Katie Melua Giveaway Winner!

Well, my Katie Melua giveaway has come to a close and congratulations are in order for "madwoman-doing-cartwheels" who's favorite William Orbit production was Madonna's "Ray Of Light."  She was lucky comment #5 (per Random.org).  "madwoman-doing-cartwheels," please email me with your shipping information and we'll get you your copy of Katie Melua's The House.  Thanks to everyone who entered. Stay tuned for more giveaways! In the meantime make sure you pick up Katie's new album in stores now.

Check out Katie Melua on the web:

Official Site (UK/US)//MySpace//Facebook

Dan Black Nominated For Two '2010 MTV Video Music Awards'

A big 'CONGRATULATIONS' are in order for Mr. Dan Black, who was just nominated for TWO "2010 MTV Music Video Awards."  That's pretty huge for an artist still fairly unknown here in America.  Black was nominated in the "Best Breakthrough" and "Best SFX (Special Effects)" categories for his stunning video "Symphonies."  Congratulations sir! Well deserved!



Black's got some stiff competition in both categories, going up against Lady Gaga, Eminem, MUSE and Green Day in the "Best SFX" category and Gorillaz feat. Bobby Womack and Mos Def, Coldplay and The Black Keys for "Breakthrough Video."  While not necessarily a shoe-in, "Symphonies" certainly stands a good chance of winning.  The video pays homage to "the creativity of film credits" and was produced by Chic & Artistic (Black's visual collaborator).  "Symphonies" was the first North American single off Black's debut ((un)), released on The Hours label, a Universal subsidiary.  Dan Black fans can vote for "Symphonies" now on vma.mtv.com until the live show on September 12th so get voting! In addition, fans signed up with Verizon Wireless can vote in all categories by texting VMA to 97979 (standard message rates apply). The “2010 MTV Video Music Awards” will air live from Nokia Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, September 12 at 9:00PM.

If you haven't been fortunate enough to see Dan Black live yet DO IT NOW. This past weekend he appeared at the prestigious Lollapalooza festival in Chicago, performing with the always amazing Dragonette.  Tonight he continues his mini tour with Dragonette in lovely Cleveland Heights, OH at Grog Shop and catch Black tomorrow, August 9th when he appears in Buffalo, NY at Big Orbit's Soundlab (also with Dragonette).  Not enough Dan Black for your liking?  Never fear! Black will be back in October for a performance at Austin City Limits in Austin, Texas.  Let me tell you, having seen Dan Black on the All Hearts Tour with Kelis & Robyn - he does NOT disappoint! Such a dynamic live performer. Unlike some electronica artists, Dan Black can really sing. The extra bells and whistles he brings to his set only enhances the performance.

Tour Dates:

8-8/Cleveland Heights, OH/Grog Shop
8-9/Buffalo, NY/Big Orbit's Soundlab
10-9/Austin, TX/Austin City Limits

Black will also be releasing a new single, "Alone" off of ((un)) later this month.  Included in the package will be a new music video from Chic & Artistic as well as a remix from the fabulous dubstep master MJ Cole + a B-Side called "Liz and Johnny."  Check out the album artwork below.

Check out Dan Black on the web:

Official Site//MySpace//Facebook//Twitter//VEVO

Hot Chip 'Has Remixes' on New EP

New Hot Chip remixes! YES! On September 7th Hot Chip will release a new EP, We Have Remixes on Astralwerks.  The EP features remixed versions of "Hand Me Down Your Love" (Todd Edwards), "We Have Love" (Hot City), "Brothers" (Caribou) and "Take It In" (Osborne).  Check out the tracklisting and track lengths below:

Tracklisting:

01. Hand Me Down Your Love (Todd Edwards Micro Chip Remix) 6.46

02. We Have Love (Hot City Remix) 4.59

03. Brothers (Caribou Remix) 5.09

04. Take It In (Osborne Remix) 7.16

According to Hot Chip's own Joe Goddard, "These are some of our favorite producers, people that we have been following for years and have been friends with for years as well in some cases," so having these interpretations released as an official EP is a pretty big deal. This is going to be HOT.  I for one am especially looking forward to hearing Todd Edwards' "space age garage retake" of "Hand Me Down Your Love" as well as Osborne's "lounge house version" of "Take It In."

