Lou Black forms "Ash Lovely" Sun, Apr. 6 2008 Acoustic & Synth Indie Pop Folk music. Lou Black's new band project, "Ash Lovely," is a unique indie pop folk synth band with three other singer/songwriters as members (David Klinger, Vanessa Degrassi, & Kevin Bowman). Their 3 & 4 part vocal arrangements, catchy melodies, and some unconventional instruments mark what is the "Ash Lovely" sound.

Wow. I forgot to post things here Mon, Dec. 24 2007 What with all of the e-mail announcements and myspace info/blogs, I have been remiss in updating this news section. Get on the mailing list to read the latest stories. :) Happy Holidays, -Lou

Lou Black forms "The Black Finks" Wed, Sep. 27 2006 Lou Black's live band project has been reformed under the band name "The Black Finks" (named after a mythical man-eating trout). Together with Glenn Fink, Greg Burns, and a cast of many, they are performing a large assortment of new originals. New songs, a new sound, and a rotating assortment of musicians (in the tradition of Lou's favorite Nashville band, "Last Train Home."

RADIO REVIEWS Fri, Mar. 17 2006 The City of No Winters album has been played in over 19 countries, and here is some of the feedback....... "Lou is one of the top artists of the day. He has a lot to say, and pulls no punches. This cd should be in the Billboard top 10." ----103.7 3WAY-FM, AUSTRALIA "I have only one word for this disc: fabulous !!! What a voice! What a variety in the musics! What a talent! In this twelfth season of Country Gift one of the best discoveries. Than! k Mister LOU BLACK (SCHWARZ) for your passion." ----RCF Mediterranee Radio, FRANCE "We had feedback from the audience with your album on tracks 1-7. People around here have really appreciate the sound and the ambient created" ----CKRL-FM 89.1 QUEBEC CITY CANADA "'City of No Winters' is a great album. Well-written and well-recorded, the music has found a nice place at KAOS radio since it arrived." ----KAOS Community Radio, Olympia, WA "Thanks for the CD. I played 'City Of No Winters' on the radio today. I like this record because it reveals a little bit more each time you play it. Well written - well performed - intelligent production." ----Noosa Community Radio 101.3FM, AUSTRALIA "....I have included the song "City of no winters" on the playlist and it's now playing at least 1 time/day." ----RUA FM - 102.7, PORTUGAL "Lou Black's new album City of no Winters is a masterpiece. It is full of great and original tunes. The title track is a cool and meaningful piece and I have included it on the play list for Acoustic Nation on Scottish Internet Radio..." ----Internet Radio Ltd, SCOTLAND

REVIEW: Splendid Magazine Sun, Aug. 21 2005 "Lou Black has a great voice, and it's definitely the first thing you'll notice about City of No Winters. ..the album only gets more infectious with each passing tune....combining intoxicating love songs with cleverly disguised political diatribes."

Lou Black and his band "rock" the 18th Street Lounge Thu, Jul. 21 2005 Thursday evening (July 21) marked a fine performance by Lou Black and his "neighbor bandmates" at DC's 18th Street Lounge (co-owned by the Thievery Corporation). Given the recent article about Lou that appeared in the recent LSE Magazine ("Putting the Pop in Population), Lou and the band entertained his fellow LSE alum (and invited fans/friends) with all of the songs from the "City of No Winters" album plus two surprising cover songs. Opening for Lou was fellow U. of London alum Kathleen Farris. More info and photos to follow.

INTERVIEW with Music Dish Network Sat, Apr. 23 2005 "If you were to have a casual conversation with Lou Black, you'd probably never guess he was capable of a CD like City of No Winters. His speaking voice, while affable and pleasant enough, sounds only a little like the rich, deep-timbred voice behind the songs on the album, while Lou himself comes across as so nonchalant and, dare I say, humble about his music that those around him might be surprised to find that he went so far as take his music into the studio to record...."

REVIEW: Hybrid Magazine Thu, Apr. 7 2005 "A supremely well-produced tortilla of sound....The album is chock full of beautiful songs that ease one into a state of blissful relaxation. A nice change from much of the agro stuff going on these days in popular music....Want some new pop music? Then this is the place to go. City Of No Winters is a joyous trip through a musical land full of intense beauty and varying landscapes. Black's vocals are brilliant and lend an even more intense depth to what is already a solid musical foundation." -- L. Keane, Hybrid Magazine

REVIEW: MusicShoppers.Info (UK) Mon, Mar. 21 2005 “City of No Winters” deserves ample success as it is easily much better than nearly everything that makes up our top 40 these days. The album’s opener “Searching for a Land Love” and the title track are beautiful crafted songs...and not only are the lyrics instantly memorable, they are also touching.

Radio Airplay on 97 Stations! Sat, Mar. 19 2005 To date our little album has been added at over 97 broadcast stations (college and public AAA) and  growing number of internet radio stations.   Special thanks to internet station "Mansion on the Hill"  and their listeners for rating "Oh Amor" as the #1 song for the week of 3/20.   Additional special thanks to WUMM for bringing the album in at #21, "Evolving Artist" and all of those that sent a notice to CMJ.  Click on link above to see full list of broadcast stations.

International marketing with IRL Music. Fri, Mar. 18 2005 Factor 21 Records and the IRL Music Group will work together help market/license the Lou Black "City of No Winters" album internationally. The Asia marketing campaign will begin this spring.

