Tim Urban : Subtle, Sweet & Soulful Songwriter

I don't often look up Beatles covers, and I don't know why I don't. Whenever I do I find a great artist. Such was the case today when I came across Tim Urban doing a smooth and sweet cover of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps (Beatles). Tim took this classic, written primarily by Harrison, and turned into a soulful, almost Jason Mraz like song, which actually worked for me. And although I love Clapton's guitar work on the original work, I do appreciate Tim's take on the guitar part too. It's a much more subtle version overall, and I do think you'll like it. Check it out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fltqlu5dues

Great isn't it? Definitely one of those timeless songs that could probably be applied to any genre, and still sound good. I think I've heard reggae versions and country versions that sound incredible too. But what Tim did with this one was ever so subtle, yet remaining true to the original, which is what many people find essential when covering the Beatles. You can't go too far from the base or else you'll get lost. Nevertheless, Tim kept one foot on the original and stayed safe with this one.

I obviously clicked the "Subscribe" button to his channel, which I'd advise you to do as well, and checked him out on Facebook, which you can do by looking up his name. He's got a bunch of great covers, including one of "Hey There Delilah" (Plain White T's). Many of you may know it as that incredibly "overplayed" song back in 2006. In the song's defence, there is a reason that it's "overplayed". Tim does a classic rendition of this one, adding in his quirky and likeable tone. Have a listen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOi3j9os_B4

Really nice. In a sense I like how Tim made the song more upbeat. Once again, it's a song that I feel would sound great in any genre. So, I guess Tim chooses his songs wisely. I can't quite put my finger on what he reminds me of in this one but there's definitely a real great sound in his voice. Definitely a voice I'd like to hear doing originals, which I'll get to.

He's got a bunch available on his channel, and if you liked his covers, you should really take some time to listen to the originals. His latest one that caught my ear is called "Tears for Halellujah". A soft, Damien Rice like song that is easily likeable. Tim's voice really shines in this one. Sometimes we get so caught up in an artist's covers that we forget to check out their originals, and that is usually whether their light shines brightest. So take your time with this guy. Check back tomorrow for another fantastic artist.

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

Alex Hamel

Fiomily : Harmonising Sisters

Well it's about time I wrote about these two. I think they must have been the first Youtube artists I ever came across back in 2006-2007. I've been trying to recall what the first video of theirs I saw was and can't seem to pin it down, but I do remember one of the first ones being "Star Of The County Down" (old Irish ballad). I knew the song through Van Morrison, and must have stumbled upon this cover through Youtube's suggestions, and I'm lucky I did. If I hadn't come across their cover, I would never have gotten so into looking up Youtube covers. The two girls were phenomenal for the time. A Youtube sensation, with lovely harmonising voices accompanied by Emily's guitar playing, which always rocked in my mind. They are not as active on Youtube nowadays, but they were certainly pioneers in the whole Youtube cover artist thing and I really respect them for that. Check out their cover of "Star Of The County Down."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t94aVr5S2pE

Love it. Even if it isn't as flashy or polished as some of today's Youtube videos, it's certainly a part of my Youtube history and am glad the girls haven't taken their videos down. I was always stunned by how high Fiona's voice seemed to go. Through time of course, it matured and blossomed into this incredible sound, which you'll hear soon enough. Emily...was a girl a truly looked up to at the time. She seemed incredibly musical overall and just knew where to go vocally. She seemed to be an iguana that would match up to Fiona's voice perfectly.

Moving along, the girls continued uploading videos for years to come and I kept listening/watching. What I loved about them was the fact that they never changed. They definitely improved and evolved, but they stuck to their base, they stuck to the songs they believed in. About a month before I graduated they uploaded a cover of The Beatles' big first hit "Love Me Do", with Emily on guitar, harmonica and vocals, and Fiona on vocals. Needless to say, I loved it and still think it's great. Have a listen.

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

I'm sitting here with my friend Brenda listening to this, and she's not really digging it but I'm saying "You know what? These girls just get out there and do it. If they had all that equipment and time, like most artists do today, they'd sound incredible." Nevertheless, I do think she'll see my point with the next video I'll be talking about. But as for this, who can can say that Emily isn't incredible with that multitasking and Fiona isn't great with those really high vocals? What I was always curious about was why they starred at the camera so intently, but I guess I'll remain curious about it forever.

Now, I do remember the girls having some originals up on myspace way back when, but I would like to share another cover with you, because I feel it's what they do so incredibly well and looking through their videos you can see their evolution and improvement through time. So, here's a cover they did of "You Need Me Man, I Don't Need You" by Ed Sheeran. It's been a long and winding road and I hope it doesn't end there. If you love the sisters as much as I do, subscribe to their channel and "like" their Facebook page (Fiomily). Check back tomorrow for another fantastic artist.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrerq4N3kZ8

Alex Hamel

Mike Fox : Distinguished Rocker

Today's find is Mike Fox. I came across this distinguished rocker when looking up cover of Bon Jovi's "Livin' On A Prayer". His was one of many covers but the one with the most vibrant energy. Strumming away on his roundback guitar, Mike really pulls those vocals off in a way that is a perfect match for an acoustic version of the song. He brings up the tempo a bit, which I feel was a good choice for the unplugged version of the song. When you're relying on your voice and one instrument, you can find yourself dragging the song along if you don't infuse it with emotion. And that's just what Mike does here. Check it out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDtjl_Aauo8

Great sound. There's so much personality in Mike's voice that I'm digging and I'm loving the sound of that roundback guitar. I've been considering getting one myself, and Mike's definitely got me leaning in that direction. But quite honestly, it seems so different from the original, which might be why I like it so much. He's truly made it his own and infused it with heart and soul. So often, a song you'd never expect to sound brilliant unplugged, is done with such a tactful approach that you realise every great song can be stripped down to one guitar (or piano) and a vocal.

Moving along, I obviously subscribed to Mike's channel, which you could do through the last video, or the videos to follow. He's got a bunch of great covers as well as some originals that I'm listening to now, but I'll get to later. Another cover of his that I definitely think you should check out is of U2's big hit "With Or Without You". Once again, he's got a very rhythmic thing going on with the guitar, which works for the song, and approaches the song on a more sensitive level vocally. Nevertheless, the song sort of grows, as it should. Have a listen and "see" for yourself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABsdfZM7loI

Beautiful tune, and a beautiful cover. As you may have noticed, there is a piano/keyboard set up behind Mike, which you can see him play quite well in other covers of his. As for this one, I guess the reason I liked it so much was because he went back and forth between slow and fast and soft and loud. Not only does he do that, but he seems to blend them together, which makes the performance flow like a river. Essentially, I think it was a great cover and suspect you feel the same way.

