Hello and welcome to week 11 of SGL, this week was excruciating torture! Not because there were bad entries or anything, no rather because I couldn't fit all I wanted to into my top 5 selection.

I was shuffling people all over the place and I think I changed my line up at least 9 times, this week has been a real struggle to find where the right balance was. I only hope you can all appreciate that when your entry isn't selected it isn't because it was bad, it's because there are too many bloody brilliant entries some weeks.

It makes things difficult for us, but also absolutely amazing as well - because we get to hear so many phenomenal musicians each week, it really is the best job in the world! You are all so amazingly talented and I wanted to ensure you are all aware of just how much you all mean to us and how much we love your music.

But there can be only ONE mwahahaha....... well imagine that with a really menacing voice lol. All jokes aside I would make you all winners if I could, because you are all amazingly talented musicians and it really is an honour and a privilege to get to hear it each and every week <3

So without further delays, here is my judges top 5 selection for week 11 of SGL!

First Place:

@tarotbyfergus - Sonic Groove Live : Week 11 Like the Reeds(original)

Fergus mate you came out of the gate swinging with this one man, I just adore your music on so many freakin levels. Firstly I love your super unique style, your original compositions are perfectly designed to feature you voice in it's perfect elements.

I remember the first time I really heard you sing an original of yours and I was blown away, when you create music it is naturally stylised to suit you perfectly and you never fail to make it so uniquely yours! I was just hooked from the instant you started and it just kept getting better and better, as always your playing is perfection but for me again as always it was your voice that just stole the show for me.

Your music is the kind that can take you away for a while, it's like going on a journey with you to another place and time. It's fantastic to watch the song evolve as it continues as well, you set the scene sublimely really painting a picture with your words and helping take the audience away with you.

There also feels like there are deeper themes at work, but it's all open to interpretation and open to chance much like life. You have such a dynamic approach as a composer and you have really created a stunning piece of work here, I just can't get enough of it - I have listened to this countless times now and each time I feel as though I notice something new, or can interpret something on a different level.

Now I have been holding off on mentioning this until now, because it really just completely blew me away. For those who listen to this song, pay careful attention to the for lack of a better word the "ooo's". This is what really made this entry phenomenal in my opinion, you do some seriously transcending vocals. I have heard this called several things, I believe it in some way falls within throat singing - but to me I like to think of it as almost singing a chord, you're hitting multiple vocal notes at the same time.

There is a lower note and then an almost harmonic overtone at the same time, I have only recently discovered I can do this (I will be practicing for some serious time before I could do what you did tho). But you are making more than one sound and for most people this seems and is impossible.

It is an amazing talent that takes some serious time to absolutely master, but I just love how you incorporated it into your song. It was so seamless and you transitioned into it beautifully, it really took the song to a whole new level for me and I was already really loving it.

I have loved so many of your songs over the years, but this one is really getting up there now. I may have struggled this week, but once I heard this performance I knew I had my first place sorted! I am so thrilled to have you join us here at SGL, I have missed your music and this just absolutely kicked so much ass! I loved every moment of it and think I will be listening to it for the years to come, can't wait to see and hear more soon <3

Second Place:

@lk666 - Sonic Groove Live Week 11 - Original Country/Folk "Use The Demon"

I am just loving your music mate, you have such a different sound to most of our entrants and I just love it. Most people wouldn't guess it but I tend to mostly listen to metal myself, so just love hearing darker and more emotional music - it also doesn't hurt when the music packs a punch as well.

Now all that said this is a more gentle song for you, in some ways at least. It still has that classic metal feel to me, but its more of a metal ballad - all be it one with a bit of tongue in cheek, I like seeing your humour mixed in with your music and I love hearing your original compositions.

Personally I couldn't stop laughing, I thought this was a classic and just so enjoyable to see and hear. Best line in my opinion at least is "Don't get your panties in a twist, Just let that demon scratch your itch" , just brilliant mate - sums it up perfectly in my opinion.

