Madilyn Bailey: "Diva-Like" Musical Force

Well, I got back home today and after I unpacked a little, I went into the kitchen to make something to eat. I played Bruno Mars' first album and his latest one. Both are fantastic and I was just reflecting on the amount of covers I've seen of "Grenade" and "Just The Way You Are". Something about those songs just reached into people's souls, who were thirsty for some good, simple melodies (much like Adele's "Rolling In The Deep" and "Someone Like You"). I personally feel that if Adele was the moonlight of the past few years, then Bruno Mars has been the sunlight. But, I must say, since I grew up being a great Motown fan, and also a Michael Jackson fan, I see a lot of influence on Bruno's latest album.

Let me cut to the chase. I was thinking of one of the first covers I saw on youtube of a Bruno Mars song and I believe it was by Madilyn Bailey. I subscribed to her channel quite a while ago and she's been very successful doing covers of recent hits (usually sooner than most other youtube artists). I don't know how she picks up on the songs so quickly but I must say it's admirable. Learning the guitar part and the vocal melody to a song may be easy but understand the emotional background of the song can be tricky. I've been curious if she always relates to her covers but I guess it'll remain a mystery, just the way I like it. So, I'd like you to have a listen to Madilyn's cover of "Just The Way You Are" (Bruno Mars) and appreciate the simple breakdown of Mars' first single.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7G5b0K2Spt0

Beautifully done. What caught my attention was that she switched "When I see her face" to "When I see his face" and so on. I guess that makes it easier to digest across the world. I always try to keep the lyrics exactly as they are (much like Cyndi Lauper did with Prince's "When U Were Mine"). May I just say, there is no right or wrong way to do things. I just like the fact that there is a variety of approaches to the song, and Madilyn's is really great. I really love the fact that she comes across as this simple, approachable girl singing a very simple song. Please note, when I say simple, I do not mean boring, I mean "easy to understand" and "likeable".

Well, it's been about two and a half years since Madilyn uploaded that video and now her channel has amassed a crazy 61,721,005 views and 439,570 subscribers (which will probably change by the time I finishing writing this). I can only guess that it's an incredible feeling to be so greatly appreciated, and rightly so. She has evolved from that simple and approachable girl to a diva-like musical force. Her latest cover is the most definite evidence of this. Listening to her cover of Lana Del Rey's "Blue Jeans" makes me feel like she's found a sound that really works for her. She hits each note and each word very thoughtfully and seems to be constantly improving. Have a listen and check out the evolution!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WxQLDSi6ZM

If that isn't beautiful, I don't know what is. I have to say that the man accompanying her does a fine job and the video editing is phenomenal, which parallels Madilyn's sound. I appreciate the fact that she works hard and pushes the quality of her videos to the maximum. And this stands for her originals too, which are really easy to listen to. She writes the kind of song that would appeal to a variety of people and that's a great talent! I really like her song entitled "Crescent Of The Moon", which you can find on Youtube, or buy on iTunes (along with a bunch of other albums/EP's/covers). Make sure you subscribe to her channel, if you haven't already, check her out on Facebook and really get into this phenomenal youtube artist! She's one to follow. Check back tomorrow for another fantastic youtube artist!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WxQLDSi6ZM

Alex Hamel

JD Eicher & The Goodnights: Up & Coming Indie Band

Well, it's my last night in Naples and I've been playing a lot of Led Zeppelin tracks on my acoustic. Despite the scratches I managed to get on the back of my guitar during my trip, the sound that emits from it when I tune into D-A-D-G-A-D is phenomenal. Alternate tunings have always been a fascination of mine and they don't just change the way you play things or the sound but the vibrations from the guitar. Well, to cut this musing short, I was playing "Kashmir" (Led Zeppelin), while looking out onto the sea here in Naples, as well as Mt. Vesuvius in the distance and remembered a great cover I came across a couple days ago. An unplugged version of the song by JD Eicher on his 12 string guitar found me flabbergasted. I've been thinking about purchasing a 12-string, and his cover is an additional nudge towards it.

I find that when artists talk before they start playing, expectations begin to build up one's mind. And from the way JD Eicher spoke before breaking into Page's rhythmical guitar part, I just knew it was going to be brilliant. What I didn't expect was the sweet, harmonic voice that came out of him. It almost doesn't match his appearance, which is almost reminiscent of Flight Of The Conchords in this particular cover. In any case, his cover is absolutely brilliant and the tone of his 12 string tuned into D-A-D-G-A-D is magnificent. I'm guessing it's a Taylor, but I could be terribly mistaken. Have a listen and get lost in the trance of Zeppelin's melodic anthem as performed by JD Eicher!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSwvDNzeCb8

Fantastic cover, and it's not the only fantastic cover he does. He uploaded a cover of "Here Comes The Sun" (The Beatles), some time in the summer of 2012, and although his voice is much different than that of the peaceful warrior, George Harrison, he adds his own twist to it. Needless to say, he leaves the guitar part alone and almost whispers the lyrics, which adds to the meaning. To me, it sounded like a cover that someone like Damien Rice might do. So, if you're a Damien Rice fan, and you like that sort of thing, you'll love this! Have a listen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEjDAQIJ1ro

I really appreciate it when I find guys doing great youtube covers, as well as originals. It seems that the vast majority of youtube artists (that are easily accessible) are women. I don't know if it's because men don't feel like uploading stuff, because men don't work as hard at music or because men tend to click on females covers more (which is a popular theory). I usually find male covers hidden beneath the masses of female covers (with the very rare exception). I personally feel that certain female youtube artists give in to the attention they're getting from strange men commenting on, and viewing their videos. It's a shame that this seems to happen but it gives me all the more respect for artists such as Orla Gartland, who truly does what she feels is right, and NOT what other people want/think/expect.

Anyways, back to the fabulous JD Eicher, after my "brief" rant on Sexism & Youtube. I'm really happy I came across him doing that Led Zep. cover, as well as his "Here Comes The Sun" cover, but I'm even more thrilled that I found another great original artist roaming around youtube. JD Eicher and his band, The Goodnights, have a bunch of great originals that ooze with the sound of singer/songwriter meets pop/rock band. What's most curious is how JD Eicher sounds when singing originals. He's American but I could swear he was British, or even Irish when listening to their promotional video. Let me tell you, if you like U2, or Bruce Springsteen, or even some light singer/songwriters, you should definitely get into their originals. It's as if U2, Bruce Springsteen and Damien Rice got together and had a "baby". Check out their promotional video, featuring their song "The Beauty Of It All" and check back tomorrow for another fantastic artist!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjQqm1-TML4

Alex Hamel

Farrel: Vocal Powerhouse

Today I was listening to one of my all time favourite tracks by the Rolling Stones, entitled "Gimme Shelter" off the 1969 album "Let It Bleed". Undoubtably one of the strongest "message" songs ever written and released on the last album Brian Jones featured on. If you don't know about the song, or the album I advise you to research as soon as possible. Merry Clayon's vocal on the track is out of this world and I must say that Lisa Fischer's live version with the Rolling Stones at Paradiso. Anyways, let me get to Farrel. 

