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| Releasing on 6/20 - The Beveled Edges The Beveled Edges debut album, I Guess We're Not Alone is the debut creation of songwriting and performing duo Shelly Bhushan (vocals) and Anthony Lanni (7-string guitar). Approached with a similar mindset of bringing together their respective unique musical journeys, Shelly and Anthony combine Soul, Jazz, Pop, World and Brazilian/Latin music, to create a collection of beautiful songs which deftly span a wide range of styles, moods, and storytelling. Think of their sound as a 2025 transcontinental voyage meets the laid-back elegance of the 1960s, weaving an intricate sonic tapestry for your ears. The listener is treated to Shelly's gorgeous and soulful vocal melodies riding on Anthony's highly syncopated and energetic guitar rhythms, as he weaves 7-string bass lines in-between the vocal phrases. The duo is joined by drummer and percussionist, Arei Sekiguchi, where he delivers dynamic and driving grooves that add to the character of each song, propelling the energy forward. Additionally, a variety of unique arrangements are layered throughout the songs to lift emotions and command attention. Each track presents beautiful rhythmic variety which at times seem to mimic traditional progressions yet are approached in pop-like song form conciseness. The Beveled Edges' original songs are emotionally profound and intricate, exploring themes of love, loss, and the human experience through sound and lyrics. "Autumn Fell" is a melancholy bossa nova, featuring a lush wall of flute harmonies. "At The End of The Day, " is a lovely bolero, complemented by seductive Latin percussion, a haunting horn section, along with a surprising 60's vocal harmonies on the bridge. The opening song, "Amarillo, " begins Acapella, swelling into a lush tango of heavenly strings and mandolins helping to articulate the idea of lost love. The Beveled Edges can be quirky as heard on their title track, "I Guess We're Not Alone": a samba with 7-string guitar baixaria and alerting vibraphone, which tells a story from the late 1800s about a supposed Martian UFO crash in Aurora, Texas. The soulful "I'll Be There For You" cements undying devotion over a punchy 6/8 groove, accompanied by melodically moving organs and uplifting vocal harmonies. "Paris Isn't Paris Without You" takes the listener on an American in Paris, late night stroll along the Rue de Rivoli, serenaded by a Parisian accordion. The ballad, "Fade Into The Sky" slowly rides along with a meditative rhythm, atmospheric percussion, and somber trumpet. Menacing flutes and piano ornament the new Italian folk song, "Down The Stairs" which recounts a dark cautionary tale accentuated by wailing vocals and falling bass lines demanding the listener to heed its warning. The love song, "Never Too Late, " is a straight-ahead jazz swing tune that feels like a new standard, with bluesy vocals, walking bass lines and playful organs. It all started on a cold winter afternoon in New York City. Shelly Bhushan was out for a stroll when she spotted her friend Anthony Lanni on a run. Shelly had just returned from a trip to Paris and had written a song that felt different from her usual "soulful singer songwriter" vibe. The song was jazzy, nostalgic, melancholy and almost from another era. She wasn't sure what to do with it, but she knew it was special. Shelly had known Anthony for a long time and was a fan of his musical projects that focused on Samba and Jazz (Os Clavelitos). She mentioned she wanted to develop her song further and wondered if he might be interested in working on it with her. He agreed to collaborate, and just like that, The Beveled Edges was born. Anthony and Shelly began writing with a simple plan: create a quick 3-song EP, just the two of them—nylon strings and a soulful voice. After releasing that, they would return to focusing on their other projects. But as they continued, the ideas kept flowing, and what started as a fleeting project evolved into a musical exploration, unencumbered by genre or boundaries. With their debut album, I Guess We're Not Alone, you hear two people bringing together unique musical journeys—full of experiences, ideas, and influences—and fusing them into something new. Shelly's melodic, soulful vocals, Anthony's years of honing rhythmic Brazilian/Latin rhythms created a new space for beautiful songs. At first listen, you're struck by something both familiar and unfamiliar. The Beveled Edges take you on a sonic journey, transporting you to different moments in time, different places and spaces. Listeners are delighted by the stories told in each song, with clever lyrics and turns of phrase. Anthony's skillful 7-string nylon guitar covers so much ground—the vibe, the bass, the rhythm, the constancy. And Shelly's vocals thrill and excite with power and movement coloring every beautiful note with emotion. Their original songs are emotionally profound and intricate, exploring themes of love, loss, and the human experience. Songs like "Amarillo" and "Paris Isn't Paris Without You" shine with