I love the melancholy tone of the guitar throughout, coupled with your awesome deep vocals. Just really created an awesome sounding song, that tells a story that made me have a chuckle at the same time. Maybe it's my crass Aussie humour but this is up my alley, just another kick ass entry mate I loved it!

Third Place:

@eugelys - Sonic Groove Live | Week #11 | ¿Y cómo es él(ella)? (Cover) by Eugelys

Ohhhhh lovely you did it again, just blowing me away with your stunning vocals of late. It's really been so much fun watching you perform these past few weeks (obviously before as well), but it's like you've really been trying to take things to another level and to be fair you have been succeeding, you've just been phenomenal on every level.

You have this amazing voice I am just a little obsessed with, you have an incredible vocal range and even better your control is just freakin unbelievable. I am in awe when I listen to you sing, its really just incredible and you make it all look just so effortless as well.

I love hearing you so the versatility of your range, hitting some lower notes in this performance. But then you just smash out the high notes as well, it was stunning to hear. There is one moment where you had been singing lower, than you flip into the high and on top of that there's a super stunning vocal embellishment - that just shows the incredible control you have, not to mention the breath.

To pull that off you need so much air, for those who don't know but want to - when to take a breath in a song can be at times really difficult to time and place perfectly, then add a transition from a full low note. This requires an incredible amount of air, you can control it somewhat but to make the sound full it uses breath.

Even more air is required for a flip from chest voice up to head voice, you have a thinner sound but because the higher you go more air is required even though it sounds thinner it can be more air - then just to add more on top of that you have to have plenty of air in the tank left to be able to do vocal gymnastics, let alone the stunning trill you performed in this song.

Just a massive wow on every level, you have an incredible voice and better yet you know how to use it - you make it all look so easy at the same bloody time, which is just incredible. A massive thanks for entering and a hell yes on this song and performance, you are brilliant and I cannot wait for more <3

Fourth Place:

@barski - Sonic Groove Live Week 11 - cover - Bill Conti - Gonna Fly Now - Peter Barski

Now I am not a massive fan of the Rocky films or anything, but you have choosen a rather iconic song and whats better you took it and built upon it. I really love the harmonic tones you've sprinkled throughout, it really adds so much too it and I think I like it better than the over produced original. This adds such a unique and even happier feel to the tune, I just really adore what you'e done with it.

I also love the improvisation, it just really added more depth to the song. I was absolutely hooked the instant I heard it and you really know how to take a song and cover it sublimely, it was just so captivating.

I never knew where it was going and that is so rare with such a well known song, but you made it some what new and fresh by adding these new elements. I love watching musicians do their thing, just take their instrument and effortlessly smash out a kick ass performance.

I couldn't help but bop along with it as you played, I also love the slapping the beat while you play. It's the little things that all come together to create a masterpiece and this to me is one of those entries, you just kicked some serious ass.

I have listened to this countless times now and each time I still can't believe the subtle but awesome additions you have made, it really just shows how much skill you really have. I for one cannot wait to see what else you have in mind for us, I am trying to think of something that might stump you - not cause I want to see you fail, I'm just wondering where the challenge lies for you lol.

You have some serious skills and I am truly in awe of your abilities, especially considering your age. But you just keep doing your thing, it is definitely working well for you so far! Hope to see more again next week, just amazing work!

Fifth Place:

@davidsuarezms - Sonic Groove Live Week 11 - "Primavera" (Original composition on guitar) by @davidsuarezms

Well you just never cease to amaze and impress my friend, you have such a phenomenal gift and to be able to share in your music is just such an absolute honour. I am never sure what you will bring us, when I see your entries - but I always know it will be something truly incredible.... and it was!

I loved reading the little intro to the piece, it's so awesome to hear your thoughts and emotions behind the music. Because without lyrics at can be more open to interpretation, but I have to say with your music it really does speak for itself.