I always look around youtube for covers of the song and I happened to stumble upon her cover a few hours ago. Needless to say, when I see a singer using an instrumental, instead of a band or just a guitar, I'm not impressed. However, fifteen year old (at the time) Farrel's version blew my head off. I never imagined the song with a full female vocal and I must admit I really liked it. All I kept thinking was "Why doesn't this girl have a band?" Of course, people ask me the same question and I have my personal reasons, so I'm not in the right position to judge her for that. She's a strong singer with lungs of steel and I am so glad she put them to the test on "Gimme Shelter". I heard Keith Richards tell a story in an interview a couple years ago about him and John Lennon. Well, the two of them used to hang out and John, was particularly fond of hanging out with the Rolling Stones so he could be a "Stone" for the night. During one of their discussions Keith pointed out that the Beatles rock but the Stones rock & roll. Well, I think Farrel can rock & roll, and her voice is so right for this song! Check it out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpQ1B4EgEEo

Absolutely fantastic. If only she could get a decent band to back her up. Musicians can be so fussy and hard to work with nowadays. But if Mick & Keith could do it, I think anyone can. Let's hope Farrel gets something together, in terms of a band. I looked through her other videos and found a bunch of covers, some with friends on an instrument or two, and some with instrumentals. Let me note to guitar lovers out there that she has a cover of "The A Team" (Ed Sheeran), where a man accompanies her on a Gretsch Falcon. One of my favourite guitars.

She has some good covers up and a few that I wasn't too fond of but one that I really liked was of Aretha Franklin's classic "Natural Woman". Aretha Franklin is a classic for big voiced people out there. And I think that Farrel does a damn good version, considering her age and the fact that she's using an instrumental! The dynamics of her voice are so powerful and inconsistent that they give this song a great sound and vibration. When I say "inconsistent" I don't mean her vocals vary between good and bad (as that is purely subjective). I mean that her vocals can go from powerful and loud to quiet and contained. I was curious what microphone she was using on the track, since it fit her voice so well. I'm guessing it's the classic SM58, which is perfect for people with dynamic voices, but I could be wrong, it could be another dynamic microphone. Have a listen and check out that sound!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UX6EovxfjlM

Farrel has got such a strong voice and it sounds just right with "big" songs. That's why I wasn't too fond of a couple covers she did where it seemed that she was trying to control her voice and keep it steady. If you're born with a big voice and you can blow it out the way she does, you should really use it. Imagine if Janis Joplin tried to sound like the Beach Boys, wouldn't that be a loss? In any case, Farrel's so young she can really do whatever she wants and experiment here and there.

And, talking about experimenting, it seems that she's done just that with her originals. I listened to an original of hers called "Party", and I wasn't too crazy about it. Not because it isn't rock & roll, but because of the production. Her vocals are pushed forward in the verse and pulled back in the chorus, which sounds a lot better, but overall the song sounds very compressed. Quite honestly, I think it's a brave thing to release a song of your own and be open to the world's opinions. During my time in recording studios and during my whole experience with writing my own "stuff" I came to realise that real instruments are incredibly important. There was a time when they were almost "extinct" from popular music but I feel that popular music nowadays tries to incorporate reality into the electronic sound. Bruno Mars, for example has a whole lot real instruments on his recordings, and that makes it so much more exciting. To come to a conclusion on "Party", I feel like it's a good song that doesn't fully represent Farrel, and I was little disappointed about that but then again it's her first EP so, who knows what's next... Anyways, listen to "Party", which is a little reminiscent of J-Lo's more recent albums, and feel free to disagree with my comments about the production side of it. In any case, I'm very glad I came across Farrel today, and I'll be keeping an eye on her! Check back tomorrow for another fantastic artist!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDNAGDdk1KQ

Alex Hamel

Jasmine Commerce: Heart & Soul

So, after writing yesterday's post I decided to sit on the porch of my hotel room here in Naples, Campania and write a song or two. With a view of the sea and of Mount Vesuvius in the distance, the inspiration is so strong. Well, I wrote a couple verses and ended the chorus with the lyrics "I'm on fire." I guess I subconsciously borrowed the line from the Bruce Springsteen track but it was purely based on the feeling I had at that moment. Nevertheless, I decided to listen to the song today and looked around Youtube for covers of the song. I found a couple "Atlantic City" (Bruce Springsteen) covers, a lot of "The River" (Bruce Springsteen) covers and a whole lot of other covers of his many hits. Fortunately, I came across a girl by the name of Jasmine, who sang "I'm On Fire", like she really meant it.

The video/audio quality isn't as high as one would want it to be but it almost contributes to the folk style that Jasmine emits. I felt as if I were listening to a completely different song. Bruce Springsteen has such a specific style and feeling, and a lot of artists I came across on youtube tried to impersonate the style, and even recreated his hairdo. That's quite alright, but I was impressed that Jasmine gave her own touch to the song. Both her eyes and her voice are gentle and understanding and give the impression that she really knows what she's singing about. Anyways, check out this fabulous cover and close your eyes, if you can, to hear an echoing voice reminiscent of Norah Jones.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qS8yeT6__mQ

Now if that doesn't satisfy your soul, I don't know what will. I obviously subscribed immediately and went through her other covers and originals. I was very impressed with what she had uploaded and was fascinated with her selections. I never expected that someone who could cover a Bruce Springsteen cover so well could also give a great performance of Radiohead's "No Surprises". Anyone can sing the songs nicely, or play the guitar smoothly but Jasmine lets her emotions bleed into the song, which I love. And yet again, I feel a certain vibe around Jasmine that is very reminiscent of Norah Jones, but adds in a more "indie" element. Have a listen to her cover of "No Surprises" and get lost in the melody created by Jasmine on guitar/vocals and Darren on piano.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIFPoOZCwQA

Great stuff. Certain musicians might frown upon her choices and advise Jasmine to stick to one area of music but I feel that Jasmine could probably cover anything and make it sound like her. Whether it were Bruce Springsteen, Radiohead or even some commercial pop song that's pumping out of club speakers today. I don't know much about Jasmine herself but she has a Facebook page that I just checked out (Jasmine Commerce) and I'm hoping she uploads some more videos soon. She seems to be the quiet type, who uploads videos once in a while, and not consistently, which is alright in her case. It fits her style.

I listened to a couple of her originals, which are great, and one that stood out to me is called "Meant To Be". There's a little snippet of the song on youtube and it really shows the influences shining through her own creativity. There is a mention of certain influences on her Facebook page, which you might want to check out, but for now, I'll leave you with the wonderful original of hers that you might fall in love with! It's a great little tune. Check back tomorrow for another fantastic artist!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6XycPe7Ht0

Alex Hamel

Amanda Pascali Is A Punk Rocker

I arrived in Naples, Campania today for the first time and fell in love with the look of the coast here. I sat out on the porch of my hotel room with my guitar and began to play "Havana Affair" (Ramones), as played by John Frusciante, of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. I love the Ramones' original but it honestly wouldn't sound right if I played it that way acoustically. Anyways, this evening I got back to my hotel room and decided to surf around youtube and look up covers of Ramones tracks. I found a couple that stood out here and there but one that jumped out and bit me was a cover of "Sheena Is Punk Rocker" (Ramones) by Amanda Pascali.

