Ones to Watch: Gamu

Good things certainly do come to those who wait, at least in the case of rising pop talent Gamu.  Fans of the X-Factor probably remember early favorite, Gamu Nhengu, who's family was nearly sent back to its native Zimbabwe due to Visa issues following her untimely elimination from the show.  While the, then 18 year old, failed to make it to the X-Factor live shows, Gamu managed to leave a very big impression on the hearts, minds AND ears of Britain.  Three years after X-Factor, Gamu is back and ready to unleash her very special brand of soul-pop on the the UK, starting with infectious debut single, "Shake The Room."

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In Case You Haven't Heard Part II

Promises promises. I know I promised a more POP-focused post following my rock-themed update back on September 9th, but life happened. Apologies.  Now the tunes I wanted to mention here are even more outdated but that's OK.  There are still some quality tunes here worth talkin' about. In this post we cover new stuff from X-Factor winners, Little Mix, UK dreamboat Ben Montague, pop cutie-patootie MIKA, Canadian popstar Esthero, plus a couple more. Enjoy!

How this little JAM slipped by me I'll never understand, especially considering how invested I was in season 8 of the ORIGINAL X-Factor.  Little Mix (formerly known as Rhythmix) are a four-piece girl group comprising members Perrie Edwards, Jesy Nelson, Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Jade Thirwall and have the distinction of being the FIRST group to ever win it all on The X-Factor.  While they took their sweet-ass time to release any new tunes, first single "Wings" proves that these girls are well worth the wait.

Following the release of the girls' first #1 single, a decent enough POP cover of Damien Rice's tear jerker of a singer/songwriter ballad "Cannonball," they unleashed a proper up-tempo dance/pop tune on Great Britain in the form, of the TMS-produced hit "Wings," which went on to become the girls' second consecutive #1 hit single. You go girls!  The single was released on August 26th, backed by a tight remix package, featuring dance floor makeovers by The Alias and Sunship.  As nice as the remixes were, the song really shines brightest in it's original form.  It's a forceful little stomper of a pop tune, chock-full of plenty of soul and punchy attitude.  

Upon first listen, you could swear Little Mix has been singing together for years, rather than being the prime example of "manufactured" pop, a group made up of four solo singers plucked from the X-Factor reject pile by mentor/judge Tulisa Contostavlos.  The girls prove themselves and THEN some in their first official single, taken from their forthcoming debut album, DNA, which is scheduled to drop November 19th via Syco/will.i.am.   Here's hoping they do well enough in their native land to warrant a trip over here to the States.  If Cher Lloyd could do it successfully, I see no reason why these girls can't!

Download "Wings" on UK iTunes and check out the colorful and fun video ABOVE.

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[Review] Paije Richardson - Bang Bang

Unless you're a resident of the UK, you probably haven't heard of Paije Richardson (even if you are, I'm not sure how well known he is), so here's a bit of a refresher.  Paije competed on the The X-Factor, Series 7, known for his big range, big notes and big talent.  While he was ultimately eliminated from the competition (that went on to crown Matt Cardle as winner), Richardson stuck with it and is ready to release his debut single and album, later this year.  First single, "Bang Bang," is due out July 16th, followed by the release of his album sometime this Fall.

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[Hot Video Alert] Cher Lloyd - Want U Back

Releasing "Want U Back" as Cher Lloyd's official first U.S. single was a smart move on the part of her U.S. label, Epic Records.  Releasing it without X-Factor's resident rapper Astro was also a smart move. Astro's addition to the UK version of the single always seemed contrived to me. Hell, it certainly didn't add anything valuable. The song's strengths lie completely in Lloyd's sassy delivery, Shellback's spunky production and Savan Kotecha's punchy, fresh lyrics.  Astro, as talented as he is, was always an after thought, a gimmick thought up by his X-Factor mentor (and chairman/CEO of Epic Records) L.A. Reid.

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Ones to Watch in 2012: Aiden Grimshaw

Nearly two years after gracing television screens all over the UK as a contestant on The X-Factor: Series 7, Aiden Grimshaw has (finally) unveiled his debut single and it's a wonder to behold.  "Is This Love," due June 3rd via RCA Records, was written by the 20-year old Grimshaw, and serves as the first single off his debut album, Misty Eye, out August 13th in the UK.  Listen to the single BELOW.

At first listen, Aiden appears to be he heading in the right direction, musically speaking, following the lead of other more established "folktronica" artists like Alex Clare and Ellie Goulding.  This song is an exercise of both subtlety and strength, complete with a big, soaring chorus and booming drum & bass beats, utilizing Grimshaw's beautiful falsetto to absolute perfection.  This combination showcases, not only Grimshaw's vulnerability, but his impressive vocal chops as well.  Aiden's vocals rise triumphantly above the sleek, futuristic-sounding production, immediately slaying all those who listen.  What a debut!  Grimshaw's songwriting skills are also worth noting.  Gone, are the days when reality show contestants are thrust into the arms of a team of songwriters.  I love that this latest crop of burgeoning artists are allowed the opportunity to showcase their own skills as storytellers. 

