New Alt Music Album from Brian Larney "America Needs The Town Hall" in the Norwalk Hour Newspaper

A SONGWRITER'S OBSESSION

Reprinted from the Norwalk Hour Newspaper, May 25, 2017

 

Brian Larney at Factory Underground Studio

NORWALK — Last summer, Brian Larney enjoyed a picnic at the beach, the details of which he still remembers vividly.

He was at the boat marina in Fairfield, not far from the Black Rock apartment he shares with his cat.

He ate a sandwich — turkey with cheese — and a side of chips with iced tea. Stuffed from his feast, he did what any reasonable person at the beach would do.

He took a nap.

But when he awoke, it hit him. He’d been struggling to name his next album and suddenly — perhaps caused by a sandwich-induced euphoria — he had it. The collection of songs he’d written as his own response to current events would be called “The Town Hall.”

“I was taking a nap after I ate a sandwich at the beach and it just came to me,” Larney said. “I wanted something identifiable and simple.”

Brian Larney at Factory Underground Studio

 By day, Larney is a software engineer at Norwalk-based Factset, a financial data and software company. But by night — and pretty much any free time he can find — he’s a guitar-strumming, piano-playing, song-writing musician who’s just released a new album through the Factory Underground recording studio and label.

The album is a solo project filled with songs written by Larney. He said the album is more “socially aware” than his previous albums, and the songs are more about his reactions to current events.
“I write all my own songs,” Larney said. “It’s my main obsession. Lately I’ve been getting more world-aware. In the past, generally it’s been broken heart crap. Loosely it’s rock. Someone once called it smart pop ... I thought they meant college rock. I think I’m a little less angular than that.”
He’s never been injured enough to find out for sure, but Larney is pretty sure he would bleed music notes in a dire situation.

“I got in a fight once with a singer and he said, ‘If I cut you, you would bleed music notes,’ and I really think that’s probably true,” Larney said.

Brian Larney at Factory Underground Studio

Larney first fell in love with music as a child in Fairfield where his father would constantly play old records. As he got older he only grew more obsessed with songwriting, and even taught himself how to play the piano by sneaking into the music room at Fairfield High School for 6 a.m. practice sessions. Eventually, the school found out and — after reminding him not to use the room outside of regular school hours — simply gave him a key to practice whenever he wanted.

“In High School I was kind of a dork,” Larney said. “I didn’t have a ton of friends. But I played electric guitar at an ongoing show my freshman year and after that it was easy. People respected people who played music. I formed a band after that and I haven’t stopped making music since.”
Even as a software engineer at Factset, a job he’s held for nearly a decade, Larney has found a connection between his work life and his music, as well as the ardent support of his coworkers.
“I know a lot of software engineers who are also musicians and I think there’s a reason for that,” Larney said. “When it doesn’t suck, it’s like writing a song.”

Larney said he’s often thought about making the leap to full-time musician and part-time regular adult, but hasn’t worked up the courage just yet.

”One day I’ll just do it,” Larney said. "I'll just stop and just do it. On tour, I always say I’m going to. It seems so easy, and the happiest time for me is on those tours where all I have to worry about is getting to the next show where I get to play again.”

Larney’s album, ”America Needs The Town Hall” is out now, and available on iTunes, Apple Music, Amazon Music and www.thetownhallband.com.

kkrasselt@scni.com; 203-354-1021; @kaitlynkrasselt

TOM THE SUIT FORST RECORD RELEASE PACKS HOUSE AT BLACK EYED SALLY'S IN HARTFORD, SPECIAL GUESTS INCLUDING SLAM ALLEN

     Releasing his debut album "On Fire" on Apple Music, iTunes, Spotify, and on all major retail and streaming sites around the world this past Saturday, January 14, 2017, Tom The Suit Forst celebrated his release the way any serious musician would-on stage jamming with special guests for an eager, packed audience of friends, family and die-hard fans. 