The video starts out with Amanda looking into the camera. Despite how young she looks, her eyes have that "Don't mess with me look.", which is comparable to the grunge "I don't care." look, that I've related to for a long time. My guess is that she'd be very annoyed that someone payed such close attention to the first seconds of the video, so for her sake I'll move on to her cover. It's a punk classic, and her interpretation is so purely emotional, that it is obvious, she understands punk. There are many "punk purists" who would say "She should limit herself to downstrokes." or "Her voice isn't straight enough." But, any person who understands the essence of punk should realize that punk was created for the sake of expression and simplicity, NOT technique, form and rules. I'm certain that any one of the Ramones would applaud Amanda's unique and addictive cover. Check it out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_Rms9ZuLKc

The way she slides off the low E at the end is perfect. I may be rambling but I personally feel that Amanda's youthful approach to music and ignorance of the rules is great. There's a natural element about the way Amanda sings and plays guitar that is the definition of punk. When I started playing live shows around London, I was identified as a grunge artist, which I didn't mind at all. It only confirmed the fact that I didn't rehearse, didn't care if I was peachy clean and gave me space to experiment with my natural desires. Punk had a great influence on grunge music and the message the two have are essentially the same. Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity. It's not all about what you can do with a piece of wood in your hands, it's about making music, and I guess what I'm trying to say with this endless ramble, is that I appreciate Amanda Pascali's natural anarchy. I always say, if you're a real artist, you should be able to get on stage and perform without a set list, rehearsal etc. And I think Amanda Pascali might agree with that (despite her natural anarchy).

The next of her videos that I really enjoyed was a cover of "Fight For Your Right" (Beastie Boys), with her band "The Infusers". Before I go on talking about Amanda I just have to say is that her bassist and drummer match up with her perfectly. When the video started up I looked at the girl with the bass and thought "This is going to be strange." But, following the punk spirit of the band, they proved my initial judgment wrong. The bass holds a steady rhythm and almost sounds funky (reminiscent of Flea's earlier work with punk bands). The drummer is also exquisite and seems connected with Amanda at a very deep level. The guitar and drums lock up just right and I personally got the feeling that the bass was more melodic than the guitar. I think it's a great sound that's made up of individual influences but I really have no idea what they did to get that sweet and rebellious sound. Additionally, it's a personal favourite of mine by the Beastie Boys, who were inducted into the big and yet unimportant Hall of Fame in 2012. It doesn't mean anything. The band was great anyways and so is this cover! Listen to it now!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgKaq7buN2Q

Great cover. Now, you may have noticed that Amanda's quite young. I think she's fourteen or fifteen but I'm not too sure. If you love Green Day, I advise you to check out her covers of some of their songs and you might want to check out her albums on iTunes. Full of originals, which are great and ooze with influences from the 60's until today. But, as my readers know, I'm so fond of songs that are stripped down to the bare minimum. It shows the capability, creativity and depth of the artist beyond any other measure. Amanda Pascali sounds like she could be in her 20's (at least) in this song and channels a whole lot of artists of the past, as well genres. The song is called "East Bay Angel", and you can buy it on iTunes. The quality of the recording is fantastic and if you like the sound of this, go check that out now. Here's a little version she did on youtube for a contest of some sort. Make sure you subscribe to her channel and check out her band's Facebook (The Infusers). She's one to look out for! Check back tomorrow for another fantastic youtube artist!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aE1LRILDDv8

Alex Hamel

Greg Guitar Case: Reminiscent Of Those Old Acoustic Blues

Today, I decided to finally write about a personal favourite of mine. His name is Greg, and he's a modern day blues man. He's got a handle on the blues that's so rare and respectable (especially for youtube). He's not a big shot youtuber, like some others with millions of views and huge amounts of subscribers. He's an artist in his own right and follows the classic blues tradition of playing the music, for the sake of the music and his emotions. He mostly does guitar covers that blow me away and has a personal style of growling while playing that gives him a very distinctive edge. He plays acoustic guitar as if it were electric, as he supplies the electricity from his soul.

I first came across Greg, while looking up covers of Jimi Hendrix's masterpiece "Little Wing". Greg's version grew on me and I must admit I was mystified by it at first. I wasn't sure if I liked it or not, but I can definitely say he pays the song respect and gives it his own tone with his acoustic guitar and growling. Talk about playing with emotion...check it out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbEGGrlnGyg

I'm so glad people like Greg remind the world of how great and important, people like Jimi Hendrix are today. I get extremely frustrated when I come across people nowadays who say "I love Bruno Mars!", and when I say "Have you listened to Jimi Hendrix or even some older bluesmen like Howlin' Wolf?" they cringe, even though they haven't given it a chance. Well, if people actually liked artists like Bruno Mars, they would know that he wishes he could meet Jimi  Hendrix (as stated in an interview). 

Apologies for going off topic with this but I guess Greg's cool and stylish approach to good "old" music, and the fact that he isn't viewed as much as other youtube artists, frustrates me. Well, there's nothing better than blowing off a little steam with the Robert Johnson classic "Come On In My Kitchen". Greg covers this track on what looks to me like a National guitar and reminds all the young guitar players that they've got a long way to go to reach Robert Johnson's blues! Have a listen if you dare!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrL_Fm_qb5s

I absolutely love that track and Greg's cover is superb! Vocally, he gives in to the guitar, which some may find distasteful, but to blues listener like myself, it's just right! It's quite hard to get such a neat tone using a slide on a National guitar but I must admit, he does it well. And, speaking of playing the blues on a National with a slide, an original of his caught my attention a little over a week ago called "When The Blues Calls Your Name". If you like the blues and wish more people wrote original tracks today, that are reminiscent of the old acoustic blues, you'll love this! Don't forget to subscribe to Greg on youtube and support the blues! Check back tomorrow for another fantastic artist!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BS1-GNnh94

Alex Hamel

"nicolascage09": Calming & Magnetic

When I got back to my hotel room this afternoon I picked up my acoustic guitar and started playing the very recognisable riff from Orla Gartland's masterpiece "The Ground". I've been tempted to cover the song since I like it so much and decided to look up "The Ground Covers" on youtube. I was happy to find a good of covers. For anyone who doesn't know who Orla Gartland is, you'd better read the post I put up on February 1st. She's a brilliant singer/songwriter. Well, amongst the covers I found a really great cover by a German girl's whose youtube channel is named "nicolascage09", which seemed interesting. I checked out her Facebook page and found out that her name is Nicki and that she loves music. It seems to me that music loves her too, as it takes her over when she has a guitar in her hands. Check out her very respectful, brilliant cover of Orla Gartland's song now!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuIvUCtnToE

She does the song justice and Orla herself commented on the cover, to Nicki's overwhelming pleasure. What I love about her cover is that she has got the guitar parts down perfectly, has obviously rehearsed the vocals tremendously and even mimics Orla's manner of accenting certain words. May I just pay respect to Orla once more by saying that she is probably the most talented singer/songwriter I've ever seen on youtube. Some artists take years to find their sound but Orla's got a firm hold on her base, and she's only eighteen. And what that does is inspire so many other singer/songwriters around the world, including the very talented Nicki to get out there and work on their own originals. So, thank you Orla Gartland for opening the hearts of many other singer/songwriters on youtube.

