Here's where you find features, interviews and allsorts MUSIC! 🎶

April 18th 2024

An interview with our current chart stars, Adams & Costello!

Hi everyone! Olivia here, I thought it was about time we did another interview.

This time with our current and new chart stars Adams & Costello.

So here we go! 🎶

 

Olivia: Hello you two! Is it two? Or are there more contributors to your music?

 

A&C: Yes!  It is the two of us for the songwriting.  Julie Adams and Michael Costello are the bones of Adams & Costello.  We write the songs and create the vibe and direction of our music.  Of course, when we work with a production team, such as Bret Levick / Jim Chapdelaine on the “One by One" album, or play live, we are open to the ideas of those around us to explore ways for the songs to stand up taller.  Sometimes we perform as the duo, which can be very intimate and it's more about the essence of the songs and our combined sound.   When we play live with a full band / rhythm section (Flint Rice on drums because he gets us) it is the best feeling ever growing the sound on stage and jam.  

 

 

Olivia: First off, many congratulations on making the UK Indie Artist Charts Christmas just gone!

Tell us about your beginnings in this crazy industry?   

 

 

A&C:  Thank you SO much!  We are incredibly excited and grateful to be a part of these charts.   

 

 

Origin Story:  Adams & Costello came to be from a chance meeting at a Lucinda Williams concert in the lobby of the Orpheum Theater in Boston, Massachusetts.  Michael  is originally from Boston, and Julie was living in Oregon.  We had a strong pull toward one another.  After a couple of years of long distance from opposite ends of the country, we decided to be in Oregon together for awhile.  Both of us have been active in music since grade school...Michael grew up writing songs since childhood , playing in Boston bands.  He fronted a band called the Razor’s Edge.  His blues influenced guitar playing and songwriting chops helped him open for acts like Jimmy Cliff and Buddy Guy.  Julie also grew up around music, playing instruments, singing, writing.  Together, they formed Adams & Costello, and started combining songwriting, recording, and playing live.  Along the way, we’ve met some really cool amazing musicians and friends who have played with us live, or worked together on making albums. 

 

Olivia: And what are your current/future plans? Not to mention hopes and dreams?

(Except I just have!)

 

A&C: We are currently songwriting and getting ready to record the next album.   Our hopes and dreams include expanding, traveling to play music in new places, in more festivals and bigger stages.  We’d love to do a UK tour sometime, and would love to connect with any folks over there who might be interested in working with us to set one up.  

 

 

Olivia: Ok! Time for some bonkersness!

Are you ready for our "Name 3" Quiz?

 

A&C: Go for it!

 

1. Three influences on you and your music?

 

A&C:

Julie: Lucinda Williams, Stevie Nicks, Bonnie Raitt,   

Michael: Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Van Morrison

 

2. Three favourite films?

 

A&C: IL Postino, Fight Club, The Matrix, 

 

3. Three favourite bands/artists?

 

A&C: In addition to our influences above who are some of our favorite artists, there is also:  Amy Winehouse, The Mavericks, Morphine, Nathanial Rateliff, The Beatles, Kurt Cobain/Nirvana, Joan Jett, Allman Brothers, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pop Staples, Levon Helm, and many many more. 

 

4. Three favourite drinks?

 

A&C: Red Wine (rhone) (julie), Guiness or an IPA (Michael), kombucha

 

5. Three favourite things to eat?

 

A&C: pizza (or most delicious italian pasta dish), avocados, steak rare for Julie and malai kofta for Michael

 

Olivia: Thankyou so much for that!

 

A&C: Of course! 

 

Olivia: One more thing...

 

Olivia: Snog, Marry, Avoid? 

 

A&C: Since we are answering as a duo, we might keep it a secret.

 

Olivia: I think I get what you mean there..!

Thankyou lots for having a chat with me.

Fingers crossed for you on the summer charts!

Music fans, we will be uploading the video sent to us by Adams & Costello to our Facebook page.

As we work with Spotify for our charts we do of course recommend that you go and listen to their fabulous music there!

Just Tap the button below. 🎶

May 31st 2023

An interview with our latest discovery.

Ciel Gloss!

1. Hey Ciel! How are you?

"Hey, I’m good! Just holding it down. Yourself?"

Just holding it UP. 🤔🥴🤣

2. So, first off, tell us and our readers a bit about you.

"Well I’m a musical artist from New York City just doing my thing here, whatever that may be! I really enjoy writing and singing for people about things they might be going through that they feel they can’t really discuss with anyone. So they’ve got my songs. It’s a mission of mine to keep singing songs for people to both comfort and entertain them."

3. Which artists and bands have influenced you?
And who was your favourite as a kid?

"The main artists and bands who have influenced me would be Morrissey, Duran Duran, Lady Gaga, Babes in Toyland, Rage Against The Machine, Marilyn Manson, Blondie, U2, The Beatles, and just about every hit song from the 80s! My favorite band growing up should have been Duran Duran but my innocent mind was drawn to the dreamy songs of A-HA."

A-Haaaaaaaa! (UK people will get that Ciel. It's an Alan Partridge quote.)

4. It’s been a while since you released new music, and now yr BACK baby!
With your new single "We Lost Everything".
Tell us about your hiatus, and indeed the new single.

