The Nesting Bio

Nesting is nature returning to its natural state. A homecoming. Through particles of equation, Jesse Payne and the talented group of musicians and engineers working with him have sculpted an image of what nesting may sound like. The sound of strategic calmness through its progression towards the unconditional post-war is an audiopainting of the notion, “through chaos, peace is inevitable.” The theory that the limbs of cycle spin continuously towards rehabilitation of dirt and bone provide the album with its contagious tendancy for repeated listening.

Jesse Payne stems from a soil deep in the Southeastern region of the United States. He nests within scenic views of trees and mountains blending into valleys of skyscrapers and barns. Canvas for his yellow shade of timeless polaroids transposing over lake and swing suggests an inheritance of owls and their nocturnal solitude. His sound and sight each born from a landscape of heavy cotton hands and autumn chairs.

Habitation of the past four years has given three previous releases from Jesse Payne. The first being a collection of songs entitled, “Humming the Tunes of Luxury” released on November 2, 2004. Shortly after, Payne released his follow-up EP, “Ghosts in Mirrors” in 2005. During the next two years he found himself touring the eastern coastal region as far north as Boston and as far west as Chicago. Upon returning to his home in early 2007, Jesse Payne delivered the EP, “Songs from Beyond the Leaves,” which earned him a spot in The Big Takeover’s Top 40, alongside Band of Horses, Death Cab For Cutie, and Willie Nelson. His song, ‘Thief Among Us,’ also found its way on national compilations that included artists such as Ryan Adams and Sondre Lerche.

His latest LP (Nesting) being released on August 15, 2009 has brought with it, not only his past story but a familiar feeling embedded into unfamiliar sound. Jesse Payne’s haunting melodies breathe across untraditional instrumentation and military rhythm of a mathematical mind.

Jesse Payne’s team of sonic painters include optical biologist Mason Boyd, mental dendrologist Nick Timkovich, audio botanist and wave manipulator Mike Creager, and geopolitical environmentalist Noel Johnson of the renowned musical group, The White Oaks.

“Nesting” is an album that asks to be enjoyed with headphones and limited illumination.

-Jackson Trimm
Silent Crow Records

Jon Black is easily one of the south’s best kept secrets… until now. Over the past two years he has shared the stage with Alejandro Escovedo, Ani DiFranco, Mark Kozolek, and many more; won a songwriting award for My Days Are Numbered and travelled by plane, train, and automobile to share his music with anyone willing to listen and engage.

Goodbye Golden Age, releasing on Rebuilt Records, is the much-anticipated follow-up to his 2006 release, The October Sky. Recorded over the span of a year in Oxford, Mississippi at Tweed Recordings with Andrew Ratcliffe (Will Hoge, Blue Mountain, The Damnwells) and DOMUS Studios in Cumming, Georgia with Paul Reeves, the arsenal of players on the record is stunning. Mixed by Andy Hunt (Glen Philips, Derek Webb) and Mastered by Matt Odmark from Jars of Clay, Goodbye Golden Age shows that Jon is growing in his artistry and that his comparisons to Jackson Browne, Ryan Adams, and Jay Farrarr are not in vain.

With the sonic backdrop of Americana music, Black’s latest album dives deep into capturing the loneliness of the road, the hope of things to come, and the inspiration found at the end of your rope. Goodbye Golden Age is both an album of searching and finding, an honest display of fears in an uncertain world and a joyful reaction to following dreams, a friendly greeting and a quick punch to the gut. He says, “There’s music you listen to at the moment and there’s music you listen to forever. I really wanted to dig deep and give people something they could listen to when they need a reminder that most doubts, fears, joys, and triumphs are shared between all humans. Existence is hard but I’ve made it through with the help from some great artists. Hopefully this will inspire others to keep going.”

If you want to know what a growing artist looks like and what happens when an artist is honest then look no further. This artist in Birmingham, Alabama is truly on the verge of becoming an important songwriter in the south and in modern Americana music.

“Jon is an amazing story teller. His words paint a picture as his melodies give pure heartfelt emotion. Each song took me to a new place and I loved every minute of it.” – Andy Hunt

“…Black elevates his music to another level.” – Mike Trobiano from The University of Tampa Minaret

“The eclectic nature of this collection, as well as the solid songwriting and Black’s clear, strong singing voice, is reminiscent of Lyle Lovett’s style…not a small feat. And, boy can Black hold a note – check out ‘Mouth Of The Moon’ as evidence. Don’t let this guy pass you by.” – WayCoolMusic.net

“Black is a skilled songwriter and performer and here he shows off his talent across a range of styles.” – Americana UK

Alex’s most recent efforts center around a beat-up parlor guitar and southern-based lyrics and chord structures….and filming geeky optometry videos (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwcwpi1Pzn8).

Chase Butler is a Birmingham-based singer and songwriter who spends most of his free-time holed up in a bedroom recording music. “There’s something about recording and producing your own stuff that helps keep the original personality and soul of a song intact,” he commented, “you work on your own time whether it is nine at night or four in the morning–the freedom is unlimited…until the people below me hit their ceiling with a a broomstick in frustration.” He views songwriting as a conclusion to a lot of premises, “life has a lot of open-ends and tangles, songs help to organize.” He aims to be passionate, honest, and timeless in what he concocts as a musician in the hopes of producing something original and meaningful. “I can remember as a ten year-old sitting at a piano and playing Fur Elise by Beethoven–not so well, I might add–for one of my mom’s friends. She started crying and I had no idea why at the time, but later on in my life the memory resurfaced and I came to this conclusion: there is great power in stringing together notes. Hearts are moved and the soul is encouraged…a good song can never die. Every person has a soundtrack to their life, and my goal is to make loud my own in hopes of connecting paths with someone else.” Chase tries to play where he can, whether it is a local bar, coffee shop, music venue, or church.

Mollie is a songwriter, piano teacher/performer, and supporting guitarist.

Many Sunday mornings you can join her in song at her home church, Shades Valley Community. Look for Mollie in Black & White and Birmingham Weekly for performance schedule.