Sliimy – (Official) Womanizer LA Hands Video

Check out the  new video for Sliimy’s cover of Britney Spears’ Womanizer. It’s a cool stop motion movie that definitely goes along with Sliimy’s unique style.

Don’t forget to check back  for more details about Life Ink’s Sliimy Contest. We’ll be giving away Sliimy Music Tees to one lucky winner!

S.E.G. Presents… A New Idea for the Music Industry

It seems like a daily occurrence for my father to watch a program on public television and shake his head at all the musical talent that is somehow slipping under the radar.

“These guys are great!” he’ll say. “Why don’t they play this on the radio instead of all that other crap?”

Of course, I never have a response that will satisfy the injustice that he sees, or hears rather. To him, the underdogs will always be forgotten in the shadows created by the others standing in the limelight.

Maybe he would feel better if I told him about S.E.G.

S.E.G., or Show Entertainment Group, is the two-and-a-half-year-old brain child of Francesco Montagnani.

Montagnani came from Bovolone, Italy to the United States in 2004 leaving behind a family heavily involved in the entertainment industry.  Both his mother and father are involved with acting and subsequently music has always been a big presence in his life.

The idea with S.E.G. was to find the best upcoming bands in New York City and help them to bring their music and their name to the next level.

“The idea to see bands that are no one on stage and help them take their name to a different audience than the one they usually have,” is what helped me to develop the concept, said Montagnani.

The group is always looking for bands with great potential that need someone to foster them. It is not uncommon to see booking agents from the group at shows handing out their cards to exceptional acts.

This idea in itself is nothing out of the ordinary. For years companies have popped up to promote local acts.

What makes S.E.G. different from all the rest is that they actually help bands make money and gain exposure, instead of using their talent for only the benefit of the company.  S.E.G. has no booking fee and gives a large percentage of show profits back to the bands.

Unlike other companies, S.E.G. has deals with the venues they work with. In the past, S.E.G. has been able to arrange door deals as good as 100% profits going to the band after the first 12 bought tickets.

“For a New York [City] standard situation door deal, it’s excellent,” said Mantagnani.

He went on to explain that, if you asked different bands, they would tell you that they only make money after they’ve sold 15 tickets and then they still only get 50% of sales. Other deals involve pre-sales where the band has to sell their own tickets beforehand, sometimes up to 30 tickets, and then they only see a small percentage of the profits after that.

All of these classic scenarios end up costing the bands money to get the exposure they need. It’s not surprising then that so many talented groups are forced to throw in the towel because they can’t afford to pay out-of-pocket to promote their band that isn’t actually bringing in any money.

Originally starting on a small-scale, S.E.G. now works with seven venues across New York City, including Bowery Electric, Parkside Lounge, and Ella Lounge.

The group also gives bands the opportunity to play at larger events such as the New York City AIDS Walk and the cream of the crop get a chance to perform in the S.E.G. showcase during the CMJ Marathon.

Other unique opportunities include in store performances which S.E.G. currently puts on with the clothing store Esprit and Best Buy. These particular shows offer a chance for bands to play live for customers coming in to the stores, expanding their audience to people who might not make it out to late night showcases.

As S.E.G. continues to grow, Montagnani has goals to continue to expand the business. He hopes that in five years or so they will be working with venues all along the east coast and possibly across the country.

Also, the group is a booking, pubic relations, and management group, but they are not currently managing a band.

Montagnani would love to expand the business in this direction, however they haven’t come across anyone yet that they truly feel they want to take on as a fulltime management client.

Until then, S.E.G. is satisfied with the success that they are having with booking and promotion.

Bands that S.E.G. works with, such as The Shells and The Bamboo Shoots, have been nominated for MTV Music Awards. The Bamboo Shoots have also recently been signed to Epic Records. Another artist, Reni Lane, had a song featured during the opening of the ABC Early Morning Show.

Though, none of these deals were set up directly by S.E.G., they still are a testament to the strong ear of the group and their ability to help give bands and artists a leg up in such a huge city.

Also, residents of New York have come to recognize that S.E.G. Presents always has an ear for good music.

Many people will attend S.E.G. Presents showcases because they know that we put good acts together, says Montagnani. They don’t necessarily know any of the bands but they trust that S.E.G. will have something that is going to be great.

For more information about S.E.G. visit their official website or Myspace Page.

