Project Rhythm Seed

Frazey Ford’s solo debut album Obadiah was released last week to praise from critics and fans alike; today Obadiah enters the Canadian Top Current Album Chart at #74 with 729 albums sold and lands at #6 on the Overall Digital Album Chart, putting Frazey among such artists as Eminem, Sheryl Crow and Jack Johnson, and ahead of Drake and M.I.A. Obadiah also appears on six different regional charts. Frazey also came in at #44 in the US on the Billboard HeatSeeker.  Read more...

This is a biography for Crowded House in the year Twenty Ten in which I will attempt to provide a bit of history, lay out the facts surrounding the making of our record Intriguer and to signal our intention for new shows and extracurricular activity thereof…..right then.

This is Neil talking. The whole thing started with Split Enz. In 1972 I watched it unfold in real life as a glassy eyed teenage brother, became immersed in it and then at the age of 19, that was 1977, I got to be part of that mighty and mental New Zealand invention. We took it to every corner of the globe, stumbling from one opportunity to another. I wrote some songs along the way, “I Got You,” “Message To My Girl,” “One Step Ahead,” “History Never Repeats,” they helped to give the band a bigger audience but that early music will always stand tall for me, original and uncompromising, my inspiration…check out the album, Mental Notes! Respect to brother Tim, Eddie, Noel, Phil and the others for blazing the trail. After all, they started it. I was invited in. It was intense and truly excellent.

Paul Hester (drums) and I (singer / guitar) went onwards from Split Enz to Crowded House; we wanted to be in a 3 piece band that could fit into one rental car. We found our bass player Nick Seymour, fresh from the catwalk, clearly loving the attention. We liked how he wore his bass low, had aspirations to funk and after a while we let him paint our suits with Masonic symbols. Despite all that and along the way we became a really good band. I think we tried to make ourselves even smaller by turning to acoustic, bass, snare drum, 3 part harmonizing our way through lounge rooms and restaurants, busking, unplugged, whatever they ended up calling it on MTV. It made us very interested in our audience and we learnt how to draw them in, to sing together like it’s a party. That became our way of doing things, wishing for accidents, showing artifice and awkwardness the door.  Read more...

ONE! TWO! THREE! FOUR! It’s the sound of The Suzan, a boundlessly energetic all-girl band from Japan making their international debut with “Home.” Their irresistible charm captivated Bjorn Yttling of Peter, Bjorn and John (who they convinced to produce their record with a MySpace message!) and tastemaking indie Fool’s Gold, who have previously introduced the world to artists as diverse as Kid Sister, Kid Cudi and Treasure Fingers.  Read more...

The Upsidedown are about to turn rock ‘n’ roll on it’s head-again. The Portland six-piece will drop its third album, The Town With Bad Wiring, via Reverb Records on September 28th, 2010. The Upsidedown stir up propulsive psychedelic pop over the course of the record’s twelve tracks. First single “Something Good” will hit radio in early September, and it paves the path to Town. Blending a danceable groove with seductively hypnotic crooning, “Something Good” is a trippy little ditty that’s instantly infectious. Right now, the band is in the midst of making the video for “Something Good.” It promises to give a unique look at their native Portland through the lens of video directors Cairey Haider and Justin Adams.

The Upsidedown didn’t build this sonic city alone, they attracted the help of numerous high-profile tastemakers. REM’s Peter Buck drops by for a guest spot, and Brian Jonestown Massacre’s Collin Hegna and the Dandy Warhol’s Pete Holmstrom also make appearances. However, the band hasn’t just been resonating with the indie elite; they’ve effectively seeped deep into the collective zeitgeist through high-profile song placements on both HBO’s True Blood and FX’s Sons of Anarchy. “Wolf Blood Honey,” a wolfed-up version of Town’s “La Paloma,” was featured on True Blood’s July 11th episode, while “If You Are Hell Girl” fueled an episode of Sons of Anarchy. You’ve also heard them on Vampire Diaries and Damages.
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By J. Brown

“O plunge your hands in water
Plunge them up to the wrist;
Stare, stare in the basin
And wonder what you’ve missed

[…]

O stand, stand at the window
As the tears scald and start;
You shall love your crooked neighbor
With your crooked heart.”  Read more...

