Sano Hill

"Feel Love" is a deep expression of the power of love within us all to connect and overcome and is crucial to the wellbeing and future of our world.

In a time of great instability, war, and potential environmental catastrophe, this song is an appeal to 'feel love' again as a starting point for how we respond appropriately to what is going on in the world. The lyrics are spare and direct - but hopefully clear. They are inspired by what is going on today - the upcoming season of goodwill and the journeys home that many people take to family and friends is also an inspiration - but also the many millions around the world who have been forced from their homes (particularly in Ukraine but also parts of Africa, Asia and beyond) and the need to remember them also.

Sano Hill is an acclaimed Irish singer-songwriter based in Galway currently recording his debut album. His songs are inspired by life, love and loss and his work has been released to international critical acclaim, including on the compilation albums 'Origin: See the Light', 'New Horizons', and 'Inundations' (which also featured music from leading international acts, including Josh Ritter, Ron Sexsmith, Lloyd Cole, Damien Rice, Mundy and The Frames). His single releases to date - "Feel Love", "Sing Out Loud", "Circlewalk”, “The Climb”, “Starting Over” and "Dancer" - have already received wide praise internationally and have drawn huge interest from listeners around the world with over 310, 000 streams of his songs on Spotify alone since January 28 2022 (the release date of his first single "The Climb") with a further over 15000 views of his related music videos on his YouTube channel. 

Selected reviews of his music are available online here: https://sanohillsongs.wixsite.com/sano-hill/reviews) with a full EPK here: https://sanohillsongs.wixsite.com/sano-hill 

The forthcoming album (titled “If Not Now, When?”) was released in Autumn 2023 and charts the course of a relationship from hopeful beginnings, to emotional crises, breakup and recovery. His seventh single ‘Time Out’ charts the story of a singersongwriter trying to make a living and dreaming of success. Set in Galway city, the track was widely acclaimed when an earlier version was released on compilation album 'Origin: See the Light'. Leading Irish music magazine Hot Press remarked "...best of all, my favourite track, 'Time Out' ... daringly tries to capture the sound, sense and smell of Galway in a similar vein to Van Morrison's finest compositions about his native Belfast." ‘Time Out’ has a full-band arrangement but with Hill's acoustic rock sensibilities and extraordinary vocal at its core. It was produced by award winning Irish producer Larry Hogan, with final mixing and mastering completed by celebrated engineer and producer Braddon Williams whose previous clients include Beyonce, Snoop Dogg, Mark Ronson, Il Divo, Wyclef Jean, Billy Joel, Kelly Clarkson, P Diddy, The Script and many more. Sano Hill “is blessed with a strong and distinctive voice” (Galway Advertiser) and his work has been described as defining “a timeless recipe for original guitar music: inventive, humanist lyrics sung from the gut, then embedded in rhythms to barrage or soothe the soul" (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel). 

All links for Sano Hill available at https://linktr.ee/SanoHill 

Interviews with Sano Hill are available here: https://sanohillsongs.wixsite.com/sano-hill/about-1

The Make

The Make, a San Francisco based Rock 'n ' Roll band, popular in the 1980's, is releasing their 12-song album digitally for the first time. Audiences will love their classic rock, guitar-driven songs with catchy hooks and great vocals. Soon audiences around the globe will recognize these songs, as The Make has already signed music library publishing deals and has music supervisors requesting their music for sync licensing placements in film and TV.

https://www.themake.rocks/

Alberta-Based Blues Rock Sextet SPARROW BLUE Releases "That Rock N Roll" Single From No Lies, No Tricks Album

St. Albert, Alberta's blues rock sextet Sparrow Blue has managed to do something that is rare: make classic rock sound as fresh, energetic, and punchy as it did when it first started. The result is a short but incredibly sweet, party-starting, rowdy rock nugget, "That Rock N Roll," the latest single from the band's 2024 album No Lies, No Tricks. And judging by the sizzle on this sonic steak, Sparrow Blue has so, so much to offer.

 
The single captures all the pent-up energy and angst the pandemic created for everyone, especially musicians who weren't able to perform for fans, giving out that energy from the stage to fans and in turn receiving their energy. "'That Rock N Roll' was a direct response to being locked down in 2020," the band says. "It came from the frustration of not being able to connect with people in a live setting and missing the freeing feeling of a full PA pumping through your body. The song evolved into an anthem of passion and love for live music, our fans, and appreciation that one day we will be on the road again."
 
That verve comes through immediately on "That Rock N Roll." Singer Des Parks' classic rock rasp and slightly southern delivery in the vein of Cinderella's Tom Keifer reaches through the speakers (or ear buds) to grab your attention immediately. Meanwhile, guitarists Chad Plamondon and Jon Dombroski lay down some rockabilly-ish riffs that keep the lean, lovable tune rolling down the tracks and gathering steam. The rhythm section of bassist Caden Doyle, percussionist Russell McCann, and drummer Liam Holm hold down the back beat and groove with sacrificing any oomph. Think of some fine boogie blend of the Georgia Satellites, Stray Cats, and Guns N Roses circa The Spaghetti Incident? and you might get the gist of this incredible rocker.
 
