Story by Myles Crawley
Photos by Danica Waters

One of the things I love about cities is the street music. Talented troubadors, buskers and street musicians are everywhere and you never know what or whom you will see and hear next. A couple of years ago, my family and I were in London. We were staying in St. John’s Wood and one day while it was pissing down outside, we dove down into the underground for a quick trip to city center. As soon as we hit the ambient subterranean tunnels, we could hear a girl singing and playing guitar. The voice was beautiful. We could tell right away that she was very talented. It turned out to be none other than Susan Justice, who we met again and interviewed earlier on this year at Michele Clark’s Sunset Sessions (watch here)  Read more...

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By: Myles Crawley

It’s a Thursday night here in Southern California as a drive down the coast to the House of Blues in San Diego. I’m listening to the John Butler Trio’s new album April Uprising, which I’ve had for a couple of months now, but haven’t really gotten into yet. The songs are good. I sense a blending of styles, everything from blues to Celtic to bluegrass to a Hendrix influence that undeniably cuts through. John Butler is most definitely a guitar guy, but he can sing too. The band is tight. All in all it’s a good record, but maybe not one of my faves, yet anyway.  Read more...

Well folks, finally as promised, the first installment of extra Josiah Leming songs. As reported a few weeks back, we were asked if Josiah could perform a couple extra songs after his interview at Sunset Sessions. We thought that sounded like a great idea and extended the stage to him. He actually ended up performing 7 songs, all of which we now have edited and will feature right here.  His new CD will release on July 13, 2010. But for right now, here is Josiah Leming singing “To Run”.  Read more...

Interview hosted by Michael Halloran. Produced by Myles Crawley. Edited by Rich Aquino.

Half Greek, half Latin, the words Alpha Rev pulled together loosely mean “the beginning of something new.” At least that’s how Texas-born musician Casey McPherson describes the name of the group he fronts. He goes on to say, “It’s that feeling when the light bulb goes off, that instant of inspiration and redemption, those moments that keep us going forward.”  Read more...

Hosted by Michael Halloran. Produced by Myles Crawley. Edited by Charlie Hatley.

Holding Air Hostage is a four-piece band based in San Diego, California, and is centered around the writing of award-wining singer/songwriter Jeremy Geltman, who first teamed up with guitarist/vocalist Tony Cafiso as an acoustic duo in January 2008. They were later joined by local musicians Jeff Ludwig and Dusty Norberg on bass and drums, respectively, and the band transformed from an acoustic duo into an amplified indie rock band.  Read more...

Hosted by Michael Halloran. Produced by Myles Crawley. Interview edited by Rich Aquino. Performance edited by Ryan Parker.

By Myles Crawley  Read more...

Hosted by Michael Halloran. Produced by Myles Crawley. Edited by Charlie Hatley.

Susan Justice spent most of her life traveling with, as she puts it, her gypsy family. As a kid she shuttled between South Carolina and New York City and was born in Aruba. She recently signed with Warner Bros. Records. Her music has a modern “pop” feel, but still maintains the qualities of a “folk, singer/songwriter”. She’s a gutsy young woman who isn’t afraid to work for what’s coming her way. We think there will be quite a bit coming her way in the very near future. While she was at Sunset Sessions, she sat down and spoke with Halloran and then played a beautiful number called “I Wonder“. Ladies and gentlemen, Susan Justice.

Hosted by Michael Halloran. Produced by Myles Crawley. Interview edited by Rich Aquino. Performance edited by Ryan Parker.

By: Myles Crawley  Read more...

Produced by Myles Crawley. Edited by Rich Aquino.

By: Myles Crawley

Around our house we have certain things that we do religiously. They’re usually not very complicated, but they’re always an important ingredient to maintaining harmony, balance and happiness about the place. For instance, the preparation of dinner. If we’re all in town, dinner for us is like going to church. Both my wife and I will create culinary delights for no one in particular. Just us and the kids, and the occasional stranger or band passing through town. An integral ingredient to the finer balance, between the smells and the tastes, is the music. Our mixes and music selections have become nearly legendary amongst our friends. And it is this aural mix that adds the pizzazz to whatever delicacies we’re offering up that particular night.  Read more...

