LITM Rock Picks Tunes To Turn Your Mood Around Featuring Brooks John Martin, Martin Kuiper, Richard Tyler Epperson and More!

LITM Rock picks tunes that will surely uplift your mood for the weekend, brought to you by Brooks John Martin, Martin Kuiper, Richard Tyler Epperson, Rosetta West, and We Have Ghosts

1. Brooks John Martin - Clear Blue Waters
   With "Clear Blue Waters," Brooks John Martin presents a soul-quenching trip of self-discovery and rebirth. The song seamlessly wed his folk heritage with cinematic richness, building an expansive, though intimate, soundscape. With the initial chord of his guitar, Martin establishes a field of contemplation, conjuring the serenity of clear waters as much as the grandeur of open skies.
   From Cedar Falls, Iowa, Martin has travelled through many creative paths in the form of Toast and The Blue Danes. Under his own name now, he contributes a down-to-earth authenticity that can't be overlooked.
   The rich, stacked instrumentation on the song recalls Brian Wilson's grandeur without losing the folk sincerity of Neil Young. Lyrically, it's a poetic appeal to strength, with the likes of "Come back to the clear blue water with me" ringing as profoundly personal yet universally relatable.
   A veritable work of art, "Clear Blue Waters" is Martin at his best.

2.  Martin Kuiper - Dreams
Martin Kuiper's Dreaming Of A Sea of Time feels like opening a beautifully weathered journal- intimate, poetic, and introspective. "Dreams," the lead-in to the EP, establishes the atmosphere with ethereal acoustics and wispy synths that swim through your head like a soothing tide.

Kuiper's voice bears the gravity of one who lived and learned, drawing you into his world of remembrance and change. Erik Neimeijer and Jim Zwinselman's unobtrusive arrangements give each note its time, as if relishing the air between hope and remorse.

This isn't music- it's a sonic memoir, the second in a trilogy that's as concerned with the passing of time as it is with the narratives we bring. For listeners of reflective folk with a cinematic bent, Kuiper's Dreams is a precious thing to be discovered

3. Richard Tyler Epperson - December Night
“December Night” from Richard Tyler Epperson’s Fragmented Night doesn’t just kick things off- it transports you. This isn’t your typical rock; it’s dynamic storytelling set to a soundtrack of shifting moods and stunning crescendos.

Epperson demonstrates he's no prisoner of the genre. As "December Night" smoulders with understated intensity, "I Love It When It's Cold" creeps in with neo-soul murmurs and a tip of the hat to the edgier face of pop. And before you can say you think you know him, "Let's Drive" erupts- half country-funk, half indie adventure.

This record plays at the fringes of what defines rock, taking bits from its neighbours and building something that is distinctly Epperson. With its cunning use of space, dynamic colour, and emotional grime, Fragmented Night is a call to explore the confines where rock and the unexpected intersect.

4. Rosetta West - Circle of  Doubt
Rosetta West's "Circle of Doubt" is a blues-rock fever dream- dark, smoky, and addictively trippy. Beginning with a mesmerising guitar riff that's like a looping incantation, the song draws you into a psychedelic underworld where blues meet psychedelia.

Joseph Demagore's vocals are a chilling chant, thick with tension as he belts about spiritual wars and struggling for liberation. The swirling guitars and glinting cymbals create a sonic texture that's both frantic and healing.

Flip to the B-side, and "The God Who Made Me Cry" swaps haze for down-to-earth grit, mixing folk-inspired storytelling with darkened distortion. Rosetta West evokes a timeless atmosphere, weaving old themes into contemporary bluesy enchantment. "Circle of Doubt" is not merely a song- but an enchanting ritual you'll return to again and again.

5.  We Have Ghosts  - You. Know. Want
We Have Ghosts’ You.Know.Want is akin to being sucker-punched by the '90s alt scene- unbridled, raw, and wonderfully unpredictable. This three-piece outfit from the UK combines punk's punky fringes with grunge's heavy swagger, creating a sonic brew that is half pandemonium, half catharsis.

Benjamin Mace-Crossley's spoken-word vocals cut through the din in staccato fashion, laying down lyrics that grapple with vulnerability and deception. Underpinning the energy are Sam Edwards' throbbing bass and Juan Sanchez's explosive drumming, the track a relentless, hypnotic force.

Most striking is the duality- punk toughness and melodic sweetness combining to produce a song that's as bristly as it is clingy. You.Know.Want is not a song but an emotional riot that has you gasping and clamouring for more. Floor-shaking? Yep. Soul-shaking? More than that.

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This Week's LITM Singer-Songwriter Picks is all about the contemplative flair with artists like Patti Zlaket, EG Phillips, and Larry Karpenko

This Week's LITM Singer-Songwriter Picks is all about the contemplative flair with artists like Patti Zlaket, EG Phillips, and Larry Karpenko

Patti Zlaket - Bliss 

Patti Zlaket is an experimental singer-songwriter and sonic designer. Her craft springs from her curiosity, her tendency to stray and find meaning in the abstract. Her latest release, ‘Bliss’ is a track that traces the outlines, the flutter and feeling of the theme. Blending calming rhythm cycles with specks of beats, splattering across the soundscape, the soundscape is light and airy. And the vocals, intuitive and deep rooted in memories, autobiographical emotions, and echoes, adds so much mystery to the nostalgia. And the best way to experience the track is to let yourself drift into the slow forming whirlpool of bliss and all the dimensions that it releases. Listen Now! 

