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Dreamers & Hopeless Lovers: Black Bird White Sky

  

With brooding lyrics and a sound reminiscent of Muse and Keane, Brooklyn indie outfit Black Bird White Sky's debut album is just as at home being blasted on the dance floor as it is in an angsty teen’s bedroom.

The band is led by singer/songwriter Ronnie Shingelo whose songwriting draws from his own wounded psyche: “I’m a deeply emotional person, and I write from the gut. I’m hoping these songs will resonate with other people who have felt the same way I did at some point in their lives - and maybe even make them dance a little.”

Which is exactly what he accomplishes with tracks like “Lay You Down” and “Sleepless,” both dealing with the desperation and longing love can bring, but set to uptempo beats and driving synths.

While songs like “Bright Star” channel Radiohead, nearly every track is infused with catchy dance beats, like the record's opener “Little Kiss,” an anthem to poisonous relationships or “Before Sunrise,” a lively rumination on addiction.

Producer Nic Hard, along with co-producer Jonathan Goldstein, were brought on board to create a completely unique sound for Black Bird White Sky’s debut. This collaboration led to a fusion of techno, dance, and even hard rock, with a blistering guitar solo contribution from 80s hard rocker Joel Hoekstra. 

Their willingness to embrace sounds can be heard on “Remember the Time,” where static and synths are employed to create a moody atmosphere, which is perfect for a song that reminisces on a relationship’s happier days. Nic Hard’s approach allows Shingelo to try different avenues for his music: “…it inspired me to rewrite some of the lyrics and change the mode to minor for a few of the songs.”

At times moody and ethereal, other times alive and rock rootsy, Black Bird White Sky has set a very ambitious goal of bringing their audiences a sound all their own. Their debut album is available on iTunes and Amazon, and if you’re in the New York area, you can catch them live.

(For more information go to www.blackbirdwhitesky.com.)

            

(Elford Alley has written plays, sketch comedy, and short stories. He currently lives in Dallas with his wife and daughter. Follow Elford on Twitter.) 

Deer Tick's "Main Street"

              

If The Replacements and Spoon had a love child, it would be Deer Tick. On their fourth and most recent album, Divine Providence, the indie band from Rhode Island sheds its alt-country, folky roots in favor of a punky, garage band sound. 

On the first single, the rowdy "Main Street," John McCauley croons like Paul Westerberg over Ian O'Neil's abrasive guitar and Dennis Ryan's heavy drum beat that's reminiscent of The Ronette's "Be My Baby."

                 I can't sleep, I can't close my eyes
                    Blinked one second, the whole world pass you by
                    Yeah, I guess I'm in 
                    All the days you spent

                    I can't eat, I can't use my mouth
                    Miss one day and the whole world cast you out
                    Yeah I guess I try
                    All the times a lie
"This song is about quitting drugs and not wanting to grow up," McCauley said. "I wrote it in one sitting to spite one of my closest friends."  

According to Cecil Thyme, Divine Providence "has a little Exile [on Main Street]; it's got a little In Utero; it's got a little Nilsson Schmilsson, but it's 100% Deer-Fucking-Tick in their purest, and most carefree form....The songs are there. The delivery is in your face. There's no studio magic. There's no hiding the fact that Deer Tick is just five regular dudes." 

Since the band's formation in 2004, it has undergone several incarnations. The most recent line-up is:

John McCauley - guitar, vocals

Ian O'Neil - guitar, vocals

Chris Ryan - bass, vocals

Rob Crowell - keys, saxophone, vocals

Dennis Ryan - drums, vocals

               

Kevin Johnston is Making a Record

     

Ever since singer/songwriter Kevin Johnston moved to Brooklyn from Greeley, Colorado five years ago, he has made several New York venues his home away from home: The Living Room, Rockwood Music Hall, Pianos, the Knitting Factory, Sidewalk Cafe and Park Slope's Bar 4 where he is a fixture. 

After years of performing and sharpening his craft, the time has come for Johnston to record an album with his latest outfit, The Kevin Johnston Band. 

Since it is the holiday season and you might be feeling generous, through December 17th you can donate to Kevin's Kickstarter Project and help him and his band record their debut record (www.kickstarter.com/projects/search?term=kevin+johnston).

1) Describe your writing process.

I start with the guitar, usually. I'll move round on the fretboard and find different chord voicings that might be new and strange to me, or that have a particular resonance. I'll mess with those sounds and add more chords to make a progression. Then I'll start singing on top of that. Usually, it's nonsense. I'm a very melody-based writer, but there are many times when I change the course of the melody to make the words fit better. I find it's important to have a strong melody, but also make the words really count and make sense. There's a lot of re-doing things in the writing for me.

2) Do you work on one song at a time or several?

Usually one at a time, but on occasion, there are a few ideas running around in my head. This has resulted in two different songs, or sometimes one song with a cool juxtapositon of different ideas that make a whole that's interesting to me.

3) How do you come up with your ideas?

Most of my songs come from my real life experiences and feelings. Usually during the writing process, I either go back to the original feeling, experience or idea... sometimes the song takes on a life and identity of its own and gets further away from my actual life.

4) Do you ever work with another songwriter?

Yes. I've done some collaborations in the past. My old band Adios Esposito did a lot of co-writing. I've also recently been working with a comedian friend of mine - Chris Sifflet. He and I created a dirty/goofy R&B performance art band called Man Cub. That's a really fun collaboration.

                           

5) What is that process like?

Well, Chris isn't a musician, but he has musical ideas. He comes from an even less technical origin than i do - so he'll come at me and say - I have these lyrics - I want it to sound like Earth, Wind, and Fire, but also like Hey-Ya and also like Michael Jackson. But dancey, you know? It's pretty weird.  

6) What is the first song that had an impact on you?

"Late In The Evening" by Paul Simon was one I really loved early on. Lots of Paul Simon, actually. And The Beatles. I mean DUH.

7) How do you think their work has influenced your writing?

Well, both those artists are super melodic, concise and smart, though really, it's about emotions. I guess that's what I attach to and strive for.

8) What advice would you give a young songwriter who is just starting out?

Focus on the song itself. Distill your ideas until the concept is really clear for you. Remember the way people use words - this is what your melody should be - it should feel natural to sing, and evoke the way you'd say the things you're singing. 

Visit Kevin at www.myspace.com/kevinjohnston and www.kickstarter.com/projects/search?term=kevin+johnston.