Hosted by Michael Halloran. Produced by Myles Crawley. Interview edited by Rich Aquino. Performance edited by Ryan Parker.

By: Myles Crawley

Well, today’s the day I have been savoring for some time. While we were at Sunset Sessions we met a guy named Josiah Leming. Like Megan Corkrey, Josiah was flying under the radar. He wasn’t performing at Sunset Sessions. He wasn’t really supposed to be there at all. He had been brought down to Rancho Bernardo by Perry Watts-Russell and Julie Muncy from Warner/Reprise Records. Like Megan, Josiah was on American Idol. I think he made it to #20 or something.  Read more...

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Hosted by Michael Halloran. Produced by Myles Crawley. Edited by Charlie Hatley.

Sara Haze is a talented young pop singer whose first album, “My Personal Sky” released in November of 2009. Sara was suffering from a slight throat ailment and, although she wanted to perform  her single for us, was unable to do so. Nonetheless, she sat down and spoke to Halloran about her life, her career and her rise up the music business ladder.  Read more...

Hosted by Michael Halloran. Produced by Myles Crawley. Edited by Charlie Hatley.

By: Myles Crawley

Megan Corkrey, or Megan Joy as she’s also known, wasn’t officially appearing at Sunset Sessions. She was kind of flying under the radar. Well, as much as a 6 foot tall girl with a blonde afro could anyway. Earlier in the day, Julie Muncy from Warner Bros. Records had come by and asked if we would be interested in interviewing Megan. Not being one to ever say no to a record exec, I said sure, absolutely.  Read more...

Hosted by Michael Halloran. Produced by Myles Crawley. Interview edited by Charlie Hatley. Performance edited by Ryan Parker.

By: Myles Crawley  Read more...

Home grown in the vibrant music community of Ithaca, NY, the Makepeace Brothers were surrounded by a constant soundtrack of Dylan, Marley, the Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel, as well as diverse acts from around the world that they watched perform at music festivals each year. Combining elements of bluegrass, country, Jazz, Brazilian, African, and Celtic, their music is as worldly and positive as their message.  Read more...

Hosted by Michael Halloran. Produced by Myles Crawley. Edited by Jason Lehr.

Every once in a while we meet someone who makes an enormous positive impression on us. Landon Pigg is that type of person. When we arrived at Sunset Sessions we had no idea who he even was. But meeting him, and watching him effortlessly sing and play, changed that. Landon was polite, intelligent and well spoken, with no trace of an overblown ego.  Read more...

Hosted by Michael Halloran. Produced by Myles Crawley. Edited by Rich Aquino

Maia Sharp is a perfect example of why musical education is so important. In Maia’s case, she not only got it at school, but also at home. Both Maia’s parents are musically inclined and made sure that music was a big part of their home life. So it should come as no surprise that Maia has gone on to write songs for The Dixie Chicks, Art Garfunkel and Trisha Yearwood. She also toured with Bonnie Raitt for several years. Her new album, “Echo” is available now.  Read more...

By: Myles Crawley

Over the next few weeks, we will be introducing you to a host of new musical artists. Some you might have heard of, like NeedToBreathe, Daniel Merriweather or Bob Schneider. But for the most part this will be a first time experience. These artists are  newly signed, with their first CD’s being released soon. We met up with them at Michele Clark’s Sunset Sessions which, this year, was held at the Rancho Bernardo Inn in Rancho Bernardo, California. Sunset Sessions is a three day event that brings together music supervisors for television and film,  music publishing library supervisors and Triple A format radio programmers.  Read more...

Story and Photos by: Danica Waters

It’s Friday at Sunset Sessions. He enters the set at dusk: a slightly tousled, carefully-crafted, dark, almost brooding man donning dark glasses (even though the sun has long since been a threat…)

He is accompanied by a very excited, decidedly protective menagerie of industry professionals. They gather ‘round the set, keen to hear what Bob Schneider has to say to Project Rhythm Seed interviewer Michael Halloran…

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