Half Light Is:

Cheyenne Goff (vocals)
Donnie Patty (bass)
Bob Cook (drums)
Martin Yount (lead guitar)

Bred in the working class suburbs of Detroit, Half Light Music fuses poetic lyricism with classic & traditional rock song structures to create a sound that evokes a strong sense of familiarity in anyone who will hear, or better yet, feel...

Check out more of Half Light by checkng out their facebook page at:

www.facebook.com/halflightmusic

Click on the play button below to watch our exclusive interview with the band as well as an EXCLUSIVE acoustic performance!

Josh Malerman, the voice of the High Strung, likes to say it’s because the band has been best friends since they were eleven that they were able to live in a bus together for 300 shows a year, five years running. But he also says it’s the songs… and the way Derek Berk (drums) and Chad Stocker (bass) play them… that gets them to love the experience as much now as when they were, well, eleven.

The High Strung are a curious band. Extremely hard workers (Malerman once hung up on a potential manager who said a band wasn’t good just because they work hard), they are often mistaken as something much more simple than they are. The High Strung are not a traditional rock and roll band. The High Strung don’t have a bluesy bone in their body (though they sometimes long for one). And because of a vigorous tour schedule that wasn’t planned but continued to feed off itself nonetheless, the High Strung do not belong to any one scene or “movement”. They can’t sit still! It is hard to say exactly who the band sounds like (the words “quirky” and “autonomous” are ascribed them often) and it’s maybe more telling to explain them in unusual musical terms.

Maybe the High Strung have the SPIRIT of The Flaming Lips. Guided By Voices. Bands who produce seemingly impossible numbers (1200 shows, 400 songs) and who’s audience exists more from word of mouth than by being in the right place and the right time.

To Watch Our Entire Interview with The High Strung, click on the play button below!

Kevin Calaba, Jason Bell, and Daniel Orvik, collectively known as Stars of Track and Field, return with an album that transcends the trio’s previous efforts. A TIME FOR LIONS shows a more mature band, one that has evolved, bringing aggressive tempo and autonomous vision to their work. The songs build upon the foundation they have created over the past several years of touring and recording, and are arguably the band’s best work to date.

Stars of Track and Field began their journey in Portland, Oregon. Calaba is no stranger to the public eye, having encountered the world of Hollywood at a young age when cast to appear in Mr. Holland’s Opus as a child. He recalls, “It was my first thrilling experience in the entertainment industry, and I still get residuals. Twelve bucks hit the mailbox yesterday.” Bell, a former art school drop-out and Orvik, a gent who has never found a bet he doesn’t like, are simply characters. On stage, assembled together, there is no shortage of personality within this band.

The group’s first release You Came Here for Sunset Last Year (2005), delivered a firm foundation, and accolades from critics across the independent community. The band’s Wind-up Records debut Centuries Before Love and War followed in 2006, and the trio spent the better part of two years touring the U.S. They shared the stage with bands as diverse as Smashing Pumpkins to Jeremy Enigk and The Long Winters to Joseph Arthur and The Lonely Astronauts. No matter who else was on the bill, Stars of Track and Field’s presence in venues small and large was memorable delivering a sizeable fan base. In recollecting on the massive amount of touring the band endured through that endless run Bell reminisces, “Touring with all of these artists, it was clear there is so much more to music than the constrictive, trendy independent scene. Cliques are silly, and great music is simply great music. Who gives a fuck what kind of shoes you are wearing.”

When asked how they would describe the state of affairs for the band in front of A TIME FOR LIONS, each has individual, highly disparate feelings. Orvik, shares the adjectives restless, excited, and curious. This is partially due to the long period that has passed since the last release. He shares, “I feel like an ant on the hill. There are seven billion people on this rock and I see crazy shit happening all over the place. I am grateful I get to create and share music with whoever cares to listen. I hope this record positively influences their lives.” Bell, always musically inclined, views the repertoire as raw, intimate and dreamy. Each of these powerful words is a cornerstone of the band’s musical creations. He comments, “I wanted this record to reach out and grab you like a Warhol print. This album is a collection of songs, and the farthest thing from a concept album. Each track is a mood unto itself, sometimes desolate sometimes stunning. There are subtle nuances the listener will uncover with each and every subsequent listen. ” Calaba’s thoughts cover a wider spectrum than his partners as he begins with agitation, then stating new landscapes and musically grounded, as elements that come to mind in consideration of the current being which is Stars of Track and Field. He elaborates, “The album was born through a day to day artistic struggle between the three of us - lyrically, tonally, and musically. Each confrontation led to either compromise or acceptance, which in turn led to the crystallization of a mature, colorful rock album. True democracy never works.”

