Album Review: Layla Frankel- Tame the Fox

Posted on April 28, 2017 by Jessica Braun Gervais in Album Reviews, Music, Reviews and tagged Alamosa, album-review, areview, Chicago, Chicago music, Creature of Habit, Evanston, female vocalist, Layla Frankel, listen live and local, music, New Music, SPACE, Tame the Fox, Tenderly, The Little Prince.

Chicago-raised singer-songwriter Layla Frankel set off with her Little Martian guitar in the fall of 2015 to travel Europe. The following spring, Frankel spent two months hiking 600 miles on the Israel National Trail. On her hike, she carried a children’s book, The Little Prince. It was the combination of this book and these travels that the inspired the singer’s debut album Tame the Fox, released April 25, 2017.

The 6-song release, produced and arranged by Frankel and recorded by Josh Richter, is a beautiful collection of bluesy folk tunes filled with rich tones and rhythms. It features a number of talented musicians such as guitarist and bassist Dave Hildebrand, drummer Robert Rashid and Eddie Ganet on keys.Continue Reading

Q&A: Elle Casazza

Posted on March 13, 2017 by Jessica Braun Gervais in Music, Q&As and tagged Bummer Camp Media, Chicago, Chicago artists, Chicago music, Elle Casazza, Harvest Moon, jazz, Jeff Breakey, Jennifer Hall, Layla Frankel, listen live and local, local music, pop, Proof, q&a, retro pop, Sara Bareilles, Sarah Marie Young, singer, singer songwriter, Sofar Chicago, The Fox & the hOUNDS, Too Bad, tour, You.

Ella Casazza is nothing short of energetic. The Chicago singer-songwriter bounces about her Bucktown home, preparing French press coffee in excitement for the completion of her first full-length album. With its catchy lines and pop melodies backed by her signature full band sound, Proof is everything fans love about Casazza. It’s sassy, organic and unapologetically authentic to the modern retro-ness of Elle.

Of course with a new album comes a variety of other projects for the young musician. In the upcoming months, Casazza has planned an extensive tour, new music videos and the formation of a songwriters’ circle. There seems like so much to do, but Casazza reminds herself to “just keep on keeping on”. At the end of the day, things may feel overwhelming and hectic, but that’s all part of this crazy life of music.