Press Releases - Page 110 of 175

February 17, 2022

Magical + Vibrant Cuisine at Banana Leaf Cafe In Chinatown

2/15/21

Fun times last night on Valentines Day at the always bustling Shanghai Plaza in Chinatown. Never had Malaysian food before, so we tried the Banana Leaf Cafe. With his “blend of Malay, Chinese, Indian, and European recipes,” Chef Lee brought the magic on all levels, with a vibrant + deeply satisfying mix of flavors + textures. Thumbs up on those Curry Puffs, the Chilean Seabass, Banana Leaf Curry Chicken, Hokkien Noodles + the “Three Treasures” mix of eggplant, okra + string beans (plenty of leftovers for tonight!). It wouldn’t be Valentine’s Day without dessert, so we brought home some excellent cream-filled buns from the 85C Bakery Cafe at the plaza.

February 16, 2022

PROGJECT “The Ultimate Prog Rock Experience” Announce American Tour This April

DATE: FEBRUARY 16, 2022

FROM: MITCH SCHNEIDER/ANDREA FAULK, SRO PR

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PROGJECT
“THE ULTIMATE PROG ROCK EXPERIENCE”
ANNOUNCE AMERICAN TOUR THIS APRIL
LEADING INTO THEIR MAY 1 HEADLINING PERFORMANCE
AS PART OF “CRUISE TO THE EDGE”
THE BAND’S ITINERARY WILL INCLUDE A TWO-NIGHT STAND
AT IRIDIUM IN NYC ON APRIL 19 & 20

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Fans of Prog Rock can rejoice in the news that the newly formed ProgJect will tour America, bringing “The Ultimate Prog Rock Experience” to venues this April and leading into their May 1 on-land headlining performance as part of “Cruise To The Edge” (which sets sail the next day). The band features Michael Sadler, Jonathan Mover, Mike Keneally, Ryo Okumoto and Matt Dorsey, performing the classics and epics of Genesis, Yes, King Crimson and ELP, along with some Pink Floyd, Rush, Jethro Tull, Peter Gabriel, Gentle Giant and more. The tour will include a two-night stand at Iridium in NYC on April 19 & 20 (see the itinerary below).

ProgJect is:

MICHAEL SADLER (SAGA)
Lead Vocals

JONATHAN MOVER (GTR, Alice Cooper, Joe Satriani, The Tubes)
Drums, Percussion, Vocals

MIKE KENEALLY (Frank Zappa, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani)
Guitar, Vocals

RYO OKUMOTO (Spock’s Beard, Asia, Chris Squire)
Keyboards

MATT DORSEY (Sound of Contact, Beth Hart)
Bass, Pedals, Guitar, Keys, Vocals

Look for ProgJect to perform a two-plus hour set of Prog classics and epics such as “Cinema Show,” “Firth of Fifth,” “Squonk,” “Karn Evil 9: 1st Impression–Pt. I & II,” “Siberian Khatru,” “Roundabout,” “Heart of the Sunrise,” “21st Century Schizoid Man,” “Lark’s Tongues In Aspic, Pt. I & II”, “Xanadu,” “La Villa Strangiato,” “Have A Cigar,” “Wish You Were Here,” “Solsbury Hill” and “Living In The Past,” to name only a few.

ProgJect–the brainchild of drummer Jonathan Mover–came to fruition out of his childhood dream of playing Prog. “Prog Rock is the reason I play drums,” Mover explains, “but by the time I turned pro, Prog in the classic sense was over. And, although I got to work with some Prog-associated artists, such as GTR (with Steve Hackett and Steve Howe), and Marillion, my career took a decidedly different, though incredibly fortunate path, working with artists such as Alice Cooper, Joe Satriani, Aretha Franklin, The Tubes, Shakira, and others. That being said, I never lost my desire to play the Prog I grew up listening to.”