I went through a bunch of Nicki's covers and can safely say that I like all of them. One that stood out to me was "Pumped Up Kicks" (Foster The People). It's a really great sounding cover, where Nicki gives the song her own personal twist. She has distinctive style of slapping the guitar strings as she finger picks, that gives her covers a great rhythmical section. She also keeps the song simple, vocally, which a lot of singers don't do these days. Instead of succumbing to vocal acrobatics and "showing off", Nicki's tone is subtle and magnetic. I don't want to sound too technical, considering I'm just another person who loves music but I guess that comes with being a singer/songwriter myself. When you listen to a song, you just tear the pieces apart to figure out how it comes together. Anyways, enjoy her beautiful and smooth cover of "Pumped Up Kicks"!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUddKUxBxUc

Like most artists I write about, Nicki has a bunch of originals that I think you'll like. You'd better go through all of them to find which you like most but a song of hers that caught my attention is called "Stronger". It was uploaded some time in early 2010 but it's just as good as any of her more recent tracks and I urge you to give it a listen. For once, I'm not going to write all about it and let you form your own opinion! Don't forget to look Nicki up on Facebook (nicolascage09) and also keep in touch with "Youtube's Underground Music Scene" on Facebook. Check back tomorrow for another fantastic artist!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMGIwpG_hD4

Alex Hamel

Peter Forte: Promising Sound

I hope you all enjoyed the wonderful Melanie Wehbe yesterday and ready for another beautiful youtube artist I'd like to introduce you to! I only discovered Peter Forte this morning and have to say that his last name is so fitting to the power of his vocals. They're so strong, not only dynamically speaking but emotionally. They are rich with a certain raspy quality that only gives more depth to his already fascinating voice. For the first time on this blog, I'm writing about a youtube artist who hasn't uploaded any original pieces, not for any other reason except that I feel he has got some original material under his belt that he might not be ready to let out yet. Hopefully, if he does, he shares it soon because I have a feeling it would be tremendous. I'll update you if he does.

Well, the cover of his that caught my attention was of Michael Jackson's masterpiece "Man In The Mirror, of the 1987 album "Bad". For once in my life, I heard someone really nail that intro on an acoustic guitar, which most people tend to skip when playing the song on acoustic guitar. Not only did he keep the rhythm tight with his melodic approach to the guitar but he really followed the song and let the song unravel vocally. As I've written before, I truly admire artists who get out of the way of the music and let it just happen. There are too many artists who try to control the song, the sound and the feeling. Even if there are minor mistakes at times, they are "good" mistakes that add to the honesty of the song. Listen to Peter's cover now and make sure you watch the video to catch his little capo change at 2.44. Truly amazing!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOoXx4jzrpg

I really love the way he approached the song and although you hear him getting tired towards the end of the song, you also hear him press himself to an extreme that gives the sound more urgency and honesty. One guitar, one voice and no editing tricks. This is a true artist who could probably knock the socks off most artists signed to major record labels these days. Now, my question remains, can he write good songs? I have a feeling he can and hope we find out. Now, the next cover of his that caught my attention was quite different but equally brilliant. It was of Oasis' "Champagne Supernova". It was uploaded a little earlier than "Man In The Mirror" and features him on piano, as well as guitar. The recording is quite a bit clearer and his vocal approach is much more gentle than his the Michael Jackson super song. I used to watch American Idol, and found it extremely corny when a judge would say "You chose the perfect song!", and I'm no judge but I feel that "Champagne Supernova" is such a perfect song to show off the details of his vocals. You hear so much detail in his raspy sound and every crack in the lyrics that gives the song so much power. Feel free to disagree with me, but have a listen and see what you think!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-j1u72Nrc44

Such a great cover and the video is good too. I forgot to mention with "Man In The Mirror" that Peter must be using a good microphone since he can really put pressure on his vocals and they don't distort. Every singer out there has a particular voice and finding the right microphone can be a tough job but I feel that Peter's microphone is good enough for his youtube covers. I only hope he comes up with some originals and promotes himself a little more because he's definitely got something to him! Check him out on Facebook (Peter Forte Music) and listen to his Valentine's Day upload there! Check back tomorrow for another fantastic artist and don't forget that you can now find "Youtube's Underground Music Scene" on Facebook where updates and videos are posted daily!

Alex Hamel

Melanie Wehbe: Tiny Woman With A Big Voice

I was walking through a clothes shop today in Rome and heard "Rolling In The Deep" (Adele) booming through the speakers. The lack of great music pushed by the major record labels these days creates such an imbalance when a great artist manages to get a great song through the label. A lot of people dislike the song now because it's "overplayed", but honestly, if it's a good song, play it as much as you like. If you don't like it, no one's forcing you to listen to it

Well, where does Melanie Wehbe come in? Hearing the song reminded me of the cover I did on youtube some time in August, 2011. When I managed to upload it I checked out the suggestions that came up on the side of my video and amongst them Melanie Wehbe's cover of "Rolling In The Deep". It had about the same amount of views as mine at the time and I liked her cover so much that I checked it out again the next day, and the day after that and so on. Today, my video has a little over one thousand views, and hers has nearly fifty thousand views. Sometimes views are no indicator of how good a video is but in this situation I have to say that her cover is phenomenal and absolutely blows mine out of the water. Check it out and enjoy her great cover!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJ_W7LdJD7w

What adds to the magnificence of Melanie Wehbe is that her guitar seems almost bigger than her, and despite how small she looks and sounds when she speaks, the minute she starts singing, a large and powerful voice explodes from within her. The way she maintains her voice with such stability when she sings the verse of "Rolling In The Deep" only adds to the explosion of the chorus that she performs with such perfection. 

