Recent posts: indie

As someone who loves visual art as much as music, I jumped at the chance to attend last night’s System of a Down’s Serj Tankian’s Gibson “Foundations” Les Paul Modern Guitar launch event at Serj’s Kavat Café/Eye for Sound Gallery in Los Angeles. Building upon the release of Serj’s 2024 ‘Foundations’ EP and his other career as a multi-talented visual artist, there were no “empty walls” as several of Serj’s personal memorable stage photos and paintings stood on display including the original “Sunburst” artwork featured on his new color-popping guitar. Getting to view the attention-grabbing models in person remained the highlight as Serj mingled with the chill crowd throughout the night.

As a casual daily music listener, it’s easy to take for granted why your favorite songs sound so good. All you know is that when you turn the volume up and hear the rattling bass that gets you hyped or the crisp blend of choruses, to which you sing along in the shower, they transport you elsewhere on an album’s journey. Developing a new curiosity about how critical mixing and engineering impact music’s final product, I recently discovered a fascinating world that’s as much artistic as it is technical which deserves utmost respect. Delving into my favorite albums and songs throughout the years with this lens, one name popped up over and over again- Neal Pogue.

Viewing the 2025 NAMM Show performance schedule, I devoted time each day to peep live amazing live acts from a myriad of music genres. Arriving on Wednesday, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to catch hip-hop and R&B/soul string quartet wholesoul at the cozy Westin Hotel which served as the perfect venue to showcase the group’s skills as their music floated in the air from afar. Featuring Julliard classically trained violist Drew Forde aka “ThatViolaKid” among the foursome, their short set flew by.

If you’ve gone to a Halsey, Kehlani, Selena Gomez or Post Malone show recently, you’ve seen an unforgettably striking keyboardist rocking alongside these artists. Her name is Bonnie McIntosh and her synth sounds and talent matched with her rock punk signature style have steadily made her an in-demand touring musician over the past few years. Studying classical piano in childhood and college, you can slyly hear those influences on some of the biggest stages around the world.

As the world watched the events of the U.S. election unfold last week, reactions from Kamala Harris supporters ran the gamut from outrage to sorrow to shock and disgust. Within tumult throughout the decades, artists have always found the perfect way to capture sentiments of what we’re feeling just at the perfect time. One such primed album reaching our ears when we needed it most is Charlie Castell’s impassioned latest effort ‘Beautiful Apocalypse’.

As I bid farewell to Women’s History Month, I can’t help but reminisce about the inspiring group of trailblazing women assembled at this year’s She Rocks Awards. Held during NAMM Show week in Amaheim, CA, the 12th annual awards show featured co-hosts producer and performer AIJIA and The Bangles legend Susannah Hoffs kicking things off.

Throughout the 2010’s, nestled in North Carolina’s Bull City stood one of the premier jazz and R&B festivals. Assembling historic lineups with ease, where one could view legendary and rising talent favs at several venues across Durham, the Art of Cool Fest became a yearly highlight. During its second year, it drew bandleader, film and TV composer Kris Bowers. Connecting with him then in 2015, he spoke of working on Showtime’s Kobe Bryant ‘Muse’ documentary and the booked and busy musical road ahead of him.

As images of elaborate floats descend down historic New Orleans streets and mid-air bead tossing continue into the late night hours, one can’t help but get swept up in the mardi gras madness. An album that perfectly encapsulates this distinct time of year and its special festive atmosphere is Delfeayo Marsalis and The Uptown Jazz Orchestra’s “Uptown On Mardi Gras Day”. Whether it’s the “Mardi Gras Mambo” or the “Uptown Boogie”, this 2023 12-song offering takes the listener down to Bourbon St right quick.