Sodajerker talks with Mike Viola, one of their favorite guests of all time

INTERVIEW

Sodajerker calls Mike Viola “one of our all-time favourite guests,” which is damned impressive considering that they’ve spoken to luminaries including Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil, Paul Williams, Graham Gouldman, Alicia Keys, Edie Brickell, Paul Simon, Beck, “Weird Al” Yankovic, Paul McCartney, Billy Ocean, Kate Tempest, Rufus Wainwright, Jeff Lynne, and, well, basically every beloved living songwriter from the past six or so decades.

The duo’s podcast has just posted its second interview with the Godmuffin creator, during which he “explains how he makes time for creativity, how the past informs his present, and how he is coping with the loss of his friend Adam Schlesinger.” They’ve also curated a career-spanning Spotify Playlist with much of Viola’s best work.

J Hacha De Zola's "Strange" is "Song of the Day" at Eat Sleep Breathe Music

FEATURE


J Hacha De Zola’s “Strange” - available now on his recently-released Greatest Hits package - is today’s “Song Of The Day” at Eat Sleep Breathe Music. “This song paints a vivid visual for the listener,” the site contends, predicting that “you will get swept up with its woozy instrumentation and alluringly curious lyrics.”

De Zola’s newest single “Lost Space” will be streaming everywhere tomorrow, and the all new East of Eden LP arrives June 11.

New Noise praises the "sly humor" of The March Divide and premieres the lyric video for "I Believe"

LYRIC VIDEO PREMIERE



On cinq, the newest album from The March Divide, the songs are “personal, but always safe-effacing, and with sly humor underneath their rich production and get-to-the-point style.” This is according to New Noise Magazine, which is hosting the premiere of the Hector G-created lyric video for album closer “I Believe.”

J Hacha De Zola finds his voice on East of Eden advance track "Lost Space," streaming now on Glide Mag and available everywhere this Friday

SONG PREMIERE


It's a more accessible J Hacha De Zola we're hearing on "Lost Space," the first single from the all-new album East of Eden, out June 11. He says, “I truly feel that I have found my own voice.”

The single, out this Friday, premieres today at Glide Magazine. The site writes that De Zola "channels his inner Jim Morrison as he croons about the tragedy and pitfalls of isolation. There is something funky and soulful... saxophone, dreamy guitar, and airy harmonies, all of which come together to make this one satisfying tune."

The remixed & remastered compilation J Hacha De Zola’s Greatest Hits is streaming everywhere now.

Americana Highways calls The March Divide Beatles-esque while streaming new LP cinq in full

ALBUM STREAM


Congratulations to Jared Putnam on the release of his newest LP under the moniker of The March Divide: cinq. Americana Highways has a stream of the whole thing! The site says, “This album is pop indie folk by The March Divide that’ll recall the Beatles and contemporary sentiments. It ranges over lies, betrayal, frustration, and hope, with doses of muted euphoria.”

Previously, V13 called the record “a home run,” while Americana UK, Under The Radar, and American Songwriter have all praised single “The Funk That You’re In.” Get the album now (there are some very attractive t-shirt/coozie bundles) at themarchdivide.bandcamp.com.

Needed: Jared Colinger's The Enigmatic Foe project often reminds of a melancholy Andy Partridge of XTC.

NEWS

The Enigmatic Foe is the work of Knoxville-based songwriter and musician, Jared Colinger.

The tunes on his upcoming new album The Original Plan (July 30th) often remind of a melancholy Andy Partridge of XTC, which is, frankly, a quality we all need to hear about in music more often.

Essentially, Colinger’s pop tunes are wrapped in just enough self-awareness to be relatable, and just enough sadness to land.

Back to operating The Enigmatic Foe as a solo project, Colinger is once again the Mayor of his own Simpleton (XTC!), although there are a few citizens about including Frank Lenz (Headphones, Richard Swift) on Drums and Josh Dooley (Map, Fine China) on Electric Guitar.

The Original Plan was mixed and mastered at Swift’s studio National Freedom by Chris Colbert.

V13 shares "I Believe," from The March Divide's "home run" of a new LP, cinq

SONG PREMIERE

If you’re not yet a believer in The March Divide’s Jared Putnam, you will be after you get a little more familiar with this charismatic singer-songwriter. V13 just premiered his brand new single “I Believe,” a tender number included on his forthcoming album cinq, due tomorrow (Friday, April 23) via Slow Start Records. It’s one of the most intimate songs he’s ever written, and V13 says the whole new album is a “home run.”

J Hacha De Zola's Greatest Hits package gets a glowing writeup in The Jersey Journal; East of Eden is due in June

ALBUM REVIEW


Thoughtful words from Jim Testa of The Jersey Journal on J Hacha De Zola’s Greatest Hits. “It’s not all fun house mirrors and whoopee cushions. The haunting 'Strange' slows things down for a tortured love song; 'A Fool’s Moon' sweeps you off to romantic pre-revolution Cuba for a slow turn around the dance floor; and 'Syn Illusion' bids for airplay on Spanish pop radio."

Out now (w/ an all-new album 𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘌𝘥𝘦𝘯 arriving June 11)!

Cover Me loves Dev Marvelous' "pulsing, vivid, and joyful" take on the bird and the bee's "La La La"

FEATURE


”Though Dev Marvelous’ take on the bird and the bee’s ‘La La La’ may bear some hallmarks of a solo production made in COVID-imposed isolation,” Cover Me Songs writes, “this is bedroom pop of a different and brighter sort: pulsing, vivid, joyful… Elegant electric piano stabs, tinges of nouveau samba, a wormy synth and impressive vocal stacks run through the track, evoking some of the most infectious and synesthetic pop work from producer Greg Kurstin (the ‘Bee’ to Inara George’s ‘Bird’).”

Dev’s full, funky collection of bird and the bee covers is available now from Release Me Records.

Americana UK recommends the "kinda funky" new single from The March Divide, whose full LP is out Friday

FEATURE

Head over to Americana UK to hear “The Funk That You’re In,” the “kinda funky” single from The March Divide’s upcoming album cinq. Link in bio.

The full LP is out this Friday, April 23 from Slow Start Records and can be pre-ordered now!

Jared says: “The album is made up of all the singles I’ve released over the last year, plus a bit extra. My friend (Short Eared Dog Photography) made the cover art for each of the singles & the album itself. Each cover is thoughtful in its character & meaning, while maintaining the album’s common theme. Neat, huh?! Which is your favorite? Seriously, I wanna know!” Be sure to slide right into his DMs with your answer.

Window Sound does a joint interview with Mark Bryan and Tennis Courts' Patrick Walsh

INTERVIEW

Mark Bryan isn’t just a solo artist and member of Hootie and the Blowfish. He’s also an accomplished producer, and recently helped up-and-comers Tennis Courts as they put together their debut EP Best Regards. Window Sound’s Jack Story recently had a conversation with Mark and Tennis Courts’ Patrick Walsh about the experience, and the Q&A demonstrates how down-to-earth and forthcoming Mark is as a musician and friend to other musicians.

Charleston City Paper hypes Mark Bryan's new solo LP and his Windjammer show

FEATURE

Cheers to Mark Bryan’s hometown Charleston City Paper for helping to hype 𝘔𝘪𝘥𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴, the Hootie and the Blowfish guitarist’s fourth solo album. Mark’s celebrating the release in June at the Windjammer in South Carolina, with a cadre of players who helped make the recordings so magical.

If you haven’t heard it yet, the record is available to buy and stream here.