Mihali:
For Mihali, music behaves much like a living being. It grows, it matures, and it changes with a sentient consciousness and with whims of its own. The Vermont-based singer, songwriter, guitarist, and co-founder of rock outfit Twiddle closely follows reggae’s evolutionary ebbs and flows, and has funneled that enthusiasm into his newest record, Effection [July 22, 2022 via Ineffable Records]. The ten-track body of work intertwines reggae spirit, fluid soundscape architecture, and invigorating mantras meant to be chanted aloud in a packed venue. 

Effection, a word meaning creation, is a fitting name for a project produced remotely with the help of longtime friend and collaborator Nathan Aurora. Working together from afar, the two traded demos, lyrics, bass lines, piano riffs, and guitar tracks back and forth before finally launching the new work with the release of “Maplewood,” Effection’s debut single. “Nathan is a genius,” Mihali said of the producer known for his guitar work in Iya Terra.

Following “Maplewood'' came the release of “The Greater Escape” (featuring reggae rock bands The Movement and The Elovaters), the upbeat and triumphant “Living is The Lesson” (featuring reggae pop group, Iration), and now the horn-laden track “Effection” (featuring Jacob Hemphill of the Grammy-Award winning reggae group SOJA). “Reggae has always been a passion of mine,” reflects Mihali, “and I hope this record really embodies its spirit.”

When all is said and done, Mihali’s music continues to transform with him. “On this record, I tried not to go super heavy or deep on the emotional side of things. Instead, there is a lot of happiness and hope on Effection. I’m incredibly proud and excited to be releasing this music, and as always, evolving with it.”

Hunter Root:
 

Few artists embody the spirit of creative exploration as seamlessly as Pennsylvania-based multi-instrumentalist Hunter Root. His journey is a tale of passion and resilience, and his success is a testament to his intuition and his unique musical vision.

Raised in an environment steeped in classic rock, Hunter's musical foundation was built alongside his older brother who introduced him to guitar, and opened his eyes to the power of songwriting. As a founding member of the psychedelic rock outfit Medusa's Disco, Hunter honed his skills on stage, and gained invaluable insight into the labyrinthine workings of the music industry.

Embracing a genre-fluid approach, Hunter's music weaves together elements of acoustic rock, folk, grunge, and more. His approach to songwriting has evolved over the years, shifting from a lyric-centric process to a music-first methodology. This shift has allowed Hunter to match emotive soundscapes with the narrative potency of his songs, yielding compositions rich in both meaning and emotion. He employs a similarly immersive approach to music production. He writes, records, mixes, and produces all his albums, an uncompromising process that is both demanding and gratifying.

Hunter's personal experiences heavily influence his music. His acclaimed 2023 album, 'Arkansas,' was created as a tribute following the passing of his older brother in 2020, beautifully encapsulating his introspection. Despite calling Central Pennsylvania home, the four years he spent in Arkansas during his youth had a profound impact on his artistry. Consequently, each song is a deeply personal narrative, an homage to the sights, sounds, aches, and scars found there.

Hunter's music achieved viral success through TikTok and Instagram, where his songs 'Town Rat Heathen' and 'Quicksand Sinking' struck a chord with users worldwide. He swiftly accumulated hundreds of thousands of followers across both platforms, inevitably driving traffic to Spotify, where his singles have garnered millions of plays.

2024 will see Hunter continue to build on his momentum, as he plans an extensive series of tour dates accompanied by his live band. For more information, please visit www.hunterroot.com.