He adds: “The idea and inspiration came in 2019 from my getting a last-minute rescue call to play with the Genesis tribute band, The Musical Box. That not only relit that childhood fire and desire, but made me realize: if there’s an audience for Genesis, and an audience for Yes, and Pink Floyd, and ELP, and King Crimson…there’s an audience for all of them. So, why not play them all, since I love them all, and assemble a team of extraordinary musicians that feel the same as I do? And they, like me, wanted to play a variety of Prog from all our favorite bands, and therefore thought more of the concept of an ‘homage band’, instead of a tribute band.”

Mover says that “the chemistry and dynamics of ProgJect are amazing” and “we’re all very excited and literally counting the days to hit the road. Not only because of the delays imposed by Covid (we were supposed to tour over a year ago), but also because we love playing this music so much and know how much prog fans love it too; we can’t wait to perform it for them. And of course, as much fun as it is in the rehearsal room, it will be infinitely more fun in front of an audience.”

What is the enduring appeal of Prog? “It’s music that you really listen to, and in some ways, live in,” says Mover. “It’s not just something to play in the background. When you’re into Prog, you’re not only really into listening, but often times, attached to it as well. It’s the same for seeing it played live. It’s more than just a music performance–it’s an experience.”

The tour dates for ProgJect—”The Ultimate Prog Rock Experience”—are as follows, with more to be announced soon:

April 1, 2022 Los Angeles, CA Champion Site+Sound
April 6, 2022 Edwardsville, IL The Wildey Theatre
April 7, 2022 Milwaukee, WI Shank Hall
April 8, 2022 Chicago, IL Des Plaines Theatre
April 9, 2022 Indianapolis, IN The Irving Theater
April 10, 2022 Cincinnati, OH The Ludlow Garage
April 12, 2022 Kent, OH Kent Stage
April 13, 2022 Buffalo, NY Showplace Theatre
April 15, 2022 Derry, NH The Tupelo Music Hall
April 17, 2022 Sellersville, PA Sellersville Theater
April 19, 2022 New York, NY The Iridium
April 20, 2022 New York, NY The Iridium
April 21, 2022 Newton, NJ Newton Theater
April 22, 2022 Norwalk, CT The Wall St. Theater
April 23, 2022 Vineland, NJ The Landis Theater
April 26, 2022 Annapolis, MD Rams Head On Stage
April 29, 2022 Boca Raton, FL The Funky Biscuit
April 30, 2022 Tampa, FL Central Park PAC
May 1, 2022 Cape Canaveral, FL Cruise To The Edge Pre-Cruise Event

www.ProgJect.com

FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE

For press inquiries regarding PROGJECT, contact:

SRO PR:
Mitch Schneider, National Press // mschneider@sropr.com
Andrea Faulk, Tour Press // afaulk@sropr.com

February 15, 2022

THE HU Announce 2022 U.S. “Black Thunder” Tour Following Upcoming Coachella Appearance, Share Q&A On New Album & Touring

DT: February 15, 2021

THE HU
ANNOUNCE NORTH AMERICAN “BLACK THUNDER TOUR” DATES, KICKING OFF WITH THEIR SET AT COACHELLA IN APRIL
AND SHARE NEW Q&A

BAND’S HIGHLY ANTICIPATED SECOND STUDIO ALBUM SET FOR 2022 RELEASE, FURTHER DETAILS TO BE REVEALED IN THE COMING WEEKS VIA BAND’S SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS

Credit: Enkhbat Nyamkhishig

Critically celebrated Mongolian rock band THE HU is set to head out on tour this spring. Today, they announced their “Black Thunder Tour” with a series of headlining dates, beginning in San Diego, CA on April 16 and ending in Mexico City, MX on May 31. The tour, which the band talks about in a new Q&A below, will continue the live music celebrations that the band is set to kick off during their Coachella sets on Friday, April 15 for the first weekend of the musical festival and on Friday, April 22 for the second. Fans will be able to purchase tickets for the tour starting tomorrow, Wednesday February 16, for the fan presale, Thursday, February 17, for the local presale, and Friday, February 18 for the general on sale. All ticket sale times begin at 10AM local time. For more information on “The Black Thunder Tour,” visit https://www.thehuofficial.com/tour-1.

