Delphi Freeman is a 17 year old songwriter who, since 2014, has been paying her dues busking with her brothers, Luke (Cajon) and James (bass, guitar & production), in the famous San Francisco Bay Area spot known as Ghirardelli Square. She just released her debut album titled Audio Cinema. Just below is her first official music video with her song titled Digital Throwback.
Delphi Freeman - Digital Throwback
On March 22, she will perform live at Silo's, which is at the Napa River Inn, 530 Main St., Napa, California 94559. There is no cover charge for the show!
It is rare for this network to plug or endorse any crowdfunding campaigns, but the network of music websites that The Indies belongs to has a favorite recording artist of substance named Nneka. Her music is deep and so are the things she does. She is focused on important issues, and those issues that matter to her are woven into her songs.
Today, we proudly share this plug she made for a filmmaker named Ukachi Arinzeh who is raising funds to finish a film about homeless kids who very unfortunately turn to sex for survival. The film is titled "Survival Sex". True to Nneka's persistent activist spirit, she wrote the following to her friends on Facebook:
Please help support the making of this film, Survival Sex. Working towards changing the problem of homeless teenagers on the streets of Nigeria, Africa and the world. #theropefoundation #survivalsex Please help to donate in any way you can. We appreciate it.
Just below is a short video of Ukachi Arinzeh describing his film making a direct pitch to potential sponsors on GoFundMe.Com where he hopes to raise $25,000 to complete this worthwhile film making project. Learn more, donate or see how much has been raised so far at Ukachi's GoFund Me page. The fundraising campaign lasts until February 28th. Proceeds will pay for principle photography in March in time to make film festival submission deadlines starting in May.
Survival Sex Go Fund Me campaign video
Here is the audio to the Nneka song titled Street Lack Love
Lyrics to Nneka's song titled Street Lack Love:
This goes out to you people in the streets
Know it is not easy to survive in this world
Where there is no love, where there is no heart
The things we say, we are, we can never be
You find yourself wandering why
Youre sitting in the darkness
Cant find the light in this world
And as we grow old we might understand the truth
The fear of knowing it all
See places where well be,
We never thought we would see
This goes out to you people in the streets
Know it is not easy to survive in this world
Where there is no love, where there is no heart
The things we say, we are, we can never be
You will see we want the things we never have
Continuously dreaming, yeah
I know as long as we believe, we can get outta this
Together well achieve
And sometimes they wanna see your down fall
Think of their own profits and make you misuse
Your fellow brothers and sisters, your family, your friends
We just dont know what to do
This goes out to you people in the streets
Know it is not easy to survive in this world
Where there is no love, where there is no heart
The things we say, we are, we can never be
For nearly 60 years in Nigeria,
People have been suffering from gas flaring, and pollution
Because of big oil extraction companies such as Shell, Chevron, NNPC.
The Niger Delta, the Warri and the Ogoni people have pleading for a change
They have been fighting fot justice,
But the companies, Europe and Nigerian government do not seem to care,
Do not seem to be bothered, they cant be bothered.
It led us to a short 13 minute cinematic piece Kayla directed, edited and scored original music to. The film is titled Smoke That Travels. It features her father, Gary Wiskigeamatyuk.
Her YouTube page said the following about the film:
"Smoke That Travels" is a personal documentary by Kayla Briët that explores preservation and loss of culture and her own identity as Prairie Band Potawatomi. What happens when a story is forgotten? What a long journey it's been. This film was originally intended to be a small time capsule of my thoughts, feelings, and fears of stories being lost in time. It’s a piece dedicated to my little (currently 3 year old) brother, Senachwine, and a reminder for myself to look back on in the future. I started this last summer at 18, and little did I know that this film would take me on a journey and bring me closer to so many people around the world. Over 30 festivals and screenings from the Americas and Europe to Africa and Australia. I feel so lucky being able to meet new artists, family, and friends and experience treasured moments, big and small — it feels like a dream. Releasing this out into the world is a moment I will never forget, so here goes. Thank you so much to all who have supported this film so far. with love x Miigwech, Kayla
We really hope you are inspired by Kayla Briët's work as a director/documentarian. As mentioned above, she wrote and performed the music for this film too. She has a musical body of work that is growing and we will be featuring more of that in future posts on this network.