And as I brought up previously, Mike's got some really nice originals that I really hope you check out. Even if you only listen to one, it's worth it. I'd advise you to listen to a song entitled "Neverwill". I got a feel of Bon Iver on this one, and almost a taste of Pearl Jam on that guitar. Nevertheless, it's very folky and very unique, as are all his other originals. I really dug them and hope you do too. Check back tomorrow for another fantastic artist.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RvEsari3IQ

Alex Hamel

Caitlin Hart : Slows Time With Her Melodic Voice

Well, I'm getting ready to go soundcheck for a gig here in Mykonos tonight and am considering playing "Locked Out Of Heaven" (Bruno Mars) live for the first time. I've already done a cover on Youtube but doing a tune in front of people is always a revelation. I'll find out if people truly like it or not. So, as I've done before I looked around Youtube for more covers of the song when I come across a stunning one that I hadn't heard yet. Strangely, I hadn't come across any of this artist's covers so far and felt as if I came across a pot of gold. Caitlin Hart is her name, and her cover is sweet and subtle. She plays piano and sings and almost brings it to a "When I Was Your Man" (Bruno Mars) feel by doing so. I loved it and would love to give it a shot too. Check out this smooth cover!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dz3y7lRZvVY

Beautiful, isn't it? There's something incredibly particular about Caitlin's voice, which in a sense contrasts the majestic piano sound. A very honest, down to earth sound comes out of her voice, and I just love how it sounds uttering those honest, down to earth lyrics written by Bruno himself. I'll definitely be coming back to listen to it again later. As I've said before, I love to hear a song originally sung by a male, being sung by a female and vice versa. It gives the song a different perspective.

Moving along, I've already subscribed to Caitlin's Youtube channel and would definitely urge you to do the same. She's also got a Facebook page where she posts updates, so if you feel like it, it would be cool if you went ahead and "liked" that. She's got a bunch of cool covers online and one that caught my ear was of The Lumineers "Ho Hey", which is every so catchy anyways. Once again, Caitlin's on piano but is accompanied by her friend Jake on guitar and vocals too. Beautiful one once again. Have a listen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vg1yBq8sb8

Loving that collaboration. Together they create a fantastic harmony and the guitar and piano seem to intertwine perfectly. It seems to be one of those songs that nearly anyone can sing with personality and feeling. But, Caitlin and Jake added their own twist to it, which I love. Jake, on guitar and vocals seems the Lumineers' touch to the song but Caitlin slows it down, literally and figuratively through her mesmerising, melodic voice.

So, aside from those beautiful covers, and so many more available on Caitlin's channel, she's got some stunning originals. One that I love is called "7 Minutes" and tells a fantastic little story, accompanied by a cartoon, which is also beautifully done. There's a Jason Mraz/John Mayer feeling with this one, through the story, as well as the silly, happy tune which could brighten anyone's day. Once again, don't forget to subscribe to Caitlin's Youtube channel and "like" her Facebook page. She's a brilliant one to look out for. Check back tomorrow for another fantastic artist.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10PBekTNXoo

Alex Hamel

Jenna Anne : Sweet Singer/Songwriter

So, earlier today I decided to take a stab at "Titanium" (David Guetta). I definitely had a good time doing it, since it's not the kind of song I usually do. And after I got it uploaded to Youtube, I had the pleasure of going through hundreds of covers of the song. A few I had seen before but some were new to me, and included a really innovative cover by Jenna Anne. She takes on the song in an almost Bon Iver fashion, keeping it very folky and infusing it with her heart and soul. I think I'd call it my favourite cover of the song I've come across so far and keep clicking "Repeat" when it ends. What do you think? Check it out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7JQclemGFI

Stunning, raw and stripped down. Jenna took such a highly produced song and took it to an almost Dylanesque edge, which I love. So many times, songs sound better to me raw and stripped down, and this is the case with "Titanium". I do love it when I hear a real strong vocal on that chorus bit, but Jenna's approach was so unexpected, that I loved it. Her strength is in her restraint and relaxed approach. Definitely a great one!

Now, I definitely subscribed to her channel and "liked" her Facebook page, which I urge you to do too, if you enjoy her sound. She's got a good deal of covers up, as well as some beautiful originals, which I'll get too later. Going through her covers, I found myself listening to covers she uploaded about three years ago. It's almost as if you're listening to a different person really. The base is the same, but Jenna's definitely the evolving type, which I love. A cover of Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance", with Jenna on keyboards, showcases even more talent. Have a listen.

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

Great stuff! Although Jenna pushes a lot more with her vocals here, she's got the same apprehensive approach that gives her covers such an edgy feel. It's quite theatrical really, and I think that Lady Gaga is the perfect cover for her in that sense (though all her other covers are quite impressive). What I was thinking when listening to her was that she's not concerned with "perfection" but rather putting through her emotion and enjoying the feel of it. I could be terribly wrong, but that emotional approach that is consistent in all Jenna's covers really pulls me.

Now, as I mentioned previously, Jenna's got a bunch of stunning little originals that I'm just going through. The first one that I listened to really appealed to me, and it's entitled "How Bright The Fire". This one's from the "Titanium" era of Jenna's videos and is subtle, simple and stunning. It's almost reminiscent of some of Jason Mraz's ballads, which I adore. So, if you love Jason Mraz, this is a must for you. If not, give it a chance, 'cause she's really worth it. Great artist here. Check back tomorrow for another fantastic artist.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGmMCHM82GQ

Alex Hamel

Boyce Avenue : Youtube's Most Famous Artist

I've been waiting a while to write about these guys. I don't know what took me so long but I guess I was a bit intimidated by the fact that they might just be the most popular Youtube band out there. Consisting of brothers Alejandro, Daniel and Fabian Marzano, Boyce Avenue give their fans the most incredibly produced covers out there. Try looking up a couple covers of recent big hits and you'll probably find them lying at the top of the list. Although I am not a major fan of those who only cover new hits, for the sake of getting views, Boyce Avenue bring out covers of older songs and do them more than justice. What turned me on to them was a cover of Pearl Jam's "Jeremy". Through their mind-blowing talent for bringing out top quality videos, Alejandro's vocals and guitar track ring out like an orchestra in this one. Check it out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlhmdfl89tg

Amazing, isn't it? Talk about professionalism. These guys are talented and work really hard. I know a couple people who went to check out their gig in London a year ago, and absolutely loved it. I do regret not going at the time. Hopefully, I'll catch them when they come through again. And I certainly wish I could get that sound quality/video quality with my covers/originals. I'm pretty certain most artists out there would wish for it, since it's so sweet and tasteful.

