Chris J. Norwood takes fellow musician Emmeline on the journey of his song "Good Guy With A Gun"

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PODCAST INTERVIEW


"'How do you stop a good guy with a gun?' This poignant question concludes the chorus of Chris J. Norwood’s brand new single." I'm loving the latest episode of the Journey Of A Song podcast with host Emmeline discussing "Good Guy With A Gun" from Chris' just-released new album 𝘐 𝘈𝘮 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘊𝘰𝘰𝘭 on State Fair Records. The two “talk about telling one's story through music, how songs can give each of us better perspective and deeper empathy, and how music has the potential to start important social conversations."

American Songwriter goes deep with J Hacha De Zola, breaking down the process and vision behind new LP Easy of Eden

FEATURE


“J Hacha De Zola is mostly self-deprecating when it comes to his art, but there’s a methodical movement to his musical madness," writes Tina Benitez-Eves, doing an incredible thing at American Songwriter and digging deep for this overview.

I’ve worked with J for a long time, and it's one of those situations where I have the privilege of seeing an artist create a persona and then systematically step into it over time. This piece reflects that back to me… love it! Okay, back to the hype: 𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘌𝘥𝘦𝘯 is out now. Listen to it over and over and over at Fanatic.lnk.to/JHachaDeZola-EastOfEden. 

Rock & Roll Globe hails the "new sonic landscape" created by J Hacha De Zola on 𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘌𝘥𝘦𝘯

INTERVIEW FEATURE


J Hacha De Zola is reaching lots of new listeners with his fifth album 𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘌𝘥𝘦𝘯, where his eccentricities as a musician and performer have found just the right mix with his endearing songwriting. 

Today, Rock & Roll Globe’s J. Poet writes that he’s “created a new sonic landscape… His warm baritone is at the center of the mix, and the comforting harmonies that grace the tracks suggest the cheery vocals of the soul and doo-wop hits that provided his inspiration."

Central Track picks up Chris J. Norwood in its latest White Noise roundup

FEATURE


More coverage of Chris J. Norwood’s new video for “I Am Not Cool,” this time in a White Noise roundup on Dallas’ Central Track. According to its website, “Central Track covers everything the young, outgoing Dallasite is interested in,” which does sound pretty cool, in actuality…

The song is the title track of Norwood’s new LP, which is on its way from State Fair Records. Pre-order now.

NY Music Daily compares J Hacha de Zola to The Doors, Nick Cave, Gato Loco, and "The Dap Kings At Their Darkest"

REVIEW


In a thoughtful review that evokes The Doors, Nick Cave, Gato Loco, and “The Dap Kings at their darkest,” New York Music Daily dives into J Hacha de Zola’s new LP, writing that the just-released East of Eden “really captures the grim uncertainty of the world.”

Alex Green speaks with J Hacha de Zola, who can turn "scrap" to "pure gold"

PODCAST INTERVIEW


Proud as hell today of Mr. J Hacha de Zola upon the release of his fifth album East of Eden, a big 'ol artistic and stylistic leap forward for this Jersey City boy. He recently discussed the new record with Alex Green, host of the Stereo Embers Podcast, which is itself becoming one of the essential interviews for emerging and career artists.

Green likens De Zola to “a feral blend of David Johansen, Screaming Lord Sutch, and Nick Cave” and writes that “he knows how to take rusty horns, scrap metal saxophones, guttered guitars and battered drums and turn them into pure gold. East of Eden is an aching collection of dark and dreamy doo-wop, street soul, and urban R&B. It’s J Hacha De Zola in his most unvarnished and purest iteration."

Check out the podcast and then check out the album.

Americana UK praises Chris J. Norwood's bravery

FEATURE

Thanks to Americana UK, which wrote, “It’s a pretty brave career move to declare oneself as being uncool – but that’s exactly what Dallas-based Chris J. Norwood has done on this new song.”

The Boot shared the video for the song last week, telling readers that “Chris J. Norwood wants you to know the truth.” Stay tuned for more truth on Aug. 20, when the full length I Am Not Cool LP drops from State Fair Records.

Chris J. Norwood walks the red carpet in the new video for "I Am Not Cool," available now on The Boot

VIDEO PREMIERE

Wow, sounds opulent! “Scenes of Norwood walking a red carpet, performing onstage and being approached by fans..."

