Luminatus

Luminatus is a tale of perseverence. Formed in November 2009 as a symphonic metal cover band, performing the songs of Nightwish, Within Temptation, and Sirenia, among others, the band has weathered dozens of lineup changes, a pregnancy, a rehearsal studio fire, the mysterious disappearance of their promoter, and of course, Covid. Two members remain from the beginning: vocalist Holly McGinty, an operatic soprano from Yokohama, Japan, who originally fronted the symphonic metal band Adavant, and Dale Skutt, keyboardist and vocalist, who achieved modest college radio successin the early 2000s as bassist/vocalist of the pop-punk band Driver 6, signed to Liquid8 Records. He is also a sound designer, composer, and voice actor for Forteller Games, having worked on Gloomhaven, Frosthaven, The Isofarian Guard, Kinfire Chronicles, and Jaws of the Lion, as well as having composed music for Titan Motorcycles, the film 13 Hours in a Warehouse, and the video game Dice Tactics, and has collaborated and performed with Steven Patrick of Holy Soldier and legendary blues drummer Chico Chism.

Having released their first album "Forbidden Passages" in November 2016, several years passed again in a constantly rotating lineup until finally settling in with guitar prodigy Conrad Varela, winner of Alice Cooper's 2019 Proof in the Pudding" contest. He has also played in Cooper's backing band as well as backing Geoff Tate of Queensryche. Also joining Luminatus was Conrad's father, Rich Varela, on bass and JP Jones, formerly of Attic Toys, Veyron Crash, and Corridor 16. In November 2021, they recorded a collection of singles, aptly titled "The Singles," featuring vocals on "Frozen Waterfall" by Lane Lariviere of Run Definitely Run, with whom Luminatus has shared the stage at Phoenix ComiCon, DevCon, and other numerous festivals. Previously, Holly and Dale had sung backing vocals for RDR as well.

Luminatus has shared the stage with numerous powerhouses of metal, such as Sonata Arctica, Primal Fear, Alestorm, Ne Obliviscaris, and Arkona.

https://www.reverbnation.com/luminatus4

Patrick & Daniels

Introducing Halifax's hottest new duo. Fusing together Blues, Hip-Hop, Funk, Americana & Soul, Patrick & Daniels deliver dynamite in their riffs, percussion, harmonies, and performance.

With over a decade of experience in the music industry, Jesse Patrick have gained quite a notable reputation for his solo career and collaborations. Not content to rest on their laurels, they are always building towards the next release, adding more classics to their repertoire.

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There’s so much going on in the world of Patrick & Daniels from upcoming tour dates to the highly anticipated release of their newest project called "Good Vibes". Produced by the famous Mark Howard and featuring Justin Maki and Alexandra Dawn Rodgerson.

Patrick & Daniels collectively have been nominated for 3 International Singer Songwriter awards, 4 World Songwriter Awards, "2021 Blues recording of the year" in the NS Music awards, and earned a nomination in the People's Choice awards as "Halifax's Best Blues Act" 2022.

www.patrickanddaniels.com

James Leeds

It took time until my latest album Whenever was ready to be released. Actually, the first contribution dated back to when I was only 15. Then I composed the song Enjoying My Day but it only got finished 25 years later when my mum completed the lyrics.

Whenever contains mainly pop songs and I was lucky to feature some amazing singers from the UK and great musicians worldwide although I am an unknown producer.

My aim has always been to create a timeless album that will still be listened to, or so I hope, in a few years’ time. For that reason I set the rule that most instruments should be recorded live. Hopefully the effort was worthwhile and you enjoy listening to the music. For more information please browse this website. Thank you for listening and thereby supporting me.

www.jamesleeds.com

Ghalia Volt

Never underestimate the power of a woman with her back to the wall. In March 2020, as Covid blew across the planet, the shutters came down on live venues and recording studios, and the music scene fell suddenly silent, Ghalia Volt faced the same dilemma as every other artist. What now?

The answer was One Woman Band.

Having joined with the cream of the US roots scene for two acclaimed albums, 2017’s Let The Demons Out and 2019’s Mississppi Blend, Volt’s rebirth as a solo performer wasn’t a decision made lightly. But if an apprenticeship busking in her native Brussels taught Volt anything, it’s that she already had everything she needed to make magic. “In March, I started playing on a real drum set,” she recalls. “Playing a kick, snare and hi-hat plus a tambourine with my two feet, while playing slide/guitar and singing at the same time.”

After road-testing the new format at shows across Mississippi, Volt realised that one was the magic number. In August, she committed to the project, embarking on a month-long Amtrak train trip that became an intensive writing session, the shifting landscapes beyond the window inspiring her pen to scratch as never before.

www.ghaliavolt.com

Caruso

 

Caruso is a multi-award-winning writer and artist. Since 2019 and notably, He is the leader, writer, and front man of the US Alt/Rock Band 308 Ghost Train who have amassed over 50 million streams since 2019 and have been nominated for 20 awards winning 5.