Awards
2016 YoungArts (Los Angeles) - Winner in Cinematic Arts
2016 National Film Festival for Talented Youth NFFTY (Seattle) - Audience Award "Around the World in 10 Films"
2016 National Film Festival for Talented Youth NFFTY (Seattle) - Best Emerging Female Filmmaker
2016 Chicago CineYouth Festival (Chicago) - Best Documentary Senior Division
2016 New Renaissance Film Festival (London) - Best Young Talent (Documentary)
2016 Bushwick Film Festival (New York) - Best Short Film
2016 ImagineNATIVE (Canada) - Best Youth Work
2016 Seattle International Film Festival SIFF (Seattle) - Official Selection, Best of NFFTY
2016 Chicago International Film Festival (Chicago) - Official Selection, Best of CineYouth
2016 Rockland Youth Film Festival (New York) - Director of the Year
2016 Kleinkaap Short Film Festival (South Africa) - Best Documentary
Official Selection
2016 DocumentaQro (DOQU) Festival (Mexico) - Official Selection
2016 Miami Independent Film Festival (Florida) - Official Selection
2016 Largo Film Awards (Switzerland) - Official Selection
2016 Move Me Productions Festival (Belgium) - Official Selection
2016 Kleinkaap Short Film Festival (South Africa) - Official Selection, Cinematography Nominee
2016 VisionFest 3.0 (Los Angeles) - Official Selection Director's List
2016 CUCALORUS Film Festival (North Carolina) - Official Selection
2016 Guam International Film Festival (Guam) - Official Selection
2016 Broke Student Film Festival (Michigan) - Official Selection
2016 Tribal Film Festival (Oklahoma) - Official Selection
2016 Orlando Edge Film Festival (Florida) - Official Selection
2016 IndieWise Virtual Festival (Online) - Official Selection
2016 RAW Film Festival (Los Angeles) - Official Selection
2016 Buffer Festival (Canada) - Official Selection
2016 Winda Film Festival (Australia) - Official Selection
2016 Ethiopia International Film Festival (Ethiopia) - Official Selection
2016 Citizen Jane Film Festival (Missouri) - Official Selection
2016 Big Water Film Festival (Wisconsin) - Official Selection
2016 Vidcon (California) - Official Selection, Intermix
2016 One Flaming Arrow Festival (Oregon) - Official Selection
Excerpt
Awards, Screening, and Official Selection
2015 Summer in the City (London, UK) - Official Selection INTERMIX
2015 Buffer Festival (Canada) - Women of Youtube Award
2016 Sundance Film Festival Ignite Fellowship
2016 YoungArts (Florida) - Cinematic Arts Winner
2016 SundanceTV, nofilmschool.com, Adobe Project1324 (Online)
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Nobody ever said autistic girls cannot become music stars. Wish we had posted this in time for Christmas, but the story is worthy of a post holiday plug.
A 10 year old autistic girl named Kaylee Rogers sang lead vocals to Leonard Cohen's song titled Hallelujah, backed up by the a school choir of other kids from the special needs school they all attend with each other in Northern Ireland called Killard House. Billy McAuley filmed the event and posted it to his Facebook page and it went viral, and still is. Enjoy!
Just below is a very tasty filmed live performance featuring the independent New Zealand recording artist named Jackie Bristow and her original song titled Whistle Blowin'. It sounds like a real country hit. There is strength, depth and a certain stillness that comes from artists like this one who have so diligently honed their craft.
Last February we featured the studio version and the official music video to Whistle Blowin' on our sister site MusicLoad. (Click here to see that). The song is track #1 on her most recent album titled Shot of Gold.
In this live video, she is backed by Mark Punch on electric guitar, Nick Gaffaney on percussion and Alison Wunderland on bass.
A collaboration of indie labels and assorted gurus including but not limited to Milk! Records, House Anxiety, Marathon Artists and Mom+Pop has worked hard for a real deal Australian indie artist named Courtney Barnett who has great pop songs with some excellent music videos.
Her debut album released last year titled “Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit”, had a strong initial reception in the indie marketplace and still has strong legs. Just below, in reverse order of their release date, are all of the music videos associated with her debut album.
Courtney Barnett - Elevator Operator
Courtney Barnett - Nobody Really Cares If You Don't Go To The Party
A new LA rock trio known as The Secret Things has made it's recent debut with the release of the song and music video below.