EG Phillips - When It Gets Dark 

The mysterious flow that Patti creates is absorbed and expanded with neoclassicals in EG Phillips’ ‘When it Gets Dark’. The artist’s instrumentals are cinematic and contemplative, luring the listener to spread across its soundscape and explore. The baritones are hypnotic and ruminative, well-paired with the low tones of the cello. It takes us to the other side, towards the unknown, back to a fond past or a solitude that takes you to distant places. The song has that descriptive charm and romantic blues that is reminiscent of Sinatra’s era. All in all, it is quite wonderful to float through space and drift into its reality. 

Larry Karpenko - The River 

Larry Karpenko’s ‘The River’ explores the infinities that faith brings to his life. The track, lush and vivid with instrumentals, reinforces the cinematic ambience of its predecessor. In the wake of this theme, the artist touches upon the hope, joy, and love that ties into it, enriching his life. It is a very scenic soundscape, and it grows tremendously, inflating with the warm sentiment of his vocals. It’s like a relief, a weightlessness, a buoyant feeling that somehow anchors you, keeps you fluid and centred in all the ways that matter. And the artist, building a song around this feeling, finds the perfect metaphor to relate it to, to build a song around, and to connect with people. 

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LITM Singer-SongWriter Picks Tunes To Turn Your Day Around Featuring Morning Tourist, Ana Gracey, Ian Roland and More!

LITM Singer-SongWriter Picks Tunes for that perfect start to the week brought to you by Morning Tourist, Ana Gracey, Ian Roland, Lost Chimes and Gerr Walsh.

1. Morning Tourist - Leap
   Morning Tourist's "Leap" is an indie folk song that evokes the sweetness and bitterness of leaping in faith and transformation. The song starts with the gentle acoustic guitar, which continues to be joined by calming percussive beat and muffled harmonies that add depth to the song. The lyrics are poetic and contemplative as well, confronting points of change in life with optimism and vulnerability. Morning Tourist's warm, expressive voice makes the song immediately come to life, drawing listeners along on its emotional ride. Softly layered strings in the chorus add an emotional richness that makes "Leap" both intimate and expansive at the same time. It's the perfect companion for contemplative me-time or solo drives on winding roads.

2. Ana Gracey - Afterlife
Ana Gracey's "Afterlife" is a complex blend of electronic pop with a beautiful inclusion of violin that radiates sophistication. With soft piano sounds, the song is a ballad that delves into grief right off the bat, conjuring a late-night introspective vibe. The vocals are amazing and raw, conjuring an image of yearning and introspection about what lies ahead. The song's lyrics are multi-faceted, walking a tightrope on truth that has you glued to the screen. The music is rich and dynamic, with subtle tunes that flourish, anchoring you to the song. This song shall make you feel the heaviness and depth of grief just as how misfortune loves orphans, fire loves innocence. "Afterlife" is a ballad that sounds like an eternally timeless classic that can be reimagined indefinitely.

3. Ian Roland - Craving
Ian Roland's "Craving" is a stunning bare acoustic rock track that's brimming with passion and honesty. The relentless drive beat of the track and the witty guitar work build a solid but close foundation for Roland's intense singing. The words are desire and need, and they're told with a truth that's heart-wrenching. When the song reaches its climax, harmonies and subtle percussion are added to the richness without concealing its stark beauty. The chorus is anthemic but restrained, catchy and straightforward. "Craving" is such a sincere confession to song, a real treasure for the acoustic rock genre. A must-listen for all those passionate out there.

4. Lost Chimes - Something Different (Radio Edit)
Lost Chimes' "Something Different (Radio Edit)" is synth-pop perfection that brings together old emotions with a bright, modern sheen. The metallic synths and infectious beat form a euphoric sound space one can't help but move to. The vocals are silky smooth and slickly produced, warbling of leaping headlong from the normal into experience. The production is sharp and alive, layering layered melodies and crisp percussion into the mix to maintain the tempo. The chorus is infectious, full of shining optimism that is motivational and inspiring. "Something Different" is a road trip and dance-floor anthem in waiting.

5. Gerr Walsh - When The Stars Don’t Work
Gerr Walsh's "When The Stars Don't Work" is a melancholy country-folk ballad that simulates an ardent letter to the departed beloved. The light strumming of a solo acoustic guitar is counterposed by the warm, impassioned voice of Walsh, upon which the soft, musing and poetic words of the song rest at ease. The production is unassuming but effective, with subdued and muted pedal steel complementing its wistful loveliness. The beauty of this song is in the telling, conjuring up pictures of hope and despair amidst the uncertainties of life. "When The Stars Don't Work" is a gentle and ageless song—a song that pulls at your heartstrings and lingers long after the last note has faded away.

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