A detailed description of my music writing background — A Team or Single Person? Despite the royal “we” I use sometimes If Ever Your Listening (IEYL) is a solo venture. All the content is original and written by me. For the longest time I was the only one who published it as well. Even though it is just me and I could have made…

A Review of Ruston Kelly’s Album, Shape & Destroy — Background Ruston Kelly is from a musical family. In the 1960s his dad used to play steel guitar in the east Texas folk scene. His sister also sings and eventually became an actress. Growing up, there were guitars and other instruments laying around the house like old newspapers. It was only…

Check Out This Catchy Playlist When You’re Looking For New Tunes — Welcome Back! When I first received my master’s degree, the first thing that struck me was its size. The actual degree is massive! It’s funny because some schools have such small degrees, like some of my siblings, while mine are just unfairly over-sized. I waited for the moment to graduate…

On Koffee’s Debut Album She Shows Deep Appreciation For Her Early Rise — IEYL’s March 2022 Album of the Month: Gifted by Koffee Background Koffee has always been a fast learner. At the age of twelve, Koffee (born Mikayla Simpson) took up guitar. Her musical background up to this point was in the church. She grew up with her single mother in Spanish Town, Jamaica. Living a modest and sheltered life, the young Jamaican…

Check Out This Catchy Playlist When You’re Looking For New Tunes — Hello There! Welcome to the new IEYL playlist, “On That Note”. Similar to “Music For Thought” here is where I drop 10 tunes from my playlist and invite you to comment and enjoy! The Music For Thought playlist reached 10 articles so it was best to restart and rebrand. This…

Raveena Continues To Evolve On The Splendid Asha’s Awakening — IEYL’s February 2022 Album of The Month — Asha’s Awakening by Raveena Background The alternative R&B songstress is a shining and fresh mainstay in the genre. Raveena Aurora grew up in Queens, New York, and Stamford Connecticut. After her first performance at nine, she knew that she wanted to pursue music. Since then, she’s picked up instruments like the piano and guitar and…

Check Out This List Of Tunes For Your Listening Pleasure — Welcome Back! I hope you are having a great day and an even better Memorial Day weekend. I spent it catching up with friends and doing an activity I usually skip out on — rock climbing. I’m not afraid of heights, but rock climbing almost makes me reconsider that phobia…

The History of Art Rock — A Work of Art Art-rock brings the world of high art into the realm of rock music. While the two elements appear incompatible their combination sounds natural and fulfilling. The rock subgenre comes about thanks to the musical minds of musicians like Phil Spector, Brian Wilson, and Frank Zappa. In the early 1960’s, rock…

Check Out This List Of Tunes For Your Listening Pleasure — I hope you all had a great weekend! I’ve finally reached one of those distinctive markers of adulthood — the 10 year high school reunion. Invitations were sent out a couple weeks ago and I’m still breath-taken by the milestone. I’ve always viewed those who are old enough to attend…