Free is a singer-songwriter from New Jersey that releases his recordings under the alias 4:44. Free writes, records and plays all of the instruments on most of his albums but also collaborates with his live band on some recordings. Free met Zach Gormley (drums) and Greg Mele Jr. (bass) while attending college in 2015…
Read moreMarc Ambrosia
Photography by Laura Craffey
Hometown and/or Current City: Clayton, NJ
Keywords: pop, music, soul, R&B
With emotions that run deep and inspiration that soars high, Marc Ambrosia is the singer/songwriter of our time. At just 23-years-old, Ambrosia already has an EP and a self-produced full-length album to his credit. Currently, Marc is actively recording and releasing new music. His latest project is a series of pop singles, which he’ll be releasing one by one over the next year.
“It’s by no stretch of the imagination that this is the best stuff I’ve ever done,” says Ambrosia, “I finally feel as though I’m writing the songs I had always dreamed I’d write one day. I remember being a little kid with aspirations of becoming an artist. I feel as though that little kid is finally getting his wish now.”
Able to cut deep with lyrics and captivate with soul, Ambrosia is proving he’s pop music’s best-kept secret. In an industry that focuses on tabloid rather than artistry, Ambrosia is committed to taking the high road.
“It’s always disheartening to hear a kid say they want to make music and become a star,” Ambrosia explains, “For me, it’s never once been about hoping to take the world by storm and become superstar famous. It’s always been first and foremost about telling beautiful stories and making great art.”
With his latest material, Ambrosia is doing all that and more. While songs like “Let Me Be Your Secret” and “Take Good Care of Me” are filled with angst and longing, songs like “One Step Back” and “Picture of a Girl” are consumed by the need to let go. All of Marc’s songs have one thing in common though: they are drenched in romanticism and are designed to heal the brokenhearted.
“I write songs to bring people together,” Ambrosia says, “We’ve all gone through similar pain and we all long for similar joy. The truth of a song is what people latch onto more than anything else, and I consider my songs to be honest little pieces of my heart.”
Yes, for Marc Ambrosia it’s all about heart, and with each new song lies an invitation to take a closer look, and most importantly, find a home in his.
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I am Curbie
Hometown and/or Current City: Ocean County, NJ
Keywords: Acoustic, Singer-Songwriter, Pop, Rock
iamCURBIE is a singer songwriter/loop artist hailing from the Jersey Shore. After 5 long years of writing and perfecting his songs, Better Late Than Forever was born and will be released on 3-3-18. A 6-date Mid-Atlantic Tour will follow shortly after in support of this record.
Although you might catch yourself singing and humming along to Curbie's memorable melodies long after they have reached their end, the lyrics behind them are far from fun and games. His unique ability to take a serious, real life situation and flip, flop, mix, mold, and weave happiness into a song will leave you asking for more. While heavily rooted in classic rock, alternative, and reggae; the pop sensibilities really shine through.
"I started playing music as a hobby just for myself," says Curbie. "I didn't think I could be more addicted to that feeling. Once I started realizing the impact it had on OTHER people it was game, set, match. This will be something I continue to do throughout my life. It is my life. It is a part of me. Knowing that I can bring smiles, tears, happiness, and evoke genuine feelings through music that I wrote has changed me. Being able to express feelings, I have had a hard time conveying otherwise, has made my personal relationships stronger and I owe that all to music."
Curbie's latest album, Better Late Than Forever, was recorded and mixed at Bob Bowling Audio (Atco, NJ) and mastered at The Gradwell House (Haddon Heights, NJ).
iamCurbie is an official artist of www.pickguy.com
See Jersey Indie's Better Late Than Forever album review here.
Upcoming Shows:
Videos:
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These Wolves
Hometown and/or Current City: Saddle Brook, NJ
Keywords: Rock, Pop, Darren Fisher
These Wolves is a band/music project based out of Saddle Brook, NJ.