You can also find a list of upcoming shows here and read more about what bands working with S.E.G. have to say about their experiences here.

Don’t Make Yourself Miserable

Photo by gfpeck

It’s entirely understandable that being unemployed is not a fun situation. You aren’t making any money, in fact you’re probably getting into debt,  you’re living with your parents, you’re not starting that next chapter of your life, you’re not learning anything new.  It’s just bad.

But if you’re like me, you’ve heard the following statement a fair amount of times from people who have worked now for 20+ years.

“Enjoy it while it lasts because once you start working you’ll never have as much time for yourself as you do now.”

I usually nod politely to these comments while thinking smugly to myself, “I DON’T have time to myself! All I do is look for a job 24/7!”

So, again, the argument seems to be leaning towards the fact that unemployment is just bad, with nothing beneficial about it at all.

And then comes the part where I start to understand the other perspective.

I have realized lately that these career people with 20+ years under their belts actually have a point. Being unemployed leaves you with time to do what you want. Should doing what you want be looking for a job during all waking hours, then that’s your choice and I encourage you to stand by it. However, if you’re like me, a schedule like that would result in a pretty quick burnout rate.

What I’m getting at is that life needs balance. Even in college, classwork was balanced with extracurricular activities such as clubs or sports. Who says you can’t create a campus style life in your unemployed world?

In fact, you can do even more than you did while in college because now you don’t have any homework! Think about all those different ideas you’ve had in your head about trying ice hockey or volunteering at the YMCA. Now is the time to do it.

Unemployment is like a forced leave of absence. So, you might as well take advantage of what you’ve been given. Obviously you need to keep your eye on the ultimate goal of getting a job, but you just might find that you can discover some new passions and interests along the way.

Just to get you thinking, I’m going to list some of my ideas for my unemployment explorations.

1. Join a gym – there’s no better time to get in shape when you don’t have the excuse of “I have sooo much work to do!”
2. Clean out your room – look at it as getting organized for when you move out. It helps keep you thinking positively and gets you excited for the future.
3. Visit friends – unemployment means that you’re not tied to a schedule. Take advantage of that and visit friends whenever you can. There’s nothing better than a spontaneous trip to NYC in the middle of the week.
4. Take a class – I’ve always wanted to take a self-defense class but it never fit into my schedule. Guess what I’m doing next Monday? =)
5. Get an internship – so what if you can’t get paid?! It’s great experience and they’re easier to get than jobs because of the fact that no money is being spent on you. Sure, it might feel like slave labor at times, but its better to have something to do that you’ll keep learning rather than only looking for a job. Think about how much better your answer would be if an interviewer asked you, “So, what have you been doing since you graduated?”
6. Read – I’m absolutely in love with the fact that I can read what I want to read before bed instead of modern philosophy. Take a trip to your local library and see what they’ve got to offer. My library has a free audiobooks service where you can download the books for free and then burn them to CD. It’s perfect for those many trips to visit friends that you’ll be taking.
7. Take your GREs – maybe you don’t want to go to graduate school now but you might in the future. Take advantage of your fresh brain and your free time and study up and take the test. The scores last for ten years so you’ll be set for whenever you do or don’t decide to get your  master’s.
8. Be wait staff or bar tend at a restaurant – both are definitely fun jobs and great skills to have that are transferable to many other jobs. Most importantly, anywhere you go there will be a need for wait staff or bartenders. Plus, don’t forget the tips are usually pretty nice.
9. Explore – is there any part of your town you’ve always wanted to visit but you never did just because of time? Check out your town website and see if there are any special events going on or guided tours of different parks. Frequently, you can find hidden treasures that you might have typically overlooked.
10. Network and Socialize – many areas have young professionals networking groups that you can get involved with. They’ll usually host happy hours or other events that can help you meet lots of interesting people and possibly learn about people who could help you get a job.

So, that’s only a few suggestions. Obviously, the list could go on and on depending on your interests or location. The overall message however, is that there are endless possibilities and we need to remember to not make ourselves feel miserable because we don’t have jobs. The truth is, life will continue to throw curve balls and so we need to learn how to make the best out of every situation. As “Pollyanna” as it may sound, you can always find a bright side.

So, with that, now it’s your turn. Go get a sheet of paper and a pen and start writing down everything you’ve ever wanted to do and then go and figure out how to make it happen.

