News From Hemifran June 2017

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!

Kaurna Cronin – Euphoria, Deliruum & Loneliness

”Euphoria, Delirium & Loneliness” is the 4th studio album from 24 year old, multi award winning, Australian singer, songwriter and folk rocker Kaurna Cronin, whose music combines folk, acoustic, pop, rock and indie. With a strong emphasis on grand story telling Kaurna creates a unique blend of narrative style folk songs coupled with group harmonies, catchy hooks and energetic folk jams, which have won him accolades and audiences all over the world. Being named as ‘Artist Of The Year’ by Folk Alliance Australia in 2015, awarded the prestigious APRA AMCOS ‘Emily Burrows Award’ and ‘Best Acoustic Act’ at Fowler’s Live Awards are only a few of his notable achievements, along with a long list of national and international festival performances.

Growing up amongst the Australian folk festival circuit with his family and listening to the likes of Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Neil Young and Paul Kelly, Kaurna began to write and perform songs on streets all over Australia and Europe. Kaurna Cronin, the son of a professional clown, grew up first developing circus skills with a dream to entertain. He now harnesses a natural ability to engage and inspire crowds internationally. In the past years Australian songsmith Kaurna Cronin has performed in venues, on street corners and festivals worldwide, performing alongside artists such as Keith Urban, Michael Franti, Robert Forster, John McCutcheon, Colin Hay from Men At Work and Roscoe James-Irwin (Cat Empire).

”Euphoria, Delirium & Loneliness” is a varied and poetic collection of moods, ideas and tales craftily pieced together by Kaurna and band. The songs, reminiscent of a life on the wide open road and the 3 most reoccurring emotions encountered throughout his lifelong musical journey, ”Euphoria, Delirium & Loneliness”. More information at Hemifran.

Ani Di Franco – Binary

Righteous Babe Records and singer songwriter activist Ani DiFranco announce her 20th studio album “Binary”, set for a June 9th, 2017, release. With “Binary”, the iconic singer, songwriter, activist, poet, DIY trendsetter returns to territory that brought her to the world’s attention more than 25 years ago. One of the 1st artists to create her own label in 1990, she has been recognized among the feminist pantheon for her entrepreneurship, social activism, and outspoken political lyrics. At a time of global chaos and confusion, DiFranco is kicking ass and taking names, with a set of songs offering a wide range of perspective and musical scope.

European fans can pre-order the album now and exclusively in CD, and vinyl formats from Ani DiFranco’s PledgeMusic campaign page. Pledgers who pre-order the album will receive 3 instant gratification tracks and access to exclusive artist updates and bonus content. Fans will also be able to order special memorabilia including lyric books, t-shirts, screen printed posters, totes, socks, signed guitars, and art prints. More information at Hemifran.

Joseph Eid – Watch It Fall

Americana singer songwriter Joseph Eid has been writing poetry and dreaming of a career in the arts as long as he can remember. He grew up in the suburbs of New York.  Raised in a strict and traditional home, the arts were only supported as a hobby and never as a career.  During his college years, Eid studied psychology and pre med.  After his first semester at med school, his dream got too big to hold and Eid made the bold choice of dropping out to move to New York City to pursue music. While in New York, Joseph Eid picked up a guitar, joined a band, and the songs poured out of him like rain.  His journey then led to Los Angeles where he started playing regularly at open mic nights and showcases.  Shortly after, he began working with world renowned guitarist and songwriter, David Lamar, honing his songwriting at weekly showcases at the Stone Bar. This lead him to write over 30 new songs as well as record a debut EP, “Cardiac Output”,followed by a full length album, “Human“.

