Word Around the Sound is… Anna Therese released a cute little “threEP” (as I like to call it) featuring a trio of soulful, jazzy jams that radiate with the same effervescent beauty that Anna has. The project, titled RELIEF, has a soothing quality from the very beginning. If this is your introduction to her music, you’ll be slipping and falling in love with her voice as soon as you press play.
As a talented violinist, Anna Therese’s sound has some fairy tale qualities to it. Both Talaya. and Noah Coinflip amplified that through their production on the project. The instrumentals, which includes the talented Worker Sam and Kenny Lu alongside Anna, make you feel as though you’re wandering in a forest, swaying with the breeze, and becoming one with the trees. The title track is blessed with a feature from the incredibly talented Oya Storms who truly complements Anna’s vocals making for a divine listening experience overall.
RELIEF is currently available for purchase on Bandcamp. You can even grab Anna Therese’s whole discography which includes a super dope live session recorded at Mead St. Studios.
Anna Therese Performs “RELIEF” Live from Mead St Studios
Shayhan
Shayhan Mashayekh is someone that I’ve been following since his days in the duo Soultanz with Jared Rubens. The self-taught vocalist can bring you deep into his world. It’s as if you dove headfirst into a painting, with such a captivating soundscape that it locks your attention in place. His latest release, an album simply titled Shayhan is a self-described “ego death in biblical fashion.” Like a painting, Shayhan mixes his vocal paints with the instrumental canvas to create a work of art to last a lifetime.
Brujita “Dark Feminine Energy”
Maya DeAvilla, a.k.a. BRUJITA XO is a name you should get familiar with now before she blows up and you wish you had been there from the start. Her blended sound has elements inspired from her life as a Filipina Mexican American living in Seattle. One of the most intriguing parts about her music is the confidence exuded in every song. The latest from BRUJITA XO, “Dark Feminine Energy” gives me those strong, goddess vibes.
Porter Ray “Bagging Glory”
Porter Ray has a comforting tone of voice. His music is Seattle to its core, depicting the city and what it’s like to live here like no other. Lyrically, he “paints a verse like Michelangelo listening to D’Angelo,” and his new track, “Bagging Glory” exemplifies that. Even though his calm delivery is smooth and soulful, there’s a strength to Porter’s music that cuts through the serenity of the beat. Now, make sure you say his name twice when you say he’s nice. It’s Porter Ray, Porter Ray!
Talaya. “See It”
As an incredibly talented, singer/songwriter/engineer/producer, Talaya. is a constant inspiration to me. She is so young, yet presents herself, and her artistry in a way far beyond her 24 years of life. To celebrate her recent birthday, she released her song, “See It,” on Bandcamp. The description found on the page says everything that needs to be said, “This lush, mid-tempo ‘drunken drummer’ groove takes the listener into Talaya’s world, evoking uncertainty and discomfort as she begins to accept that some things are beyond her control. Anna Therese’s violin and Ronnie Parker’s live drums provide an atmosphere of sonic healing, creating a comforting resolution.”
Travis Thompson and Jake One “Happiness”
All most people want from life is some happiness. Travis Thompson keeps it real saying, “I got none,” in his recent single. The song, “Happiness,” with Jake One on production is the lead single off their upcoming album, Wolves and White T’s. For the feature on the track, Travis got Jay Worthy, one half of the hip-hop duo LNDN DRGS to slide on the second half. This song makes it pretty clear that we will all find a little bit of “Happiness” once Travis releases his album, which is set to drop on June 23, 2023.
Upcoming Shows Around the Sound
Friday, May 26: The Tambia Cypher will feature Rell Be Free, alongside FedSoul, YB2K, KinggLeo, and Jaicee with Tazz Enrico hosting at Cafe Racer in Seattle. Doors are at 7:30, the show is all ages, and tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door.
Saturday, May 27: the 24th annual Massive Monkees Day celebration will kick off with breakdancing competition at the Waterfront Park Jam at Pier 62 in Seattle. The preliminaries will run from 12-8pm. Anybody can go watch some of the Pacific Northwest’s best breakers compete for cash prizes and glory for free!
Sunday, May 28: Massive Monkees Day continues with the main event at the Neptune Theater. Tickets are $25 and the doors open at 5pm.
Monday, May 29: The final celebration for Massive Monkees Day will be on Memorial Day with a youth Massive Break Battle from noon to 2pm at the Seattle Center. Following that, a Massive Community Jam will take place at Jefferson Park from 2-6pm.
Friday, June 2: Terra Nobody will celebrate their upcoming release of their Chaos Culture EP with a show at the Sunset Tavern in Ballard. Asterhouse and the Kathy Moore Super Power Trio will join them in the celebration. Tickets are $12 in advance; the show is 21+ and doors will open at 8pm.
Sunday, June 4: In-Touch music festival at the Volunteer Park amphitheater will feature performances from King Youngblood and Lily Wecks. This is the first ever youth mental health awareness festival put on by Hold Your Crown, a non-profit organization formed by King Youngblood. The event is all ages and free for everyone, from 4-8pm.
Tuesday, June 6 – Saturday, June 10: The Seattle World Tour is back for its 3rd annual celebration of the city arts and entertainment community. Starting in Ballard and ending in Beacon Hill, the SWT will feature 20 local artists and bands at five different venues throughout the week. Each night four different acts will perform making for unique and eclectic lineups that are built to help you discover your next favorite artist.
All proceeds from the event go to the Seattle World Tour Foundation’s WA State Musician Relief Fund to assist local artists who are struggling to make ends meet. As a part of the tour, there will also be a food drive for the Rainier Valley Food Bank. Tickets each night start at $15 and go up to $20 at the door. There is an all-ages night at Cafe Racer. However, the rest of the tour will be for those over the age of 21.