I’m going to go sign up for bar tending school. =)

Giving Southington Something To Smile About

Mission of Mercy Free Dental Clinic in Tolland

A free dental day will be held Wednesday in Southington as a part of the local dentist association’s continued initiative to help uninsured residents maintain good oral health.

The free dental days have been held about once a month since May when Dr. Ted Zdeblick officially revived the program.

Zdeblick had originally started holding free dental days 10 years ago when Connecticut experienced its last recession. His residency at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford made him more aware of the fact that there was a need for this type of work.

Click here to continue reading Giving Southington Something To Smile About

 

Album Review: Sliimy, “Paint Your Face”

There are many audiophiles out there who only value complexity and depth in their music. Never would they be caught listening to anything that a 12-year-old would also enjoy. If you are one of those people I say this as a disclaimer: Sliimy is not an artist for you.

Sliimy , pronounced Slim-ee, is a European artist from Saint-Etienne, France whose catchy, lighthearted sounding music has officially made its way over to the US of A.

His debut album, Paint Your Face, initially released by Warner Brothers France, reached the No. 2 spot on French charts and went gold even before coming to the United States.

The album was released again digitally across the Atlantic on American soil on September 15^th from Perezcious Music, Perez Hilton’s music label under Warner Brother Records.

Sliimy, whose real name is Yanis Sahraoui, was the first artist signed to Hilton’s label. Hilton found out about Sliimy when a friend sent him Sliimy’s cover of Britney Spears’ “Womanizer.” Impressed with the rendition, Hilton first posted the video to his infamous celebrity gossip blog in December and has continued to rave about the artist ever since.

Paint Your Face, co-written by Sliimy and musical partner Feed, sounds like a combination of Mika and Lily Allen. The songs are full of cheery piano and electronic sounds. Sliimy’s voice is soft and soothing and the overall combination is familiar but unique at the same time.

Music snobs can hate on the “poppy” style all they want, but they can’t deny that this album has all the right elements for success. It’s cross-generational, fun, happy sounding music that makes you tap your toes.

I’m sure that many more of us would rather skip and dance around our  houses to this album than sit in a dark corner and contemplate the meaning of life.

Let’s be honest, we need more music like this to raise our spirits.

 

Death of the CD, Birth of the Music Tee?

Another unique element of this album is how it’s being sold. Sliimy has chosen to have the album available in the form of a Music Tee. A Music Tee is  new concept where a fan can buy a tee-shirt with the album artwork on the front and track listing on the back. The actual music can then be downloaded digitally using a special code on the tee.

As opposed to the classic digital album, this idea puts more of an emphasis on album artwork than simply having a small graphic on your iTunes. Perhaps we will see the Music Tee replace the CD booklet. If that were the case I’m pretty sure I’d end up with a stuffed closet.

 

Contest!!!

Life Ink has gotten the opportunity to give away the Sliimy music tee in its first ever contest! Check back soon for more details on how you can win the Sliimy Music Tee and digital album combo.

 

Recommended Tracks: Wake Up, Everytime, Baby

For More Info:

http://www.sliimy.net/

http://www.myspace.com/sliimy

http://twitter.com/SLIIMY

Mothers Know Best

Things you need in life (according to my wise mother):

1. Bungee Cords

2. Duct Tape

3. A tarp

Makes her sound like Survivorman doesn’t it?

CT Student Groups Attend Today’s Anti-War Rally in Boston

Reposted from CT News Junkie

http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/iraq_at_home/student_groups_to_attend_antiw.php

Though this was originally posted on Friday to CT News Junkie, I felt the need to repost it here because I haven’t seen much coverage about the rally and let’s face it… I’m proud of my work. =)

***

On Saturday, students across Connecticut will travel to Boston to voice their dissatisfaction with the escalation of the war in Afghanistan and the deepening of the economic crisis.

The city is one of thirty locations in the country that will be hosting anti-war activities calling for the end of all United States occupations on the same date.

Denisa Jashari, Trinity Anti-War Coalition

Denisa Jashari, a senior at Trinity College and co-founder of the Trinity Anti-War Coalition is one of the many who will be attending the event to make her opinions heard.

According to Jashari, the election of Obama weakened the anti-war movement because Americans thought they could rely on him to bring peace. However, with the current escalation of the war in Afghanistan, protesters have begun to take matters back into their own hands.

“All of us are responsible for being active and participating in things that have to do with issues that affect our everyday lives,” said Jashari. “If you feel an opposition to the war then show it.”

