Jade Shipman used to be in several Bay Area rock bands, though never as the main songwriter. But after going through a difficult period involving a divorce and the loss of several people she loved, she funneled her emotions into songwriting – and now, as the leader of Little Shrine (featuring guitarist Tony Schoenberg, violinist Ryan Avery, drummer Andrew Griffin, and keyboardist Garrett Warshaw) she’s returned with a sophomore album that showcases those heartfelt songs.
It’s a new sound from the Minneapolis indie hip-hop label and collective, Doomtree. Veteran producers Lazerbeak (Doomtree’s CEO and co-founder) and ICETEP have formed a fresh new project: Night Stone. READ MORE…
Americana Highways presents this premiere of Billy Keane’s song “Never Give Up,” which was written, produced and recorded by Billy Keane; mixed and mastered by Alex Saltz of APS Mastering. “Never Give Up” is Jackson Whalan on electronic drums, Miles Lally on bass, and Billy Keane on vocals, guitars, and everything else.
Big, bold heartbeat bass drums launch this song up into the atmosphere of hope. The sound is as rich and glorious as the intention of Billy Keane’s songwriting. READ MORE…
The work of Alabama-based Americana-folk artist Sylvia Rose Novak is mired in roughhewn Southern experiences and the gothic atmospheres of her home state. Previously making her way through the country-folk scenes in Alabama, she recently took a turn towards a sound with a bit more muscle, something a bit more rock-oriented. Taking the form of her upcoming record, Bad Luck, this stylistic tangent finds her embracing the darker influences and histories that have shaped her perspective on music and the way she approaches it creation.
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Monsters! Mazes! Murder hobos & minotaurs! ATL/L.A. nerdcore duo Epic Levels’ debut album Armor Classy (out Apr. 24) meets at the inspired intersection of hip hop and Dungeons and Dragons. The lyrics of the two MCs, Dragon Warrior and Tiger Wizard, are punctuated with clever role playing game (RPG) wordplay for those in the know, yet they invite the casual listener to have fun exploring their astonishing sonic universe. They breathe life into eclectic topics such as stealing the dank stank off of a dapper minotaur and a mad chef’s quest for the perfect leviathan calamari. Members of Epic Levels have shared bills with Washed Out, Arrested Development, Belle and Sebastian, Amanda Palmer, Hospitality, Pile & Single Mothers.
Like the group’s name, Armor Classy opens with an epic orchestral crescendo on “Rather be Rollin’.” The song then moves into an anthemic banger touting the duo’s preference to playing RPGs over everything else. The album skillfully maneuvers from funky grooves over boom bap beats on tracks like “Liches be Trippin’” and “Underdark Exterminators,” to synth-laden songs with innovative percussion like “Minotaur Musk” and “DM Killed My Character.” The latter’s hauntingly beautiful chorus is brought to celestial heights by Grace Bellury (Karaoke, Del Vinicci, Lille). “Ninja Assassins” transforms moody strings and echoing bells into an intricate soundscape, featuring guest vocals by black Sunshine & Teresa Lemaire. Armor Classy takes the best bits from the history of hip hop, disregards current trends and forges its own unique path.
Lyrically, each track on the album invites the listener into a new world. Getting ready to go out for the night takes on a new meaning as Dragon Warrior and Tiger Wizard gear up in “Battle Prep.” In “Underdark Exterminators” the duo is advertising their new monster extermination company… “Order now and get this free logo towel.” Listening to Armor Classy is a grand journey, where each song commands that the listener simply hold on tight and enjoy the ride.
Epic Levels is Dragon Warrior, AKA Steve Albertson (SP’s, illiterates, SEX BBQ, Dr. Killbot), Tiger Wizard, AKA Andrew Bellury (Lille, Mortal Komband, Spacewalker) and with the guiding hand of the enigmatic World Engineer, DJ Robbie Darko, AKA Rob Bellury (Lille, Little Horn, SEX BBQ). Armor Classy was mixed by Cody Sciara (Wale, Curren$y, August Alsina), mastered by Rob Kleiner (Cee Lo, Sia, Flo Rida, Deadpool OST), and the beats were crafted by DJ Robby Darko, and SoundCloud phenom Inner Resting, AKA Mason Grant.
Obsessive tabletop gamers Albertson and Bellury have spent their lives exploring the dark arts of nerdom. Steve is a writer, musician and filmmaker. He’s been fronting bands for decades, always bringing his nerd empowerment lyrics front and center. He’s held many titles: a co-creator and writer of the Image Comics mini-series Ghost Spy, host of the podcast Total Movie Recall, host of ArtSpeak on Atlanta’s WMLB AM 1690, “The Voice of the Arts,” has directed/produced shorts films, music videos and documentaries, founder of Baby Robot Media and Baby Robot Records, and continues to sing in his current garage/punk/psych bands, SP’s and illiterates.
Andrew is an artist, graphic designer and a major cog in the Atlanta art scene. He’s on the board of several galleries, and owns and operates Fallen Arrows, an artist based tee shirt print shop which produces a variety of rad nerd swag. He’s a member of the Esoteric Order of the Owlbear, an organization dedicated to growing the D&D community in Atlanta, and participates regularly in the ATL DND: Drunks and Dragons events. He is the founder of the ATL Sorcery & Wizarding League, the creator of Wizard Cat Hats, Esoteric Tiger, and Dragon Spittle: homestyle spicy tequila.
The Mythos of Dragon Warrior and Tiger Wizard
Dragon Warrior and Tiger Wizard started as first level adventurers in the Forgotten Elms, a realm of might and magic. They quickly raised in level, dominating any challenges that came their way. However, no matter their accomplishments, they felt like there was something missing, until they discovered the City of Doors, an extra-dimensional hub to all the lands of the multiverse. It was there that they found the portal to Earth.
Through their many Earthly adventures they found hip hop and quickly fell in love with the form. They honed their abilities, formed a rap duo and escalated to the epic level of 20. They were then visited by the enigmatic DJ Robby Darko, The World Creator. He began working with the duo, engineering and beat making, and was so impressed that he bequeathed to them their own plane of existence. They named that realm Epicia and began shaping it in their own image.
Epicia began much like the Forgotten Elms with fantastical beasts, exotic races and readily available magic, but swayed quickly to encapsulate Earth’s hip hop culture. Liches got “lean” on strange drugs, Goblins began bankrolling rappers and curating museums, ninjas became more “zef.”
Now, Epic Levels splits their time between Earth and Epicia, recording albums and writing books for the people of Earth, and creating new levels of adventure in the multi-facetted realm of Epicia.