Tom The Suit Forst

     "On Fire" is the first solo release from the blues-rock artist who has been compared to Joe Walsh for his incendiary rock guitar and singing style. On the blues side of his music, the guitarist has also been compared to BB King and Eric Clapton for his slow-hand, melodic approach. That mix of styles was captured faithfully by producer-guitarist Paul Nelson, who is no stranger to the blues-rock music world, having toured with and managed Johnny Winter for many years. For the recording of "On Fire" Nelson tapped musicians with hundreds of years of playing time between them, musicians from bands like Allman Brothers, Johnny Winter Band, Paul Nelson Band, Popa Chubby Band, Saturday Night Live Band, and Steven Colbert Band. After tracking at Nelson's home studio, the record was mixed and mastered at Factory Underground Studio in Norwalk, CT, with the exception of "Women of the World," which was mastered by famed mastering engineer Emily Lazar. 

Tom The Suit Forst with Slam Allen

     The standing-room only release party was held at Black Eyed Sally's Southern Kitchen and Bar in Hartford, CT close to where the guitarist has spent the better part of 20 years living with his wife and family in Wethersfield, CT.  "I wanted to be close to the people who have been supporting me over the last eight years, the ones who made this all possible for me," Forst said, referencing the shift between his last job outside of music (Corporate Executive, VP at Cox Communications Group) and his present status as a full-time recording artist.  

Tom The Suit Forst with Doug Wahlberg

     The show featured several beloved and prominent CT blues musicians who turned up to support the man they call "The Suit," including Slam Allen, who wowed the audience with a powerhouse vocal sans microphone strolling through the crowd while the band played on stage, guitarist Paul Gabriel, and guitarist Doug Wahlberg. Forst's band included Pedro "Big Thurrsty" Broughton on drums, David Allen Rivera on percussion, and David Stoltz on drums. 

Tom The Suit Forst with

     Next for Tom The Suit Forst will be releasing a promotional video for his song "Women of the World, which he explains was a song where he wrote the music around a lyric from his friend Gary Youell, another CT songwriter who passed away this year. "The lyric was very personal to him- it asked the question of how much better of the world would be if women had a chance to full run things for a change. I love the song that came out of it, and its place on the album is a tribute to my dear friend. I'm very proud of it," said Forst. 

     The video for the song produced by Marc Alan at Factory Underground with editing by Nick Swenson features photos and video clips of multi-cultural women of various ages and walks of life from around the world, as well photos and videos clips of famous female pioneers. The release of the video has been set for January 21, 2017 to commemorate the Women's March on Washington DC. "For me it's a bipartisan issue, not a political event; I have always been a supporter of women's rights and it was very important to Gary Youell as well. I think he would be proud of the song and the video being released on this important day, " he said.

     "I have always been a supporter of women's rights and it was very important to Gary Youell as well"

www.TomTheSuitForst.com

All Photos by Brad Formaker

Tom The Suit Forst New Blues Rock Album "On Fire" Now On Apple Music and iTunes

Now available on Apple Music, iTunes, and from all major retail and streaming sites around the world is the new blues rock album "On Fire," from guitarist and singer-songwriter Tom The Suit Forst. The digital album, previously released on CD in Q4 2016 through the artist's web site www.TomTheSuitForst.com, was produced by Grammy Award-winning guitarist Paul Nelson. The album features the song "Going Home" for which a video was produced and released on Vevo and You Tube in December.

The album also features the song "Women of the World" with a new video going to You Tube on January 21, 2017, in commemoration of the Million Women March on Washington DC. The song asks the question of how much better off the world would be if women had a chance to run things. The lyrics were written by the late Gary Youell, a long time friend of The Suit. The video is to be dedicated to Gary, who like Tom Forst, a long time ardent and passionate supporter of women's rights.  