And, I guess was reminded me to write about this star band was yesterday's upload. A cover of Michael Buble's "It's A Beautiful Day", recommended by Buble himself caught my attention. I can't imagine how the guys feel about such a voice recommending them, just as I can't imagine how Mr. Buble feels about hearing his song taken to such a raw and stripped down sound that may reach out to a completely different audience. I definitely love the way both of them do it but was surprised to see Boyce Avenue doing it. It's fantastic. Have a listen!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQTgoQbkV-8

Brilliant cover, and I expected nothing less from Boyce Avenue. I'm not going to even comment on the stunning performances given in their videos, now and then accompanied my fellow Youtube stars. All I can say is that these guys inspire so many Youtube artists out there, and that's such an important factor in Youtube's ever growing community. I don't know how many times I've seen comments on Boyce Avenue's videos filled with admiration and begging the guys to check out their videos. I only hope they know how much people love their music and don't distance themselves from the love.

And for those of you who don't already know Boyce Avenue, they've got some really great originals that you have to check out. So important! Don't just check out an artist's covers, check out their originals too, because that's where their treasures lie. A treasure that caught my ear, and my eye is entitled "Every Breath". A stunning song, accompanied by a beautiful music video that is getting serious recognition out there. I only hope these guys enjoy the ride and get everything they want. Check back tomorrow for another fantastic artist.

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

Alex Hamel

Chad Price : Sweet Soulful Sounds

I came across today's fantastic artist when looking up covers of The Mamas & The Papas' classic "California Dreamin'". I used to cover it at my gigs and somehow, I let it slip away over time, so I'd better get back to doing it. When you don't write out set lists, songs tend to get away from you. But anyways, let's get to Chad Price, whose unique cover of "California Dreamin'" really got to me. He doesn't give it the classic feel it has, but almost touches upon a Otis Redding vibe, or a Stevie Wonder feel, with his smooth, addictive vocals. Have a listen.

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

Sweet sound. He's definitely got a soulful side to him and actually reminds me of Prince, when he does his unplugged thing, now that I listened to the cover again. He's skilful with the guitar too, which only enhances the performance which seems to glide along, effortlessly. I'm sure it's taken him a good deal of practice to get his performances so polished, but there's no doubt that Chad's an incredibly talented man. 

So, I obviously subscribed to Chad's Youtube channel and "liked" his Facebook page, which I'm not done looking through yet. I urge you to do the same, because this guy is really worth it. He updates frequently, works hard at what he loves an does it well. He's got a good deal of brilliant covers you can check out, which span across a few eras and genres, which is great. One cover that I was happy to find was of Michael Jackson's "Rock With You." Once again, Chad's taken the song in his own unique direction and calms it down to what actually reminds me of John Legend (minus the piano/plus the guitar). Check it out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35KVcGuO5io

Great track. I certainly loved the way Chad did it, and am definitely going to revisit the whole "Off The Wall" album again now. It's fascinating how Chad took the song in such a different direction, but maintained the same soulful base. I definitely like the way Chad does his covers and will be going through his other covers when I'm done with this. He's got a blend of sounds in his voice and is an extremely talented guitarist (which I say confidently after seeing his cover of "Superstition" (Stevie Wonder). I do admit I was hoping I could hear him sing the song, but the instrumental surprised me and I loved it!

And great covers aside, Chad's got some fantastic originals that you might dig too! I found myself listening to his bright and sunny song entitled "Another Day." It's definitely a feel good song, with hints of John Mayer, John Legend and Stevie Wonder entwined in its roots. But influences aside, Chad's got something unique that I'm loving. So, once again, if you dig Chad's sound, don't forget to subscribe to his channel. I know you won't regret it! Enjoy his song too. Check back tomorrow for another fantastic artist.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgqJ7IL4I1g

Alex Hamel

Mathai : Vocals That Soar

One of my all time favourite songs is "Under The Bridge" (Red Hot Chili Peppers), and whenever I'm sitting around playing guitar, I find myself drifting back to that familiar guitar line, so eloquently set by John Frusciante more than twenty years ago now. And quite often, I look around Youtube for covers of the song that shaped my guitar playing the past few years. And when surfing around Youtube today I came across a brilliant cover by the very brilliant Mathai. Sharon Mathai sings those lyrics flawlessly and with unique character, which I love. And accompanying her on guitar is the incredibly talented Roark Bailey. Together they create a harmonious, peaceful sound that grows to that incredibly chaotic feeling at the end of the song. Have a listen!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNTp-17B_5s

Love it! I particularly enjoyed how they took the very chaotic end of the song and kept it very mellow and almost eery. They definitely put their own twist on it, while maintaining the incredible Red Hot Chili Peppers foundation, and of course John Frusciante's guitar style. Mathai's voice is ever so unique and quirky! The kind of thing you could sit and listen to for days on end. It's not your classically trained voice, nor your regular "pub" voice, but it's a very addictive tone. I love it!

Moving along, I urge you to subscribe to Mathai's Youtube channel and to "like" her Facebook page for updates. I only came across her about an hour ago and am still going through her stuff. She's got some stunning covers and originals on her Youtube, that you might want to check out. One that stood out to me, was uploaded quite recently. It's a cover of Johnny Cash's masterpiece "God's Gonna Cut You Down". This time, Mathai's accompanied by another very talented guitarist, Jacob Brown. He's definitely got some skills with that slide, and Mathai's vocals soar like an eagle! Check it out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uajl3wfZ0Rs

Great, isn't it? I love how just about anyone can cover a Johnny Cash track and infuse it with their personality. And that's exactly what Mathai's done here. She's infused the song with her wild sound and Jacob's got a real earthy sound with that slide. Together the two create a sound that is appealing to the young crowd as well as the blues/country connoisseurs out there! Really great cover, and there are more to listen to, so support her!

