News From Hemifran November 2014

Hemifrån is an independent A&R, promotion and marketing company, based in the heart of Sweden, specializing in, what they call, “gut music” – The kind of music that you can feel in your gut, no matter what. Hemifran is promoting a lot of singer-songwriter, westcoast-pop, country, AOR and more. Here are featured some of their latest news – it is not all west coast, but dig into it!

Bennett Jackson – Texana

In 2011 Bennett Jackson moved to Texas, a place where his family first arrived after crossing the Mexican border into El Paso, nearly 100 years ago. Settling into the capitol city of Austin, the new songs came fast, with a Texas bent and rock ‘n’ roll beat, and became the basis of his new record, “Texana”.

Bennett reconvened with the co-producers and collaborators of his first two EPs (2010’s honky-tonk inflected “Plumas County” and Mexican tinged “Ranchera”) at Mason Jar Studios in a Brooklyn winter to record “Texana”. The songs on this album embody the traditions and longing of country music, the surefootedness of rock ‘n’ roll, and the expansive qualities and mythology of the American West, often with a comic touch and a roadmap’s specificity. The guitar is his paintbrush, depicting vivid landscapes – from the cinematic title track, or the roadhouse stomp of “Rodeo Of Love,” to the diesel-powered chords of “Big Truck”.

“Texana” is about dreaming as big as the Lone Star State, with choruses as large as the sun-soaked horizon and predestined for car stereos on weekend road-trips. The album has been added to radio stations across the United States and Europé, and get ready for more music and live concert dates as well, because as the leader of a versatile and dynamic band, Bennett has played venues and festivals across Texas and the South, the West Coast, Nevada and New York and continues to tour. More information at Hemifran.

Carl Franklin – Been a While

From Pwop Studios in New London, CT, comes another great album produced by Carl Franklin, only this time it’s all his! Carl released ”Lifeboat To Nowhere” with the Franklin Brothers in 2011. He has appeared with Garth Hudson and Tommy Ramone on Chris Castle’s Americana Masterpiece, ” Last Bird Home”. As well, Carl produces numerous bands in the New London area where the scene is thriving.

”Been A While” has 6 Franklin originals, including ’Chain Reaction’, a Franklin Brothers collaboration with the great John Scofield, and 3 covers. Of note is the funked-up Beatles hit, ’Drive My Car’. It takes balls to attempt a Beatles cover and pull it off, but, well, it just rocks.

Every song has groove. The last song,’ Out Of Your Way’, is a true story ballad that may just bring tears to your eyes. More information at Hemifran.