Emily Joy – EP Release
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Jim Levatte – Interview
Jim Levatte Interview- August 2016
Jim is another amazingly talented artist that comes to us from MTS Management Group. Jim hails from Ontario, Canada and is a one man music machine. Not only is Jim a talented singer/songwriter, he also does his own producing and engineering of his tracks in his own studio. Jim has been writing since the age of 9, and has released 6 albums thus far. Jim is currently working on a new self titled album, and most recent release the single “This Ain’t My Day”. Jim’s sound has more of a country rock feel, and his voice has this rawness to it that you don’t hear every day on the radio.
Thank you for chatting with us!
You’re working on a new album, is there an anticipated finish date?
I am hoping for a fall release date , if all goes as planned.
What can listeners expect to hear on the album? Will it be more rock sounding songs like “This Ain’t My Day”?
I have a few more songs in the style of “This Ain’t My Day “. One in particular , that I hope to release as my next single off the album.
Is this the first project you have worked on with your new band?
I am recording all the parts myself , then I give the completed songs to the other band members , for them to learn. This way I can take my time , and experiment a little more in the studio , with sounds , different combinations of instruments , and arrangements .
Who are your musical influences and inspirations?
I really like Chris Stapleton right now. His voice is great , and he writes excellent songs . I couldn’t believe all the artists he has written songs for. He really shines on Luke Bryan’s “Drink A Beer” .
What drew you to country music? Who taught you how to play guitar? Do you play anything besides guitar?
Southern rock has always been a passion of mine. I guess that shows in my writing style. Some of my favourite bands , such as Lynard Skynard , Molly Hatchet , and 38 Special , would be considered country today, so I guess I have always been into country music. I really love new country production right now. The sound is undeniable. As long as I can remember , I have had a fascination with guitars. I found an old acoustic in the attic of my childhood home at a real early age , and started to teach myself how to play. I would listen to albums, or the radio and try to copy all the songs of the day . I picked up the bass, mandolin, pretty much anything with strings at different points in my life.
How old were you when you played your first live gig?
We used to play for our friends and family at around 12-13 years old. But my first paid , real gig would have been late teens.
You were in a car accident in 2013, and since then you had to give up your construction business. How has that sort of forced career change allowed you to be more involved with your music?
I have the time now to focus on writing , and recording. Life always got in the way of music. My business used to always come first , now my music does. Music also is good therapy. It can help get you through a lot of tough times.
Do you incorporate any covers into your sets? If so, who do you love to cover?
We used to do a lot of Rolling Stones covers. I love Keith Richards. His style is so raw. “The Stones ” had a lot of country influences in there songs.
You do it all when it comes to your music; writing, playing and producing. Is there a reason you don’t work with or use a lot of outside people for your music?
It slowly changed over time. It started with not being able to get the right people for the right job. Either they had other commitments, or were on the other side of the country. So instead of waiting on a bass player for instance , I decided to pick it up and do it myself. Like I said , it happened slowly over time , until it seemed logical to just do everything myself . Then I really started to enjoy it. I love the fact that I can see a song through from start to finish , and not have to rely on anyone else .
How did you get your start with producing?
Engineering and producing always fascinated me. I always sat next to the engineer , behind his board and watched him, very closely. The live sound guys always loved to do our shows , because I was always eager to help . I would try to run cables , place mics, and do whatever I could , to learn from them. They thought it was great , and I was learning a lot from them. I knew at an early age I wanted to engineer, and produce , and when pro tools came along , it was now within my grasp. I didn’t need to spend a half million dollars on gear to get a good sounding recording.
Do other artists ever get to use/record in your studio?
I have recorded a few other people over the years. I have had a lot of requests lately. It is something I am always open to.
Thank you for taking time to chat with us, we look forward to hearing your completed album. If you ever make your way down to Western New York look us up!
Richard Lynch is an Indie Country Music Hall of Famer.
His music has topped traditional country airplay charts around the world, including New Music Weekly, Roots Music Report, the Netherlands-based Country Music Chart Top 40 and others. His sold-out fundraising performances have raised thousands of dollars for his veterans charity, Love Tattoo Foundation. In 2015, he was inducted in to the Independent Country Music Hall of Fame. Now, Richard Lynch has topped the World’s First Independent Country Music Chart, IndieWorld, with his latest single, “A Better Place.”
Written by Lynch’s album producer, Billy Yates and Trent Tomlinson (“One Wing in the Fire”), “A Better Place” features Richard’s hauntingly beautiful and emotional vocal alongside a who’s who of the best musicians in country music: Eddie Bayers, drums (Garth Brooks, George Strait); Eli Beaird, bass (Joey+Rory, Willie Nelson/Merle Haggard); Scotty Sanders, steel and dobro (Trace Adkins, Dierks Bentley); Jeff King, electric guitar (Reba, Luke Bryan); Steve Nathan, piano, keys, synth (Tim McGraw; Toby Keith); Hyram Posey, fiddle (Grand Ol’ Opry); Larry Franklin, fiddle (Lorrie Morgan, Alan Jackson); Larry Beaird, acoustic guitar (Rascal Flatts, Brooks and Dunn); Billy Yates (Sara Evans, Kenny Chesney) and Russell Terrell, backing vocals (Clint Black, Darius Rucker.)