Among these issues Jashari is concerned with is the large amount of military spending that these wars require. All this money, Jashari says, should be used to fund education, projects for youth and students, and to open up jobs.

Jeff Bartos, Iraq Veterans Against the War

Jeff Bartos, United States Army Veteran and sophomore at Central Connecticut State University, agrees that the money spent on the wars should be going elsewhere.

The main stream U.S. media constantly talks about how, “the economy is in shambles, the taxes are too high, the housing crisis, healthcare, [etcetera] when we could fund all of these if we had never gone to war with Iraq” said Bartos.

Now, the co-founder and secretary of the Connecticut Chapter of Iraq Veterans Against the War, Bartos originally supported the war and joined the Army in July of 2003.

“I thought the U.S. was doing good things in response to the events of September 11th,” said Bartos.

That all changed once he was deployed.

While serving in Iraq from 2006 to 2007, there was a two month period during which Bartos was faced with experiences that made sleep difficult, often only allowing him to get three or four hours a night.

After being honorably discharged in 2007, Bartos began a year long process where he continued to reevaluate his feelings and eventually changed his position about the war.

“I’ve taken a bit of a different look at using violence for various measures since I’ve been back” said Bartos. Now having returned, he finds no justified reason for the number of deaths that have occurred or for the many more lives to be lost.

Will Boston Be The Next Pittsburgh?

Though some similar issues will be touched upon in Boston, Bartos doesn’t expect to experience anything like the G-20 protests in Pittsburg, where he was arrested with a group of protestors while helping a journalist who had been pepper sprayed in the eyes.

“Pittsburg was a different thing” he said. “It wasn’t just challenging the war it was challenging the status quo of the group of twenty finance ministers and world leaders and their entire power base.”

The march in Boston is a permitted peaceful march, he said, which happens every six months to a year.

“This is just going to be a bunch of people carrying signs and singing songs” he said.

Jashari agrees.

“Our intentions are just to really exercise our freedom of speech and freedom of free assembly” she said.

How Students Will Get There

As a part of the effort help others voice their opinions against war, The Trinity Anti-War Coalition has organized carpools for approximately 25 people from Trinity to attend the event.

Other university groups from UConn and Eastern Connecticut State University will also be organizing transportation for those interested as well.

According to Wes Strong, a member of Connecticut Students Against the War and graduate of Central Connecticut State University, there is a full school bus going from Central Connecticut State University up to Boston. They also have more requests for seats than seats available, which he said he thinks is very encouraging.

Event Details

Starting at 1:00pm protestors will gather in Copley Square to listen to speakers and musical performances. Afterward the group will proceed to march around the square.

More information about the rally in Boston can be found by visiting http://october17.org/boston/

More information about Iraq Veterans Against the War can be found at http://www.ivaw.org/

Blog Action Day… was yesterday.

Yesterday was Blog Action Day and this year’s topic is climate change. Of course, being me, I am not on time but as they say, better late then never. The idea of Blog Action Day is to encourage bloggers across the world to post about the topic of the year to create more awareness surrounding the topic.

Though I am not an expert on climate change, nor do I really know many facts at all, I do strongly believe that more attention needs to be given to the current and future consequences climate change.

The fact of the matter is our global climate IS changing. We could argue for days about the causes but when you really step back to look at the situation whether its a natural phenomenon or man made doesn’t change the fact that its real.

The issue is really plain and simple. If you want to keep living the way you are now so that future generations may never exist then great, be that way. But if you want to make a change so that we can improve the future than we need to get moving. The future comes one day at a time so there’s no time like the present.

I can credit one of my best friends and fellow blogger with making more aware about climate change and going green in general. I encourage you to visit her blog http://www.jenclinton.wordpress.com for more expert information about global climate change.

She has a lot of valuable information to share and a great way of putting it all into perspective.

With all that said, I hope you will take a minute to really sit down and think about climate change and how it affects you because whether you like it or not it does.

Keep Working For Free

Here’s a link to another blog that reinforces the point I made in a previous article about the benefits of working for free. Whether it’s an internship, a freelance position or volunteering, any experience is good experience.

• http://sixfigurestart.wordpress.com/2009/10/06/you-already-work-for-free

Besides this particular article, you will find many other valuable articles related to career guidance.  Whether you have a job or not, this blog reminds you that it is always important to continue planning for the future. Take that advice and check it out.

