Phil Harbut from The Swedes Phil Harbut, born and raised in British Columbia, always had a feverish love for music. In his final year at university, a few months from obtaining a degree, he withdrew to tour with his [then] band The Way Out and made music his life.
Beth Konopka snowboarder, yoga master, homegrown producer, filmmaker and dance lover, his Canadian outdoor-sie personality fits right into the fast-paced persona of the New York multi-tasker.
“Touring is what made me realize that [music] was a viable option for a career and that’s what I wanted to do.” The Way Out was tour-mate’s with the now popular rock duo Teagan and Sara who have remained very close friends with Phil ever since. Phil and “the girls,” as he calls them, hope to collaborate again in the future. Now a two-year veteran performer in the NYC-based band The Swedes, Phil has had no trouble adapting to his life as a multifaceted artist. A proficient crosscountry runner, recreational
“Being more in tune with artistic movement these days, I realize when drumming you’re playing with all four limbs at one time. You have pedals and the sticks. You have 1-8 options of things to hit with your four limbs and any combination within there. You’re creating rhythm. Rhythm is what makes people move. I watch drummers who are more internal, their postures perfect. They sometimes do less movement in order to play much faster complex stuff. It’s not like you have to be a jitterbug to create good rhythm. You’ve seen me drum and I move a ton; that’s because I have to move when I hear music. The movement comes from preference. Whatever you need to do to get whatever it is out of you.” The Swedes are, at this point, caught up in the crucial promotional efforts many bands face when trying to get noticed, get a label, and get people out to see them perform. With regular gigs at Mercury Lounge and Rothko, to name a few, and some talk about them on the London scene, Phil and The Swedes are more than holding their own.
Phil will have a limited underground release of some solo music this summer under the alias Phillip Alexander. Phil and The Swedes just released a new album. Info can be found on, MySpace, www.theswedes.net, CD Baby, and iTunes. Phil moonlights as a super-sexy bartender at Vinyl Restaurant. Priorities for the next year: getting things finished (like that degree!), mental and physical health, and friends.
Rock Kills Kid - Are You Nervous?
When you first hear Rock Kills Kid, sure, your head may unconsciously nod along to their music, but what should and probably will stick out from this band’s new album Are You Nervous are the daunting lyrics conveyed in the songs. Lead singer and songwriter Jeff Tucker had life experience to pull from when writing such songs as “Paralyzed,” their first single. This song, not unlike the rest of their music, draws on feelings of isolation, and deals with frustration from an inability to move forward. It’s hard to categorize exactly what genre of music Rock Kills Kid falls into. While some of their music takes on a more pop/punk sound (like “Paralyzed”), other songs such as “Hide Away” have you convinced you’re listening to U2. Overall, this band is on its way. “Paralyzed” has been the number one requested song on Los Angeles’ KROQ. Rock Kills Kid is currently on tour. Are You Nervous hit stores in May.
Kiyanu - Compulsion Guitar savant extraordinaire Kiyanu has been making a name for himself since 2001 when he joined Grammy-winning producer Malcolm Burn to record the album Compulsion with singer/songwriter Chris Grace. He has since toured with the likes of both Gwen Stefani and Ben Jelen, two of today’s hottest stars. But there is more to Kiyanu than big names and sold-out world tours. His new band, Misuniverse (the moniker more akin to ‘misconduct’ and ‘misbehavior’ than the beauty pageant), has a seven-song album titled All’s Well That Ends available now. On the track “Simplicity Herself,” Kiyanu and company cull the finer moments of Sufjan Stevens and Elliot Smith, weaving a lulling melody with the aid of Kiyanu’s tenderly played acoustic guitar. On “M.C. Escher,” Kiyanu reins in the drifting ambience of the song with his strident strumming. With influences as diverse as Debussy and Chopin to Pink Floyd and Bob Dylan, Kiyanu’s role as both player and producer help make All’s Well That Ends an effort worthy of your ear. Kiyanu with Gwen Stefani
Beck is known for his catchy, somewhat humorous alternative rock songs. When he released Sea Change, this flipped the tables on the music industry’s view of this talented artist. The departure from his norm highlights Beck’s artistic range and keeps his audience on their toes. With songs such as “The Golden Age” and “Lonesome Tears,” this reflective album is a keeper.
