This week's Artist of the Week is Dayna Lane from Nashville, TN.  Dayna's  first single "I'll Keep Believing" from her debut Vialex Records album was just recently released to radio.  The album will be coming out very soon, so check it out! 

Originally from Chicago, Dayna is a very down to earth girl with a great voice.  Think Jewel, with a little more grit. :)   She always has a smile on her face, and has a truly great heart.  Check out her new video that was just posted today!  Dayna has opened for several big artists (Jewel, Tim Reynolds, Taylor Dane, and more) and is going to be doing some limited touring soon, so stay tuned to her website at daynalanemusic.com to find out dates. 

Preview a couple of tracks from the new album on Dayna's myspace or her website. 

This week's Artist of the Week is someone I found out about through Twitter - Chris Blake.  Chris first caught my attention when someone posted a link to his video for "Someone Else" on Twitter.  I watched the video and was immediately hooked.  The whole thing was fantastic - the music, the lyrics, and especially the video concept.  In case you haven't seen it, Chris googled "biggest regrets" on the internet, and posted the responses he found in this video.  The responses are funny, serious, and some even sad.  Whenever I'm having a bad day, it definitely picks up my spirits.  To date, the video has received nearly 80,000 views on YouTube.

Shortly after, I started following Chris on Twitter.  His posts can be random at times, but definitely thought provoking and interesting.  After listening to some of his other music, I decided to download his most recent full length album Wave from iTunes.  I listened to the whole album and loved it!  I sent Chris a message on Twitter and told him I had downloaded the album and loved it, to which I got a reply of "Really?" :)  I'm not sure if he was more shocked that I liked it or that I downloaded it, but either way, Chris seems like a very down to earth, nice guy.  The music is catchy and has a great vibe.  It's very easy to get lost in the tunes and start tapping your toes (or even breaking out some sweet dance moves).  Chris' vocals can rival some of the biggest artists out there and the musicianship on the album is very tight throughout.  The music is very heart-felt, and makes you realize how much Chris puts into his work.

Chris recently sent me his new EP Tetris.  The music on the new EP is equally as good as the tunes on Wave.  I encourage you all to go listen to the album on Chris' Myspace and purchase it when it is available. 

Chris has really impressed me with his approach to being an idependent artist in today's music world.  It is a strange time in music, and Chris appears to be a model to follow for any idependent artist out there.  He is active in social networks, cranks out a lot of music, and really cares about building relationships with people that take an interest in his work.  Not only does he put out great music, but he also utilizes a lot of other unique marketing tools, such as his videos.  Chris puts out a good amount of videos, and all are very well done.  From coming up with creative concepts for videos such as "Someone Else" to more traditional videos such as "Phantom Love", he utilizes tools that all artists have at their disposal.  I won't give away all of Chris' secrets, but there are very cost effective ways to make unique videos that grab peoples attention. 

Take a look at Chris' Myspace to listen to some of his tunes and check out his videos.  Then buy some of his music, and support a great independent artist!

This week's Artist of the Week is a good friend of mine, Patrick Davis.  I first started talking with Patrick about four years ago.  He is a cousin of another friend of mine, and I started working on getting Patrick out to Colorado to play some shows.  We were trying to figure out a good time to bring him out from Nashville, but hadn't found the right time/show/location yet.  Then he called me and said he would be in Denver to open for Hootie and the Blowfish in two weeks at the Paramount Theatre. 

I went to that show, and had one of the most amazing concert experiences I've ever had.  Patrick is a singer/songwriter with a heavy southern rock and blues influence, with a little country thrown in the mix.  He opened the sold out Denver show (2000 people) playing a solo acoustic set.  He has an amazing stage presence that captivates the audience, not to mention his music/voice are spectacular themselves.  His songs are very heart-felt, and really pull people in.  By the end of that set, the entire audience was on their feet giving him a standing ovation.  It was the first time I saw a solo opening act completely steal the show from a pretty well known act.  As soon as he stepped off the stage, he sold every single CD he had brought out with him (about 75 CDs) before Hootie could even take the stage.  I grabbed my laptop and started burning CDs for him, which he continued to sell at $15 each.  For those that bought the burned CD, he promised to mail them a real CD as soon as he returned home. 

In addition to being a great entertainer, Patrick is one of the nicest, most down to earth musicians I have ever met.  Always willing to help out where he can, and never forgets who makes it possible for musicians to do what they love - the fans.  About two years ago, Patrick signed a publishing deal with EMI, and has been writing non-stop ever since.  He has written with a ton of big names in Country, Rock, and Pop.  Some of these artists include Jewel, Robert Randolph, Pat Green, Matchbox 20, Mat Kearney, Jason Michael Carroll (who currently has Patrick's song "Where I'm From in the Top 40 on the Country charts), and many more.  Patrick still plays shows in the Southeast, and will probably return to more touring in the next few years. 

If you're ever in the Southeast, check out one of his shows and say hello.  In the meantime, check out a few of his tunes at his Myspace - www.myspace.com/patrickdavismusic.  Keep listening, and let me know if you hear something I should check out!

Here we go with the first installment of my Artist of the Week feature!  The feature band this week is Castaneda from Los Angeles.  I first learned of Castaneda when a good friend of mine joined the band as their new drummer.  I recently received their new EP "So This is What We're Gonna Do", and love it!  The EP is filled with great vocals, excellent harmonies (not often seen in a rock band), big guitars, and driving beats.  They have a sound that can definitely stand above most of the filth that is out there these days.  Castaneda's musical diversity comes across in the songs on the EP, with the variety of sounds/styles.

The band's music has been featured on numerous movies, video games, and TV shows, and they aren't even signed!  I have a feeling that might not be far off.  I expect to see big things from these guys over the course of the next year or so.  At the moment, their touring is limited to Southern California.  They will probably branch out further in 2009.

Although their new EP is great, it was actually recorded before the new drummer joined the band.  The drummer, Mike Schneider, is hands down one of the best drummers I have ever seen perform live.  I am very excited to hear what these guys sound like with Mike in the band.

Check out their myspace at www.myspace.com/castanedaband, and buy their new EP!  If you're in Southern Cali, definitely go check out their live show (and let me know what you thought).