Nominees 2012 Act of the Year
The Worshyp - April/2012
Metal / Heavy Metal / Power /Prog
The Worshyp are a Heavy Metal band based out of Toronto, Canada. The band’s founder Marz Nova named the band The Worshyp as a salute to how heavy metal fans love, and almost worship, their music as if it were a religion to them. The name has no ties to any real organized religion.
In the spring of 2010 Marz recruited Danish guitarist Thor Rune as well as bassist Mig Diablo & KK Devina both from Peru and former band members of Ex Iron Maiden Vocalist Paul Di'Anno. Singer/guitarist Marz Nova is from Toronto. The band's chemistry is based on strong vocal melodies sung over driving guitar riffs set to today’s lower tunings.
"I disliked the less melodic direction that modern heavy metal had been taking and I wanted to hear some riff driven traditional metal with today’s lower tunings. To that end I began writing the material for The Worshyp." Marz Nova - The Worshyp
Kingdom Earth, their debut album, was released in January 2011. The single “Left For Dead” is currently in beta testing to be released on the next version of RockBand.
Their latest album, Evil Abounds produced by legendary Glen Robinson, is due to be released in late February 2012. The album features Jimmy DeGrasso, ex-Megadeth, on drums. Preview clips of the first four singles have been released on Reverbnation.
LINKS
http://www.worshypnews.blogspot.com/
Dalton Cyr - May/2012
Pop / Pop Rock / Singer/Songwriter
12 yr-old award-winning singer, songwriter, musician, actor Dalton Cyr recently released his 11-song LP album, “I’ll Be There” entirely written and co-written by Cyr. He spent the summer of 2012 touring six states, joining forces with five other recording artists for the second leg of his tour on the Country Pop Rock Tour endorsed by famed producer Lee Hirsch & The Bully Project:1 Million Kids. Managed by Disney Channel Executive Producer Irene Dreayer and DW Management, his first ever-recorded single was a semi-finalist in the 2011 International Songwriting Competition, judged by the most high-profile judges in the world.
He previously released a 5-song EP and is due to go back out on tour in January 2013. Giving live performances to crowds up to 2000+ people, Cyr regularly performs 40-50 shows per year. Cyr’s music can be heard in regular rotation on Internet radio and found on iTunes, Amazon and many other sites. An accomplished musician, Cyr plays guitar, ukulele, keyboard, and drums.
A big component to Cyr is charity. Through performances at multiple fundraising events each year, Cyr helps support and raise money for Wolfson Children’s Hospital and the Beaches Fine Arts Series and most recently has joined the newly formed chapter, Tunes for Tots which raises money to benefit the Make-a-Wish foundation. Also, Cyr released his song "Whisper" during the holidays, when US Troops were coming home and dedicated to the military. All of Cyr's online proceeds from the sale of the song "Whisper" are being donated to the USO.
Dalton has played the role of Mike Teavee in a production of the play “Willy Wonka”, the lead role of Aladdin in a production of the play “Aladdin” and appeared as part of the vocal orchestra in “Shout, An Acappella Musical”.
LINKS
Sierra Noble - June/2012
Alternative / Acoustic-Pop / Folk Rock
As if opening for PAUL MCCARTNEY and BON JOVI weren't enough...she also shone brightly for over 3 billion around the world in the 2010 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremonies in Vancouver.
This young Canadian prairie girl is talented, gifted, beautiful and up-and-coming!
Sierra Noble breezes through Celtic, Bluegrass, Jazz, World beat and other styles of music with stunning ease on her fiddle, her breadth of experience in in her 20 years of life is impressive.
Her talent has taken her around the world to Asia, Europe and across North America. She amazes audiences with compelling contemporary performances which feature exceptional instrumentals, beautiful innovative vocals, and her infectious down to earth charm.
In front of 100 million in the Latin America and the Spanish-speaking world, Sierra Noble was the first Canadian ever to be named winner of the prestigious Viña Del Mar International Song Competition in Chile, both for Best Song and Best Performance.
Never one to rest on her laurels, it is no surprise that 21 year old Sierra wanted to expand and develop her musical talents. With a debut EP aptly named "Possibilites", Sierra's journey as a singer-songwriter is off to an outstanding start. Her voice is a study in gorgeous contradictions - wonderfully pure yet layered with subtle, smoky tones. Her songs speak of universal themes of love, longing and discovery wrapped in infectious melodies and delivered with sincerity and conviction.
Sierra's shows feature her first love, compelling and lively fiddle playing. She has created an atmosphere where stunning instrumentals and hook laden pop songs exist in perfect harmony.
LINKS
http://www.sierranoble.ca
http://www.reverbnation.com/sierranoble
http://www.ourstage.com/sierranoble
http://www.youtube.com/sierranoblevevo
https://www.facebook.com/sierranoblemusic
https://twitter.com/sierranoble
WHY - July/2012
Alternative / Rock / Pop
WHY first took shape in 1995 in Winnipeg Manitoba, when Brian Cook (vocalist) chose to see his musical ideas take form. Quickly rounding up some of the best players the local scene had to offer, they recorded their first album THE NAKED SOUL, and followed it with 2002′s THE RISE AND FALL OF THE QUESTION MARK, which drew fans and critics alike to their energy-fueled live shows.