The tour will continue to tease new music from THE HU’s highly anticipated sophomore album, due later this year from Better Noise Music. The album was recorded in their homeland of Mongolia over the last several months, during which, the group gave an update from the studio to fans via their YouTube channel HERE. Fans can also expect special previews of the project with live performances of new songs that the group originally premiered on their North American 2021 tour. See a new Q&A with THE HU discussing the album and touring below.

This past fall, THE HU headlined a tour through North America after joining Halestorm’s headlining tour, where they reunited with frontwoman Lzzy Hale, their special guest on “Song of Women” from their #1-charting debut album THE GEREG. In addition to those tours, THE HU also performed a slew of high-profile festival dates including Austin City Limits, Outside Lands, Rocklahoma, Inkcarceration and more, with the Austin-American Statesman giving a rave review for their ACL set, writing, “File this one under noise you didn’t think you needed. The eight-piece Mongolian band the Hu plays its guitars with bows and man buns, with backing “whoa” chants and punishing drums…It’s music built on tradition with an eye on the past.”

Those dates coincided with THE HU’s appearance on Metallica’s Special 30th Anniversary ‘Black Album’ Reissue Covers Project, for which they covered the legendary band’s “Through the Never.” They appeared on the track listing alongside some of the biggest names in music – Elton John, Miley Cyrus, Yo-Yo Ma, St. Vincent, Phoebe Bridgers, J Balvin with the Neptunes, Weezer, and many more – who offered their own renditions of Metallica’s songs that originally appeared on the iconic LP.

The band is excited to share more news on new music and further touring in the coming weeks on their social media channels and encourage everyone to give them a follow so they don’t miss out on anything: Website, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, TikTok

The HU Headlining Tour Dates:
April 15 – Indio, CA – Coachella
April 16 – San Diego, CA – Humphreys by the Bay
April 17 – Las Vegas, NV – Brooklyn Bowl
April 19 – Tucson, AZ – Rialto Theatre
April 21 – Phoenix, AZ – The Van Buren
April 22 – Indio, CA – Coachella
April 23 – Monterey, CA – Golden State Theatre
April 25 – Portland, OR – Roseland Theater
April 26 – Bend, OR – Midtown Ballroom
April 28 – Spokane, WA – Knitting Factory
April 29 – Missoula, MT – The Wilma
April 30 – Bozeman, MT – The ELM
May 02 – Fargo, ND – Sanctuary Events Center
May 03 – Lincoln, NE – Bourbon Theatre
May 04 – Kansas City, MO – The Truman
May 06 – Detroit, MI – St. Andrews Hall
May 07 – Bloomington, IL – Castle Theatre
May 08 – Columbus, OH – Newport Music Hall
May 09 – Nashville, TN – Cannery Ballroom
May 11 – Louisville, KY – Mercury Ballroom
May 13 – Portland, ME – State Theatre
May 14 – Albany, NY – Empire Live
May 16 – Washington, DC – Warner Theatre
May 17 – Norfolk, VA – The NorVa
May 19 – Charlotte, NC – The Fillmore
May 20 – Raleigh, NC – The Ritz
May 21 – Charleston, SC – Music Farm
May 22 – Daytona Beach, FL – Welcome to Rockville
May 25 – Birmingham, AL – Iron City
May 26 – Little Rock, AR – Little Rock Music Hall
May 27 – Oklahoma City, OK – Tower Theatre
May 28 – The Woodlands, TX – The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion (Buzzfest)
May 29 – Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion (BFD 22)
May 31 – Mexico City, MEX – Lunario

See full list of the band’s upcoming live shows and ticket information at https://www.thehuofficial.com/tour-1

Q&A WITH THE HU

—Can you tell us which songs from the upcoming album will be performed on the “Black Thunder” tour, why you’re excited to play them and how they represent a new chapter for THE HU?

THE HU: For the “Black Thunder” tour, we’re excited to be performing songs from our new album including “Mother Nature,” “Tatar Warrior” and “ShihiHutu.” We have been working hard on our second album and hope to have it ready soon. It will be focused on showing the unique qualities of the Hunnu Rock genre and consists of many new songs that reinforce the different aspects of it. So far we’ve been getting positive response from our fans and we can’t wait to perform all of our new songs for them.