"Music has been a passion of mine since I was very young, however, my love for guitar and songwriting started when I heard 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' for the first time," says Darren Fisher (Guitar/Vocals). "I wrote music and played in bands for many years. I've shared stages with Paramore, Bring Me The Horizon, Story of the Year, and Jimmy Eat World. By 2013, the bands I was in broke up, and after soul-searching in 2015, I reached out to Stephen Kellner (Roderick/Van Atta High) to record two acoustic songs for me. The rest is history. These Wolves were born."
Regarding words of advice, "Do not have any regrets with songwriting," says Fisher. "Some of my favorite songs were ones I thought were stupid ideas at first."
These Wolves released a video for "Dead To Me" in November and are releasing a video for their 2nd single, "Enough is Enough," on March 13, 2018.
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IgnoVa
Hometown and/or Current City: NJ
Keywords: Hip hop, rap, pop music, unsigned artist, fashion, fun, cool, new age talent
IgnoVa is an international hip hop artist who combines mainstream genres with an astounding, acute presentation of lyrics. Known for his trademark K E E P positiveSpirit™ campaign, the young NJ native's mission is far from over. According to IgnoVa, “Langston Hughes said it best: 'life ain't no crystal stair.' But with a positiveSpirit™, it is possible to achieve anything.” With two mixtapes under his belt, IgnoVa is currently working on his first EP. As a rising musician, IgnoVa lives and breathes hard work in the studio and on stage.
The latest mixtape IgnoVa released was “Ev'rythang Much Understood 2” (E.M.U 2). E.M.U 2 is the sequel to IgnoVa's first mixtape, “Ev'rythang Much Understood” (E.M.U). "Just like E.M.U, I'm showcasing my ability to spit hooks and verses on popular beats while serving two original tracks," says IgnoVa. In addition to releasing recorded music, IgnoVa has performed several shows in the Tri-State area, Massachusetts, and Delaware. Energetic and passionate, IgnoVa thrills audiences to an undeniable state of enjoyment.
After sweat and tears shed from a performance, IgnoVa is known to fill the room with his social energy. From his sense of fashion to his resounding lyrics, IgnoVa is a cool, calm, and collected artist trying to get everyone to remain positive in their endeavors. F*ck Wit @DREAMSatwrk.
- http://keeppositivespirit.com
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Keith Egan
Hometown and/or Current City: Jersey Shore
Keywords: music, pop, pop-rock, indie, singer, songwriter
Keith Egan is 19-year-old singer/songwriter/recording artist from the Jersey Shore who began singing and playing guitar at the age of 7, with songwriting following shortly thereafter. Keith's musical influences range from Ed Sheeran and James Bay to the classic Jersey rock of Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen. He is also a huge fan of hip hop and artists such as Logic.
In August 2016, Keith released his debut EP entitled Come Along. The title song, "Come Along," was released as a single in the form of a music video in June 2016.
In June 2017, Keith released his second project and first eight-song record, The Best Is Yet To Come. An infectious mixture of pop-rock, blues, and soul, with a hint of folk and more, the album is alternating-ly poignant, fun, introspective, and heartfelt, with a relatable narrative that is sure to be enjoyed by anyone who's ever loved and lost but kept forging ahead. "I wrote a lot of the album during a change of scenery in my life, moving out and into college. The whole album embodies the idea of having a positive attitude in all situations [...] all of it roots from the title, The Best Is Yet To Come, which I attempted to live by more when I began working on this project," says Keith. The Best is Yet to Come includes a pop song, power ballad, acoustic ballad, and upbeat pop/dance single entitled "Can't Stop" and is available on iTunes, Spotify, and more.
You can catch Keith performing live, either accompanied by a band or solo with his guitar, using a loop pedal to mimic the full band sound.
"I am looking forward to spreading my music around the Jersey Shore with more shows and also working on more projects in the future," says Keith. To view Keith's upcoming show schedule, visit his website and social media pages below.
