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Meld the power of Adele with the eclecticism of Kate Bush, the intimacy of Tori Amos, the charming flair of Stevie Nicks and a dash of Taylor Swift, what do you have? You have Samsara, of course. Hailing from the UK, singer-songwriter Samsara traipses across jazz, pop, country and rock with her evocative vocals and melodies. From fronting a teenage band at the age of 15 to singing with stars like Don Henley, Steve Winwood, and Bryan Adams, and now releasing music as a solo artist, Samsara is an exciting artist to say the least.

After leaving music behind because of a cumulative abusive marriage where her husband wouldn’t allow her to sing, Samsara steps up to prove she may have taken a step back, but music is in her soul. Reaching audiences across the globe with chart-topping songs like ‘Love For All Time’, ‘Without You’ and ‘Hard To Love’, Samsara is difficult to ignore and we’re taking a gander into her single ‘Invisible’.

Released in 2022, ‘Invisible’ followed her single ‘Anything’ and brought listeners a soft, soothing country sound. Easily placed on any stage in Nashville, ‘Invisible’ has a toe-tapping element reminiscent of acts like Reba McIntyre and Tori Amos. Yet, while there is a powerful mainstream country sound, Samsara’s obscure vocals add a unique tinge to the ballad. Rich, confident and warm, her voice pulls you tight in a big hug while the instrumentation wraps you both in a comfortable blanket. Interestingly, while the song has a simplistic acoustic soundscape, the single is kaleidoscopic with a charming harmony in the arrangement.

A natural storyteller, Samsara shares reflective songs of life, love and journeys. ‘Invisible’ uses an intimate personal narrative to resonate with people who “feel invisible”. Yet, while there is a melancholic tone, hopefulness also exists in the moving single.

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In addition to the single, Samsara released a lyric music video for ‘Invisible’. You can view the video below or on her YouTube channel.

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For more from Samsara, check out her Facebook, TwitterInstagram and Spotify.

This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator

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Known for melding poetic introspection in soul-stirring melodies, US-based singer-songwriter Ben Freeman weaves intimate adventure into his music. First releasing his EP Providence in 2015, Freeman’s journey began quite a few years ago; however, it was only several years later that he “…arrived in a place of wanting to make music in a sustained way…the first summer of the pandemic became the context where a lot of other things that had previously seemed important fell away and I was able to get real with myself that this is what I wanted to do” (quote taken from our interview with Ben Freeman). The latest addition to his discography is the single ‘Long Distance’.

Following his well-received album Quiet Fury, ‘Long Distance’ is Freeman’s first release in 2023. A collaborative project with long-time friend, collaborator and fellow artist Nora Rothman, ‘Long Distance’ oozes old-school soul with a passionate slick of alternative pop. The multi-layered vocals showcase not only Rothman’s inspiring voice but also Freeman’s wide vocal range. Bold and starting with a hint of soulful sensuality, ‘Long Distance’ is one of those tracks you could play alongside Sade. Yet, while there is a nostalgic flair to the melody, it has a contemporary feel making it perfect for a Bruno Mars meets Shawn Mendes playlist.

Produced with Jackson Hoffman at Hoffman’s studio in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, ‘Long Distance’ is the first track off Freeman’s upcoming EP. Groovy and laid back, the single has an elegant charm in its sophisticated arrangement. Yet, it appears to look at the core of human feeling in an intimate, slightly vulnerable way. Freeman explains that “this is a song about feeling close and far from someone at the same time. It’s nostalgia, ambivalence and desire in sonic form…”

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For more from Ben Freeman, check out his Instagram and Spotify.

This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator

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Despite being only 19 years old, a freshman in college, singer-songwriter Sean Kennedy has the sophistication, maturity and elegance to stand up among his contemporaries. We spoke with Kennedy about his new album Forever Usbeing a musician in the 21st century, and much more.

OSR: What does music mean to you?

Kennedy: Music is my way of expressing myself. Each of my records is like a time capsule that preserves the emotions and stories of myself from that time.

OSR: What inspired you to become a musician?

Kennedy: I started writing songs when I was 9 years old, and I immediately fell in love with it. I did it every day and eventually, I learned how to record. I started putting out music because I wanted to share what I had been making with the world, and I haven’t stopped since.

