The Roosevelts, Sarah Simmons

The Roosevelts
The Roosevelts lead singer James Mason muses on the birth of their name: “It was Presidents’ Day. It was our first day in the studio. We had the songs, but we didn’t have a name. There were two of them, and two of us. – I like to think they would have been fans of our music.”

As one half of the electric duo along with lead guitarist Jason Kloess, the two brothers – in song, not blood (though maybe beards) – carved a distinctive niche on the renowned live music scene of Austin, Texas, before their recent move to the music industry’s “third coast” – Nashville, Tennessee. Together, the songsmiths cultivated a sound that’s a little bluesy, a little bit folky, and a little bit rock ‘n’ roll. Sure, there’s some mandolin in there, but most importantly, it’s just heartfelt, genuine music that belongs to them alone, not any genre. When forced to give it a name, the boys will tell you it’s “harmony-driven American rock with a 70s sensibility.”

Sarah Simmons
One of the most impressive voices on The Voice, Sarah made it to the final eight in 2013 on the fourth season of the Emmy Award winning singing show. Those who saw her only got a glimpse of her true talents, which are on full, confident display on Freedom. Produced by Nashville pro Marshall Altman (Amy Grant, Eric Paslay, Frankie Ballard, Citizen Cope) at House of Blues studio, the album lets Sarah’s unique voice and style shine throughout. The result of her debut album carries with it an emotional honesty and intensity worthy of Adele that also takes advantage of rock’s ability to create epic moments.