G. E. Holliday
The Piper
From 808 Vampire


We are back in Atlanta today to get an earful of G. E. Holliday's recent single. The second track released from the 808 Vampire album, we get to hear what happens when an artist takes the alternative route. Growing up in American social housing as part of a single parent family led Holliday down a distinctive and treacherous path. With TV and film portraying icons of this society as criminals and scumbags we can only do so much to protect impressionable young people from this path.


Holliday didn't settle in school either. When he discovered music and went to college with a dream, even then the environment didn't suit him. I get it, it's not for everyone. Plus being part of a group of others who may have more self-esteem and encouragement behind them can give out an unfairly inadequate self-perception. When G. E. Holliday left college with nothing, he knew that music was still the right path for him. It was now when he decided to volunteer and work for various studios around Atlanta. His rewards have been many yet one thing he now has to show is a great album with music on international radio.


With a guitar and keyboard the music begins with a splashy rhythm. G. E. Holliday begins to sing. A reggae tempo breaks free with sunny chords breaking waves over strumming steel and inventive percussion patterns. Sultry melody in the vocal gives us an easy to remember chorus while the music builds and flows like rain on the busy road. Inspired and full of character, the music is instantly recognisable and enjoyable to listen to.


G. E. Holliday is on Facebook


and Instagram
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Mike Beech
Running


As a child, Mike Beech learned how to play classical guitar. It was a great choice of instrument, however everything changed when an older version of himself saw School Of Rock. After becoming a huge fan of the film and the music in it, Mike Beech swapped his classical direction for something a little more modern. While studying, he was selected to be the singer of the University of Warwick Big Band which came as a big surprise for him. The scholarly accolade however gave Mike Beech the impetus to go on and take his talent seriously. Now with a love for groove as well as a fantastic fretboard mobility, originally adapted to the tenser and more resistant traditional instrument, Mike Beech sings his own material.


We get a fresh guitar riff with classical strings that bounces up and down in a rock rhythm. Behind, sunny chords elevate the melody of a vocal line. The words are about upgrading a relationship from simple get-togethers to being involved in each other's lives. Integrating self into another self is risky business and we have to be able to see the best in a person to do it. The song drifts along with happy and life-affirming lines and a catchy chorus that we can learn in no time.


Get in touch with Mike Beech on Facebook


and Instagram

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Freaky DJs Feat. Jimmy Hennessy and Kaktuz
Higher Love


This all-star combination of talent brings us an eclectic mix of musical influences. As mentioned on Alternative Fruit previously, Jimmy Hennessy grew up in Ireland where he found a love for folk and dance music. He's had loads of radio play already with his earlier works, and now by teaming up with fellow musician Kaktuz, this new material puts things into yet more perspective. Giving us a flavour of their diversity and willingness to work alongside other bright lights on the stage shows us that both Hennessy and Kaktuz are forces to be counted in.


The music begins with a glistening melody. Vocals emerge from the abstraction with dynamic effects which lend a distinctive quality. The vocals describe someone who makes him happy, someone who improves life and he doesn't want to let go. A new vocal enters with a soulful style of delivery while beats pound in like rain on the roof of a car. A guitar solo washes over the rocks, dashing notes with lucid quality as the steel string acoustic tells the story. Then a clean vocal raps more verses before the main choral effects merge with another surge of tuneful guitar.


You can catch up with Jimmy Hennessy on Facebook


and Twitter
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