Annoyed by Restaurant Playlists, a Master Musician Made His Own

"Annoyed by Restaurant Playlists, a Master Musician Made His Own"

From NY Times –

by Ben Ratliff

Last Autumn a friend told me a story about Ryuichi Sakamoto, the
renowned musician and composer who now lives in West Village, New
York. Mr. Sakamoto, it seems, so likes a particular Japanese

restaurant in Murray Hill, and visits it so often, he finally had to be
straight with the chef: He could not bear the music it played for its
patrons. The issue was not so much that the music was loud, but that
it was thoughtless. Mr. Sakamoto suggested he could take over the
job of choosing it, without pay, if only so he could feel more
comfortable eating there. The chef agreed, and so Mr. Sakamoto
started making playlists for the restaurant, none of which include any
of his own music. Few people knew about this, because Mr. Sakamoto
has no particular desire to publicise it. It took me a few weeks to
appreciate how radical the story was, if indeed it was true. I consider
thoughtless music in restaurants a problem that has gotten worse over
the years, even since the advent of the music-streaming services,
which – you’d think – should have made it better. If I’m going to spend
decent money on a meal, I don’t want the reservation-taker, the dishwasher or someone from the back office to be cooking it; I want someone who is very good at cooking food to do it. The same should apply to the music, which after all will be playing before, during and after the eating. I would prefer that music not seem an afterthought, or the result of algorithmic computation. I want it chosen by a person who knows music up and down and sideways: its context, its dynamism and its historical and aural clichés.

Brian Hudson releases his debut jazz/fusion album, Next Level

"Brian Hudson releases his debut jazz/fusion album, Next Level"

Australian promotion has started on this fine album by Atlanta, Georgia USA based drummer and studio musician Brian Hudson

Next Level blends jazz, jazz/fusion, funk and Latin with a contemporary jazz underpinning and features an all-star group of musicians who have performed and/or recorded with Dave Weckl Band, Mike Stern, Jimmy Haslip, Carrie Underwood, Kenny Loggins, Larry Carlton, Earl Klugh, Memory Dean, Quincy Jones, Barry Manilow, Brian Bromberg, Tyler Perry, Kirk Whalum, Stevie Wonder, The London Symphony Orchestra, Elton John, Matchbox 20, Arrested Development, Aretha Franklin, Steven Curtis Chapman and many more. Next Level, which was released worldwide on August 18, received extensive radio play across the United States and Canada and peaked at # 3 on the Roots Music Report Jazz Chart, #7 on the NACC Jazz Chart and spent 9 weeks on Jazz Week’s Top 100 Jazz Chart!

This is sure to find plenty of love in Aussie Cafes with feature tunes NYC, Seventy Eight and Silver Lining going out on the July Playlist very soon. If you just can’t wait checkout the links below.

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Connect With Brian Hudson

Website: www.brian-hudson.com/nextlevel

 

Buy Links:

iTunes – https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/next-level/id1265484428

Amazon – http://a.co/810Sp53

Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/album/3DXooin4FuxXeyj6og7RrH…

CDBaby – https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/brianhudson1

Social Media:

Youtube – https://youtu.be/NxNpnSC025k

Facebook: @BrianHudsonDrums

 

How To Make Bullet Proof Coffee

"How To Make Bullet Proof Coffee"

We’ve seen this in more and more cafes this year so here’s how…..

What is it

It’s a high-performance drink that has a massive impact on your energy and cognitive function. Bulletproof Coffee has helped everyone from driven CEOs to professional athletes to busy parents increase their energy so they can do more of what fulfills them.

 

What is in Bulletproof Coffee?

  1. It all starts with the beans. Brew 1 cup (8-12 ounces) of coffee using filtered water with 2 ½ heaping tablespoons of freshly ground Bulletproof Coffee Beans. Use a French Press for ease of use and to preserve beneficial coffee oils that paper filters keep out.
  2. Add 1 teaspoon to 2 tablespoons of Brain Octane Oil. You’ll learn much more about Brain Octane Oil below, but keep in mind that this stuff is powerful. Start with 1 teaspoon per cup and work your way up to 1-2 tablespoons over several days.
  3. Add 1-2 tablespoons of grass-fed, unsalted butter or grass-fed ghee. You read that right. It says butter. Don’t worry. This mixture also makes the creamiest, most delicious cup of coffee you’ve ever had. Oh, and make sure your butter is unsalted. Salty coffee is gross.
  4. Mix it all in a blender for 20-30 seconds until it looks like a foamy latte.

