Choir of Young Believers: Hollow Talk

Sometimes an international superstar puts the spotlight on a sublime song already popular in smaller circles:  on his new hit album Josh Groban chose to record only a couple of covers, one of them being "Hollow Talk" by Choir of Young Believers, founded in 2007 by Copenhagen born Danish-Greek frontman Jannis Noya Makrigiannis.

The track is off their 2008 debut full-length album 'This Is for the White in Your Eyes'.  After performing at the 2009 South by Southwest festival the band was signed to the U.S. label Ghostly International. Their most recent album is 'Rhine Gold', released in March 2012.

https://www.facebook.com/choirofyoungbelievers


NOTE:  "Hollow Talk" is used as the opening and closing music for the popular Swedish/Danish crime drama TV series Broen [The Bridge]. American as well as British/French remakes of the original series are in the works.


A COYB fan had the inspired idea to match the song to video footage of the massive flock of starlings that join up in a furious effort to protect themselves from birds of prey at dusk each spring and fall in South-West Jutland, Denmark.

More info on the Sort Sol (black sun) bird phenomenon in Jutland, Denmark:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sort_sol_(bird_flock)

Trixie Whitley: Need Your Love + Breathe You In My Dreams + A Thousand Thieves

 

One of my favorite new voices since 2008, Trixie Whitley finally has a debut full-length album out: 'Fourth Corner' was released in the U.S. January 29, in continental Europe February 11, and gets a UK release March 5.

The 25-year-old singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist of Belgian/American parentage has a sold out show this Wednesday in Copenhagen followed by a string of European and U.S. gigs in March, April, and May.  She will also be appearing June 13 at this year's Bonnaroo festival.

The first two videos were directed by Belgian photographer Anton Coene. The third clip was shot by American photographer Matthu Placek.


http://www.trixiewhitley.com/shows/

www.facebook.com/trixiewhitley

http://antoncoene.be/

http://www.matthuplacek.com/#/video

Alabama Shakes: Boys And Girls + I Found You

Alabama Shakes are channeling the classic Stax/Muscle Shoals sounds and gaining new fans by the minute; a Saturday Night Live powerhouse performance last weekend blew millions of viewers away.

The two videos below however are ample proof that the band does equally well with low-key acoustic arrangements.  The title track "Boys and Girls" from their 2012 debut full-length album and "I Found You" were recorded at radio station WNRN in Charlottesville, Virginia in late 2011.

Guitarist and lead vocalist Brittany Howard and her merry men will be very busy between March 1 and August 18 with shows in the U.S., Central and South America, and Europe. (Several dates have already sold out.)


https://www.facebook.com/theAlabamaShakes/app_123966167614127


http://www.alabamashakes.com/tour/

Lana Del Rey: Burning Desire

Lana Del Rey has a gorgeous new video out: "Burning Desire" is the iTunes store bonus track off her third EP 'Paradise' released in November of 2012.

Her 34-date European tour kicks off April 3 in Amneville, France and wraps up June 16 in Helsinki, Finland.  (Several of the shows have already sold out.)


http://www.lanadelrey.com/#/live


https://www.facebook.com/lanadelrey

James Blake: Retrograde

London born singer-songwriter-producer James Blake releases his second full-length 'Overgrown' April 8. 

The hypnotic first single entitled "Retrograde" does not disappoint, and is well-served by the intriguing video shot by Blake's favored visual artist, Danish director Martin de Thurah.

His February 26 London show is already sold out, but he has three more UK dates in April, followed by five North American gigs, also in April.


http://jamesblakemusic.com/index.php


http://vimeo.com/martindethurah

Robert Delong: Happy + Global Concepts

L.A. based one-man band Robert Delong will be at South by Southwest in March and at Coachella in April.  He also has several shows lined up this month, incl. an in-store gig at Amoeba in San Francisco Friday, February 22.

His debut album 'Just Movement' was released on Glassnote Records on February 5.

Shout out: the two videos go out to Lila who turns 19 Monday, February 11 - Happy Birthday!


http://robertdelong.com/

https://www.facebook.com/RobertDeLongMusic

HighasaKite: My Soldier + Indian Summer

Norwegian quintet HighasaKite will be busy playing South By Southwest in Austin March 12-16, and will follow up with a few gigs in L.A. and NYC.  There are also shows scheduled in the UK, Germany, Denmark and Sweden: check both links below for details.


The Oslo based band's 10-track debut album 'All That Floats Will Rain' came out in Norway a year ago.  An EP entitled 'In and Out of Weeks' drops March 5 and their international debut album will be released at the end of the year.


http://www.highasakite.no/live.html

https://www.facebook.com/highasakitemusic/app_123966167614127