And aside from those stunning, exquisite covers, Mathai's got some beautiful original music that you might want to check out. You can check out her website and listen to some of her music, and some more covers there or you could check out her Youtube. A song that caught my ear on her channel is entitled "Lady Luck". A live performance of the song left me clicking the "repeat" button. So, definitely check that out. And for those thinking "Haven't I seen that girl somewhere before?" Yes, you have. She was on 'The Voice' last year! But anyways, check out her original and support Youtube artists. Check back tomorrow for another fantastic artist.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSQ1gDYCT00

Alex Hamel

ThePETEBOX : Beat-Boxing Mastermind

Well, I've got something special for you all today. It's a little different than the usual, and I'm really happy to say that. I'm always fascinated by fresh, new artists. I came across this guy while looking up covers of "Where Is My Mind?" (The Pixies), believe it or not. The Pixies are a personal favourite of mine and I never really looked into covers of the song before, and I'm glad I did now. There are a lot of good covers out there but none of them are similar to ThePETEBOX's cover. The guy is a beatbox mastermind and has some serious editing skills. Check out this mind-blowing cover!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhjA2nvVD7U

I bet you didn't expect that? The man has some serious skills when it comes to looping and is a fine instrumentalist/vocalist too. Aside from his raw talent, I have to compliment the quality of his audio/video. The sound quality is crystal clear and the video is too. As I mentioned previously, the editing is incredible too. I can't imagine how long this took to do but the man earned my respect in those 4:04 minutes.

After watching that, I obviously rushed for the "Subscribe" button (which I urge you to do too), and looked him up on Facebook. He's got a page that you can "like" there, and through which you can get regular updates from him. But all that obvious stuff aside, let's get back to his covers. He's done a bunch of incredible covers that I really enjoyed. I was tempted to share his cover of Nirvana's "Lithium" with you, but decided to share his cover of The Beach Boys "I Get Around", because it seems ever so complicated. He took the audio/video editing up a notch in this one and gives a flawless performance that would probably be incredible to see live. Watch this!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFkWYGa7Py4

Love it! There's definitely an electronic sound in there, but what do you expect? ThePETEBOX is one man surrounded by machines. I don't know if anyone assists him with what he does but in any case, the outcome is incredible. I like the fact that ThePETEBOX is covering a variety of songs and not sticking to one genre in particular. He's showing his diversity and ability to make nearly any song his. When listening to that cover of "I Get Around" though, all I could think was..."Bohemian Rhapsody" (Queen). There's definitely that sort of sound in there and I'd be intrigued to hear him cover any Queen track really. "Bohemian Rhapsody", "Killer Queen" and all those tracks have that layered sound with Mercury's voice roaring into eternity. I'd be really curious to hear ThePETEBOX attempt one of those. I think it would suit him perfectly.

Now, aside from his mind-blowing covers, ThePETEBOX has some great originals, which showcase the craft and uniqueness of his beat-boxing style. One track that stood out to me is entitled "Panther Dance", which incorporates the very memorable theme track from "The Pink Panther" (Henry Mancini), as well as inspiration from Bobby McFerrin. So check this out, feel free to check out ThePETEBOX's album (made up of originals and covers) on iTunes and don't forget to subscribe! Check back tomorrow for another fantastic artist.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ji6sJLFc8A

Alex Hamel

Juliette Valduriez : Guitar Goddess

Another day, another incredible artist. I came across today's while surfing across Youtube's waves, looking for covers of The Stooges' "Search And Destroy". And in doing so I came across this incredible guitar cover. I loved it so much that I was about to subscribe when I realised...I had already subscribed. I was shocked. This girl was one of the most powerful guitarists I had come across on Youtube, comparable to the likes of Kelly Rosenthal and Laura cox. Why hadn't I written about her? The answer was of course because she had no original material uploaded to her Youtube account. But the fact that I came across her again and again made me believe I'd better write about her. She's too incredible not to. Check out this powerful cover of The Stooges' classic!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUoT27E5zTU

Incredible, right? She's definitely got that raw power down and knows how to do The Stooges justice. And aside from her incredible soloing, shredding and fantastic rhythm, I'm loving her tone. So many people take the tone for granted but don't be fooled, it takes a lot of work to get the tone just right. I definitely respect Juliette for everything she did in that video and am glad it's up there for the world to admire.

Juliette seems to have slowed down with her uploads but that isn't slowing down the amount of people viewing her videos everyday. To date, she's accumulated 8,383,076 views and gets endless comments complimenting her, and some proposing marriage to her. I've gotta say, she's a talented one and like many others, I wish I could jam with her. What I respect most is the fact that she's got a variety of covers available on her account. One that really drew me in was of Pink Floyd's masterpiece "Comfortably Numb", off The Wall, which is currently on tour, with Roger Waters. Have a listen.

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

Love it! Juliette's got the emotion down so perfectly that she can fly over the track and work around every note. She's not the kind to just memorise a solo and do it, she gets the feeling and plays it how it feels. I really appreciate that. I mean, I've never seen John Frusciante or Jimmy Page do any solo exactly the same twice and that's exactly why I learn so much from them. David Gilmour of course is a different sort of guitarist in that sense as he can reproduce the exact solo identically each time, but I love the fact that Juliette took on this cover.

So, since Juliette doesn't have any original material uploaded to her channel (which you should have subscribed to by now), I'm going to close off with a cover of one of my all time favourite songs, "Gimme Shelter" (Rolling Stones). Not enough can be said about her guitar cover on this one. The tone is killer, the fillers are amazing and I'm just loving the backing track she used. Not sure where she found it but I love it. And those sweeps near the end of the video are to die for. Check it out and don't forget to check her out on Facebook! Check back tomorrow for another fantastic artist.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqlBoGr82_4

Alex Hamel

Alexandra Gadzina : Bright Young Singer/Songwriter

So, last night I decided to do a little cover of a favourite late 90's track called "Save Tonight" (Eagle Eye Cherry). And this morning when I decided to take a look at it again, I saw a fellow cover in the "Recommendations" column. Little did I know finding today's artist would be that easy. Alexandra Gadzina's cover of the song was so powerful vocally, though so raw on the guitar, that I loved it. I felt that though the song was not polished and sharp, it was real, and that's exactly what the alternative 90's were about for me. Raw and real music. So, check out this fantastic cover by Alexandra and feel that emotion pouring out of her.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCjBUVYhQu8

Love it! She's definitely knows how to get across the feeling and I'd love to see her grow as an artist. There' just something about her that makes me think she's only going to get better and write some great material. Alexandra's already got some lovely material, but I'll get to that later. As I said before, it's not polished and the guitar isn't "perfect", but the fact of the matter is...alternative rock was never about "perfection". It's about pouring emotion into music and getting it out there. If anyone out there disagrees with me, feel free to express it. I'm not saying alternative rock is just that, but that's a major part of it and I love the fact that Alexandra portrayed that raw sound through her cover.