Angela McCluskey The Things We Do Angela McCluskey’s career has involved working with numerous bands (The Wild Colonials, telepopmusik, Shudder To Think), but her solo debut is a striking example of the raw talent of this artist. With a combination of thought-provoking lyrics and a sound that is unparalleled, The Things We Do is an essential recording. For a sample, listen to “Wrong Side”. www.angelamccluskey.com
Beth Hart Live at Paradiso
Some artists are better live, and some are better in a studio. Well, when it comes to Beth Hart, she is incredible regardless of the setting. Her most recent release, a live recording from Paradiso in Amsterdam, is flawless. Two notable selections on this album are “Hiding Under Water,” the first official release of this signature song, and “Guilty,” a rich Bonnie Raitt cover.
If you are a fan of truly great music, then chances are you’ve already heard of Jodie Manross. Known as “the little woman with the big voice,” this Knoxville, TN-based singer/songwriter has only begun to make her mark on the music industry. Jodie is a small-town girl with a soft spoken personality, and yes, it’s true, she’s a librarian by day. Her music is versatile and ranges from folk rock to soulful blues, but no matter how you categorize it, you can’t deny the passion and honesty that is packed into each song. Adding to her deeply personal lyrics is the way she delivers them, moving seamlessly from a vulnerable whisper into striking and compelling vocals that resonate far beyond the spectrum of her tiny stature and polite personality. When seen live, one can’t deny her power. Of course, Jodie is completely humble and feels grateful for every opportunity she has had as a performer. Her shows have ranged from big venues like the Bonnaroo Music Festival to smaller coffeehouses and even a wedding she once played where the bride never showed up! So what’s next for Jodie? She, along with long-time writing companion/ guitar player Laith Keilany have recently been featured covering “Green Blanket” on a Peter Case tribute, A Case for Case, whose sales benefit the non-profit organization Hungry For Music. In the past, Jodie has been actively involved with many charities and organizations in the Knoxville area, selflessly using her talents to help others. When asked to state her biggest goal she sweetly replied, “I just hope to reach as many folks as I can through music.” To find out more about Jodie, go to jodiemanross.com. Download these: “Still” from the album Still and “Marie” from the album Don’t Save the Kisses.
This is Skin’s first solo recording after a tenure with the band Skunk Anansie. If you enjoyed the SA songs “Infidelity” and “Brazen (Weep),” this album is for you. This recording offers less rock guitar, but more of that incredible voice and stunning lyrics. While her earlier work with the band was very political in nature, this album is an internalized reflection of love and love lost. For a sample of this work, check out “As Long as That’s True.” www.skinmusic.net
Heather Headley In My Mind Heather Headley is one of those singers that make you believe in the idea of pure, unadulterated talent and beauty again.
A demure and statuesque West Indian born in Trinidad, she commands your attention on stage with the purity and sheer force of her voice, which has catapulted her to fame on Broadway in The Lion King and as the star attraction of Aida. Looking to parlay that fame into more mainstream success in the music world, she released This Is Who I Am in 2001. It reached the #14 spot on the Billboard R&B chart with a breakout single, “I Wish I Wasn’t,” which lingered on the biggest dance floors of New York in its Junior Vasquez incarnation. Her new album, In My Mind, looks to be a promising sophomore effort, once again showcasing her powerful pipes with production work from such heavyweights as Babyface and the Jimmy Jam/ Terry Lewis team. There’s even a surprisingly infectious track in the doo-wop mold produced by Atlanta crunkster and Chappelle Show favorite Lil’ Jon. Each song is solid, with lyrics that are thoughtful and often complex, painting Headley as a woman at times strong and defiant in and out of love, but also confused, plagued with insecurities and at times even a little guilti. This is no Beyoncé, kicking men to the curb with a glib girl-power attitude. Nevertheless, there really isn’t a standout track on this album, like an “I Wish I Wasn’t.” Her flawless voice is at times almost too perfect, never wavering or revealing the kind of intense, awkward emotion that makes someone like Mary J. Blige so moving. If you subtract the two watereddown dancehall tracks, the entire album becomes easy fodder for a posh restaurant, or one of the nicest elevators in the city. There’s a sense that perhaps her Broadway work trumps her R&B potential, training her to be pitch-perfect and consistent on stage, which translates as a bit stiff and formal in the studio. Seeing her live on Ellen recently reinforced this idea, as she belted out the title track of the album in a much more memorable way than the syrupy recorded production. The good news is that the major release of this type of raw singing talent bodes well for an industry struggling to escape from the Britneys and Ashley Simpsons of the world. Shows like American Idol have made singing, real singing, cool again, and lip-synch pop seems to be on the wane. But Headley may have to stick to live work to get her real talents recognized properly.
