Premiere: Tracy Shedd Shares New Video For “Chasing Time”

[Repost from Under The Radar Magazine; by Caleb Campbell, October 25, 2021]

Featured on Luz de Vida II - A Compilation to Benefit Homicide Survivors, Coming November 5th via Fort Lowell Records

With six albums under her belt, prolific indie rock singer/songwriter Tracy Shedd returned this month with her first new music of the year, her single, “Chasing Time.” Her new track is also featured on the upcoming benefit album, Luz de Vida II. The first record began as a benefit for the January 8, 2011 shooting that took the lives of six people and injured 19 others, including Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. For the 10th anniversary, the same team of Tucscon writers, engineers, musicians, and artists are releasing a second compilation album, this time benefiting Homicide Survivors and JFCS of Southern Arizona.

Shedd shared the track last week and today she’s back with an accompanying video, premiering with Under the Radar.

Shedd’s offering for the benefit is a slice of sweetly melodic indie pop, colored by washes of watery synths and electronic percussion. It’s soft and reflective, yet also sports an undeniable melodic core, making for an unexpectedly heartfelt earworm. Lyrically, the track is fittingly empathetic and hopeful, searching for the good in the world in spite of all the surrounding pain一“We can give, give, give more than we receive / We can love love love / More than we hate / And we can be / It’s all inside of you.”

Shedd says of the song and project, “Music heals, and it’s an honor if I can ever have a part in that healing. I wrote this song in perspective of what a survivor might feel, being the loved one left behind.”

Check out the video below and watch for Luz de Vida II - A Compilation to Benefit Homicide Survivors, coming November 5th via Fort Lowell Records. You can also support the fundraiser here. You can also pre-order the record or enter in an online raffle and auction with a variety of prizes, including a turntable hand-painted by Dr. Dog’s Scott McMicken.

Live concert photographs of 'Luz de Vida II' artist, Juarez

OUT NOW: Tracy Shedd "Chasing Time" [Digital Single]

The forth single from the Luz de Vida II: A Compilation to Benefit Homicide Survivors titled "Chasing Time" by Tracy Shedd is out now and available on all digital music platforms.  Listen to the song below, and then CLICK HERE to pre-order Luz de Vida II on vinyl through Zia Records, or the Digital LP via Bandcamp and receive the first four singles today. All proceeds raised from Luz de Vida II album sales will go toward services for advocacy, support, and emergency assistance for families impacted by homicide provided by Homicide Survivors, Inc.

CLICK HERE TO PRE-ORDER LUZ DE VIDA II NOW

KXCI Radio features 'Luz de Vida II' as Album of the Week

Tune into KXCI Radio's The Homestretch every day this week (Oct 19-22) at 3:20pm MST/PDT each day as Hannah Levin features Fort Lowell Records' new album Luz de Vida II: A Compilation to Benefit Homicide Survivors as their Album of the Week!

LISTEN TO KXCI RADIO NOW

Hannah Levin of KXCI; Photo by Rick Wiley of AZ Daily Star

Arizona Rockers Juarez and Others Honor Homicide Survivors 10 Years After the Tucson Gun Massacre

[Repost from Rock and Roll Globe; by Ron Hart, October 7, 2021]

The Rock & Roll Globe is proud to premiere the latest single from the forthcoming benefit album, which also includes material from Calexico, Dr. Dog, Amos Lee and more

The original Luz de Vida project began in the days after the tragic January 8, 2011 shooting that killed six people and injured 19 others, including Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords in Tucson,  Arizona.

It was the some of the first shots fired in the bloodiest, deadliest decade for domestic terrorism in American history–a direct result of Washington allowing the crucial 1994 Assault Weapons Ban to lapse, giving any moron with a gun license through ability to buy the very semiautomatics white people were so afraid of when cats like Biggie and Onyx were rhyming about them in the early-to-mid 90s.

