to loose orientation and your memory becomes a little foggy. Then you just put your hands out and move your feet slow as to find your way. Finally, you hit into something and then it triggers your memory into where you might be. You just keep going and slowly the room reveals itself to you. That is the closest comparison I have ever had to life on the road. You can loose your sense of center and you completely become submersed in the moment and that is the guiding direction. It can be scary, but after a while you can get the hang of it. It can be frustrating when you are working hard to develop you career and others want to know how you are doing. But the truth is if you are still touring and performing you are still making it all work for you. It is just that simple.

Justin July 14, 2016 Career Management

How fast will you fall for OTON’s “Slow?”

What's the last song you obsessed over? Our guest blogger Olivia, the powerhouse behind Wolvereen and who is spending the summer discovering new music with us, can't get enough of newcomers OTON. With a trip-hop sound of the late-90's paired with hip-hop beats and airy vocals, you're going to have them on repeat.

So many amazing things come out of Belgium; waffles, chocolate, and slightly less cliche but equally as awesome, OTON. This Brussels-based duo is known for their modern day take on the classic late 90’s jazzy trip-hop. It’s a decadent mix of smooth synths aided by lead singer Sasha Vovk and her rhythmic riffs on guitar.

Justin July 11, 2016 Artists

Artist You Should Know: Secret Weapons

After gaining attention from the likes of Billboard and PopMatters with their anthemic single “Something New,” pop duo Secret Weapons just released their debut EP ‘SW.’ With an infectious sound and feel-good vibe, you’ll have Secret Weapons on repeat in no time.

Hey guys, thanks for taking time out your busy schedule to chat with us! Let’s start with a little introduction. Who is Secret Weapons?
Secret Weapons is Gerry Lange and Danny Rocco from Brooklyn, New York.

We’re kind of obsessed with your recently released debut EP ‘SW’ — tell us about the making. What is it that you want your listeners to get from it.
The EP was a crazy experience. We spent two months recording in a warehouse in Red Hook, Brooklyn. We were totally isolated from the rest of the city, out on a pier jutting into the harbor. We recorded a ton of music, and had a hard time pairing it all down to a single EP. I think in the few days before we turned it in we were still adding new songs that were only a few days old.

Justin July 7, 2016 Artists General