Monday, October 14, 2019
Wednesday, April 11, 2018
Zoee is Lighting up North America!
It was a pleasure to “meet” Zoee this Monday online. The Australian born singer-writer, now residing in the U.K. is a joy to talk to, and more importantly, she is producing some incredible music, and it is my pleasure to feature it on WMOG.
One of our other most recent featured artists told me that “writing about music is like dancing about architecture.” Therefore, I am not going to write about Zoee. Instead, I am going to let you decide for yourself how perfectly capable this young lady is of becoming one of the most respected and revered artists in new independent music.
You can reach / follow Zoee at the links below:
Website: https://www.zoee.uk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ZoeeOfficial
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ZoeeOfficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ZoeeOfficial/
Email: zoeeofficial@gmail.com.com
Sunday, March 11, 2018
“A Huge Thank You”
I have been overwhelmed with the support and submissions to
WMOG over the last few months, and I can’t express my appreciation enough to
folks like Scott Brandt, Nikki Briar, Jessie Lynn, Steve Dunfee, Danielle Haskell, Rugged Grace, Jennifer Mlott, Brad McKinney, Wild Fire, and more who have
hung in with WMOG during the transition from Florida to Missouri.
I have some catching up to do. So, let me start with a huge
“thank you.”
Our mission at WMOG is to give equal time to independent
artists and the country stars we all know and love. This inspiration was not mine: it was
acquired from Tom Kelly, owner
of Chasing Your Dream Radio.
Thank you, Tom.
The first few times I heard one of my songs played on CYDR behind
Travis Tritt, Tim McGraw, or John Michael Montgomery, I was in awe. I knew that my stupid songs were not going to
make me thousands of dollars, but it sure did “make my day,” as Tom has always put
it. I hope to carry that feeling on to other up-and-coming country artists.
So, raise a glass please, and say thank you to my friend and
mentor, Tom Kelly. #USMC #SemperFi
Saturday, October 14, 2017
“Always With You” by Danielle Haskell – A Musical Story of Pain, Faith, and Recovery
When Danielle first told me about the heart-touching history
behind the writing of this song, I was hesitant to write a review of it for
fear that I would not do it justice. I
am still a bit fearful of that, but after a week of having it tug at my heart,
I decided I had to give it my best shot. So, here it is.
I will dispense of the usual discussion about production
quality, normally my favorite part of an analysis, because the production is
flawless – ready for airplay on any major syndicated network alongside of the
greatest artists in country and Christian music.
Sir Elton John once said,
“Music has a healing power. It has the ability to take people out of themselves
for a few hours.” Danielle’s song “Always
With You,” is one of those songs that heals, and that is exactly what she
was trying to achieve with the tune, for both herself and her listeners. She
needed a song that would remind her of her loss, and that would help inspire
others to “chin-up” in the face of adversity.
On her seventeenth birthday, Danielle lost her beloved Grandmother
who had been battling cancer. Her Grandma was the devoted family-type, who
always attempted to inspire family members to keep a sense of humor, and to
accept and be kind to everyone by means of the “Golden Rule.” As
chance would have it, a week before the diagnosis of cancer, Danielle was in
Quebec City. Knowing that her Grandma was not feeling well, she stopped at a
local church to light a candle and say a prayer. Near the church, she found a
shop and bought her grandmother a gift – a stone with an angel engraved on one
side, and the phrase “Toujours Avec Toi” inscribed on the other – “Always With
You.”
Shortly after giving the gift to her grandmother, the
diagnosis came. Along with the diagnosis came conversations between the two of
them about fears and beliefs, and the phrase “Always With You” took on a new
meaning for Danielle, and she knew it would be the title of her next work. She
and her producer wrote the song within an hour, and she was able to record it
in time for her Grandmother to hear it just before passing.
As proof of her Grandmother’s love of family, Danielle now
wears a heart pendant that her Grandma had made for her before passing. On it
is a cross and the words “Toujours Avec Toi.” The pendant was made before her
Grandmother knew that Danielle was writing “Always With You” in her honor.
Ms. Haskell has
the wonderfully unique talent of writing relatable lyrics for the masses. Whether or not you are a person of faith, the
song will inspire you to be strong in the face of adversity, focus on the
good and not the bad, and to remember that regardless of who you are, someone
out there will always be with you.
“Rain, keeps pouring down. No break in the clouds. No peace
for your soul. The days, keep moving so slow. You’re looking for hope. And you
feel all alone, but you’re not alone. I am here. I am here!” ~ Danielle Haskell
You can follow or subscribe to Danielle via these links:
Friday, September 8, 2017
Nikki Briar – Shining Brighter Than Ever
In her hit single, After the New Wears Off, Nikki Briar asks
her partner: “After the new wears off, do you still care?”
