Fifteen Minutes of Fame: An Independent Artist Music Review Blog

Originally Published on April 30th, 2025 I have enjoyed writing, reacting, and speaking through Fifteen Minutes of Fame since I started doing this thing officially in July of last year. The music I’ve heard, the people I’ve met. The connections. The community. I cherish every bit of it. That being said, I think this last month has been my favorite to date. Having the website up and running has been a real vision realized experience for me. It has also made the networking between FMOF and CAN! a seamless one. Long story short, the blurred vision I once had of this community of artists is starting to come to focus!  Let’s talk about what happened in April! What Happened in April? April was the first full month of operations working directly through the  Fifteen Minutes of Fame Website . In its first month, it did not disappoint! There has been a significant amount of traffic as well as interaction on the website. CAN! Reviews  are starting to take form of how this might loo...

Originally Published on April 29th, 2025 About the Artist If there is one thing I love, it is passion behind music. There is no denying the passion that  Stonehocker  has when he performs, writes, and and releases his own music. It’s a passion I recognized in the musicality of his song  Take Everything , which I reviewed last  November . It’s a passion he visually made evident when I did a  Blind Reaction  for his music video for  Hello Mr. Hyde . If one were to spend any amount of time reading and learning about this Alberta-based artist, they would immediately feel his passion.  “I am Stonehocker and music heals me,” is the opening sentence to Stonehocker’s bio which can be located on his  website . Also, if you visit his  website , there is a pretty fantastic merch store and news of upcoming shows, all in Canada! So, if you’re in the area, be sure to show your support and see this passion for yourself! About the Album Hello Mr. Hyde ...

Originally Published on April 28th, 2025 About the Artist In the time I have been doing Fifteen Minutes of Fame, I have had the privilege to review more than a hundred talented musicians. Any reader who has been following since the beginning, has heard me speak of  Midnite Gossip  on a number of occasions. Whether it be the  review  I wrote for their song,  Tightrope , or the  Blind Reaction  for their song  Streetlights - Mickey Valenz Remix , or the number of times I’ve spoken to/about them, their music, and their incredible accomplishments. Today is no different, as their contribution to this record is significant. However, this review won’t just be about the incredibly talented Canadian-based duo.  At the forefront, is an up and coming face to the Canadian DJ scene,  Sunflower Dreams . Out of Calgary, she debuted as a recording artist in 2024, with the June release of  Hybrid Nation , which is an ambient, synth-trip, mid tempo g...

Originally Published on April 25th, 2025 About the Artist I LOVE just happening across new artists. I have to ask.. What is HAPPENING in the New England area of the US right now??? This is the SECOND artist that I just happened to find on social media this month that has stopped me in my tracks!  I want everybody to pay attention and hear me when I say “go right now and listen to  Liz Bills .  Debuting in 2017 with the single  Werewolf , Liz Bills & the Change are a Roots and Psychedelic rock band out of the Boston area. Werewolf is an acoustic groove with bongos for percussion and ambient electric guitars played in the background. The HIGHLIGHT of this track are the incredible vocals performed by Liz Bills. Like “take my fucking money,” incredible vocals. The following month, November of 2017, Liz Bills released their debut EP, the self-titled  Liz Bills . This features 4 songs, including Werewolf and has a run time of around 14 minutes. The EP, like Werewo...

Originally Published on April 25th, 2025 About the Artist I will always hold a special place in my heart when it comes to  Feverjaw . They were one of my first reviews; the third review overall, the first band, and the first international artist. I am still a big fan of the album I reviewed, as  These Times of Trouble  was a fantastic album filled with influence from all sorts of 90’s rock bands.  Feverjaw are a 3-piece alternative rock band from Cardiff Wales. They are Dale Hawkins, James Carey, and Lewis Bligh. They have a big sound and achieve this by incorporating layers on guitars and vocals at all the right places, as well as a symbiotic relationship between the bass and drums that allows for a melodic freedom of range for the guitars. About the EP Feverjaw  is a 3 - song EP that released on April 11th, 2025.  Feverjaw features two new original compositions and a cover of the  Nirvana  song,  Something in the Way . Feverjaw has a runtim...

Originally Published on April 23rd, 2025 About the Artist Listening to  Misery Prize  should come with a warning label. “If you’re ok with how society is, you won’t be.” Then again, if you’re ok with how society is, you shouldn’t be. I’m not saying the world is all bad, I’m just saying it’s not all good. As people we spend a lot of time focusing on one or the other. When one side gets to heavy, we gravitate towards the other.  I am optimistic, to a fault (probably. Even so, I have a lot of bitterness towards the darker parts of society. As a soldier, I resent war. As a parent and as a husband, I resent my government and the direction they’re taking as it seems to be leaning heavily towards a fascist one. As a musician, I will for some reason always hold a grudge against  blink-182  (I know it’s a hot take and I’m probably the only person in the world that does not like this band).  But I am so grateful for life. If a person is born, they are essentially bor...

Originally Published on April 18th, 2025 About the Artist A couple months ago, I reached out to  Kathi Deakin  to see how she was doing with performing and to ask about whether or not she had any upcoming news or releases: FMOF:  Hey Kathi!  Thanks for agreeing to speak with me again! I know we had an  interview   a couple months ago, but since that time,  These Roots  has officially released! How does it feel to have your second single out in the world? KD:  It feels like I am slowly building my city of sound and content. These Roots gives better insight into my inner world and style of songwriting. I feel like people now have a better understanding of what to expect. FMOF:  So your first single,  Fairy , released in July. Now you’ve got These Roots that released (in November). Are these songs part of one bigger project, or are they part of a series of singles? KD:  Yes! I will be working on an album or an EP for the next half...

Originally Published on April 17th, 2025 About the Artist One of the most hopeful concepts we have as human beings is the mystery that is our future. For some, the future is opportunity. It’s realizing the potential we have that is unrealized today. It’s achieving the goals we have set for ourselves. It’s growth, it’s realization. It’s destiny.  Sure, sometimes it’s learning bad things, or sad things, or even things we didn’t expect. Maybe a goal that wasn’t achieved so new goals were redirected. But, it’s important to note, a new day is always opportunity. Even if we are in the worst of situations. The sun rising in the east is the chance to hit that reset button and progress.  This concept is not unfamiliar to Norwich’s  Ryan Redwood , who has identified the concept of leaving all of his cards on the table. He’s fully aware of opportunities and seizing them when he can. As he embarks on a journey of self-discovery and evolvution as a musician, he is sure not to presumpt...

Originally Published on April 9th, 2025 About the Artist Go where the music takes you. In July, once I decided that I was going to start writing reviews of Independent Musicians, I knew that I would rely heavily on the submissions of artists who were looking for write-ups. I like submissions because it is an amazing way to network and get to know the artist who’s music I’ve come acquainted with. However, in my original concept for Fifteen Minutes of Fame, I also knew that I wanted to explore. Just find artists to write about. It’s now mostly become about the submissions, admittedly, but I still like to explore. Go press play.  This is a mantra I’ve tried to instill in our readers for a few months now. It doesn’t just mean to go and listen to the song or video I’ve just recommended. It’s a bigger concept than that. It means, if you’re on social media and you see a random artist pitching their song to the multiverse, go listen to it. If you’re walking past a dingy bar and you hear a ...