Aside from that really catchy cover of a beautiful tune, Alexandra frequently updates her channel with lovely covers, so make sure you subscribe. And aside from those raw guitar covers, I was surprised to find some covers in which Alexandra plays keyboards. And contrary to those with the guitar, these were quite polished. So, I've gotta say that I loved the variety in there. Though I'm not a massive fan of Kings of Leon, I really enjoyed her cover of "Use Somebody". It's actually such a simple song and I love that. So, have a listen to Alexandra's stunning cover before we got to her original material.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUJ7B9mYjjk

Really great. As always, I love it when I come across a new artist who opens my eyes to how good a song is. Sometimes songs get so overproduced and layered with unnecessary bits and pieces that the raw quality is hidden underneath. So, the way Alexandra strips it down is perfect for my ear. Needless to say, once you really get into music, you can never listen to music the same again. You tear it apart and focus on different background sounds and so on. But, I actually never noticed how good the song was and have to say, I love the way it sounds with a female voice. Really different and I loved it. And...if you did too, make sure to subscribe to her channel and "like" her Facebook page, which I was surprised to find with less then 100 "likes". But, what do "likes" mean anyway?

And as I mentioned before, Alexandra's got some great originals. They've got a real simple backbone, which I love and are quite catchy. One that stood out to me was uploaded about twenty four hours ago and is called "Remember How To Breathe". I guess there was a reason to cover "Save Tonight" yesterday! If I hadn't, I wouldn't have come across this bright young artist. So, listen to this original and enjoy! Check back tomorrow for another fantastic artist.

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

Alex Hamel

Assembly Required : Acoustic Rockin' Duo

Since I brought up Phillip Phillips' "Home" in a post a couple days I decided to look around Youtube for covers of the song. There's actually tons of great covers out there but one that caught my ear was by a dynamic duo called Assembly Required. The duo is made up of Sam Hill and Simon Tester, although their Youtube videos make it sound as if there's some massive band playing behind them. I guess that's why I call them dynamic. They've got a certain presence, a certain electricity and a certain vibe that seems ideal for live performances. I honestly, would love to see these guys live. But for now, I'll be listening to their cover of "Home" (Phillip Phillips) with you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqmy3l4TiO4

Okay, for one that audio/video quality is stunning. These guys are incredibly talented and whoever's doing that audio/video recording and editing is a genius too. Too many times we listen to something, or watch something and forget how much lies beneath the surface of the creation. And Assembly Required must have a great team of people working on their stuff. Either that, or they work day and night on these videos. In any case, I'm stunned by how much effort they put into this.

So, if you enjoyed that, make sure you subscribe to their channel and "like" their Facebook page for updates. They upload stuff quite frequently and most, if not all of it, is made of true quality. A cover that I really loved was of Dolly Parton's "Jolene". It's such a classic track that so many people have made their own. And Assembly Required do just that. They give it that folky rock edge but maintain the smoothness of the song by inviting Charlotte Millman to sing on the track. She's definitely got a smooth and floaty sort of voice that contradicts and compliments Sam's rocky timber. Check it out!

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

I love that one. It's almost as if someone blended the original with the version by The White Stripes and threw in a little Lana del Ray sound. Really unique, and a great take on a classic song. Once again Sam's vocals broke the sound barrier on that one and not enough can be said about Simon who seems to be heavenly back up for any singer. I know I've had my fair share of arguments working with people but it seems that these two have their chemistry just right. I like it, and I'm sure you're loving it too.

Now, if you liked...or loved, their covers, you should definitely look into their originals on iTunes. You can also have a listen on Youtube, and I suggest you listen to a song entitled "Hold Me". Simon's guitar playing at the beginning is almost reminiscent of Pearl Jam unplugged, but Sam's voice gives it a different edge (though I do feel a real acoustic grunge vibe from them). It's light and it's heavy, and there's something in there for everyone. Have a listen and don't forget to subscribe to the guys. Check back tomorrow for another fantastic artist.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5S78VMOhzwo

Alex Hamel

Noah : Sexy And He Knows It

I've put off writing about Noah for way too long now. He's another Youtube superstar who truly deserves all the recognition he gets. I first came across him doing a cover of "Billie Jean" (Michael Jackson) alongside Christina Grimmie (another Youtube superstar I wrote about way back in February). Chances are, you know both of them, if you are the type to surf across Youtube's waves. But, if you don't know them, today's your lucky day. You've got a lot of good covers and originals to listen to. So, here's their cover of Michael Jackson's masterpiece "Billie Jean". Enjoy and feel free to moonwalk!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxiyzzLt6ug

Love it! Christina Grimmie always does her songs justice. So, if you don't know her already, make sure you go through her covers and originals. She will most definitely blow your mind. As for Noah, that man can sing. He's got such a unique sound, with hints of Joe Cocker and innumerable others in his voice. I also really dig his rhythmic guitar playing which has such a gentle edge, but creates a great a surface for the two to float across with their powerhouse voices.

Now, just to be clear, that was on Christina Grimmie's channel, so make sure you subscribe to her if you haven't already done so. She's magnificent, to say the least. So, after I saw that cover, I sort of forgot about Noah for a while. However, some time later, Noah came back into my life with an awesome cover of LMFAO's "Sexy And I Know It". This cover seemed to be everywhere in the media for a while and was a brilliant idea. If you haven't already seen this insane cover that many claim to be better than the original, this is your chance. Check it out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsvlsuLau5c

Flawless! I remember when Noah covered that, I thought to myself "Why didn't I think of that?" It was an incredible idea and Noah's got an ear that can recognise a great tune underneath a lot of "fluff". Needless to say, he's sexy and he knows it. Those vocals would work for a soul track, a rock track, a pop track, for the blues, for some smooth reggae...pretty much anything. He's got a sound that would work with any sort of music, and this cover is the proof.

So, now that you've been mind-blown, don't forget to subscribe to his channel and "like" his Facebook for updates. He's got a bunch of stunning covers that really deserve your attention. But, too often we love it when an artist covers a song, and never think that their originals might be incredible too. So, be ready for an album that Noah's been working on for quite a while now! With the help of contributors, support and his talented inspiration he's on his way to serving up what I expect to be a fantastic album. Here's his thanks and a sample of what's to come. Check back tomorrow for another fantastic artist.