VIDEO: Gabby Giffords and Mark Kelly appeared on NBC’s Today ten years after her near-fatal shooting

And while the massacre at that Safeway plaza–which included the killing of a nine-year-old girl–no doubt shook the entire nation, it primarily] rattled the local Tucson community. Days after the tragedy, a coalition of local and national music acts came together to form the Luz de Vida project, raising over $20,000 to provide aid and comfort to the victims and their families via what was then called the Tucson Together Fund (it is currently known as Tucson’s Homicide Survivors, Inc.)

The original Tucson Together Fund ceased in 2013 and since then, funds have been donated to Tucson’s Homicide Survivors, Inc. For the 10th anniversary of the tragedy, members of the original Luz de Vida production team (a coalition of Tucson writers, recording engineers, musicians, and artists) are partnering with Homicide Survivors and JFCS of Southern Arizona to release a second compilation record. Again, featuring Tucson and national artists and released on Fort Lowell Records, Luz de Vida II will be released in November to coincide with the All Soul’s Procession, an annual community ceremony in celebration and mourning of the lives of our loved ones and ancestors.

Dig the tracklist:

1. Calexico — “Wash (La Luz Brillante)”
2. Tracy Shedd — “Chasing Time”
3. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah — “Thousand Oaks (Luz de Vida)”
4. Juarez — “Ghosts in the Room”
5. L’Orange — “A Rich Life & Longing”
6. Dr. Dog — “Loneliness”
7. Gabriel Naïm Amor — “La Nuit Pour Nous Deux”
8. Acorn Bcorn — “Scraps”
9. XIXA — “Crystal Road (Luz de Vida)”
10. The Resonars — “It’s the Same”
11. Hannah Yeun — “All That Matters is the Wind”
12. Soda Sun — “Grape Juice”
13. Amos Lee — “El Camino (Solo Acoustic)”

Ahead of the November 5 release of Fort Lowell Records’ compilation album Luz de Vida II: A Compilation to Benefit Homicide Survivors, we are honored to premiere the new single from the album, the Crimson-esque rocker from Tucson’s own Juarez entitled “Ghosts in the Room” accompanied by its video featuring the stunning animation of Rudy Flores.

100% of proceeds from the record will go to Tucson’s Homicide Survivors Inc, a non-profit organization that’s helping meet the crisis and long-term needs of families of murder victims through support, advocacy, and assistance.

Preorder the album here.

VIDEO: Juarez “Ghosts in the Room”

Video Premiere: Juarez – ‘Ghosts in the Room’

[Repost from New Noise Magazine; by Keegan Williams, October 6, 2021]

The latest video from Luz de Vida II – A Compilation to Benefit Homicide Survivors, a new album from Fort Lowell Records, Juarez have released their new video for the track “Ghosts in the Room.”

The album features artists spanning a variety of genres, and all of the proceeds from the record will go to Tucson’s Homicide Survivors Inc, a nonprofit organization that works to help meet the crisis and long-term needs of families of murder victims through support, advocacy, and assistance.

The Luz de Vida project began in the days following the January 8, 2011 shooting that took six lives and injured 19 others. Luz de Vida is Spanish for “Light of Life” and acts as an expression of community, love, healing, grace, and hope, a positive response from Tucson musicians and national artists.

Juarez was founded in 2007 in a Tucson dive bar by Dana Fehr and Michael Sanger, combining their love of metal, creative songwriting, and guitar riffs and eventually rounding up the missing links: Thomas Beach and Johnnie Munger. They disbanded in 2011, though the band are currently working on mixing and mastering tracks they recorded back in 2010, including “Ghosts in the Room.”

The album will be released on November 5, coinciding with the All Soul’s Procession, an annual community ceremony in celebration and mourning of the lives of our loved ones and ancestors.

Watch the video for “Ghost in the Room” here:

OUT NOW: Juarez "Ghosts in the Room" [Digital Single]

The third single from the Luz de Vida II: A Compilation to Benefit Homicide Survivors titled "Ghosts in the Room" by Juarez is out now and available on all digital music platforms.  Listen to the song below, and then CLICK HERE to pre-order Luz de Vida II on vinyl through Zia Records, or the Digital LP via Bandcamp and receive the first three singles today. All proceeds raised from Luz de Vida II album sales will go toward services for advocacy, support, and emergency assistance for families impacted by homicide provided by Homicide Survivors, Inc.