The group consists of Steve Giles on bass, Dan Nelles on drums and Cynthia Catania on guitar and lead vocals. We know Giles and Catania from an act they play in together called Saucy Monky that is presently on Hiatus as a key Saucy member Annmarie Cullen is presently living in Spain.
The Secret Things has a gig at Boardners at 1725 N. Cherokee Avenue in Hollywood California on August 18, 2016 at 9PM.
A long time favorite on this site and other Indies Network sites is Strong Blood Records recording artist Trixie Whitley. The video below is to her song titled Closer from her latest album titled Porta Bohemica. The video was directed by Anders Malmberg.
Rob Hotchkiss is a champion songwriter and recording artist with a knack for consistently writing and performing songs with a timeless quality.
In the late 1980's and early 1990's he was in a great young rock band known as The Apostles. After a long run of hard knocks and an eventual recording contract and release with JVC Records, the group was phased out without any hits under it's belt. Three members of The Apostles, which included Rob Hotchkiss, became founding members of Train, which became the Grammy Award winning rock act when songs by Hotchkiss became certified platinum hits. It was a long hard winding road to the top.
After there was "enough" so called success for Hotchkiss, there came a point when he decided to drop out of Train's fast lane drama-laden pace. He had musical and personal differences with other members of the group. That must have been a tragic loss for the group, which was so deeply rooted in a sound that Hotchkiss had been crafting since his teens, long before Train came to fruition.
Now, after a long hiatus from the music business, Hotchkiss is back out performing and recently performed an outstanding intimate shows at Genghis Cohen in West Hollywood. It was instantly apparent by the quality of his new original songs that Hotchkiss still has that "it" thing with his innate ability to cast a spell very well intact.
I first saw Rob Hotchkiss perform at several lunch time concerts when we attended the same high school and he was more solid and professional than most others who were leading bands. He had a special charisma that was very understated.
Years later, we met and I got the privilege of booking and promoting shows for the band at venues such as China Club and The Roxy in Hollywood which led to a short stint as the band's manager. I learned then about what Hotchkiss still exudes now. He knows what he wants and that is success. It's not about hype or bling or living like a rock star. It's about happiness, being around nice stable ego-free people, a smooth work flow, with the strength and ability to walk away when things aren't living up to that. A big part of success to Rob Hotchkiss is staying down to earth and keeping it humble and gravitating toward and attracting the same kind of people. Rob Hotchkiss represents a thing that is lacking in much of today's music. He and his music have an organic uncontrived soul. And for all those reasons, this network wishes him much more well deserved future success.
Please enjoy the 15 song playlist below. All of the songs are excellent! Especially love Give It Time and Blind Faith.
Here is a song from a real deal indie girl musician, songwriter and soul sister named Rosa Pullman. The first time I caught her live many years ago at the Enterprise Fish Company, I just knew she had something special. She did have any music up online back then, but now she does. Here is one of those songs, titled Daydreaming, that captures that essence of what I felt the first time I heard her. Players include Spencer Wright on bass, Matty Alger on drums, Mitch Grainger on electric guitar with Rosa Pullman on vocals and Wurlitzer piano. It was recorded and mixed by Mitch Grainger. Congrats to Rosa and her collaborators, for the song recently made it onto rotation in Starbucks! Hope you enjoy.
Learned about Short Sleeve Heart while listening to opening acts for Train co-founder Rob Hotchkiss who played at The Mint back on Friday January 29 2016. Liked this particular song titled Lone Lee. Hope you do to!
Here is a fiercely independent act that deserves support. It's front man is a hard working artist who has been honing his craft and keeping his dues current for a long time. His name is Roxy Prince. He calls his act Roxy5000. Roxy has a diverse and stellar repertoire that we've been aware of for several years now. We especially like when he taps into his own original soulfulness that is sort of in the vein of old school Boy George/Culture Club. Hope you enjoy these handpicked tracks of Roxy that Mariana and I have picked!
Just below is a recent late 2015 recording titled Touch The Sky.