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

Alex Hamel

William, Jeremy and Max : 4th Grade Rockers!

Well, it's another windy day here in Mykonos and Brenda and I were surfing across Youtube's waves, looking for some good tunes to listen to. Came across a bunch of a great artists but when I stumbled upon this young band, there was no way I could write about anyone else today. These guys blew my mind! Their band name, for the time being is William, Jeremy and Max. William is the lead singer of the band (and occasional bassist), and he's nine years old. Jeremy is the lead/rhythm guitarist in the band and he is ten years old. Max, is the drummer that sets the awesome pace for this band, and he is also ten years old. I never thought I'd hear a such a tight 4th grade rock & roll band, but there's a first time for everything! These guys know how to rock, and the first cover of theirs that blew my mind was of "TNT", by the awesome AC/DC. Check this out!

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

That was fantastic! I hope you agree with me that these guys are going somewhere. I only hope they really love what they're doing. Max's attitude towards the microphone is just right for a hard rock frontman, Jeremy's guitar playing is incredibly impressive considering his age and I have never worked with someone who can hold a beat as steady and clear as Max. I personally saw a little bit of Charlie Watts in his style, what do you think?

"TNT" aside, William, Jeremy and Max have a bunch of other great covers available on their Youtube channel. So, seriously, don't forget to subscribe to their channel if you enjoyed that. One of their live covers that I loved was of Led Zeppelin's "Rock & Roll". It's such an epic song in the history of rock & roll and I'm glad they've covered it. Watch out for Jeremy's take on Jimmy Page! I think Page himself would dig it, considering how young he was when he first appeared on TV, playing skiffle.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ie2Z3Ws_7PU

Brilliant! I seriously love the way these guys took on this monster of a song. Vocally, it's tremendously challenging. Guitar-wise...it is obviously tricky, and I loved Jeremy's solo. As for the drums... mind-blowing. John Bonham would be proud. Once again, something about Max's steady, clean beat and his overall style, remind me of Charlie Watts. And may I just say that I like how low Jeremy holds his guitar. And I've got to pay some respect to William who took on Robert Plant's very high, and strong, vocals.

And surprisingly, William, Jeremy and Max have some originals. I'm not sure if they wrote the whole thing, but I wouldn't be surprised considering how tremendously talented they are. An original entitled "One Fish Red Two Fish Blue" was inspired by the fact that less populated areas vote red, and more populated areas vote blue. I think it's a great song and you should definitely check it out, and don't forget to "like" their Facebook page. I can't close this post without saying that whoever put these videos together and did all the mixing and editing, did a fantastic job. I certainly wish someone did that for me. Brilliant work. And of course, William, Jeremy and Max are fabulous young rockers who I hope, will continue rocking and rolling through time! Check back tomorrow for another fantastic artist.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOUtW3VSi_k

Alex Hamel

Kari : Lost Gem

Have you ever lost something and then been really glad when you found it again? Same here with this Youtube artist. I came across her a year ago and absolutely loved her raw and realistic approach to music. A cover of Aerosmith's "Cryin'" left me realising that I should cover it too and her other covers and originals really drew me into her world. Strangely, I didn't subscribe to her channel or favourite the videos and lost track of her. For a couple months, I looked around Youtube and just couldn't find this girl whose very raw videos had blown my mind. But, a couple weeks ago, while editing the details of my "Cryin'" cover, I saw hers in the recommendations. I immediately clicked on it, and subscribed to her channel. Unfortunately, I can't seem to find her Facebook page and have no idea what she's up to now. She's not the most polished artist out there, but she's one that struck a chord in my emotions. So, have a listen to her cover of "Cryin'" (Aerosmith).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kjwcj5a4CgU

Stunning, isn't it? I guess what drew me to her cover of the song was the honesty with which she sang it. She doesn't focus on the notes, or on "doing it right". She really does it right by putting her soul into the song. The shakiness in her voice at points just thrills me because it gives the song such a strong emotion, as well as a different sound to the original.

So, now that you've listened to a cover by Kari, don't make the same mistake as me. Subscribe to her channel and don't forget her. I do hope I manage to find her Facebook page, or urge her to create one if she doesn't have one. In any case, for now, we have her videos. She's got a bunch of great covers, including a cover of "Here Without You" (3 Doors Down). Once again, Kari gives us her heart and soul. Some may frown upon the video/audio quality or the performance itself. But, to those who do "frown upon it", may I just say, did you frown upon Kurt Cobain's home recordings and home covers? It's not all about the quality of the equipment or how correct it is. It's about the feeling. So, get a feel for this stunningly raw cover.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5a7FOOqdj0

Great, isn't it? Kari really brings this song down to earth in a setting that almost resembles that in the music video. I personally appreciated it and hope you found you some inspiration and possibly, motivation out of it. She's the kind of artist that makes one think "Well, if she can do it, I can do it!" And that's just brilliant. I mean, it's great if you've got a lot of fancy equipment but, it can be a bit intimidating. So, once again, this was brilliant.

And of course, she's got some fascinating originals that you may enjoy. One of them entitled "Sexual Fantasy" oozed with passion and reality. I could definitely imagine it being performed by a rock band with a fantastic bass line, but I'll let you hear for yourself. May I just remind you, don't forget to subscribe to Kari's Youtube channel (k1soccerplyr15). Check back tomorrow for another fantastic artist.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tInkVP7xrwc

Alex Hamel

Matt Harrison : Stunning Warm Sounds From This Singer/Songwriter

I've got a great one for all you readers out there today. Earlier this evening I was sitting on the couch and decided to tune my guitar into open C, when I started strumming the chords to "Skinny Love" (Bon Iver). I made a mistake while doing so and found myself playing "Devil On My Shoulder" (Orla Gartland). I sort of got lost messing around with that open C tuning but finally got up and started looking around Youtube for great "Skinny Love" covers. There seem to be endless, stunning covers out there, including versions by previously featured artists such as Orla Gartland and Kina Grannis. Fortunately, I came across an incredibly unique take on the song, by Matt Harrison and Ruby Whiting. I don't want to give anything away, but I've gotta say that the song really works this way. Have a listen. I'm curious what you'll think of this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_skPBwRwG4s

Stunning! The reverb and delay layered on that smooth Stratocaster sound are reminiscent of some U2 tracks. And Matt's very particular sound gives the song a whole different edge. Of course, not enough can be said about Ruby's soulful vocals that match up perfectly with Matt's overall sound. Additionally, doing the song as a duet gives the song a different meaning, which I really appreciated. Nevertheless, I have a feeling that "Skinny Love" is the sort of song that would work in so many ways. Here's to Justin Vernon for writing it! Anyways, let's get back to Matt.