CLICK HERE TO PRE-ORDER LUZ DE VIDA II NOW

Soda Sun's "Grape Juice" joins Calexico and Amos Less in 'Luz de Vida II' Compilation

[Repost from PopMatters; by Jonathan Frahm, September 22, 2021]

Tucson’s Soda Sun contribute their heartfelt folk tune, “Grape Juice”, to Luz de Vida II: A Compilation to Benefit Homicide Survivors.

Luz de Vida—or, “Light of Life”—was music’s response to the 8 January 2011 mass shooting that claimed the lives of six and injured 19 more, including Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Featuring acclaimed artists like Neko Case, Jimmy Eat World, and Brian Lopez, the compilation album gathered national attention and raised more than $20,000 to benefit the victims and their families.

A new iteration of Luz de Vida is on the horizon. Due 6 November via Fort Lowell, the project’s full name is Luz de Vida II: A Compilation to Benefit Homicide Survivors and benefits Tucson’s Homicide Survivors, Inc.

Its release date falls in line with the city’s All Souls Procession weekend and the tenth anniversary of the 2011 shooting. The album is made in partnership with original members of the Luz de Vida production team, Homicide Survivors, Inc., and JFCS of Southern Arizona. The album boasts 13 tracks once again recorded by both Tucson-based and nationally acclaimed artists including Gabriel Naim Amor, Calexico, Amos Lee, and rising indie rock outfit Soda Sun.

Following the release of their debut LP, this is Soda Sun’s second major release of 2021. “Grape Juice” is the tune that they are contributing to the fundraiser. Calling back to John Goraj’s roots as a South Dakota singer-songwriter, “Grape Juice” is more of a stripped-back folk affair than the textured rock that the band has become known for. Goraj’s sweet vocals step front-and-center, joined by subtle acoustic performances—gentle percussion, a pulsing bassline, and reflective guitar.

The group say that “‘Grape Juice’ is a new iteration of an old song that John wrote when he lived in South Dakota. It’s about relationships — all kinds. It’s about the feeling of being connected to someone and the feeling that you don’t deserve that love. Which, of course, is never true because we all deserve love. It’s about letting someone love you in spite of seemingly countless flaws. There is also a humble underpinning of the song related to one of John’s jobs as a healthcare worker in his early 20s. Anyone who has worked in healthcare knows that there is always a fridge of goodies, drinks, and snacks for the patients — the theme of grape juice plays into that.”

Regarding Luz de Vida II, they state, “We were asked to be involved, and are so happy to be a part of it. Luz de Vida is an important, meaningful project that speaks to what musicians have always done: standing up against hate, bigotry, and violence.”

Luz de Vida II: A Compilation to Benefit Homicide Survivors is a fundraiser. All proceeds raised from Luz de Vida II album sales will go to Homicide Survivors, Inc. to provide services for advocacy, support, and emergency assistance for families impacted by homicide. The album is available for digital pre-order on Bandcamp, and vinyl preorder via Zia Records.

OUT NOW: Soda Sun "Grape Juice" [Digital Single]

The second single from the Luz de Vida II: A Compilation to Benefit Homicide Survivors titled "Grape Juice" by Soda Sun is out now and available on all digital music platforms.  Listen to the song below, and then CLICK HERE to pre-order Luz de Vida II on vinyl through Zia Records, or the Digital LP via Bandcamp and receive the first two singles today. All proceeds raised from Luz de Vida II album sales will go toward services for advocacy, support, and emergency assistance for families impacted by homicide provided by Homicide Survivors, Inc.

CLICK HERE TO PRE-ORDER LUZ DE VIDA II NOW

SONG PREMIERE/LP Announcement: Tucson’s Gabriel Naïm Amor Displays Jazzy Regional Flair On “La Nuit Pour Nous Deux” Off ‘Luz de Vida II: A Compilation To Benefit Homicide Survivors’

[Repost from Glide Magazine; September 7, 2021]

Benefit albums often truly dont get their due: 2009’s Dark Was The Night for instance that featured a plethor of original music from Bon Iver, Beiurit, Cat Power, Spoon & more, while raising a million and a half dollars for AIDS relief. Maybe its the mixture of artists or they arent sexy on vinyl, but nonetheless, its about time these compilations get a revisit and the new ones get rightfully examined. The southwest area has a new one on tap, that blends a unique balance of regional musical flavors and experimental indie bands that include Calexico, Dr. Dog, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and Amos Lee.