“A Better Place” is currently enjoying a 19-week run at #1 on the Roots Music Report True Country Singles chart. “A Better Place” was released on the MOD Label. Promotions are by Twang Thang Country – Nashville, TN. Radio and Publicity by MTS Management Group – Pittsburgh, PA.
Watch the video for “A Better Place” on Richard’s VEVO channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qns8zWL2-Bw.
Other acts on the current IndieWorld chart include Lonestar, Kelsea Ballerini, Bobby G. Rice, Bobby Lewis, Pat Boone and Smith & Wesley. For more information on IndieWorld Country Record Report, please visit www.indieworldcountry.com.
Compiling a long list of hits and chart toppers in the traditional country world, Richard Lynch is an award-winning American country music artist, reminiscent of the classics that started it all. The same passion and raw truth that fueled the likes of Conway Twitty, Keith Whitley, Waylon Jennings, George Jones, and Hank Williams is sewn into the fabric of Richard Lynch. In a world of fabricated country stars, Richard Lynch stands out in the crowd as a proud member of the last of a dying breed, the pure country music artist. An Independent Country Music Hall of Fame Inductee, Richard’s rock solid country roots span 3 decades; it comes up with the sun each morning, and it settles in the music he writes and the songs he sings.. The spirit of Richard Lynch is that which is attached to the working man’s soul. It’s real and it’s timeless. It’s country, the way country was meant to be.
Living the life he sings about is what gives Richard Lynch the edge as a singer/songwriter. Richard is a hard working, blue collar man. He is a designer and builder of amazing barns, and as should be expected, he is an American farmer. His everyday life and paying his musical dues by performing at 100′s of events & shows a year, all across the country, is that which shaped him into a one-of-a-kind performer. Richard’s style is true and it carries into his live shows. Much like his music alone, a live performance of the Richard Lynch Band is something you feel. It’s something you carry with you when you walk away. If country music is a gift that sustains in our lives wherever we go, Richard Lynch is the messenger.
For more information on Richard Lynch, including tour dates, please visit http://www.richardlynchband.com.
https://www.reverbnation.com/richardlynchband
https://www.facebook.com/RichardLynchBand
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaKcjmaNkNR4IdXCgTHfhIA
https://vimeo.com/channels/richardlynchband
https://myPPK.com/get/richardlynchband
The Cleverlys Kick Grass With New EP, “Cash Crop”
CANADIAN CONSTRUCTION WORKER TURNED COUNTRY ROCKER SINGS WITH MTS, RELEASES “THIS AIN’T MY DAY”
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ED ROMAN, TJ LEONARD LEAD MTS MANAGEMENT GROUP ARTISTS NOMINATED AT 2016 IMEA AWARDS
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8TH ANNUAL BIG O MUSIC FEST IN OWENSBORO, KY
Madelyn Victoria – Wild Ride
From the voice that gave you the #1 New Music Weekly am/fm airplay chart single, “He Only Loves Me on the Dance Floor!”
MADELYN VICTORIA – “WILD RIDE”
Madelyn Victoria grew up in the deep south of Texas, in Harlingen, performing in public for the first time, during a local Christmas Pageant, at age 5. She continued performing and singing throughout her youth, at local competitions and pageants, earning awards and recognition as one of the area’s top young performers. Her songwriting career began at the age of 13, after becoming the lead vocalist at her church. In 2007, Madelyn competed in the Modeling Association of America International Competition and Convention in New York, where she won the vocal competition, singing Sara Evans’ “Real Fine Place to Start.” That same year, Madelyn auditioned to perform with the Radio Disney Superstars of Dallas, was selected, and opened for pop boy band sensation, The Jonas Brothers. In high school, Madelyn studied both Opera and Mariachi, winning accolades in both categories, all the while honing her guitar skills. In December of 2012, Madelyn performed in Las Vegas (Planet Hollywood and at the NFR Rodeo) as the Shania Twain Sing-Off Contest Winner.
Madelyn has sung the National Anthem at United League games, and at local high school sporting events, political rallies, patriotic ceremonies, rodeos, and stock shows, including the 2009 Los Fresnos PRCA Rodeo in Los Fresnos, Texas where Madelyn Victoria was crowned the inaugural Rodeo Queen. This was one of many crowns she has earned including Cameron County Cowgirl, being named her high school’s homecoming queen, Miss Texas Homecoming Queen, and 2nd Runner Up for Americas Homecoming Queen.
More recently Madelyn Victoria and her band have opened for some of the biggest names in country music, including Easton Corbin, Turnpike Troubadours, Tracy Lawrence, Kevin Fowler, Clay Walker, Josh Thompson, Dustin Lynch, Zac Brown Band, The Charlie Daniels Band, and more. She is a Top 50 CMT.com artist, too! Madelyn also gives back to her community, by volunteering at local Motor Training events for special needs children, singing to the children at hospitals and rehab centers and by starting her own annual event called “Octave Higher Christmas” for children.