I have been listening to this song for three months now,
several times a day, and there is nothing about the song that is wearing on me.
I don’t think Nikki has any concerns
about her shine fading anytime soon. In fact, I think she is a rising country
star to be reckoned with for years to come – somewhat of a rarity for a Jersey
girl.
Once I heard After the New Wears Off, I had to dig a little
deeper into her song history, and I found Country
Thang. A track that more deeply explores Nikki’s combined rock and
country roots. Both songs are flawlessly
produced in traditional Nashville style, and both songs are permanently
installed in my iTunes
favorites library.
It is not a coincidence that Briar is extremely talented. Both of her
parents were extremely gifted musicians in their own right. Her father, Joseph,
was a touring drummer in the Motown band, The Victorians. Her mother, Oksana,
was a classically trained pianist and artist. Nikki is a great example of an
apple that didn’t fall far from the tree. However, instead of decaying in the
shadows of that tree, she planted new seeds and grew taller and brighter than
the original.
Nikki epitomizes the
spirit of rising musicians. She doesn’t stop touring in support of her music – 220 shows per year! She has
performed openers for the likes of Tim McGraw, Granger Smith, Chase Bryant,
Parmalee, LoCash, Cassadee Pope, and more. In addition, she has headlined at
the legendary Stone Poney in Asbury Park, NJ, and the Stanhope House in
Stanhope, NJ.
Finally, Nikki is a
proud Army wife, and performs the national anthem whenever possible at numerous
military events. Her patriotism is evident in the recordings on her first EP, A
Soldier’s Princess.
Get a little taste of country and a lick of rock. Find Nikki
on social media:
Twitter and Facebook: @NikkiBriar
Monday, August 28, 2017
Sophie Smith - Underwater?
She’s not underwater from what I hear! I was introduced to this new lyricist /
vocalist from England a couple of days ago online, and I am so glad I took the
time to check out her new single “Underwater” on YouTube (which by the way, was
just uploaded last month and already has over 2,800 views).
Of course, the first thing that struck me was the power and
clarity in Sophie’s voice. As I’ve said
in previous reviews, the music can be beautifully composed, performed, and
arranged, but if it’s layered with a not-so-adequate voice, it’s all for
naught. That is certainly not the case
in “Underwater.”
The second characteristic of the song that I noticed was its
simplicity of instruments chosen. I’ve long been a fan of the “less is more”
concept in this regard. Many songs over the last couple of decades are layered with
so many guitars, vocal tracks, and even keyboards that they almost can’t help
but sound “good.” By “good,” I mean far better than the song is going to sound
when it is performed live, unless there are twenty-five musicians on
stage. Sophie’s “Underwater” track
avoids that, consisting primarily of an electric guitar, vocals and harmony,
some non-intrusive keyboard pads, and a beat – certainly not overwhelming.
My favorite component of the song is the lyrics - powerful
and thought provoking. Take this part of the verse for example:
“And I can feel your heart beating through my chest, pushing
its way through. And I can feel your touch with my memories, keeping you alive.”
These types of lyrics can mean many things to different
people, yet at the same time, they create a desire to know what Sophie was
thinking about when she wrote them.
“Underwater” by Sophie Smith is available on iTunes at http://apple.co/2vyke8t
Friday, August 19, 2016
Kat Oxley - Jacksonville's Rising Country Star
Originally hailing from California, Kat Oxley transplanted to the beautiful North Florida region in 1992, and now considers herself a native.
Kat has been singing since she was four, and started writing her own music at the age of thirteen. Artists such as Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Dixie Chicks, and Nickel Creek inspire her. She brings years of life experience to her music and hopes to motivate and captivate her audience by writing songs that stir emotions across the spectrum. Happy, angry, melancholy, and inspiring topics can be found throughout her works.
When not in the studio, Kat can be found fishing the vast waterways of Florida, honing her skills at the local firing range, practicing archery, or simply kicked back by the pool or at the beach.
Kat is married to Jeff Oxley, an MMA trainer who supports her musical aspirations with the passion of a fighter.
Kat has recently signed a recording contract, and she is excited to bring the rest of her music to the world!
You can visit her website at Kat Oxley Music, or find her on Kat Oxley's Facebook, or on Kat Oxley on Twitter.
Like and follow, and look for much more great music from Kat Oxley very soon!
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