The next cover of hers that I checked out was of Lady Gaga's "Edge Of Glory". She had a few covers up at the time but hearing how incredibly powerful her voice was in "Rolling In The Deep", I wanted to see how strong she could go with the vocal acrobatics of "Edge Of Glory". The introduction to the video is so fantastic and realistic that it only adds to greatness of the cover. So many youtube artists try to cover up their "tricks" through the magic of video editing but Melanie Wehbe avoids the whole issue by just presenting her "trick" (which is of course, the papers with all the lyrics to the song spread across the floor).  Once again, the contrast between Melanie talking and Melanie singing is massive. She turns from a tiny little woman to a huge force of nature the minute she starts singing. My favourite part of the song is when you can hear Melanie's vocal chords pressing against the "edge". Listen to this simplified, beautiful cover of Lady Gaga's masterpiece!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cYjqM9YZpI

Beyond Melanie Wehbe's great covers, she's got a bunch of fantastic originals too. I only wish they'd get as much attention as her covers. Well, as anyone knows I love and admire performances that are stripped down to their core, which is why one of my personal favourites is her song called "Two Little Birds". I was nervous that it would sound like a copy of Bob Marley's "Three Little Birds" but luckily the only resemblance is in the name. It's a fantastically sweet little song and I recommend it so you can so how pure and simple Melanie Wehbe is with her originals at the core of her sound. But, for anyone who loves a good beat, check out her song called "Irresistible". For now, check out her out on Youtube (MellaBellaMoi) and look her up on Facebook because she's definitely one to follow. Here's her song "Two Little Birds"! Check back tomorrow for another fantastic artist! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmDbc5mYjTw

Alex Hamel

Julia Nunes: Youtube's Sunshine

Julia Nunes might be one of the most successful Youtube artists I've come across, and chances are you know her (if you roam random youtube channels late at night looking for great covers). I actually got criticised a couple days ago for writing about Christina Grimmie because she is not "underground". Well, honestly, if someone started on youtube they didn't start from the highest point, they started working upwards and some succeed tremendously. If you are one of those fantastic success stories such as Christina Grimmie, or Julia Nunes, good for you! Not only are you a part of Youtube's vast collection of amazing artists but you are an inspiration and a motivator for everyone else. That is why I am not leaving out the most "successful" artists or the least viewed artists. If you play music, you're an artist, the rest doesn't matter as much as that fact. It shouldn't, really.

Anyways, back to the beautifully fantastic Julia Nunes! I came across her a couple years ago on youtube doing a cover of "Build Me Up, Buttercup" (The Foundations). I clearly remember watching her start off and thinking "Hm, this is alright." and about half a minute later I thought "This is great." Just as she builds up to the chorus I'm thinking "This girl is just fantastic." Of course, after that, not only am I loving the sound but I'm smiling. Julia Nunes is the most uplifting, motivating, hilarious artist I've come across on youtube. Not matter what, she'll put a smile on my face and I'd bet good money that she'd do the same for you. I must note, her friends who randomly appear in her videos from time to time also seem to be infectiously funny and just as loveable as Julia! Listen to "Build Me Up Buttercup" and feel better about life!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeP1Klmk0ng

She seems to be the kind of person everyone wishes they had in their life. She's a ray of sunshine and she shines even more the minute she starts singing. Her youtube collection is priceless and if you want to feel better, or just listen to a great sounding voice, I urge you to go through it. For anyone who doesn't know me, let me say that I'm a massive 'Dion & The Belmonts' fan and I'm so glad she made the song hers with a fantastic Youtube cover. I'm no musical genius but I know that she makes me feel great with her funky voice! Listen to "Run Around Sue" (Dion & The Belmonts) covered by Julia Nunes now!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHhMbMdYjXE

Now, she's not only a genius at covering other people's songs but she's a songwriting genius. Her original stuff blows me away and I love it! There's not much "scientific basis" for what I'm saying but really, who cares? If you've checked her out, you already know she's phenomenal and that she can make you smile, so what are you waiting for? Listen to one of her older originals called "Into The Sunshine", subscribe to her youtube channel if you haven't done so already, and check her out on Facebook! Check back tomorrow for another inspirational youtube artist!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jk5L0-SIceg

Alex Hamel

Liam And Imi: Soulful Vocals & Rhythmic Guitar

Once again, I'm writing about a fantastic acoustic female/male duo. Liam and Imi hail from Cornwall, England but I only found them on Youtube today. I'm taking a vacation in Rome at the moment and felt like heading out to the Piazza Navona to play a couple songs to the magnificent fountain. Amongst the songs on my mind was "The Other Side" (Bruno Mars feat. Cee Lo Green and B.o.B). If you own an acoustic guitar and haven't tried that song, give it a shot, it almost sounds better unplugged. Well, before I stepped out I decided to look up other people's versions on Youtube and that's how I came across Liam and Imi. They've got such a sweet sound but I don't want to get your hopes now so I'm going to break the news to you now. They've both gone off to university and thus can't make videos together for the time being. Fortunately Imi has got a new project going and let's hope Liam makes something of his raw musical talent. Here's their take on the juicy Bruno Mars track.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_HnaTpJRY4

Beyond their obvious talent I have to note that I like the sound of the microphone they are using. Finding an appropriate microphone for each person can be so tricky but it seems that whatever they are using is a perfect fit to Imi's voice. Needless to say, I still haven't got to Piazza Navona because I had to share their fantastic talent with you. The next cover of theirs that blew me away was of "We Are Young" (Fun. feat. Janelle Monae). Oddly, I love this song. I always felt that if a song could be stripped down to a vocal and a guitar/piano and still sound the same, then it is good. And that's just what Liam and Imi do in their cover. Liam slams on his guitar like a drum and Imi blows out those simple lyrics that make everyone stop and listen. So, here's your turn to stop and listen!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ote11KTmVpQ

I think the end of the cover is better than the end of the original. But that's just me. Feel free to share your thoughts. Now, I listened to an original of Imi's that's posted on the channel, called "Not This Time". The lyrics are great, and the melody is so reminiscent of pop folk artists appearing on the scene today. There's a painful screech when she slides her fingers along the guitar but it's part of the song's charm so enjoy it and don't forget to check out the new project Imi's got going up in Leeds. You can find Liam and Imi's Facebook page by looking up "Liamandimii" and subscribe to their channel by looking up the same. Enjoy the song and check back tomorrow for another great artist! I'm off to Piazza Navona.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xpel5yYVWUQ

Alex Hamel

Daisy Howard: Opening My Mind

I came across Daisy Howard's covers in August, 2011. I had been playing guitar for ten months at the time and was quite nervous when covering songs on Youtube, because unlike live performances, once you have something recorded and uploaded, it is permanent (including mistakes). Of course, you could do a ton of takes and waste your days away, but that's not too honest. Well, I saw a bunch of her covers (mostly by the Red Hot Chili Peppers) and admired the fact that even though she had not "mastered" the song, she had taken it in her own direction and uploaded it. Of course, being the hardcore John Frusciante fan that I was, and am, I was quite judgmental of her approach to a couple of the songs. "Dani California" (RHCP), was the one I was probably most judgemental of and still feel uneasy about. But, taking a step back from my love for that Hendrix inspired guitar that Frusciante plays, I think to myself "Well, Jimi Hendrix took Dylan's folk song and turned it into such a rocking track, shouldn't it be fair to do the opposite?" For anyone who doesn't know what song I'm discussing, it is "All Along The Watchtower" (Bob Dylan). So, keeping an open mind, Daisy's cover of "Dani California" offered me an alternative view of the song and I'm very thankful for that. Have a listen to Daisy's simplified version of "Dani California" and remember that John Frusciante himself said that it's not about showing what you can do with a piece of wood, it's about making music!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVbH4nL99hw