TJ Lenard – Interview
July 2016
Hey bloggers! Today were talking with Country singer/songwriter and musician TJ Leonard. TJ hails from Stockholm Sweden and has been singing and playing guitar for most of his life. He’s no stranger to music and has played a wide variety of genres including Jazz, Rock Gospel and R&B. TJ sings about the good life; fishing, friends, family and love!
Thanks for answering some questions and talking with us TJ!
I’m sure our readers may be surprised when we mention that you are from Sweden. Is country music a big market in Sweden?
The interest for country has grown a little bit the last couple of years and concerts with Brad Paisley, Toby Keith etc. are sold out. True country has a solid base here among the older audience and the contemporary country is on it’s way in.
How did you come to settle on country music?
I was pretty tired of writing and producing music that was computer programmed and longed for a more organic sound. Keith Urban released Somebody Like You at that time and that sound really got to me. The mix between country and pop and the sound of the banjo was what I was looking for. I shut out all the other genres and only listened to country both old and new as an experiment to see if my musical language would change. And it did. Since then I’ve only been listening to country.
You learned music from your Grandfather. Does music run in your family or was this something special the two of you shared?
Most of my relatives on my mothers side can sing or play an instrument but what I had with my grandpa was special. We played the songs he played with his band in the forties and fifties. He played mandolin and I guitar and vocals. At the end of his life he was blind and the strength in his fingers wasn’t enough to play so he just sat there and listened to me, remembering old times I guess.
Do you write your songs in Swedish or English?
I write everything in English. Even songs that has been released in Swedish was first written in English and then translated.
You used to be part of a Country band called “Chestnut”, why did you decide to take a leap and go solo?
It came natural. From the beginning all the members had family and regular jobs and the purpose with the band was that we were suppose to meet once a week and play just for the fun of it. In a while we started to sound quite good and we got a couple of gigs. Members were dropping out because they didn’t have the time or will to gig and soon I was the only one left from the original band. As a songwriter I’ve always called myself TJ Leonard so it felt natural to go by that name. (I have three names, Ted Joakim Leonard)
Your song “The River” paints such a beautiful picture about growing up and being out in nature, and having those life lesson talks. Is this song reflective of how you were brought up?
Everything In that song is from my youth. In the pictures in the video you can see me and my friends from back then. We practically lived down by Mörrum River. In the summer when the water was too hot for the fish to bite, we were swimming in it and we were building rafts from old barrels and stuff. When we got older we could be up all night sitting in front of a bonfire drinking a couple of beers, telling stories and waiting for the first light so we could cast out the lines again.
You wrote a beautiful, endearing song for your son being born entitled “Flying Over Water”. What does he think about you being a singer?
Well, he has always known me as a singer so it’s natural for him. He recognize country music though and every time Outdoor channel is on the TV he says: Hey daddy is that you singing? One of the shows has a Kenny Chesney song in the beginning. HaHa! Flying over water will be on the next album by the way.
You seem to be gaining momentum slowly in the states. You have been moving up CMT’s most popular chart as well as the Internet Country Radio charts and Indie Music Charts (to name a few). How does that feel?
That’s great of course 🙂 Today I went up to #1 on New Music Weekly’s AM/FM main chart and it really made my day. Being over here on the “wrong” side of the Atlantic, the charts are almost the only way to know that your music is spreading.
Do you get airplay (either on the radio or online) in Sweden as well?
We have a couple of country stations but that ain’t much. The main problem that country isn’t big here yet is that the radio and TV don’t understand that there is a market for it.
How often do you get to come to the States to play music?
I’ve only been to the US two times. First time seventeen years ago and one time in 2014 so I haven’t been there much but I’m coming over in September. I’m nominated in five categories on Josie Music Awards in Nashville. There’s no gig booked but I hope I can make some contacts while I’m there so I can do some shows in the future.
You recently posted a picture on Social media, and you were in the studio. Can you give us any info about what you’re working on?
It might have been a picture with Hicks. In that case we are working on a duet. We haven’t decided if we’ll release it ourselves or pitch it to some other artist. But it’s a really good one 🙂
Who are your musical influences?
I’ve listened to so many artists but to name a few, Stevie Wonder, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, TOTO, Depeche Mode. When it comes to country, Keith Urban as I said before, George Strait, Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, Chris Stapleton among others
Tell us a little bit more about you. What do you like to do that doesn’t involve music?
I would say that my biggest interest outside of music is hunting. Right now we’re waiting for bow hunting to be legal over here. It has been a dream for many years to come over to the US and hunt white tail with bow and arrow. Who knows, maybe someone will read this and invite me over haha! I wish I could fly-fish as much as I used to but there’s no time right now. I guess I’ll pick it up when I retire.
Thank you again TJ for talking with us! Best of luck, and we hope to hear more music form you soon!
Thanks and as I said I’m working on an album. It will probably be released next spring if everything goes as planned.
Be sure to check TJ out on Facebook, Twitter and at his own tjleonardcountry.com
Average Joes Record Full Album
July 27, 2016 
Stormin' Country 