Unfortunately, that seemed to be the only cover that featured Ruby, but I'll definitely have a search with her name later on. Maybe she's got a couple covers out there to. However, Matt's got a bunch of stunning videos available on his Youtube. One cover that really took me by surprise was of the Rapture's "How Deep Is Your Love?" Despite the title, it has nothing to do with the Bee Gees' masterpiece. The Rapture is indie rock band from New York City. I'm not sure where I first heard "How Deep Is Your Love?" but it's been featured quite a bit on TV apparently. I probably came across it while surfing across the Youtube waves though. Anyways, enough with me. Check out this brilliant cover!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZupZBzA1gM

Beautiful, right? This song gave Matt a chance to fiddle around with the guitar a bit more. He's definitely got some funk and soul ringing through his guitar style, but his overall style screams "indie". And the whole video/audio production is amazing. Something about the "ooh" backing vocals toward the end remind me a little of "Home" by Phillip Phillips. But it worked fantastically well for the song.

And aside from those great covers, Matt's got a bunch of incredible originals. With his very indie, folkish approach, Matt's got a warm sound on his originals, and once again gives some very well produced songs to his audience. A song called "Running Shoes" oozes with warmth and depth. Not the kind of thing you can describe, but definitely the kind of thing you can get caught up in the moment to. Have a listen and don't forget to subscribe to Matt's channel and "like" his Facebook page, if you love his stuff as much as I do. Check back tomorrow for another fantastic artist.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3DKALtchQU

Alex Hamel

George Possley : "He Just Does It!"

I came across George quite a while ago and have been thinking about writing on him for a while now. Probably one of the most consistent and entertaining Youtube artists out there. I think what finally drove me to write about him was a discussion with fellow Youtube artist Danny McEvoy a couple days ago. Danny said the reason he loved George's videos was because he just "does it, you know?" And, honestly, I do know. He turns on that camera, and just runs through the song without showing off, or any self consciousness. And to see someone just do it, is truly inspiring. He might not be as polished as other artists, but he's definitely got a whole lot of love for what he does. And, a couple weeks ago, after he checked out my cover of "Pumped Up Kicks" (Foster The People), he went on to cover the track brilliantly. I say brilliantly, because you've got to have a lot of confidence and guts to cover a rather recent song when it's not in your field. I know the feeling myself, covering mostly 90's backwards. But anyways, check out this cover and listen to how George does it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZM_gcui8yGo

Love it, and love the fact that he said it's "everybody's song". It truly is everybody's song and George is one of those people who makes it that. He takes the risk, despite his doubts and I respect him for that. Sure, someone might say "That wasn't as good as so and so's cover", but if you stand back and look at the amount of covers this guy's done and how much he insists, you've gotta give him some credit. Like Danny McEvoy, George has accumulated more than 1000 Youtube covers, and continued to upload daily (with the occasional "day off").

One of my favourite covers by George was actually uploaded about 3 weeks ago and is of "Flowers On The Wall" (Statler Brothers). I know the track from Tarantino's masterpiece film "Pulp Fiction", but George obviously knew it before that (not assuming here, he actually confirmed). Once again, he storms into the song and does it! I honestly wish I had his confidence, let alone some of his musical knowledge. Going through his covers has opened me up to a good deal of great tunes and I'm very thankful for that. But for now, check out this great little cover of "Flowers On The Wall".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnDZ3e1RzbI

Great tune, and as a side note, if you haven't checked out the soundtrack to "Pulp Fiction", please do so. Like George, Tarantino has got a lot of musical knowledge. So far, if these are the first videos you've seen by George you may or may not realise that he doesn't get very technical, and as Danny says "He just does it!" And although some may get edgy because of that, I actually dig it. I mean, if you listen to the Ramones' first album, how technical were they? A couple chords on Johnny's guitar and Joey yelling into a microphone, sided by Dee Dee's recognisable bass line gave birth to punk. So, here's to simplicity and here's to George Possley doing it!

Aside from his many, many covers, George has a bunch of catchy tunes of his own. One that caught my ear a couple weeks ago is entitled "Bellinger Street". Quite honestly, as with most artists, I like George's originals more than his covers. His whole style comes together with his tunes and "Bellinger Street" could easily be a doo woo, rock & roll or punk track in my mind. It's got that catchy, straightforward sound and is backed up by lyrics that are reminiscent of the kind of thing Chuck Berry would write. So, have a listen and don't forget to subscribe to George's channel. Here's to supporting hard working singer/songwriters! Check back tomorrow for another fantastic artist.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZA06udycF0

Alex Hamel

Gwen Harris : Gentle Voice Goes A Long Way

Sometime last year I was going around Youtube looking for covers of "Dosed" (Red Hot Chili Peppers). I found a bunch, but was only truly touched by one cover. And that was by Gwen Harris, who seemed to sing the song with more honesty than any of the other artists I had come across. No offence to the other artists of course, but something about the melody and the vocal provided by John Frusciante are meant to be so gentle, and that's exactly how Gwen does it. And the fact that she doesn't veer away from the guitar line really adds to the perfection of the sound. Frusciante himself enjoys a good deal of simplicity at times, so I think he'd love this. Do you think you'd love it? Check it out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNfvXyLars8

Lovely sound. She doesn't press too hard with Frusciante's vocals and seems to flow through Anthony's vocals perfectly. Essentially, she stripped it down and proves what a fantastically thought out song it is. Brilliant lyrics aside, the melody hits you right in the heart. Minors on top of majors and so on, Frusciante is definitely a musical genius (as are Flea, Chad and Anthony), and I'm very glad Gwen decided to cover that song. Truly great cover.