strong melodies and heartfelt lyrics about love. "I Guess We're Not Alone" tells a cheeky, true story about an alien encounter in Texas from the late 1800s. "Down the Stairs" is a dark and resolute new Italian folk song about finding peace in tragedy, and "I'll Be There for You" spins an icy world warmed by companionship. These are just a few of the standout tracks on The Beveled Edges' newest album. Sonically, The Beveled Edges can best be described as a rich fusion of Latin, Brazilian, Soul, Jazz, Pop, and World Music. They are blending their diverse musical and cultural influences together to create a melodic and rhythmic landscape all their own. The songs and arrangements are deeply influenced by Shelly's connection to Choral, Pop, R&B, Blues, and Soul music, while Anthony brings his love of Brazilian, Italian and Latin music, building guitar arrangements inspired by these traditional sounds. Their debut album I Guess We're Not Alone, also features a variety of other instruments helping to accentuate and bring each song to life: strings, mandolin, accordion, organ, flute, and more. Think of their sound as a 2025 transcontinental voyage meets the laid-back elegance of the 1960s, weaving an intricate tapestry of the world around us. Together, their unique sound is a tribute to their personal musical journeys, shaped by a shared sense of sonic freedom carving out a space on the beveled edge of music, free to shape their artistry and forge a deeper connection to the world around them—resulting in truly beautiful songs. Anthony Lanni, born and raised in Detroit to Italian and Italian American parents, was exposed to traditional Italian music as a child, but did not pick up a musical instrument until later in life. In his teen years, he immersed himself in listening to British New Wave, Goth, and Industrial music; but over time, his musical tastes evolved. While studying math and computer science in college, he picked up his very first instrument, mandolin, and resurfaced old recordings of Italian songs, often featuring Latin rhythms. He then took up learning classical guitar via private lessons and was soon exposed to jazz and the music of Antonio Carlos Jobim…the beauty of the rhythms and melodies of Brazilian music felt intoxicating to him. After moving to New York City after college, Anthony decided to dive deep into learning Brazilian music on guitar, often creating his own solo guitar arrangements of traditional bossa nova, samba, and baiao tunes. As he began writing and composing music, Anthony created music with the melodies, harmonies, and rhythms that felt beautiful to him…a world where he wanted to belong; while blending the sensibility and dark, melancholic undertones of new wave music that spoke to him in his early years. As band leader of samba band, Os Clavelitos, Anthony co-produced and co-wrote the band’s album, “Arriving”, which debuted at #1 on the Roots Music Report Top 50 World Chart. Shelly Bhushan was born and raised in Texas to a Mexican mother and an Indian father—both hardworking, down-to-earth individuals making their way in America. While her parents weren’t particularly musical, there was always music playing at home or in the car. Shelly’s love for songs evolved into a deep passion for music, and it became something she excelled at. She joined the school choir and quickly became a highly competitive singer, making a name for herself while learning to embrace her gift. Shelly moved to Austin, to attend college. There, she started making money as a singing waitress and also fronted a prominent swing band (One O’Clock Jump). It was in Austin that Shelly truly found her voice, diving into old-school funk and soul, jazz, and blues. However, Shelly felt a calling for something more. She set her sights on New York City, moving there with nothing but a one-way ticket and two suitcases. In NYC, she made a name for herself fronting a soul-rock band that gained national attention (Live Honey). When the band fell apart, she began developing her own musical project (Shelly Bhushan), quickly garnering recognition and accolades not only for her powerful vocals but also for her evocative songwriting and melodies. Music has always been Shelly’s sanctuary—a place of purpose, culture, and where she truly found a sense of community. Shelly Bhushan: vocals (Shelly Boo-shawn) Anthony Lanni: 7-string guitar, mandolin, keyboard vibes & organ (Anthony L-ah-nni) Arei Sekiguchi: drums and percussion (R.A. Seh keh gucci) Haruna Fukazawa: flute (Hah-ROO-nah Foo-kah-ZAH-wah) Tosh Sheridan: piano (Tosh SHERR-i-duhn) Brad Whitely: organ (Brad White-lee) Garry ianco: strings (Ga-ree e-awn-koh) Alejandro Berti Delgado: trumpet (A-leh-han-droh Bear-ti Del-gah-doe) Ric Becker: trombone (Rick Beck-er) Jeremy Powell: saxophone (Jer-a-me Pow-well) Will Holshouser: accordion (Will Holes-howser) Artist: The Beveled Edges: Album: I Guess We’re Not Alone Label Name: Detrallas Records Street Date: June 20, 2025 Add Date: June 23, 2025 Website: TheBeveledEdges.com write your comments about the article :: © 2025 Jazz News :: home page |