The Watson Twins, Chandra and Leigh, were raised in the rolling hills of Louisville, Kentucky. In 1998, with an atlas and a pick-up truck, they found themselves in Los Angeles playing and recording with notable Silverlake bands (Rilo Kiley, Earlimart, Orphan Train, etc.) From this inspiring time grew the songs of The Watson Twins.

In Fall 2005, The Watson Twins recorded with Jenny Lewis on her first solo record, “Rabbit Fur Coat” (Team Love). Joining the red haired songstress from Tokyo to Berlin, through the US and back again, the girls enchanted each sold out audience with their soaring choruses and angelic sound.

In Fall 2006, The Watson Twins began promoting their own self released EP “Southern Manners”; a collection of melancholy, intimate songs created with a raw, soulful approach. These songs embody the traditional soul, gospel and country harmonies that surrounded their youth. This introspective and inspired approach puts them in an Indie Folk Rock category and compares them with the likes of: Neko Case, Emmy Lou Harris, Lucinda Williams and Cat Power. Songs from this record have been featured on Grey’s Anatomy, The Sundance Film Festival website and independent film soundtracks.

“Southern Manners” is currently self-released and manufactured/distributed via Junketboy. Russ Pollard (Sebadoh, Folk Implosion) and J. Soda (Slydell) co-produced and performed on the EP, with additional musical contributions from Brian Lebarton (Beck), Jenny Lewis (Rilo Kiley) and Aram Arslanian (Orphan Train.)

This year holds a slew of promising adventures for these sisters, as they continue to do what they do best… writing heartfelt songs and telling their stories.

Purchase “Southern Manners” here

The Watson Twins.com

The Watson Twins on Myspace

St. James inc put on their first show at the renowned South by Southwest Music Conference after playing together for merely 4 weeks. Singer Austin Hartley-Leonard began as a solo singer/songwriter in Austin, TX, and on his impressive first demo he played a majority of the instruments himself, including guitars, bass, and cello. When it earned him an invitation to the 2005 SXSW, he started to look for other musicians to round out the band. Thus, St. James inc was born.

While still a young band, St James inc has already played a number of nationally renowned venues such as The Mercury Lounge in New York City, Hotel Cafe and The Viper Room in LA, Stubb’s and The Parish in Austin, Subterranean in Chicago, and the Verizon Wireless Ampitheatre in San Antonio. In 2005 they performed at the Austin City Limits Music Festival alongside such acts as Coldplay, Oasis, and The Black Crowes.

After releasing the “8 Hours” EP in 2006, St. James inc performed at the Lollapalooza Festival in Chicago, and then relocated out to Los Angeles where they continue to see great success. You can hear their tunes in the upcoming film Moving McAllister, and the hit show Men In Trees on ABC.

http://www.myspace.com/austinhl

St James Inc. on Myspace

Rory Tyer Band consists of Rory Tyer (vocals, guitars, piano, occasional whistling) and Jason Cizdziel (drums, hand percussion). Their self-recorded and self-produced EP, “You Put On Quite the Show,” contains acoustic-driven, folk-influenced melodies and stories, while their live show is high-energy, organic, and entertaining, bringing to mind the music of Dave Matthews, Nickel Creek, and Sam Beam. Rory and Jason are currently working to build up a dedicated fan base through local shows and word-of-mouth exposure.

A new recording project scheduled for the winter season of 07/08 will capture some of the energy of the live show they’ve developed since recording their EP. This will be a full-length CD, and will showcase Rory’s development as a songwriter and storyteller as well as provide an outlet for both Jason and Rory to experiment musically.

Virb.com/rorytyer
Myspace.com/rorytyermusic

In 2004, Philadelphia’s Pattern is Movement released their debut full length record “The (Im)possibility of Longing.” Self-recorded and meticulously arranged it introduced Pattern is Movement’s knack for blending complex rhythms with classic melodies. This was most notably recognized by Pitchfork Media: “Pattern Is Movement more than transcend the math-rock tag, and their senses of song craft and pop accessibility greatly outpace those of just about any of their peers (full review here).”

However, not content to rest on their laurels, PIM traded in the bedroom for a plane trip to San Francisco. There they set up shop for two weeks to record at John Vanderslice’s all analog studio – Tiny Telephone. There, PIM crafted a record that included a vast amount of orchestration – from cellos and violins to tape speed edits. In comparison to their debut, Stowaway was a creation devoid of digital interference. And for this commitment to fidelity to work – Pattern is Movement requested the engineering skills of one of the best engineers: Scott Solter. Scott has engineered and produced records for such indie rock heavyweights as Spoon, The Mountain Goats, John Vanderslice and Two Gallants. His talent as well as his careful ‘ear’ for detail shaped what was to become a record of pristine quality and immense focus.

Yet, Pattern is Movement is not a studio band. Though their attention to detail may appear to pin them as such – this is not the case. Since their inception, they have toured vigorously – spanning not only the eastern seaboard but also the whole US. It is from that vigor that they have also received the honor to grace the stage with such bands as American Analog Set, John Vanderslice, Chin Up Chin Up, Minus the Bear, Rahim and The Gossip.

Next on the horizon for PIM is a full US tour in the Fall of 2006. They will be supporting their lastest cd, Canonic, (an all-analog remix of Stowaway by Scott Solter), which will be released by Hometapes (Paul Duncan, The Carribean) and designed by Sedaqa Publishing and Design Group. This tour will include dates with Suicide Squeeze’s Metal Hearts, Good Record’s Pilot Drift, Graham MacRae and John Vanderslice. Lastly, the boys will be entering the studio in early 2007 with Scott Solter again to record their follow-up to Stowaway for Hometapes.

