Neil Diamond
Neil Diamond, the Iconic Grammy Award®-winning Rock and Pop Singer/Songwriter has sold over 125 million records worldwide, making him one of the world’s best-selling artists of all time. Diamond has reigned on the Billboard charts with eleven #1 singles on the Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary Charts. He is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Songwriters Hall of Fame and a recipient of the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award, one of the highest honors bestowed upon songwriters.
Diamond’s many other achievements include a Golden Globe Award, 13 Grammy nominations and 2009’s NARAS’s MusiCares Person of the Year award. In 2011, Diamond received the prestigious Kennedy Center Honor for his lifetime of contributions to American culture.
Website: http://www.neildiamond.com/
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Smash Mouth
Smash Mouth stands tall as a global phenomenon, a force to be reckoned with over its illustrious three-decade journey. From humble origins in San Jose, CA, they've transcended local curiosity, invaded national playlists, and evolved into international live phenoms. Smash Mouth, a name etched in gold as multi-platinum and Grammy-nominated pop-rock icons, has navigated the realms of legendary status with unparalleled finesse.
In the late '90s, Smash Mouth embarked on a relentless touring spree, solidifying their legendary live performer status with a timeless and universal appeal. As the 21st century dawned, they seamlessly transitioned into an international household name, forever woven into the fabric of popular culture. Their live shows are nothing short of spectacular—exciting, entertaining, and overflowing with hit-laden extravagance. Smash Mouth's electrifying stage presence springs from their natural all-inclusiveness. With music universally adored and an allure spanning wide, they can command any audience, anywhere in the world, leaving them clamoring for more every single time. Simply put, EVERYONE loves Smash Mouth.
A trove of international awards, accolades, and achievements over three decades cements Smash Mouth's legacy. Their TV and film appearances are too numerous to count, including a record-breaking stint on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" and pivotal roles in classics like "Rat Race" and the monumental "Shrek." Smash Mouth is the unmistakable soundtrack to the most-watched movie in the history of the universe, forever embracing the title of "The Shrek Band."
Beyond massive international tours with icons like U2, Lenny Kravitz, *NSync, and KISS, Smash Mouth's versatility shines through collaborations with showbiz legends ranging from Engelbert Humperdinck to George Clinton to Neil Diamond.
Yet, Smash Mouth's true prowess lies in their music. Between 1997 and 2002, they notched up an extraordinary six top 20 hits, dominating the airwaves at the turn of the century. Two of these hits, "Walkin' On The Sun" and "All-Star," soared to #1 and lingered there, with the latter recently surpassing a mind-boggling ONE BILLION streams on Spotify. Their social media acclaim, recognized by Billboard, Rolling Stone, Newsweek and many other prominent outlets is a testament to their enduring influence, with a YouTube channel boasting over 1 million subscribers.
The five maestros of Smash Mouth (Paul DeLisle, Zach Goode, Michael Klooster, Randy Cooke and Sean Hurwitz) have solidified their international reputation as world-class musicians and performers. Committed to giving 100% effort in every show, their inherent and determined ability to connect with any audience worldwide is nothing short of astounding. Smash Mouth's electrifying live shows make their legions of fans winners every time, a testament to their indomitable spirit and unwavering purpose.
Jake Clemons
Gifted singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jake Clemons is a magnet for positive energy and emotion, consistently sharing stories and thoughts about life, his beliefs and experiences through music. Now, with the release of his sophomore album, Eyes On The Horizon, Clemons has once again created a new chapter, this time taking it a step further by adding his voice to those seeking to find clarity in a complicated world and expanding both his musical vision and philosophical perspective.
The first single from the album is Jake’s interpretation of the Leonard Cohen classic song “Democracy” that finds Clemons reaffirming a family tradition. His father was a Marine Corps band director whose dedication to serving the nation was instilled in Clemons at a very early age.
“I think about what it was like for my dad being an African American and the disparity that he had to grow up with,’ Clemons reflects. “Growing up with Jim Crow, he made a decision to rise above that malaise and follow in the footsteps of his father, who was a successful entrepreneur. Then seeing my dad serving in Viet Nam and spending 20 years in the Marines and serving his country with his belief that he could help it live up to its promise was something that I think about all the time. Those were the core beliefs instilled in me early on.”
Democracy follows that thread through songs that speak to the very essence of what those principles are all about. The album was co-produced by Clemons and Jake Hull and mixed by legendary Grammy winning producer and engineer Eddie Kramer (Jimi Hendrix, the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton, the Rolling Stones, David Bowie, etc.). Clemons composed and played a majority of the instruments on Eyes On The Horizon, including guitar and keyboards. The ? song album is the follow up to his 2013 EP Embracing Light and 2017 album Fear & Love.
In describing the album, Clemons explains that there are several tracks on Eyes On The Horizon that hold special significance for him. “The song ‘Democracy’ has a special meaning to me,” Clemons insists. “It speaks to how I was raised and the things I was taught. Are these principles an illusion or something that we really have to continue working towards? I relate to that song because it has to do with me finding my own independence and establishing my own voice. “
The song “Consumption Town” is also meant as a wake-up call. “It’s about how we seem to be distracted by desire and greed, and how big corporations are creating these distractions and causing us to lose sight of our needs. It’s also a change in direction for me musically. I was really delighted to have Tom Morello playing guitar.”
Clemons also singles out “Sailing” as a statement about where the country is now and the need to reach towards something better. “We always have to carry that hope with us,” he says. “We have to use it to look towards the horizon.”