REVIEW: Indie-Music.com Fri, Jan. 7 2005 "With most of today's cookie-cutter pop the lyrics are unremarkable; in Black's songs THE LYRICS STAND OUT - you can't help but pay attention to the message...this is a refreshing change." --Kenny Hart, Indie-Music.com

REVIEW: Americana UK Wed, Nov. 3 2004 "Sophisticated global pop from Peruvian-born cultural traveller. Lou Black hails from Peru, but has spent time in South Africa and many other countries, and now makes his home in America. This cultural melange is very evident on this his debut album, as if you didn’t know it would be almost impossible to pin down its country of origin. You shouldn’t make the mistake of thinking of it as “world music” though, as it is far superior and different to the atrocities perpetrated under that all-encompassing banner. Lou Black is a purveyor of sophisticated pop tunes allied to a mixture of socially aware lyrics and more straight ahead, but intelligent love odes. He has an ear for a hook, notably on opener “Searching for a Land of Love”, “Patience of Saints”, and “Ode to Backbay”, a love-hate message to one of his many domiciles. Throughout the album there’s a light and airy feel to the music, and there’s also often that urgent rhythm that you associate with Latin-influenced music. The standout track is is “The City of No Winters”, which is a beautiful, and beautifully sad, elegy to co-writer Enid Holden’s native South Africa. So, this album is an enjoyable set of global pop with something of a message or two amongst it all. It’s also an object lesson in how to make a point effectively and enjoyably at the same time, which is something an awful lot of musicians could do with learning." --Jeremy Searle, Americana UK

REVIEW: Progressive Ears Thu, Oct. 21 2004 "...has that multi-faceted quality that will rank it among the best in the singer/songwriter genre. On one level, this is music that demands your attention..Yet on another level it has an even, relaxing tone, and could comfortably be played in the background at a cocktail party." --Duncan Glenday, Progressive Ears

REVIEW: Progressive World Wed, Oct. 20 2004 "Black has surrounded himself with a capable group of musicians and lyricists and the resulting tone, the international flavor, the lyrics and the vocal quality will variously recall such luminaries as Peter Sarstedt, Aaron English, Chris Rhea, Peter Gabriel, Chris De Burgh, Leonard Cohen, Lou Reed, and Rodriguez." --Duncan Glenday, Progressive World

Lou Black releases album!! Sat, Sep. 25 2004 So it finally happened. After a million a one delays and excuses the album is finally released. Buzz is developing which is a good thing. _______________________________________________________________________ "City of No Winters" CD Release Party (9/26/04) Sunday evening (9/26/04) saw yet another well attended social function hosted at Paul & Enid Holden's home in Washington, DC's NorthWest neighbourhood; except this time it was a celebration for Enid's poem City of No Winters - about her beloved hometown of Durban which had now become a treasured song on an CD of the title song. Lou Black, a local songwriter/musician and Enid Holden met through a chance City Paper ad - networking/linking creative minded people. After almost a year of joint collaboration and copyright wrangling, the final product came to fruition with a celebration party being held at the Holden's home, with Paul exemplifying his remarkable cullinary skills. Some sixty jubilant persons - mostly South Africans came together for this momentous occasion - to hear the almost shy Lou Black perform City of No Winters live - for the first time in public. Most of the accompanying songs on the album were a collaboration with poets/song writers who had personal messages to convey about their respective homelands. The various songs move from melanchony ballad, to more upbeat folk-rock to a more bluesy style. Lou's rich/adaptable - soothing voice lends itself to these genre's with relative ease. As I have twice lived in neighbouring Durban, I closed my eyes and took in the title song, City of No Winters with melancholy nostalgia - imagining the various sites and locations depicted within the lyrics, as Lou delivered the song and it's underlying message with an uncanny feeling of being ... Owen 'Mshengu' Greenland (Washington, DC) _______________________________________________________________________ Charming like in an old but binding Marlon Brando love story, hoarse voice like on a discovery road movie, Lou Black’s voice goes under the skin, vibrant, bringing tones from Elvis, Peter Gabriel or Marvin Gaye. Sometimes even, the music is daring a catch on Santana, a rocky one. Tall, his gaze vague, his hair black as coal, this Peru born, American raised singer looks nearly shy, though strong at the same time. He is indeed a discovery. Each song of the 13 from his album has a special story, derived from personal experience, revealing and hiding at the same time a life that has its incredible variety of richness. The words are modulated and sound like far galaxies, like colored bubbles sent in the waters of the warm Gulf Stream. Lou Black belongs to those singers who can touch with smoothness many styles. The multitudes of the very pleasurable and enduring music arrangements show a deep collaboration with like-minded poets and musicians sharing their drift for “new pop”. The title song “City of no winters” more of a blues style talks about Durban and the mysterious locations of this city with such history is brought to our ears with huge nostalgia and hope at the same time, as if its author, the south African poet and painter Enid Holden, who hosted this wonderful launching of the CD in her DC house, was giving Durban the epitome for the whole South African struggle and renaissance. We hear in the words how much this city resonates in our hearts for all the fights for freedom and justice it has gone through. Durban, Durban, Durban, a whisper. With a great longing presence in his voice, Lou Black says that words still matter. And Lou’s warm voice gives thus a soothing glimpse of glee. --Brigitte Kehrer, independent journalist author of "Rwanda: Work of God, Work of Evil"