Tag Archives: new music

Kalie Shorr’s ‘Open Book’ is Her Most Vulnerable Album Yet

PRESS RELEASE: In her own words, the past year was the toughest of Kalie Shorr’s life, with the tragic loss of a family member (sister), the forceful ending of a long term relationship and the struggle of finding her identity through it all. Channeling all of the emotions, she created a work of art that is both “deeply specific” and “universally relatable” as respected journalist Angela Stefano describes. Gaining both critical and commercial acclaim, Kalie Shorr, releases her debut full-length album, Open Book, today. 

With the lead single, “Lullaby,” having received support by Bobby Bones on his Women of iHeartCountry show, its music video premiered online by Refinery29 and on television by CMT and CMT Music, as well as Saturday marking her 15th appearance on the Grand Ole Opry, the Nashville establishment has embraced the artist’s forward-thinking approach to creating music. Adding to those accomplishments, Rolling Stone’s Marissa Moss calling her “one of country music’s most promising new artists” and NPR’s Ann Powers tweeting that the album is “mainstream millennial/Z country that makes me think of Avril and Phoebe Bridgers somehow meeting and forming a consciousness raising group,” proves that highly-acclaimed music critics are taking notice of her unique style.

All 13 tracks were written by Shorr and she co-produced 10 of the tracks with Skip BlackOpen Book is a dynamic experience filled with complex realities matched with raw musical and lyrical perspective, revealing a deeper look into Shorr’s unfiltered mind.

“For several years running, Kalie Shorr has been one of country music’s most promising new artists — for how she melds an appreciation of the genre’s roots with an unabashed love for emo and pop, for her cutting songwriting, and for how she’s made her feminism a vital part of her musical perspective.” – Marissa MossRolling Stone

“With Open Book, Kalie Shorr channels both her inner Dolly Parton and her inner Alanis Morissette. She leans in to country music’s story-song tradition – and almost no detail is too personal to share – but her deeply specific verses intertwine with universally relatable choruses. High school me would have stanned this album hard (and that’s a high compliment!).” – Angela Stefano, The Boot

“Push past all the emotions Shorr leads with to find sublime songwriting and brilliant use of literary devices. The lyrics on this album, while at times unhinged, specific and shocking, are also perfect for who she is, right now. She has rare grit and the kind of courage they don’t manufacture on Music Row.” – Billy DukesTaste of Country

Respected rock music critic Craig Manning tweeted, “Big release day in general, but there are two records in particular that I very highly recommend,” and after touting Sturgill Simpson’s new LP, he went on. “The other is the debut album, Open Book from Kalie Shorr which is like Red era Taylor Swift, plus A Mark, A Mission era Dashboard Confessional, plus the first two Avril Lavigne albums. ‘Lullaby’ is immediately in the pantheon of all-time great breakup songs.”

Shorr performed Open Book songs for the first time last night with her band at a private performance for fans and industry at Club Roar in Nashville.

Track Listing for Open Book:
1. “Too Much to Say” (Kalie Shorr, Robyn Collins and Ian Christian)
2. “Escape” (Kalie Shorr and Candi Carpenter)
3. “Messy” (Kalie Shorr, Jonny Shorr and Katie Stump)
4. “The One” (Kalie Shorr, Skip Black and Savannah Keyes)
5. “F U Forever” (Kalie Shorr, Candi Carpenter and Annie Wildgen)
6. “Alice in Wonderland” (Kalie Shorr and Candi Carpenter)
7. “The World Keeps Spinning” (Kalie Shorr, Skip Black and Robyn Collins)
8. “Big Houses” (Kalie Shorr, Skip Black and Savannah Keyes)
9. “Gatsby” (Kalie Shorr, Skip Black and Candi Carpenter)
10. “Thank God You’re a Man” (Kalie Shorr, John Caldwell and Robyn Collins)
11. “Vices” (Kalie Shorr, John Caldwell and Robyn Collins)
12. “Lullaby” (Kalie Shorr, Robyn Collins and Will Stone)
13. “Angry Butterfly” (Kalie Shorr, Simon Reid and Fred Wilhelm)

Shorr has been announced as the opener for music icon LeAnn Rimes on the multi-platinum selling artist’s beloved You And Me And Christmas Tour this winter. The tour kicks off in Waterloo, N.Y. on November 30 and visits 11 cities across the East Coast. (See full list of tour dates below).
 