While Jake’s array of activities over the past decade have made him a familiar figure around the world, his love and appreciation for music was instilled early on. Raised in a family of strict Southern Baptists, Jake was immersed in gospel music and began his musical journey by learning piano and eventually picking up other instruments along the way. He then studied jazz performance at the Virginia Governor’s School for the Arts and eventually formed The Jake Clemons Band in 2010. Dividing his time between touring the world, performing his own music and spending the last seven years as the tenor and baritone saxophonist with Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band (stepping in for his Uncle, the late Clarence Clemons), Jake
“I’d like to think that Democracy is a continuation of what my father instilled in me early on,” Clemons reflects. You think about the conflict that we see in our country today as opposed to what was inscribed in the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence and you realize that this country we’ve become is not who we really are. It’s scary to think that we’ve really lost our way.”
Ultimately, Clemons has chosen to carry on his career without taking anything for granted.
The video was created by the artist Billie De Buitlear and the music for “Democracy” was co-produced by Jake Clemons and Jake Hull and mixed by legendary Grammy winning engineer and producer Eddie Kramer. “Democracy” was released through Sea Lemons Music & BFE (Bob Frank Entertainment) and distributed by The Orchard/Sony Music.
“I process my life through my music and I hope that there’s always growth in whatever I do,” Clemons suggests. “I definitely feel that with this new album. I took some chances on this record that I didn’t dare do before. The approach is certainly a little more aggressive than what people might not have heard or expected from me before.”
“This album is a lot different from anything I’ve done before, “Clemons insists. “My earlier efforts reflected a very personal point of view. This one does so as well, but with a more worldly view. It was my first time honing into a voice that speaks to the troubles and travails we find in the world today. It’s a philosophy that I’ve always respected but never connected with my own output until now. Over the course of the past year and a half it’s really come to the surface in the music I’ve been making. I’ve come to realize that grasping these issues really begins here at home.”
Website: http://jakeclemons.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jakeclemons
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JakeClemonsOfficial
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Oak Felder
Oak Felder, professionally known as Oak, is a 2-time Grammy award winning, hip-hop and pop producer & writer based in Los Angeles, who spent much of his younger life in Istanbul and Atlanta. He recently produced and co-wrote “Change Your Life” with Kehlani (feat. Jhené Aiko,) the album was #1 on Billboard’s Top R&B Albums and #2 on the Hot 200 and the song was #9 on Hot R&B songs. Oak has also produced and written “Actions” by John Legend along with two others on John’s Grammy nominated album Bigger Love and continues to collaborate with him.
Oak also produced and co-wrote the single “I Love Me,” with Demi Lovato. His collaborations with Demi began when he produced and co-wrote her #1 single “Sorry Not Sorry” which is now 5X platinum. He also produced and co-wrote her songs “Daddy Issues,” “Games,” “Sexy Dirty Love” and “Only Forever.”
Oak has had consecutive #1’s with Alessia Cara’s “Here” and “Scars to Your Beautiful” and his work in the R&B genre includes Grammy award winning Alicia Keys’ “Girl On Fire,” Rihanna’s “Unapologetic” and a nomination for Usher’s “Good Kisser.” He was the producer and writer behind much of both of Alessia Cara’s debut and sophomore albums, Kehlani’s #1 debut album, produced and co-wrote songs for Nicki Minaj, Miguel and had 3 songs on Lizzo’s Platinum-certified debut album Cuz I Love You that won Best Progressive R&B album and nominated for Album Of The Year at the 2019 Grammys.
Felder produced and co-wrote The Chainsmokers’ single “Who Do You Love?” featuring 5 Seconds Of Summer and Kehlani’s “Morning Glory” from her recent mixtape. Additionally, Oak has written and produced records with Mary J Blige, Pink Sweats, Miley Cyrus, Jason Derulo, Alina Baraz, Jennifer Lopez, Mabel Big Sean amongst others.
Oak is one of the most sought after producers and writers in R&B, hip-hop and pop music. He has recently worked with Tierra Whack on her global Apple commercial and album release and has written and produced 2 period piece songs for Lee Daniel’s new film “The United States vs. Billie Holiday.” He will also have the title song for the upcoming Space Jam 2 and Adams Family movies. New collaborations from Oak include music with John Legend, 6LACK, GALXARA, Tierra Whack, Queen Naija, Demi Lovato, Kali Uchis, Normani, SZA and more.
Milk and Honey
Established in 2014, Milk & Honey Music + Sports + Ventures is a 21st-century hybrid entertainment management company based in Los Angeles, New York, Nashville, London, Dallas and Sydney. The company was launched in 2014 by Founder and President Lucas Keller, a 20 year veteran of the music industry who in 9 years has built one of the biggest global management companies for songwriters, producers, artists and athletes.
The company quickly became known as kings of the songwriter and producer management world, with a strong foundation of hit songs and the people who make them. The company later added artist management and sports to their arsenal. The group’s diverse roster ranges from songwriters and producers like David Hodges, Oak Felder, J White Did It, Jenna Andrews, Jamie Hartman, Andrés Torres and Mauricio Rengifo to top 50 global DJs like Oliver Heldens, Benny Benassi and more with 100 clients that span every prominent genre of music. The company’s clients have had some of the biggest global hits of the century, including Dua Lipa’s “Levitating,” BTS’ chart-topping “Butter,” Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee and Justin Bieber’s “Despacito,” James Arthur’s “Say You Won’t Let Go,” Christina Perri’s “A Thousand Years” and many more with current records on the chart from David Guetta, Doechii, Doja Cat, Travis Scott, Morgan Wallen and more. The sports division is an agency and marketing company exclusively representing 20 athletes in the NFL and a new Baseball division with over 20 in Major League Baseball. Sports led by Jake Presser, Rawleigh Williams and Kyle Thousand, looks after athletes like Courtland Sutton (Denver Broncos), Kamren Curl (Washington Commanders), Tyson Bagent (Chicago Bears) and more. Growth in the football and baseball sectors is a major priority for the company in the coming years as the sports department continues to grow.
