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Americana UK reviews James Kahn’s new LP By the Risin’ of the Sea, takes on global existential crises as its theme

SoCal singer/songwriter, Emmy-nominated TV writer-producer & novelist James Kahn's seventh album, By the Risin’ of the Sea, turns our expectations of traditional sea shanties on their heads by confronting our modern environmental struggles. — *James Kahn. Photo by Jill Littlewood*

James Kahn, the physician turned novelist/TV and film writer/TV producer turned songwriter, chose to use the genre for an album of songs about COVID and apocalyptic environmental warnings. He is based in Santa Barbara, so naturally, the ocean looms large in his day-to-day life and acts as the thematic glue on ‘By The Risin’ Of The Sea.’ Changes in the oceans are an unresolved problem for environmental prophets of doom. This week the World Meteorological Organization announced that global oceans reached their hottest and most acidic levels ever recorded in 2021. Kahn was also inspired by his colleague David West, who suggested the album.

Chorus.FM shares theWorst’s “This House Didn’t Build Itself” ahead of next Friday’s album release

Check out Chorus.FM’s premiere of Portland, Maine punk trio theWorst’s new single “This House Didn’t Build Itself.” New album Yes Regrets out June 3rd. READ MORE…

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Glide Magazine debuts the new single from The Savants of Soul, “Love and Affection,” noting the band’s own take on “’70s soul with righteous rhythms, gritty horns, swampy grooves, and gospel-tinged, soulful vocals.”

When the best of late ’60s music is discussed, it’s hard not to name Fame Recording Studios and Muscle Shoal Sound Studio and its collective soul artists and session musicians that created a longstanding sound and revered groove that still permeates today.

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The Big Takeover debuts the new single and video from Gogol Bordello guitarist Boris Pelekh, “Yours Is a Face From a Dream,” noting, “Pelekh’s comfort with fearlessly sharing his emotions understates the experiential plight involved in the making.”

NYC artist Boris Pelekh (NME, Brooklyn Vegan, Consequence) is getting ready to release his debut EP I See It Now (out June 24), a collection of gentle indie-folk meditations with psychedelic undertones, soul-baring vocals and intimate incantations of love restored. A seasoned veteran of the New York music scene and ace guitarist for Gogol Bordello, Pelekh has toured around the world, sharing stages with iconic artists spanning from Aretha Franklin to Philip Glass to Wu-Tang Clan.

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Inside Climate News interviews James Kahn about his new LP By the Risin’ of the Sea and how he turned sailors’ work songs into climate ballads

Katelyn Weisbrod interviews Dr. James Kahn as part of her article, Warming Trends: Forests Are the Best Big-City Water Filters, Plus Veggie Burgers by Default, Sea Songs by ET’s Doctor and a Reminder to Eat Fresh Food in the Fridge

KW: Why did you choose to have each song on the album be a sea shanty?

JK: I decided to write a whole album of shanties about various contemporary dilemmas, primarily climate dilemmas, but environmental crises in various ways. So there’s a couple songs specifically about climate change, some about habitat loss and species die offs and Covid-19. Shanties were originally written as work songs by the sailors of the 17th and 18th centuries facing stormy seas and the elements and I felt like we’re going, metaphorically, and in some cases, specifically, physically going through the same things. We have our own storms that we’re trying to weather and face, and it seemed like the shanty was a good genre to talk about those things that we’re facing, those elemental crises.

Portland, Maine punks theWorst share new video “Couldn’t Stay Away” at Under the Radar Mag

In just a few weeks, Portland-based melodic punk outfit theWorst is set to return with their sophomore record Yes Regrets. The new record is both the band’s most energetic and personal effort yet, exploring guitarist and vocalist Brooke Binion’s experience with addiction and recovery amidst explosive punk songwriting. READ MORE…