As years passed and other commitments took hold, Brian continued to write and began to dedicate time to Make Poverty History. First introduced to the idea by heroes Bono (U2) and Bob Geldof (LIVE AID, LIVE 8, Boomtown Rats), Cook felt the need to use his music to raise awareness to the staggering true fact that a child dies due to extreme poverty every 3 seconds.
Now WHY finds themselves re-invented with a new, powerful lineup. To bring both fans and critics back to attention, WHY recorded “THE LAZARUS EFFECT” (a medical term for the turnaround that AIDS victims have when put on AIDS meds), which finds the band at their best, and also serves as a fitting allegory to the fate of the band. Rising from what once was and starting over again, Cook and company are poised to make an impressive and stirring comeback.
Copies of the LAZARUS EFFECT album, the title song having already received air play in major markets across Canada, were also given out before U2 concerts in Ottawa and Montreal and were made available at Make Poverty History and on-line at CDBABY.COM. A portion of the proceeds from the album went directly to the charity and the album’s artwork featured heartbreaking photographs all supplied by Make Poverty History. The album itself featured newly remixed and/or re-recorded tracks, the new single, as well as a video recorded for the track, “Keep My Peace”. The album also offers links to the Make Poverty History websites as well as an interview Cook did with Shaw TV.
With their new album RED coming, lineup and songwriting in hand, WHY continues to raise awareness for both themselves as well as Make Poverty History. The band are in post production for the new full-length CD, RED. The single (and title track) “RED” is now being serviced to radio worldwide. “RED” sat a #1 on the KICK FM Winnipeg Top 40 for 4 weeks in a row, and was named “Song of the Year”. Now the B-side on the “RED” single, “The Surface”, has started to chart, hitting #1 on KICK FM and #5 on THE Q FM in Victoria, BC.
WHY have released “WE STARTED OUT (Somebody’s Baby)” and “MORE OR LESS” as part of Ray Zahab’s (RUNNING THE SAHARA) next film.
WHY are currently writing and recording their next full length album. They released the song “PRISONER of HOPE”, supporting UNICEF’s work in Haiti, and recently released the hit single “DO IT SCARED”, which has spent considerable time on the KICK FM charts and has also managed to garner significant buzz worldwide.
LINKS
http://www.whytheband.com
http://www.reverbnation.com/why
http://www.facebook.com/whytheband
Lee Gibson - Sept/2012
Country / Americana / Alt.Country
Six-foot-four-inch, long-haired, Country-singing son-of-a-gun Lee Gibson brings it every time he takes the stage. His songs speak of love lost & found, pleasures & pains from the past & the present, and the ups & downs of growing up in a small town – things to which many of us can relate.
He has shared the stage with greats such as George Jones, T. Graham Brown, & Darryl Worley. He’s no stranger to a crowd regardless the size. Whether it’s an intimate setting or a 40’ stage, Lee is be sure to leave a lasting impression for your event.
Indie Music Bus Interview Excerpt:
Lee, first of all, thank you for doing this interview. It's such a pleasure to chat with a songwriter of your caliber. How do you come up with this stuff? Do you have a secret, magical music tree growing in your backyard?
Walter, I think I'm like a lot of other writers in that I write from previous experiences - love, love lost, pain, love found, love lost again, a few adult beverages & repeat that vicious cycle. I can recall only a handful of songs that I've penned or co-wrote with another writer where I had to really for the song. I'm still looking for that magical tree where songs fall from. I want to be as successful as possible, but I don't want to write from a formulaic standpoint. It has to be real - regardless of how simple or how in depth.
You have already had significant success in the music industry as a published songwriter with major label songs, signed with Century Music Group, and won the Ourstage.com Finals. What's next on your plate to accomplish as an artist?
Tour as much as possible, finish the new CD, pitch it to some "bigger fish", & push that as hard as I can, all the while working on the catalog for the NEXT CD. I'm already writing & working on ideas with other writers all the time for it. Yet another vicious cycle, but this one is much more enjoyable.
LINKS
David Geftakys - Oct/2012
Rock / Alternative / Pop Rock
He has several releases already under his belt. His first EP, 'Lines In My Hands', was met with strong reviews from both critics and fans. His single 'Say It All' was rated in the top 5% of song reviews by SoundOut, a partner of Fontana music, and his 3rd track from the EP, 'Stellar Phoenix', has become a favorite with Radio DJ's and fans alike. David appeared on the late-night style show, 'Live Taping with David Valdez' at Universal Studios, and was a guest on KCLA's 'The In Show'. But by far David's biggest hit with his fans has been 'Games We Play' which was released along with his first music video.
David Geftakys is a new artist/songwriter from Los Angeles. With his single Games We Play just released and his new music video buzzing around all the social networks, David is preparing to make another big release in 2012 with yet another album.
The creativity has in no way slowed with the release of this EP and another album is due to be released soon. As new tracks emerge from the mixing board and show dates are posted be in on the action by becoming a fan here, on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Myspace and many other networking sites. Be sure to check out David's official website to see the countdown to the new release, get merch and much more.