Over the pandemic, the company sold over nine figures in publishing catalogs and are considered to be thought-leaders in the sale of music rights. The company boasts over a billion albums sold in aggregate with a large percent of the sales and streams happening under the management of Keller and his firm. With specialists in artist management, songwriter/producer/A&R creative (a 14 person global creative team), DSP promotion, branding and marketing, tv/film/ad synch licensing, a full time creative / content director, music catalogue sales, digital strategy, international strategy, venture development and a real A&R administration staff — Milk & Honey is a one stop shop for talent. Keller still categorizes the company as a mid-sized boutique and intends to keep that spirit as the company continues to expand in a strategic manner. Milk & Honey exports more songs to the international marketplace than any other songwriter producer management company. Launching Milk & Honey Labs in 2022, a digital asset creation group, Milk & Honey added clients like the Picasso estate, Chuck Norris and more. Prior to founding Milk & Honey, Lucas Keller spent 5 years at Beverly Hills music/tv/film powerhouse, The Collective (a group who represented Linkin Park, Kanye West, Enrique Iglesias, Slash, Peter Gabriel and others) and staged come-backs with legends like Jimmy Cliff and Scott Weiland of Stone Temple Pilots.
In the past few years, Keller has been featured on the Billboard 40 Under 40, the Billboard Power 100, Billboard’s inaugural Top LGBTQ Executives List, Variety New Leaders List 2022 and awarded the top 20 percentile on Inc Magazine’s fastest-growing privately held companies two years in a row.
Jeff Gitty
Jeff “Gitty” Gitelman is a GRAMMY® nominated, multi-platinum selling producer, songwriter, arranger & multi - instrumentalist whose talent has helped create and break records both figuratively and literally, for some of today’s most interesting and chart-topping musical performers.
Transcending genres throughout 2023, “Gitty” made chart history as the first and only producer to appear simultaneously on the Billboard Top 10 Producers chart, the Hot 100 Producers chart, the R&B Hip-Hop Producers chart, the R&B Producers chart and the Country Producers charts in a single week with a number of hits coming down the pike during the first quarter of 2024.
“Gitty’s” appearance on those charts were fueled by his work with a number of outstanding artists including Victoria Monet for her hit song and album On My Mama, that earned him a 2024 writer and producer Grammy nomination in both the “Record of the Year” and “Best R&B Song” categories. He is currently enjoying hits with Jessie Murph & Jelly Roll for “Wild Ones,” and her new single “Son Of A Bitch,” Chlöe Bailey for “Winter Wonderland” and Mary J Blige for “Still Believe In Love.” Gitty is also the co-executive music producer for the new Jennifer Lopez album This Is Me…Now album from the film and documentary.
Other “Gitty” 2023 collaborations include producing and co-writing singles with A-list artists such as Future (“Cheat Back,”) Dominic Fike (“Dancing In The Courthouse,”) Genesis Owusu (“Leaving The Light”)and co-writing & producing four songs on Hozier’s recent album Unreal Unearth which debuted at #3 on the Billboard 200. In addition to these successes, Gitty is the co-executive producer for Jennifer Lopez’s upcoming album This Is Me…Now and new songs with Teddy Swims.
Professionally known as “Gitty,” he has developed a reputation as one of the most talented and versatile music creators in today’s music scene. In 2021, Gitty’s production on “Back of My Mind” and “Damage” by H.E.R. landed him two GRAMMY nominations including his second in the “Album of the Year” category following his first in in 2020 for his contribution on H.E.R.’s “I Used To Know Her.”
A Moldavian-born Jewish immigrant, “Gitty” began playing jazz music professionally at the age of 14. Upon graduating from the Berklee College of Music, he got his first job as Lauryn Hill's touring and recording guitar player, leading his tenure with Alicia Keys. In 2009, “Gitty” formed a band The Stepkids and released two full length LPs on Stones Throw Records, gaining a cult-like following. In 2014, he moved to Los Angeles and quickly established himself as one of the most in-demand producers/songwriters with his participation on “Apparently” by J. Cole.
Following up his success on J. Cole’s 2014 Forest Hills Drive, “Gitty” went on to produce and co-write “All These Years” by Camila Cabello, Mac Miller’s “Come Back To Earth,” “She Lovin It” by Trey Songz, “Tints” by Anderson Paak ft. Kendrick Lamar, Amber Mark’s “What If,” “I Think Of Your,” by Jeremih ft. Chris Brown & Big Sean, A$AP Ferg’s “Psycho: and “Ex” by Ty$ ft. YG.
During 2020, “Gitty’s” success accelerated with the release of H.E.R.’s “Damage” that spent 20 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100. Additional 2020 releases included: “Wishing for a Hero”by Polo G, “Busy Boy” by Chloe x Halle, KSI’s “What You Been On,” John Legend’s “One Life,” “Until I Met You” by Alina Baraz ft. Nas, “Beautiful” by Queen Naija, Usher’s “I Cry,” and “I Dare You” by Kelly Clarkson.
In 2021 “Gitty” added an impressive list to his catalog including releases of “Bussdown” by Jorja Smith, “Come Back” by Ben Platt, “New Truck” by Florida Georgia Line, “Somebody that You Don’t Know” by Ty Dolla $ign ft. dvsn, and “Love Someone” by Tone Stith ft. H.E.R. He also collaborated with Lisa Joy Nolan for compose the original theme song for Reminiscence, the Warner Bros feature film starring Hugh Jackman. “Gitty” finished the year strong with the releases of “You Don’t Know Me” by Summer Walker and “Winter Wonderland” by Bryson Tiller ft. Halo.
At the top of 2022 he co-wrote & co-produced “A Tale by Quincy” (The Weeknd), “Private Island” (Gunna) and “911” & “Two Moods” ( Teddy Swims) that were followed by releases with YK Osiris., four releases on Tank and The Bangas GRAMMY nominated album Red Balloon, Kaytranada & Anderson Paak’s “Twin Flame” & Skip Marley “Jane.”