–What inspired you to call the tour “Black Thunder”?

THE HU: We originated in Mongolia and through our music we try to make our fans feel the freedom and energy of the spirit of our vast land and high mountains. Likewise, the “Black Thunder” name is inspired by the unique scenery that can only be seen in Mongolia in which the thunder rumbles right before the rain in the high mountains, the number of clouds in the sky and the force of the lightning are heard, and seen many, many miles away We tried to communicate the energy and feeling you would get experiencing that and hence we named the tour “Black Thunder.”

—A Coachella performance is a prestigious booking since the festival has always stood for musical integrity. Can you discuss what it feels like to be performing at Coachella for the first time in your career? Are there any other artists you’re excited to see performing on the day you play?

THE HU: It is such an honor to be part of Coachella. We’re more than thrilled to be included and it has always been our dream to be performing on that stage representing Mongolia for the first time. We feel that it’s a great opportunity to meet with many of our loyal fans and artists that we love. There are so many talented great artists playing on the day we perform and for the rest of the festival, and if we get a chance, we would love to see all of them.

–You’ve performed in many cities in North America. Can you tell us what it’s like to play for audiences here and how they might be different from ones in Europe?

THE HU: We’ve toured many cities and several continents and met with so many awesome people. Every place has its own characteristics that can be felt through their greetings, hand gestures and chants before, during and after the concerts. In that regard, we would say the biggest differences that we can recall would be the amount of people who would sing along and who’ve memorized the lyrics. Each continent has different accents on singing in Mongolian and we love all of our audiences and their uniqueness.

–What is your favorite part about touring North America? Do you guys ever have the time to explore cities on days off (restaurants, museums, etc.) and if so, what has that been like?

THE HU: Our favorite thing about touring in North America is visiting different places and meeting people. Not only do the restaurants and establishments differ, but each one of them has a unique style. On our days off, we’ve had a chance to taste the most amazing barbecue in Texas, Asian fusion mixed with Mexican spices and sushiritto, etc and explore around everywhere we go. Like their cuisine, Americans are always willing to go the extra mile to make people feel welcome and accepted–we’ve had many people guide us through their cities and towns.

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About The HU

In 2019, an NPR story put a spotlight on “a band from Mongolia that blends the screaming guitars of heavy metal and traditional Mongolian guttural singing,” accurately highlighting the cultural importance and unique musical identity of The HU. Founded in 2016 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, The HU, comprised of producer Dashka along with members Gala, Jaya, Temka, and Enkush, are a modern rock group rooted in the tradition of their homeland. The band’s name translates to the Mongolian root word for human being, and their unique approach blends instruments like the Morin Khuur (horsehead fiddle), Tovshuur (Mongolian guitar), Tumur Khuur (jaw harp) and throat singing with contemporary sounds, creating a unique sonic profile that they call “Hunnu Rock.”

Their debut album, 2019 ‘s The Gereg, debuted at #1 on the World Album and Top New Artist Charts. With it, the band have accumulated over 250 million combined streams and video views to date and have received critical acclaim from the likes of Billboard, NPR, GQ, The Guardian, The Independent, Revolver, and even Sir Elton John himself.

Proving their global appeal, The HU have sold out venues across the world in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia, with scheduled festival appearances at Coachella, Lollapalooza, Download Festival, and more, creating a community of fans from all walks of life. They quickly grabbed the attention of the industry, leading to collaborations with Jacoby Shaddix of Papa Roach and Lzzy Hale of Halestorm. And most recently, the band received praise from fans and critics for their Mongolian rendition of Metallica’s “Sad But True,” which Metallica themselves acknowledged on their social media accounts, seemingly giving the band their official seal of approval. The band has also explored eclectic ways to reach audiences with their sound, most notably writing and recording music for EA Games’ Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order.