Indie Music Bus Interview Excerpt:
Could you please describe your next record to the readers in terms of clothing? I mean, is it a hoodie, a turtleneck, leather shorts – & what colour is it? When’s it out and where can we all get one?
Ha ha ha ha I have to admit, I have never been asked to describe music in such a way. I mean, music for me is a sound that generates emotions, images, evokes memories etc. I rarely connect any of these with clothing. But to quote Forest Gump, "You can tell a lot about a person by their shoes. Where they are going, where they've been…" my music would definitely have worn-out shoes. ?? "I'm running, I'm running" ?? lol
LINKS
http://www.davidgeftakys.com
https://twitter.com/DavidGeftakys
https://www.youtube.com/user/DavidGeftakys/featured
https://www.facebook.com/DavidGeftakys
Glitter Rose - Nov/2012
Rock / Southern Rock / Country Rock
She's got a Southern heart, and a Rock n’ Roll soul. Outlaw Southern Rocker, Glitter Rose from Ft. Worth, TX. This left handed guitarist owns the stage with her amazing charisma and defining Southern Rock sound. GR is endorsed by TELEFUNKEN Elektroakustik, Orange Amplifiers, Fishman Acoustic Amplification, WARRIOR Guitar, BAE Audio, Rotosound Music Strings, Moody Leather, and Guitar Hands Hand Care.
GR is a veteran in the music industry starting professionally at 13 years old in 1998. She is an accomplished guitarist, a simply genius songwriter, and has vocals packed with power, grit, and originality. Her live show is that of legends, captivating the audience with her high energy performance, and her passionate presence. GR has great love and admiration for her fans, stating "They are the reason I make music. If I can evoke emotion and excitement in one person in the crowd, I've done my job. It brings me great satisfaction to touch people with my songs and my performance."
GR is currently in Hollywood, CA, where she held a 5 month residency with the Hard Rock Cafe on Hollywood Blvd. for an event they created for her music called Southern Rock Brunch. She is a highly respected performer at The NAMM Show and the Dallas International Guitar Festival. She received Honorable Mention for her quirky, tongue and cheek "Doublewide on the Backside" in the Billboard World Song Contest 2010. Her new album "Dead or Alive" was released in Spring 2012, and is making waves in the music industry. She is nominated for 2 Los Angeles Music Awards in 2012 including Best Country Artist and Country Single of the Year with her song "Vodka Girls". She is also nominated for Best Rock Artist in the 2013 Artists in Music Awards. With the perfect blend of Country and Rock GR brings to the table, she will be a pioneer in modern Southern Rock, defining a new generation.
Indie Music Bus Interview Excerpt:
You are a left-handed guitarist. Does this pose any special challenges to you, particularly on stage? One of my all time favorite musicians is Sir Paul McCartney, who was also a left-handed guitarist It actually caused him to have to switch to playing bass, which led me to ask that question of you.
Being a lefty is challenging on the fact that there's not a lot of options out there for my to try as a guitarist. Not very many builders have lefties in stock or on hand. Luckily, I am endorsed with the best guitar company Warrior Guitars, who do make a lot of lefties. Other than that, being on stage there is no issue. It actually works out pretty cool when I want to go jam out with my bassist or guitarist, and we make a mirror image when we face each other, or can lean in to each other with no necks in the way. I tried to learn right handed, which would have been more convenient for guitar purchasing, but it felt so unnatural. I am about as lefty as you can get!
LINKS
https://www.facebook.com/glitterrosemusic
http://www.reverbnation.com/glitterrose
https://twitter.com/GlitterRoseTX
https://www.youtube.com/user/GlitterRoseMusic/featured
Rezlow - Dec/2012
Rock / Alternative Rock / Acoustic Rock
Rezlow, a five piece band featuring musicians from Kerry and Dublin, Ireland, formed in 2008, and take their influences across a wide range of musical genres. The band describes their sound as melodic-acoustic and alternative rock.
In 2008, looking at expanding their musical direction and strengthening the lyrical content of their music, Rezlow was formed. A chance meeting with Dublin singer-songwriter Terry Sutton gave them an early opportunity to explore this new musical direction
Barry McCarthy, Brendan, Cillian & Conor O’Regan have been playing in bands since their early teenage years, touring the live-music circuit in Southern Ireland and also playing a number of showcase gigs in London.
Their initial collaboration saw Terry put lyrics to the band’s three-song demo, featuring 'From Here', 'Run Riot' & 'Red Flag'. The success of this first step encouraged the band to return to the studio and record a full-length 11-song album ‘yet to be titled’.
Terry, a regular on the Dublin music scene, has shared the stage with such renowned musicians as Damien Rice and Oscar-winner Glen Hansard (Falling Slowly).
Rezlow officially released their debut single '7 Days' on iTunes on February 24th 2012
Terry - Vocals & Acoustic Guitars
Brendan - Electric & Acoustic Guitars, Piano/Keys
Cillian - Acoustic & Electric Guitars
Conor - Bass
Barry - Drums
LINKS
http://www.rezlow.com
https://www.facebook.com/Rezlow
https://twitter.com/rezlow
