World United Music: Ivan & Alyosha

Showing posts with label Ivan & Alyosha. Show all posts

Sunday, September 22, 2019

The Minstral Show – (Episode 076)

Welcome to the Minstral Show, the podcast that spotlights the very best music from around the world, made exclusively in the 21^st century.

Three awesome sets of music on Today’s episode of The Minstral Show including new music by Ivan & Alyosha, Mikal Cronin, Christopher Paul Stelling, Glen Hansard, and a collaboration between Markus Reuter & Stephan Thelen,…also included are brilliant songs by The Big Creak, James Parker, Singapore Sling, Wayne Hussey, Miranda Lee Richards, unknown artist Jeff Winkle and a colab between Rising Appalachia and The Human Experience.

Music to pick you up, connect you, and take you away from the daily grind of negative energy and noise if only for an hour or so, its all good…so sit back and enjoy the waves, on the Minstral Show…

The Minstral Show Episode 76

Link to Episode 76 on Breaker

SONGS

SET 01

Jeff Winkle – Montpelier

The Big Creak – Derailed

James Parker – Throw Myself

Ivan and Alyosha – Everybody Breaks

SET 02

Singapore Sling – Life is Killing My Rock n Roll

Mikal Cronin – Shelter

Wayne Hussey – Wither on the Vine

Rising Appalachia & The Human Experience – Stromboli

SET 03

Christopher Paul Stelling – Have to do for Now

Glen Hansard – The Closing Door

Markus Reuter & Stephan Thelen – Clocks Go Down in Wonderland

Miranda Lee Richards – Last Days of Summer

ALSO:

Be sure to support the artists by going to their official websites, buying their music and joining their email platforms. (See Artist Links below.)

ARTIST LINKS:

Jeff Winkle

The Big Creak

James Parker

Ivan & Alyosha

Singapore Sling

Mikal Cronin

Wayne Hussey

Rising Appalachia

The Human Experience

Christopher Paul Stelling

Glen Hansard

Markus Reuter

Stephan Thelen

Miranda Lee Richards

Special thanks to: Southbound Snake Charmers & John Palmer for their music contribution to this program.

Program Intro Song:

Southbound Snake Charmers - Cut My Time

3^rd set Intro

John Palmer - Nyx

The World United Music Podcast was carried on 11 different platforms including Anchor FM, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pocket Casts, Radio Public, Castbox, Breaker, Google Podcasts, Overcast, PodBean and of course on our World United Music Blog. You can still find the show on Breaker & PodBean linked below. Hey, “Catch the Wave!”

Breaker

PodBean

…and of course, here, on the World United Music Blog. 😊

Catch the Wave!

Monday, September 10, 2018

The Minstral Show – (Episode 056)

Positive music with themes of love and home on today’s episode of the Minstral show featuring: Hoobastank, The Fixators, Ivan & Alyosha, Yusuf Cat Stevens, Wheat Fields, The Greek Theatre, Saintseneca, Marqui Adora, Travel Mind Syndrome, The Nadas, Houndmouth & Chris de Burgh.

More than just a podcast, World United Music has emerged to bring you the best music being made in the 21^st century by signed, unsigned and Independent artists.

To all the Artists, be sure to share the podcast episode with your network as it helps bring attention not only to your work but to the work of others as well. That's what the “World United Music” project is all about, bringing attention to all the artists who make great music.

SET: 01

Opening today’s program is Hoobastank with the title track of their December 2003 album “The Reason”. This song is a personal favorite of mine in lyric, music and in the passion in which it is delivered. It’s truly a great song of emotional healing. The album went double platinum in the US alone selling 2.3 million copies which is a testament on how good the album is. Incidentally, Hoobastank will be on tour from October to December 2018 for the 15^th anniversary of their album “The Reason” so this is a great time to play the song and check out this band if you don’t know them already. Great stuff.

Next up is Sydney Australia’s “The Fixators” with “Rust” taken from their January 2014 album “Colorblind”

Rust is a wonderful Pop rock song about looking back in time…a very well produced sound, full of hooks to send the approval meters into gold territory…it has that summers end feel to it as well, that makes it especially likable as we pass through the days of September looking back with a farewell to summer. A very pleasant and enjoyable song.

