We live in a self-absorbed, selfie-obsessed world, but I still believe music still has the power to breakthrough no matter how self-involved or how communication-reliant we've become. It can inspire, change, and heal, and I bet Gedeon Luke agrees. Have a listen to his music, and you'll instantly at peace with all the outside noise. The Memphis-born artist is the kind of talent that people older than you say don't exist today. He's real, rich in emotion, and pure in soul. As his bio points out, he was born into poverty, and dodged gang life and drug abuse by focusing on his faith, family, and music. Lucky us.
Under the moniker Gedeon Luke & The People, the one-time American Idol contestant (so in his rear view it's barely worth mentioning), plays New York City's Mercury Lounge tomorrow and will release his debut full length album Live Free and Love this spring. At the Mixed Tape Media offices in Brooklyn earlier this month, Luke performed a track for A-Sides and talked about his plans for 2014, and the soul genre in general. Listen and love it below, and text me a "thank you" later for turning you onto this talent. Boom.
"Lend Me Your Sunshine"
Soul reigned in Philadelphia so it's fitting that the next artist on A-Sides is that city's Viv and the Revival, who, um, have nothing to do with soul at all. Yes, that segue was just a segue for segue sake. Apologies. Viv Peyrat is the driving force of the band - taking the "Revival" moniker as a way to reflect his musical reawakening of sorts a few years back. In just three years, Viv have dropped four self-released EPs (2010's The Cadence in the Chaos, 2011's And Then The World, Part 1, February 2012's Seven, and September 2012's And Then The World, Part 2.) The prolific artist will soon unleash a full-length album, and as you wait for that, you can find some solace in knowing you've probably heard a bunch of the band's songs already. Viv's music has been heard in television commercials - most recently Verizon, and television shows like The Voice among other places. At Big Picture Media's offices in New York earlier this month, Viv performed two tracks and sat down for a chat. While you contemplate whether or not that last sentence rhymed, watch the videos embedded below with joy.
Bonus Jonas:
For Viv's "Tonight We Live Like Kings" A-Sides 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. "Leave it Alone" - Broken Bells
11. "Think of You" - MS MR
10. "I Sat By the Ocean" (LW-6) - Queens of the Stone Age
9. "Paradise in Me" - K's Choice
8. "Reflections"(LW-5) - MisterWives
7. "Young Heart" (LW-4) - Blondfire
6. "Salt" - Bad Suns (Watch the song performed live on A-Sides here.)
5. "Peninsula" (LW-9) - Dinosaur Pile-Up (Watch the song performed live on A-Sides here.)
4. "Sparklers" (LW-3) - Gemini Club
3. "Doses and Mimosas" (LW-2) - Cherub
2. "Far From Any Road" - The Handsome Family
1. "Blue Moon" (LW-1) - Beck
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, 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!