If you've seen electro-rockers Vinyl Thief live you know their shows are highly energized and boisterously awesome. Last month, the Nashville band treated me to the antithesis of that by playing it acoustic and laid back at the Music Conservatory of Westchester in White Plains, where "this guy" (I'm pointing to myself) filmed an A-Sides session. The foursome are on the verge of stardom, and I'm not just saying that because they agreed to perform for me in a classroom with migraine-inducing florescent lighting. They received strong buzz from their previous EP and gained steam at last year's SXSW fest. Next week, the boys will be back in South-by-Southwest land to promote their latest EP Stop Motion and will soon dropped their full-length Fathoms album on us. Watch and listen to these genuinely good dudes who make pretty darn good music below. "Smooth" first. Interview after. You're welcome.
"Smooth"
Interview:
Like Vinyl Thief, Spencer Sutherland makes pretty awesome music and isn't related to Kiefer Sutherland. That said, this emerging soulful, pop talent is worthy of a ruggedly-delivered "Dammit Chloe." I'm not sure what that means, but it's all positive. The self-taught singer/songwriter is on a roll as of late, and I don't mean that literally. It simply wouldn't be news if a singer/songwriter - no matter how popular - was atop a roll of anything. Anyway, follow this and you'll get what I mean: Sutherland's already shared the stage with everyone from Ariana Grande to Big Time Rush, and is currently in the studio working on a full-length album with a team that includes multiple Grammy winners. His first single "Heartstrings" has been added to many radio station rotations, and later this month he'll hit the road with pop trio Before You Exit on their The Dangerous Tour, along with Plug In Stereo and Macy Kate. The bottomline is you'll be hearing from him pretty darn soon if you haven't already. Sutherland spoke about that and more, performed his first single "Heartstrips" and covered Lorde's "Royals" for A-Sides . Watch it all unfold below...
"Heartstrings"
Interview
For Sutherland's "Royals" cover, click here.
About A-Sides Music
Jon Chattman's "A-Sides" series was established in August 2011 and typically features artists (established or not) from all genres performing a track or two, and discussing their craft 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, the series aims to be a breath of fresh air. Artists have included: fun, Pharrell Williams, American Authors, Imagine Dragons Jake Miller, Gary Clark Jr., Sleigh Bells, Danger Mouse, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, San Fermin, and more!