Seattle Washington band “Ivan & Alyosha” follow with “Be Your Man” taken from their 2013 album “All the Time We Had”. Another, up beat, feel good, energy booster kind of song that harnesses the youthful excitement boys show when interested in girls. Love this tune. There’s a good video of the song on YouTube that deserves a million more hits so please do check it out…Ivan & Alyosha – Be Your Man

Closing the set is Yusuf Cat Stevens with “See What Love Did to Me” taken from his 2017 album “The Laughing Apple”

The Laughing Apple brings Yusuf's career full circle, as it reunites him with producer Paul Samwell-Smith and guitarist Alun Davies who were prominent collaborators on the 1970's multi-platinum, Tea for the Tillerman.

“See What Love Did to Me” is the wonderful result of Yusuf's search for spiritual meaning put to music that expands the fantastic creative expressions of the Tillerman days. This song is very catchy AND one listen is not enough. I love this tune.

And so we offer, a set of passion, longing and love to pick your spirits up, on the Minstral Show.

SET: 02

Black-heath Australia band “Wheat Fields” kicks off our second set with “Let’s Play” taken from their 2013 Album “Saturnalia”… “Let’s Play” is a laid back psychedelic tune that puts the mind at ease and releases the listener into an expanding universe of mello…I love the state of mind this song leaves me with. It’s really Good stuff.

From Sweden, the Greek Theater follow with “Still Lost at Sea” taken from their 2017 album “Broken Circle”. “Still Lost at Sea” reminds me of the infectious Pop sounds of the 60’s…songs such as “How Can I Be Sure” by The Young Rascals, “You Showed Me” by The Turtles and “You didn’t have to be so nice” by the lovin spoonful come to mind when I hear this song. In fact, I’m convinced that if this song was on the radio back then it would have gone multi platinum for sure…it’s certainly a pleasant and refreshing sound amongst all the noise that passes as pop today…good laid back sounds.

Saintseneca from Columbus Ohio follow with “Beast in the Garden” from their August 31^st 2018 release “Pillar of Na”. I love the harmonic sounds in this song, the old and new folk instrument’s and the way the vocals blend with them. It certainly caught my attention the moment the album dropped a few days ago. “Beast in the Garden”

Marqui Adora from Miami Florida follow with their 2008 single “Catch the Sun”. Here’s an upbeat feel good tune that celebrates our youth, through the time and life we spent together with friends…a time when it felt that we could reach out and catch the sun and live forever. If you love singing, this is a good one to sing to.

Marqui Adora have put out some excellent music in the past and certainly deserve mucho radio play…a band I feel that is very underrated.

And so, “Let’s Play” while we’re “Still Out at Sea”, but beware, “The Beast in the Garden”, while trying to “Catch the Sun”, on the Minstral Show.

SET: 03

“Travel Mind Syndrome” from Athens Greece start our final set with “Breeze of Light” taken from their 2010 Album “East Action to Saint Friday”.

“Breeze of Light” is a song that recalls the memories of a past love that sparks a beacon of light to guide the way for that special person to return. Very positive energy by Travel Mind Syndrome.

“The Nada’s” follow with “Feel Like Home” taken from their 2008 album “Ghosts Inside these Halls”.

"Feel Like Home" is about embracing the familiar while away from home in a strange place. A good connecting song when on the road.

The song is also used as the community anthem for the Des Moines, Iowa "Do More" campaign… What a great choice of songs for a community program. Very positive with a big thumbs up

Houndmouth follows with their 2015 single “Sedona”.

The song refers to “Sedona Arizona” a little town that played host to more than 60 Hollywood movies through the 1920’s to the 1970’s including the first big movie filmed there called “Stagecoach” produced by John Ford. It’s a great little tune that tells the story of the rise and fall of the movie industry there. Sedona!

Chris de Burgh closes today’s program with “Big City Sunday’s taken from his 2014 album “The Hands of Man”. A fantastic album by the way if you haven’t heard it.

“Big City Sunday’s” is a song written with passion with the emotional connection to home. We always feel a little alone when far away and in that loneliness our thoughts often turn to youthful days of home, the place where everything’s ok, the place we live forever.

Be sure to support the artists by going to their official websites, buying their music and joining their email platforms. Details are in the episode description.