 

And despite what it may sound like – it does taste great – we have tried it!!

New June Sounds Like Cafe Playlist

"New June Sounds Like Cafe Playlist"

Our New June Sounds Like Cafe Playlist is up for your listening pleasure!

Spotify Link:

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Check out our new line up of tunes in curated tracklist order:

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Nick de la Hoyde, Mirror Mirror (from the single)

Mirror, Mirror reflects Nick’s own insecurities, giving a voice to those who feel they don’t have the power to speak up for themselves.

Nick’s prior releases received immediate adds to Australia’s biggest radio networks such as Southern Cross Austereo, Nova, KIIS and more as well as stateside airplay at numerous Top 40 stations nationally charting several tracks in the top 35 on the Billboard Top 40 Monitor Chart. Nick’s current single, “Hold Me Close” is also building in the UK and has been added in the Best New Pop category on BBC Radio 1, receiving airplay at KISS, Gaydio and various other regional stations. “Mirror Mirror” will launch to radio starting with an Australian Pop and specialty radio plan with stateside and UK campaigns layering into the timeline shortly thereafter. 

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Chris S, High (from the single)

‘High’ is a love song the first release from Australian artist Chris S. It’s about the first moments of new love.

After spending many years as the lead singer in an a cappella group and finishing his contemporary music course at the Institute Of Music, things started to pick up by doing various performances and scoring a first runner-up in the Kick Up The Dust band competition causing a mild controversy as his vocal duo at the time was not technically considered a band, but the judges stated that they were just too damn good not to be awarded a place.

 Teaming up with award-winning songwriters and producers, Chris has been working on new material and is excited to share with you the next chapter of his music. With “High” being his first release, Chris welcomes you all to join him on his musical journey.”

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Joel Leffler, Speed Of Light (from the EP ‘Strip me Bare’)

Following on from his successful EP from 2016 and subsequent instrumental releases and tour. Joel Lefler is back for 2018 with a stunning new EP produced by longtime collaborator and aria winner Peter Holz (Pekin Duk, Gang of Youths)

  1. Did you choose music or did it choose you?

I recently found out that my direct blood line back to the 17thcentury had very strong links to music. They were brought over from Sweden to England to be singers in the Kings Court. In the 18thcentury, there were 5 generations of singers and instrumentalists all of whom performed at one time or another in Westminster Abbey & the London Opera. I think music chose me but I made the choice to embrace it

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Lissa Jayne, Batface Girl (from the EP)

Melbourne based singer-songwriter Lissa Jayne has held a deep-seated love affair with music all her life. Her debut EP containing six beguiling songs with enchanting titles such as Batface Girl, Towns that Make you Bizarre, Damn your Name and That Girl is Gone. “Lisa Jayne sat demurely in her sweet little Lolita dress and bow, with her pretty blonde acoustic and then served us up a love song of her own, laced with metaphor and darkness!” Reviewer.

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Jim Combs

Sensitive Chaos, Missing Vjeo (from the album ‘Walking a Beautiful World’)

Sensitive Chaos is the solo project of producer Jim Combs, with collaborators from around the world.

A core component of Sensitive Chaos compositions is improv, and songs on the albums have their genesis in live performances and recordings. This unique approach has endeared audiences and radio programmers around the world, with airplay across the U.S., Europe, and the U.K., including many “Best Of” nods over the years. Walking a Beautiful World, their 9th album, is an eclectic indie-electro-rock-world-jazz-pop travelogue of Combs’ journey around the world and an ode to the common threads that bind people across different lives and locations.

