"Mulher Moderna," Amanda Soares
"Mulher Moderna" maybe be sung in Portuguese, but any listener can enjoy singer Amanda Soare's take on the power of modern, independent women making a difference in the Valley.
"'Mulher Moderna' is a song about contemporary women," Soares says, "not just the women who can multitask and have a career while raising a family, but the women of today who embrace their power to its fullest and are not afraid to let their light shine. They're the women who embrace their femininity and compassionate nature, but also stand their ground, who empower themselves and those around them to be their best."
"This song talks about a woman's ability to be confident and firm, yet graceful; to create and destroy; to have the balance of strength and softness only women can achieve. It was inspired largely by my mom, who was a single mom and has always been an example of resilience and dignity."
Check out a performance of the song by Soares at the Songwriters' Showcase XI at the Tempe Center for the Arts below, and see her live Friday, November 21 at the Tempe Center for the Arts.
"Whipping Boy," Fairy Bones
For being about something so negative, "Whipping Boy" by Fairy Bones is still a song that can get you dancing and singing along. Singer/pianist Chelsey Louise says the song is all about self-deprecation and desperation, inspired by her making the same mistakes. There's light at the end of the song, though: "Repentance can be easily bought if you just write a pirate shanty about it."
Support Louise on her mission to get over her wrongs by checking out the song, and check out the band's crowdfunding campaign for its upcoming album here. The band plays Rogue Bar in Scottsdale, Friday, August 8.
"#Pound," Brandon Lee
Inspiration can strike anywhere, and for local rapper Brandon Lee, his new single "#Pound" started to form while he was on an airplane.
"I was looking out the window at how small everyone looked," Lee says, "and when I realized that nothing and no one creates your legacy but you, I just started writing. I want everyone to know the effort it takes to write and perform, but to also understand that this is for them. I am here to inspire, and I want everyone ride with me on this bumpy road and understand I am trying to change myself for the better, but I am not perfect. I live by the quote, "If you can't help me during my nightmares, don't expect to share my dreams."
Hear Lee's new track below, and see him perform at the Arizona HipHop Festival Saturday, October 18, at Comerica Theatre.
"Estrella," Sunset Voodoo
Sunset Voodoo's new video for their song "Estrella" is super-sexy -- and that's not just because of the musicians in it. The clip features lovely ladies dancing around a fire, along with scenes of the guys playing against a water-filled backdrop, and is impressively slick for the band's first music video.
As for the song, singer/guitarist Joey Gutos says the lyrics were inspired by a shared conflict he experienced with bassist Lucas Roth.
"We developed this character whose life has become disrupted by some uncontrollable force and must act on a decision without letting it destroying him," Gutos says. "By the end, the song became a paradigm for us to look to whenever we ended up in a situation like that again."
The guys welcome feedback for the video, which you can view below, to help them drive future shots. Catch them live Monday, August 4 at Last Exit Live in Phoenix.
"I Am and I'm Not," Bigfoot Wallace
Bigfoot Wallace singer Jon Hubbell takes listeners on quite the journey on the song "I Am and I'm Not," on the project's new EP, Cup and Crown. The song touches on people not always doing what they believe in, and how it's something everyone has been guilty of.
"It's a frustrating predicament," Hubbell says. "What inspired me, however, were the possible solutions to this problem. The first half of the song is someone who has given up on believing in anything. Lyrically, it's pessimistic and self-deprecating."
"Yet, the second half turns that attitude on its head completely," Hubbell says. "That person has embraced belief so much so, that screaming distorted guitars are the first of their followers. Both are extreme, and I wanted to express that extremeness in a musical way as best as I could."
Hubbell describes his music as a unique mix that's not quite rock and not quite electronic. Pair the interesting melodies with his passionate vocals, and the project is a standout that draws you in immediately.
Check out a video for "I Am and I'm Not," filmed at F12 Recital Hall at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, below.
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