By Alana Crawley
I ran across Civil Twilight a few months ago, and instantly fell in love with their music. There is something about the way they have combined eerie, spiritual lyrics and vocals with beautiful, unique melodies. Somehow or another it manages to convey their own individual sound that definitely raises the hair on the back of your neck. Born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa, brothers Steven and Andrew McKellar and friend Richard Wouters were inspired by the American and European music scenes from a very young age. They began to emulate bands such as U2, Radiohead, The Verve, and Muse, all of which are apparent influences on Civil Twilight’s overall sound. “I draw my inspiration from the natural beauty of our home country,” says vocalist, lyricist, and bassist Steven McKellar. “I still find myself closing my eyes and dreaming about it, long for it, getting inspiration from the sea. You just can’t escape it.” Although the band in no way reflects the music of Africa in their songs, you can catch little glimpses of their home through lyrics about the earth’s natural beauty. There are many other underlying themes in Civil Twilight’s music, but one of the most obvious is a fascination with death and the after-life, shown through the posing of questions such as “Who are we?” and “What happens to us next?”  Read more...

As lead singer and songwriter of San Francisco duo Two Gallants, Adam Stephens (with band mate Tyson Vogel) released four critically acclaimed albums and toured incessantly over the past five years. A well-deserved break was finally taken, providing Adam with a chance to write material for a new project. After forming a band and playing various west coast shows over the past year, Adam went into Sunset Sound and Kingsize Soundlabs in Los Angeles and recorded his debut solo record with producer Joe Chiccarelli (My Morning Jacket, The Shins, White Stripes).  Read more...

Australian rock-n-roll export Wolfmother returns to the U.S. this summer with select performances kicking off at Lollapalooza in Chicago on August 8th. The tour makes its way through ten cities with stops including the annual Sturgis Rally in South Dakota, and the Outside Lands Festival in San Francisco (full tour dates below).  The psychedelic rockers are also set to perform on Lopez Tonight, August 16th.  Read more...

Photos courtesy of Andy Barron, Danica Waters and Charlie Hatley. Video shot and edited by Paul Giret. Produced by Myles Crawley.

By Myles Crawley
Recently Project Rhythm Seed was invited to attend the 6th annual Switchfoot Bro Am on Moonlight Beach in beautiful Encinitas, California. Bro Am is a one day event that features a surf contest and a whole lot of really great music. Bro Am’s surf contest draws some of the best surfing talent in the world, which include past world surfing champions Tom Curren and Rob Machado. This year’s musical acts were also impressive. The lineup included Dynamite Walls, Young The Giant, Kate Voegele, Chris Shiflett and the Dead Peasants, Timmy Curran, The Almost, OK GO and Switchfoot. It’s also an opportunity for this quiet beach community to come out en masse, enjoy a fabulous day on the beach, and support a wonderful cause.

Even though the event itself is free, it still collects an impressive amount of money for charity. This is largely due to sponsors like Hurley, Billabong and others, along with a pre-event auction night and an after party at The Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach. This year brought in a whopping $130,000. All proceeds benefit the San Diego and Oceanside chapters of StandUp For Kids, a nonprofit group that helps homeless kids in the United States. For our viewers in other world locations, that was not a misprint. America does have a large population of kids living on the street, and those numbers are growing by the day. StandUp For Kids is there to provide support. In some cases it’s a safe place to stay, but most times it’s as simple as a change of clothes, a long distance phone card, or a healthy meal. This really has become a labor of love for a lot of people, including the band Switchfoot, who were among the original founders of the event.

Here is what StandUp For Kids founder and CEO, Rick Koca has to say – “StandUp For Kids is extremely proud that Switchfoot has chosen our Southern California programs as the beneficiary of their Bro-Am again this year. Their dedication, support, and commitment to the homeless and street kids of Southern California is unequaled. For Jon and the band it isn’t just about raising funds, but getting to know the kids and the volunteers. Their impact in Southern California is felt long after the last surfboard is put away, the last song has been played, and the last fan has left the beach.”  Read more...

By Myles Crawley
Today marks day #1 of Josiah Leming‘s summer tour across the US. Tonight through Friday, he will be appearing at Lestat’s in San Diego, before working his way across the heartland of America.. Over the past few years everyone from Jewel to Jason Mraz has graced the stage at Lestat’s. Its a veritable San Diego staple. Now its Josiah’s turn. Tomorrow night (Thursday 7/15) he is playing there with another Project Rhythm Seed fave, The Guggenheim Grotto, from Dublin, Ireland. We’ll be there for that show.