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Flow, Free Ascent (from the album ‘Flow’)

Fiona Joy Hawkins – aussie Piano Player and vocalist of the group reveals how it came about

“We had all worked together for many years playing on each other’s albums and doing songs together, so it seemed logical to write and record as a group.  It was actually Lawrence Blatt’s idea. He called Jeff Oster and I and we instantly connected with the idea.  Lawrence wanted Will Ackerman to produce the album.  In the past, Will has played guitar on all our albums and in his own right is one hell of an amazing writer and player, so we had a head to head discussion and asked Will to join the group as the W in FLOW.  It stands for Fiona, Lawrence, Oster Will. It was an awesome move because the combination works so well, not just the instruments, but how we write as a team.  Add Tom Eaton (producer, engineer) and Bob’s your uncle !  “

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BiG MERiNO, Black Cockatoos (from the album ‘Suburban Wildlife’)

Sydney-based Alt-Country/ Rock/ Soul band Big Merino just released their newest album Suburban Wildlife.

With influences like: The Rolling Stones, Jackson Browne and Glen Hansard, co-writers Davis and Craig bring their songs to life with a full tone.The album starts up with a deeply sensitive tune called “Black Cockatoos” that is soaring high with free-floating energy. –Skope Mag – USA

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The Sheyana Band, Soul Sister (from the album ‘Big Love’)

The Sheyana Band are master musicians with creating their debut album “Big Love” with toe-tapping head bopping classic Rock grooves paired with beautiful Blues lyrical storytelling. They recently performed at Forth Valley Blues Fest and have supported the likes of Hoodoo Gurus, Neil Finn, Meg Mac, Renee Geyer, Diesel, The Angels, Ian Moss and Bill Chambers.

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Lily

Lily Duval, Down to the Lake (from the single)

Down to the Lake was written as a poem first and then Lily added the music. Lily: ‘I was looking for more of a minor guitar sound and a feel that was a bit ethereal. That’s where Peter Holz came in and put that vibe into the song; he plays this beautiful understated feel.’ Lily describes the song as a little mini film clip – the story of one human reaching out to another.
Previously Lily has digitally released a number of acoustic blues originals to a warm response on Community Radio and online.

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Rachel LaFond

Rachel LaFond, Luminous (From the album ‘Encounters of the Beautiful Kind’)

Rachel LaFond’s music explores universal human experiences: feelings of loneliness, joy, pleasure, pain and the evolution we undergo as an existing relationship  fades while new connections spring to life.

Tell us a little about what a crowd can expect at a live show? My music is always inspired by something, so there is always a story or an experience to share. I tell those stories at my live shows, I think it makes the music even more meaningful in the moment. I pour everything I am into performing my music, so watching me play can be a bit intense and is certainly an engaging experience.”

Favourite artists of all time? There are so many! Ingrid Michaelson, Rachmaninov, Guns ‘n’ Roses, Jason Mraz. Really, I could go on and on, it’s so hard to pick a favourite!”

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Loren Evarts, Home Again – (from the album ‘Home Again’)

Loren Everts newest album Home Again is the 6th original album, of this amazing contemporary pianist. It revisits several pieces previously recorded by Loren in the 1980’s, and eight new ones.

Fave film? Fave Book? Fave place? Fave animal or pet?.”I Loved “The Lord of the Rings” movies. (It was great to visit the filming sites when I was recently in NZ.) I have always loved England, but very much enjoyed an extended visit to Australia several years ago. (Spent 6 weeks touring the country.) Definitely a cat person, but I have 2 border collies.”

Fave food or drink and is there a story associated with that”Pizza! No story there. I’m lucky to live near the pizza capital of the world- New haven, CT. (If you are ever there, try Sally’s on Wooster St.) And I like a good non-IPA beer to go with that.”

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Tom Moore & Sherry Finzer, Sacred Ground (from the album ‘Let there be Light’)

Let There Be Light is the second collaborative album from multi-instrumentalist Tom Moore and award-winning flutist, Sherry Finzer. This album’s music is an expression of a journey, it is about movement not only in our outer life, but equally on the inner plane. The universe is made up of light, which then becomes vibrations and sound. The purpose of this album is to bring ‘light’ to the listener is as many forms as possible.