As if a new remix EP isn't enough for Hot Chip fans to get excited about, the boys are set to to embark on a new North American tour this fall, supporting LCD Soundsystem on their tour.


TOUR DATES w/ LCD SOUNDSYSTEM

10-13/San Diego/RIMAC Arena
10-15/Los Angeles/Hollywood Bowl
10-17/San Francisco/Warfield *
10-19/Salt Lake City/The Complex
10-20/Denver/Fillmore Auditorium
10-22/Milwaukee/Eagles Ballroom
10-23/Saint Paul/Roy Wilkins
10-29/New Orleans/Voodoo Music Festival*

* Hot Chip only, not supporting LCD Soundsystem

Hot Chip also launched an MXP4-powered interactive version of their current single "I Feel Better," available now on the group's Facebook page.  The interactive release will allow fans to play with the remixes in a video game-like format.  Right through Facebook, fans will be able to putz around with mixes by powerhouse producers including Richard X and Den Haan. Awesome!  The Facebook app also features a variety of other multi-media content including the song's music video directed by Peter Serafinowicz.  What's more, the application allows for easy sharing and embedding across various social media platforms including blogs, Twitter, Facebook and more. Amazing!

Check out Hot Chip on the web:

Official Site//MySpace//Facebook//Twitter//YouTube

Marsha Ambrosius, 1/2 of R&B Duo Floetry Set To Release New Single, Album

Sad! I wasn't aware that Floetry had broken up! 2005's "SupaStar" was my JAM for a while. No matter I guess, because 1/2 of the amazingly talented group is back with a smoking hot new R&B single and 1/2 of Floetry is better than no Floetry!  Marsha Ambrosius will release her debut solo single, "Hope She Cheats On You (With A Basketball Player)" on August 17th.



Briefly signed to Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment (a subsidiary of Universal's Interscope Records), Ambrosius appears to have been snatched up by Sony's J Records and will release her album Late Nights & Early Mornings October 26th.  On her extremely PERSONAL debut album Ambrosius tackles sensitive subjects including life, love and relationships.  The album features collaborations with Alicia Keys, Dre & Vidal (Floetry's "Say Yes"), Just Blaze and more.  As if promoting a new album isn't enough of a time commitment, the talented singer/songwriter is helping to launch Centric Selects, a campaign to highlight the next generation of R&B artists.  Centric is a 24-hour music and entertainment channel the "reflects the lifestyle and sophistication of today's African American and multicultural viewer."  That's quite the honor!

Set to impact urban mainstream and adult radio stations August 16th and 17th, "Hope She Cheats On You (With A Basketball Player)" was written and produced by Ambrosius and Canei and tells the story of a bad break up.

"We wanna be decent human beings and say the right thing, you know, 'I wish you well.' But this is 'Everything that could go wrong for him I want it to because my ego is bruised and I'm acting out.'"

Floetry (Ambrosius, Natalie Stewart), the 5-time Grammy Award nominated R&B duo from the UK released 3 albums in total (2 studio albums and a live one). Their debut album Floetic produced 1 modest hit, "Say Yes," which peaked at #25 on the Billboard Hot 100 and went all the way to #8 on the Billboard R&B chart.  Their last album, 2005's Flo'Ology was the group's highest charting album in the U.S., peaking at #7 on the Billboard 200.  After Flo'Ology,  Stewart split from the group, and Amanda Diva took over before the group finally split up for good in 2007.  If I can't have Floetry back, the next best thing is Marsha Ambrosius.