The band’s return after an extended absence wastes no time on A TIME FOR LIONS, with the passionate pleas that soar through the opening track “Racing Lights.” The textured elements remain from the band’s earlier efforts, but are joined by an evolution of anthemic impulses. Stars of Track and Field thrive within the exclusive club of contemporary artists who define the future of electro-pop. The implied urgency continues with “End of all Time,” a song that can stand should-to-shoulder with the best of any Brit-Pop band. “Now You Lift Your Eyes to the Sun” showcases Stars of Track and Field’s turn towards maturity in a sparser arrangement, and Calaba’s moody, dark vocal delivery. These multi-instrumentalists have never shied away from beauty, and let’s hope they never do. Their sense of feel never ceases from track one to the last note of the album, and peaks are no stranger to their creative genetic make-up as is especially seen in “In Bright Fire” and “The Breaking of Waves.”

On the new release, five of the eleven songs are self-produced by Stars of Track and Field. While in pre-production, the trio opted to roll tape on a regular basis. These natural, secluded moments yielded significant parts of the selections “End of All Time,” “Now You Lift Your Eyes To The Sun,” “Safety in Numbers,” “The Stranger,” and “Sunrise Ends.” Many of the compositions morphed as the band entered and exited various studios and deemed nothing too precious. Lyrically, Calaba and Bell have turned inward, painting an introverted and focused portrait of their personal experiences. Centuries Before Love and War took on grand themes, and this collection of songs speaks from a place of introspection.

As the landscape vastly morphs for artists looking for a sustainable career, there will always be a place for bands like Stars of Track and Field. The honest and breathy delivery this band naturally emits is simply one-of-a-kind. The music is reminiscent of a time where a great song was simply a masterpiece – not overtly pigeonholed in to classifications. A TIME FOR LIONS is overflowing with what is simply real – emotions taking flight through song. Living, breathing creative compositions that are synonymous with what fans have come to expect from Stars of Track and Field.

See more of The Stars of Track and Field @

www.starsoftrackandfield.com

Dan Diamond is a performer with passion and a natural stage presence that can uplift any club venue or arena. Whether behind the mic or turntables, Dan is known for taking the party to the next level with his special blend of Electronica, Phat Beats and Rock N' Roll.

His current single along with hit music video "She's a Dancer" made it's way from America's dance clubs to MTV, UK and beyond. His next single "Mind Freak" is soon to follow also slated for a worldwide release with a new music video.

Dan's honest approact to, clubbing and the nocturnal lifestyle is eminent in his fan base and cult followers who can be seen liping his lyrics and pumping their firsts to his sets well into the morning hours.

Currentlym Dan can be seen in Miami and Philidelphia kicking off the Grand Opening of "The Penthouse" club with a live show consisting of a live performance, video and dozens of beautiful dancers choregraphed to Dan's signature Electro-Rock sound.

You can see more about Dan Diamond by going to:

www.therealdandiamond.com

Instead of us here at Harmelody trying to describe Whitetown Enterprises to you, we'd rather have the band explain themselves to you. Pulled directly from their website:

"We at Whitetown Enterprises take great pride in what we do. And what we do is create provocative hip hop mixed with rock, blues, soul, and anything else that Aunt Jemima shook her big ass to. WtE consists of Bobby "White Thompson" Magyarosi and Ricky "Crackuh Jak" Pluscota. Everything that you hear was created in White's bedroom studio. We hope to save underground hip hop music by tearing the auto-tuned throats out of the current embarrassing false representatives of the genre. We are a couple of white boys who can rap faster and blast master beats from the streets of East Highland, MI. Any questions?"

Mayer Hawthorne grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and vividly remembers, as a child, driving with his father and tuning the car radio in to the rich soul and jazz history the region provided. “Most of the best music ever made came out of Detroit,” claims the singer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist, who counts Issac Hayes, Leroy Hutson, Mike Terry, and Barry White among his influences, but draws the most inspiration from the music o f Smokey Robinson, Curtis Mayfield and the legendary songwriting and production trio of Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland and Eddie Holland Jr.

The “retro” tag is added to almost any contemporary work that sounds like it was originally recorded between 1966 and 1974, and Hawthorne, among the newest contributors to the genre, is aware of how trends come and go. After being introduced to Stones Throw label head Peanut Butter Wolf by mutual friend Noelle Scaggs of The Rebirth, even his current boss was skeptical. “He showed me two songs and I didn’t understand what I was listening to,” Wolf recalls. “I asked him if they were old songs that he did re-edits of – I couldn’t believe they were new songs and that he played all the instruments.”

And after meeting in person, it was even harder for Wolf to believe that Hawthorne was also the lead vocalist. Few expect such heartfelt sentiment to come from a 29-year-old white kid from Ann Arbor, but he has caught the ear of his family at Stones Throw, as well as BBC Radio 1 host Giles Peterson and producer/DJ Mark Ronson.

There's not much good news coming out of the Motor City these days ... until now!

Detroit's trio crew Black Lagoon may just well be the stimulus package this country needs. Kain Bang, Empact and Amadeus have been described as having "the soul of a Marvin Gaye, the sex appeal of LL Cool J, and the polish of an Antwerp diamond." (Jetset Magazine).

