Artist Spotlight

Alex Blocker Pays Homage to Chicago Roots with MFN Melo Collab “Zoom Meeting”

Colorado artist Alex Blocker is paying homage to his Chicago roots with his newest single “Zoom Meeting”. Featuring Chicago artist MFN Melo with a more hip-hop centric soundscape, yet still blending elements of R&B and jazz in Blocker’s quintessential style, “Zoom Meeting” is a humorous take where society is at the moment as Blocker both acknowledges darkness in his past and confidence about where he is today. “I didn’t want all my fiddle playing to make you forget I still hang with the best lyricists of our era,” says Blocker as this single is one that takes him back to his Chicago-style hip-hop roots.

“Zoom Meeting” came to fruition after a long night at Denver’s El Chapultapec – a historic jazz venue that closed during the pandemic. This final visit to the small nightclub inspired multiple songs…. this being the first tease to fans of a full-length album releasing in the fall.

Alex Blocker breaks boundaries with his genre-fusing style of contemporary music that combines elements of R&B, Hip-Hop, and Jazz. Influenced by his Chicago roots, Blocker has expressed musical ingenuity as a producer, instrumentalist, and vocalist on seven previous releases. Blocker began his music career producing and recording at YouMedia, an urban creative space in Chicago with previous alumni such as Chance The Rapper, Noname, and others. He has shared stages with performers such as Gramatik, Boombox, Nappy Roots, Masta Ace, and more.

Connect with Alex Blocker:

Website | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | Spotify

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Album Review

Paul Terry, Aptøsrs & Cellarscape unite on bold new album “Alternative Piano Club”

Combining his three artistic alter egos, Paul Terry presents an awe-inspiring new 12-track album, “Alternative Piano Club,” written in collaboration with Aptøsrs and Cellarscape. This is an album-length voyage of music that blends acoustic, rock, and piano-driven cinematic sounds.

Torn between this complex emotional spectrum, all the while the piano remains at its core throughout. Paul Terry opens his “Memento Mori (Chromogenic Phase)” contemplatively, creating a solemn, reflective mood. Cellarscape’s “Three Years Of Roses“ is warmer, whereas Aptøsrs’ “Questionnaires“ is much more textured as a large, sculptural post-rock.

“Dave’s Theme,” written by Paul Terry, musically expands the narrative with a touch of cinematic elevation that aligns well. “We Shape The Clouds” by Cellarscape is fluffy and heart-warming, “Writers Behind The Curtain” is somber, more narrative. We are all together in “A Place We Made,” an honest, intimate, emotionally grounded space.

The project contains vocal warmth and cultural depth in the song “This Is My Home“ by Silas Miami & Lana Crowster. Proceeding in a totally different direction is the stronger emotional clarity of Paul Terry’s acoustic storytelling on “Any Time You Want To Fly” and “No Sleep Has Come.” Cellarscape presents a wide, spacious atmospheric moment in “Cygnus,” while Aptøsrs ends with “Rust Mountain (Monochrome Piano Version),” a simple gem that brings the project full circle.

The mixing of Sam Okell and Adam Noble, the mastering of Alex Wharton and Robin Schmidt have, in many ways, brought their polish to it while still making it feel human. “Alternative Piano Club” is a work entity, where three musical personalities met and talk mind in the same emotional language.

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Artist Spotlight

LAST ALEX! balances precision and pulse on the electrifying track “Plus 1”

LAST ALEX!, a Chicago-based artist and producer, comes out with “Plus 1,” a high-energy release that combines technical prowess with an undeniable melodic instinct.

LAST ALEX! puts both craftsmanship and creativity on display here. The song’s strength lies in its balance, in detailed execution without sacrificing feeling, and in complexity without losing momentum.

LAST ALEX! doesn’t fully lean into the cold technique or loose emotion, but finds the sweet spot where skill and soul meet. This yields a polished, vibrant, and musically confident track.

Connect with LAST ALEX! on Spotify