• http://sixfigurestart.wordpress.com

Life Ink: Welcoming All Submissions

Since I have begun dabbling in band, album and show reviews, I would like to invite you to submit anything you might want to see featured on Life Ink.

If you have a band or a new album you’d like me to check out just send a quick email with any relevant information and I’ll do write-ups on the cream of the crop.

If you are interested, send an email to Kim.Grzybala@gmail.com with Life Ink Submissions in the subject line. Don’t forget to include contact information so that I can get in touch with you, should I have any additional questions.

Also, submissions are not limited to music related subjects. If you have a website, restaurant, store, iPhone Application or anything else that might be interesting to review don’t hesitate to send it along.

Thanks for your tips and I hope to hear from you soon!

Arrivederci Niccolò Paganini. Make Room for the Stylings of Nheap.

Having roots in Perugia, Italy, Nheap, the artist name of Massimo Discepoli, began his journey with music in 1990 when he started playing the drums and extensively exploring practically every musical genre known to man.

This statement is not exaggerated, as can be seen from the lengthy list of musical influences referenced on his MySpace page. In 2005, Discepoli began playing piano and, at this point in his career, started to produce his own music.

Skymotion, Nheap’s second album, is not for everyone, nor is this style of music. This statement, however, is entirely a compliment to the truly pioneering sound of Skymotion.

Photo By Ken Bosma

When listening to Skymotion for the first time, the image of a piece of modern art that some people might have trouble appreciating comes to mind.  What I mean by this is that it’s not a sound that someone used to classic rock and roll will warm up to immediately.  The music produced on this album is an ode to experimenting and throwing out previously made guidelines for what a song should sound like.

With that said, this album definitely has a strong European vibe to it. You could easily see yourself shopping around in a hip boutique with ambient music like Nheap’s floating out from the shop’s speakers.

The album presents the listener with what can only be described as elegant runway music or a playground of electronic sounds. It is simple and enjoyable for anyone who is looking to get away from the complexities of lyrics and is just interested in soothing melodic resonances to ease their mind.

Smooth and thought provoking, the album has a certain curiosity to it making you feel like a little child exploring the depths of what your ears can hear.  I would definitely recommend this album for anyone with an adventurous spirit when it comes to music. I have been listening to it on repeat while writing this review and swear that it has helped my productivity. I feel more artistic after every minute listening.

The album will be available to download for free here until October 30th, after which it will be available to purchase on iTunes, his official website or through his label.

Recommended Tracks: Aphelion, Gravitational Assist, Ab.

Chicken Soup for the Post Grad Soul (No. 1)

Chicken What?!

During a time in life filled with uncertainty and insecurity, many teenagers have enjoyed the comfort found in the stories published in Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul. Interestingly enough, much like our teenage years, being fresh out of college is equally as scary and unsettling.

Now, the Chicken Soup series has tons of different editions. There’s Chicken Soup for the Mother’s Soul, Golfer’s Soul, Newly Wed Soul. The list goes on and on.

What you won’t find, however, is a Chicken Soup for the Post Grad Soul and that is what I hope to provide with these periodic posts. In each Chicken Soup post you will find a bit of wisdom to help get you through a hard day.  Even if you don’t feel like you’re a lost teenage-like soul in this strange and confusing “Real World,” hopefully you will still find each spoonful to be something to think about and save for a rainy day.

Today’s Spoonful:

“For what it’s worth: it’s never too late or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be. There’s no time limit, stop whenever you want. You can change or stay the same, there are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. And I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life you’re proud of. If you find that you’re not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again.”

- From the Motion Picture, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008).

Updated Information For Printing Facebook Photos Using Snapfish

I do not know for sure whether other people are having this same problem, although information I have received seems to point to the fact that the issue is indeed widespread.

In my experience, as of late, the “add to cart” function freezes when trying to order photos from Facebook using Snapfish. I have tried several times to order pictures over the past few days and have found that each time I click “add to cart” nothing happens. Then, if you click the “add to cart” button again it whites out and still nothing happens.

The reaction of the customer service representative I spoke with is what led me to believe that others are having the same problem. Here is a dramatized version of the conversation:

Snapfish: Hello. My name is Alkjasdf. How can I help you today?

Me: Yes, I’m having problems with adding Facebook pictures to my cart on Snapfish. I just want to order some pictures and your website won’t let me do it.