You can also find these songs in playlists on the World United Music Blog…@ worldunitedmusicDOTblogspotDOTcom

And so a set of deep connecting music with thoughts of friends we will live forever with, in the places we call home, on the Minstral Show.

See you next week everybody.

The Minstral Show – (Episode 056)

SONGS:

SET 01

Hoobastank – The Reason

The Fixators – Rust

Ivan & Alyosha – Be Your Man

Yusuf Cat Stevens – See What Love Did to Me

SET 02

Wheat Fields – Let’s Play

The Greek Theatre – Still Lost at Sea

Saintseneca – Beast in the Garden

Marqui Adora – Catch the Sun

SET 03

Travel Mind Syndrome – Breeze of Light

The Nadas – Feel Like Home

Houndmouth – Sedona

Chris de Burgh – Big City Sunday’s

ALSO:

Be sure to support the artists by going to their official websites, buying their music and joining their email platforms. (See Links below.)

ARTIST Links:

Hoobastank

The Fixators

Ivan & Alyosha

Yusuf Cat Stevens

Wheat Fields

The Greek Theatre

Saintseneca

Marqui Adora

Travel Mind Syndrome

The Nadas

Houndmouth

Chris de Burgh

Breaker

PodBean

Catch the Wave!

Sunday, July 15, 2018

The Minstral Show – (Episode 052)

Three sets of great music covering the emotional sounds of Pop, the colourful waves of psychedelic rock and the prophetic vibes of progressive rock Featuring; Lake Komo, Turnover, Two Wounded Birds, Ivan & Alyosha, Gavin Coetzee, Secret Colours, The Outs, The Spires, Adult Cinema, Lunatic Soul, Painted Coda and Refracted Memories.

More than just a podcast, World United Music has emerged to bring you the best music being made in the 21^st century by signed, unsigned and Independent artists.

Staring off today's program is a really powerful set of Pop music to lift your spirits and start the emotive holiday dance with your soul.

From Lancaster UK, Lake Komo opens the show with “ThinkTank” taken from their November 2015 EP “Ritual”.

Lake Komo’s “ThinkTank” is a feel good pop tune that carries an infectious sound and lyric to help the listener escape the insanity of today’s world. A Really good tune and a positive energy driver.

“Turnover” from Virginia Beach follows with “Humming” taken from their 2015 album “Peripheral Vision”.

“Humming” is a dream pop song that expresses the love struck soul’s infatuation and attraction to the carefree and creative individual who lives in an inviting world of their own personal creation. A perfect Dream Pop song in sound and lyric.

Two Wounded Birds follows with “If Only We Remain” taken from their self titled 2012 album “Two Wounded Birds”. “If Only We Remain” is a truly empathic song about the feelings one has when losing someone close, where you find your emotions in free fall, feeling weak at the knees, and feeling the young vulnerable child inside. A 5 star Euphoric Pop tune that is emotionally packed by the delivery of two wounded birds.

Closing the set is Seattle Washington’s “Ivan & Alyosha” with “Running for Cover” taken from their Feb 2013 album “All the Times We Had”.

“Running for Cover” is about trying to make sense of life while walking the straight and narrow path after mankind’s fall from paradise, told through an infectious Pop music and lyric and One of many great tunes by “Ivan and Alyosha”.

And so, here are “Lake Komo” “Turnover” “Two Wounded Birds” and “Ivan & Alyosha”…a soul moving set of music, on the Minstral Show.

SET: 02

South Africa’s “Gavin Coetzee” starts off the second set with “Cinderella” taken from his 2011 album “Orange Forest”. Cinderella is an infectious alternative rock song with a South African vocal beat that breathes life into the atmosphere around you…it’s hard not to move or tap along with this song…a great tune by Gavin Coetzee”

Chicago’s “Secret Colours” follows with the title track to their 2014 album “Positive Distraction”. A neo-psychedelic pop rock tune that is as unique and as crisp as a standout song can be. Good music by a great band.

Next, alternative / Psychedelic Rock Band “The Outs” from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, follow with “Right or Wrong” taken from their official 2013 debut EP “Spiral Steams” The song brings to mind the 60’s psychedelic pop era bands such as The Byrds and The Zombies which of course concurs with the rave reviews they received on British Radio stations when it was released. Right or Wrong by the Outs.