In addition to time in the studio, “Gitty” continues to be involved with The Recording Academy, serving as the advisor to the Los Angeles Chapter Board as well as participating in the Advocacy, Professional Development, and P&E committees. His involvement with GRAMMY U included his role as a judge on the LA Chapter GRAMMY U Showcase and as a mentor for GRAMMY U’s “In The Mix” with Om’Mas Keith, Anderson .Paak, and Terrace Martin. He has also served as a panelist for the Songwriter/Producer/A&R panel for the Recording Academy’s “New Year x New Music x New Normal” LA Chapter Summit and led the Production & Engineering mentoring circle for the Recording Academy’s NEXT program in 2021 .
Currently residing in Los Angeles, “Gitty” has earned the trust of numerous A-list artists and makes it a point to focus on creative excellence, holding himself, as well as his collaborators, to the highest artistic ideals.
Anna Aya
Sometimes, life prepares us to fulfill our destiny. A rapid rise as an internationally renowned model, worldwide travel, years of formal dance training in multiple styles, and innate creativity practically foretold Anna’s future as a global pop singer, songwriter, and performer. The 18-year-old half-Japanese and half-Armenian draws on her dynamic professional background and upbringing to deliver energetic and identifiable anthems, equally pulling from both sides of her heritage.
Linking up with GRAMMY® Award-nominated multiplatinum producer Louis Bell (Post Malone, Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, Camila Cabello, Halsey] and 6x Japan Gold Disc Winner, multiplatinum producer Michael Africk (Mai Kuraki, Zard, Jordan Knight), Anna introduces herself with a series of 2023 singles via Handcraft Entertainment/Virgin Music, with many more to come.
Drawing on her Japanese upbringing, she asserts herself as a voice for her culture, remaining reverent of its nuances and traditions and also leveraging them to distinguish her on the international stage as a singular artist. “When you listen to me, I want you to get a sense of inspiration,” says Anna. “I hope that maybe one of my songs will change your perspective or make you feel better about yourself. That’s the power of music. Hopefully, you have a good time too!”
Anna has grown up in front of the camera, splitting her time between Japan and Los Angeles, eventually finding herself in photo shoots for top-tier Japanese brands and in magazines, including Vivi and 25ans. As part of these editorial pieces, she notably modeled for some of the most influential fashion houses in the world, including Dior, Chanel, Gucci, Valentino, Fendi, and Louis Vuitton.
The results were not a surprise, as Anna had gravitated towards modeling since she was a young girl, appearing in print campaigns and commercials for household name brands such as American Girl Doll, AT&T, Children’s Place, Ford, Samsung, Target and more. She concurrently learned how to speak three languages—Japanese, Armenian, and English and has continued to speak them fluently throughout her entire life.
This tri-lingual fluency enabled her to work as a translator on Steve Harvey’s Little Big Shots. Impressed by her presence, the show producers welcomed her as a season regular and host. Plus, Ellen sought her out as a translator for its Japanese guests as a native speaker. She recognized the influence of both sides of her background. She was also accepted into college in Tokyo.
As a dancer, studying jazz, hip-hop, and ballet, Anna’s passion for music led to vocal lessons while listening to favorite artists a la Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift, Madison Beer, and more. In 2022, she caught the attention of Michael Africk, who discovered her through international connections and invited her to collaborate in his studio, eventually signing her to his company Handcraft Entertainment.
“I’m heavily influenced by my culture and experiences as a mixed person,” she observes. “The Japanese side is more reserved and diligent. Then, I have my loud, extroverted, and outgoing Armenian side. Of course, Los Angeles is super social and that influences me too. I’m a balance of the peaceful, calm, and collected self and louder self.”
Now, Anna shines on the Bell and Africk-produced bilingual single “Someone Else” that will be released via Handcraft Entertainment/Virgin Music on July 26th. This first offering features an airy sample that wraps around a thick bass-boosted groove as Anna’s robust delivery takes hold. As she flexes her skills through both English and Japanese vocals, it culminates on a climactic and catchy chorus, “A girl just needs to hear it from herself or she might from someone else.”
“The song just embodies my personality and how I go about things—not even just in terms of relationships,” ANNA states. “The meaning is deeper. I know what I deserve, and I won’t stand for anything less.” This determination and confidence shines bright and continues with the upbeat and undeniable “Hit Me With Your Love,” where she leans into bright verses with fiery energy of her own.
In the end, everything has brought Anna to this point, and she’s ready to show the world who she is.
“This is a season of change and evolution for me,” she leaves off. “I’m stepping into new territory, challenging myself, going out of my comfort zone, and doing things that bring me happiness and joy without fear. It’s a year of confidence and a new chapter I can’t wait for.”
Blues Traveler
Once upon a time (1987 to be exact), a group of guys jammed out blues in a garage somewhere in New Jersey.
However, it took them 33 years to really do it again in the same way.
In between, Blues Traveler made every boyhood rock ‘n’ roll dream come true. They burst onto the scene with a trio of gold-selling albums—Blues Traveler [1990], Travelers and Thieves [1991], and Save His Soul [1993]. Meanwhile, Four [1994] went six-times platinum and spawned the definitive “Run-Around,” which garnered a GRAMMY® Award in the category of “Best Rock Performance By a Duo or Group.” They logged another platinum album with Straight On Till Morning in 1998 and spent the next twenty years selling out shows on multiple continents. In 2018, Hurry Up & Hang Around kicked off a new era with the guys firing on all cylinders. However, they look back and leap forward on their fourteenth full-length album, Traveler’s Blues [Round Hill Records/Black Hill Records].
This time around, the quintet—John Popper [vocals, harmonica], Chan Kinchla [guitar], Tad Kinchla [bass], Ben Wilson [keyboards], and Brendan Hill [drums]—reimagined and recharged classics from the American blues songbook and a few surprises, making the record they were always meant to make.
