Rick Moranis isn't the only amazing thing to come out of Canada although admittedly it feels it. But you can't get a more false statement. Is "more false" even correct to say in a sentence? Grammar geeks lend me your ears. Anyway, whether it's Arcade Fire or Jim Carrey or an endless list of famous Canucks, some of our brightest shining lights come from our neighbors to the north. Let's add another star shall we? Singer/songwriter Alexz Johnson , who now resides in music town AKA Brookyln, just dropped her new EP entitled Heart, and it packs a lot of it. The multi-talented artist has a sound all her own - blending folky-pop with brutally honest song lyrics. Hot off a European tour, the inwardly and outwardly beautiful Johnson filmed an A-Sides earlier this month at the Music Conservatory of Westchester and crushed two songs off her EP. She also fielded my somewhat off-beat questions like a vintage Roberto Alomar in a lenghty, light-hearted interview. Keeping the sports metaphor alive, I should also mentioned she handled being "locked" inside the studio in which filmed in like a pro. Before we get to the vids, you should know a few more things about Johnson. First off, some of you may already know her from her acting work, which has included Final Destination 3 and stints on Pretty Little Liars, BLUE, and Degrassi for which she performed the season 11 theme song.
I should also mention Johnson has probably the coolest fans ever. Without the support of a label, they respectively raised over $50,000 on PledgeMusic for Heart, and over $67,000 for her previous Skipping Stone EP. With friends like that, who needs, well, who needs anything really. My friends won't even buy me a beer. Anyway... watch the performances below and marvel in her talents.
For another exclusive performance from AJ, click here.
Revi Roza doesn't only have the coolest name ever, she has amazing music skills. So does her duet partner Pace Goodman. Together the pair blend a smorgasbord of genres have a unique story. For starters, they currently live miles and miles away from each other but let's begin at the start and Harry and Sally it rather than starting in the present. It'll make sense after you read through it. Goodman grew up in New Jersey and played in a band with a drummer and Roza. He eventually ended up in Boulder, CO where he played in the groups Johnny Tea and Chainlink Gun Love. He's arguably best known, however, for playing with the band Holiday Blue. Roza, like Goodman, has boatloads of experience performing and writing music - leaning more toward a folky jazz tone - since she was in her teens. She has performed on Good Morning Americatwice, which is twice more than I have. OK, zoom into present day. The two live on different coasts, but started making music together again - some ten years after initially playing in the aforementioned trio. Since it's a rarity to get them in the same room together, A-Sides was most pleased to have them sit down for a session in Manhattan earlier this month. Enjoy.
For another exclusive performance, click here.
A-Sides "Delve Into Twelve" Countdown
Each week A-Sides unleashes its Top 12 tracks of the week AKA the "Delve Into Twelve"based on the following contributing factors: songs I'm playing out that particular week NO MATTER WHEN THEY WERE RELEASED (think overlooked songs, unreleased tracks, and old favorites), songs various publicists are trying to get me to listen to that I did and dug a bunch, posts and trends I've noticed on my friends' Facebook walls, and - most importantly - the songs my two-year-old son gravitates toward by stomping his feet in approval. Yeah, you read that right. This weeks follows below (LW= last week's rank).
12. "You Know My Name" - Courtney Love
11. "Dear in Your Headlights" - Blondfire
10. "The Trail of Light And Dark" - Susan Toney (Check out the video here.)
9. "Hemiplegia" (LW-9) - Haerts
8. "Waves" (LW-7)- Sleeper Agent
7. "Lanterns" (LW-3) - Birds of Tokyo
6. "Now Hear In" (LW-4) - Cloud Nothings
5. "Come with Me Now" - KONGOS
4. "Seasons (Waiting on You)" - Future Islands
3. "Blue Moon" (LW-2) - Beck
2. "Peaches" - In the Valley Below
1. "Fever" (LW-7) - The Black Keys
About A-Sides Music
Jon Chattman's "A-Sides Music" series was established in August 2011 and usually features artists (established or not) from all genres performing a track, and discussing what it means to them. This informal series focuses on the artist making art in a low-threatening, extremely informal (sometimes humorous) way. No bells, no whistles -- just the music performed in a random, low-key setting followed by an unrehearsed chat. In an industry where everything often gets overblown and over manufactured, I'm hoping this is refreshing. Artists have included: fun, Blondfire, Rob Zombie, Pharrell Williams, Courtney Love, American Authors, Imagine Dragons, Gary Clark Jr., and more!