press
WINNER in 2025 New England Songwriting Competition
damian israel shiner had TWO songs selected by an impressive team of judges in two categories in the 2025 New England Songwriting Competition (NESC). His songs “deny” (#3) and “heaven” (#2) were identified among the winners. Check the NESC website for a complete list of winners. And be sure to follow the displayers and stream these gems on Spotify.
Reviews of our song “change (The WAAHH Radio Edit)”:
the displayer’s latest anthem and rock song — based on the traditional proverb “It is better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness” — received some stellar reviews from several online radio stations and Spotify influencers. More to come...
“Hey guys, another amazing song, I loved it. You guys are incredible, impressive talent, great song, wow, we are your fans. Thank you so much for choosing us again to listen to your work. They are all great productions that motivate us to continue playing independent songs on the radio. We are grateful. Keep up with us, enriching the Alternativa Rock music program even more. We love having you here on the radio. We will probably play in two weeks, on Thursday, starting at 9PM Brasília time on the Alternativa Groover radio show. I will share it with my team and, as I always do, I will share it in the message groups of listeners and friends. Hugs, cheers from Brazil.” https://www.radioalternativarock.com
“I really like this, you've got a kind of Fun. (the band) vocal and songwriting style, and the song itself takes me back to the likes of Beautiful South.” — Stereo Stickman
“‘Change'’ is a memorable release, complete with charming performances, magnetic melodies, and bright production. One thing is for sure; it is a release that needs to be on your new music playlist!”
“Hey guys and welcome back once again! I really dig this track and will definitely be posting it on the site in our Fresh weekly playlist! Thanks so much for all the tunes and keep them coming.”
“This [is] a solid track here with some nice harmonies in the vocals, a ton of emotion in the overall song, and even some nice drumming to give it some edge. Lots of great lyrical motifs as well. Keep that up!”
“Hey damian, great to hear from you! We checked out ‘change’ and liked how the track kicks off with solid energy right away. The beat carries the song well, and the emotional tone in the vocals really gives the whole thing a personal, heartfelt feel. The production is clean, and there’s a steady vibe throughout that reflects themes of growth and change in a way that feels genuine. We liked how you blended that emotional side of the lyrics with a more listener-friendly structure. The artists you mentioned like Glen Hansard and Vance Joy definitely help paint the vibe you were aiming for.”
“To be honest, the track is wonderful and we really want to share it on "Artists To Watch" and spread it to the world. Keep it up!”
“A good sound, well made and enjoyable. We would love to play.”
“Thanks so much for submitting! Love the catchy pop-y and folky vibes of this track, really warm and upbeat with such good energy.”
“This has a real punk DIY feel with melodic elements that give a real pop rock sound. The vocals are melodic and the harmonies richen the sound inspiring a singalong. The drum beat is raw with nothing but punk attitude however it doesn't overtake the mix and sits at the back maintaing the rhythm effortlessly. The guitar part is subtle but effective providing riffs and rhythms with punk rock attitude and vigour.”
— Laura Beth (UK radio DJ)
“We enjoyed the energy in the revamped version, the updated production really brings a fresh vibe to the track. The heartfelt songwriting came through strongly as well.” — Sugarcoat (Canada)
Reviews of our song “don’t”:
damian israel shiner’s rock song on the basement sessions — his third in a trilogy of bad breakup songs — received some stellar reviews from several online radio stations and Spotify influencers. More to come...
“Excelente nivel de producción musical, excelente mezcla y mastering, gran trabajo de voces. Su canción es bastante melódica y armoniosa. Felicitaciones por su gran obra maestra. Su canción será agregada a playlist 🎸✨❤️” (Translation: Excellent level of musical production, excellent mixing and mastering, great vocal work. This song is quite melodic and harmonious. Congratulations on this great masterpiece. This song will be added to the playlist.)
“We love it, amazing, very good. Great chorus, good riffs, good rhythm, great melody, and amazing vocals. Exciting to see your work, it has quality and high energy. High quality, great vocals, great lyrics, the recording and production are excellent, and everything is perfect. Congratulations, it's incredible, amazing work. It sounds good, we really love it, what a great song. Songs like yours make us believe and continue playing independent artists :) Hugs from Brazil.” https://www.radioalternativarock.com
“Nice vibe going on here, good old guitar work. Some nice riffs and melodies and the guitars are spread nice and wide. Vocal style suits the track well, and all the bits and pieces are in the right place.”
“We love the rich and feeling vocals…keep up the good work!”
“This one had a real energy about it and of course, for us, the vocals are what stood out the most. However, you've really created a vibrant and energetic track too. Keep it up!”
“Really nice track! Love the rhythm and energy. Very catchy and easy to listen to. We will share it on our social media. Looking forward to hearing more from you!”
“Some decent riffs and a great intro here—a very accessible indie track that a lot can get behind and some great vocals.” https://www.mixcloud.com/kevin-mann3/uki-episode-341/
“We enjoyed how energetic this song is and the grittier parts of the vocals…we look forward to hearing more from you in the future!”
“I love the vibes and energy on this track! We are going to post this on the blog as soon as we can! Thanks a lot for this! Keep it going!”
“I like the combination of melody and grit on this track. There’s a dark vibe in the verse that’s driven by the guitar scale, shifting to a more upbeat feel in the chorus. The bass line is great and provides a solid groove that underpins the rest of the instrumental.”
“Hi guys, thanks for sharing your music! The leading riff of this track is brilliant, simple but addictive, and there's a certain humility to the vocal lead that reminds me of some of the indie rock legends of the early noughties. Your style is great, the songwriting really interesting, the performance impassioned and no doubt immense at a live show.”
Thanks for sending us your track. Sounds good, it´s cool. We are going to add it to the Spotify playlist called All Monkey Gone to Heaven, for our friends and followers to listen to for a month.
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0v1zr3N1eT8Zh3pnvsVFMd?si=4c84749e3dfc44a2
I appreciate the infectious energy and vibrant vibe of your song “don’t”. It's truly amazing to see how you guys can capture such an upbeat feeling and have it bounce off the speakers. The song has a captivating quality that immediately grabs the listener's attention. From the lively arrangements to the emotionally charged vocal delivery, each element seems to work in harmony to create an immersive and memorable listening experience. Plus, it's inspiring to see the musical path you've taken, from the days of playing with a cardboard guitar to becoming a recognized creative force in the music scene. The commitment and passion you have for music is evident, and this is clearly reflected in the quality of your art. You guys are undoubtedly talented and I'm excited to see what the future holds for the displayers!
FEATURE in Metronome Magazine (May 2024)
damian israel shiner had an extensive conversation with Brian Owens of the Greater Boston music scene’s long-running music rag, Metronome Magazine. Read the full article online during the month of May at https://www.metronomemagazine.com/ or download a PDF.
Holiday Classic Re-arranged (Released Dec 2023)
damian israel shiner’s own arrangement of the holiday classic “O Holy Night” (Chris Harris recorded and mixed it) received rave reviews from friends in the music industry and fans alike...
© 2024 by the displayers.