“Back in the day, we were all into blues,” says Chan. “We even started as a high school blues band. That’s why our name is Blues Traveler! So, it was fun to come full circle and really get back to blues more than we’d ever planned. It took a lifetime for us to play this style well. There’s no way we could’ve pulled off this album when we were younger. After thirty years, we finally made the record we aspired to make as kids.”
After finishing up a marathon tour cycle in support of Hurry Up & Hang Around, the musicians returned home only to be faced with quarantine just like the rest of us. They wanted to do a new record, but they didn’t want to do it the same way.
Kicking around ideas, it made perfect sense to handpick timeless tunes, invite a few friends to the party, and throw down on some old school blues.
“We had just done a studio record, so we were looking for a different way to approach it,” Chan goes on. “When we recorded the last album, we had been thinking about doing a blues record. It had been simmering from a few different places. The opportunity presented itself to work with Round Hill and their catalog, so we had a focus. A lot of little things came together, and it took on a life of its own.”
Retreating to Nashville in late 2020, they reteamed with GRAMMY® Award-winning producer Matt Rollings [Willie Nelson]. Rather than overthink anything or overprepare, they dove right into the deep end.
“We went in there and knocked it out,” he recalls. “If you overproduce blues, it sounds like shit. Blues is supposed to feel alive. We wanted to keep it raw and immediate. We had a solid start, so we just had to capture the moment. On our first album Blues Traveler in 1989, we knew those songs cold from playing them in bars for years. That’s probably the last time we came in that organized. We’d never done anything like this before. This was like doing standards. We weren’t trying to cover the way the artists had done the songs; we were trying to make them our own.”
That’s exactly what they did. A swaying twelve-bar blues progression holds down Jimmy Reeed’s “You Got Me Runnin’” [feat. Crystal Bowersox] as harmonica and piano entwine. Popper and Crystal lock into a saucy call-and-response before Chan bends the notes to oblivion on the lead.
“There’s a lot of onus on us to honor traditional blues values and follow them,” he explains. “While paying homage to the original ‘You Got Me Runnin’,’ we took everything and ran with it in the Blues Traveler way.”
Swaggering piano struts through tambourine on the Mississippi Sheiks staple “Sittin’ On Top of the World” [feat. Warren Haynes] before Popper and Warren trade verses, and Chan and Warren trade licks.
“It’s an old blues song, but we brought a modern jam vibe to it,” he continues. “We’ve known Warren since 1990 when we opened up for The Allman Brothers. We’ve played with him in various ways for three decades. He’s an amazing musician and a wonderful guy. It’s cool we’re still rocking together after all these years.”
Then, there’s their take on the Gnarls Barkley smash “Crazy” [feat. Rita Wilson & John Scofield]. As the beat simmers, Popper leans into the iconic lyrics with palpable charisma before Scofield rips a lead and Rita delivers a powerhouse counter-vocal. On Phish’s “Funky Bitch,” they dive into a fluid jam and proudly “Let our Blues Travelers flag fly,” according to Chan. “Roadhouse Blues” serves as a raucous Doors tribute and revs up as a “cool harmonica vehicle.” Meanwhile, “Need Your Love So Bad”—originally made famous by Little Willie John—brings them into new territory altogether, while Nina Simone’s “Trouble in Mind” [feat. Keb’ Mo] concludes with a scorching soul duet uplifted by bass-y piano, lyrical soloing, and vibrant harmonica.
In the end, Blues Traveler came back home and played the hell out of the blues on Traveler’s Blues.
“Blues Traveler is not just a band; it’s a lifestyle,” Chan leaves off. “Blues Traveler is our life’s work. It’s enabled us to do so many other things. This little tribe we built in New York during the late eighties has survived all the way through—plus or minus some dearly departed brothers and sisters. It’s empowered us to be creative, make people happy, and travel around spreading some good vibes. The longer we do it, the more we like it. Now, people know we can actually play the fucking blues too,” he laughs.
Yächtley Crëw
For those unfamiliar with the concept, ‘Yacht Rock’ is a fairly recently coined term for the revival of the soft rock and top shelf hits of the late 70’s to the early 80’s. And while yes, a lot of it is overwrought story-driven narrative, the music itself is still a guilty pleasure to listen to, watch and sing along!
Although just about everyone appreciates how ridiculous it is to sing along at the top of your lungs to “Brandy”, “Africa” or “Escape (The Piña Colada Song)”, it is a perfect example of the rediscovery of this era in music.
Yächtley Crëw, also known as, “The Titans of Soft Rock”, will reel you in with not only their great sound but also their fun antics as they perform these timeless soft rock hits by Christopher Cross to Hall & Oates to Toto and more!
By being the first to have fun themselves with their heightened ironic songs, they keep it light enough to amuse the younger members of the crowd but respectful enough for those who remember singing along to all these hits on AM radio back in the day to enjoy, too! You will love the look of their thematic nautical suits and highly entertaining, cheeky, self-aware choreography.
Be sure to catch this one of kind show when the Yächtley Crëw Pleasure Cruise docks in a port near you!
Position Music
Position Music is an independent publisher, record label and management firm, redefining what it means to be a music company. Established in 1999 and still led by its visionary founder Tyler Bacon, today Position boasts a multinational presence, expanding Los Angeles headquarters, and a continually growing staff. Experts in music licensing and synchronization, the company is helping shape a new era in the industry.