Handpicked by Rimes, Shorr has built quite the resume in the past few years, becoming what Rolling Stone recently called “one of country music’s most promising new artists.” Since her SiriusXM Highway Find “Fight Like A Girl” in 2016 she has been named a CMT Next Women of Country, toured alongside Sara Evans and RaeLynn, been featured on NPR programs, PBS NewsHour and in features in Elle Magazine, Refinery29 and many more. She made her Grand Ole Opry debut in 2018 and has gone on to play the stage 15 times.

This is Rimes seventh annual Holiday tour, one that has become a holiday tradition for many. Attendees can get in the Christmas spirit as Rimes sings her hits along with timeless holiday classics.

Fans can still purchase a VIP experience with Rimes that includes meet & greet, prime seats and merchandise. General public tickets will be available starting July 26 (check local listings) via all of the venues websites and www.leannrimes.com.

For more information on the You And Me And Christmas Tour, visit www.leannrimes.com.

You and Me Christmas 2019 Tour Dates:
Nov. 11 – Waterloo, N.Y. – The Vine at Del Lago
Dec. 2 – Pittsburgh, Pa. – Rivers Casino
Dec. 3 – Morristown, N.J. – Mayo Performing Arts Center
Dec. 5 – Bensalem, Pa. – Xcite Center at Parx Casino
Dec. 6 –  Atlantic City, N.J. – Hard Rock Atlantic City
Dec. 7 – Warren, Pa. – Struthers Library Theater
Dec. 10 – Athens, Ga. – The Classic Center*
Dec. 11 – Augusta, Ga. – Miller Theater
Dec. 13 – Franklin, N.C. – Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts
Dec. 14 – Coconut Creek, Fla. – The Pavilion – Seminole Coconut Creek*
Dec. 15 – Jacksonville, Fla. – Florida Theater
*On Sale TBD

Marye Amanda Releases Wedding Song “To Be With You”

Marye Amanda is not only a singer, songwriter and musician; she is also a Political Science major at East Carolina University. When she isn’t studying or writing songs, she hosts a songwriter series for her University’s radio station. She began singing at the age of three and started writing songs at the age of 10. Now at University, she finds time to co-write with other songwriters via skype. She has also traveled to Nashville and been able to perform at the historic Blue Bird Cafe where singer/songwriter Taylor Swift was discovered.

Marye Amanda has built up a following on her social channels where she releases original songs and cover songs to reach new listeners. Now, she has just released a new song “To Be With You” available now! She told Variety Beat how special this song is to her:

“I am really excited to release my single “To Be With You.” I wrote this song with Jhett Wilder, and it is one of my favorite songs that I have written. It’s very different from other songs I have written because it is a wedding song. I recorded it back in July, and I had it mastered in August. I am thrilled to share this single with everyone.”

She sings dreamily on the song about meeting the one she would spend the rest of her life with:

“I didn’t know from the time I first saw you

That you’d be the one I’d pledge my whole life to

But it came to me

That you’re the one for me

LISTEN TO “TO BE WITH YOU”

Kelleigh Bannen Announces Long-Awaited​ Album – ‘Favorite Colors’

The day we at Variety Beat have been waiting for has finally arrived, Nashville native Kelleigh Bannen is finally releasing her debut Country Album Favorite Colors. The news came on the release of her second song off the album called “Faith In You.”

The album has 14 tracks, all of which were co-written by Bannen. Three of the songs make look familiar as they were on her latest EP release John Who.

There are multiple album packages available for pre-order which all contain signed album copies! There is even a signed vinyl available! We definitely ordered the largest package and can’t wait to be sporting these tees!

Shop Here!

See the album announcement form Bannen!

