Hot half dozen January 26, 2021

117 submissions this week. My pick of the 6 best.

We received 117 submissions.  Here are our 6 favs.

Eyes Tell Us Lies, single by The Strands. Formed  in  2011, I have been following them ever since. Eyes Tell Us Lies is another example of their genre-defying Artisanal sound delivered with smooth passion.  Stream on Spotify, Reverb Nation. Follow at facebook.com/TheStrandsOfficial/

Dark Highway, single, video, by Riotron. Another addictive mashup of electronic , jazz, dance and rock by the Canadian-born Jeff  Fettes.  With over 20 million views of his iconic music video, I’M Sorry, he is unstoppable.  Stream on Spotify, Apple Music. Follow at www.riotronmusic.com/music

Mr. President single by Binx.  Binx does it again, releases a fun prop song that is much more than the sum of its parts.  The star of music, YouTube, TikTok and every other platform has advice for the US President, precisely crafted with her signature accents and South African accented vocals keeps you moving and thinking.  Stream everywhere.  Follow at https://www.binxofficial.com/

 La Llorna from the new album La Catrina  by Juan Castenón. Castenón has traded his jazz guitar for a requinto (small, 6-string Mexicans guitar) and accordeón and teamed up with artists Marysol Jodorowsky, Rafa Torres, and  Gil Ríos for authentic classic  Mexican music of the people.  Castenón is one of Mexico’s top jazz guitarists and it is a treat to hear how he brings his jazz skills to bear on the music of homeland. Available on Bandcamp.  Follow at https://www.facebook.com/acasia.jazzrock

Jumpstate, single by X.ARI.  Wow!  X.ARI is master storyteller in music, and Jumpstate tells an interior story of the mental state we all go through at some point, knowing which way to jump.  She is at once strong and vulnerable, calm and urgent.  The arrangement is complex and sophisticated, but the music sticks in your mind. Stream it on Spotify. Follow her at www.xariofficial.com/

Quiero Verte Hoy by Benjamin Walker and Vanessa Zamora. In the hands of this great Chilean-Mexican team, this often-recorded love song is gentle, light, romantic, totally addictive.  A valentine to their fans (and good for that after valentine dinner time).  A jazzy beat moves it along while the accents and Zamora’s voice coat your ears and your heart with pleasure.  Stream on Spotify, Apple music.  Follow Benjamin at facebook.com/benjaminwalkermusica/, Vanessa at facebook.com/vanessazamoraoficial

Patrick O’Heffernan, Host, Music Sin Fronteras radio

Bonus this week, in case you have been on the moon and missed it, Drivers License, the new single  by Olivia Rodrigo Olivia Rodrigo ,was released this week and immediately went to #1 on the Billboard Charts with 107 million streams. Find it anywhere.