Readying their next chapter as a global force, The HU are putting the finishing touches on their highly anticipated sophomore album, which is due for a global release later this year from Better Noise Music. The project will include a selection of tracks that were premiered live on the band’s critically acclaimed North American tour at the end of 2021, coinciding with their appearance on Metallica’s 2021 retrospective covers album The Metallica Blacklist, alongside other high-profile guest artists like Miley Cyrus, Chris Stapleton, Phoebe Bridgers, J Balvin, St. Vincent, and so many more. The HU’s forthcoming 2022 headlining tour will kick off with a special set at Coachella this April.

Connect with The HU

Website | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | TikTok

PR Assets

ABOUT BETTER NOISE MUSIC

BETTER NOISE MUSIC is the premiere independent music label under BETTER NOISE ENTERTAINMENT, a content creation and marketing company that produces music, books, films, documentaries, TV shows, theatrical productions, and tours. Better Noise Music (formerly Eleven Seven Music), founded in 2006 by music industry veteran and independent pioneer Allen Kovac, focuses on artist development and has grown into a music industry independent powerhouse, with a roster including Five Finger Death Punch, Asking Alexandria, Bad Wolves, Dirty Heads, Nothing More, The HU, AWOLNATION, All Good Things, From Ashes To New, Cory Marks, and Fire From The Gods. Partnering with FUGA, AMPED and Membran, the company operates a global marketing and distribution platform with offices in New York, Los Angeles, London, Berlin, Paris, Toronto and Sydney.

In 2021, Better Noise Music dominated Billboard’s Year End charts in the rock space, landing at #1 on the Mainstream Rock Imprint, Hard Rock Songs Imprint, Hard Rock Songs Label charts and ranked as one of the top Mainstream Rock Label for the year.

For information, visit: http://betternoise.com/

CONNECT WITH BETTER NOISE

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For press inquiries, please contact:
SRO PR
Kelly Walsh / kwalsh@sropr.com
Mitch Schneider / mschneider@sropr.com

Better Noise Music
Jimmy Harney – jimmy@betternoise.com

February 11, 2022

The Wind Jammers At The Santa Fe Station Hotel

There was no shortage of breezy melodies, smooth high harmonies + tight musicianship last night when The Wind Jammers docked at the Santa Fe Station Hotel. They’re a popular Vegas attraction—musicians with credits specializing in covers of ‘70s AM pop hits including songs that would become branded as “yacht rock.” The showroom was packed, the masks were off (the mandate ended yesterday), and the music of the Little River Band, Pablo Cruise, Kenny Loggins, Gino Vannelli + more (Steely Dan, Boz Scaggs, Hall and Oates) was duly celebrated—like punk, alt rock, nu metal, etc. never happened. It was a fun escape from a complicated world, anchored by sheer musicality spotlighting six alternating lead vocalists. The Wind Jammers set sail again February 24 at the Santa Fe Station Hotel.

February 7, 2022

The Black Crowes’ NYC Private Show with Mick Jagger, Goldie Hawn and Liv Tyler as Guests

2/5/22

Crazy, but Mitch Schneider once got to ask Mick Jagger, “Would you like to go backstage with me?” Back in the day while handling The Black Crowes’ PR, Mitch was positioned in the VIP area of the NYC venue The Bank wrangling celebrities to say “hi” to the band after a private show to support their V2 debut album ‘Lions.’ Here’s the ‘Us Weekly’ article about that starry night, 21 years ago this month, with Jagger, Goldie Hawn (then mother-in-law to Chris Robinson), Liv Tyler + Moby all on hand. Big shout-out to photographer Kevin Mazur, whose skill + nice guy affability reliably make his photos stand out. Everyone smiles for Kevin…😊

February 7, 2022

THE THE Release Exclusive Remix Of ‘GLOBAL EYES’ + Official Music Video Out Now

DATE: FEBRUARY 7, 2022

FROM: MITCH SCHNEIDER/ANDREA FAULK, SRO PR

THE THE
RELEASE EXCLUSIVE REMIX OF
‘GLOBAL EYES’
RECORDED LIVE AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL DURING
‘THE COMEBACK SPECIAL’ TOUR
WATCH THE OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO AVAILABLE NOW HERE

One of the most intriguing bands ever to emerge from England, THE THE have shared the official video for “Global Eyes (DJ Food’s Stolen Moments Remix).” Watch it here.