Roxy5000 - Touch The Sky
Just below is a recent 2015 recording titled Sun In My Heart
Roxy5000 - Sun In My Heart
Just below is a recent mid 2015 recording titled I'm No Better
Roxy5000 - I'm No Better
Just below is a mid 2015 recording of an original song written and immediately recorded in one take titled Love Me
Roxy Prince - Love Me
Just below is a love song from August 2012 titled Bringing Me Down
Just below is a 2011 Roxy5000 release titled Never Going Back featuring Terri Walker & Friends
Roxy5000 featuring Terri Waker & Friends - Never Going Back
Just below is Roxy5000 music video video from 2009 that deserves attention. From the page of the artist: "This is "FUNKY PEOPLE" by ROXY5000. ROXY5000'S anti-bullying/racism song! Sometimes we have to stand up and shout out loud and TELL THE HATERS "WE DON'T GIVE A S... WHAT THEY THINK "Let's stand TOGETHER and Fight for the cause and share with your friends. We are all "FUNKY PEOPLE" Positivity needs YOUR SUPPORT! SHARE IT. Big Love ROXY5000 THE BAND.X"
Below are the two most recently released Darwin Deez music videos from his new record titled Double Down. The first song below is titled The Mess She Made
Featured below is a retro funk/soul mix by former Detroit based digital-artist/remixer known as Recloose. He once moved to live life in the New Zealand music scene, but recently moved to NYC for yet, another change. Recloose's real name is Matt Chicoine. This song below is titled Danger Zone.
What can be said about Bettye LaVette that has not been said already? She is the ultimate indie. Even though she was best friends (like family) with the biggest artists of her youth, like Sam Cooke, and she has been on several major labels that included Motown and Atlantic, she always maintained her independent ways.
Today, she is with Anti- Records, a division of the indie label, Epitaph Records. Epitaph is not a place for dead artists like it's name might imply, by the way. Bettye is independent like their Anti- label portends. And in that independent spirit, Bettye LaVette's music has probably never been more excellent in recent years. No matter what stage she is on, grandiose theaters to humble small venues, she always delivers it the same. She digs so deep into her soul, you feel it and you believe it because it's real.
Below are some handpicked favorite performances and videos from this truly inspired authentic uncontrived soul/funk artist deserving of the highest honors for her longevity and adherence to keeping it real and never selling out. She is a gem who is way to far under the radar. She is refreshing to hear, at this time when bad art seems to be a trend of a society in free fall. And perhaps this is the best kind of success for real artists like Bettye, coming from the longer road less traveled. She gained and has maintained "street credibility" with musician's musicians. She is as tight and relevant today, musically and soulfully speaking, as she ever was. Her sense of the funk has not been diminished and has only increased, which is not the case for many of her peers, who for one reason or another, have been unable to maintain their chops and their stage hustle. Turn it up and enjoy!
This live performance featured below below is of a song she recorded for her most recent 2015 album titled Worthy, which is excellent in every way. Visit BettyeLaVette.Com to hear more and buy that directly from the source.
Bettye LaVette - Wait
Whilst, we would love to feature Bettye's new material here, we instead, hope fans will go straight to Bettye for that. Instead, we are going to flash back on some of Bettye's earlier material that is also worthy of a listen, again.
The next two songs below are lyric videos to songs from her 2012 album titled Thankful N' Thoughtful.
Bettye LaVette - I'm Not The One
Bettye LaVette - Everything is Broken
And here is a terrific live performance of a Pink Floyd cover. It was filmed by a solo camera operator.
Bettye LaVette - Wish You Were Here, Highline Ballroom, NYC
Here is a song that is one of my favorites. It was written in 1965 by Dee Dee Ford under her birth name, Wrecia Holloway. Bettye's 1965 recording of the song was very successful for her. This version below was recorded and filmed in 1990. She sings her heart out and has a slightly different edge to it than the original.
Bettye Lavette - Let Me Down Easy
Next, is a great Bettye LaVette performance at the 2008 Kennedy Center Honors in honor of The Who, where she delivers her own interpretation of The Who classic written by Pete Townshend titled Love Reign O'er Me with her trademark style.
Bettye LaVette - Love Reign O'er Me (Kennedy Center Honors in honor of The Who)
Last, but not least, is is a fantastic full concert that was filmed for Canal+ TV in France ad featured five six excellent songs: Joy, How I am Different, Little Sparrow, Freedom, Sleep to Dream, and I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got.