California Band, “The Spires” follow with “Stereo Images” taken from their May 2018 album “Obscured View” an alternative Rock / neo-psych tune with creatively poetic lyrics that reminds me of “The Velvet Underground”. Their fresh original cuts speak volumes to just how good this band is…stereo images is more than ok, its right on.

And so, Cinderella is a Positive Distraction, Right or Wrong, its in Stereo Images, on the Minstral show.

SET: 03

Starting off the final set is London UK’s Mike Weston better known as “Adult Cinema” with “Time Machine” taken from his 2018 remastered version of his 2007 debut album “This Is Your Life”. The opening lyrics express the song perfectly,

“Everyday I wish for a time machine to Take me back to the day, When the music and houses and people Had style and beauty…but they’ve taken it all away…”

A common observation and belief by a great many people who experienced better times compared to the world in which we are stuck in today. An excellent and very relevant tune by “Adult Cinema”.

Lunatic Soul follows with the title track from his May 2018 album “Under the Fragmented Sky”. The album contains 35 minutes of completely new, previously unreleased music from the Fractured album sessions that, in its way, has its own identity and character but also compliments the character of the Fractured album…”Under the Fragmented Sky is another excellent album by Muriusz Duda.

From Vancouver BC Canada, “Painted Coda” follows with “Dawn” taken from his May 2018 album “The Vanishing”. The album is a progressive rock album that touches on themes of loss and depression and experiments with the classic and hard rock generations of the genre. “Dawn” reminds me of the music composed by Paul Williams that’s played by character “Winslow Leach” in the movie, “Phantom of the Paradise” a cult classic and a favorite of mine from the 70’s.

Refracted Memories closes the show with “Visions of Nineveh” taken from their 2015 album “Stepping Stones”. Refracted Memories is a collaboration between Welsh producer Michael Wadlow, American producer Jack Morefield, and singer songwriter Jay Arana. Their song “Visions of Nineveh” rolls into consciousness like a prophetic thought draped in fog from a forgotten time to round out a set of music that is progressive rock in every way.

Be sure to support the artists by going to their official websites, buying their music and joining their email platforms. Details are in the episode description.

And now, A set of mystique that has us in a time machine under fragmented skies where we see the dawn and “Visions of Nineveh”, on the Minstral Show. See you next week everyone.

The Minstral Show – (Episode 052)

SONGS:

SET 01

Lake Komo – ThinkTank

Turnover – Humming

Two Wounded Birds – If Only We Remain

Ivan & Alyosha – Running for Cover

SET 02

Gavin Coetzee – Cinderella

Secret Colours – Positive Distraction

The Outs – Right or Wrong

The Spires – Stereo Images

SET 03

Adult Cinema – Time Machine

Lunatic Soul – Under the Fragmented Sky

Painted Coda – Dawn

Refracted Memories – Visions of Nineveh

ALSO:

Be sure to support the artists by going to their official websites, buying their music and joining their email platforms. (See Details below.)

ARTISTS LINKS:

Lake Komo

Turnover

Two Wounded Birds

Ivan & Alyosha

Gavin Coetzee

Secret Colours

The Outs

The Spires

Adult Cinema

Lunatic Soul

Painted Coda

Refracted Memories

Breaker

PodBean

Catch the Wave!

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Ivan & Alyosha

About: Ivan & Alyosha

All the Times We Had, Ivan & Alyosha’s first full-length album, encapsulates the personalized blend of rousing songcraft, infectious melodic hooks and thoughtful lyrical introspection that’s already endeared the band to just about anyone who’s witnessed one of their effortlessly uplifting live shows, or who’s heard either of their two prior indie EP releases.

The Seattle combo—which borrows its name from a pair of characters from Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov—delivers its songs of struggle, perseverance and spirituality with a resilient, upbeat attitude that’s reflected in their bubbly brew of stirringly strummed folk-rock guitars, surging instrumental interaction and a bright, buoyant blend of voices that reflects the band members’ family-style camaraderie, evoking a timeless pop ideal that’s as affecting emotionally as it is pleasing to the ear.