You have this uncanny ability to create emotion from and through sound, it is truly remarkable to watch and behold. I am honestly always stuck just sitting there watching and listening to you as you play, it's as though you're right there playing just across from us.

The sounds of children playing is really insanely perfect with this song, they ebb and flow so well with the music you have created. It really just creates this freaking amazing feel and sound, transporting the listener along with you for the journey.

This is really an incredible composition, I could listen to it on repeat for hours and not grow tired of it. You have created such a dynamic sound that is honestly phenomenal and just so bloody amazing I can't get over it, I feel so damned lucky to have you entering SGL and sharing this amazing work with us.

I want to just close my eyes and be taken away, there is almost a magical element to your music. It is honestly hard for me to find the words I want to explain how brilliant your music is, I have no idea how you are not world famous - it really baffles me that no one has snatched you up, I just can't believe how insane your music is.

I really have to say I am just constantly blown away by the amazing things you create and share with us, I am a massive fan and really cannot wait to see and hear more <3

Honorable Mentions:

This week was so difficult for me, I simply just had to have a couple of honourable mentions and I tried to limit myself otherwise I could see me trying to do reviews for everyone.

@elisonr13 - I Am Happy If You Are

This was just really beautiful, it's weeks like this I wish I had more then 5 places cause someone with an awesome entry always misses out. But I wanted you to know I really enjoyed this performance and I really love the song, I especially love the gentle almost melancholy feel to this song. It just drew me in and kept me hooked, I couldn't help but feel this would work so perfectly in a tragic love moment of a movie. Just awesome and bittersweet <3

@partitura - Vom Himmel hoch da komm ich her

I absolutely adored this entry, I love that you also educate through your performances - it's really refreshing to see and hear. I just loved this performance, yet again so much going on and so much coordination required - on that alone I fear even with practice I would never be able to do this lol. But I can enjoy and appreciate all that goes into a performance like this, you really did amazing with such a complex constantly going piece - it's just a pleasure to watch you play! Also love how happy you are to have smashed it at the end, congrats on a kick ass entry :D

@exoelias - Hero

This week was really unfair for us judges, yet another brilliant example of why 5 isn't enough - but also any more and we would struggle to find a winner weekly, its a vicious cycle lol. But I wouldn't forgive myself if I didn't take a moment to say I just adored this entry, you have such an incredible voice and you know exactly how to use it to it's best effect. I have fast become a big fan of your work and I always look forward to more, especially if I get to hear those awesome vocal embellishments I just can't get enough - your control is just amazing and wow on the those high notes, that's got to be the highest I've heard you go and you smashed it!

Seriously people now do you believe me? I mean what are we judges meant to do on weeks like this, so many amazing entries and we can only pick 5. I mean I know I created the rules lol, so I really shouldn't complain but thing is you see - we do need to reduce cause we just can't have everyone win, even on weeks where it seems impossible to choose.

To me this is the one downside, that we can't have you all win when it's deserved. It's super frustrating as a judge as we never want people to feel as though their music isn't appreciated, but I have to say I honestly feel so lucky to be able to hear and share in your amazing music each and every week.

There's a reason why we created SGL, was because we knew there were amazing musicians on this platform and that they deserve some serious love and attention. I never thought so early on I would be struggling with my selections, week after week but here I am back to my old complaining about how hard it is to choose.

But really to everyone who entered this week, we just had so many amazing performances it was so hard. I wish I could pause time so I could write you all the reviews you deserve, but alas I can't and this week is almost over.

So I had to make some hard choices and I hope you can all understand even if I didn't include you in my review chances are I loved your entry <3 I really hope I can encourage anyone who reads this to go and check out our bloody amazing entrants from week 11, they really stepped things up a notch.

Also I would like to thank the amazing SGL team, @ausbitbank, @isaria, @joseacabrerav, @zipporah, @pechichemena and @paintingangles! Without you guys this wouldn't work at all, so a massive thank you for all you do <3

Alright well with that I will leave you for another week, so keep grooven!

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