Natalie Walker

I love it when friends share a similar taste in music as I do. You know, someone who when they find a new artist they love you know you will love it too. I have someone like that in my life who shares a love of music, especially artists you haven’t really heard of. Allegra is one of my nearest and dearest friends, an amazing mother, writer, photographer and blogger extraordinaire. She often tells me about artists I might like or songs that made her think of me. This week is one of those recommendations, so thank you Allegra Love for sharing life, love and music with me.

One of my favorite songs is “Colorblind” by Counting Crows and I’m not normally a fan of Counting Crows but I do love this song. Not to long ago Allegra told me I would love a song by the artist Natalie Walker called “Colorblind” and of course she was right. Its the same song done by Counting Crows with a little sweeter edge to it. Natalie Walker describes herself an electronica singer/songwriter with her new album With You that came out last summer. Her first album, Urban Angel, which is my favorite and features the tracks I’ve selected to share with you, is a little more on the acoustic side with just one foot in the electronica pool. Walker took more chances with her second album, stretching her creativity wings, while still appealing to her fans who love Urban Angel.

Natalie Walker is the former lead singer of Daughter Darling and is currently pursuing a solo career with two albums under her belt. Her music has been featured in the film, Marie Antoinette, and on the hit ABC shows, Grey’s Anatomy and Ugly Betty. Please enjoy her music and check out the music from her newest album.

www.myspace.com/nataliewalkermusic

www.natalie-walker.com

Please feel free to leave your comments on what you think of this music and any recommendations of artists you think I might like. Also remember if you have an artist you love and would like to write a little blurb about them you can be a midweek feature. Thank you!

Brendan James

I am very excited to start off this new music blog with one of my favorite new artists. There are very few albums that I love every single track and this debut album from Brendan James is now one of them. Brendan released The Day Is Brave last spring showing that he has an amazing talent in the singer/songwriter category. I discovered his music while scoping out John Mayer’s website and started checking out the artists who would be joining John (yes, John and I are on a first name basis now…) on his John Mayer Cruise. After hearing just the 30 second snippet on iTunes I knew I would have to buy the whole album. If butter could sing it would sound like Brendan James. His voice mesmerizes me (he is pretty easy on the eyes as well, tehehe) and I hope some of you have the same affect.

Brendan James did not start pursuing a career in music until college when a music instructor heard him sing at a memorial service and told him, “I can’t get your voice out of my head.” The instructor encouraged Brendan to learn an instrument (he chose the piano) and to write his own songs. Brendan’s songs are very personal and usually about his own life experiences. Each song tells a story like my second favorite track on the album, “Green” which is about an ex-girlfriend who had a troubled family life and always wore something green from the store they both worked at. My favorite track from the album is “Early April Morning” which I decided not to include on the page to give you all incentive to look into him more and buy his album! And if you are in California he has several shows coming up including my old stomping ground San Luis Obispo at Downtown Brewery on May 7th and at my new stomping ground performing at The Roxy May 3rd (you know I’ll be there!). He has a bunch more shows you can check out on his webpage.

I truly hope you enjoy my first installment of Mary’s Monday Musicology and remember, I would love to hear your favorite artists that are under the radar and you can even write your own blurb about the artist or song and be one of our midweek features! Also please leave your comments on what you think of the music and what music means to you.