"On Fire" on Apple Music iTunes

"On Fire" on Spotify

FNX RELEASES FULL LENGTH MIX TAPE: "DJ JUELZ PRESENTS: FNX MUSIC VOLUME 1" ON BLACK FRIDAY NOVEMBER 25; ARTIST DEDICATES MUSIC TO HELP FEED UNDER SERVED FAMILIES IN NORWALK CONNECTICUT COMMUNITY.

The decision FNX made to release his debut hip hop mix tape on Black Friday was not without a touch of irony- the Norwalk, CT rapper has decided that he will not be selling his album at all. Instead he will be using his debut album to raise awareness for a very personal cause: feeding hungry families in the community.

Along with his new album, "DJ JUELZ PRESENTS: FNX MUSIC VOL 1," the artist launched a crowd funding campaign on Black Friday to request donations to his cause, in exchange for giving away his music as a free download. The goal of this campaign is simple: to raise as as much money as possible to purchase holiday groceries for struggling families in his community. The artist will work with local charities including the Person to Person Food Bank of Norwalk, CT to select these deserving families.

"I remember times when I was growing up where we didn't always know where our next meal was coming from," he said. "I remember picking up boxes of food from my church and community center- it was always like "Thank God good people are out there for us." 

"It saddens me that things haven't changed that much - one in six children in the state of Connecticut still don't know where their next hot meal is coming from. I've always wanted to give back, and for my music to make a difference in people's lives," said FNX, whose real name is Kenneth Shuler.

Growing up in poverty is one of the hard topics that FNX raps about that has attracted him a loyal fan base, attracted as much to his message as to his music. The artist has also tackled such topics depression, sexual and domestic abuse, and somehow finds a way to give the listener hope. In his new song, "Barely Made it Through," FNX tells his fans that if "I made it through, you can make it too." 

The FNX story is one of hardships, but it's also one of salvation, and the artist is quick to give credit where it's due. The Carver Center, run by the George Washington Carver Foundation of Norwalk, CT is the local community center he credits for keeping him in school, and focused on education. All of this hard work was not without reward- he went on to achieve a Bachelor's Degree in Business from the University of Southern Connecticut, and a Masters Degree in Organizational Leadership from the University of New Hampshire. When he is not rapping, he also teaches a course in financial literacy, yet another layer of the FNX mission. 

It was at the Carver Center where FNX launched his first philanthropic event he titled after one of his songs, "Hometown Love." The event which he co-produced with Factory Underground Records, consisted of a barbecue, basketball tournament and canned food drive. The event raised 600 canned and non-perishable food items which were donated to Person to Person. "Hometown Love" is planned to be an annual spring event for his beloved Norwalk community.

FNX GO FUND ME CAMPAIGN TO FEED HUNGRY FAMILIES:
https://www.gofundme.com/fnxholidayfooddrive

FNX FREE DOWNLOAD OF MIX TAPE: DJ JUELZ PRESENTS: FNX MUSIC VOLUME 1:
http://www.datpiff.com/FnxMusic-Fnx-Music-Vol-1-mixtape.814796.html

ACOUSTIC FOLK POP ROCK GROUP "LINES WEST" TO PERFORM LIVE ON ROBBIE DEROSA'S HOMEGROWN RADIO SHOW ON WESU 88.1 FM WESLEYAN COLLEGE RADIO; TO PROMOTE SHOW AT BUTTONWOOD TREE AUGUST 12

ACOUSTIC FOLK POP ROCK GROUP LINES WEST TO PERFORM LIVE ON ROBBIE DEROSA'S HOMEGROWN RADIO PROGRAM ON WESU 88.1 FM WESLEYAN COLLEGE RADIO AUGUST 11, 5:30PM;  LINES WEST TO PERFORM AT BUTTONWOOD TREE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER IN MIDDLETOWN CT AUGUST 12 AT 8PM  