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Jim Samuel – New single It’s a Wrap

"Jim Samuel – New single It’s a Wrap"

Jim Samuel is the former keyboardist and songwriter with the Conchords, the R&B recording group with hits in the 60’s and 70’s. He has enjoyed performing with R&B icons like Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles  as well as pop superstars the Beach Boys and The Who. His new single It’s a Wrap features on Soundslikecafe this month.

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After leaving the music industry and building a successful business career over the past 30 years, Jim returned to music a few years back and has enjoyed success in the contemporary jazz world. He has written and produced Top 20 charted songs while performing with jazz greats like Gerald Albright, Rob Tardik and Darryl Walker. Over the past year he had his song Now That You’re Gone used by the Bosch TV/ Novel franchise and performed his latest single It’s a Wrap with Kevin Walker of Prince/ Justin Timberlake fame. Jim is currently working on more songs for a 2019 album  release. 

You can checkout a tune from Jim on our new playlist here

Plus all of his release can be found at

http://www.jimsamuelproductions.com

And if you prefer a stream just listen right here and now!!

Nick De La Hoyde – Hold Me Close

"Nick De La Hoyde – Hold Me Close"

The eagerly awaited new single from Nick De La Hoyde is finally here.

Having had great response from Nick’s previous work on soundslikecafe we are sure this one will be even stronger.

Sydney, Australia based singer/songwriter/rapper Nick de la Hoyde began expressing himself through music when he was 16 while pursuing a professional, football career in Barcelona. Music quickly became a driving force in Nick’s life and through that creative lens, he began to express his deeply personal thoughts of being a determined teenager chasing his dreams in a foreign land. This early creativity eventually won out and brought him back to Australia to pursue being an artist full-time. Growing up in a multi-cultural home with a Syrian mother and British father, Nick was exposed to many global influences which he weaved into his music melding his love of hip hop and R&B with electronic alt/dance beats together with introspective lyrics that chronicled a young, musician’s journey to adulthood overcoming life and artistic challenges along the path.  Nick and his long-time producer/collaborator/older brother Joseph (ZUZU) de la Hoyde, have crafted a sound that is simultaneously intimate, expansive and engaging. Now at 23, Nick has penned confessional, real life anthems such as Love Takes TimeThinking Bout You, Never Gonna Beg For It, By My Side and Changing that oscillate between moody, textured R&B and anthemic synth laden future-pop moments combined with a lyrical earnestness that speaks directly to today’s younger generation.  Nick has quickly made a name for himself, cultivating a large and dedicated on-line following and becoming a powerful voice for youth empowerment and positivity.

 

HOLD ME CLOSE

Nick’s newest installment Hold Me Close is his brightest yet. The track is filled with energy, from its pulsing trop vibes to the swooning vocal melodies – it has enough to lift into exultation and create a dance party of any situation. The single marks the evolution of Nick’s musical style into one that is thoughtful of both the senses and the mind, continuing the sense of free-spiritedness that has come to define his music.

Checkout the Lyric Video

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Breakthrough Danish Artist – Copenhagen’s Vera

"Breakthrough Danish Artist – Copenhagen’s Vera"

Vera is the moniker of Copenhagens William Asingh, one of Scandinavias most in-demand

and relevant young producers. As an integral figure to a slew of breaking acts out of

Denmark, including Off Bloom and Liss, Vera also worked closely with Danish superstar

MØ on her recent EP, producing three of its six tracks.

The Good Job No Conversation EP focuses Vera solely on his own sultry output, and in

Nobody Else, he delivers another scintillatingly assured and blissed-out track for all hours.

Vera on Nobody Else:

“Lyrically, Nobody Else is a tribute to the Caribbean novel Wide Sargasso Sea by the Creole writer, Jean Rhys. The novel is a response to Brontës Jane Eyre, in which the landowner keeps his Jamaican wife locked up in the attic, allegedly because she is mad. Wide Sargasso Sea tells the story of the mad woman of the attic and with this cool tone of tristesse, the book describes the wickedness, the Jamaican landscape and the eternal drinking of rum.’

“The smoothest thing you’ll hear today…The sound of sipping rosé in Copenhagen” – THE FADER

“What Sade would sound like if she were a millennial from Copenhagen” – THE TIMES

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