TOP Artists of the Week – Series 3

Hi Everyone

Here is another Week of the MONTH of September 2022, we are presenting our Top Artists of the Week Series 3 for your entertainment and fun. There are lessons to learn from each other as you look and listen to one another’s tracks. The selections are simply our opinion. All artists are great and super professionals in their calling.

How we select top artists.

Indeed, there are many interesting things that my job involves listening to live concerts by solo artists and ensembles whom we might showcase on a weekly series.  You can learn a lot from watching their video or audio recording of course, but not everything.  In fact, the most important thing you can learn from these commercial or demo recordings is that a particular musician or ensemble is probably not destined for the priority list.

In recent weeks we have found ourselves with the opportunity to hear quite a few concerts, live bands, and recorded works from different artists.  It got us thinking about what criteria are we going to rank and prioritize each artist. We have narrowed it down to 3 areas: technique, interest (substance), and communication.

Technical ability is probably the least important, simply because there’s such a high level of proficiency among professional soloists and ensembles these days.  Indeed, it’s probably fair to say that if you ever get the impression at a concert that a piece of music is really difficult and pushing the performer(s) to their limit, then it’s probably more a reflection on the limitations of the artist than the technical problems of a piece of music.  Great performances usually transcend technical difficulties.

So, the more important question is whether a performance is interesting, meaning does it capture people’s attention, and unlocks their imagination? That comes down to choices a musician makes around musical colors and textures, variation, consistency of approach, creating tension, the overall shape of a piece, tastefulness, and context.  Much of this is subjective, which is why it’s okay, indeed healthy, for people to disagree after a video, or live stage watch – whether they liked it or not.

Thirdly, there’s the issue of communication. Unlike a recording, an artist or ensemble on stage with a live audience has to acknowledge the audience is there and perform for them. Singers maybe have the advantage of words to articulate, but instrumental music is a language too, and the live concert experience is about communicating.

The most memorable concerts we have attended are those at which that communication has been strong and convincing. There are many, many musicians and ensembles across the world who deliver at the highest level.  Our lives are more enriched by having exposure to them.

 

Here are the TOP ARTISTS of the Week – Series 3

 

Jan Gossel – Coast of Dover

 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jangossel/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3UqSgoHMn2WH1WrwOY4pjF?si=i7rYqHiURPCFV-NeJuQyWw

Jan Gossel is an artist based in Germany. His latest single “Tough Times” resembles the feelings that young adults get in their 20s. You feel free and chained at the same time. You meet your first true love and break up with her. You start to work, get some money, and try to understand the purpose of life. So the message of the song is simple: “always be yourself and don’t let your past decide your future”.

Jan Gossel’s “Coast of Dover” is an incredible release from this rising star that gives the people all they could want with this stand-out release, as he brings his major talent to the forefront for the world to bear witness to.

 

Bobby Paraknight – Baptism of Fire

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bobbyparaknight/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/18hzYYgI940KfmLNKizgiB

Bobby Paraknight is a multi-talented Artist rising high from New York City. Bobby Paraknight releases his third single “Baptism By fire“! After being critically acclaimed and praised for his exciting new sound and cinematic music videos, he comes out with what is said to be his “Best Work, Yet”. Bobby Paraknight, An Actor, multi-instrumentalist Singer-Songwriter and Dancer (Ballet-Jazz-Hip Hop) stretches out and creates a world of his own, for all we know, this is just the start.

 

Lose.me – Different I Be

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_lose.me/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7g6naHkec9o44QtHY2Uioh?si=L72Obkd4SO2KrEQExSJYxA

Lose.me is an artist based in the United States. Music is the poetry behind self-expression. Music is a healer. The food that feeds many souls. Growing up in poor household situations & demographics like many Americans are faced with, he needed an energy source. For him, that is music.

Many of us are taught to hide our expressions, especially men. Music became my voice. The outside view of who is he. The words wasn’t able to express, or the emotion he felt when he was alone. The art of his person, “MUSIC,” the one thing he is good at.

This is the following personal expression: I feel as an artist, I stand out because I am willing to explore various genres. I’m am a great singer & my music is authentic due to my freestyle flow. A flow so powerful I close my eyes, get behind the mic, and the rest is history! Previously a metal band lead singer & before that it was a grunge/punk cover band. I’m not afraid to step outside the comfort of what vocals can and should do in music. You may find a few songs on the edge of being politically dangerous. but as far as I’m concerned, if it’s real, then I can speak on it. Again, poetry. Giving the people what needs to be heard without the limitations of what is actually possible. “I am a creative talent!”

 

MUNBOI – Memory Ln.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/munboii/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4YerMzE6tHRZpLHEbfBX3v?si=sZjGeTdBS1iaZmiK-KFsyw&dl_branch=1

MUNBOI is an Artist/ Producer/ Engineer who was an ordinary kid in a strange world. It wasn’t long before he realized that music wasn’t only a chance to escape, it was a universal language.

Releasing his 12-track self-produced/ mixed and mastered debut album ‘EUDAIMONIA’. Born in the South of England MUNBOI takes inspiration from his past encounters mixed with stoic philosophy to produce a versatile album of live music. ‘EUDAIMONIA is a fun funky multi-genre album with elements of Hip-Hop, Pop, R&B, and Alternative soundscapes.

MUNBOI is a committed music producer, engineer, and artist, also having achieved some accomplishments through his music career from featuring on BBC Radio 1 to winning the Abbey Road Studios Production Competition.

This album is completely unique and a breath of fresh air from recent popular music, but it still shows glimmers of inspiration from other artists like Tyler The Creator to Jamiroquai. This album is for those summer days with the homies or those rainy nights alone. MUNBOI wishes people to enjoy and relate to the listening experience, to take what they need, and to feel inspired.

 

Blockos – Skidaddle

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jblock_da_label/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/10epWCA0VX1WJKDffm8y7h?si=p1hszvl7QaOC7gn6C41x7A

Blockos is an artist based in the United States. Blockos is a family-owned entertainment company. They house multiple artists. They all have their own unique sounds. Collectively, they are called the Blockos.

The powerful collaboration of the Blockos shines a light on the world living up to its title in the new song “Skidaddle”. The song is packed with soul and a message that you feel in your spirit, as they all come together to give us the more that music is known for, as it pushes us forward in a real way.

 

Frank Black – Kick Back and Relax

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6xhyCt81qIUv2wSsjz6ktq?si=or7Svr1CQ56trlRvSoKoTw

Frank Black is an artist based in the United States. Emerging emcee – Frank Black comes through with the afforest infused jam titled “Kick Back and Relax”.

Like the title says, it dwells on having a good time and basking in the good moments, and dancing away one’s sorrows and stresses away.

 

Micmaine – Miss Me with that Bullshit

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7nZQrxw5wCBX1D8NYKCCKg?si=54P8KmxaQyKjLx8nKIBrjg

Micmaine is an upcoming artist from the United States. Micmaine is looking to start taking my music to the next level, and he also looking for a professional team that knows what they are doing to give me whatever advice they can offer. This is an artist that wants serious collaboration in the music industry.

 

The Blur – Sorry

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisistheblur/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0OR59YRG7WvmcUvELdhLyH?si=UQGZBBHARzW9jDNfOcZG4g

The Blur is an artist based in the United States. The Blur is a Pop singer and writer.

The Blur isn’t a name that you hear often, but you will hear it a lot more very soon. The YouTube platform has been going crazy over The Blur’s new single “Sorry”. The song features a catchy hook and mellow tone that takes you to outer space.

 

Which is your favorite song? Drop a comment below in the comment section.