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Ted Hovis

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Let It Shine
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Let It Shine
Album:
Released: Sep 26, 2010
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Download new album "Let It Shine" on iTunes »

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"Hovis sings his songs with a strong, pure voice and his words, though hitting on a plethora of emotions, are uplifting and positive. The musicianship is exemplary – Hovis is talented guitarist with a band who are equally adept. The title song is the perfect opening track. A monstrous chorus is embellished by a guitar motif, which would have put a smile on Billy Duffy’s face (circa “Spiritwaker”)."

- Leicester Bangs (UK)


"Each song sounds a little different from the one before it which keeps the album interesting, but there is still a distinct style running throughout the album that should help Ted stand out a little from the pack. Ted's vocals are very high quality and he must be a dream to work with for a producer as his natural ability shines through... Rating: 8/10"

- MyGlobalMind (Australia)


"The title track of this CD begins with a guitar riff borrowed from U2's The Edge and sung with a voice that resembles that of Robert Plant... The semi-acoustic, melodic ballad "Until It Fades" and the closing rock ballad "The Well Has Run Dry" are sung very beautifully and according to our tastes are our where the very best to work on this album can be found."   (translated)

- Rootstime.be (Belgium)



Soaring & unrepentant arena rock, transcendent acoustic ballads, deep and dark bass grooves – all punctuated with a hint of the blues. This is the unique sonic landscape created by Let It Shine, the second solo release from Washington, DC based singer/songwriter/guitarist Ted Hovis.

A guitar driven rock album first and foremost, Let It Shine contains tracks with enough moods and stylistic range to appeal to fans of AAA, classic/retro rock, blues, funk, electronic, and acoustic genres. Listeners who have acts such as U2, Kings of Leon, Radiohead, Jeff Buckley, Led Zeppelin, Soundgarden, Pink Floyd, Massive Attack, Eric Clapton, or major British rock acts from the 70s & 80s in their music library should find a lot to like here.

With a clear and powerful multi-octave vocal range and strong falsetto, Ted’s abilities as a singer and songwriter are complimented by his formidable talents on electric guitar, 6 & 12 string acoustic guitar, and 5 string bass. His music instantly connects with listeners on a visceral level with its stadium sized melodies & hooks, Strat flavored guitar licks, liquid bass lines, and driving rhythms. It then draws them closer with an eloquent and minimalist lyrical style that explores universal themes of personal triumph, love and love denied, redemption and revenge, and the search for purity, inspiration, and truth in an increasingly complex world.

Let It Shine was recorded with certified platinum producer Kevin Gutierrez (Twilight Soundtrack, Johnny Cash, Bret Michaels) at Assembly Line Studios with finishing touches added by mastering guru Bill Wolf to create a rich and truly world class sound quality that holds up well against most any major label release.

All lead vocals, guitars, and bass tracks were performed by Hovis, with Gutierrez adding contributions on drums/drum programming and keyboards. The album also features other-worldly keyboard tracks from classically trained composer Jamie Kowalski and sultry female backing vocals from Jenn Colten on two tracks.

Prior to his latest project, Ted contributed four original songs to the soundtrack for the internationally released independent film "Running Deep" from Invision Films. He also fronted the five piece Ted Hovis Band, opening for acts such as Chris Barron (Spin Doctors) and recorded his first solo CD "Change In Progress", which received enthusiastically positive reviews and airplay on DC101 and other radio stations across the country.

Before that, he played bass in the popular DC area modern rock trio fetiSh, recording two CDs and appearing in major festivals with national acts such as the Violent Femmes, Our Lady Peace, Goldfinger, Marvelous Three, and Local H as well as regional favorites Emmett Swimming, Everything, and the Pat McGee Band. While still in his teens, he played lead guitar in Shoelace Soup, a funk rock quartet who once played on a bill with the legendary Gap Band.

Ted regularly performs live as a solo acoustic artist and considers it a privilege to pass along the music that influenced him in addition to his original material. His set list includes over 70 tunes by great artists such as Led Zeppelin, U2, Radiohead, Kings of Leon, John Mayer, Jeff Buckley, Stone Temple Pilots, Coldplay, The Killers, Dave Matthews Band, Tom Petty, Prince, The Beatles, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Queen, Pink Floyd, The Eagles, Allman Brothers, The Cure, INXS, Bob Dylan, Ryan Adams, Deep Purple, BB King, REM, and many many more...

Comments

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  • Betty P Davidson




    how are u?

    2 years ago
  • Jenn Colten

    Ted, your new tracks sound fabulous! I can't thank you enough for asking me to be a part of your album. If you decide to launch a world tour, I am in. Do you offer full benefits? xoxo Jenn

    2 years ago
  • The Canon Logic

    hey... our album dropped this week! you can grab the first single here for free :) http://bit.ly/bNIl4i -sean

    3 years ago
  • Jenn Colten

    Ted--so great getting to see you play out and about. Here's to many more gigs! xoxo Jenn

    3 years ago

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