The intrepid ensemble—comprised of core members Tim Wilson (lead vocals and acoustic guitar), Ryan Carbary (guitars, piano and vocals), Tim Kim (electric guitar and vocals) and Tim’s brother Pete Wilson (bass and vocals), plus a revolving assortment of friends and collaborators on keyboards, drums and other instruments—has spent much of the past two years on the road, traveling the highways and back roads of America, often with wives and children in tow, building a loyal fan base with their joyous, high-energy live performances.

Ivan & Alyosha’s prior releases and live shows have won the band copious critical acclaim. They’ve also done successful stints opening for the likes of Aimee Mann, Brandi Carlile, the Low Anthem, Rosie Thomas and John Vanderslice. Since early in its existence, the group has been embraced enthusiastically by alternative radio, performing multiple on-air sessions for NPR as well as receiving notable support from such key stations as KCRW, KEXP, WFUV and WNYC.

The same qualities that originally won Ivan & Alyosha media attention and a devoted grass-roots audience are apparent on All the Times We Had, which the band co-produced in collaboration with keyboardist/engineer Chad Copelin, and mixed by Jesse Lauter (The Low Anthem). The 11-song album effortlessly captures the warmth and immediacy of Ivan & Alyosha’s live performances, lending added resonance to such lyrically compelling, melodically arresting tunes as “Be Your Man,” “Running for Cover,” “Don’t Wanna Die Anymore,” “The Fold” and the album’s’ bittersweetly reflective title track, which features guest vocals by the band’s frequent touring partner and longstanding admirer Aimee Mann.

“We didn’t get it perfect, but I definitely think we got it right,” Tim Wilson says of the new album. “We really worked hard to get a live vibe, and to capture that inspiration that we get when we’re on the road, when everybody’s together and feeding off of each other. You can nit-pick and edit everything until it sounds perfect, but we were more concerned with just getting the best performances we could. I think that it’s more mature and more focused, and closer to what we do live, than the records that we’d done before. We definitely had moments in the studio where it like, ‘Oh, wow, this is special.’”

Ivan & Alyosha formed in 2007, when Tim Wilson met Ryan Carbary. Both had been in various Seattle-area combos, but the songs that Wilson was writing at the time seemed to call out for a new musical approach. The pair spent nearly a year writing material for their debut EP, The Verse, The Chorus. Released in March 2009, the EP generated an unexpected level of national exposure, with the charming tune “Easy to Love” (reprised on All the Times We Had) receiving considerable airplay. The debut EP won the band an interview on NPR’s All Things Considered and coverage in NPR’s All Songs Considered SXSW 2010 preview. A subsequent appearance at the SXSW festival generated considerable music-industry word-of-mouth.

By the time Ivan & Alyosha recorded its second EP, Fathers Be Kind, in February 2011, the group had expanded to include Tim Wilson’s bass-playing brother Pete, whose songwriting abilities contributed considerably to the band’s creative arsenal, and Tim’s high school friend Tim Kim, whose distinctive guitar work added a new dimension to their sound. Fathers Be Kind’s majestically jangly title track became a favorite of fans, critics and DJs, and reappears in a newly recorded version on All the Times We Had.

“When we recorded The Verse, the Chorus, we’d never really played live as a band,” Tim Wilson notes. “By the time we did the Fathers Be Kind EP, my brother Pete and Tim Kim had come on board, and we had done a west coast tour or two, and some dates on the east coast, but we were still figuring out how to play together. After Fathers Be Kind came out, we went out and spent year and a half touring, and became a real band. I think that’s reflected on the new album.”

Indeed, All the Times We Had demonstrates the positive effects of the band’s extensive roadwork, underlining just how far Ivan & Alyosha has progressed since its humble origins.

“I think that we all feel pretty strongly that this is what we’re supposed to be doing, playing music, trying to write good, timeless songs, and trying to connect with people,” Wilson states. “I think that we have a pretty deep sense of purpose, that this is not just some accident. I guess that the essence of faith is having felt or experienced something that maybe you can’t hold in your hand, and I think that’s how I’d describe my attitude towards music. And it’s OK if it’s hard, because anything in life that’s worth doing is hard.

“I’m guilty as guilty as anyone, of wanting certain things or wanting to be in a certain place right now,” he concludes. “But we’re building something, and building something takes time. I’m learning to enjoy the journey, and I think we all are.”

CONTACT: http://www.ivanandalyosha.com/contact