heartsore

heartsore: songs for justin is wollenberg record’s 7th independent release by label founder and singer-songwriter richard cortez, and is available on November 1, 2013 from iTunes, CD Baby and more.

heartsore is a deeply personal narrative on the decomposition of love, the loss of innocence and cortez’ own battles with depression. reckless thrashing electric guitars and moody weeping cellos matched with cortez’ tender and often haunting baritone voice only intensify the experience of devastation and mourning showcased in these 5 original songs. cortez effortlessly emotes gut-wrenching lyrics that seem to have almost been ripped right from the pages a diary or break-up letter.

from explosive epic power ballads “separate ways” and “10,000,” to the sparse and chilling folk-inspired confessional art songs like “wait. i love you, always” and “over, again,” heartsore: songs for justin will resonate with anyone who’s ever loved, lost, and learned to move on.

available through itunes, cdbaby & most online retailers november 1, 2013.

[rec]ord

[rec]ord, wollenberg records sixth release since 2005, is exploding with five brand-new never-before-heard Richard Cortez songs! This DIY EP, carefully constructed in Cortez’ home recording studio, is driven by an airtight 13-piece orchestra and a wailing chorus of back-up singers.

Richard’s quirky signature hammering and finger-picking of his acoustic guitar, memorable mouth-curling lyrics and adoring warm baritone voice lay a strong foundation for the album’s expansive and soaring arrangements written by none other than Cortez himself. From the soulful heartfelt rock anthem “Patsy Cline” to the big-band Beatles-inspired “The Next Best Thing”, this is Richard’s strongest and most eclectic work to date.

Listen to Richard Cortez like you’ve never heard him before with [rec]ord, available from digital sources and Wollenberg Records on May 1.

lived in

lived in, richard cortez’s second live album released since founding wollenberg records in 2005, transports you to be an audience member at an intimate house concert. from heart-wrenching to heart-warming, lived in takes you on an emotional journey through the songs of award winning singer-songwriter richard cortez. these high-quality recordings showcase fan-favorites off richard’s past releases, like “the song for when everyone’s gone” and “craving something beautiful,” and include raw acoustic performances of five brand-new, never-before-released original songs. experience tearjerkers like “separate ways” and “over, again,” both lined with poetic lyrics documenting richard’s most recent break-ups and battles with addiction, and enjoy the pop-inspired and catchy melodies of “the poor man’s love song” and “the next best thing.” this newest release from wollenberg records is a must-have for any fan of honest heartfelt acoustic composition.

sleeping with strangers

singer/songwriter richard cortez explores the darker side of the gay community on his highly anticipated second full-length studio album sleeping with strangers —with a rock n’ roll flare.

the project, lined with wailing electric guitar solos and weeping distorted cellos, touches on the ever-present universal issues of promiscuous sex, drugs and alcohol, and the never-ending quest for love in the gay bar scene.

from its catchy and radio-friendly pop songs like “be alright” to the dark depths of its heart-wrenching title track “sleeping with strangers,” this all-encompassing autobiographical memoir tugs at the heart strings of anyone who has ever woke up hung over, heart broken and alone.

connect with music on a whole new level with this unmissable independent album by experiencing sleeping with strangers like you never have before.

live @ the red room

almost immediately after releasing his debut musical effort, richard embarked on his first tour with friend and cellist greg bortnichak of sparta philharmonic. the tour consisted of an intimate array of coffee houses and dive bars along the east coast. it was this high level of intimacy and performance quality that brought to the table the idea of recording a live album similar to the likes of these shows. on june 16th, 2005, in a room filled with only his closest friends, richard cortez recorded his sophomore record, live @ the red room. this personal and musically profound follow up to his debut record showcases new and improved renditions of pre-wollenberg records compositions, songs off craving something beautiful, and raw first takes of songs off he loves me not. with material spanning his entire career as a writer and musical arrangements that will leave you breathless, this high-energy album is the perfect introduction to what richard cortez really has to offer as a live performer.

craving something beautiful

known mostly for his infamous first single, “craving something beautiful,” (or, “the ‘smoking pot and watching cartoons’ song”), which appeared on cortez’s first full-length studio album, it was clear from the get-go that richard cortez was not your average recording artist. the record, appropriately entitled craving something beautiful, started appearing for sale online and in small gay retail shops in the summer of ’05, and has become somewhat of a gay folk cult classic. lyrically raw and uncensored, the album showcases the voice of a heartbroken but determined cortez striving to find meaning in the crowded streets of new york city as he leaves the only love hes ever known. from its catchy title track to the intricate string arrangements written by cortez himself, craving something beautiful was a major success and helped put both richard cortez and wollenberg records on the map.