Previously available only on 10” vinyl as part of the limited The Comeback Special Deluxe Artbook released in October 2021, the remixed version of the live performance of “Global Eyes” by DJ Food reveals a new, stunning and atmospheric incarnation of the song. The album THE COMEBACK SPECIAL was released October 29, 2021 in multiple audio as well as video formats and documents their triumphant and sold-out Royal Albert Hall concert in 2018 in London. Read the last press release here.

“Global Eyes (DJ Food’s Stolen Moments Remix)” is now available as a digital single for the first time, accompanied by a music video created by Vicki Bennett, who provided the video backdrop for The Comeback Special tour and whose audio-visual collage work has previously been shown at major art galleries and institutions such as the Tate Modern and the Sydney Opera House.

Listen to ‘Global Eyes (DJ Food’s Stolen Moments Remix)’ here.

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The highlight of this multi-format release is an exquisitely designed 136-page art book, which tells the whole story behind The Comeback Special with hundreds of behind-the-scenes photos, film stills, contributions and stories, as well as 6 discs including exclusive audio content, plus director Tim Pope’s film of the concert on both Blu-ray and DVD.

Order The Comeback Special here: https://thethe.tmstor.es/

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THE THE
Global Eyes
(DJ Foods’s Stolen Moments Remix)
Single Release: February 4^th, 2022

The Comeback Special
Album Release: October 29^th, 2021
Formats:
2CD Mediabook / DVD Mediabook / Blu-ray Mediabook / Triple Vinyl Gatefold / Limited Edition Triple Vinyl (Crystal Clear) / Limited Edition Art Book

Further exclusive formats and merchandise available in the official album store here.

Tracklist:

Global Eyes
Sweet Bird Of Truth
Flesh & Bones
Heartland
The Beat(en) Generation
Armageddon Days (are here again)
A Long Hard Lazy Apprenticeship
We Can’t Stop What’s Coming
Phantom Walls
Love Is Stronger Than Death
Dogs Of Lust
Helpline Operator
This Is The Night
This Is The Day
Soul Catcher
Bugle Boy
Beyond Love
Slow Emotion Replay
(Like a) Sun Rising Thru My Garden
Infected
I’ve Been Waiting For Tomorrow (all of my life)
True Happiness (this way lies)
Uncertain Smile
Lonely Planet

THE THE online:

THE THE Website
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
www.ear-music.net

February 4, 2022

Secret Affair at Sushi Takashi

The perfect place for a secret rendezvous? Try Sushi Takashi in Chinatown. Their spacious booths are like mini-caves where no one will find you anytime soon. Once inside, you can’t go wrong with their wide-ranging menu which includes excellent fusion rolls + “Japanese tapas,” particularly with names like “Bites of Heaven,” “Death Note” + “Forgot Name.” Sushi Takashi is located in the Cathay Hills Plaza, where there’s another gem: Rincon de Buenos Aires, an Italian deli + Argentinian restaurant all in one.

February 3, 2022

Nashville Singer-Songwriter & Musician MACKENZIE GRANT Shares Cover of Joni Mitchell’s “Borderline” In New Music Video

DT: FEBRUARY 3, 2022

FM: KELLY WALSH, MITCH SCHNEIDER/ SRO PR

MACKENZIE GRANT
–NASHVILLE SINGER, SONGWRITER AND MUSICIAN—
SHARES NEW SINGLE/VIDEO FOR HER COVER OF
JONI MITCHELL’S “BORDERLINE”

MARKS THE SECOND SINGLE FROM HER SOPHOMORE ALBUM
‘WONDER WORLD’
OUT MARCH 18 VIA BLACKBIRD RECORD LABEL

WATCH THE “BORDERLINE” VIDEO HERE

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Coming on the heels of last month’s single/video “Putting Down Some Things,” Nashville-based singer, songwriter and musician MacKenzie Grant has shared the video for her cover of Joni Mitchell’s timeless 1994 single “Borderline” (from her Grammy Award-winning Turbulent Indigo album). This marks the second single from MacKenzie’s sophomore album WONDER WORLD, due March 18 via BlackBird Record Label. The video can be viewed here and was premiered yesterday (February 2) by Americana UK which noted that “Grant’s version of the song is beautiful; the exquisite melody is delivered in her clear, pure voice while Josh Kaler’s fine pedal steel flows beneath.”