I'll take what I can get cause it's been a while ya know
The tremble and the shaking when the lights start getting low
I feel it in my heart running rhythms at full speed
Good God, in this moment I've never felt so free
 
I just can't wait to hear that rock n roll
I just can't wait to hear that rock n roll
 
"That Rock N Roll" is the latest single from Sparrow Blue's No Lies, No Tricks album, a record the band describes as a "loose concept of a gunslinger's journey through time and space while staying relevant to the modern world and the human condition." The group, who cite influences like classic rock legends Mountain, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Led Zeppelin, has shared the stages with a myriad of bands such as The Trews, Finger Eleven, The Sheepdogs, Rick Springfield and The Pursuit of Happiness among others.
 
Having recently wrapped up a tour supporting Australian rock group The Lazys, Sparrow Blue will now bring "That Rock N Roll" to the masses with an extensive touring schedule from British Columbia to Nova Scotia from mid-September through late October. And with a great single in "That Rock N Roll" at their disposal, look for Sparrow Blue to provide a show that is free of tricks or gimmicks. It's a great rock band with a great rock single. And that's no lie!

https://www.sparrowblue.ca/

Elise Lunden

As a melodic and versatile, yet carefully lyrical, singer-songwriter, Elise Lunden combines folk pop with classical influences in order to speak straight to the heart. With her strong and tender soprano voice, as well as her characteristic vibrato, she brings themes of love, loss and hope into a sonic landscape of tranquility where these humane emotions can be felt again as if for the first time. Born in Stockholm in 1991, Elise spent over a decade discovering her singing and compositional voice. 

But before that, Elise and her twin sister Nina would spend their early days singing in harmonies by the piano and exploring different musical styles. When Elise went on to write her own music, the twins would more often spend time in music sessions surrounding Elise’s latest musical work. Since Elise’s sudden passing in 2019, Nina has continued to engage in her sister’s music as an ongoing project. This way, Elise’s empathic, emotional and elegant artistry is able to stay in bloom. The first released EP, Exchanging Silent Sounds, is based on home recordings Elise made for notebook keeping between 2012-2016. Using vocal isolation techniques, Elise’s voice has been extracted and new arrangement added in collaboration with Swedish music producer Daniel Bengtson, as well as some of Sweden’s most prominent musicians. 

Since its release in 2022, the music has caught the attention of local radio stations in several countries, including the UK and the US.

https://www.eliselundenmusic.com/

Johnny Kantor

Johnny Kantor, one of Canada's original bad boys, is known to many who were involved in the rock scene of the 80s and 90s. Having recently spent time in South East Asia to focus on his songwriting, he's now back in the studio. With the release of three new original songs, and more on the way this summer, Johnny has created some excellent new rock songs.

Title track "Everybody's Good Lookin'" is a belter that celebrates one of life's cruel truths. "Circuit Board of Life" draws parallels between our real and computer universes. And the bluesier "Midnight Train" will have you in wistful thought before you even finish listening to the first Verse.

Thought provoking lyrics, a soulful voice and powerful chords - Johnny has lost none of his flare and originality. Recently released on all the main streaming platforms, his new tracks are racking up plays.

https://johnnykantormusic.com/

Dennis van Aarssen

"Just Call It Love", the fourth studio album by Dennis van Aarssen and composer-pianist Jeff Franzel, represents the musical growth of the singer who once won The Voice of Holland as a crooner. Eleven captivating tracks, lyrically more mature with greater emotional depth, while the arrangements are deliberately kept small and intimate. Dennis's warm, resonant voice sounds fuller and more colorful than ever. Dennis; "My voice is more mature, giving me more control. The songs are more fragile, so it's not about the power, but rather the nuances. It has become an intimate jazzy pop album." 

