Matt Hires + Rachel Platten + Alexander & the Grapes November 2, 2011

When you listen to Matt Hires, what comes across is the sound of an artist self-assured, authentic, and at ease with being completely and utterly himself. On his debut F-Stop/ Atlantic release, Take Us To The Start, the 23-year-old Florida native fuses the intimacy of the great singer/songwriters with indelible pop/rock hooks and propulsive rhythms. The result is a mesmerizing collection of songs that are immediately enchanting, while becoming more deeply rewarding with each listen.

It was via MySpace that Matt came to the attention of Atlantic Records A&R exec Gregg Nadel, who recalls, "When I first heard ‘Honey, Let Me Sing You A Song,' I was hooked immediately. It was the only thing I listened to for a week. His unique vocal tone immediately drew me in." Nadel sent Matt an email, expressing interest in hearing more. Soon after, Matt became the first signing to F-Stop Music, a new imprint under Atlantic Records.

Matt Hires's music comes from an authentic and powerful place within him. "I'm trying to make something that is as uniquely me as possible, making popular music that is a little bit different." Take Us To The Start fully delivers on that intention, sparkling with the life of a gifted new singer, songwriter, and performer.
http://www.matthiresmusic.com/

Beautiful, but not brazen. Passionate, but never preachy. Populist, but definitely not prosaic. New York City singer-songwriter, pianist and beatboxer Rachel Platten is by no means your average headliner-in-the-making. Her Rock Ridge Music debut, Be Here, is a bewitching collection of 10 wise-beyond-their-years piano-driven pop songs that echo elements of Alanis Morissette, Carole King, Tori Amos and Regina Spektor, while retaining a singular sense of self that is rarely found in such a young performer.

Be Here was born over the course of an epic trans-Atlantic journey that took the singer-songwriter from London to Los Angeles, on to Stockholm and then back home to New York City. At each stop, she collaborated with top-tier production teams, including Fredrik Thomander (*NSYNC, Lady Gaga), Jerry Abbott and Grant Black (Robbie Williams, Britney Spears) and the Wizardz of Oz (MoZella, Britney Spears). The results are immediately appealing, spirit lifting, heartwarming and mind opening no matter where in the world you are.
http://www.rachelplatten.com/

"Alexander and the Grapes packs a sweet and juicy wallop of pop, psychedelic and country. Whether those styles come at you mixed up or distilled with pure directness, there isn't a bad tune in the bunch." ~ Julie Garisto, TBT
http://grapes.bandcamp.com/album/alexander-the-grapes

Official Website: http://www.jamminjava.com/