Artist Spotlight

Ross Victory is a singer/songwriter turned award-winning author of the books Views from the Cockpit: The Journey of a Son and Panorama: The Missing Chapter from Southern California.

Image for post

As the son of public servants, a missionary father and a law enforcement mother, exploration and service were built into his foundation having travelled to over thirty countries and volunteered with homelessness causes to teen suicide prevention.

Ross spent his early years collecting Pilot pens, notepads, singing and interviewing himself in a tape recorder. With an acute awareness for his young age, he was eager to point out hypocrisies and character inconsistencies in children and adults through English assignments. He provoked reactions from teachers with writing that could bite, wink, and smile. Though some of his writing was provocative for a third grader and led to concerned phone calls, adults looked forward to what Ross would write or say next.

He gravitated to writing music lyrics and producing beats on Sonar Cakewalk to cope with isolation he felt in his childhood from feeling different. In high school, he impressed his classmates and teachers when he wrote and recorded a song about a nine-year-old girl who died from gang violence. At fifteen years old, Ross submitted the song to a songwriting competition. Competing against a sea of experienced adult songwriters, Ross was awarded the distinction of Runner Up. This validation was formative for Ross at his young age; it gave him the sense that he was on to something, and it was worth developing.

Ross wrote and submitted these songs and stories to online competitions for feedback, which helped him find his direction, style, and voice. In 2007, Ross entered a Myspace singing competition for a chance to be featured on the Step Up 2 The Streets Music Soundtrack produced by Atlantic Records; Ross reached the Top 5 male finalists. Ross describes himself as a writer first, songwriter second, and a singer last. Editors and songwriting judges have described Ross’ writing as ‘never lacking soul’ with the ability to anger or soothe–but always descriptive and transparent.

Artist Spotlight

CircleKSK ignites an anime-metal collision on “UnBreakable Turn” ft. Anya J

On their exhilarating high-octane track “UnBreakable Turn,” CircleKSK and guest vocalist Anya J aim to combine the technical prowess of Nordic metal with the urgent melodies and dramatic flair of an anime opening sequence. Creating a cinematic and adrenaline-fueled tune with a melodic edge, CircleKSK has risen to prominence as an innovative act.

The deliberate fusion contributes to the single’s captivating nature. J-Pop and anime-song sensibilities contribute emotional hooks and sweeping, catchy lines; precision, dense riffs, and a sense of weight are brought by Nordic metal. Echoing the song’s vivid melodic contours, Anya J’s heroic and personal vocals and demeanor heighten the dramatic impact of the performance. The structure is based on the standard narrative progression: lively, evocative parts leading the way to more somber ones that ground the emotion.

The production relies on contrast so that lighter parts sparkle and heavier parts thud with satisfying force. As if CircleKSK were creating music for the eyes as well as the ears, this piece could serve as the score for a dramatic scene or the music for a violent montage. Not everything is surface-level, though; the emotional core remains. Anthemic and deeply personal, “UnBreakable Turn” combines the vigor of youth with the gravity of experience.

An assuredly inventive single that fearlessly asserts new territory, “UnBreakable Turn” by CircleKSK is sure to please fans of big, dramatic music that isn’t hesitant to mix sweetness and steel, as well as those who enjoy cross-cultural mashups. The single, which has been lauded by curators and tastemakers worldwide, is a strong statement about artists who fearlessly combine cultural genres, showing that passionate J-Pop melodies and intense Scandinavian metal can coexist in one unforgettable track.

Tweet LinkedIn PinShares0

Artist Spotlight

Garth Adam keeps the flame of Journeysong burning with the new single “Three Fires”

Garth Adam‘s latest single, “Three Fires,” evokes a warm dialogue in a subdued studio that is intimate, contemplative, and subtly victorious. Adam candidly discusses the exhilaration of uncovering self-assurance in both himself and his songwriting, and this revelation serves as the driving force of the track. At its essence, “Three Fires” is a straightforward commemoration: the delight in transforming a modest idea into something extraordinary through patience.

Adam’s vocal style resides comfortably within a folk-influenced pop genre, which he characterizes as a blend of Neil Finn and The Lumineers, interspersed with elements reminiscent of Coldplay and James Blunt. The reference point is beneficial yet not confining; “Three Fires” represents Adam’s unique creation, an accessible, melodic composition that prioritizes artistry over novelty. The single, recorded in joyful sessions in Perth with long-time collaborator and producer Melvin Tree, exudes the warmth of musicians collaborating in a circle, with the vintage Studer analog desk imparting an analog glow to the final recording. Melvin, Dave Kelly, and a select group of skilled music students contribute backing vocals that enhance the track with harmony and impart a subtly communal, authentic quality.

The lyrics of the song emphasize Adam’s preferred motifs: travel, journeys, and the subtle transformations that occur during the voyage. However, it is not overly forceful; the songwriting is elegant, transitioning from observation to insight with effortless fluidity. Adam’s delivery conveys satisfaction; he is a songwriter who has witnessed minor concepts evolve into completed songs and has learned to trust that process.

“Three Fires” serves as a testament to the notion that skill and perseverance can transform a mere spark into something luminous. For aficionados of melodic songwriting with an analog essence, Garth Adam’s latest work is a comforting, exquisitely crafted ember to accompany one on their journey. It is a song that encourages repeated, soothing auditory experiences.