15 Minute Live Performances
15 Minute Live Performances: John R. Miller
Earlier this year, John R. Miller released his latest album, Depreciated. The album chronicles the story of a life well-lived, with its songs being filled with hope and wonder. We spoke with him about it at the time of its July release, and he detailed the struggles that he was dealing with leading up to it. Miller eventually found happiness in Kentucky and began spending a lot of time traveling and performing in the Bluegrass State. The album, which was produced by Justin Francis (Leon Bridges, Kacey Musgraves, Margo Price) and Adam Meisterhans, is Miller’s best work yet. It was so good to the point where another producer who happened to be walking by the room where it was being mixed was so impressed that he helped facilitate Miller being signed to Concord. Having first picked up a guita...
15 Minute Live Performances: Kate Vargas
The art of storytelling is a simple yet vital part of songwriting — in particular the lyrical part. It can make or break an artist and it’s something Kate Vargas is quite adept at. Though she’s admittedly mellowed in recent times, Vargas’ intricate, yet vibrant words continue to shine with energy and vigor. It’s apparent on many of the songs on Rumpumpo, her latest album, released in July, and a sterling effort that allows for her distinctive gravelly voice to shine alongside her blend of melodic folk and blues. Stepping back, the New Mexico-born, New York City-dwelling Vargas has been on many folks’ must-watch lists and with good reason. She’s dazzled crowds all over the world, notably Ireland’s Westport Folk and Bluegrass Festival to The Troubadour in London, The Mansion on O Street in W...
15 Minute Live Performances: India Carney
Earlier this year, we caught up with India Carney as part of our ongoing Day in the Life series. Her days are as entertaining as her music is poignant. If you aren’t familiar with Carney, you might recognize her from Season 8 of The Voice, where she made it to the Top 5, and during the last season of American Idol, Carney served as a vocal coach. If that’s not impressive enough, she’s performed at events ranging from the Grammys, the VMAs and Coachella, and has opened for Katy Perry. Earlier this year, Carney a new single titled “Human,” which she wrote following the George Floyd murder. “The events of last year really, really hit me emotionally, especially as a person of color and I felt a little vain for continuing on with the kind of songwriting that I was doing,” she told us at the tim...
15 Minute Live Performances: Sam Himself
Born in Switzerland and bred in Gotham, Sam Himself has won accolades in his homeland, but has aspirations to conquer the world. With his blend of alternative and indie rock, the musician has garnered accolades. In particular, following the release of his 2020 EP, Slow Drugs, Sam Himself (his name is a joke after a bandmate didn’t show up for a show and a promoter said it’s Sam Himself) took home the Swiss National Broadcasting Service’s Best Talent award. Not too shabby, but better days are definitely on the way for the rising Himself. Early in 2020, Sam Himself (born Sam Koechlin) went back to Europe to play a few shows with Anna Rossinelli and just a few days later, the pandemic and lockdown hit, keeping him in Europe. So what did he do? Create. Sam Himself hunkered down in a Swiss stud...
15 Minute Live Performances: Grace Weber
Back in June, Grace Weber gave us a glimpse into what a day in her life is like. When she’s not grabbing coffee, hopping on her Peloton or cuddling with her cats, she was readying her debut. Now, with that album out and readily available to the masses, Weber is ready to showcase those songs for the world to hear. But, if for some reason you aren’t familiar with Weber, you should be. Weber has a Grammy victory to her name, after writing Chance the Rapper’s “All We Got” (featuring Kanye West and the Chicago Children’s Choir) and had a major label deal in the wake of that. But leaving Capitol Records has proven to be fruitful for her. Don’t believe us? Then have a listen to A Beautiful Space. “Making this album, I decided that I would let it take us on a journey, instead of try...
15 Minute Live Performances: Naia Izumi
Sometimes discovering new talent can come from the most obvious of places. In the case of Naia Izumi, the guitarist, soul singer and producer, winning NPR’s Tiny Desk contest in 2018 was the jolt the talented musician needed. But his story goes far beyond being the victor in a competition in an esteemed contest on public radio. Born and bred in Los Angeles, and diagnosed with autism at the age of 16, Izumi is a wizard on the guitar. Prior to his big break in 2018, he dazzled audiences in Hollywood as a street busker and when he wasn’t working on his music, Izumi was an electrician. Now, all of these years later, Izumi is doing the thing he knows best: playing great music. As you can see in his 15 Minute Performance below, he seamlessly blends futuristic-tinged R&B with spacey rock to c...