Position has placed music across thousands of Advertising, Trailer, Film, TV, and Video Game projects, contributing to some of the most iconic works of the past two decades. Advertising placements stretch across dozens of brands from Jeep to Google; McDonald’s to Samsung. Trailer placements include hundreds of major film campaigns such as Wonder Woman, Valerian, Transformers and King Arthur. Our film features stretch across everything from Oscar-nominated LadyBird to Den of Thieves, and Lights Out. Position’s expansive TV resumé includes dramas such as Grey’s Anatomy, Homeland and Billions; comedy favorites such as Big Bang Theory, and Life in Pieces; competitions including America’s Got Talent and American Idol; and music-driven features Nashville and Star. Video game companies such as EA, Activision, Riot Games, ESL, Microsoft and Ubisoft trust Position with soundtracks, trailers, and eSports events for their keystone games and productions
Position’s highly strategic creative approach utilizes the power of song placement to build and fortify the careers of artists and composers, expanding the reach of their music and setting them up for long-term success. The company works on the foundation of supporting, developing and collaborating with the industry’s top talent in order to create the highest quality of music. Position maintains strong partnerships with industry leaders spanning from major record labels to the world’s top recording studios, further strengthening the artist-first approach. With featured tracks across global advertising campaigns, television, films, and trailers, the company has helped launch and amplify the careers of a myriad of the industry’s top talent. Position’s artists have played across the world’s most iconic venues and landmark festivals; its composers have recorded at storied studios.
Position Music will continue to work passionately to produce beautiful creative with its hundreds of clients, forge lasting industry partnerships, and elevate the careers of artists by connecting their music with large audiences around the world.
The Record Company
Round Hill Records today announced the signing of the GRAMMY® Award-nominated trio The Record Company, who are set to charge back onto the scene with a new tour opening for Rival Sons beginning on May 11th and new music coming soon.
The trio have experienced everything as a family since forming back in 2011 and garnering recognition with their 2016 debut, Give It Back To You. The release earned a GRAMMY® Award nomination in the category of “Best Contemporary Blues Album” and spawned “Off The Ground,” the #1 single at AAA Radio that tallied nearly 40 million total streams and counting. The band then went on an extensive tour with John Mayer before headlining across the country and accruing a cadre of diehard fans. Prior albums from The Record Company include All Of This Life [2018] and Play Loud [2021).
The Record Company recently signed to Round Hill Records and are managed by Jeff Castelez and his Cast Management team with UTA (Scott Clayton and Buster Phillips) representing the band for touring.
TOUR DATES
May 11 Diamond Ballroom – Oklahoma City, OK (with Rival Sons)
May 12 The Hall – Little Rock, AR (with Rival Sons)
May 13 Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheatre – Austin, TX (with Rival Sons)
May 16 The Signal – Chattanooga, TN (with Rival Sons)
May 17 Tabernacle – Atlanta, GA (with Rival Sons)
May 18 Marathon Music Works – Nashville, TN (with Rival Sons)
May 19 Lilac Festival – Rochester, NY
May 21 Greenfield Lake Amphitheatre – Wilmington, NC (with Rival Sons)
May 23 The National – Richmond, VA (with Rival Sons)
May 24 The NorVa – Norfolk, VA (with Rival Sons)
May 26 Ruby Amphitheatre – Morgantown, WV (with Rival Sons)
May 28 Town Ballroom – Buffalo, NY (with Rival Sons)
May 30 The Fillmore – Silver Spring, MD (with Rival Sons)
May 31 Palladium – Worcester, MA (with Rival Sons)
Jun 01 Palladium Times Square – New York, NY (with Rival Sons)
Jun 03 Franklin Music Hall – Philadelphia, PA (with Rival Sons)
Jun 04 Empire Live – Albany, NY (with Rival Sons)
Jun 06 London Music Hall – London, Canada (with Rival Sons)
Jun 15 Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO (with Whiskey Myers)
Aug 03 JBE Triple A SummitFest – Boulder, Colorado
About Round Hill Records
Round Hill Records is a full-service independent record label dedicated to long-term artist development featuring a diverse group of label properties and notable artists such as The Offspring, Bush, Judah & The Lion, Estelle, oso oso, Kevin Devine, The Cult, Blues Traveler and more.
About Cast Management
Cast Management founder Jeff Castelaz has spent more than two decades at the helm of Silver Lake-based Cast Management, the firm he founded in Milwaukee in 1992.
The company’s client roster includes GRAMMY® Award winners (and 2022 nominees) Blues Traveler, the multiplatinum-selling Dropkick Murphys and seminal punk band Violent Femmes, as well as producer Justin Meldal-Johnsen (Paramore, M83).
Castelaz’s keen sense for artist development is highly-regarded industry-wide, as he has also played a key role in the careers of a diverse range of artists including Fitz and The Tantrums, Ed Sheeran, Eagles of Death Metal, Phoenix, Saint Motel, Silversun Pickups, and many more.
Too Lost
Too Lost is a music and technology company providing SaaS solutions for independent music creators. Their distribution and publishing services deliver, monetize, and protect songs across the globe for over 280,000 + independent artists and labels. Too Lost is a proud member of The American Association of Independent Music (A2IM) and MERLIN and is headquartered in New York City, with offices in Los Angeles, Barcelona, and Reykjavik.
JHart
Chances are you've heard the work of British-born, US-based singer, songwriter and producer JHart before. Since 2008, following a 12-month internship with super-producer Polow da Don, the artist born James Abrahart in Brentwood Essex, has co-written songs for some of music's biggest names. The list, basically a who's who, is exhaustive, so please pay attention: Justin Bieber, Jason Derulo, Rita Ora, Little Mix, Charlie Puth, Keith Urban, Camila Cabello, Usher, TLC, OneRepublic, Troye Sivan, 5 Seconds of Summer, Jennifer Lopez and actual Cher. Plus many, many more. But after years of helping other artists achieve unparalleled success, and following a period of personal growth in which Abrahart started living proudly as a gay man, JHart is ready to step into the limelight on his own terms.