"Yeah I’m BAAACK baby!! Hopefully I won’t run away this time- which is what my hiatus was all about. In the early 2,000s I had become signed to an indie label out west. I was still new-ish at doing music. I was first and foremost a guitarist rather than a singer. I loved singing songs I wrote but I never wanted to practice! So when I heard the playbacks of how the recording was coming out, I was horrified! I began to self doubt myself and I literally ran away to England. I had become musically paralyzed. I didn’t want to hear anyone’s music! I was kind of lost at that time in England and spontaneously got married to someone from out there. I just wanted to forget my whole life in America. When I’d realized the huge mistake I’d made, I divorced him and started doing music again. I had a ton of new life lessons to write about and this time I was going to practice my singing consistently. Music is my biggest passion and I’m glad I found my way back! Are you still awake? (Joking)."

Zzzzzzzz. I mean, YES. WIDE awake Ciel. 😜

5. Are there plans for an album in the works?

"Oh, indeed! The release date is November 10th, 2023. I already released the first single called, “We Lost Everything” and just a couple days ago I released another single called “High Alert” which is the title of the album. It sounds very reminiscent of New wave 80s and has a lot of New York attitude! The whole album has got a real magic and energy to it that I still can’t believe is happening! The best songs though come from the most private things we don’t want anyone to know about. So I’ve taken a risk to go public with these  hoping to provide an outlet to those who are going through or have gone through similar feelings and experiences."

Great thanks for the info you have given us here!
Now we're going to hit you with our "Name Three" Quiz!

Ready? GO!

1. Things to eat.

"-Definitely New York pizza!
Hershey’s chocolate bars which are a new bad habit of mine.
American food. You know the kind you find in the American diners. Preferably the most basic dishes on the menu. "

2. Bands/Singers

"-Duran Duran
Lady Gaga
The Beatles"

3. Drinks. (With or without Alchohol!)
"My favorite drink is coffee. I’ll probably die from it if living in New York doesn’t kill me first. I love “Smart Water!” I must say I don’t drink alcohol anymore because it’s not good for singing. While on the topic of alcohol it’s worth mentioning I don’t smoke any cigarettes or weed either. How anyone could fry their brain cells to a state of zombie-hood is beyond me. "

4. Films

"The first Terminator will always be kick ass. I’m afraid I’m a typical woman into that classic romance stuff so I’ll say the 2006 version of Jane Eyre with Toby Stevens and Ruth Wilson. In general I love watching period films from Masterpiece theatre. "

5. Snog/Marry/Avoid.
(You know this one yeah? Name three celebrities. One for Snog, one for marry, one for avoid.) 😉

"Snog  - John Taylor (bassist of Duran Duran)
Marry - I wouldn’t recommend marriage to anyone. RUN as fast as you can!!!
Avoid - Marilyn Manson. That  guy is scary! Yeah I like a lot of his music but I wouldn’t want to be alone in a room with him."

Thanks Ciel! ❤️
We wish you all the best with the singles and forthcoming album.

Jake. 🎶

We snagged a Q&A with our current Singles chart topper Cat Mantra!

Read all about it below. 🎶

Name: Cat Mantra
Indie Label: Alexa International
Distribution: Orchard

Dita: Hi Cat! Are you ready for our "Name 3" Quiz?

Cat: Yep. Give it to me baby. Hahah!

Dita: OK! Here we go!

1. Three influences on you and your music?

I gotta go with Sinatra, Presley for sure.
The third one is tougher, because there's competition hahah!
Since childhood I've been a fan and most recently in my music I gotta go with "The Stray Cats". Legends. 🌠🎸🥁🎸🌠

2. Three favourite films?

Easy one. Jaws, The Great Escape, and Star Trek II, The Wrath of Khan.
Yes, I'm half Rock n Roll and half geek. 😜🤣

3. Three favourite bands?

Adam and The Ants, The Stray Cats, and right now... ABBA..!
Whether that's cool to say or not I don't give a fxk. I rate Benny and Bjorn alongside Lennon and McCartney in songwriting talent. Their album "Gold" has now been in the UK top 100 for, if I remember from my last Google check, well over 1100 weeks. Which is.. erm.. knocking on 22 years. Not bad going. Hahah!
Adam and The Ants are pretty much the reason I decided to go INTO music as a career, I worshipped them as a kid. And Stray Cats, their second mention..!

4. Three favourite drinks?

Ok. Change of tack on the questions here. 🤔🤣
<People who know me will read this so I have to be straight up and say, currently it's Vodka, Cola, and Jagermeister. (Not necessarily in that order.)

5. Three favourite things to eat?

Well, the way I have kept my weight in check for knocking on 18 years now is low carb. And it's something that constantly evolves as I search for flavour.
Number ONE right now is a casserole. Easy to make, no palava, and I have recently found the perfect virtually zero carb substitute for spuds. (Spuds = Potatoes. Ed.)
Radishes! I know you don't believe me. Just try it.

Then in second place I'll go for a full on roast dinner I reckon. And "roast" can be veg. The meat part is probably the least important.

For number three I'll go virtually anything Mexican. Para El Gato, es fantastico. 🌠

Dita: Thankyou so much for that Cat!

Cat: No problema, twas kinda fun.

Dita: One more thing.

Cat: Hmm. Uh-Oh. What...?

Dita: Snog, Marry, Avoid?

Cat: Hahah! This old cherry. 🍒

Ok. Snog: Salma Hayek.
       Marry: Salma Hayek.
       Avoid: Salma Hayek's current billionaire husband.
K. Laterzzzzzzzzz

Dita: Thanks again to Cat Mantra for taking the time to do this. We wish you all the best and hope to see you again!