Luz de Vida II: A Compilation To Benefit Homicide Survivors is out November 5th on Fort Lowell Records. Vinyl release in partnership with Phoenix, Tucson, Las Vegas area based Zia Records. 100% of proceeds will go to Homicide Survivors, Inc. In conjunction with the album’s announcement, Glide is premiering the jazzy overtones of  Gabriel Naïm Amo’s “”La Nuit Pour Nous Deux” (below). The song featuring Calexico‘s drummer, John Convertino, who is also Gabriel Naïm Amor’s drummer, radiates with a lo-fi warmth and stunning simplicity that conveys an enlivening mood soundstrack. With a mix of Latin, rock and jazz, this benefit album provides a kaliedoscope of signicant genres for the purpose of an even more meaningful benefit. 

The original Luz de Vida project began in the days after the January 8, 2011 shooting that took the lives of six people and injured 19 others, including Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, and shook the Tucson community and nation. Luz de Vida – Spanish for Light of Life – is an expression of community, love, healing, grace and hope, a positive response from Tucson musicians and national artists. More than $20,000 was raised to provide aid and comfort to the victims and their families.

The original Tucson Together Fund ceased in 2013 and since then, funds have been donated to Tucson’s Homicide Survivors, Inc., which has a mission to help meet the crisis and long-term needs of families of murder victims through support, advocacy, and assistance.

For the 10th anniversary of the tragedy, members of the original Luz de Vida production team (a coalition of Tucson writers, recording engineers, musicians, and artists) are partnering with Homicide Survivors to release a second compilation record. Again, featuring Tucson and national artists and released on Fort Lowell Records, Luz de Vida II will be released in November to coincide with the All Soul’s Procession, an annual community ceremony in celebration and mourning of the lives of our loved ones and ancestors.

The original record sleeve included a quote from composer Leonard Bernstein, his November 1963 response to the assassination of President Kennedy, and Luz de Vida II continues in the same spirit: “This will be our reply to violence: to make music more intensely, more beautifully, more devotedly than ever before.”

Homicide Survivors Inc. is a non-profit organization that’s helping meet the crisis and long-term needs of families of murder victims through support, advocacy, and assistance.

PREORDER Luz De Vida II

LUZ DE VIDA II TRACK LIST: 

1 .Calexico — “Wash (La Luz Brillante)”
2. Tracy Shedd — “Chasing Time”
3. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah — “Thousand Oaks (Luz de Vida)”
4. Juarez — “Ghosts in the Room”
5. L’Orange — “A Rich Life & Longing”
6. Dr. Dog — “Loneliness”
7. Gabriel Naïm Amor — “La Nuit Pour Nous Deux”
8. Acorn Bcorn — “Scraps”
9. XIXA — “Crystal Road (Luz de Vida)”
10. The Resonars — “It’s the Same”
11. Hannah Yeun — “All That Matters is the Wind”
12. Soda Sun — “Grape Juice”
13. Amos Lee — “El Camino (Solo Acoustic)”

Dr. Dog Share New Song “Loneliness” from Homicide Survivors Benefit Compilation: Exclusive

[Repost from Consequence of Sound; by Ben Kaye, September 7, 2021]

Luz de Vida II: A Compilation to Benefit Homicide Survivors also features Calexico, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, and more

As part of a new compilation benefiting the family members of homicide victims, Dr. Dog have shared a previously unreleased song called “Loneliness.”

The track is featured on Luz de Vida II: A Compilation to Benefit Homicide Survivors. Ten years ago, Tucson, Arizona and the nation were shaken by a mass shooting that claimed the lives of six and injured 19 others — with Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords amongst the latter. In response, Fort Lowell Records launched the Luz de Vida benefit project, with 100% of proceeds going to aid and comfort survivors through the Tucson Together Fund. Now, to mark the 10th anniversary of that tragedy, they’ve put together a second charity compilation.

