Saturday, June 11, 2016

Jesse Donovan of Circles and Sounds releases albums 'Acoustic Roses' and 'Too Close for Comfort'


The virtuoso composer and musician known as Jesse Donovan has released a pair of albums titled “Acoustic Roses” and “Too Close for Comfort.” Like Donovan's popular YouTube channel and other pursuits, these records are being proudly published on the Circles and Sounds independent record label outside the direction and control of the corporate music industry. These two records are closely related in that each is a solo project by the Circles and Sounds artist, but they are written and performed in entirely different styles. Showcasing vision, imagination, and sharply honed writing and performance skills, “Acoustic Roses” and “Too Close for Comfort” stand as reasons for listeners to pay attention to anything Jesse Donovan produces.

Jesse Donovan of Circles and Sounds cites as main artistic influences a surprising mix. These include the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Rush, the Decemberists, Death Cab for Cutie, and Kamelot – each of whom are suggested in his “Too Close for Comfort” record; but also great composers such as Chopin, Beethoven, Shardad Rohani, John Williams, and Hans Zimmer – names which may spring to mind when listening to Donovan's own “Acoustic Roses.”

This dichotomy is key to understanding the work of Jesse Donovan and his Circles and Sounds collaborative effort, which has been described as “a new multimedia-faced entertainment endeavor between himself and his wife, Kara.” Donovan's music invokes feelings from all over the emotional spectrum, even at the extremities. He is often able to achieve this even within the constraints of a single composition or song.

Speaking of his new records, Donovan writes, “These albums feature performances hosted in the music videos on our 'Circles and Sounds' YouTube channel. For 'Acoustic Roses,' I selected some of my favorite piano pieces out of those that I've composed over the past 15 years. It was a journey to arrive at this collection, and I want to share that journey with my listeners – love stories, elation, romance, passion, conflict, dissonance, resolution, etc.”

This contemporary classical record is remarkable enough to stand proudly on record shelves beside some of the world's greatest composers. Fans of piano by Chopin, Beethoven, Bach, Tchaikovsky et al
are likely to appreciate “Acoustic Roses” by Donovan.

His “Too Close for Comfort” album, startlingly, is a roaring American rock record.

“I selected some of my favorites from songs I've written for guitar and vocals that will take the listener on a path through the throws of love, beauty, brokenness, loneliness, dreams, hopefulness, and more,” writes Donovan. “[My records] are both, I suppose, a combination of truth and fiction that have risen out of many years of composing, performing, writing, storytelling, and – ultimately – living.”

Jesse Donovan has been playing piano since the age of four. He switches between guitar/vocals and piano regularly and has performed in both capacities all across the United States. His current official bio lists his experience at piano and drums going back 25 years, 17 years at guitar, bass and singing, and more than two decades performing live onstage. He is a session musician in addition to his work as a composer for both professional and amateur media productions.

“Acoustic Roses” and “Too Close for Comfort” are available from over 700 digital music retailers online worldwide beginning 18 May 2016.

-S. McCauley
Lead Press Release Writer

Acoustic Roses” and “Too Close for Comfort” by Jesse Donovan –


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