Known as a dynamic solo performer Joseph Eid has brought his one man live show to many of Los Angeles’ premiere music venues, including stints at Room 5 and El Cid and residencies at The Stone Bar, Crane’s Hollywood Tavern, and Bar Lubitsch. He has also toured regionally as well as nationally, and has also enjoyed doing house concerts and corporate events. Since the release of his “Human“ album, Joseph Eid has been garnering considerable buzz. He has been featured inAmerican Songwriter Magazine’s Best New Music column and was recently named as one of the 100 Hottest Live Unsigned Artists by Music Connection Magazine. His song “It’s Only Love” will be in a new Independent film starring Sharon Stone called ‘A Little Something For Your Birthday’. His latest EP, “Watch It Fall”, will be released in the summer of 2017. More information at Hemifran.

Jan Daley – The Way Of A Woman

The Way of a Woman is the follow up to Jan Daley’s successful EP When Sunny Gets Blue, which are included. Six tracks of new instrumentation, remixed and remastered to showcase Jan Daley vocal expertise as well as her writing skills.

Adored for her singular magic for making what’s classic contemporary again, Jan Daley is the most multi-talented and beautiful Best Kept Secret in entertainment today. The triple-threat singer/songwriter, actress and playwright connects to audiences worldwide with her authentic, personal presentations couched with just the right amount of razzle dazzle to remind you why she’s at center stage.  As usual, Jan is currently juggling projects in various performance arenas. Her top priority is a new jazz/pop kissed easy listening CD, The Way Of A Woman. The title track is penned by Jan herself and she not only shows off her vocal skills but her writing excellence is also on display on this CD.

If you have been listening to her recently released Great American Songbook EP “When Sunny Gets Blue,” then you’ll be excited to hear that “The Way of a Woman” will be completing that EP with six brand new smooth jazz songs.  Jan has been working with legendary Motown producer and writer Michael B. Sutton.  Sutton has over two decades of experience in the music industry, seven of which were working as a staff producer and writer for Motown Records.  Initially discovered by Stevie Wonder, Michael Sutton is now a seasoned producer and the president of iMerica Entertainment. The CD opens up with the swinging jazz track “Come on Daddy” also written by Jan. The title track is an anthem for women who have seen the hurtful signs of a relationship gone bad. Jan sing’s it so soulfully “It’s the way of a woman, when she’s losing her man”. . More information at Hemifran.

Geoff Alpert – Open Your Heart

Trombonist Geoff Alpert has loved music all his life, studying the craft, learning several brass/valve instruments, playing in bands and composing songs. Inspired by the likes of jazz legend J.J. Johnson, rock band Chicago’s James Pankow, and fusion greats such as Wayne Henderson and Raul de Souza, Geoff studied music as a major at San Diego State University while supplementing his income gigging near and far. Yet he walked away from music for 30 years in the early `80s to be an ideal provider as a husband and father. Following the painful passing of his wife from cancer in 2002, Geoff did some profound soul searching which led him to pick up his trombone again, gradually easing back into the scene where he met bassist Darryl Williams and musical director/keyboardist Gail Jhonson. Both pushed and assisted him in creating a musical statement that spoke to his emotional life story, his undying passion for the art form and the spiritual Eastern martial arts disciplines that guided him along his journey. That album is Open Your Heart.

Geoff Alpert’s Open Your Heart (co–produced with Gail Jhonson) is a 10–tune tapestry which lovingly places the trombone in a front and center position it rarely enjoys in the present musical landscape. Floating between Jazz, Pop, R&B and Latin sound signatures, it’s a bold yet highly accessible listen. Highlights include the Brazilian flight of the title track, a cover of The Jacksons’ “Heartbreak Hotel” (composed by the immortal Michael Jackson and specially arranged for Geoff by Gail), the transfixing and deeply touching trombone and keyboard duet “Thinking About You” (in memory of his departed mother and wife), “The Crusade” (a tribute to The Jazz Crusaders/The Crusaders emulating some of the progressive sounds of the band’s evolution over five groundbreaking decades), the groovin’ “Zen Funk” (featuring bassist Darryl Williams and dedicated to the Ken-Ka-Kung Fu Club, the martial arts school which Geoff has been both student and teacher for four decades), and an especially emotive cover of sister trio The Emotions’ 1977 hit “Don’t Ask My Neighbors” on which Geoff tips his hat to trombonist Raul de Souza, first instrumentalist to cover the song. More information at Hemifran.