OSR: What can you tell us about your album Forever Us? Is there a backstory or theme to it?

Kennedy: Forever Us is a very special album for me. It’s about my first relationship, and the emotions surrounding it as I was getting ready to leave school. It’s a record that revolves around love and loss, but at its center, it’s an album about feeling lucky enough to experience love. It’s very different both sonically and thematically from my previous work.

OSR: What was the most exciting and least exciting thing about creating Forever Us?

Kennedy: Making this record was beyond exciting. Working with Francesco Massidda, a producer from Italy, was so creatively fulfilling. My last three records were made primarily on my own, so working with different collaborators, especially my friends, this time around was such a nice change. I don’t think there was anything not exciting about this album’s process.

OSR: What do you hope people take from your music?

Kennedy: I hope people find themselves within my music. I want people to be able to take my songs and set them for their own lives.

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OSR: If you could change one thing about Forever Us, what would it be?

Kennedy: I took some time off between my last album and this one to really hone in on my craft and conceptualize a clear idea of ​​what I wanted the next record to sound like. This album is exactly what I set out for it to be, so I don’t think I’d change anything about it

OSR: Of all the songs you have ever released, which is your absolute favorite and why is that one?

Kennedy: My absolute favorite song tends to change a lot. I don’t listen to my music much after it’s been released, so I think my favorite always tends to be whatever I’m currently working on. The song ‘Golden’ on this record is one of my current favourites, though.

OSR: What bad decision did you make that turned out to be a good decision?

Kennedy: I think some people in my life were very pessimistic when I made plans to release my debut single. I had just turned 15, I didn’t know what mixing or mastering was, and I was doing it all on my own. Some people told me I should wait, but I think releasing that song was the best decision I’ve ever made. It introduced me to the music industry and I wouldn’t be where I am today without it.

OSR: What do you think are the challenges and advantages of being a musician in this digital era?

Kennedy: I think the digital age made it possible for artists like myself to get out there without signing to a label first. Just a few years ago, I wouldn’t have been able to just decide to start releasing music. I think the downside to this is that the market is more oversaturated than ever, so it can be hard to stand out.

OSR: Do you have future plans as an artist?

Kennedy: I’m not sure what the future holds for me after this album. For so long I felt the need to always have a plan and I like that recently I’ve been letting the music come to me instead. I’ve been in talks with some very cool people within the industry, so I’m very excited to see what the future holds.

OSR: What message do you have for our readers?

Kennedy: I would tell the readers to remember to find the purpose in everything they do. Don’t go through the motions, find meaning.

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Many thanks to Sean Kennedy for speaking with us. For more from Sean Kennedy, check out his official website, Facebook, TwitterInstagram and Spotify.

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Even though teenage bands are not something new, I continue to be amazed at the amazing talent coming from adolescents these days. One of the more intriguing teenage bands to hit my virtual desk is Culture Shock!. Originally formed about four years ago by Ben Archer (bass and vocals) and Ethan Reinek (drums), Culture Shock! began as some jamming between old friends. In 2020, the lads met Travis Rains (guitar and mouth noises) and they haven’t looked back since. The latest addition to their discography is the single ‘Empire’.

Inspired by the likes of Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nirvana, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Santana, TOOL and Muse, one can imagine the US-based trio to have a hard-hitting rock sound – and this is just what we get from them. Following their debut single ‘Flashflood’, ‘Empire’ has a nostalgic breath fluttering through the melody with inclinations to Nirvana and Red Hot Chili Peppers. Yet, we also hear tinges of TOOL and System of a Down flickering in the hard-hitting tune.

Leaning toward the sounds of the 90s, I feel very comfortable listening to Culture Shock! and remember rocking about to CDs in my bedroom. I can feel the blare of scorching music blasting from my speakers – then I need to remind myself that this is not Nirvana or Green Day. While the eclectic arrangement elegantly staggers pounding drums, powerful guitars and gruff vocals, there is an eccentric whole where all aspects harmonically come together.