Lines West is excited to bring its unique blend of rootsy Americana and acoustic folk-pop to listeners of Wesleyan College's WESU 88.1 FM’s Homegrown show – “the best crop of Connecticut-connected music presented for a global audience.” Lines West will be performing a couple of tunes as well as having a quick chat about their new album, The Ghost For You. They will also discuss their concert at the Buttonwood Tree Performing Arts Center in Middletown on August 12. Listeners may tune in on Thursday, August 11 at 5:30 PM at 88.1 FM on terrestrial radio, or stream the sow live here: WESU 88.1 FM

Further information on the concert and advance tickets can be found here. In addition to the Buttonwood performance, Lines West will be opening for platinum selling and Grammy Award-winning country act Diamond Rio at the Ridgefield Playhouse in Ridgefield, CT, along with a small string of other dates in the area.

The Ghost For You will be released in the fall with PR and Social Media directed by Marc Alan at Factory Underground Records. This album will further their sound, previously described as “Simon and Garfunkel fronting Wilco or The Band,” as well as building upon the unique storytelling style of their Americana roots. Leading up to the release, the band will be getting fans into the spirit of the album by sharing a weekly Connecticut ghost story in the form of a video, the first two of which can be viewed now, here.

POP DUO CHE-VAL LAUNCH NEW ALBUM WATERPROOF ON DIGITAL DJ POOL PLATFORM; FEATURED USERS INCLUDE DENNIS BLAZE, DJ NEIL ARMSTRONG AND DJ RIDDLER.

CHE-VAL "WATERPROOF"
NOW ON DIGITAL DJ POOL

HUSBAND-AND-WIFE POP DUO MAKE TRACKS ON NEW ALBUM AVAILABLE TO WORLDWIDE DJ COMMUNITY

Eager to expand awareness of their unique pop songwriting and musical production-style within the worldwide DJ and remix community, Che-Val has made their new album "Waterproof" available through through the Digital DJ Pool platform. Subscribers to the platform have access to 320 kbps Mp3 files of "Waterproof" songs including Love Still Waiting, Poison, The Lead, Gone Mad, Waterproof, My Beat, and Oh Darling, with both original mix and instrumental tracks available for each. Subscribers to the platform

Digital DJ Pool is a modern take on the vinyl record clubs DJ's once turned to for their latest club mix material, and users include working DJs, producers, and remix artists around the world. The site is also used by prominent feature artists such as Dennis Blaze of 93.5 FM KDAY (Los Angeles), DJ Neil Armstrong, USA & WORLD DMC CHAMPION DJ ~ 3x Red Bull Thre3style Winner Chris Karns, DJ Noodles of 97.3 FM Miami, DJ DopeOne, and the Z100 KTU DJ known only as Riddler, who Billboard magazine lists as the on top selling DJ's in the field of Electronic Dance Music (EDM).

DJ's on the Digital DJ Pool platform have access to all the contents of the site for a monthly subscription fee, with free previews available. The site has been listed on Google as one of the top ranked DJ Pools in the world; this was a primary influence on Che-Val's decision to launch their music on the platform.

https://digitaldjpool.com/FactoryUnderground

After only three days on the site, Che-Val tracks downloads have skyrocketed with all signs pointing toward massive growth potential. "This is very exciting for us," said Laura Cash. "I come from a dance-music background, and Kenny is an incredible remixer himself - for DJs and other remixers around the world to be adding our songs to their collections, that's a huge feeling of accomplishment for us."

"We feel like the next piece of our process is to start collaborating with other artists and DJs. We want to hear their interpretation of our music. It’s like hearing a story you love from a completely different perspective. It opens your eyes and ears to something entirely new and inspiring and takes you somewhere you may have never planned," Kenny says.

Kenny Cash, whose music career started in the practice halls of Berklee College of Music where he attended on a full scholarship, had already established a diverse catalog of recorded material by the time he met Laura, an artist who came to record at his Norwalk, Ct Factory Underground Studio. "When we first started dating--Kenny said, "Just so you know, my music is always going to come first!  I laughed but I really respected that. It's what we had in common. It struck me how creative and dedicated he was to his music, and it was a perfect mix from the beginning." The two were married in 2011.

