October 30, 2018

Artist Spotlight - Relix Grand Prize Winner Vern Daysel

 Vern DayselVern Daysel - RadioAirplay.com's first RELIX contest Grand Prize Winner.  Vern snagged himself a track spot on RELIX magazines October/November sampler reaching a potential 300,000+ listeners. Check it out here: https://relix.com/playlist

Vern's winning track "Letting Go" is now also being feature on Jango.com's Falling Into Fall station here: https://www.jango.com/stations/373235643/tunein

“With more hooks than a church cloak room, the songwriting is top notch in its simplicity and Daysel’s execution, both vocally and on the six-string, is delicious and exemplary.” – Get Ready to Rock

Having just released his second album, ‘Blood of a Wolf’, the follow-up to 2016’s debut offering, ‘Shootin’ The Breeze’, Daysel has proven that his music should be mentioned alongside some of the top names in the world of Rock n Roll. 

After more than decade of playing countless live shows, running bands, putting on Kiss and classic rock tribute shows to being a hired gun for chart topping artists and international stars, he kicked off his solo career in 2014 travelling all over the country with an acoustic guitar and a small PA system forging his own path. Working as a true DIY musician he has built his brand from the ground up, playing over 150 shows per year, from a small town bar in the middle of nowhere to some of the biggest biker events in Africa.

Vern`s debut album “Shootin` the Breeze” put his music on the map with being featured in Classic Rock Magazine (UK), local TV shows, music blogs, gaining radio airplay in the US, Europe and South Africa as well as signing a European distribution deal with Lions Pride Music.
Just like the first album, Daysel wrote, recorded, produced and played all the instruments (except for bass) on the new album.

With Blood of a Wolf, Daysel has delivered his best work to date, creating a ten song album without any fillers that take you on a journey to what his music is all about.
Anyone who loves the southern rocking blues of bands like Blackberry Smoke, Lynyrd Skynyrd, CCR and Aerosmith, is going to want to get their hands on “Blood of a Wolf”



Can you describe your sound in one ramble-on sentence?
Bone-rattling Blues-inflected Southern Rock  

What's your earliest music-related memory growing up?
From Creedence Clearwater Revival, Queen and Buddy Holly playing on the Hi-Fi in the house to my dad and my brother playing guitar there was always music around when I was growing up.

If you were to cover another band/artist's album, which would you pick and why?
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Second Helping.  It`s one of my favorite albums. I love all the songs on the album and it would be really fun putting my own spin on it. And of course learning all those guitar lines would be fun. 

Do you write/compose your own songs? Briefly describe your songwriting process.
I write, compose, record and play all the instruments (except for bass guitar) on my albums. I don`t have a set process that I use. Sometimes it starts with a concept that gets me excited, a cool lyric idea or just the music.  I think as a songwriter it`s important to get out of your own bubble and experience different things and to not be afraid to see see things from a different perspective even if it makes you uncomfortable.

Does anything in particular inspire you to write? What get's your creative juices flowing?
Listening to good music that moves me definitely inspires me to write.  But at the end of the day the best way to get the juices flowing is to just sit down and do the work. 
Even if what comes out isn't that great, I`m always looking for that diamond in the rough. 

What has been a highlight for you in the past year?
It was definitely a highlight for me to release my second album "Blood of a Wolf". I feel like since the first album Iv grown as a musician and a songwriter. I also worked on an Afrikaans Country project called Stoomtrein and have already released  two EPs. It challenged me to write in Afrikaans which I have never done before. 

What 's next? Can you give us a hint for whats to come remainder of 2018 into 2019?
For the remainder of 2018 I`ll be focusing on doing as many live shows as possible and to save up money to pay for my visa fees to immigrate to the US in 2019.

What do you like more: Performing live or recording in the studio?
I`m enjoying the studio process more and more. It`s a great place for me to let my creativity run wild. But at the end of the day nothing beats playing live and putting smiles on peoples faces. There`s nothing better when the band and the crowd is in that one moment together without any distractions.