Well, she's doing something right since she's got such a variety of people listening to her. That's for sure. If you go through her covers you'll find a bunch of Red Hot Chili Peppers covers that are all respectable and inspiring for anyone who feels the are "not ready" to upload a cover to youtube. Whether the song is mastered or not, it still deserves to be heard. And Daisy proves that the more you persist, the better you get. Take her cover from February, 2012 for example. Her take on "The Zephyr Song" by the Red Hot Chili Peppers displays her smooth improvement on guitar yet maintaining the same passion for music. Have a listen and lose yourself in this fantastic track and enjoy how she treats the song as a piece of art!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78yV6rXDUmo

I love artist who improve themselves and find themselves within inspiration from their idols. This is clearly evident from Daisy's originals that are continuously reminiscent of her influences. What I can say with all my heart is that I enjoy Daisy's sound most when she sings/plays her original pieces of music. Her most recent upload of an original entitled "Star Cross'd" is a dreamy, infectious melody enhanced by Daisy's truthful passion for music. I encourage you to listen to it and go write your own songs too. She's a living example of what somebody can do with the help of a guitar, youtube and a good deal of important inspiration. Listen to "Star Cross'd" and find the sparkles of her influences embedded in her voice, her guitar playing and lyrics. Check back tomorrow for another great artist!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyyLLIGkj1M

Alex Hamel

The MonaLisa Twins: Under Special Request

This melodic Austrian duo came to my attention a couple weeks ago, thanks to a devoted reader of the blog, Christomir. They're a sweet duo and for any Beatles fan, they're a must. The first of their videos that I took the time to listen to was a cover of "Blackbird"(Beatles). To be perfectly honest was caught my attention more than the cover of the song itself was how artistically creative and crystal clear the video was. I must say, I think Sir Paul McCartney would be proud. Have a listen and share your thoughts.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmqlYEI1tx0

Christomir warned me about their heavy accent however I think that it only enhances the originality of their sound. Any non-native English speakers singing English songs bring a certain essence of their own sound and I find that ever so admirable. I asked Christomir about the sound quality and the superb quality of the videos and I was told that they use their father's studio and thus the excellent quality. Considering what a massive fan I have been of sound quality/video quality, it is such a privilege to hear the details of their covers and originals. If only all artists had the same opportunity they have had. 

The next song I came to listen to was a cover of yet another Beatles track "Eight Days A Week". Once again the girls seemed to be on some exotic trip (to Australia, I believe). What's better than travelling with a guitar and a sibling in the musical world. Beyond the melodic harmonies they create, reminiscent of their idols, the Beatles, what comes through to me is a sense of gratitude for the privileges they've had to immerse themselves in the world of music, and the world itself, apparently. Check out their cover of"Eight Days A Week", and lose yourself in the fantastic scenery, as well as the fantastically cute girls.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVtl2qg4d6w

Under the influence (of the sun), and in the musical fusion of each other, the two have gone on to create original pieces of musical art that any old 60's fan could absolutely fall in love with. The original of theirs, that stands out to me is a song called "The Boy Is Mine". I was suspicious that it might have been inspired by the Michael Jackson/Paul McCartney collaboration "The Girl Is Mine", but it is truly original. Christomir feels they are a female reincarnation, which some might argue but I'll go further and say, I hope they continue to create original music and have as much of a musical adventure as John, Paul, George and Ringo had "in their lives". Better to be original, than a cover band but there's nothing wrong with having strong, clear influences. Have a listen to "The Boy Is Mine" and drool over those hot harmonies the girls get going, accompanied by the rockin' Rickenbacker and Gretsch under their arms. And let's not forget the fantastic back up they get from the two boys on stage with them. Check back tomorrow for another fantastic youtube artist!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bAuhDjlAmM

Alex Hamel

Kina Grannis: Gentle Sound, Strong Feeling

I only came across Kina Grannis a couple months ago. I've always listened to Bob Dylan and his song "Boots Of Spanish Leather" is a personal favourite. Any Bob Dylan song can be a personal favourite really. Anyways, I was surfing around youtube, checking out cool covers of "Boots Of Spanish Leather" and that's how I stumbled upon the gentle force that is Kina Grannis. Her cover of the song was one of the best I've ever seen and the song fitted her way so perfectly. By "her way" I mean the way she touches the words, the way she sings, the way she looks around and closes her eyes and gives herself to the song. Her voice and her way are so powerful, yet her approach to music is so gentle and approachable by anyone. Listen to her cover of "Boots Of Spanish Leather" and tell me what you think.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFLmB0P3V8I

There's just an aura about Kina that makes her so approachable and easy to understand. I always enjoy going through her covers and originals and am glad I looked up covers of "Boots Of Spanish Leather". One of her other fantastic covers is a collaboration with another fantastic youtube artist called Boyce Avenue. I'm sure you've heard of them as they are one of the most viewed artists on Youtube. They did two covers together I believe and the one I'd love you to listen to right now is "Fast Car" (Tracy Chapman). The song may be "overplayed" for some but every performance is different, so give it a chance, and give yourself the chance to find a version you may enjoy more.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4zCOHFrLVY

I'll definitely have to write about Boyce Avenue too sometime, since they're so successful and have such a simple and loveable sound. Together with Kina Grannis, there is a harmony but there's also a contrast between their styles. For some that doesn't work but for them it's a beautiful musical fusion, like that of The Light Parade, who I wrote about yesterday. What I have to note about Kina that I love so much is that she doesn't "shut out" music as some youtube artists might tend to do. Some stick to recent hits, others cover oldies and some only do originals but Kina is a balanced artist and that is so admirable and rare.

Her gentle approach and simplicity in style make her music so easy to absorb and accept. Her originals are truly works of art and I urge you to subscribe to her channel, check her out on Facebook or her website and give her originals a listen. She's a "feel good" artist and her song "In Your Arms" is my personal favourite, amongst her many originals. Not only is the song a melodic adventure, but the video is an artistic masterpiece. She notes that 288.000 jelly beans were used in this video and my question is, what happened to them after? Listen to "In Your Arms" now and check back here tomorrow to read about another great youtube artist I'd like you to hear!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOu0DuxFAT0

Alex Hamel

The Light Parade: Love & Harmony

I came across this fantastic duo in early 2012. It must have been around this time. They create vocal harmonies that you can drool over and Alex's rhythmical guitar playing is the perfect match for that harmony. The first video of theirs that I stumbled upon was a cover of "Sweet Dreams" (Eurythmics).The way they raced into the song with Alex's snappy guitar and Kara's melodious voice captured me, and the way they slowed it down at just the right time kept me there, and subsequently led me to look through all their videos! It may be cheesy but after checking out their cover collection, I had sweet dreams. Here is that awesome cover of "Sweet Dreams" for you to get caught up in too. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTp9HWAhh5E

The harmony between their voices, the guitar and their voices, and themselves as people is what magnetises people to their videos, and I imagine, their performances. I haven't seen many updates from them lately on their youtube account or Facebook page, but hope that they'll come with something new soon, because they've got something fantastic together. It's so great when two artists come together a musical fusion that could have never been achieved by one or the other alone. May that be a message to all the bands thinking of breaking up out there. If you've got something special, stick with it.

