The Watson Twins will unveil their sophomore release Talking To You, Talking To Me on Vanguard Records February 9, 2010, their most ambitious album to date. The new album finds the Watson Twins taking a soulful turn a la Carole King, but with a pop edge reminiscent of Feist. The result is a heartfelt nod to their roots, retaining the ethereal harmonies that have become their signature while incorporating a variety of influences and inspirations.

In June of 2009 Chandra and Leigh, along with producers J. Soda and Russell Pollard, went to a remote cabin in the High Sierras near Yosemite to demo songs for the new album. What they captured there would be the backbone of Talking To You, Talking To Me. The songs were brought back to Los Angeles where a band of friends (including members of Everest and My Morning Jacket) came together to help record the album at Fairfax Recordings. Talking To You, Talking To Me captures the essence of the Watson Twins extraordinary music… driving, poignant and beautiful.

“The Watson Twins are a strong songwriting team, and one that has earned its time in the spotlight.” -BILLBOARD

“…deep knowledge of the canyons of the heart.” – BLENDER

The Watson Twins will be starting a tour with Joshua Radin on October 28^th through November 22^nd.  Tour dates below:

Get a free download of The Watson Twins new track “U-N-Me” at vanguardrecords.com/thewatsontwins

Chicago based Daphne Willis, brings cutting edge liveliness with her Vanguard Records debut album, What to Say on January 26th produced by Tim Lauer, Daphne Willis, Stephen Shirk and Gary Pascoza.  This 22 year old introspective artist offers a fresh take on the traditional singer-songwriter style with her thought-provoking lyrics and distinctive point of view that examines the patterns of her generation.

The twelve tracks on What to Say spotlight her soulful vocals backed by edgy guitar riffs, funky bass lines and Memphis Style horns. From the powerful first single “Bluff” (click here to listen) to the heartfelt ballad “Jim Thornton” written for her grandfather who passed away last year, Daphne Willis encompasses a young woman with a sophistication and melodic style that belies her age.

Daphne first came to the attention of Vanguard Records when Welk Music Group President Kevin Welk heard several cuts from her self-made EP Matter of Time on an American Airlines flight.  He was immediately hooked by her vocal emotiveness and depth of her writing and wasted no time tracking her down.  Vanguard went on to release a digital form only five song EP, Exhibit A in 2008.

Daphne will begin a three week mid-west residency beginning in November (dates to be announced).  A national tour will follow soon after the release of What to Say.

The Breast Cancer Site to offer a free song to support breast cancer awareness

Vanguard Records and Carbon Leaf partner with The Breast Cancer Site and the National Breast Cancer Foundation to give away a song to help support the fight against breast cancer.  Vanguard and Carbon Leaf are offering a free download of the band’s song “Pink” from their new album, Nothing Rhymes With Woman.  With every free download of “Pink” throughout the month of October at www.vanguardrecords.com/pink Vanguard will donate one dollar to The Breast Cancer Site, benefiting the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

“Along with some friends we’ve known who have struggled to overcome breast cancer, ‘Pink’ was inspired by the story of a fan of ours who developed breast cancer at a particularly young age,” stated Barry Privett of Carbon Leaf. “ We were touched by her strength in documenting her own journey, and the amazing outpouring of support from her family, friends and community.  We are honored to be involved with The Breast Cancer Site and the National Breast Cancer Foundation.“

About The Breast Cancer Site

The Breast Cancer site benefits the National Breast Cancer Foundation and is part of the Greater Good Network. Visiting www.thebreastcancersite.com and clicking on the “Click Here to Give – it’s FREE” button helps fund free mammograms for women in need — low-income, inner-city and minority women whose awareness of breast cancer and opportunity for help is often limited. Site sponsors pay for the click, and mammogram funding is provided to clinics throughout the U.S. through the efforts of the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

About The National Breast Cancer Foundation

www.nationalbreastcancer.org – The National Breast Cancer Foundation mission is to save lives by increasing awareness of breast cancer through education and by providing mammograms for those in need. NBCF accomplishes this mission through our initiatives, such as the National Mammography Program (NMP), Beyond the Shock educational video, MyNBCF online community, and the Early Detection Plan. NBCF programs provide women help for today and hope for tomorrow.

This just in- “Shady Esperanto and the Young Hearts”- the official music video from Stephen Kellogg & The Sixer’s album The Bear. The video was shot with the University of Massachusetts marching band and was directed by SK6ers own Boots Factor.

The Bear is currently apart of Amazon Mp3′s 50 albums for $5. Click the banner above to purchase your copy.

Greg Laswell’s new EP ‘Covers’ is out today! The EP features covers of Echo & The Bunnymen, Morphine, Mazzy Star, Kate Bush and Kristin Hersh. Head to iTunes or your local indie record store to get your copy. Below is an acoustic performance of “This Woman’s Work” recorded from Mountainaire Studios in Arizona, where Greg recorded the EP and his upcoming full record.

Beginning in October, singer/songwriter Mindy Smith will lend her talent and time to help raise breast cancer awareness with two special perfomances and two video PSAs for The Breast Cancer Site.