This new era begins with the honeyed, impassioned R&B of his gospel-tinged debut single, If There is a God, the first taster for this forthcoming EP, The Wishing, The Wanting, The Longing. A showcase for his sky-scraping vocals, the cover of SAYGRACE's yearning 2021's single, feels like the perfect introduction to JHart. “This song lives in a sonic world that I love, this classic R&B, and vocally it's one of my strongest songs,” he says. “Lyrically it touches on religion and things I've dealt with, and this idea of longing and pain from heartbreak. It felt like an important establishing record.” It will be followed by Father's Son, a gently percolating ode to “the complicated nature of queer relationships between sons and fathers.” It's a showcase for JHart's songwriting chops, telling a story rooted in reality. “My dad and I have a beautiful relationship now but there were times when we didn't understand each other at all,” he explains. “I wanted to do a song that held both of those truths in a nuanced way. I love how those two things exist in the same song. There's this awareness around the beauty of a relationship and also the darkness of where it came from.”
Abrahart's relationship with music has always been defined by the push and pull of beauty and its opposite. In fact, for a long time, music was a medicine to deal with the pain. Born in Upminster, just outside London, Abrahart's house didn't ring to the sound of song, but rather the chants of a football crazy family. Music came from his Nan, who would often play him her collection of Motown and Tina Turner albums, or from his grandad who would let him hammer away at a piano in the school where he worked as a caretaker. “I just always had this obsession with music and it happened very naturally,” Abrahart says. “I think it was always there. Then when we ended up moving to America it became a healing thing for me because I did not want to move. I was dealing with a lot of homesickness. That's when music became very important to me as an escape.”
When Abrahart was just 11 his family moved to Atlanta. While his parents needed a reset, the move was also a way of protecting Abrahart who was struggling at school due to constant bullying. The huge culture shock was quickly overwhelming. “I printed out a piece of paper saying 'England is my home and I miss it' and stuck it on my door as a form of protest,” the 35-year-old remembers. Later, this sense of loneliness clashed with a sudden realisation, too. “When I started realising I was different and being aware of gayness, that only added to that feeling of being an outsider.” He says he would listen to a lot of UK pop music from that early 00s period, both as a continuation of his protest and as a connection to home. While he threw himself into music in his new school – joining a choir and (briefly) learning the violin – his beloved drum kit never made it to America. “My parents told me the kit had 'fallen out of the plane' on the way over to Atlanta,” he laughs.
His parents did, however, buy him a karaoke machine (by this point he was into the big-voiced divas like Mariah and Whitney) and it was on this tiny entertainment system that Abrahart's songwriting career started. “The first song I ever wrote was over a Whitney karaoke track,” he smiles. “Songwriting got more serious and then I learned how to produce and make my own beats. That was something I did for a while, and I thought producing was going to be my thing. I got super into beat making and fell in love with R&B and hip-hop. Then eventually my love of writing steered me away.” Throughout high school he was making his own music, often handing out copies of his songs to his fellow students. “In fact they played one of my original songs at prom and it bombed and the entire dance floor cleared,” he laughs. “That was a beautiful lesson that maybe my music wasn't that good yet.” He got good pretty quickly though, with one of his early collaborators, while still at high school, being Atlanta icon and R&B legend T-Boz from TLC. “T-Boz was one of my first mentors,” he smiles. “We were introduced by my manager in Atlanta, and at the time she was working on solo material, so she would come over to my house right after high school. I think my parents had a hard time with me doing music at first – they were nervous – so when T-Boz started coming over they were like 'OK, this is cool'.” Years later, in 2017, Abrahart would co-write TLC's single Way Back, bringing it all full circle given TLC was his first concert after arriving in Atlanta.
After a brief sojourn to Savannah, Georgia, to study film, Abrahart returned to Atlanta after he realised music wasn't just a hobby. Keen to ask anybody he knew in the music business for help, his brother's friends' mum connected him to a man who owned a local studio where Polow da Don had a room. This was in 2008, when the super producer was working with the likes of Nas, Nelly, Keri Hilson, Jennifer Hudson and the Pussycat Dolls. As well as being the studio's intern, or “full bitch” as Abrahart puts it, he also got to watch how a studio worked. “A lot of how I learned about songwriting and engineering and even producing was just by being there,” he says. Eventually, after some of Abrahart's songs he'd put up on MySpace came to Polow's attention, he tried to sign him as an artist. “I knew that I was very closeted, and that I had a lot of stuff internally I had to work out; I wasn't comfortable with my weight and my body, and so I knew it wasn't the right time. I also wanted to produce and write at that time. I didn't want to do artistry.”
Via production duo Rock City (Ciara, Miley Cyrus), Abrahart then got his first publishing deal and headed to LA where he crashed on his second cousin's couch. From there his songwriting career took off, enabling him to play the role of various different characters. “It was so freeing. I loved it. I loved wearing all the different hats but I think I still wasn't comfortable with my sexuality and had not come into myself,” he explains. “There was an element of trying on different personas. I enjoyed the freedom of writing from different perspectives, but didn't understand that there was some element of myself longing to be free and self-embodied.” It's taken a long time to reach that point. In fact, an early iteration of JHart, the artist, was started way back in 2014 with Grammy and Oscar-winning producer D'Mile, shortly after Abrahart had come out to his family. “I feel like I've only just really come into the person I am in the last five years though,” he says. “A lot of my songwriting career I felt like I was walking into sessions and letting my talent shine, and that's what helped me have success, but internally I wasn't coming from a place of self-knowing. Ever since coming out I've just been hungry to rediscover the version of me that existed before everything was piled onto it. There have been a couple of false starts with my artist career that can be attributed to that because I knew I wasn't ready. I didn't know myself enough to have a perspective.”
