Five Questions With: Lisa Maffia

Platinum-selling UK garage/grime QUEEN Lisa Maffia will release her sexy new club banger, "Don't Stop The Music" July 2nd to digital music retailers WORLDWIDE via her own label Maffia Recordz.  Lisa took some time out of her busy schedule to answer a some of my BURNING questions surrounding the new single, album and various other projects she has going on at the moment.

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Hot Interview Alert: Jessie and The Toy Boys

P-P-P-PUSH IT! I can't stop listening to debut single from Jessie and the Toy Boys, "Push It" featuring American rapper Yelawolf. The song is quickly rising on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart, jumping up two spots this week to #12. Make sure you download the hot remix EP on iTunes (HERE), featuring remixes by Junior Sanchez, Richard Vission, Ron Reeser & Dan Saenz, Skeet Skeet and Dirty Freqs. Why don't you also pick up "We Own The Night" HERE on iTunes while you're at it.  The fabulous and beautiful frontwoman,  22-year old Jessie Malakouti took some time to answer a few of my pressing questions - talking about her time working in the UK, collaborating with Yelawolf, touring with Britney Spears and more! Ch-ch-check it out and comment away!

MIMKSB: Hi Jessie, thanks for taking the time to answer a few of my questions today. Now, the first time I heard you was on a remix for the song “Standing Up For the Lonely,” back when you were performing as Jessie Malakouti.  Now you’re Jessie and the Toy Boys. What would you say is the biggest difference between your music back then and your music today?

Jessie Malakouti: When I wrote "Standing Up For The Lonely" I had just moved to the UK and very much into the British pop scene. SUFTL was a straight up dance record, but my roots are more punky. I've always loved being in bands, so I started Jessie and The Toy Boys. Towards the end of my time in London I got really into the dubstep scene, which to me was perfect for my style because it is kind of that marriage between dance and punk rock. Jessie and The Toy Boys has a lot of dubstep influence on the album that I'm excited for everyone to hear.

MIMKSB: I LOVE that you just packed up and went to the UK to help find yourself as an artist. There’s just something so fresh and energetic about the UK music scene. I try and showcase a variety of musical styles on my blog, but a lot of it comes from the UK. Are there any fresh UK artists that you discovered while you were over there?

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Hot Interview Alert: Tatiana Discusses Her New Single, Her Accent, Single #2 and more!

These next couple weeks are certainly going to be quite the whirlwind for singer/songwriter Tatiana Okupnik -AKA Tatiana. Tatiana released her official debut single, "Spider Web" this past week. "Spider Web" is Tatiana's debut UK single and the title track off her album, which is due out in two weeks on May 1st.  Her album blends pop, jazz and R&B - at times sounding a bit like Amy Winehouse - but mostly staying true to herself.   Tatiana has been busy in London promoting her single (UK fans can download it HERE) and she took a few moments to answer some of my questions.

MIMKSB: Hi Tatiana! Thank you so much for taking the time to answer some of my questions today. Congratulations on the release of your first UK single, "Spider Web."

TATIANA: Hi Jamie and Thank you! The 18th of April will be my special day. The date of my first international release. Spider web is out there and you can make it yours just by clicking http://itunes.apple.com/gb/artist/tatiana/id429348352. Am I being too pushy?

MIMKSB: You’ve had considerable success in Poland, first with Blue Café and ultimately as a solo artist. What would you say, are the biggest differences between the Polish music scene and the UK music scene?

T: I'd say the main difference is the number of platforms you can present your music on. In the UK there are more festivals, more music shows you can take part in. One of my favourites is Later...with Jools Holland. Opening Time Out magazine you see how many options every music lover has got for the weekend. We're not talking only about the mainstream. This is what I love about London. I'd say that the competition is bigger in the UK. But hey, we all love a little bit of adrenaline. Don't we?

MIMKSB: Do you have any concerns or worries about launching yourself in Europe? As you’ve said, London is the capital of the European music business, whereas Poland is a little bit more isolated – musically speaking.

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Hot Interview Alert: Eliza Doolittle

As UK-based singer/songwriter Eliza Doolittle prepares to release her debut self-titled album here in America early next year, she took some time out of her busy schedule to answer a few of my questions. Doolittle, who's already released 3 singles in the UK ("Skinny Genes," "Pack Up" and "Rollerblades") is ready to take the U.S. by storm in 2011 and I for one, am ready to see her "DOO" her thang live.

Doolittle, who's debut album peaked at #3 in the UK, is set to release her quirky pop album in America in early 2011 via Capitol Records and is ALREADY getting attention. Nylon magazine did a little write up on the singer in its September issue, calling out her "sassy lyrics, jaunty melodies," and praising the "happy and carefree" vibe of her sound. While she does serve as co-writer on all 13 of the album's tracks, Doolittle's label managed to wrangle in the big names to assist on her debut - names like Greg Kurstin, Steve Chrisanthou, Jonny $ and Craigie Dodds. Big deal! While the big names are impressive, Doolittle probably could have wrote the whole thing herself, especially given the fact that she's been writing since 12 and actually signed a publishing deal by 16. Impressive! A little bit retro. A lot cool, Doolittle's laid back, summery style will be the perfect winter warmer next year.

Counted among her inspirations we have The Beach Boys, The Kinks, and Stevie Wonder, but she doesn't necessarily see herself fitting within one specific genre of music. "I'd like to be a pop musician in the proper old school vein of pop when there weren't any different genres like there are now; it was all just pop music." According to Doolittle, her music crosses many genres...folk, ska, vintage R&B/Soul and Big Band sounds. Sounds like a show I want to be at! Doolittle's songs' "Skinny Genes" and "Pack Up" are both available to download now on the U.S. iTunes store. Her third UK single "Rollerblades is out now in the UK. More information on her U.S. debut to come shortly. In the meantime, check out my interview below the cut.

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Hot Interview Alert: Natalia Kills

It's been a while but I'm back and in a big way! This past week, I had the EXTREME pleasure of speaking with singer/songwriter/producer and director Natalia Kills the day before her SECOND live show in New York. Natalia was promoting her appearance in the Pop Justice + High Rise Official CMJ Showcase Presented by TOKION Factory & Onitsuka Tiger and took some time to answer some of my questions.

Before the 24-year old Brit releases her debut album early next year, Natalia Kills has plans to put out a remix EP for her new single "Mirrors." The infectious single was co-written by Kills and written/produced by Akon, Giorgio Tuinfort and Cherry Cherry Boom Boom. "Mirrors" has been remixed by Sketch Iz Dead, Doctor Rosen, Moto Blanco and Purple Crush for a four track remix EP, out digitally on November 2nd via Interscope/Cherrytree Records. As if a new single and album wasn't enough, Natalia is also going on tour in the US next month, opening for Swedish electro-pop superstar (and label-mate) Robyn, not to mention working on a second series of her provocative web series, Love Kills xx. Talk about ending the year with a BANG! Now without further ado, check out my interview with this talented lady below the cut.

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