An opening act for Jay-Z, Run DMC, Lil Wayne, De La Soul and Bone Thugs in Harmony, Black Lagoon continues to thrill audiences wherever and whenever they perform. Originally a seven-member group brought together through mutual friends, BL introduced themselves to the world with their freshman album, The Pimp Bones LP. That was in 2004. Four years later, the songwriting, producing and performing group is a lean trio. "Appropriate", the BL says, "as the number "3" represents "completion". BL's Empact, Kain Bang and Amadeus have been grinding in the studio for the last several months tying up loose ends on Certified Stars, their much anticipated album due to drop this year on their own BL record label. Certified Stars represents the synergy of many musical elements. The main ingredient is hip hop but it is sweetened with elements of blues, rock, jazz and gospel creating a sound that is as diverse as its audience. Adding to its innovation, BL has created this outstanding album with live instrumentation. And fans love it! The first single, "Fever" is enjoying much success on multiple radio formats.

Success is no stranger to BL. Their lead single, 'Star', launched in 2005 got heavy radio rotation nationally and throughout the United Kingdom. Considered a Chicago ballroom hustle classic, "Star" was voted Detroit's #1 song, receiving both a Detroit Hip Hop and Spudd in the Hood Award. 

"On our next project, we've scaled down. This is a more focused project," says Amadeus, describing the bond the group has maintained while working on their second album. "This album is an honest reflection of the three of us." Describing their style as 'open-ended, depicting varied influences like hip-hop, Detroit house and '80s music, Certified Stars, is certifiably real. The album talks about real issues like personal growth, staying positive and overcoming the inevitable obstacles in the music industry. "Our music brings light to dark situations," Amadeus explains. "The name Black Lagoon describes the visual aspects of life in the city. "There's always light at the end of the tunnel. We want to be that light." 

"We're trying to bring lyrics back; put thoughts into the rhymes," Kain Bang continues.

"We put of lot energy - blood, sweat, and tears into all that we do," Empact says. "If you really love music with a message, and you like that good groove and the good feel, I think you'll feel fulfilled with the music of Black Lagoon." 

"Fever" is now available on iTunes. 

For more information on Black Lagoon, visit myspace.com/blonline

The present music industry is forcing Hip-Hop through a transition phase in which listeners are bombarded repetitively with repackaged lyrics and bland beats. This current state leaves many faithful fans wondering who or what will bring about a resurgence of soul and raw lyrics, in short, the re-birth of Hip-Hop. Almost as if on cue, a new sound is emerging from Michigan, an MC/Producer by the name of AKA.
At 15, AKA came to the realization that he was blessed with musical gifts. His lyrical talents started to blossom as he packed High school hallways with his lunchtime freestyles. Meanwhile, he donned his production name, Lipton. and soon became known for his soulful ear and crisp drums. From the start, it became clear that AKA would follow his passion for Hip-Hop and as he matured into a young man so did his writing and production skills. In 2004, AKA won the Alpha Apollo freestyle competition and his skill and potential became apparent to all. After mix-tape appearances with his old group, Simply Put, AKA is finally stepping out as a solo artist.

Over the years, AKA has done shows all over Michigan, from Theos in Ypsilanti, to Carbon Lounge in Hamtramack, to the Blind Pig in Ann Arbor. He has also been on the radio with Irwin+ (WCBN), and heads up with DJ Osiris. Recently, AKA was picked as one of the top 50 singles in SouthEast Michigan by FM 97.9 WJLB. With witty lyrics, a flow few can touch, and memorable beats. It becomes clear, that AKA might just be the next big thing Hip-Hop has been waiting for.

Check out more of AKA at:

www.akawhat.com

John Maison’s personality comes though his music in every song. What you see is what you get.

“I write songs that relate to me and the people in my life,” Maison Says. “If you listen to enough of my music, you can tell what type of life I lead”

As a child, Maison grew up in Southeast Michigan. “My dad was a self-employed plumber, and he to me to work with him,” Maison Says. “Long rides in the work van meant listening to a lot of radio” Maison Quickly took interest to country and rock. “Air guitar solos” and singing into “soap microphones” in the shower quickly turned into stage performances. Professionally trained since the age of 14; John Began singing in the choir and writing songs.

Following his parent’s advice, John put his music career on hold to attend collage at Michigan State University where he received a degree in finance. John also attended Grad school at Walsh College where he received an MBA. Throughout college, John would write songs in his apartment every week with hopes of recording them one day. “Every time I wrote a song, I’d put it in one of those big Coca-cola piggy bank bottles,” Maison Says. “I told myself once it was full, I would pick my best songs and record them”.

In 2008, John Landed a spot as a semi-finalist on GAC Star, which provided many new opportunities. Opening for Artist such as Eric Church, and radio airplay on Ycountry 97.5 along with national exposure from GAC Television, has allowed Maison to further fuel his goal to have the country listen to his music.

In 2009, Maison has spent most of his time co-writing songs with such known writers as Marc Barnette, and performing throughout Nashville, and South East Michigan; as well as recording in Nashville with producer Jay Vern, (credits, Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Lone Star, Gretchen Wilson, Jo Dee Messina, Lonnie Mack, Rick Derringer).

Learn More about John Maison By Going to his website at:

www.johnmaison.com

Watch our full interview with him below!