TRACK LISTING FOR FAVORITE COLORS

“Damn, I Still Love You” (Kelleigh Bannen, Will Bowen and Scott Stepakoff)
“Deluxe” (Kelleigh Bannen and Danielle Blakey)
“Boys Don’t Cry” (Kelleigh Bannen, Todd Clark and Jason Saenz)
“Diamonds” (Kelleigh Bannen and Scott Stepakoff)
“Your Favorite Colors” (Kelleigh Bannen and Will Bowen)*
“The Joneses” (Kelleigh Bannen, Todd Clark and Travis Wood)**
“Suit” (Kelleigh Bannen, Claire Douglas and Dallas Wilson)
“Faith In You” (Kelleigh Bannen, Todd Clark and Sean Van Vleet)
“Sleeping Alone” (Kelleigh Bannen and Will Bowen)*
“John Who” (Kelleigh Bannen, Will Bowen and Christopher Rafetto)
“Haters” (Kelleigh Bannen, Jennifer Hanson and Jason Lehning)
“Time Machine” (Kelleigh Bannen and Mark Trussell)
“Happy Birthday” (Kelleigh Bannen, Claire Douglas and Dallas Wilson)
“Long Shadow” (Kelleigh Bannen, Will Bowen and Tia Sillers)*
Produced by Jaren Johnston
*Produced by Will Bowen
**Produced by Todd Clark
See the press release below!

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (July 19th, 2019) – Multi-faceted Podcast Host and Singer/Songwriter Kelleigh Bannen is announcing the release of her new album Favorite Colors, due out on Oct. 11th. Favorite Colors is being released independently, and is loaded with the type of wit, playfulness and fierceness that Bannen is known for. She co-wrote all of the 14 tracks, crafting songs that are truthful and force the listener to read between the lines. CMT premiered the music video for Bannen’s swaggering retro-rock anthem and lead single “Deluxe,” a song that sets the tone and highlights Bannen’s bold aesthetic, and was named in Rolling Stone’s the 10 Best Songs To Hear Now and The Boot’s Songs You Have to Hear. Listen to “Faith In You,” here: http://smarturl.it/KBFaithInYou


Kelleigh’s tell it like it is approach in her songwriting and her unapologetic style, has garnered a groundswell of support from fans and industry insiders and press including NPR who named her as one of “25 music-makers adopting varied approaches at varied stages of their careers…offering a …revealing portrait of how country adjusted in 2018– and, for that matter, how it might look going forward.” CMT called her an artist that, “…has never compromised the integrity of her sound or her point of view as a storyteller” and Taste Of Country added, “Bannen is an artist who is always equipped with a determined story to tell.”


Kelleigh has tenaciously continued to build her career with the release of her critically-acclaimed EP The Joneses, the launch of podcast This Nashville Life and by embracing the artistic freedom that comes along with being an independent artist. Proving successful early on, Bannen debuted the three tracks from her The Joneses EP on Sirius XM’s The Highway, making history as the first artist to ever debut three tracks at Sirius XM simultaneously. Program Director J.R. Schumann added, “Going through Kelleigh’s new music, it became clear almost immediately that picking a ‘first single’ was going to be really tough…so we decided since all of the music is this great, why not just go with all three…” 


Favorite Colors is the follow up to that successfully launched independent release, and includes the acclaimed trio of songs from the project along with the pair of tracks “Deluxe” and “Faith In You,” which were recently revealed. Favorite Colors is a collection of songs that share a variant palette of emotional shades, specifically when it comes to love – a reflective, mature and well oiled perspective. Offering up a soft sentiment and vulnerability, “Favorite Colors” shares in the nuances of mourning the loss of a relationship. “Time Machine” revels in the nostalgia of memories and “Diamonds” is a powerful statement about the permanent impact of real love, cemented and written in stone. Produced by Jaren Johnston (The Cadillac Three), the album combines an analog approach mixed with a twist of modern country production. The dynamic, pop-rock driven soundscapes affect with fearless delivery, and one that is elevated by Kelleigh’s soulful-leaning, raw vocals and compelling storytelling. Favorite Colors features a roster of collaborators including songwriters Claire Douglas, Todd Clark and Will Bowen, with three tracks also produced by Bowen. The full tracklisting is included below.


The Music City native was named in NPR’s Portrait Of A Subtly Changing Nashville, as a woman who is “…figuring out how to circumnavigate roadblocks in the system…with all sorts of shrewd professional and artistic strategies.” The singer/songwriter and artist is also the host and producer of podcast This Nashville Life, which was featured by The Washington PostNPR’s On Point and on iTunes as ‘New & Noteworthy.’ This Nashville Life has quickly gained popularity and includes guest interviews, industry tips and insights from music business executives and creatives. Fans can tune into This Nashville Life and listen to the recently released Season 3 episodes and more by visiting ThisNashvilleLife.com. For more information, visit kelleighbannen.com/.

