Mozella on The Brian Holland Sessions
Mozella
Detroit songstress Mozella co-wrote her new album with Motown legend Brian Holland - songwriter of over 25 #1 Motown songs, including “(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave,” “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You),” “Baby I Need Your Loving,” “Baby Love” and “You Keep Me Hangin' On.”
Brian Holland is a walking song. He was made to write music.
Writing this album with Brian showed me how to dig deeper.
His desire to work with me gave me confidence.
His vocal coaching pushed me places I was afraid to go.
His encouragement, positivity, and genuine love of song bonded us one another.
His enthusiasm for my lyrics gave me hope.
The biggest lesson I learned was to be present. There was no label, no A&R, no budget, no expectation. We just became friends made music together. It sounds simple. In some ways it is and in some ways it is not. Most artists like me have been sucked into the major label conundrum only to be tossed out the other side. Most of us spend years trying to figure out a sane way to mix art and commerce without losing ourselves and the joy of making music in the process. I decided I would just make music for the love of making music. And I was blessed to get to do it with one of the greatest songwriters in the world! And yes it is cool that we are both from Motown. But I don't think that matters all that much. We just like each other.
I made this album for one reason: to write songs with Brian.
I wanted to learn what he knew.
I wanted to share an experience with him.
Instead of being focused on an outcome, I focused on him. I got to know him. We shared our french toast and sang Nat King Cole songs at Ihop.
We laughed a whole lot!
And together we made an album that we love.
Mozella on the web: mozellamusic.com
Mozella on Facebook: www.facebook.com/mozellamack
Mozella's Soundcloud: http://soundcloud.com/mozellamusic
Follow Mozella on Twitter: @MoZellamusic
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So & So’s Jay Dmuchowski on Ready
So & So
I am so proud of this record. I have never been one to leisurely listen to my own music but I am so thrilled with the way that my bandmates performed on Ready that I am able to enjoy So & So songs with a fan’s ears.
Amie [Miriello, singer/guitarist] and I have been working together for a number of years. We have both dreamed of putting a band together where the musicians are so in sync with each other and I have no doubt that our goal has been reached.
The project began as a means to sell tracks to other artists; but we hit on something too special and kept the tunes for ourselves. If there is one rule that this band lives by it is “Don’t create something that we don’t love.” It would be unthinkable to part with any of the songs on this album. With the help of stalwart producers Damon Sharpe, Claudio Cueni, Rob Wells and Justin Glasco, the songs pop in a way that we never dreamed possible.
Ready is a unique record because it doesn’t follow any trends.
Amie’s lyrics on songs like “No Sex” and “Broke” are at once funny and heartbreaking. She has genius in her words all throughout the album. If you buy the record and don’t pay attention to every lyric you are missing half the ride. Also, the vocal blend that Amie and Brandon [Rogers, keyboardist/singer] have created is amazing. They are truly vocal soulmates (Bana Haffar and Adam Hason also seem to have played together as a rhythm section in a previous life). We have worked three long years to make sure every track on this record was solid enough to comprise So & So’s proverbial “foot in the door” and we sincerely hope you enjoy the work that went into it.
I have been an ASCAP member my entire professional career and I can only wish Ready puts us in the pantheon of all the great artists that they represent.
Thanks guys! You rock, enjoy!
So & So on Facebook: www.facebook.com/soandsoworld
Follow So & So on Twitter: @soandsoworld
Visit So & So’s official website: www.soandsoworld.com
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Three Mile Pilot on Maps EP
Three Mile Pilot
San Diego indie rock band Three Mile Pilot had an influential decade-long run in the 90’s before going on a 13-year hiatus, during which members of the band played with Black Heart Procession and Pinback. Maps is 3MP’s second release since returning to an active recording/touring schedule in 2010.
Do you feel like you’re continuing on from 2010’s The Inevitable Past is the Future Forgotten, or do you think about Maps in relation to the earlier phase of your career?
Zach Smith: I think it's a mix of old and new when it comes to the material of Maps. Songs like "Long Way Up" at times to me capture the old soul of Three Mile Pilot, for example, the way Pall sings in a higher register and the overall raw energy of the band. But it definitely also has a new vibe/sound with such elements like the synths swirling around. Some people may think we've left our old sound behind. I believe it's still there in bits and pieces - you just need to know where to look. It would be boring and a shame to me if we didn't explore new sounds and directions as a band.
Pall Jenkins: A continuation from the 2010 [album]: same store, different item.
How has your activity with Pinback and Black Heart Procession impacted where you’re at now as songwriters?
Zach Smith:I'd like to think we've crafted and honed our signature sounds over the years with the records from the Black Heart Procession and Pinback. I'd also like to think/hope we've grown as songwriters. Just like anybody in their respective fields, we hope our experiences carry over to projects that we're involved in such as Maps.
Pall Jenkins: Black Heart Procession is no longer. I'm writing a solo record and running forklifts. Three Mile Pilot happens when we are all free. There are many ways to approach writing and just having different members takes things elsewhere. So when Three MIle Pilot writes, I tend to look at it differently, as I am 1/3.
Listen to “Long Way Up” from Maps.
Three Mile Pilot on Facebook: www.facebook.com/3milepilot.