Music
Press
Borne: Folk Pop well suited for television or film Projects.
Borne
Ghengis Cohen
Los Angeles
Contact: Alicia Yaffe, 818-269-7198: alicia@ridemanagement.com
Web: www.borne-music.com
The Players: Michael Mewborne, lead vocals, acoustic guitar; Chen Neeman, electric guitar; Evren Edler, bass; Andrew Meskin, drums.
Material: Borne performs singer/songwriter-driven folk-pop that has a touch of soul. The mostly mid- to up-tempo tunes rely on catchy vocal melodies over consistent and, at times, infectious rhythms. The songwriting is capable and polished, resulting in material that is easy to listen to.
Musicianship: Mewborne is a captivating vocalist and a competent guitarist. His voice is reminiscent of a post-Wham! sound. He has a George Michael feel with a range that evokes Justin Timberlake minus the urban slant. Neeman, Meskin and Edler serve Mewborne's songs more than adequately, showcasing Mewborne's writing and performance with just the right touches. Neeman's guitar solos add chemistry to the mix; Edler's bass lines deliver the right punch; and Meskin's steady box-beats offset the lack of a full kit [in this acoustic setting].
Performance: It took a few tunes for this group to warm up, until a cover of STP's "Interstate Love Song" served as the turning point about mid-set. Once the audience started singing along and the band had their full attention, the crowd began tapping their feet and nodding their heads. This made the second half of the set much more engaging.
Mewborne allowed his natural charisma to seep into the perfomance, giving his originals drive and emotion. Unfortunately, he remained seated the whole time. Nonetheless, the audience called for an encore, and the band replied with an energetic cover of The Police's "Message in a Bottle," which was well received.
Summary: Mewborne's material appears to be well suited for television or film. If that is his goal, then he's on the right track. In a live setting, he and his band seem to please the crowd. But, if they want to be remembered after the curtain falls, then Mewborne must work on his songwriting until he finds that undeniable hit.
- Lauri Shaw - Music Connection Magazine
Discography
1. BORNE - Self-Titled, SEP Records, copyright 2005
2. Apart From Within - Michael Mewborne, SEP Records, copyright 2004
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
With a fresh, self-titled album, BORNE is again subtly seducing southern California with its uniquely memorable pop/rock sound. Lead singer Michael Mewborne demonstrates more of his substantive vocal ability in his second release from indie label SEP Records. The broad influences of the band members have combined to create a unique pop sound that separates them from other artists in the same pop/rock genre. The band’s pop rock sensibilities are a homage to the popular bands of the last few decades such as Sting, The Police, John Mayer, Jason Mraz and the Dave Matthews Band.
BORNE has been busy this summer reinforcing their solid adult-contemporary album. This two-year-old quad from Los Angeles, CA, has been gigging constantly in the region. They have opened for Los Lobos, The Smithereens, Shawn Mullins and Brian VanDerark of the Verve Pipe. San Diego television recently aired a 30 minute special on their rise. Live recordings and studio cuts have been spun on various indie radio and internet stations throughout the U.S. and the UK. Their growing internet presence is also impressive. You can hear them on Yahoo's Music Engine, iTunes and CD Baby as well as their own site, www.borne-music.com and their myspace site www.myspace.com/borne.
Beyond that, lead singer Michael Mewborne recently co-produced a short film that has been collecting accolades throughout the festival circut. The film "The Receipt" won "Best Comedy" at the 2005 Los Angeles International Short Film Festival in September. It also won the audience choice for "Best Film" at the Breckenridge Film Festival in September. The film features a remix of Michael's song "I'm a Mess," from his debut album, Apart From Within.
BORNE is available for booking through their manager Alicia Yaffe at Ride Management who can be reached at (818) 269-7198 or by e-mail at: Alicia@ridemanagement.com.
Links