The intimate “Borderline” video—praised by Americana UK as ““a clever concept for a video of a cover song, showing respect and love for the original”—was directed by MacKenzie and filmed by her husband Murrey Smith and takes viewers on a tour of the Woodbine/Glencliff neighborhoods in Nashville, TN, where MacKenzie resides. She is seen visiting her local record store, Phonolux, picking up a vinyl copy of Turbulent Indigo and taking it home to become fully absorbed in the song. Since Turbulent Indigo was never released on vinyl despite fan petitions, MacKenzie created a mock copy using the CD’s original artwork. She also referenced the CD’s artwork in the cover art for her single by replacing Joni’s image with a self-portrait, as seen above.

“I first heard Joni Mitchell’s ‘Borderline’ when I was a freshman in college,” says MacKenzie. “I was studying political science at the time and engaging with students and professors who all had strong opinions about the state of our world. This song hit me directly between the eyes in my own reckoning of personal beliefs and how we navigate relationships with others whose ideologies are different from our own. I kept returning to the idea that so many of our beliefs might make us feel righteous, they also immediately set up a dichotomy, a dividing line between you and others. ‘Borderline’ is about how we can lose sight of our common humanity when we align ourselves too stringently with our opinions and views. Turbulent Indigo is possibly my favorite Joni album and one that I think gets overlooked, even though it won a Grammy. I feel this song is as compelling and timely today as it was 28 years ago and wanted more people to know about it. But then that’s the magic and genius of Joni’s work; compelling and timeless.”

The WONDER WORLD album marks MacKenzie’s return to music after a 15-year break.

Produced and engineered by Phil Dubnick, the album was inspired by GRANT’s time away from music working as a school counselor in a high-poverty and high-trauma preschool covering themes such as self-reckoning, feminine empowerment and overcoming negative mindsets.

WONDER WORLD features songs written by MacKenzie beyond the cover of “Borderline.” The album’s first offering was “Putting Down Some Things,” the video for which was premiered by Americana Highways. Beautifully written and sung by MACKENZIE, the song is a moving and infectious country song about self-renewal which Americana Highways praised, stating that “Grant’s songwriting is informed by witnessing a wave of these elements of the human experience, and the gentle easiness of her vocals helps to soothe the soul.” Read the press release here.

As a naturally gifted musician who is a classically trained pianist, MacKenzie has been writing and singing for as long as she can remember. A native of Syracuse, New York, and the daughter of two classically trained musicians, she effortlessly blends the clarity of her singing voice with the raw emotion in her lyrics. After three years at the University of Michigan, she transferred to Berklee in Boston, where she received positive feedback on her songwriting from her professors and peers alike. GRANT relocated to Nashville in 2000 after visiting the city with friends on spring break and discovering that it immediately felt like home.

Just before moving, she’d made an independent album that attracted the attention of a hit songwriter in Nashville, who invited her to write and record together if she ever came to town. That connection helped open the doors to the city’s songwriting community, as she developed an audience through playing writers rounds and releasing the 2006 album, The Laundry Room Glamour Hour. Around this same time, she also married and started a family, but gradually she became disillusioned with the music industry and her first marriage ended.

Now remarried and raising three children (a high schooler, a middle schooler, and a preschooler), she is once again using music as a way to connect with others and herself.

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For more information on MacKenzie Grant, please visit:
WEBSITE | IG | FB | TWITTER

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For press inquiries, please visit:
SRO PR
Kelly Walsh – kwalsh@sropr.com
Mitch Schneider – mschneider@sropr.com

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