New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ Imagine PR) - Evan Bliss is one singer-songwriter to watch. His voice, combining the effortless soul of Maroon 5's
Adam Levine with the smoky blues undertones of Ray LaMontagne, makes his alt/rock/pop sound unmistakable. Ubiquitous despite not yet being a household name, Evan's music has been featured in commercials for surf-inspired footwear maker Reef, and he has performed in support of artists as diverse as O.A.R., Wyclef Jean, and the Flaming Lips. Evan is building on the groundswell of popularity he enjoyed with his former band, well-respected East Coast reggae rockers 'The Low Life'. Needless to say, you will be hearing much more from him with the forthcoming release 'ShhhPOW!', out this
Spring on the philanthropic indie label Holster Records.
The new album 'ShhhPOW!' seamlessly blends music genres, showcasing Evan's own distinct 'international rock buffet' brand. Evan writes honest yet introspective lyrics that range from the personal to the abstract. Stand out tracks include "Fleiss', a contemporary power ballad that meditates on damaging relationships. In stark contrast, "Captain Collins Navigates from Star to Star" starts like an homage to 70s Bowie-esque space odysseys and finishes with a nod to the anthemic quality of early U2. Uptempo rocker "The Last Ride" introduces itself to the audience with a honky tonk guitar flourish before segueing into Muse-style crescendos. The track "Awake", which should be familiar to long-time fans, began life as a live instrumental end jam that Evan fleshed out into a full-length song using "The Voyage of Life" by renowned painter Thomas Cole as his lyrical muse.
Evan Bliss however is more than just music. Signed to pioneering altruistic indie label 'Holster Records', he is a prominent collaborator in its cause-led music initiative the ?Holster Project? (www.HolsterProject.org). Described as 'MTV?s Unplugged meets the United Nation?s General Assembly', the project aims to educate and empower youth by partnering engaged musical artists with charitable causes.
'ShhhPOW!'s bonus track, Pula Aena, was recorded with the African Children's Choir at XM Studios in Washington, DC during one of the Holster Project's symposium concert sessions as part of its series 'Change-Makers: Live'. Evan wrote the song as a dedication to his brother?s efforts in the US Peace Corps whilst he was stationed in South Africa working with victims of HIV and AIDS.
Overall, 'ShhhPOW' is a distillation of creativity, passion and hardcore sweat. Recorded in the midst of a sweltering LA heat wave, the album is a reunion of Evan with his full band, formerly known as Evan Bliss & the Welchers. The band consists of guitarist and vocalist Josh Grove, keyboardist Eric Abalahin, bassist Jason Mattis and drummer Shareef Taher. The group released their debut album in 2007, and have since played venues including DC's legendary 9:30 Club, the Knitting Factory in New York City, Towson's Recher Theatre, and the Theater of the Living Arts in Philadelphia. Their strong musical heritage, talent and dedication collectively shine through on their latest dynamic offering.
To check out Evan Bliss's music and upcoming Holster Project activities, visit www.evanbliss.com