Pattern is Movement.com

Pattern is Movement on Myspace

lynden began as a melodic rock duo in the summer of 2003. Coury Palermo (vocals) & Matt Butler (cello/keys) met and became fast friends. Both had recently moved to Nashville to pursue music – Coury as a singer/songwriter and Matt as a touring musician. “I think we had a huge respect for each other (musically) but were so busy doing our own “thing” that working together never even crossed our minds”, said Matt. That soon changed. While working with another musician, Coury asked Matt to join several of the songwriting sessions – soon after lynden was born. Over the next year and a half the duo wrote, recorded & played… trying to solidify their brand of melodic soulful rock… “we are by no means reinventing the wheel… just trying to put a different spin on it.” From the recent response to their debut EP it looks like they are beginning to do just that. After two long years of trial & error, lynden debuted their first album “pieces vol. I” in 2006. Recorded in Nashville and Atlanta under the production of producer/musician Charles Judge, the record draws from rock, electronica & soul to show the first step in this young band’s ongoing evolution. Since the initial digital only release (burnlounge.com/lynden) in January, the EP has scored two number 1 downloads: “first time (you were mine)” and “better,” and a Top 3 ,“I’m on fire,” while continuing to win over fans worldwide. Now in the early stages of their follow up album, lynden is expanding their sound to show growth only ‘the road’ can bring. The material is a mixture of what fans were drawn to, with a renewed energy that promises to bring a whole new audience to the table. “This record is a reflection of where we are in life. I think it’s a more accurate portrayal of all things lynden”, says Matt. “The main difference is the writing approach. ‘pieces’ was very much a labor of love”, says Coury, “we hadn’t toured on a large scale so there was no “band” in place for the studio process. This time around we are writing in the moment… as a band. Chris (drums), Evan (guitars) and Jono (bass) have become much more than our “road mates”. We are moving forward together.” This is lynden.

Check out the latest album

lynden on Myspace

lynden on Virb.com

Having just come off a tour with The Decemberists, and having their first national video (Open your Heart) directed by Sia, (Garden State, Zero 7)their star is definitely on the rise. Indie pop meets the summer of love is about the only way to convey the joy that is found the music of Lavender Diamond.

Lavender Diamond.com

Lavender Diamond on Myspace

Lavender Diamond On Virb.com

Open Your Heart Video

His latest release, “Amos and Ohio” has been a huge success. Kyle has been featured on NPR’s “World Cafe” and opening across the country for Josh Rouse. Recently the NashVille Scene Magazine described his album as “simultaneously bright and melancholy”.

Find Love, Let Go is Kyle Andrews’ most mature collection of songs to date. It still has all the catchy, hook –laden ditties he is known for, but adds in more depth and character his sounds and lyrics showcasing the keen songwriter he has become.

Kyle Andrews’ previous album Amos in Ohio was originally released in Nashville in 2005 and later re-released by Badman Recording Co.; based on the strength of its songwriting and stick-to-your-brain catchiness. Following critical acclaim and Best of 2005 and 2006 accolades for his album, Kyle toured the U.S. including opening for Josh Rouse, Ari Hest and Peter Bjorn and John throughout this year. Consequently, his fan base grew tremendously in a very short time.

As his audience grew, a long term personal relationship he had while living in Philadelphia sunk. Kyle laments, “There was a point when I was asking myself ‘What can I fit in a carry-on to fly back to my home town of Nashville?’ It’s kind of like the CD artwork (on Find Love, Let Go) where you’ve got this guy trying to stay positive, smiling, as he is falling into the shark infested waters.”

Kyle recorded the album in his bedroom and in the living room of a friend’s house in Nashville. “Personally, these songs are where I am at right now. Lyrically and emotionally, it’s more focused. The songs on Amos in Ohio were written in a more reflective way and these are more in the moment of where my life is right now. It makes it a little more interesting through the rough and tumble of this last year. I don’t want to sound too heavy; it’s still just a pop record. “ says Kyle.

Kyle Andrews will be touring the U.S. throughout Fall 2007 and winter 2008.

Previous press for Kyle Andrews:

AMERICAN SONGWRITER:
“It’s records like Kyle Andrews Amos In Ohio when you thank god for technology.”

CHARTATTACK:
“Andrews is sensitive without being insufferable, personal but not pretentious, and experimental yet accessible.”

ALL THE RAGE:
“Not simply a singer-songwriter, Kyle Andrews is more a bedroom-rock Brian Wilson, constructing simple but instantly engaging pop with nothing more than a guitar, a Casio keyboard and some drum loops. Yet somehow this record never feels precious or pretentious, and only reveals its lo-fi roots when you really put it under the microscope.”

Kyle Andrews.com

Not too much is known about KT or any of the other names he goes under. Formed in 1996, break beats and musical numbers led the way but recent projects have been designing musical sound scapes and corporate theme music for national businesses.

KT on Myspace

KT on Virb.com

Truly the best in what a singer/songwriter should be. His composition and pension for telling a story at the crossroads of life bring the listener into each song. Wrapped in melancholy Jacob Zachary’s music has the uncanny knack of sticking with the listener for hours afterwards. Zachary has just released “Basement Songs”, a collection of songs, outtakes and samples of his work.

Jacob Zachary.com

Jacob Zachary on Myspace

Jacob Zachary on Virb.com

Hailing from New Jersey, these brothers of The Garden State are on the verge of musical explosion. Having just finished up their Canadian tour and setting up for several CD release shows in NYC, their summer 2007 release, Our Little Hymnal, has received stellar critical praise. A staple of CMJ the past few years and a must see live.

Holler, Wild Rose!com

Holler on Myspace