The couple's album "Waterproof" is their first record under the name Che-Val, which was inspired by an over-sized framed mirror the couple fell in love with early in their relationship. "We had been writing and recording material that was a mix of Kenny's growing interest in mixing electronic textures with organic orchestral instruments. I found that mix of styles really worked with the songs I was writing." 

www.Che-Val.com

www.Facebook.com/CheValMusic

www.Twitter.com/CheValMusicGroup

www.FactoryUndergroundRecords.com

CHE-VAL DEBUT ALBUM WATERPROOF SET FOR RELEASE FRIDAY APRIL 22, 2016; DIVERSE POP MUSIC ALBUM FROM INDIE MUSIC POWER COUPLE KENNY AND LAURA CASH.

CHE-VAL DEBUT ALBUM WATERPROOF SET FOR RELEASE FRIDAY APRIL 22, 2016

DIVERSE POP MUSIC ALBUM FROM INDIE MUSIC POWER COUPLE KENNY AND LAURA CASH.

“You’ll be hearing it in your head all day after the first listen” – The FC Beat Magazine

“They have sampled some of the best practices from 80s music and created something that is modern, exciting,and enjoyable” – Mistree Magazine

Norwalk, CT – April 14, 2016 – Described as "Johnny and June Cash meet Matt and Kim," Connecticut’s musical power couple, Che-Val, have announced their debut full length, Waterproof. The album, to be released through Factory Underground Records on April 22, showcases the indie pop group’s varied influences in ten tracks as classic meets modern.

Consisting of husband and wife, Kenny and Laura Cash, Che-Val uses retro styles and brings them into the future with cutting edge production. Laura teaches science by day, but writes and belts out emotive vocal hooks by night. Her background in pop and country is blended with Kenny’s ear for hip-hop, funk, and soul in a collaborative songwriting process. Their vision is then furthered through Kenny’s own engineering and production skills as a multi-instrumentalist Berklee College of Music graduate.

Che-Val blasted into existence with their very first single, “My Beat”, climbing to #52 on the Mediabase “Top 40” Activator chart in 2014, and self-produced video that achieved 26 thousand views. The sound of this 80s dance track is contrasted in the modern pop ballad that is “Waterproof”, which even brings in elements of a live orchestra. 

Collaboration is another key to Che-Val's sound as "The Lead" features a fresh guest spot by Bronx based rapper Rothstein while "Oh Darling" takes influence from 1970s soul, bringing in a live horn section by the Funky Dawgz Brass Band. The band’s dichotomy is further demonstrated by the two cover tracks on this album: “Classic Man" by the Grammy nominated Jidenna and “God Only Knows” by The Beach Boys. Che-Val brought their personal flare into both covers with a remix of the former and a chilling a cappella take on the latter. The end result is a striking cognitive dissonance in their music that fans have fallen in love with.

Building up their fanbase through the local community, expert use of social media, and a strong focus on the interplay of music and visuals, the band has been steadily on the rise since their inception. With each single release the band has handcrafted their personal sound and looks as evidenced in the Alice In Wonderland inspired video for “Gone Mad”, which premiered exclusively last year in Vents Magazine and resonated throughout the international cosplay community. Waterproof sees all of the band's previous work come together and is sure to cause a serious case of the earworms.

Waterproof Track Listing:
1. Oh Darlin
2. My Beat
3. Waterproof
4. Gone Mad
5. The Lead (feat. Rothstein)
6. Don’t Give up on Me
7. Classic Man (Jidenna remix)
8. Poison (feat. Lighta)
9. Love Still Waiting (feat. Funky Dawgz Brass Band)
10. God Only Knows (Beach Boys cover)

Che-Val

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Radio Contact: Brandon Day, Tinderbox Music
BrandonDay@TinderboxMusic.com, (612) 375-1113

Factory Underground Records
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