Kelleigh Bannen Goes “Deluxe” For New Single

Kelleigh Bannen doesn’t scrimp on the good stuff in her new single “Deluxe.” Last summer, Bannen released her three single EP, The Joneses, which garnered support on SiriusXM The Highway, having all three songs play at the same time – a first in their history.

That’s a pretty incredible accomplishment and as one of CMT’s The Next Women of Country, Bannen is nothing but incredible. She first stumbled onto the Country music scene in 2012 with her single “Sorry on the Rocks” followed by “Famous.” Both songs charted in the top 50 at Country Radio, but it was not enough to allow Bannen to release a full length album.

It’s common in the industry, especially with a new artist. They test singles, see how well they do and then decide if they are willing to spend more time and money on them. This is the kind of conversation Bannen talks about on her podcast This Nashville Life. It’s a sort of behind the scenes look about how the music industry is, from the glitz and glam to the hardships. Even the most successful songwriters sometimes do not get a hit song for ten to fifteen years.

Bannen herself has shared how difficult it is to grow a fanbase when an artist is only able to release a song every 12-18 months. That is why albums are so important. They allow listeners to hear all the dynamic sides of the artist and not just the most radio friendly song they have to release.

Every listener wants music that will speak to them. Sure, they want the ones they can roll down the window to and blast, Bannen has those too (see “Landlocked” “Famous” “Welcome to the Party”).

She also has the songs that get to the heart of country music, the ones that make you feel emotions you did not know you still even had (see “Happy Birthday” and “Church Clothes”).

Bannen has been working hard on new music, even revealing that she has already shot four upcoming music videos for her new album that will be out later this year! Her first single from the album is a love story with a little something extra called “Deluxe.” Written by Bannen and Danielle Blakey, “Deluxe” is a mix of soul and soft rock as Bannen’s vocals sing:

Deluxe
22% tipper
Buffet dinner on a date night
Just because
Like to do it on 10
You can say that again
You don’t scrimp
On the good stuff

Photo Credit: John Shearer

“Deluxe” has versatile melodics that can be played during a night out, to a lover, while getting ready, or even on repeat in the car if you can’t get enough. It’s everything a love song should be without feeling overdone. Share this one with a friend or listen while you’re missing that special someone.

Bannen is equally excited to put out new music, saying:

“I just loved the idea for this song, about being a love with a little extra, and still being very relatable to so many people. I had the title for a while and finally was able to write and record it. I’m excited to be able to share it with my fans.”

WATCH THE MUSIC VIDEO FOR “DELUXE” – NEW SINGLE BY KELLEIGH BANNEN

For fans who have been waiting for new music from Bannen, it is a very special and emotional time! Fans in other countries were treated to the song early in the day and Taylor Rolfe from Australia told us what it means to her:

It means everything to have Kelleigh release new music because who doesn’t love new music from one of their favourite artists?? I also get to share her music off to my friends in my spotify playlist that I update every month! It’s a sense of pride when you play new music to a friend and then they fall in love with that artist as well.

Listen/purchase “Deluxe” wherever music is sold.

http://smarturl.it/KBDeluxe

ICYMI: Kelleigh Bannen Performs New Music at CMA Fest!

2019 is set to be an exciting time for Kelleigh Bannen as the Nashville native is set to release a full length album, much to the anticipation of all KB fans out there.

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Last year, Bannen released three songs that were simultaneously played on SiriusXM The Highway. “Happy Birthday” “The Joneses” and “John Who.” It was a pretty amazing thing to have all three songs be played on the radio at the same time. Fans have been eager for new music and an album from Bannen since her “Famous” days and the time has finally come!

Bannen played some songs off her upcoming album during her set at the Chevy Breakout Stage during CMA Fest. Fans were treated to unreleased tracks “DELUXE” “Boys Don’t Cry” and “Diamonds”

Kelleigh Bannen performs “Boys Don’t Cry” during CMA Fest

Bannen has been teasing new music, album photo shoots, and revealed she has shot four music videos for her album! Things are happening! Get ready! This is one artist you won’t regret cheering on!

Kelleigh Bannen performs “Diamonds” during CMA Fest

CHECK OUT THE PHOTO GALLERY FROM CMA FEST BELOW

Visit our youtube channel to see more from her set!