MP3 of the week: Jackie Levitt
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- Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/jackielevitt
- Musical style: downtempo electropop, trip hop vibes
- Sounds like: Portishead, Sneaker Pimps, Olive
Jackie Levitt is an unsigned Mookychick from NYC who does truth and ethereal yet funky vocals over addictive lo-fi urban dance beats. Her work is New York, but would fit in well with the slew of trip hop bands that came out of Bristol, UK, with its mixed-up bpms, slow beats, and evocative melodies.
Jackie's music on her myspace page is pretty lo-fi - she says herself, these are rough tracks she's got on display and sale - but there's a kind of floaty special craziness going on there. Think pretty, strong, gentle urban beats with a hint of sugarpop, cool melodies... and the ethereal yet sensual vocals draw you in while tapping into the sound of British trip-hop bands like Portishead and Sneaker Pimps.
The Mookychick eds were pretty happy to have Jackie's tracks (available to hear/buy on her myspace page) as they worked late into the night. They had a moody, introspective quality - down to strong-delicate lyrics and a cement-solid talent for well thought-out melodies.
And the lo-fi quality to the tracks (which Jackie points out are in their rough state) does them justice. This is one sound that really works in a state that isn't over-produced - it's gritty and delicate at the same time.
So who in the name of the God of Signed Bands is Jackie Levitt?
Hailing from Boston, Jackie began her music career when her mother pushed her to take piano lessons at 8. After quitting for a few years she found herself drawn back to the keys. She resumed training as a classical pianist.
More and more influenced by 70s classic rock/folk, 80s hip hop/pop, and early 90s pop/rock/r&b she started writing songs at 16. She idolized strong powerful female singer/songwriters. From 2005-2006 she attended the pretigous Berklee College of Music, focusing on songwriting.
A self-proclaimed music-obsessed nerd, she is now back in NYC producing her own beats and vocals and taking her songs to a whole new level - meanwhile creating a hot unique sound for 2007 and beyond.
Jackie says: "Berklee was an amazing environment - it was great to be surrounded by people who are passionate about what I love. But I felt the need to come back to New York. The energy is so inspiring, and it's what I need right now in my life."
Jackie Levitt has played out in smaller New York City venues and will be performing in New York City and Brooklyn in the near future.
You can listen to and buy her tracks on http://www.myspace.com/jackielevitt
Her message to other Mookychicks out there: stay rad.
More free, legal, downloadable MP3s from Mookychick:
ALTERNATIVE, NEW WAVE, FOLK, PINKFLUFF RETRO, BURLESQUE |
NOISE-POP, PUNK URBAN, DANCE |
Want to suggest an MP3 of the week?
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Post their link on the Mookychick music messageboard and we'll do what we can to track them down and host them as MP3 of the week. Thanks for your direct action xxx
Disclaimer: To the best of our knowledge we only ever source mp3s from music blogs who are featuring the mp3s available for download legally. If you're a user and the link isn't there any more, we're sorry - it must have been a time-sensitive link, and you missed your chance for a free download. If you're a band and you don't like us hosting links to your mp3s, it doesn't matter if it's legal or not - we want to support you, so we'll take it down. Spread love, not fear.
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