Snapfish: Oh. (long pause) What is your email address? That is being handled by our technicians and I will have to forward your request to them.

Me: When will I hear from them?

Snapfish: You should hear from them within 2-3 business days.

In other words, I’ll hear from them in the “near” future because they’re fixing the website functionality because it’s broken.

This malfunction comes at a particularly inconvenient time since I am trying to take advantage of the free shipping  they have offered as an extended Labor Day promotion.

If this is the case with you, I encourage you to contact Snapfish Customer Support. One reason in particular is that they will send you another coupon for free shipping when the problem is fixed. The reason behind this being that, at the moment, no one trying to order prints from Facebook can use the coupon since they can’t even get the images into the cart in the first place.

Their phone number can be hard to find, but I have it here if you should need it: 1-800-634-4500

There are no other articles or help suggestions in their FAQs, so calling is the best way to go about it.  As we have said in past articles, sometimes you just need to talk to a real human being.

Album Review: Zigmat, “Sounds of Machines”

Hailing from Brooklyn, NY, Zigmat is an edgy duo consisting of vocalist Monica Rodriguez and bassist Stephen Yonkin. Both musicians attended the Berklee School of Music in Boston, MA, at the same time, however the two didn’t meet until after graduation when they started talking at a bar in Brooklyn.  It just so happened that Rodriguez was looking for a bassist and Yonkin was looking for a band. And so the fates of music decided that Zigmat would be born.

Sounds of Machines is Zigmat’s debut full-length album released in the U.S. in May of 2009. Haunting and sexy at the same time, the songs on this album are  like nothing you have ever heard before. Each song showcases the strong, sultry voice of Rodriguez in a different way. One track is perfect for a 20’s style lounge scene; the next is something that could easily be mistaken for a song by the Sneaker Pimps.

Frequently categorized as an electronica band, their sound is hard to place in a single category.  With the combination of electronic beats, solid bass guitar, Aretha Franklin style vocals on one track, Feist style vocals on the next, and the occasional verse in Spanish, it’s easy to see why picking a genre would be so difficult.

However, if you’re looking for something that defies standard music definitions, you have definitely found the right band. Sounds of Machines is an album that will make a unique addition to any music collection.

Recommended Tracks: Wait, Between Bullets, Don’t Tire, So Sure

For more information about Zigmat, visit the bands official website or their MySpace Page.

Steven Mark: A 60’s Daisy Amongst Top 40 Clovers

It might appear that music lovers of the current generation are always looking for a new sound. They aren’t satisfied with the classic instruments past generations have so enjoyed. Instead, they need unique electronic sounds synthesized by a computer program. It is important to remember, however, as our mothers have always told us, appearances can be deceiving.

In a time when most of the Top 40 hits include either Auto-Tune or artificial instruments, there are still listeners out there who appreciate the authentic sounds of artists like Bob Dylan and Simon and Garfunkel.  Listeners like these will be pleased to know that there are modern artists out there who share their appreciation of music from the “love generation.”

Steven Mark, keeping it real.

One such artist is Steven Mark, a musician with that old 60’s flare that vintage album lovers crave.  His songs feature vibrant guitar melodies and great lyrics, something else that is lacking in a lot of today’s music. Mark plays around with different sounds from the era too. With his elaborate images and stories, he creates a sound reminiscent of James Taylor. One specific track, Lazy Sunday Afternoon, sounds exactly like a song that the Beatles could have written. With his ability to channel the old and make it new, Mark definitely has the potential to please many ears that are tired of Green Day and Fall Out Boy.

One Small Room Album Cover

Mark’s latest album, One Small Room, dropped June 14th 2009, after what the artist calls in his MySpace blog, “two long years on and off of recording.” The extra time was well worth it, it seems, since the artist says it’s his most acoustic album yet and that he is very proud of it.

The album title suits the sound of the record very well. While listening, anyone could easily picture Steven Mark sitting on a stool in the corner of their own room playing a private set just for them. Your personal in-house acoustic set comes complete with a cover of “The Logical Song” by Supertramp, giving this late night lounge-y music performance even more authenticity.

Overall, if you are missing the old days or simply looking for a sound you won’t find on a 14-year-old’s Ipod, definitely check out Steven Mark. For more information, visit his official website or visit his MySpace page to preview some of the tracks off of One Small Room.