Category: Radar Love

Recently, the Nashville-based DIY band Damned Rivers released their 12-track Americana folk-rock debut album.

The album, The Pugilist, is a trip through a dozen well-written and performed songs. Interestingly, even with all of those other genres swirling about, the band’s sound possesses a punk-like edge that lightly coats its unique style.

The album shines with clever lyrics, emotive vocals, and well-honed instrumentation from the full band (could even say ensemble) in which each band member gets a chance in the spotlight.

This is achieved effortlessly. And if you are a boxer, you may appreciate this album even more so thanks to standout tracks include “Pulling Punches,” “Bookend,” “Throwing Down The Gloves” and “Built to Last.”

But don’t let the Americana folk labeling fool you – these guys enjoy rocking out and they do it well with multiple guitars going, piano, bass, cymbals, and drums. There is also a vein of Southern country rock running through the album.

The Tennessean band employs robust musical dynamics with earthy tones and gripping, memorable lyrics about the triumphant of transformation and recovery.

The album follows the tale of a washed-up boxer at the end of his career grappling with what he will do with his life.

In essence, the story was spurred by hard times that befell the band’s lead songwriter, Ian Mauldin. He decided to tell the story through that of the life of a boxer because of the battles, bruises, and gusto that marked his path.

The ultimate message is one of hope. Hope is what drives the human spirit through the worst of times. When it’s set to fine music as Damned Rivers has done on this record, that makes it even more special.

In addition to Mauldin, the band members are Mark Summarell, Kyle Hassenfratz, Ricky DeMeo, and Annie Johnson.

Recommended FFO: Mac Demarco, Kurt Vile, Bright Eyes or Deer Tick.

Los Angeles native and recording artist Dan Atta has been hailed as a rising musician and even a “triple threat.”

Without question, his music stands out and catches a listener’s attention in a way that reams of other submissions don’t. It’s different and yet familiar.

After listening to his fresh and new discography of solo songs, it’s easy to see why more indie music followers are turning to the captivating L.A. songwriter, vocalist, and instrumentalist.

His latest single is the gorgeous and unforgettable, “Deep Blues,” with its simple, lush melodies, and Atta’s beautiful, memorable vocals.

The feminine tinge of his voice works well. In fact, it reminds us of 1970’s soft rock/pop artists like Andrew Gold and Leo Sayer. Some of his fans and music critics have compared Atta’s voice and songwriting to artists like Christopher Cross and Bread.

Atta was recently quoted as saying: “Much of the visual inspiration is fueled by the song’s deeply-rooted nostalgia for a type of music that has become a rarity these days; a type of music that reminds us of simpler times when we would lock up in our rooms and blast our favorite C.D. to escape from the troubles of the world outside.”

Don’t be surprised if you find yourself – like we did – seeking out more of his music. The only problem is that there is not much music to find.

Atta is basically a new artist to watch. In a notorious city with more songwriters and musicians per capita than anywhere in the world, it’s not a small thing to turn heads with fresh music.

Not satisfied with dropping just audio of the song, Atta also put together his own quirky video using a 16mm Kodak film that explores “feelings of isolation and inner turmoil, even when we’re surrounded by family,” he says, continuing: “yearning to break the chains of obsessive thought, ‘Deep Blues’ reminds some of the transcendent power of letting go.”

“Much of the visual inspiration is fueled by the song’s deeply-rooted nostalgia for a type of music that has become a rarity these days,” Atta states, adding: “a type of music that reminds us of simpler times when we would lock up in our rooms and blast our favorite C.D. to escape from the troubles of the world outside.”

The only other track we’ve been able to find is the stunning “Intellectual Rewind.”

For now, though, “Deep Blues” is the main single and it deserves all of the attention it gets. Taken together, his short discography showcases Atta’s talents for well-crafted, sophisticated songwriting coupled with wide-ranging soundscapes.

Atta was inspired at an early age by The Beatles, Bob Dylan, and David Bowie. Because of endless hours of listening to these artists, Atta developed strong songwriting and instrumental abilities.

He taught himself how to play guitar while he studied literature and creative writing at Brown University, and his songs merge his love of language with his natural ear for melody.

His new debut EP, Fortune Tellers Lie, is coming out soon.

Like Big Mama Thornton and Sister Rosetta Tharp before her, New Jersey indie artist Rasha Jay is not afraid to defy conventions and dive headlong “into a world which has long been the domain of men,” she proclaims.

The lead single, “Don’t Revel,” from her new E.P., High Dive, is a transfixing track that speaks to deep emotions. Hard bass lines and trip-hop-like beats, together with keys and guitar, are nicely mixed so that her range-friendly vocals are not drowned out.

“It’s the only song on the E.P. that’s written about my personal experience,” Jay says. “I had been off and on with someone for many years, but I didn’t know how I really felt about it all.

“In the end, it was more of a blur. I couldn’t get excited about it, and I had to end it.”

Despite being the only personal song on the E.P., Jay’s lyrics are full of stories, especially about the ‘juicy center,’ as she calls it, of relationships. Her intimate, sincere vocal delivery is rough but inviting.

Regarding the interesting sonic textures of the song, Jay says: “I found a sound and I reversed it and it sounded like someone threw some guitars and violins in a blender.”

She adds that it was a last-minute addition to High Dive. Other standout tracks include the intense, haunting track, “Red Coat,” featuring a mean synth guitar riff; the remarkably soul-inspired “Imaginary”, and the smooth, intoxicating grooves and beats of “Strangeland,” plus the more rock-oriented title track.

The E.P. was written, recorded and mixed over the course of a year and a half. The producer and fellow musician, Katmaz, did an impressive job overall.

Jay possesses a strong DIY approach to her music with a distinctive, versatile voice that dances over insistent beats, bumbling basslines, and intricate guitar playing. She incorporates alternative, rock, blues, and soul into her songs.

While she may not be the conventional DIY/indie artist, she is a DIY/indie artist in every sense of the terms.

Born in the town of Owings, Maryland, she moved to New Jersey as a young child. From a young age, she was interested in music and had a natural talent for writing.

Jay has always been passionate about music of different genres since listening to her uncle’s record collection growing up.

Her music has been described as a “vibrant clash between Portishead and The Black Keys.” Her influences include Prince, Foo Fighters, and St. Vincent.

Click to listen to the E.P. on Soundcloud in order to truly appreciate Jay’s promise as an artist.