Articles by Joshua

COO of UL Sounds.com, a boutique publishing admin firm based in Sacramento, COO of Pac Ave Records (Stockton, CA), writer for Indie Music Discovery.com. Father of 3, all around jedi.

Interview with Jordy Benattar

by Joshua (J.Smo) Smotherman February 1, 2018 9:32 am Tagged With: Canada, folk pop, indie pop, singer, songwriter, Toronto

Canadian acting veteran and newcomer to the music scene, Jordy Benattar, has a distinct sound hard to compare with anything else you’ve heard before. Light, sweet, nostalgic yet timeless, Jordy’s music influences, informs, and inspires. In this interview spotlight, I chat with Jordy about her latest project, motivations, challenges and more. Full Q&A along with […]

Interview with Tachichi – Chico’s ’90s Project

by Joshua (J.Smo) Smotherman January 30, 2018 6:20 pm Tagged With: Canada, Hip Hop, rap

Tachichi is a Halifax Hip Hop legend whose resume is as superb and as big as his talent, with his fingers in everything from writing to production to video directing. Tachichi has released 11 albums to date and played hundreds of live shows across Canada and the U.S. While much of his previous catalogue has been alongside Canadian producer and DJ […]

Interview with Combray

by Joshua (J.Smo) Smotherman January 30, 2018 6:11 pm Tagged With: art pop, Folk, folk pop, indie pop, Seattle, singer, songwriter

Combray is named after the fictitious town in Marcel Proust seminal work In Search of Lost Time, a novel that revolves around the idea that many of our most rich and rewarding experiences in life can be activated through unexpected moments. Combray was formed to create music that can hopefully in some small way transport […]

Interview with Sonali – Forever

by Joshua (J.Smo) Smotherman January 30, 2018 6:00 pm Tagged With: alt-pop, indie pop, New York, Pop, singer, songwriter, synth pop, United States

After a two year hiatus, Sonali has returned with a new sound and outlook on life, ready to pick up where she was forced to leave off. Just as her career as a pop/folk songstress was starting to flourish, Sonali was sidelined with health issues forcing her to take time to focus on herself. Through […]

Kristin Rebecca Enchants On Her Newest Single Can I Be Honest

by Joshua (J.Smo) Smotherman January 29, 2018 4:39 pm Tagged With: Folk, singer, songwriter

Singer/songwriter Kristin Rebecca combines harp, guitar and voice into a distinct sounding folk style. Her newest single, Can I Be Honest, is now available. Having opening for national and regional touring acts, Kristin has been exposed to an excellent atmosphere for developing her brand of organic, natural folk music with a uniquely modern feel. Featuring […]

Lights And Bridges Nurtures The Soul, Uplifts Spirits on Tears of Gold

by Joshua (J.Smo) Smotherman January 29, 2018 4:23 pm Tagged With: acoustic pop, Folk, folk rock, singer, songwriter

Lights And Bridges is multi-instrumentalist Tom Rossi who has a fluency in everything from ceremonial Ghanaian hand drums to African kora to melodically driven, memorable, soothing, finger picked acoustic as is found on his newest single Tears of Gold. His work as a therapeutic musician explains the soul nurturing, spirit lifting, relaxation inducing, happiness infused […]

Allow stop.drop.rewind To Rock Your Socks Off With Main & Lincoln

by Joshua (J.Smo) Smotherman January 29, 2018 4:05 pm Tagged With: Indiana, indie rock, power pop, United States

Valpraiso, Indiana based stop.drop.rewind formed in 2008. With four EPs behind them, this talented group of prog-power-pop creatives have arrived with their newest energetic single Main & Lincoln. Delightfully distorted guitars, engaging vocal melodies, an impactful wall of sound and the pop appeal of stop.drop.rewind’s Main & Lincoln is the perfect song for delivering an […]

No Alarms Will Hook You With New Single, Right Is What’s Left

by Joshua (J.Smo) Smotherman January 29, 2018 3:39 pm Tagged With: electro rock, electro-pop, indie pop, indie rock

No Alarms delivers infectious, arena sized pop hooks supported by an electro-pop-rockin’ instrumental foundation that infuses your being with memorable frequencies, easily repeatable lyrics, and enough impact to leave your senses tingling long after the song ends. “Reverse, reverse, reverse….” You can’t help but feel the song resonate to your core. Beautiful guitar tones, well […]

The Regency Is A Collective Creating Engaging Originals and Covers, Listen to Newest Releases

by Joshua (J.Smo) Smotherman January 25, 2018 11:08 am Tagged With: producer, singer, songwriter

If you missed our previous interview with producer Robert Smith of The Regency, make sure to check that out (opens in new tab). The Regency is a collective of creatives dedicated to producing enticing originals and refreshing covers such as their latest rendition of The Beatles’ Dear Prudence. Flipping The Beatles original on it’s head, […]

Interview with Present Paradox – A Cave In The Inside

by Joshua (J.Smo) Smotherman January 25, 2018 10:10 am Tagged With: alternative rock, art rock, Europe, Germany, indie rock

‘A Cave In The Inside‘ is the fifth album of Present Paradox, Dortmund-based songwriter and producer David Kleinekottmann. It continues an distinctly adventurous catalogue from the sample-splicing debut Institutions (2013) over the very personal Acute (2015) through to the art-rock influenced expressions of his last album, Space for Wishes (2016). “To me, the new album […]