Check out Marsha Ambrosius on the web:

MySpace//Facebook//Twitter

Up & Coming Pop Star Jenefer Siân To Release New Single, Fan-Funded Music Video

I LOVE hearing new artists on the verge of busting onto the scene and I think that Jenefer Siân just might be one of those artists.  On August 10th the Welsh-born singer is set to release her second single, "Operate" via Island Def Jam Digital Distribution across all major digital retailers (including European streaming service Spotify).  Fans will also have the opportunity to download the track for free while spreading the word about Jenefer Siân using the Tweet-For-A-Track service.  There's no reason why you shouldn't be able to pick up a copy of this hot single.

In addition to releasing the new single Siân is in the midst of a campaign to raise funds for a new music video for a song called "Call You Out" off her forthcoming 5 track EP due out sometime this Fall.  The music video is scheduled to be shot in September with director Alan Wain (Michael Jackson, Sting, Carly Simon) and is being funded by you, her fans.  So far fans have pledged $1,420 ($420 over the $1,000 goal!) on her KickStarter page.  This campaign just goes to show you how passionate Siân is about her craft and sharing it with the world.  It would be one thing to be asking for support without having anything to back it up but in Jenefer's case, we KNOW she's talented already. She's already released one single and has plans to keep the momentum going with "Operate."  Fans who pledge varying amounts of money will receive free downloads, Jenefer Siân merch, potentially an Associate or Executive Producer credit on the video, sushi dinner with Jenefer, a workout at Runyan Canyon in Hollywood, or even a trip to Disneyland. How cool is that! Get pledging!

Available for download August 10th, "Operate" was co-written by Siân, producer Wesley Avery and Matt Sirrine.  In the meantime, check out a clip of her new single below and download her debut single "Take A Number" on iTunes now!

Check out Jenefer Siân on the web:

Official Site//MySpace//Facebook//Twitter//YouTube

Hot Video Alert: Alesha - Drummer Boy

Oh man, oh man. I DO NOT want to like this but I'm afraid I have to agree with Popjustice here when they call the new Alesha Dixon (AKA 'Alesha') single "a bit of a grower."  The first single off of her forthcoming third studio album The Entertainer (due out in November), "Drummer Boy" will be released in the UK September 6th.  At first listen, the Shama Joseph-produced song is nothing more than a lot of shouting but the more you listen to the song, especially when accompanied by the mesmerizing Ray Kay-directed music video, the more you like it.  Alesha was never the one with the greatest voice but that didn't stop her from forging ahead with her solo career. More power to her. She's got energy for days and she's an absolute stunner.

If you haven't heard of Alesha Dixon, you may remember British R&B girl group Mis-Teeq (Dixon, Sabrina Washington, Su-Elise Nash) who had one modest hit in America with "Scandalous" back in 2004.  While the song only managed to peak at #35 in the U.S. it was a Top 2 hit in the UK. After the group broke up in 2005 Alesha Dixon was the first of the girls to try for solo success.  First single, "Lipstick" peaked at #14 on the UK singles charts but follow up single, "Knock Down" only managed to hit #45, resulting in her label, Polydor scrapping her album's UK release.  The album was later released in Japan.  After parting ways with Polydor, Dixon signed with Asylum Records (in association with Warner Music Group) and released The Alesha Show, which peaked at #11 and spawned two Top 5 hits ("The Boy Does Nothing" and "Breathe Slow").  Dixon also saw success on UK television where she won the UK version of Dancing With The Stars called Strictly Come Dancing, later returning as a judge.

Dixon's new album The Entertainer, pairs her up with Jim Beanz, Xenomania, Buzbee and Soulshock & Karlin.  Collaborations with Rodney Jerkins and Gary Barlow are also rumored to be in the works.  As if UK chart domination isn't all Alesha has to worry about, it appears that she's planning to try her luck in America as well, at least according to producer Jim Beanz.  "We’re going to build some up-tempo dance songs to take the UK and the US by storm" (via The Daily Star).  Watch the action-packed video for "Drummer Boy" below.