He (Caruso) will be releasing his first solo project on Resting Dove Records “Movin On” this year with the first single “Dreams” to drop worldwide on September 23, 2022 and will be distributed by Warner Music Group.

He has been featured in over 100 magazines, podcasts, and radio shows. He has toured the country and is set to do a world tour in 2023 through 2024.

www.carusotheartist.com

Mäle

An intense fusion of Italian, melodic audacity and a British taste for outrageous and elegant power, alternative rock outfit Mäle is the vision of Alessandro Medri, Italian songwriter, singer and guitarist, and Mike Krompass, British/Canadian multi-platinum producer and multi-instrumentalist.

'Lost in Paradise' will be the first single to be released. Extract from the forthcoming full-length album, untitled yet, that has been written in Italy at Accademia 49 and recorded and mixed at BASE Culture Studios in Sheffield, UK.

Mäle was born in 2019, from the ashes of the twenty-year metalcore scene of the north-east coast of Italy, Figure Of Six and Creep, with Alessandro Medri (ex-Figure Of Six Vocalist), Matteo Troiano (ex-Figure Of Six Guitar) and Jonathan Montalti (ex-Creep Bass) .

After a year of pre-production, Alessandro met Mike Krompass (Nelly Furtado, Smash Mouth, Steven Tyler, Billy Sheehan, Dead Romantic ...), who recently moved to the UK from the United States.

From this encounter arises an artistic collaboration and a new friendship, which leads to the production of 10 songs.

Simultaneously with the recording and mixing sessions at the Base Culture's Studio in Sheffield (owned by Mike Krompass), in Italy Alessandro and Jonathan were building the line-up that would bring the project live.

Two videos were recorded and two photo shoots were made with Fabrizio Cilindro (Ex Creep), who assumed the Interim on drums but, had to part away from the band.

Auditions were opened to complete the clan and after having tried dozens of musicians, in the summer of 2022 Andrea Macrelli on guitar (Several Union) and Mattia Vagnoni on drums (When You Collapse) joined the band to complete the line-up.

male-music.com

Kitchener's Fog Blues & Brass Band Banish The Sadness On "Why Get Up" Single

 

Recording artists Fog Blues & Brass Band capture the wild energy of a Saturday night at a packed blues bar into their latest single, “Why Get Up.” And it’s no accident, because the blues banger came to life in front of an audience before it ever saw the inside of a recording studio.

Hailing from Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, the seven-piece Fog Blues & Brass Band is fresh off the heels of their successful debut album, Into the Fog.  The album gained them nods for their unique spin on the traditional rock and blues sound, encompassing commanding vocals, harmonies, guitars, keys and horns. Each single off the 2018 album has garnered radio play in Canada and abroad, and the band is also known for their powerhouse live performances at venues and festivals.

Contrary to its title, the new single, “Why Get Up,” is a testament to the band’s ability to get their audiences up on their feet. The traditional blues lyrics bemoan tough times – “Why get up? Rent’s due but I can’t pay/ Life keeps kickin’ me down/ Like I’m one foot in the grave.” But the driving music tells a different story – dance now, worry tomorrow.

"Why Get Up” is a true ensemble effort that seamlessly showcases each of the seasoned band members’ musical chops. Vocalist Hilliard “Hills” Walter leads Al Hosack on bass, Domenic DiNino on drums, Bobby Becker on keys, Dan Jancar on saxophones, Joe Dublanski on alto saxophone, and Tim Palsar on guitar. Each is just as strong performing solo as they are as part of a jam, amplifying the group’s satisfying, cohesive sound.

Not only is performing “Why Get Up” a team endeavor, but so too was the songwriting process. When one band member came to rehearsal with a rough demo of the song, the other six were quick to add their own stamp on the tune. When the band performed it live, the reaction was so huge that they decided to head to the recording studio. They enlisted Emmy winner Don Breithaupt to arrange the four-piece horn parts, and producer engineer John “Beetle” Bailey, a Juno and Grammy winner, perfected the sound. (Bailey also worked with the band on “Into the Fog” and their 2022 holiday single, “Here Comes Santa Claus,” a swingy take on the Christmas classic.)

What emerged from the studio was a traditional blues song that banishes the blues. Even as the metaphoric storm clouds gather, “Why Get Up” tells them to take a hike: “You wanna leave me baby/Take them clouds and walk away.” What’s left to do but dance? Wherever the listener might be, “Why Get Up” brings the party to them.

www.fogblues.com