Due out November 5th to coincide with Tuscon’s All Soul’s Procession community ceremony, Luz da Vida II features contributions from Calexico, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, L’Orange, Amos Lee, Tracy Shedd, Juarez, and more. In what could be one of their final releases ever, Dr. Dog also added to the comp with “Loneliness.” The song is being exclusively premiered today, and you can stream it [here].

Pre-orders for the limited edition Luz da Vida II vinyl are going on now through Zia Records. Again, 100% of proceeds will benefit Homicide Survivors, Inc., which provides families of murder victims with support, advocacy, and assistance. (Proceeds from the 2011 compilation have been going to Homicide Survivors, Inc. since the Tucson Together Fund closed in 2013.) Find the artwork and complete tracklist ahead.

In addition to the album, a Luz da Vida pop-up silent auction will take place on Friday, September 10th. Featuring collaborations with U-Turn Audio and local artists, the auction will feature custom designed turntables and speakers. There’s also a raffle that includes a deck painted by Dr. Dog’s own Scott McMicken; check out his design below. Other items include Tucson-based activities, artwork, and more. You can bid in person between 5:00-9:00 p.m. MT at the MSA Annex, or online via DonorView.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO DR. DOG'S "LONELINESS" NOW

Luz de Vida II: A Compilation to Benefit Homicide Survivors Tracklist:
01. Calexico — “Wash (La Luz Brillante)
02. Tracy Shedd — “Chasing Time”
03. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah — “Thousand Oaks (Luz de Vida)”
04. Juarez — “Ghosts in the Room”
05. L’Orange — “A Rich Life & Longing”
06. Dr. Dog — “Loneliness”
07. Gabriel Naïm Amor — “La Nuit Pour Nous Deux”
08. Acorn Bcorn — “Scraps”
09. XIXA — “Crystal Road (Luz de Vida)”
10. The Resonars — “It’s the Same”
11. Hannah Yeun — “All That Matters is the Wind”
12. Soda Sun — “Grape Juice”
13. Amos Lee — “El Camino (Solo Acoustic)”

OUT NOW: Gabriel Naïm Amor "La Nuit Pour Nous Deux" [Digital Single]

The first song from Luz de Vida II: A Compilation to Benefit Homicide Survivors titled "La Nuit Pour Nous Deux" by Gabriel Naïm Amor, featuring Beth Goodfellow, John Convertino of Calexico, and Thøger Tetens Lund of Giant Sand is out now and available on all digital music platforms.  Listen to the song below, and then CLICK HERE to pre-order Luz de Vida II on vinyl through Zia Records, or the Digital LP via Bandcamp and receive the first single today. All proceeds raised from Luz de Vida II album sales will go toward services for advocacy, support, and emergency assistance for families impacted by homicide provided by Homicide Survivors, Inc.

CLICK HERE TO PRE-ORDER LUZ DE VIDA II NOW

Happy Birthday to Ryan Trayte of Saywells Designs

Ryan Trayte of Saywells Designs, graphic designer for Luz de Vida

New Benefit Compilation Album Announcement

Fort Lowell Records is proud to announce the release of Luz de Vida II: A Compilation to Benefit Homicide Survivors, featuring brand new music from Amos Lee, Dr. Dog, Calexico, L'Orange, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Tracy Shedd, XIXA, Gabriel Naïm Amor, Hannah Yeun, The Resonars, Soda Sun, Acorn Bcorn, and Juarez! 100% of proceeds go to raise money for Homicide Survivors, Inc.. Out November 5, 2021 on 12inch vinyl record [in partnership with Zia Records] and all digital platforms. Stay tuned here for more information to come in the months ahead!

Amos Lee

Dr. Dog

Calexico

L'Orange

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah

Tracy Shedd

XIXA

Gabriel Naïm Amor

Hannah Yeun

The Resonars

Soda Sun

Acorn Bcorn

Juarez

Luz de Vida II: A Compilation to Benefit Homicide Survivors