Welcome brothers and sisters, to Episode #31 of INDIEcent Exposure, in which we share new music from, and our conversation with, Halie Loren, who's just released a solo effort, "From the Wild Sky." As if that weren't enough, we also feature tunes from Mikalyn Hay, Paper City Exile, The Slang, He Is Me, Onism EV, CATFOX, Bryan Deister, and Parsonsfield.

* See note on info sources at bottom.

The long-awaited solo project from Halie Loren, "From the Wild Sky," dropped at the end of April. Our obsession with these eleven tracks shows no sign of letting up; photo by Sally Sheldon.

Halie Loren

Check out her Kickstarter story — this is how you do it, baby!

From Halie Loren's bio:

Authenticity and connection have been essential roots of the artistic growth of Halie Loren. Whether injecting the American Songbook with old-school soul, or finding a familiar thread of nostalgia in newly-penned originals, the Alaskan-born, award-winning singer/songwriter continues to find new ways to bridge cultures and musical genres.

INTERVIEW — Listen to the full-length conversation with this player

Halie Loren is truly an international artist. Like her multi-lingual recordings that transcend cultural borders, her art transcends musical genres via a common thread that weaves a rich tapestry. That tapestry connects her original works with pop-smart jazz, flowing into blues, soul and contemporary compositions that are universal, yet deeply personal.

“For the past few years, I have felt more and more drawn to the idea of putting my songwriter self out there in a much bigger way, as a 100% personal form of expression,” explains Loren. “When I write, it's all about the story and the feelings behind it, but never about the particular style in which it takes shape.”

Halie Loren seizes the opportunity presented by her solo release to project some radical honesty, drawing from both personal and observed experience; photo by Bob Williams.

The result is art in an eclectic form, with soulful compositions reflecting wounded defiance, stubborn love and hard-earned hopefulness. Her voice connects to the soul of her song writing, reminding us that there is always beauty to be found, even in the most painful experiences. That powerful personal connection is the driving force behind From the Wild Sky, Halie’s latest and most ambitious album to date. The album, produced by Troy Miller, features 10 original compositions, as well as a stunning rendition of Roberto Livi’s "A Mi Manera."

“The songs on the album speak to some very meaningful, transformational moments in my life, some of which were inspired from experiencing new discoveries, love and deep loss,” Halie says. “It feels like the most risk-taking and honest art that I've ever created, reflecting my spirit and my personal story in a very revealing way.”

Featured in this Episode:Mikalyn Hay • “Devil You Know” • 12:15Paper City Exile • “Watch Your Step” • Paper City ExileHalie Loren • “Roots” • From the Wild SkyHalie Loren • “Well Loved Woman” • From the Wild SkyThe Slang • “Ballad Of Everything” • MixesHe Is Me • “Let It Drip” • singleOnism EV • “In the Sha...