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Listen to Ralph Curtis Perform “Man You Want Me To Be” Live

The pandemic was a period where many people were forced to reevaluate their priorities and focus more on soul-nourishing activities. For Ralph Curtis, music was what set his soul on fire. In 2020, he kicked off his career with I Was Him & He Was Me. Following the storytelling nature of country music, Ralph Curtis weaved an intricate story of the intimate relationship he shared with his grandfather.

In 2021, he launched his debut EP titled Sandbar Sideways. Some songs in the EP include Whatever’s Left in The Bottle, Life is Hard Living is Harder, and A Yeti and Some Sunshine.

Ralph Curtis is a singer-songwriter based in Naples, Florida. From a young age, he had a knack for music and played in the symphonic orchestra. Other than the cello, Curtis also plays the guitar. He draws his inspiration from artists, including John Mayer and Ryan Adams.

Man You Want Me To Be is a song about what it takes to be a “good man.” Ralph takes us through the promises he makes to his girlfriend, who he ends up marrying, his two little daughters, and his aging mom. It’s easy for a man to get wrapped up in trying to provide a lavish life, but Curtis reminds us that “a shoulder to cry on, a rock you can lean on, a bed you can sleep” is sometimes all that’s needed.

For the live version of Man You Want Me To Be, Ralph Curtis partnered with Juniper Recording Studios and had Hunter McDaniel on the piano. The live version is a quieter, more crisp, and more intimate version of the song. The drums and guitars have all been stripped away to leave Curtis’ baritone accompanied by a piano.

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Although it is a bit unusual to have just a piano accompany an otherwise country song, the piano gives this version delicacy and intimacy. The choice of microphone that captures Hunter playing is also brilliant; it captures the small tonal nuances well. Hunter’s playing also shows excellent prowess. He sounds like he is giving the keys just a gentle tap, leaving room for Curtis’ voice to carry the day.

Compared to the studio version, Curtis’ voice in the live version still sounds good, but with more emotion behind it. It is punctuated with little grunts and cracks that are not edited out to make the sound perfect. It makes you identify more with the song, especially when he sounds like he’ll almost shed a tear when he says, “No, I can’t offer much, but I can be the man you want me to be.”

When he sings, Ralph Curtis gets lost in the moment. When he closes his eyes, you can see the song move through him; from how he gently gestures with his hands to the slight furrow in his brows.

If this live version is anything to go by, listening to Ralph Curtis perform should be one of those performances that make a room stand still and listen. Anyone who wants to listen to him live can follow his performance schedule from his social media or website.

Listen to the Live Version on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnQ8LfzCWLY

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Listen on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/album/3OYFSTfZWKkhKORfrcsx7B?si=0Svfjmk5RvWbwpsFZW1rRg

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/ralphcurtismusic/

Website:
https://www.ralphcurtismusic.com/

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Artist Spotlight

DONELLI A.I. ENSEMBLE offers a jazz fusion and electronic atmosphere on “Previsioni del tempo incerto”

DONELLI A.I. ENSEMBLE

DONELLI A.I. ENSEMBLE unveils an 18-track album, “Weather Forecasts of Unknown Weather”, blending jazz fusion, world music, progressive rock, new age, and cinematic textures with sounds inspired by the 80s. The album is built on compositions made with keyboards, samplers, and DAW software, as well as collaborations with other musicians, which are then rearranged and reworked with the help of artificial intelligence. The process embeds technology directly into the creative fabric of the project.

The album opens with “Previsioni del tempo incerto”, which features trumpet and vocals with the rest of the ensemble, setting up the album’s blend of instrumental and vocal elements. “Villistas” is more dancey, with dreamy synths and layered compositions that create a lighter electronic atmosphere. The differences between these tracks show that the album is willing to move between genres rather than stay in a single fixed sonic category.

“Claudia” opens with a saxophone and the sweet presence of a jazz orchestra, adding a more traditional jazz colour to the album’s wider electronic and cinematic landscape. The quality of “Pigalle” continues to pull the listener in with its atmospheric approach and vocal effects. Together, these selections reveal the project’s oscillation between acoustic-inspired instrumental timbres and electronically shaped spaces.

The album closes with a softer track, “ninna nanna”, thanks to its gentle presence and composition. The positioning brings the stylistic range heard across the record to a peaceful close. “Previsioni del tempo incerto” is defined by its willingness to blend contrasting musical languages, jazz, world, prog rock, electronic production, cinematic atmosphere, and 80s-inspired textures into a single expansive project. That cross-genre approach, with AI-assisted reworkings as another element of the album’s evolving sound, is especially clear in the artistic direction of the DONELLI A.I. ENSEMBLE.

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Artist Spotlight

Mark Cee unveils an acoustic storytelling with a restless edge on New Album “Ghost Talk Show”

Mark Cee

Mark Cee, an ambient indie folk artist dedicated to the art of the human recording, releases a nine-track album titled “Ghost Talk Show.” A set of folk-rock and singer-songwriter songs built on acoustic textures, personal reflection, memory, and emotional movement. The album begins with a conversational feel that lets the themes play out in character-driven tunes and melodic playing. The result is an album that is simultaneously intimate acoustic writing and sporadic ventures into electric rock.

The album begins with “I Am Dreaming Of,” an acoustic-tinged song about the possibilities of who someone could be and the desire to have that potential recognized. The way it reflects establishes the mood for what follows, a mood of memories. “Drifting Back Again” is a look back at past behavior, dealing with the complicated feeling of looking back at experiences that weren’t necessarily good but still have an undeniable emotional pull.

“Thought I Saw You Yesterday” has that reflective feel all the way through, with acoustic guitar and catchy vocals making the tune memorable and easy to get into. There’s a darker metaphorical edge to the album in “Skeletons on Your Lawn,” which explores the idea of hidden truths that can’t stay hidden. “And Now The Rain Is Gone” later turns towards leaving the past behind, and “Wish You Were Coming Home” adds an especially emotional quality to the record.

The last track, “Don’t Buy Gas Station Gummies,” shakes up the instrumental palette with catchy electric rock guitar, providing an energetic finish to an album largely defined by acoustic sensibilities. The “Ghost Talk Show” shows Mark Cee’s artistic direction, which is based on storytelling and emotional observation. The album moves around memory, regret, longing, self-reflection, and forward motion but always keeps a recognizable folk-rock base. Other tracks on the album:

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And Now the Rain Is Gone (Instrumental)

Sweet Jenny.

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