So, as always I'd like to remind you to subscribe to Gwen's channel if you like her sound. But, if you're not too sure yet, I urge you to have a look at her channel. She's got a bunch of great covers as well as some fascinating originals. Now, although I'm not a major Coldplay "fan" or whatever, I absolutely adored her cover of "The Scientist" (Coldplay). Gwen seems to have that brilliantly shaky sound in the depths of her voice that makes her sound ever so melancholy at times. And with that marvellous sound I think she took "The Scientist" as far as it can go in terms of melancholia. Have a listen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4iQ8xs08sg

Love it! And once again Gwen's got that guitar sound down just right. Scratchy, raw and honest. She doesn't mess about with "perfection" but aims for the emotion. Well, in my opinion at least. Maybe she just plays the song and does it just right! But, I do think she has something particularly special. Her voice reaches out despite how gently she uses it, and that can be incredibly powerful. So, I'll definitely keep listening to her and urge you to subscribe to her channel and "like" her Facebook page, which she updates frequently.

Now, regarding her originals, I had a hard time picking out one to share with you. They're all very emotion based and warm, really. Nevertheless, she uploaded an original a couple weeks ago entitled "Far From Home" that I just loved. Essentially, it's a lyric video, which allows you to get lost in the melody while following the lyrics on screen. So many times I have a hard time splitting my attention but with the lyrics on screen I can really focus on the melody while still taking in the lyrics. So, that was a definitely a nice idea. I did it myself with one of my tracks last year but it took forever to put together. So, I truly respect Gwen for putting that together. It was brilliant! Check back tomorrow for another fantastic artist.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeCBJ9_v0bc

Alex Hamel

Laura Cox : Hard Rocking Guitar Girl

Well, I thought it was about time I wrote about another guitarist. Not someone who splits their attention between their vocals and the guitar but someone who is really devoted to their instrument, like Kelly Rosenthal. So, the first person who came to mind is another female guitarist, who will most definitely blow your mind. Apart from her stunning guitar collection and variety of covers, she's got a talent for writing rock & roll melodies, but we'll get to that later. I believe the first of her covers that I came across was of the epic solo Slash performs in "Sweet Child O' Mine" (Guns n' Roses). And although Laura feels that she messed up at the end, I think she did a brilliant job saving it. Check it out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sCipvgxLkA

That was some sweet rock & roll. As much as I dislike Axl Rose, Slash will forever be a genius, and Laura seems to have truly understood that solo. It's one thing when somebody just copies a solo, or a whole song for that matter, and it's another thing when someone studies a song, embraces it and "makes it their own". If that were the case with Laura, she would have fallen apart at the end, but she saved it with a very fluid edge on the solo.

Another cover that she's done a couple times is of Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama". The first cover was quite good but a more recent cover she uploaded is crystal clear and just about perfect. Using a Fender Telecaster, a Bacchus Telecaster as well as a 12 String Takamine, Laura takes a risk and sings vocal on the cover, which proves to be quite good. She almost seems like the early Jimmy Page, a session musician who could play a whole bunch of things and mix in to any tune. Well, anyways, listen to this cover and don't forget to subscribe to her channel when you're done.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li1Rqo2UC88

Great, right? It must have taken her days to get that together. Not just the performances but the video/audio editing which is ever so clear. As I often say, a lot of people don't know what goes on behind Youtube videos, but please remember that these artists put a lot of effort into their videos. And with Laura, that should be blatantly obvious. She truly cares about her fans and giving them the best quality.

And aside from giving her fans quality covers, she gives quality originals too. A somewhat recent upload of hers entitled "Preview Of My New Song...Rock On!", really got me thinking! Reminiscent of that Guns n Roses sound, and that whole hair band sound, she's got a real catchy melody there, and I wish I could lay down some lyrics/vocals on top of that. I'm sure a ton of people would love to add to that melody. So, have a listen, don't forget to subscribe and "like" Laura's page on Facebook. Check back tomorrow for another fantastic artist.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dUT6S3CYAQ

Alex Hamel

Josh Humphrey & Scarred Nation : Alternative, Hard Rocking & Raw

I was sitting out on the terrace here in Mykonos, playing songs to the sunset this evening when I began to strum the chords to "What It Takes" (Aerosmith). I never noticed what a fantastic song it was, until I heard Josh Humphrey cover it with his acoustic guitar. The sound is stripped down, raw and as pure as it gets. Funnily enough, I play Aerosmith albums repeatedly but never considered that the song would sound so incredible solo. Well, have a listen and get lost in this incredible Aerosmith track. Josh definitely has "what it takes"!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjupkNX5FsE

Amazing, right? Anyone's who's ever tried covering Aerosmith tracks knows how hard it can be to match Steven Tyler. And Joe Perry is quite legendary too. For those who don't know this, he uses bass strings on his electric guitar. I guess that explains his "bear hands" and incredible acoustic sound. They've been commercial and done a bunch of "odd" things, but they're definitely a band that's got something for everyone. And as always, I really respect a band whose songs sound just as brilliant unplugged. And Josh is proof of that. And for those who haven't seen Aerosmith Unplugged, I recommend you watch that later. Now, let's get back to Josh.

As always, don't forget to subscribe to the artist's Youtube channel and have a look through their videos. A cover uploaded in January, 2013 really took me by surprise. Josh covers Tesla's "Love Song". And unlike "What It Takes", we really get the opportunity to get a taste of Josh's guitar playing. He really shows off some skill there, and once again bursts with that dynamic voice of his. I never took the time to really listen to the original but I'll definitely be listening to it again now. Here's Josh Humphrey's brilliant cover.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUi4c750woQ

Great one. I'm quite glad Josh re-introduced me to that track. So many times, I come across artists by looking up songs I know, and possibly enjoy and by looking through their channel find a couple gems that I either don't know, or had forgotten. So, if you enjoy someone's cover, I recommend you go through their other covers (and originals), and find something new. Quite honestly, of all the covers on Josh Humphrey's channel, "What It Takes" was the only one I knew well. The others were either new to me or forgotten, so there's another reason I really dug his channel.

And, having had a look at his channel, I've come to discover that Josh is the lead vocalist and guitarist in a band called Scarred Nation. And together with lead guitarist/vocalist Chris McQuillan and bassist/vocalist Steve Humphrey they create an alternative, hard rock sort of sound that a good deal of people would appreciate. Unfortunately, I didn't come across any original on Josh's channel but found an original of theirs on another channel. A track entitled "Remember", reminded me of those early '90's MTV unplugged sessions. In particular the Alice In Chains one. So, make sure you check out this great track of theirs and don't forget to "like" their Facebook page. Check back tomorrow for another fantastic artist.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4e7NNDwipo

Alex Hamel