Check out Alesha on the web:

Official Site//MySpace//Facebook//Twitter//YouTube

Singer/Songwriter BC Jean Is Ready For Her Pop Closeup

BC Jean is someone we should be watching VERY CAREFULLY.  She's absolutely going places. This talented singer/songwriter from LA releases her debut single, "Just A Guy" September 14th on J Records followed by her debut album in early 2011. Co-written by Jean and The Matrix (Shakira, Avril Lavigne, Britney Spears) and produced by Ryan Tedder, "Just A Guy" is a feisty back-to-school, girl's anthem sure to leave a lasting impression when it's released this Fall.

Listen to: Just A Guy by BC Jean

An accomplished songwriter prior to "Just A Guy," Jean co-wrote (with Toby Gad) Beyonce’s Top 3 single, "If I were A Boy" and was quickly SWARMED with offers from labels looking to sign the talented artist. Not only did Jean impress the record labels but world class songwriters were scrambling to work with her.  According to Ryan Tedder,  

"This is first song I’ve ever produced that I didn’t write in six years…That’s how much I like this song. I have a good feeling about this one."  

Even Sony Music head Clive Davis was impressed.  

"You eagerly wait for a multi-talented new artist to come along like BC Jean. She's already proven her major songwriting ability, and, what's more, she's got a truly powerful voice with edge and natural soulfulness."

Listen To: Used by BC Jean

I gotta agree with Clive here.  While "Just A Guy" might not showcase her vocal abilities all that well, hearing her sing a song called "Used," you can tell that this girl's got raw talent to spare. Beautiful.  She sounds like a cross between P!nk and Meredith Brooks mixed with a little Jill Sobule and Joan Osborne. Edgy pop/rock is just what the radio needs right now so here's hoping that BC Jean can deliver.

BC Jean is currently in the studio working on her debut album, with a little help from some top-notch collaborators including Max Martin (Britney Spears, Katy Perry), Brian Howes (Daughtry, David Cook), Zac Maloy (David Cook, Jason Castro) and Howard Benson (The All-American Rejects, My Chemical Romance), not to mention Ryan Tedder and The Matrix.  I LOVE that shes's paired up with a lot of ROCK producers. This is PERFECT because she's got a voice that lends itself PERFECTLY to an edgier pop sound.  Get ready for a BC Jean pop explosion come September.

Check out BC Jean on the web:

Official Site//MySpace//Facebook//Twitter//YouTube

Related articles by Zemanta

• BC Jean, Beyonce's ghost writer, finally gets a smash single (hollywoodnews.com)
• New and Notable: BC Jean (albumartexchange.com)

Album Review: Mike Posner - 31 Minutes To Takeoff

After listening to Mike Posner's first two singles, (the Gigamesh-produced  "Cooler Than Me" and the Benny Blanco-produced "Please Don't Go") I found it REALLY difficult to pin down what direction Posner was going to go in on his debut album.   AFTER listening to the album...I'm still not sure.  The album has got a little bit of everything.  It's a little bit pop mixed with a splash of hip-hop, drizzled with some synthy electro-goodness.  I'm just going to go ahead and call it electro-pop.

Labelmates Posner and Ke$ha hang at the '31 Minutes To Takeoff' Album Launch Party

31 Minutes To Takeoff is due out on J Records August 10th and features production work by Posner, Benny Blanco, The Smeezingtons, Gigamesh, Cisco Adler, Raw Talent and the ever-amazing Greg Kurstin.  With a powerhouse team of producers like that, Mike Posner SHOULD have it made but before evaluating the album itself, I have one other thing to determine.  Is Posner singing...speaking or rapping?  Is there any vocal talent here or do we just have lyrics overlaid with slick production?  I found myself asking the same questions after listening to Ke$ha's debut and you know what I decided?  Who cares! It was a fun record!  Could the same be said for Mike Posner's debut?  Let's see, shall we?

Read more »