The next cover of theirs that I lost myself in was "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" (U2) mixed with "Standy By Me" (Ben E. King). Their harmonies were perfect once again, but this time Alex's guitar style wasn't as funky as in "Sweet Dreams". Somehow he reached that perfect balance between laid back and racing to find the right pace. I personally love it. Another aspect of the cover that I fell for was the whole set up of the video. Once again they face each other and create such a connection that affects the viewer, but also created a lighting that is reminiscent of two lovers sitting by a campfire. Take a look at this beautiful cover the two of them created.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcOT_gSXIA0

Beautiful, right? Now, I've heard a couple of the Light Parade's originals and the one that grabbed me personally was "It Can't Be Me". It could be the honest laugh they have together at the start of the video but I think it's the jazzy, funky harmony they get together on the song. Alex's vocals are reminiscent of an old soul singer meeting John Mayer/Jason Mraz and Kara's company perfect the sound of the song. Quite honestly, it's the kind of song I can imagine in a romantic comedy and thus a perfect song to write about on Valentine's Day. Check it out and have a wonderful Valentine's Day wherever you may be. Come back tomorrow for another fantastic youtube artist. And don't forget to subscribe to Alex & Kara's youtube channel, check them out on Facebook and enjoy the lovely harmonies they create.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vs-DUhPN9tg

Alex Hamel

Matt Woods: Raw & Mind-Blowing

I actually came across Matt Woods one night in London, about a year ago. We were both playing at the Troubadour, a fantastic venue near Earl's Court. If you don't know about it, you should look it up or if you can, go down there and catch some fantastic live performances. I arrived at the venue about two hours before the gig, to soundcheck and saw Matt Woods arrive shortly after. He seemed quiet at the time, contrary to another artist, whose name I can't recall, who thought she was next best thing. I did a quick soundcheck and this other artist must have taken about 30 minutes to do hers. I stepped outside for a while and must have missed Matt's soundcheck so I had no idea what he sounded like.

A few friends showed up and the place started to fill up so I took a seat beside a good friend, and great photographer Jack Daniel (fantastic name right?), and watched the first artist, who I really don't remember unfortunately. Next up was Matt Woods, and obviously I was impressed, since I'm writing about him now, a year later. Not only was I impressed, I was scarred. For the first time ever in my gigging "career" I didn't want to follow. He had a loop pedal and his fingers played the guitar as if they were programmed to do so since birth. A raspy, unique voice emerged as he managed to coordinate his guitar playing with some sort of loop pedal wizardry. Needless to say, I was blown away and was lucky enough to tell him so that night. 

So, as per usual when I really like an artist, I looked him up. But, he was nowhere to be found. All I could find was one little video on youtube and his Facebook. A couple months later a couple videos started popping up on youtube. And a little after that his Facebook page began to collect itself. Next thing I knew he had a couple songs out and seemed to be taking over. I was and am incredibly happy that people are hearing his magnificent talent because it is something he truly cares about. He hasn't uploaded any videos to his youtube channel but he has collected videos that have been uploaded by others for you to see. This gave me the excuse to write about him as a "youtube artist", although he is an artist who I recommend seeing live if possible. Here's one of the originals he sang that night at the Troubadour.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDR2RWdqgdo

It should be obvious now that he's a fantastic songwriter too. He's inspired by life, by everyday people and speaks a message with his music. I can say, he's a mysterious character, which gives his songs a sense of mystery too. I advise you to read his biography at http://mattwoodsofficial.com/ Try to figure that out. I personally prefer the metaphor, the mystery and the music to all the rest. So, here's another fantastic original by the massively talented Matt Woods.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3BcMFaWGxE

Once again, greatly crafted and perfectly raw. He doesn't need much to give him that fantastic sound. What I'm curious about is the process he went through to find that unique sound he has. Unlike other artists I've written about, I am not going to recommend any of his covers because his originals are so mind-blowing and pure. I should note however that when I saw him at the Troubadour he performed a nearly perfect cover of "Ain't No Sunshine" (Bill Withers). But for now, listen to his originals if you enjoyed the past two, check him out on Facebook, and download his free EP from his website. I hope to catch him live again when I return to London this Fall.

Alex Hamel

Blue Dean Carcione: Sound Of Another Era

I've been wanting to write about Blue Dean Carcione for about a week now but was troubled that he didn't have any originals uploaded to his youtube channel. I knew that he recently released a fantastic album called "Bad Things & Good People", so I looked it up on youtube and found a video that goes along with his album's title song. So, let's talk about Blue Dean Carcione.

I discovered Blue Dean a couple years ago when I was looking up some old folks songs, amongst them  "The Ballad of Jesse James" (Bascom Lamar Lunsford). I came across Blue Dean slamming down with his foot and scratching away on his ukulele and was hooked. But the moment he opened this mouth, this tremendously spiritual voice came out of him. As if he's transcending space and time, he brought the reality of the song to my ears, my eyes and my heart. How do you feel about it?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOIgWdkGbrY

Ever since I came across Blue Dean Carcione, I've been addicted to his covers and often play them when I need to escape from everyday life, wherever I may be. After listening to his sound I feel like I've been refreshed and am ready to deal with life again. Another cover of his that is phenomenal, musically, cinematically and emotionally is "I Wanna Be In The Cavalry" (Corb Lund). He doesn't just play the song, accompanied by a fantastic drummer. He surrounds himself with nature and the feeling of another era. Listen to this cover now!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APP1VctoufE

Now, I can't write about Blue Dean without commenting on his unusual craving for 80's pop. Somehow, he manages to make it seem normal that he's covering 80's pop as well as ragtime and folk music. I wish I could get away with it the way he does. Here's "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" (Cyndi Lauper) performed by Blue Dean Carcione, accompanied by his trusty ukulele.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZR80hNNgHQ

It's funny how he makes it sound so original yet keeps it so close to the original. I think I might like it a little more than the original although I too love Cyndi Lauper. Now, regarding Blue Dean's original stuff, he's got a great album out that you can buy. It's called "Bad Things & Good People" and the title track is really great. He does a great stunt in the video, one that I'd seen before on his youtube channel (BlueDeanCarcione), and the song itself is a modernised sound of another era. I truly love it when artists bring back sounds that shouldn't have been left behind. Blue Dean Carcione does that and empowers it with his sound unique sound. Listen to "Bad Things & Good People" on youtube and check back tomorrow for another great youtube artist!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78o8SxEkzJc

Alex Hamel

Christina Grimmie: Youtube Inspiration

So, when I used to look up covers on youtube I used to avoid the top few covers, because I felt if something was viewed too many times, there must something "wrong" with it. Christina Grimmie definitely changed my view on that. Unfortunately, I only decided to watch/listen to one of her videos about a year ago. Basically, I had seen her face endless times on youtube. If I looked up a cover of Adele, of Christina Aguilera, of Lady Gaga and a couple others, I just kept seeing this shadowy eyed girl with a Sonic the Hedgehog poster behind her.

