Featured Artist of June 9, 2022
with the            : The Nieto Sessions


Artist's Biography

American Beauties is an original independent folk-rock band from Boston, Massachusetts. The music is reminiscent of the West Coast folk-rock bands of the late 1960s and early 1970s and mixes both contemporary and roots influences. Their debut full-length record Too Worn To Mend (2012)received radio airplay on over 160 college and independent radio stations in the US and Canada and charted in the CMJ Top 30 on ten stations; reaching No. 1 at NPR-affiliate WVIA 88.9 in Scranton, PA.

Sound of Mind is American Beauties sophomore release and includes 11 original songs written by singer-songwriter-guitarist Michael Gray. The songs reflect on our human quest for love and stability in the wake of life’s unrelenting demands and tackle difficult subjects such as mental wellness, gun violence, and strained relationships. The first single “The Rain” conveys empathy and encouragement to those who suffer from loneliness and depression. “Passionate People” speaks to the collapse of American discourse perpetuated by our politics and media. With rich guitar driven melodies, layered harmony vocals, and songs that ring nostalgic while conveying modern sounds and themes, American Beauties has been likened to CSNY, The Byrds, Fleetwood Mac, and more contemporary artists such as The Jayhawks, Wilco, and The Shins. 

The record was mixed and recorded by three-time Grammy Award winning engineer Ducky Carlisle (Buddy Guy) at Ice Station Zebra in Medford, MA and was coproduced by Carlisle and Gray. The album was mastered by Nate Wood (Felice Brothers, Esperanza Spaulding) at Kerseboom Mastering in Brooklyn, NY. Several Boston-area musicians are featured on the record who represent some of the City’s finest stage and studio performers. American Beauties have opened for national recording artists Amy Ray (Indigo Girls) and Radney Foster (Foster and Lloyd) and play local clubs and festivals around Boston, New England, and the Northeastern United States. 


About the Album

American Beauties sophomore release includes 11 original songs written by singer-songwriter-guitarist Michael Gray. The songs reflect on the human need for love and stability in the wake of life’s unrelenting pressures and tackle difficult subjects with an overriding theme of hope. The first single “The Rain” was written at a time when many close friends and family were going through difficult times and became a song of empathy and encouragement for them to find their footing. The record was released to college and public radio on June 6, 2023 and is available for streaming and downloads on digital music platforms worldwide.

Featured Artist of June 18, 2023
with the song: The Rain


Artist's Biography

American Beauties is an indie folk-rock band whose sound is reminiscent of the west coast folk-rock bands of the late 1960s and early 1970s.

With rich guitar driven melodies, layered harmony vocals, and songs that ring nostalgic while conveying modern sounds and themes, American Beauties has been likened to CSNY, The Byrds, The Jayhawks, and Wilco.

 Their sophomore release "Sound of Mind" has been 10 years in the making and will be released to college and public radio on June 6, 2023.

The Rain is the first single off the record and conveys empathy and encouragement for those who suffer from loneliness and depression.

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