For "Just Call It Love", scheduled to be released in March 2024, a different concept has been chosen compared to the previous big band albums. Most tracks are based on the combination of piano and vocals, while other songs are enriched by arrangements with guitar, drums, bass, and cello. With this approach, the singer has ventured into a crossover of refined pop and jazz. The unique collaboration with Jeff Franzel, a composer and pianist who has previously worked with legends like Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., and Mel Tormé, and lyricist Maria Christensen, who has written lyrics for artists such as Celine Dion and Jennifer Lopez, remains unchanged. Jeff Franzel , who has written over 20 top international singles with artists such as Josh Groban, N’SYNC, Taylor Dayne (‘Don’t Rush Me’ - charting at #2) and The Temptations, remarks; "Maria and I have earned our stripes not only in jazz but also in the world of pop music. And Dennis, well, Dennis can sing virtually any genre. While his identity as a singer is anchored in jazz, he can easily transition to pop. So, how beautiful is it to work in the genre where pop and jazz meet? Especially since it allows us to appeal to a broader audience." Artistic Duo From their first meeting in 2019, it was clear that the young Dennis and the experienced Jeff had a musical and creative connection. The seed for a joint album as a duo may have been unintentionally planted during their initial songwriting sessions. Dennis explains; "After two big band albums and the Christmas album, we all agreed that now was the time to make that piano album. The idea had been there for a while, but the timing is just right now. I'm really ready for this change with the choice of more intimate songs. I prepared for this album even better than I always did, for example, by taking demos to my vocal coach. Listening together and discussing how things could be improved. That automatically elevates it to another level." Adding to this, Jeff says; "In music, it's about working with young talent, especially for people of my age. Dennis blew me away with his incredible voice. He's also an artist who can connect with the audience. It felt right from the first meeting. The initiative for this album came three years ago from Dennis's management. The idea was to record an acoustic album with original songs from the both of us. I thought it was a fantastic idea right away. This album now feels like the right project at the right time for the both of us. In fact, I'm simply very proud of this album and the fact that we present it as an artistic duo." 

Additional Arrangements Regarding the collaboration and songwriting process with Jeff and Maria, Dennis says; "We start with a blank sheet and first share our ideas with each other. It can be a concept or a sentence. Maria and I discuss the content, and naturally, it becomes clear what we want to focus on. Then we ask Jeff how he feels about it, and he starts playing. It clicks immediately. And if not, we adjust. A different tempo or a different chord. This slowly creates a chord progression over which I will sing. The arrangements are also done collaboratively. We listen to all the demo versions and note down what each of us envisions. Originally, we were only going to do vocals and piano, but while listening, you discover that sometimes a cello, guitar, or rhythm section is needed." "We were going to record a piano and vocal album," adds Jeff. "But ultimately, we felt that some songs needed additional arrangements because the songs simply called for it. Of course, Dennis also had ideas about arrangements, but if there's one element I would highlight, it's his lyrics. 

Dennis has grown tremendously in that aspect over the years." Spot-on in One Take Dennis, Jeff, and Maria wrote more songs than the eleven that made it onto the album, but according to Dennis, the song selection process was relatively quick: "The puzzle fell together very quickly. The three of us had the same top six songs. Additionally, there was room for a cover. That became 'Waiting For Tonight' by Jennifer Lopez, for which Maria wrote the lyrics. I thought it was great to take a dance track and pull it into our concept. It certainly isn’t a dance track anymore, but it still has a certain vibe. Maria is by far the best lyricist I've ever been in the studio with. She comes up with sentences that, as a Dutchman, I could never think of. Of course, it's the chemistry between all three of us, but Maria is as indispensable as Jeff." However, the album features a second cover: "She" by Charles Aznavour. Dennis explains; "My version of that song just exploded online at the end of the summer of 2023. It went viral on TikTok and Instagram. On an album with songs about love, this song fits perfectly. Since we still had studio time, we asked Jeff to do 'She' again. Jeff worked out all the music in the evening, and we recorded it the next day. Just one take. It was spot-on immediately."

The album was recorded in two and a half days at the renowned Sear Sound Studio in New York. Dennis; "Gregory Porter had just finished his recording session there before us. I immediately felt comfortable with a super-friendly and helpful crew. Jeff had prepared everything musically very well, and everything the studio musicians played was perfect." Regarding the choice of the studio, Jeff notes, "The fact that it was recorded in just two and a half days certainly contributes to the spontaneous nature of the album. The Sear Sound Studio was the best studio to record in. Two reasons for that; the piano is simply better than in other studios, and the feeling is just right." "What was different from the previous times we recorded is that I had more ownership," says Dennis. "We were in the studio with some top musicians and a producer, but if there was a discussion to be made, they all looked at me. I definitely had more control, and I explicitly contributed to how I wanted things. That's now also expected more from me. It's part of my process of growth. And that's crucial for a musician, to keep developing yourself."

https://www.dennisvanaarssen.com/

Lumi

Prepare to embark on a sonic journey like no other with Lumi's latest album "The Rebirth". Known for his exquisite delivery and phenomenal tracks, Lumi has once again captured the hearts of music lovers with this stunning collection of eight songs.

Experience the magic of "The Rebirth" now streaming on all digital sites. Don't miss out on this musical masterpiece that promises to captivate your senses and leave you craving more.

Lumi is an independent rapper from Mullumbimby in Byron Bay Australia.

Lumi has 6 independent music releases and self produced music videos on YouTube.

https://lumimusic.hearnow.com/