Russell Joslin – Hey Mathematician

In 2007, the 23 year old Russell Joslin released his 1st self produced, bedroom folk album “Dream Token” to unexpected critical and public acclaim. Since then his wayward journey has always been in the direction of his forthcoming, 4th studio album “Hey Mathematician”, a rare and observant tale of heart, unrest and rebellion in an increasingly fraught and controlling world.

Singer songwriter Russell Joslin has lived in the ever intensifying metropolis of London, UK for the last 12 years, where his unique strain of dissenting, literate folk has seen him become a stalwart of the city’s singer songwriter scene. He has self produced 3 solo albums as well as fronting 2 rock bands, folk punk 2 piece Pretty Bricks and art rock 3 piece High Windows. He now tours as a much lauded duet with his Australian soulmate and singing partner Sarah McCaig. Over the past 18 months he has toured western Europe extensively, supported Martha Tilston for several shows and been booked for numerous profile UK folk festivals, Bromyard, Sark, Lyme Folk Weekend, as well as an upcoming 2017 slot at the Isle Of Wight Festival. More information at Hemifran.

Ad Vanderveen – Worlds Within

Ad Vanderveen has earned a reputation as one of the finest singer songwriters in the contemporary folk and roots genre. Although born a Dutchman, half his family are Canadian and it’s this part of the world his musical roots can be traced to. Since the days before it was called americana, Ad has been exploring his songwriting muse through a mixture of rock ‘n’ roll, folk and country, working in many bands before finding his own voice as a solo artist in the early 90’s.

Since then, Ad has built up an impressive catalog of more than 20 solo CD’s and numerous side projects, working with many great musicians all over the world such as, Al Kooper, Al Perkins, Leland Sklar, Herman Brood, Flaco Jimenez, Iain Matthews, Eliza Gilkyson, Eric Andersen, David Olney, to  name just a few. Recently in 2017, after hearing Vanderveen’s latest album ”Worlds Within”, none other than Van Morrison, invited him as an opening act. Ad Vanderveen ‘s live and record performances have garnered him high praise from critics, as well as from a long list of renowned colleagues. More information at Hemifran.

Lynne Hanson – Uneven Ground

We all carry a little bit of weight on our shoulders, but being compelled toward songwriting is a welcome burden for Lynne Hanson. At 1st listen, her warm, gritty, boot stompin’ music leads you through the southern USA, though Hanson hails from Ottawa, Canada. Her sound is born honestly through a lifetime of experience and influence, expressed through the rock, blues and roots that bleeds from her very being. With a liberal amount of Texas grit and a polished Nashville sensibility, Lynne’s songs are familiar and comfortable, yet fearless and strong. She likes things a little rough around the edges, but her deep bluesy croon is pure and full of fortitude. No matter what the song, there is a weight and a warmth to her expression.

In her brand new release, ”Uneven Ground”, produced by Winnipeg’s Scott Nolan, Hanson explores the realm of giving sound advice through songwriting, and fighting back against the devil within us. Permeating the recording is a restrained intensity, elevated with a finger picked beat, beautiful piano accompaniments, dobro and wind instruments. “Working with Lynne was like chasing a train”, says producer Nolan, and the album charges out of the gates with the electricity of “Carry Me Home”, winding into down home roots ballads like “Stronger” and “Just For Now”. The title track “Uneven Ground” is a full on blues assault, conjuring images a glamorous chanteuse stretched out in front of a baby grand in a smoky nightclub. “Counting Heartbeats” and “Every Honest Misstep” each have a unique, driving, rain on the windshield quality, with a pace that leans in on the gas just a bit. All together, ”Uneven Ground” is an authentic expression of Hanson’s rustic style, brimming over with imagery and cleverly penned lyrics, and a crystal clear production. It steps proudly into the next generation of roots and blues music, while still respecting traditions. More information at Hemifran.