Rootz Undergound, a Jamaican reggae outfit making waves in America, loves to say they’re big in France. But that’s not the guys tooting their own horns, it’s true. This Caribbean based band has a vast fan base over all over Europe and the Europeans love them back. This could be because of Rootz Underground’s sophisticated approach to the evolution of a band, building itself from the ground up to one that headlines festivals for a gang of sweaty youth, or because of its subtly message-heavy performances that, according to guitar player Charles Lazarus, are guaranteed to win you over.

Like most reggae artists, Rootz Underground is a band with a conscience. We caught up with Charles Lazarus while he was on holiday in Miami after the band’s July west coast tour, in anticipation of a soon return to the Sunshine State, and talked about trees and how Eastern Europeans are late musical bloomers.

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Your votes have been counted: Simplified is your BeatCrave Fav for the Month of July!

The Charlotte, North Carolina-based band has a lot up their sleeves, not only in the way of genre but along the lines of heart, drive, and staying power. It’s these qualities that caught our attention and earned them a place in our BeatCrave Fav series, as well as our readers and their fans. Truth be told, what’s not to like: their down-to-earth persona and penchant for playing live goes well with their appreciation for their fans and vice versa. And these days, sometimes it really doesn’t matter how good you sound (although that helps); it’s the quality of music for the sake of making music, for the sake of one’s audience that sticks just as much. Naturally, Simplified is made of such good stock.

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Your votes have been counted and Joy Valencia is your BeatCrave Fav for the month of July!

Joy Valencia is a veritable Jill of all trades when it comes to making music. As a singer, songwriter, producer, musician, and co-writer (among other designations, we’re sure), there seems to be nothing that she can’t, doesn’t, or won’t do. It’s this type of hands-on approach rarely seen in other artists that appeals Valencia and her overall style to us and her fans. It is also an approach so genuine and deeply ingrained within the her process of music making that it can be sensed almost automatically when listening to any given set of tracks bearing her name.

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Vanessa Carlton became reclusive for two years, and during those two years she turned to Richard Adam’s Watership Down and Stephen Hawking’s Brief History of Time for inspiration. Vanessa entered the pop scene in 2002 with her debut album Be Not Nobody. But nearing thirty, she felt lost.  Luckily, Vanessa made her way to Real World Studios in Box, England and began recording her new, mostly-instrumental music directly to tape.  Her writer’s block quickly receded; she proceeded to create the dreamy and evocative 10-track album Rabbits on the Run.  Now, Vanessa tells us about her upcoming fourth studio album Rabbits on the Run as well as some advice, philosophy, and how her music has evolved over the past decade. Check out our exclusive interview with Vanessa Carlton below.

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You voted Y LUV as your BeatCrave Fav of the Month of May! Garage indie rockers Y LUV consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Freddy Janney, lead guitarist and vocalist Sam Nardella, bassist and vocalist Luke Hanna, and percussionist Marcello Dubaz. They released their debut album, So I Play, in 2010, and their sophomore EP How Chill Can You Let Go? in April 2011. Check out our interview with Freddy Janney, who tells us about meditation, crocheting, and Y LUV’s summer plans, below!

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You voted My Satellite as your BeatCrave Fav for the month of April! The LA based band has been enhancing the music scene with their ambient, dreamlike alternative rock music that paves a unique path through the contemporary LA scene. We got to pick the brain of Bryan Stage, the musical genius behind My Satellite, and find out some answers to our most burning questions (from influences to dream patterns… its all here!). Check out our exclusive interview with My Satellite below:

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You voted for Jason Spooner as your BeatCrave Fav for the month of March!  The contemporary, folk and blues trio from New England consists of their namesake, Jason Spooner, on guitar, vocals, and harmonica, Adam Frederick on bass and vocals, and Reed Chambers on drums and percussion.  All three members are award-winning musicians, and combining Jason’s folk and blues sound with Adam’s jazzy style and Reed’s knack for funk and reggae produces a fresh, energetic sound that is highly-praised.  In 2002, they released Lost Houses, followed by sophomore album The Flame You Follow in 2007, and their most recent album, Sea Monster, late last year.  They regularly play at festivals and music conferences, have appeared on NPR and the Food Network, and have won a line of songwriting competitions along the way. Check out our exclusive interview with Jason Spooner below…

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Your votes have been counted and The New Regime is your BeatCrave Fav for the month of February! Twenty-two-year-old Ilan Rubin has a very impressive resume inside and outside of his solo venture, The New Regime, which he took on and subsequently launched in 2007. The former Lostprophets drummer has experimented with instruments since he was in single digits.

Before reaching pre-teen status, the San Diego, California native claimed a spot in the Guinness World Book of Records for youngest musician at Woodstock and was named “Best Undiscovered Drummer Under the Age of 18″ by Modern Drummer Magazine, only to tackle and tame the guitar, bass, and piano (classically) since. Rubin also toured with Nine Inch Nails during their farewell tour with Jane’s Addiction in 2009. (We told you it was an impressive resume.)

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Last Days at the Lodge was released mid-2008, on a hot summer day. Since, Philadelphia native Amos Lee has consistently been touring, and working on his forthcoming record Mission Bell. The talented singer-songwriter has toured with superstars like Bob Dylan, not to mention he came up under the beautiful Norah Jones — but this winter Lee will tour to support his fourth record which includes famed artists Willie Nelson and Lucinda Williams (among many more).

Lee’s musical talent is very much like those he tours and collaborates with. His voice is like chicken soup for the soul, and his unique musical style has created a new genre of modern R&B. Lee talked to me about Mission Bell, collaborating with Calexico, and performing with Zac Brown at 2010′s CMT Artists of the Year, check it out…

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