It must have been February last year when I decided to click on a cover of "Forget You" (Cee Lo Green) by Christina Grimmie. I was considering covering the song but decided against it after watching her mind-blowing cover. I was so disappointed that I enjoyed it, that I went through all her videos to find something I wasn't fond of. Yet again, I was disappointed because not only did I enjoy her covers but I also found her incredibly likeable. Needless to say, I backed down from my belief that videos with "too many views" aren't as good, and started listening to what I had been missing out on. If you're one of those people who avoid the highest rated youtube artists, please put your ego aside and listen to this. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxceEHatfAU

Her vocals are out of this world and I love the way she pays respect to the original by playing the song in a way that the singer/songwriter would like it. I subscribed to her channel and continue to see updates and covers from time to time. There's something so addictive about her personality and her face that you feel compelled to watch her. It's also quite inspiring to think how much success she's achieved through her passion and through youtube. Hopefully she continues to get recognition for her fantastic talent and continues inspiring people, such as myself, to open their minds. Here's a video of hers that absolutely blew me away. I truly heard this song enough times this past summer to say I've had enough of it, but I can't get enough of her version.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OA4fdiOqNMw

Scarily powerful voice. Despite her lovely character and hyper humour, I like her best when she's tangled in melodies and lost in a trance. As if she's tapping into a parallel universe, you can feel the intensity of her vocals whether she's surrounded by a clutter of instruments or stripped down to a keyboard or acoustic guitar. She's got a an album on iTunes called "Find Me", of which the title song is my personal favourite. It's a great song and I recommend you check out the single "Find Me" (Stripped) that she's released on iTunes. I wish she'd give the world an album of songs stripped down to that extent because her songwriting ability is most apparent that way. Listen to "Find Me" now!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yWGE-fsBNA

Fantastic right? Well, Christina is a youtube inspiration and proof of what someone can do when they've got passion and belief in their souls. Youtube is such a great tool and I'm so happy it brought Christina Grimmie, the shadowy eyed girl to my eyes, my ears and my emotions. Hope she inspires you too! Don't forget to subscribe to her on youtube, check her out on Facebook or just google her and see what comes up. She's a great one.

Alex Hamel

Brooke Thomas & "thebrooke"

Brooke Thomas, known as "thebrooke" on Youtube was one of the earliest talents I came across on Youtube. I created my first youtube account some time in May of 2007 and heard "thebrooke" in the Fall of that year. For some odd reason, I was looking up wolves and anything related to them that day and stumbled upon a cover called "The Lone Wolf"(Kathleen Edwards). I clicked it since I had nothing better to do and lucky for me I heard something that blew me away. It was just magical. The guitar sounded so raw and her voice sounded like a tortured soul trapped in the guitar. I was curious why the video cut her head out, but it did add to the illusion of the "tortured soul trapped in the guitar". After hearing that cover, I really got into Kathleen Edwards as well "thebrooke". Here's the video. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HthdJDa3tSE

Such an eerie sound, yet so calming. It may come as no surprise that she has a couple fantastic Radiohead covers and a cover of Fleetwood Mac's "Landslide". I went through all her videos quite quickly and was disappointed when I ran out. I googled her, I searched for her around youtube a little more but she was nowhere to be found. Her last cover was uploaded on August 9th, 2007 so I thought she must have given up on youtube, if not something worse. Her eerie yet relaxing sound stuck in my mind and from time to time I'd go through her videos and share them with my friends. When I first picked up the guitar in the Fall of 2010 I even tried to figure out how to play "The Lone Wolf". Thanks to her camera placement, I managed.

So, on May 2nd, 2012 I suddenly saw an upload from "thebrooke". I wasn't sure what I was going to see, but I was most curious. I clicked and waited as a cheesy intro led to a clear video of Brooke Thomas talking about her difficult situation and how she wants to make an album. If you want to know about it, check it out. I recommend supporting any artist who wants to create art. I admit, I was sorely disappointed that the mystery unravelled so unexpectedly. Not only was the mystery shattered but for once I could clearly see her face, which was always hidden or somehow distorted previously. A couple days passed however and she uploaded another video. This time it was a cover, and not any cover, a cover of one my personal favourites, "Society" by Jerry Hannan (though I admit I have a preference for Eddie Vedder's version). Needless to say, the voice was the same and the raw guitar sound was back. Brooke Thomas and the mysterious "thebrooke" melded together in this video. The cover reached out to me and I picked up my own guitar to play the acoustic solo of her strumming. Check out the magic video. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQkGDp1UgCs

That song rings true in my heart I'm really happy that she covered it. Maybe I'll do a cover of it one of these days, come to think of it. So, I urge you to subscribe to "thebrooke" and if you want to, support her in the creation of her album. You can find out all about it on her Facebook page (TheBrooke. The Band.) and on her youtube account. I want to leave you with a sweet original of hers that I admire, called "Wobbly Boat". Here's to the fantastic talent you can find on youtube!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUULSXumYJc

Alex Hamel

Juliana Richer Daily: The Sound Of Emotion

Some people don't sing well, some people sing well and some people sing their heart out. Juliana falls into the third category. Whenever I find myself listening to one of her songs, or one of her covers, I can't listen to it once. I have to listen to it again and again because I feel like her soul is flowing on the notes she sings. I honestly love her. She's one of the people who do the word "artist" justice.

I came across her on youtube in the summer of 2011. I had just gotten into the Fleet Foxes and discovered they had a song called "Mykonos" (coincidentally where I grew up). I couldn't believe I hadn't heard it before and started looking up covers on youtube. And that's where I found Juliana making musical love with her keyboard. It's just as good as the original and it overflows with emotion. Check it out. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MS3vdIMekCE

Fantastic, right? She can be delicate, she can be strong and she lets the song guide her, rather than guiding the songs herself. It's so great when an artist gets out of the way of the music and just lets the song do the "talking". So, I obviously went through her collection of covers and originals at the time, as  I'm doing today and can honestly say that there isn't a video I don't like. There's a cover by Juliana and The Doyle Brothers that blew me away though. I thought I'd heard too many "Grenade" (Bruno Mars) covers but this one stands out so much. It's funny to watch too. The Doyle Brothers' "Yeah Yeah Yeah"'s remind me of the Backstreet Boys but, what do you think?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlqhTlH12Qs

Quite a fun cover. I really had trouble choosing what other cover to bring up. She's got "Don't Think Twice, It's Alright" (Bob Dylan) and "Santeria" (Sublime), which are also two personal favourites. But "Grenade" sounded so fantastic I thought you had to hear it. Hopefully you check out all her videos, as I have. Now, regarding her originals. They're all fantastic in my mind but you're going to have to figure that out for yourself. She uploaded a video about ten or eleven days ago called "If I Had A Boat" and I personally love it. It's hard to avoid getting caught up in the melody and rhythm of the song, but luckily Juliana has the lyrics written below the video, so you can really see what a piece of poetry it is. Brilliant really. Have a listen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KVAxbe6vzY

Well, thats Juliana. Make sure you subscribe to her youtube (julianaeverday) and check her out on Facebook or her website. You can buy her music online if you want to or you can just enjoy the wonders she uploads to youtube. She seems to be a pretty cool person, so I urge you to read about her on Facebook or her website. I'm glad I'm one of her devoted listeners.

Alex Hamel