It was in 2020, during the pandemic, that Abrahart reconnected with D'Mile: “He reached out and said 'are we ever going to finish these songs?', and for me that was such an important and special way of saying 'I still believe in you'. We started working slowly on The Wishing, The Wanting, The Longing in 2020, and then in 2021 and 2022 we dug in some more.” It's an EP that showcases every aspect of both James Abrahart the songwriter and JHart: The Artist. It's there on the Prince-esque R&B heater, Ripe, which fantasises about a perfect relationship (“It's written to my imaginary life partner – it's the idea of finding someone you can be a kid with forever”) and on the OnlyFans-mentioning, Justin Timberlake-esque bop, Crash My Car, which highlights his “penchant for drama” with its lyric about, well, crashing into someone's house to get their attention. “It's about a relationship I had during Covid and trying to get someone to notice you after they've moved on,” he explains. “The irony of that relationship was that I was emotionally unavailable for the majority of it and then when I came around he was over it and moved on. It's that feeling of 'are you fucking kidding me?? Now?'.” The Having, which features the EP title in its lyrics, meanwhile, describes Abrahart's “period of growth” and “going from a place of longing and pining and pain, to a place of self-embodiment and magnetism and attracting things to myself. Knowing my self worth.”
That journey is also encompassed in the video for If There Really Is a God, which finds Abrahart showcasing both his queer sensuality (there's a lot of flesh on show), and within that his love for both masc and fem gender fluidity. “That balance is a very important part of my identity artistically or otherwise. I do a lot of things with the intention of that balance.” Even the way he's releasing the music – which Abrahart describes as “Cinematic. Musical. Polished. Soulful. And... a little camp” – is testament to his newfound assuredness. Released via distribution platform, United Masters, it was crucial for Abrahart to eschew the major label system he'd witnessed from the inside as a songwriter for others. “It was important for me to do it on my own terms,” he states. “It's been inspiring to see this host of songwriters that have existed in the business start to take their careers into their own hands. People like Victoria Monét. These people I was writing with years ago and now they're stepping into their artist careers on their own terms.”
After years of supporting other people's musical endeavours, JHart is finally ready to stand up and be counted as an artist. With a suite of songs showcasing both his incredible vocals and his hitmaking songwriting abilities, it feels like the world is his for the taking, and his goals for the future are typically lofty. “I would like to see myself established as an artist,” he says. “Respected by my peers, which can be tricky when you've set a precedent in the career you already have. But I don't want to be put in a box. I feel like I have so much more to share.” And it starts right now.
Sam Hollander
As one of the most talented and diverse songwriters and producers in the game, Sam Hollander has had multi-platinum success writing and producing for major artists Panic! At The Disco, Fitz and the Tantrums, Weezer, Carole King, Katy Perry, Train, One Direction, Daughtry, The Fray and Gym Class Heroes, among many others. He has written/produced over 20 U.S. Top 40 Pop Hits as well as being named Rolling Stone Magazine’s Hot List Producer of the Year. His songs have over 2 billion streams to date. He is currently writing and producing the legendary O’Jays final studio album The Last Word which Entertainment Weekly calls “One Of Most Anticipated Albums of 2019.”
This past fall, NBC tapped Hollander to write their Thursday Night Football theme based on his hit “Sing” with Pentatonix. He also wrote 8 songs, including the multi-platinum worldwide #1 hit ‘High Hopes’, on the new Panic! at the Disco album Pray For The Wicked, as well as Fitz and the Tantrum’s multi-platinum worldwide smash “HandClap”. Other recent releases include singles with Aloe Blacc, Weezer and James TW’s “When You Love Someone” (recently certified Gold).
Hollander’s career began as co-writer and producer of Carole King’s 2001 single "Love Makes The World" (from the same titled album). He also produced the Emmy-nominated "Voice in a Dream" for NBC’s Steven Spielberg-helmed series SMASH.
Qwynn
Qwynn is a Nashville based artist, singer/songwriter originally from Mayfield Heights, Ohio. Growing up, she was a competitive figure skater until a knee injury forced her to stop competing at age 10. Turning defeat into victory, Qwynn took her love of performing from the ice to the stage, discovering her talents in singing and acting.
Qwynn has since performed live at fundraising events for the Dare2Dream Foundation, Relay For Life, performed the National Anthem at the Indians vs. Tigers game and most recently hosted and sang at the finish line celebration at the Autism Speaks LA Walk at the Dodger’s Stadium. After a quick two month trip to record in Nashville (that turned into a six month trip,) Qwynn moved from Los Angeles to chase her musical dreams in Tennessee. Since then, she has performed at numerous events in Nashville, most recently at an event for Babes Social Co.
During this transition, Qwynn has been in the studio co-writing with music producer/songwriter Matt Wilder, who began as a protégé and signed artist with producer/composer Dan Hartman (James Brown, Tina Turner, Joe Cocker, Steve Winwood, Paul Young) who penned “I Can Dream About You,” “Free Ride” and “Living In America” and songwriter Brian Maher who co-penned Justin Moore’s #1 songs “Small Town USA and “Til My Last Day” and has landed cuts by artists such as Taylor Swift, Lonestar, and Kenny Wayne Shepherd. This trio have written over 25 songs together and are looking forward to releasing what they have been working on over the past two years. Qwynn also currently works with 2x Grammy Award Winner Rebecca Lynn Howard and American Music Award winner Moe Loughran from Nashville Creative House as her vocal coaches.
Prior to 2022, Qwynn (under the name Quinn L’Esperance) released four singles and music videos including “Dance In The Garden” (a tribute to her brother, Connor, who is on the autism spectrum and featured in the video,) “Human Connection,” a song that shed light on the importance of human connection during the pandemic, “Heavyweight” which was choreographed by Jabari Odom (Miley Cyrus, Mariah Carey, Usher) and “Unstoppable,” a song inspiring people to live fearlessly. Qwynn has also co-directed and co-produced all the music videos for her singles.
Qwynn enjoys practicing yoga, playing piano, ukulele and the guitar, cooking and spending time with her family. She is extremely passionate about the special needs community and has helped her family start a 501c3 non-profit called “Connor’s Hope” in honor of her brother Connor who is on the autism spectrum.