Josiah originally made a name for himself as a contestant on a prior season of American Idol. He stood out from the rest of the field and yet didn’t make it past #20. Why? Because he was the real deal. American Idol parades many pseudo-talented people passed the public’s eye over the course of a season. Few of them are really able to write a song by themselves and perform it, self-accompanied, in front of an audience. But that’s what Josiah does… and he does it really well. He’s a singer/songwriter/musician. There’s not much room for that type of subversive behavior in the tight confines of a season of American Idol. Simon thought he was great. Randy thought otherwise. Most of us who know Josiah would tend to side with Simon on this issue. Hmmm… that in itself is kind of weird. Actually Simon Cowell has a great ear, and really is the best hit picker on the show. However, despite what everybody thinks, he doesn’t always get his way.

I met Josiah back in February of this year at Michele Clark’s Sunset Sessions. Warner Bros. A&R chief, Perry Watts-Russell introduces us and we’ve been friends ever since. But that doesn’t bias my opinion. If he sucked I’d tell you. Fortunately for all of us, it’s just the opposite. He’s a talented guy and he puts on a great show that is full of energy. This tour is just him and his instruments, in this case a guitar and a new Nord keyboard. If you have the chance, go and see Josiah. His new album comes out soon on Warner Brothers, Reprise label. Below, you’ll find a schedule of the dates for this tour. Below the schedule is a video of a great song called “Maybe”. We recorded this version at Sunset Sessions and, even though this was an impromptu performance for our cameras, you can hear the crowds reaction in the background. Enjoy!  Read more...

By J. Brown

“You calm me down when the world makes me angry / So don’t ever leave me, I’ll always be true.”—excerpt from the song “On the Wind”  Read more...

By Myles Crawley

Given the current sentiment surrounding oil companies, this new video is extremely timely and poignant. When you dive deeper, you realize exactly how relevant this video and song really are. The track, “Ballad of the Black Gold” was written and recently released by Reflection Eternal, which is made up of two talented writer/producer/artists named Hi-Tek and Talib Kweli. Hi-Tek wrote the music on the eve of Barack Obama’s presidential victory. Talib Kwali wrote the lyrics after a trip to Nigeria, where he realized just how much the oil business controls segments of our world. He likened it to “hitting you right in the face.”  Read more...

Project Rhythm Seed would like very much to introduce you to Elizabeth Powell. She is the writer, vocalist and guitar player for the Canadian band Land of Talk and she is a marvel to behold. Her vocals are arresting and her guitar playing is fluid and moody. Its a package perfectly made for the American audience she is now poised and ready to attack.  Read more...

By J. Brown

Sultry and intense, Kay Pettigrew’s take on blues and jazz-influenced indie folk demonstrates that she is just one artist who is part of the talented music scene in Toronto with a bright future. Pettigrew is an independent musician born in Southern Ontario in Canada and has already garnered rave reviews for the musical goodness she has released thus far—an output that includes songs showcasing an effortless range of styles, as well as an inventive and creative take on bluesy folk melodies. Pettigrew particularly shines on heavily blues-based tracks that give the listener a taste of her powerful and impressive voice, such as “Lunatica” and “Ornithology.” The singer was kind enough to grant me an interview and answer some questions about her plans, motivations, favorite music and more.  Read more...

By Myles Crawley

As a country, New Zealand hasn’t exactly been prolific in turning out music stars. But when they do, you can usually bet they will be guilty of producing some of the hookiest, down right infectious melodies known to man. Such is the case with Kids of 88. Jordan Arts & Sam McCarthy make up the band. They hail from Auckland, New Zealand. McCarthy covers vocals and programming, and is known for “complaining too much”. Arts is in charge of synthesizers and programming, and it’s been said that he “doesn’t complain enough”. I suppose that’s what makes them such a competent working duo. Yin and Yang – opposites attract!
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With California’s budget crisis wreaking havoc on the poor, some of the hardest hit are youth in foster care and their guardians. Having experienced eight foster homes between the ages of four months and 15 years old, Grammy nominated producer Kashif, knows on a personal level the dilemma such a crisis can cause.  Read more...

By Myles Crawley  Read more...