[Hot Video Alert] Karin Park - Restless

In the trippy new "Restless" video from Swedish electro-goth princess Karin Park, the talented singer/songwriter channels Grace Jones mixed with Gozer the Gozerian (Ghostbusters reference!).  The video for "Restless" was shot on location in the church that Karin actually lives in!  Released on May 21st, "Restless" is the eagerly anticipated new single taken from Karin's latest album, Highwire Poetry, which was released last week on May 28th.

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Electro-Gothic-Warrior Karin Park Unveils New 'Restless' Remixes; Single and Album Out May 28th

Last month I was so impressed with the Björk-like sounds of Swedish singer/songwriter Karin Park, that I touted her as a 'One to Watch' this year.  Now as the impending release of her new single, "Restless" draws nearer, I'm still feeling as confident as ever with my decision.  Set for release on May 28th (iTunes UK) through State Of The Eye Recordings, "Resltess" is the first single taken from her upcoming debut album, Highwire Poetry, due the very same day.

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Ones to Watch in 2012: Karin Park

At first listen, Swedish singer/songwriter Karin Park sounds like the quirky lovechild of Björk and Lykke Li. Listen to her dark new electropop masterpiece of a single "Restless," below and I think you'll agree.  Following on the heels of her critically acclaimed UK debut EP, Tiger Dreams, "Restless" is the first single to be lifted off her forthcoming album, Highwire Poetry, which is due in the UK on May 28th.

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Estonian Club Queen Kerli Releases Sexy New Single and Video

While Estonia is probably the LAST place you'd expect an international club queen to hail from, 25 year old Kerli has been paving the way for her fellow Estonians since 2008 when she released her debut single, "Walking On Air," followed by her debut album, Love Is Dead.  Of course, until fairly recently, Americans have been a bit slow to catch on when it comes to hot dance club tunes from Europe so Kerli didn't really ARRIVE here on the club scene until 2010 when the insanely infectious dance smash "Army Of Love" hit #1 on the Billboard Dance Club chart. Nearly two years later, Kerli is ready to take back the crown, releasing a new dance-tinged futuristic club jam called "Zero Gravity," which is available to download now on iTunes (HERE).

"Zero Gravity" offers fans a first glimpse of what's to come from her long awaited sophomore album, due out later this year on Island Records.  While the song is certainly catchy, I'm a bit disappointed how dangerously David Guetta the production sounds.  It's a bit cookie cutter if you ask me.  What I liked about Kerli's earlier music is the trippy, almost otherworldly nature it has.  This sounds a bit too generic for my liking, but perhaps it will grow on me.  According to the PR, the timing of the single's release is perfect.

"The release of “Zero Gravity” coincides with the 2012 Winter Music Conference in Miami Beach, March 16-25th, which is highlighted by the 27th annual IDMAs (International Dance Music Awards). Kerli will be on hand for a number of IDMA events and promotions, culminating with her red carpet appearance on the day of the awards – Thursday, March 22nd – where she is also expected to present an IDMA."

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Alt-Pop Singer Björk Unveils New Music & Multimedia Residency At Manchester International Festival

It's nice to see that eclectic alt pop singer Björk is coming out of hiding. UK fans can see the outspoken music legend this summer for a three week residency at the Manchester International Festival. Biophilia, Björk's newly announced live spectacle will be unveiled June 30th at Campfield Market Hall where she will be performing six intimate shows to crowds of 1,800 people, marking her first live UK appearance in over three years.  According to the press release, Biophilia is where music, nature and technology meet:

"A multi-media project encompassing music, apps, Internet, installations
and live shows, Biophilia celebrates how sound works in nature, exploring the infinite
expanse of the universe, from planetary systems to atomic structure."

Music and apps will be available to download via iTunes and the App Store so look out for those as we get closer to the performance dates. As far as the live shows are concerned, Björk will be performing new tracks from her forthcoming Biophilia studio album as well as select songs from her extensive back catalog of hits. Fans can also expect a unique orchestra of bizarre and beautiful musical instruments,

"The show will feature a range of specially conceived and crafted instruments, among them a bespoke digitally-controlled pipe organ; a 30 foot pendulum that harnesses the earth’s gravitational pull to create musical patterns - creating a unique bridge between the ancient and the modern; a bespoke gamelan-celeste hybrid; and a one-off extraordinary pin barrel harp. These devices make visible some of the physical processes that are the subject matter of tracks."

Don't live in the UK? Well don't worry! In collaboration with Manchester International Festival (MIF), the Biophilia experience will travel to major cities all over the world following it's Manchester premiere so you can catch it in a city near you. Catering to an all ages crowd, MIF will be putting on educational workshops and working with the young people of Manchester, exploring "the musicological, scientific and technological ideas behind the project" - a musical science fair of sorts.  This sounds really interesting...

As far as the album is concerned, there isn't a whole lot of information available just yet.  We do know that the album was recorded partly on an iPad and that it will be released in the form of a series of apps - becoming the first "app album." {SOURCE 1, 2}  Check this space for further details on the festival and the album. Looking forward to hearing what Björk has been working on since 2007's Volta.

BJÖRK – BIOPHILIA
CAMPFIELD MARKET HALL, CAMPFIELD AVENUE ARCADE, MANCHESTER M3 4FH

THURSDAY, JUNE 30 at 20:30
SUNDAY, JULY 3 at 16:00
THURSDAY, JULY 7 at 20:30
SUNDAY, JULY 10 at 16:00
WEDNESDAY, JULY 13 at 20:30
SATURDAY, JULY 16 at 20:30

Tickets £45 (no per ticket booking fee; transaction charge applies)
Concession available
Box Office: www.mif.co.uk / Quaytickets +44 (0) 161 876 2198

Check out Bjork on the web:

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

Bjork Gives Back To Iceland

I've always admired Icelandic singer, Bjork, for her unique sense of style and outspoken nature. Now, news of her undying devotion to her homeland has given me even more to respect. According to Billboard Magazine (and multiple other news sources), Bjork has joined forces with a Reykjavik-based venture capital firm on a fund that will "invest in companies that are socially and environmentally responsible" as a way to help restore the country's battered & bankrupt economy. Audur Capital has even named the fund BJORK in her honor. Read the article on Billboard's website. Very admirable.