Oh, wait… “Chris J. Norwood has a whole lot of fun making his point in the music video for his cheekily titled new single 'I Am Not Cool.' The new clip, premiering exclusively on The Boot, juxtaposes the singer-songwriter's life in the spotlight with mundane slices of life out of it."

Well hey - at least Chris got to experience just a little bit of that sweet, sweet fame. It's all about those red carpets, am I right?! Link in bio.

New album I Am Not Cool arrives Aug. 20 via State Fair Records, and each purchase comes with a free evaluation of what you're wearing (no, it doesn’t).

FLOOD shares debut single by Elroy, "Excite Me Much"

TRACK PREMIERE

FLOOD Magazine calls the new Elroy single "Excite Me Much” a "lounge-y, downtempo tune that boldly contrasts with its title,” while Elroy himself explains that "the guitar just sort of played the line from this song without me thinking or trying too much.” Well, jeez! I'd like to have my guitar write the songs for me, too! Hear it now!

The self-titled debut album from Elroy - a member of the Finn family (of Crowded House fame, amongst so many other ventures) as well as a touring part of Wild Nothing and Connan Mockasin - is out August 13 from Grand Phony.

J Hacha De Zola asks, "which way to heaven?" in a new track from East of Eden, available now on American Songwriter

TRACK PREMIERE


“Never before have I felt such a departure from reality as I have during the lockdown—people dying, family, friends, and their families, dying,” reveals J Hacha De Zola, discussing the deep feelings behind his new single "Which Way.” De Zola told American Songwriter, which premiered the track today, that “never before was there this blatant defiance of all rational thought being demonstrated by those in positions of power, pure fear, pure hype, [and] the population at large seemingly trapped in this dogmatic, dualistic fatalistic slow decay.”

New album East of Eden is out June 11th via Caballo Negro.

Sodajerker talks with Mike Viola, one of their favorite guests of all time

INTERVIEW

Sodajerker calls Mike Viola “one of our all-time favourite guests,” which is damned impressive considering that they’ve spoken to luminaries including Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil, Paul Williams, Graham Gouldman, Alicia Keys, Edie Brickell, Paul Simon, Beck, “Weird Al” Yankovic, Paul McCartney, Billy Ocean, Kate Tempest, Rufus Wainwright, Jeff Lynne, and, well, basically every beloved living songwriter from the past six or so decades.

The duo’s podcast has just posted its second interview with the Godmuffin creator, during which he “explains how he makes time for creativity, how the past informs his present, and how he is coping with the loss of his friend Adam Schlesinger.” They’ve also curated a career-spanning Spotify Playlist with much of Viola’s best work.

Under The Radar shares The March Divide's Crayola-filled clip for "Funk That You're In"

PREMIERE


I feel bad for Jared Putnam after watching this video, frankly. I know it's cute to have paint poured all over you, but I dunno, there's something going on here that borders on abuse. That said, yay, new video today from The March Divide over at Under The Radar.

"Funk That You're In" is from the new album 𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘲, out April 23 from Slow Start Records, and this very colorful clip was directed by Hector Gallardo (Subharmonic City).

American Songwriter chats with The March Divide's Jared Putnam about his exceedingly catchy new single "The Funk That You're In”

PREMIERE


Get out of “The Funk That You’re In” with a new single from The March Divide, out tomorrow (Friday, March 12) from Slow Start Records and streaming today via American Songwriter. The site writes that the song, from new album cinq (due April 23), features a “timeless melody” and displays an “effortless ability to craft organically catchy and uplifting music… almost as if Jared Putnam is scraping away all of the excess information of modern living and is speaking to a deeper, older and more genuine sense of comfort and joy.” I mean, what more do you people want from a song?!

Brooklyn Vegan has the premiere of Michael Andrews' ethereal Allen Toussaint cover featuring Inara George, from the new Road Angel Project release due tomorrow

PREMIERE


I swear to God, I can listen to Inara George sing a dishwasher owner's manual. This beautiful cover of Allen Toussaint’s "Southern Nights" by Michael Andrews of The Grey Boy Allstars, on which Inara guests, is just perfect for this today. Hear it now over at Brooklyn Vegan and be sure to stream it lots starting tomorrow (Friday, Feb. 26) as the song hits all DSPs as part of the fifth edition of the 𝘙𝘰𝘢𝘥 𝘈𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘭 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵, Inara's charity initiative with Sweet Relief.

Find and follow this Spotify playlist to stay up-to-date with all releases in the series.