Lee Gilbert Shares Emotive Single, ‘Soldier On’

Hot on the heels of the release of his latest album, ‘Take Me As I Am,’ and sell out show at the Parc and Dare Theatre, Rhondda, Welsh performer, singer and now songwriter LEE GILBERT has shared his new single waiting to be embraced by the listeners entitled ‘Soldier On’.

This emotional, multi-layered, Pop song was co-written between Lee and a new international songwriting collaboration called The Grand Cru. The Grand Cru includes… ex Jesus Christ Superstar lead, Steve Balsamo (who’s written for Slash, Meatloaf, Cliff Richard) and ex member of The Story’s and Balsamo/Deighton. Also on ‘The Cru’ is multi-award winning Welsh singer/songwriter Darren Parry, who’s a former UK Songwriting Contest winner, Billboard, Unisong, ISSA and USA Song Of The Year award winner (who’s co-written with The Korgis, Dan and Laura Curtis and others). In addition, the fourth member of ‘The Cru’ is Florida based Bonnie Skop, whose family has a long history in music; including her Dad managing Ted Nugent and Bob Seger in their early days.

As for Lee… he needs no introduction in the Welsh music scene; he is an acclaimed singer /actor. His 25 year career has spanned from Theatre, Radio and TV work which runs alongside his music career. As an actor Lee has performed in Musicals, Drama and Comedies, credits available via Spotlight. As a singer he has produced two other studio albums, ‘Just One Voice’ and ‘All of Me’. He performs in Theatres and venues around the UK and Europe as a solo performer or as front man with a 17 piece Big Band. His stage show ‘That’s Life’ is a full 2 hr extravaganza of music and dance. He is a regular performer of cabaret in London’s West End Cabaret venues and throughout the country, with other regular appearances in Greece and Switzerland.

Lee says… “The new song ‘Soldier On’ was written via Zoom during the lockdown periods, initially for a Hollywood film. Unfortunately, due to lockdown restrictions in the US and some problems the film did not go ahead (for now anyway) but the song still remains”. Lee says… “we dug into our own emotional well’s for this song. We wanted to express the struggle that people go through in overcoming adversity in everyday life, how they soldier on. Written long before Ukranian conflicts, this song now has a new meaning due to that we suppose but the song is hopefully universal in its message, it’s about rising above problems to a better place, it can mean different things to different people”!

Listen to Lee’s Gilbert’s ‘Soldier On’…

OUT TODAY: Listen To Darren Parry’s Single, ‘Unconditional Love’

Hot on the heels of his summer ear worm track, ‘Summer Of Love’, multi-award winning Welsh, singer/songwriter DARREN PARRY returns and treats us to a stunning ballad entitled ‘Unconditional’.

Darren says of the meaning behind the latest single… “If you describe something as unconditional, you mean that the person doing or giving it does not require anything to be done by other people in exchange or return”.

‘Unconditional’ was co-written with ex Jesus Christ Superstar lead Steve Balsamo (who’s written for Slash, Meatloaf, Cliff Richard and who also co-wrote Darren’s summer track ‘Summer Of Love’) and one of Wales’ top vocalists/performers, Lee Gilbert.

The single was written via Zoom during the lockdown periods, initially for a Hollywood film, which featured a 12-year-old-boy saying a tearful farewell to his father. Due to lockdown restrictions in the US, the film did not go ahead – but the song still remains!

So without further ado, it’s time to listen to Darren new heartfelt single below…

Darren Parry Shares Feel-Good Single, ‘Summer Of Love’

Multi-award winning singer/songwriter DARREN PARRY comes along with a chirpy summery single, Summer Of Love, the perfect antidote for those summer days ahead, leaving behind the tough times many have experienced during the pandemic. The sultry Country/Rock number is co-written with (and features) ex Jesus Christ Superstar lead, Steve Balsamo (who has also written for Slash, Meatloaf, Cliff Richard).

Both have attracted much success over the years. Darren’s achievements include… 2004 UK Songwriting Champion (beating 6000 entries from around the globe), 2014/2016 USA Song Of The Year runner up (judges included Gwen Stefani, Don Henley and Phil Collins), 2019 ISSA Awards International Male Vocalist Of The Year and multiple other awards from Billboard and Unisong, to name but a few! Darren has co-written songs with hit songwriters like James Warren (The Korgis, “Everybody’s Got To Learn Sometime”), Dazzle Music (Charlotte Church) and many others.

Steve Balsamo is known to many for portraying Jesus in Lloyd Webber’s Jesus Christ Superstar, forming the band The Story’s (who supported Elton John and Celine Dion) and being one part of Balsamo/Deighton. Steve has also co-written songs for Slash, Meatloaf and Cliff Richard, as well as releasing his own sweet Americana/Country/Pop blend of songs as a solo artist.

Check out ‘Summer Of Love’ below…

Song of the Day: No Speaking – Juice Menace

Continuing to make serious waves whilst only a few singles deep, Cardiff-hailing rapper JUICE MENACE unveils her latest track ‘No Speaking’.

With a self-assured and assertive 2020 so far that’s seen an impressive run of singles, the young rapper ups the ante once again on this up-tempo, quintessentially drill production. Complete with all the bass, bounce and flex, Juice shows off her rap dexterity, delivering sharp lyricism, mean flow and an unwavering aggressiveness as she is boastful about being about her business.

Involved in multiple aspects of her craft, Juice developed the treatment of the video herself and ‘No Speaking’ positions her not only as a talented creative but also a leader of an artist with the confidence and demeanour to reach the upper echelons.

Check out the official video for Juice’s ‘No Speaking’ below…

Song of the Day: U Gd? – L E M F R E C K

South Wales native L E M F R E C K continues to carry the torch for his hometown, by delivering his single ‘U Gd?’

‘U Gd?’ finds the rapper treading a percussion-led backbeat uplifted by an overarching guitar riff. He sets the tone for the track ahead, then proceeds to inflect the steady instrumental with his slightly accented bars that he delivers with great confidence and caution.

Reflecting the lyrical inspiration behind the track; which complies a number of references from a turbulent romance to the daily grind, the music video for single shows L E M F R E C K roaming the streets at night, getting up to no good.

Growing up, he was heavily inspired by the exciting buzz and growth of UK urban scene. After the realisation of the vast under-representation of his country within the genre he decided to take matters into his own hand. Fuelled by the disparity he began to build on the musical foundations built while producing in a local church, where his father was the pastor.

Eager to explore and experience the scene first hand, the rapper remembers frequenting cities like Bristol and London to soak up the Pirate Radio culture. Now a fully formed producer, the artist takes on a new skill… the art of wordplay. Watch out for the L E M F R E C K, he has a lot more to deliver this year….

Check out the video for ‘U Gd?’ below…