15 Minute Live Performances: Cedric Burnside
Cedric Burnside is redefining country music. The son of blues drummer Calvin Jackson and the grandson of Mississippi blues legend R.L. Burnside, there’s no doubt he inherited his distinctive North Mississippi Hill Country Blues sound, while giving his more modern take a flavor of his funk, rock, soul, and hip-hop influences. The result is soulful blues, honest and powerful. Playing and on tour with his grandfather since his early teen years, his new album I Be Trying (released in June), is a 13-track manifesto devoted to life and love in the American South, songs so direct and stripped down it’s impossible to deny Cedric’s innate talent as a performer, as you’ll see here, in his exclusive 15-minute performance. Watch previous performances from UPSAHL, KANDLE, Cha Wa, Ro...
15 Minute Live Performances: Sub-Radio
This week’s 15 Minute Live Performances features Sub-Radio. Earlier this year, we caught up with the band as part of our A Day in the Life feature and they gave us the skinny on what a typical day is like for them…which is to say, pretty entertaining. As far as their music goes, their sound will make all your bad thoughts wash away. As described in A Day in the Life, the Washington, D.C natives’ sound is an “instant, feel-good, mood-enhancing elixir.” That’s not just hyperbole either. If you want fun, Sub-Radio is one of brighter groups you’ll find and besides, when have you found a sextet in great harmony like these guys are? Sub-Radio joins UPSAHL, KANDLE, Cha Wa, Rozzi, Nick Waterhouse, Dominique Fils-Aimé, Carol Ades and ...
15 Minute Live Performances: Carol Ades
Carol Ades was born in New Jersey a quarter of a century ago, and now lives in Los Angeles, America’s flypaper for determined actors and musicians. She is a brilliant songwriter who is going to become a big star. That is currently a prediction but soon will be a dry, very obvious fact and no-one will give you points for saying it. In 2018 she wrote a song, “Past Life,” that was recorded by both Trevor Daniel and Selena Gomez. That’s not a bad start. Now she is about to release her debut EP, the first single of which “I Can’t Wait to Be British” came out last month, and is one of the songs she performs here. And on this very day in our lives and history, July 30th, 2021, she is releasing her new single “Crying During Sex.” “I want fans to listen to these songs and feel like, ‘Oh shit, I rea...
15 Minute Live Performances: AJ Smith
This week’s edition of 15 Minute Live Performances features rising singer-songwriter AJ Smith. Earlier this year, we got a glimpse into what a day in the life of Smith was like and on top of being wildly entertaining (quite fun), Smith has got some serious musical chops. Don’t believe us? Well, you may take the words of a little band called the Eagles or some up-and-comer named Billy Joel a bit more seriously. Smith has earned plaudits from both rock legends and converted many believers, young and old, that he’s on the brink. Born in Denver, before having a cup of coffee in Nashville before moving to New York City, Smith is a classically-trained multi-instrumentalist who served with the National Symphony Orchestra. Not just a musician, Smith had ambitions to be an ...
15 Minute Live Performances: Stacey
This week’s edition of 15 Minute Live Performances features rising singer-songwriter Stacey. (Watch previous sets from UPSAHL, KANDLE, Cha Wa, Rozzi and Nick Waterhouse and Dominique Fils-Aimé) Melding elements of the sun-soaked ’60s psych-pop with modern sensibilities, along with a knack for strong description in her lyrics, Stacey is the rare artist who can balance the past and present without sounding too nostalgic. This is demonstrated succinctly on her new album, Saturn Return, released in May. With tunes like “Hello,” “Far Away” and “The Songwriter” showcase her adept songwriting. Accessible but image-evoking, Stacey’s songs roar with energy. Just like the other artists who have stunned in their 15 Minute Live Perf...
15 Minute Live Performances: Dominique Fils-Aimé
This week’s edition of 15 Minute Live Performances (watch previous sets from UPSAHL, KANDLE, Cha Wa, Rozzi and Nick Waterhouse) features Dominique Fils-Aimé. Earlier this year, Fils-Aimé gave us a peek into her daily routine in our A Day in the Life feature and released her third album, Three Little Words. The future is mighty bright for Dominique. In 2018, she released her debut album, Nameless, and the blues-inspired collection was shortlisted for the 2019 Polaris Music Prize. She took things up a notch (to put it mildly) on her sophomore album, Stay Tuned!: a prestigious JUNO award for Vocal Jazz Album of the Year in 2020, joining none other than Diana Krall, Holly Cole and Molly Johnson as a winner in that category. As for&nbs...