What are some artists/bands that you're into at the moment? Or any particular song you find yourself listening to over and over?
I`m currently listening to a couple of artists and bands. I`m really enjoying the new Brothers Osborne album and the songwriting, arrangements and musicianship is top notch. Other thanks that I`m also listening to Kendell Marvel - Lowdown and Lonesome, Joe Bonamassa - Redemption and Judas Priest - Firepower, so I`m all over the place. 

Any embarrassing on stage moments you'd like to share? C’mon, don’t be shy.
There`s not one particular thing that stands out. Other that tripping over cables, slipping on stage landing on my ass a couple of times. I've also learned early on that drinking too much and performing is embarrassing and stupid. 

What's one thing people should know about you?
I`m not here for instant success and I believe in playing the long game and learning as much as possible on this never ending journey. I have been playing music full time for over 14 years and I`m really grateful that I get to do it.

What do you enjoy doing outside of music? Does your hobby rejuvenate your creativity?
Spending time with my wife, being out in nature either hiking or fishing and Jiu Jitsu. My mind is constantly filled with music or music related things and with Jiu Jitsu you can`t think of anything else while someone is trying to choke you out. I believe that it has helped me with all aspects of my music, from the creative side to the business side of things.

If you had one message to give to your fans, what would it be?
Thanks for supporting me and listening to my music. Especially to the people listening to my music abroad. 

Vern Daysel Links:

Artist Spotlight - SIDIKI

 SIDIKIBorn In Calgary, Alberta Canada SIDIKI grew up in a household with a deep appreciation of music from various cultures and backgrounds. In his teens he started his musical career playing drums for his elder brothers Blues and Classic Rock cover band. As a drummer he was always drawn to the music of Africa and Latin America. As his musical horizons expanded he ventured into the world of Jazz but continued to lean towards Afro Cuban and Brazilian forms of Jazz. Ultimately his desire to create his own form of music led him to pick up the Guitar, Bass and Keyboard. All of the music and vocals on his solo projects are played by himself. The polyrhythmic sounds of West Africa particularly resonated with him and has heavily influenced his fingerstyle guitar playing and soloing. This coupled with thought provoking song writing creates music which is both aesthetically pleasing and intelligent. SIDIKI now lives in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia where he continues to play and record. 





Can you describe your sound in one ramble-on sentence?  
SIDIKI is a multi instrumentalist singer songwriter combining folkrock with world music rhythms and beats.  With influences that range from Jazz, West African and Latin music SIDIKI strives to create music which is spans a diverse spectrum of genres.

What's your earliest music-related memory growing up?
Growing up I would have to say my first musical memory would have to be of my parents singing.  My father played the harmonica and percussion and both my mother and father had beautiful voices.  We would have friends over on the weekends where my parents would perform for our family and friends.  I still have fond memories of my father singing the Boxer by Simon and Garfunkel. 

If you were to cover another band/artist's album, which would you pick and why?
If there were an album I would aspire to cover it would have to be Paul Simons album the Rhythm of the Saints. Paul Simons unique ability to paint a picture with words combined with the rhythmic melodies of Brazil has been one of my favourite albums of all time.

Do you write/compose your own songs? Briefly describe your songwriting process.
My recently released EP NOW...  Has been my first solo project.  I have written the lyrics, composed and performed all the music myself.  This project was the culmination of my desire to create music which was completely my own.  I had played drums with a number of bands in the past but felt I wanted to take a more active role in the creative process and produce my own music.  I therefore picked up the guitar, bass and keyboard.  As a drummer I feel I compose my music from that perspective.  I often start with a particular beat.  I like to work in odd time signatures and phrase my music in interesting ways.  I will often compose a fingerstyle melody line as the primary melody of the song and layering other fingerstyle  and lead melodies over that with keyboard or a guitar synth to play my organ sections.  When composing a new song I often have an idea in mind of what I want the song to be about and upon recording a rough draft I will then write the lyrics to flow with the music.  Performing the primary and back up vocals will be the final part of my recording process before mixing.