Recorded at Cape Coral, Florida’s The Star Sound Studio, Culture Shock! worked with an engineer to create something raw and brutal, but also soothing and soul-stirring. It is this raw oozing edginess from the gruff instrumentation that makes ‘Empire’ palpably gritty. In other words, the kids seem really naïve, but this immaturity masks an overwhelming sophistication. This is only their sophomore single, so I cannot wait to hear what else Culture Shock! has in store.

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For more information about Culture Shock!, check out their official website, Facebook, TwitterInstagram and Spotify.

This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator

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Enigmatic, honest and poetic, singer-songwriter Tom Craven gives a heartfelt sense of the sublime to audiences with his music. We speak with the UK-based musicians about his new album Make Yourself Knownpet peeves, what music means to him, and much more!

OSR: What drew you to music?

Craven: Growing up in the Craven household, I was brought up on a staple diet of pop, rock, country, folk, blues, disco and so much more – all thanks to my parents. Music was and still is a huge part of our family and was intrinsic to me from a very young age. It was inevitable I’d turn my hand at writing and performing, which began to emerge in my teens, as I joined a punk band with some good friends and eventually began writing my own material around 17. inspired by the acoustic songwriters of the late 90s into the 00s.

OSR: What do you hope people take from your music?

Craven: I hope that my music inspires a sense of positivity and honesty in a difficult world. Songs that can provide a place of solace from the craziness of what is going on in the world today and remind people that they are not alone. I don’t feel I can change the world with my music, but if I can help someone and inspire someone in that – that is my goal and I am content with that.

OSR: What does music mean to you?

Craven: Music is in my blood. I can’t imagine a day without listening to anything at all. For me, good music reminds me I’m not alone. We all have our struggles, our demons and our obsessions and music reflects all of these. It is a way to release my feelings and observations through words and notes.

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OSR: Does your new album Make Yourself Known have a theme or backstory? What can you tell us about it?

Craven: Make Yourself Known is a reference to how we all spend so much time convincing ourselves and others that everything is ok in the world when it is quite evidently not. Albeit within relationships, friendships, work and even creative endeavors – it is a call to be honest and open in everything we do and make intentions and feelings apparent before these begin to eat away our thoughts into negativity.

OSR: If you could change anything about Make Yourself Knownwhat would it be and why?

Craven: If I had the chance to at the time, I would have loved to have recorded every song alongside the musicians in person and include Rachel & Andrew Chilcraft on all the tracks, not just New Signals! But the recording of this whole album remotely during Covid has given it a special collaborative spirit that adds to the positivity that I’ve been told this album contains, so I think the album has come together gloriously considering!

OSR: How would you describe your music and Make Yourself Known?

Craven: My music has always been passionate, honest and powerful. I’m a poet at heart and the words are what makes them so personal. I believe Make Yourself Known showcases 12 tracks that are without a doubt my proudest moments lyrically and I am hoping that this album has brought together all the musical elements to make something that people can enjoy time and time again!

OSR: Do you have any pet peeves?

Craven: Rudeness, dishonesty, bigotry, hatred. Basically, anything that makes someone a bad person. People are so bad to each other so often in this world and it frustrates and saddens me when I see such things go unchallenged and allow people to get away by behaving the way they do. It may sound cliché, but be kind. Always.

OSR: If you could spend the day with any person (not necessarily a musician), who would it be and why?

Craven: David Lynch, the film director/artist/musician. He’s fascinated me for years! The way his mind works is incredible. He sees the darkness and the light in the world like no other creative and I have a lot of respect for his work.

OSR: What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?

Craven: Be honest. Whether it is regarding writing music, at work, in relationships or friendships, just be honest. Life works so much better that way.

OSR: Do you have future plans as a musician?

Craven: For me, I will continue to write and record songs, perform them occasionally and hopefully will be aiming for publishing and licensing a song in a movie, advertisement, TV show or such like! Who knows?

OSR: Do you have a message for our readers?

Craven: Please enjoy the new album, let me know what you think of it on our socials and hell, keep on enjoying independent music generally! This is all for you 😀 Thanks so much for reading and to The Other Side Reviews for featuring me!

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Many thanks to Tom Craven for speaking with us! For more from Tom Craven, check out his Facebook, TwitterInstagram and Spotify.

This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator

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