Souvenir Stand #5 - Only Talkin'

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I'm sure you'll forgive this little Beautiful Strange update. A couple of weeks back my little label released its fourteenth release and one of my favourites (I'd probably say that about every one to be honest), Surprise by Souvenir Stand.

The 7" released features two brilliant new tracks from New Jersey's Stephanie Cupo (hopefully you've already heard "Fall). This post is to bring you up to date with the releases' flip side "Only Talkin'", a concise, infectious, perfect pop single that you should be playing whilst getting ready to watch American Horror Story Freakshow...
Freaky clowns... eek!

Both tracks can be streamed and the 7" purchased via Bandcamp now (US via Stephanie here).

Souvenir Stand #4 - Fall

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I'm sure and hope you'll forgive a little blog about a song that is being released through my own label, Beautiful Strange. Souvenir Stand was originally an organic blog discovery, as long ago as June 2012 and since there's been a cassette tape EP release (the wonderful Days) and now this, a new two track 7" single called Surprise, it is due at the end of the month and available to pre-order now via Bandcamp.

"Fall" sees Souvenir Stand, primarily the work of New Jersey's Stephanie Cupo, shed some of the sugar and spice and all things nice allure that shone through Days for a darker, more grown-up, Twin Peaks' esque mystique. I won't go on, I've never been one for excessive self-promotion but it's a belter, I'm sure you'll agree.

Listen below and any support you may like to give Stephanie and this release, would be greatly received.

Souvenir Stand #3 - Christmas Waltz

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A couple of Christmas themed posts before taking a well earned rest and where better to start than with Souvenir Stand, since I first featured the New Jersey indie pop 60s-inspired singer/songwriter here in June 2012 I've been fortunate enough to be involved in the release of her brilliant debut EP Days on cassette tape via Beautiful Strange and you may be excited to know there's more where that came from next year with a 7" single planned.

This track is a demo cover of "Christmas Waltz" that Stephanie put on her soundcloud last year, that doesn't stop me posting it now, her beautiful, sweet-hearted vocal delivery lends itself perfectly to a seasonally themed song and there can't be many better tracks to have on your mix-tape whilst you're wrapped up warmly on rug waiting for Santa to come down the chimney.

I try to avoid overblown praise of Beautiful Strange artists so I'll shut up there and let the music do the talking below...

Souvenir Stand #2 - Days

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Not for the first time writing this blog has led to me working with an artist I've previously covered with praise via my primarily labour-of-love independent label/events name of Beautiful Strange, when I wrote about Stephanie Cupo's Souvenir Stand project last June little did I know I'd be involved putting out her debut physical release some nine months later, it's taken a while to get here but today saw the debut of lead track from the four track EP Days via Impose Magazine (a release which brings together Stephanie's Days I've Spent With You EP with new track "Wherever You Go").

I've said before but I don't think it's cool to overly praise things you've got a vested interest in, the fact I'm helping release it is proof of my love for the music in itself, so I'll let other blogs add critical praise to this release and will instead just point you the way of the accompanying "Wherever I Go", which you can find below.

You can order the limited edition orange cassette via the Beautiful Strange Bandcamp and get "Wherever You Go" now. Eternal love will be yours!

Souvenir Stand - New Music "Introducing"

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Hello Friday, I'm very glad to see you, it's been a long, hard week. My weekend starts with this slice of gorgeous, care-free nostalgia from New Jersey's Stephanie Cupo, her brief bandcamp bio gives a more concise introduction than I could manage so here it is, 'a classical saxophonist gone indie pop 60s-inspired singer/songwriter', Stephanie, who records under name Souvenir Stand (with the help of some studio musicians) is here to brighten up your day.

To stop this post getting too long, I'll focus this post on her debut release, a three track EP 'Days I've Spent With You' which is available to download via Bandcamp for free (with a load more demo and cover tracks up on Souvenir Stand's soundcloud to stream and fall in love with). As I've already adhered to, Souvenir Stand is sugar and spice and all things nice, Stephanie's vocals bear an instant adorable charm, her soft and dreamy voice will send your heart all fluttery while the yesteryear melodies are effortlessly precise and pretty (I'm a sucker for fluttering keys it seems). The fit is perfect with the rose-tinted memories re-collected on the title track "Days I've Spent With You".

"All I Want To Know" and "We Will Have Our Day" similarly shine with timeless sweetness, understated instrumentation and pure, beautiful vocals. Though undeniably light and hardly ground-breaking (though really, what is), Souvenir Stand should be one of your summer hits, spread the word.