Vancouver, BC soul/funk/blues artist Ivan Hartle is gearing up to release “Shine,” his latest single which drops onto your favorite streaming platforms tomorrow. Following up from both his “Feelin’ Like” and “More To Find” singles from last year, “Shine” sees Hartle (guitars/vocals) team up once again with good friend Matt Storm (drums/bass/backing vocals) to write and compose this feel-good number, with Storm also handling the production duties at Orchid Studios. Mastering the single is Grammy Nominated engineer, Greg Mindorff (Buckman Coe, D.O.A.) at Suite Sound Labs, both sharing the same Powell Street address in their home city of Vancouver.
Enjoy the light, breezy-more-than-bluesy guitar rings that open “Shine,” before Matt’s minimalist funk-groove bass lines introduce Hartle’s smooth, soulful vocals. The music embraces the full spectrum of blues, funk, and soul, also dipping a little into Roots-Americana at times, but no single influence is at all dominant. Ivan cites soul legends such as Sam Cooke and Otis Redding as some of his influences, along with contemporary blues/soul artists Leon Bridges, Amos Lee, and Gary Clark Jr., and craftily blends a cocktail of their sounds and styles to add to his own musical identity, and distinct brand of guitar-driven, cross-genre/cross-generational presence.
With a catchy guitar riff that sets the tone, and a melodic hook that lures you in, it is the upbeat nature that allows “Shine” to be equally at home in a smoke-filled backroom blues bar, as it is on a small make-shift stage tucked away in your favorite coffee shop. “You’re goin’ all the time / And you know that it’s a crime / Better turn in on a dime / Cause you’re shuttin’ out the shine / You’re shutting out the shine / Yeah you are, yeah you are, yeah you are.” Clocking in at 4:18 in run time, I implore you now to pre-save this track, and take five glorious minutes once “Shine” hits your digital platform tomorrow and subconsciously wander some downtown Vancouver streets, losing yourself in Ivan’s sweet soul grooves. Highly recommended listening.
The British guy that crossed the ocean and crash landed in central Pennsylvania (to quote Greg Keelor, “And I wonder what am I doing here?”). As the youngest of four siblings, exposure to music from a very early age nurtured my passion and appreciation for many musical genres. Continuing to discover some amazingly diverse and talented musicians based in Canada, I gravitate to live music experiences and remain devoted to spreading the word about such a vibrant music scene.