Does anything in particular inspire you to write? What get's your creative juices flowing?
I often write songs that have particular significance to me or to remind myself to aspire to certain ideals.  I feel the best music results when there is a fusion between different cultures and style.  We find common ground in music regardless of the languages we speak.  I find that music is a way to bring ourselves closer to each other and I enjoy writing music that attempts to break down the imaginary barriers we surround ourselves with.

What has been a highlight for you in the past year? 
I would have to say the greatest highlight in my music career is the release of my recent EP.  Choosing to play all the music and perform all the vocals myself was not the most efficient way to produce an EP but it has been extremely gratifying. On a personal note I had the pleasure of seeing Paul Simon in Vancouver, on the first leg of his farewell tour.  Being able to see him, who has been a huge influence to my own music, the year I am releasing my own EP was a magical experience.

What 's next? Can you give us a hint for whats to come remainder of 2018 into 2019?
I am currently working on my next EP/album and again plan on playing all the music myself.  I hope to release it mid 2019.  At that point I may form a band to perform my music live. 

What do you like more: Performing live or recording in the studio?
I would have to say at the moment I prefer recording in the studio as it gives me the freedom to play all of my music myself.  It also gives me the freedom to play  what and how I want.  I enjoy the creative process and find that spending time in the studio versus performing live gives me more of an opportunity to do that. 

What are some artists/bands that you're into at the moment? Or any particular song you find yourself listening to over and over?
At the moment I am really enjoying an album by Vusi Mahlasela from South Africa, Naledi Ya Tsela as well as Dave Mathews Bands album Come Tomorrow. In particular the songs Jabula and Mighty River from Vusi's album I can't get out of my head.  Dave Mathews band has also performed a song with him on that album called Sower of Words.  Definitely some of my favourite artists on those albums.

What's one thing people should know about you?
I create music for the love of music.  If it is somehow fated that I find that elusive opportunity where the stars line up and my music reaches a broader audience that would be great but if not I am content in creating music for the sake of music itself.  

What do you enjoy doing outside of music? Does your hobby rejuvenate your creativity?
I am an avid Scubadiver and a competent sailor. As you can tell from my music I have a deep love for the ocean and feel a strong connection with it.  I feel very strongly that we need to make greater efforts to preserve our environment and if I can use my music to help spread awareness to that effect I feel that is a privilege. 

If you had one message to give to your fans, what would it be?
Thank you for your support and encouragement.  It is extremely fulfilling to have others enjoy my music.  My music is very personal to me and to have others enjoy and identify with the messages in my music gives me hope for the future and inspires me to keep creating more.  So thanks again to all of you out there who believe in peace, love and the stewardship of this earth for future generations.  This music is for you.

Visit Sidiki on Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/talkingdrums

October 12, 2018

Song Contest Winners Announced!

It was a shorter contest than normal but we still received over 1200 song submissions. Our staff had a great time listening to all those songs. Thank you to all of you who entered. 

Winners have been chosen for Relix, Indie Bible, and Radio Airplay. Check them out below and stay tuned for Music Gateway's pick as well as artist spotlights from all the winners!

Home - Relix Media

Grand Prize Relix CD Sampler Winner
Happy Freuds - Allmans Big Feat

On The Rise Relix Runner Up
The Strange Game - Someday Soon
Indie Bible Prize Package Winner
Olivia Faye - Country Girl

5 Radio Airplay Runners Up

Kulton The Maker  - No Limits
Clinark - Unite Forget About The Fight

Drakeford - Maybe

Lucky Monkey - GO!

Iryne Rock - Fire in My Veins






Radio Airplay Staff Picks (Week 41, 2018)

Staff Picks Week 41




Radio Airplay Staff Picks (Week 40, 2018)

Staff Picks Week 40