On October 1^st, Mindy will be headlining the event Women Rock For The Cure’s third annual concert to benefit the Greater Nashville affiliate of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation at the famed venue, 3^rd & Lindsley. The pink-themed events continue on October 2^nd when Mindy will take part in the “Opry Goes Pink” concert at the historic Grand Ole Opry.  The concert will also feature performances by Carrie Underwood, Terri Clark and Jo Dee Messina. Both shows benefit the Women Rock For The Cure and the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation.  

Mindy will also record two videos for The Breast Cancer Site, which supports the National Breast Cancer Foundation’s free mammograms for women in need program. The first video encourages people to visit The Breast Cancer Site (www.thebreastcancersite.com) and select the “Click Here to Give – it’s FREE” button. Each click that the site receives will helps fund free mammograms for women in need. The second video invites viewers to sign up at The Breast Cancer Site Facebook Fan Page (http://www.facebook.com/thebreastcancersite). The One Million Fan March will trigger a $100,000 donation for breast cancer research once 1,000,000 people have become Fans. Both videos will be available beginning October 1^st.

The fight against breast cancer is an important cause for Mindy and one that is close to her heart. Mindy’s mother Sharon lost her battle with breast cancer when Mindy was 19 years old. She honored her mother’s memory with a song she wrote entitled “One Moment More,” (click here to listen) which was the title track from her debut record.

About Women Rock for the Cure

www.womenrockforthecure.org – WRFTC was founded in 2007 by four friends with ties to the music industry: Jensen Sussman, Liz Lee Schullo, Rebekah Lee Beard and Tara Austin who all met through the Society of Leaders in Development (SOLID), an organization for young music business professionals.  With the support of SOLID, the girls set out to organize an all-female, writer-in-the round benefit concert – later called Women Rock for the Cure – to help raise awareness and funds for SOLID’s Race for the Cure team.  Since then, WRFTC has worked to support the Greater Nashville affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, raising money and increasing breast cancer awareness locally.  After two amazing years of standing-room-only concerts, the founders decided to make WRFTC a non-profit organization.  With the group’s new status, WRFTC is pinker than ever and always rockin’ to reach the organization’s vision; WRFTC is committed to fighting breast cancer by utilizing the passion, creativity and strength of the entertainment industry to find inspiring ways to raise money for Susan G. Komen for the Cure Greater Nashville, as well as creating awareness programs for men and women of all ages.

About The Breast Cancer Site

Launched in October 2000, The Breast Cancer Site provides funding for free mammograms for women in need, breast cancer research, and support for women struggling with the disease through such organizations as National Breast Cancer Foundation, Mayo Clinic (for research), Making Memories, Patient Access Network Foundation, and others. Visiting www.thebreastcancersite.com and clicking on the “Click Here to Give – it’s FREE” button helps fund free mammograms for women in need — low-income, inner-city and minority women whose awareness of breast cancer and opportunity for help is often limited. The Breast Cancer Site is part of the GreaterGood Network.

About The National Breast Cancer Foundation

www.nationalbreastcancer.org – The National Breast Cancer Foundation mission is to save lives by increasing awareness of breast cancer through education and by providing mammograms for those in need. NBCF accomplishes this mission through our initiatives, such as the National Mammography Program (NMP), Beyond the Shock educational video, MyNBCF online community, and the Early Detection Plan. NBCF programs provide women help for today and hope for tomorrow.

About Mindy Smith

www.mindysmith.net – The world first discovered Mindy Smith in 2004 with the release of her debut, One Moment More featuring the hit single “Come To Jesus” which inspired critics and artists to sing her praises and went on to sell over 300,000 copies.  She recorded a haunting version of “Jolene” the first single on the Dolly Parton tribute album, Just Because I’m a Woman. Her latest release, Stupid Love is Mindy’s first studio record since 2007’s My Holiday preceded by her 2006 release, Long Island Shores, which was a nod to her family and her heritage growing up in Smithtown, New York. That record prompted USA Today to hail, “Smith’s best songs sound like little miracles.”

Mindy has been featured on NPR, Garrison Keillor’s A Praire Home Companion, The Tonight Show, Conan O’Brien, CBS Early Show’s Second Cup Café, GAC/Edge of Country and CMT.  Her songs have been heard on shows such as “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Smallville,” “Six Feet Under” and Fox’s “So You Think You Can Dance.”

Upcoming Tour Dates:

9/25/2009             Denver, CO – Ogden Theatre

9/26/2009             Lincoln, NE – Knickerbocker’s

9/28/2009             Houston, TX – Warehouse Live

9/29/2009             Austin, TX – Antone’s

10/01/2009           Dallas, TX – House of Blues Cambridge Room

10/02/2009           Birmingham, AL – WorkPlay Theatre

10/03/2009           Atlanta, GA – The Loft

10/04/2009           Nashville, TN – Exit/ In

10/06/2009           Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle

10/07/2009           Charlotte, NC – Visulite Theatre

10/13/2009           Burlington, VT – Higher Ground

10/14/2009           Somerville, MA – Somerville Theatre

10/15/2009           State College, PA – State Theatre

10/16-17/2009     Philadelphia, PA – World Café Live

11/27-28/2009     New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom

Links:   Carbon Leaf Myspace /   Stephen Kellogg & The Sixers Myspace