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Hot Video Alert: Cher Lloyd feat. Astro - Want U Back

Cher Lloyd's latest single, "Want U Back" is hands down my favorite Cher Lloyd single released to date.  In fact, it might even be her best single released to date...granted, she's only released a total of 3 singles, but never mind that. I can also definitively say that my reasons for liking "Want U Back" so much have absolutely nothing to do with the last minute addition of U.S. X-Factor contestant Astro onto track. N-O-T-H-I-N-G!  On the contrary, what I like about this single has everything to do with Cher Lloyd.  "Want You Back" is a lot of fun, especially when you throw in remixes from Cahill and Pete Phantom.  Delicious! In the corresponding Parris-directed video, Cher's personality and quirky sense of humor both come bubbling to the surface. How refreshing.

This mid-tempo pure pop gem was produced by Shellback (P!nk, Britney Spears) and co-written by Shellback, Savan Kotecha (Adam Lambert, Leona Lewis) and The Astronomical Kid (AKA Astro).  Set to be released February 19th, "Want U Back" is the third single lifted off of Lloyd's debut Top 5 album, Sticks & Stones which came out last November via Syco/Epic Records.  Preceding the album's release was the release of Cher's first single, the incessantly irritating "Swagger Jagger," which surprisingly was a #1 hit.  The song was voted the "Most Annoying Song" in all of 2011 by the BBC's 'Most Annoying of 2011' list.  Not exactly the honor Lloyd was looking for.

Follow up single, "With Ur Love" featured Lloyd alongside U.S. hip-pop star Mike Posner and rose all the way to #4 on the UK Singles Chart. Now that the album has been out for a while, I'm hoping that Lloyd can maintain her Top 5 status with "Want U Back."  Things are looking promising, given the fact that the song entered the UK Singles Chart shortly after the premiere of the music video, peaking at #26.  My guess is that the actual release of the single propels it into at least the Top 10.  Fingers crossed.  For her debut album, Lloyd really brought out all of the stops, collaborating with the likes of hit songwriter Autumn Rowe, mega-producer RedOne, Busta Rhymes, Mike Posner, Ghetts, Mic Righteous and Dot Rotten.  Quite an impressive lineup for a newcomer like Lloyd. 

Back in December, it was announced that Cher Lloyd had been signed to Epic Records in the U.S., which helps explain why her label would add a no-name U.S. rapper to the radio version of her single.  Chairman and CEO of Epic Records (and X-Factor USA judge), L.A. Reid signed Cher Lloyd to his label.  He's also responsible for "discovering" and ultimately signing Brian "Astro" Bradley to his label as well, alongside fellow contestants Marcus Canty and Chris Rene. Connection made.  Turns out they're hoping that "Want U Back" is the vehicle in which Lloyd launches her U.S. career, or at least that's the plan anyway. Lloyd is keeping things real with regards to her future as a U.S. pop star, telling Metro:

"It's a bit crazy because I don't expect anyone to know who I am because I live in the UK. I'm from The X Factor and I came fourth. It's crazy and it gives me a lot of hope. With the USA, I'm not going to run before I can walk but you never know what’s going to happen."

"Want U Back" is a solid pop song that you can't help but shake-it to. There's no real reason why it shouldn't do well in the States, and with mainstream publications like The New York Times already dubbing her "the future," it's a good sign. At this point...it's all about promotion. Here's hoping L.A. Reid does his job and promotes the hell out of this girl!  U.S. fans can download "Swagger Jagger" on U.S. iTunes HERE.

Check out Cher Lloyd on the web:

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

This & That: Musical Morsels For You To Chew, Swallow or Spit Out

Thank GOD for Twitter. It's a great way to keep up with the latest happenings and news in the music world. It does get harder to pin down news the more people you are following (I am following over 1,500 people) but you learn how to sift through all of the fluff and pick out the bits that are important to you. 'This & That' is something new I'm trying on the blog, an excuse to not let all of these little tidbits and musical morsels go to waste. Some of them come from Twitter, some from other music blogs I follow, all of them juicy (not always good juicy). Enjoy a little bit of 'This & That.' 

Rebecca Ferguson, runner up on the last season of X-Factor has landed a deal with Epic Records.  The talented singer from Liverpool may have come in 2nd but she was first in my book. New label mate Paloma Faith congratulated Ferguson via Twitter: "@beccaxferguson should I be officially welcoming you? Tell me tell me? I'm so excited!" Ferguson replied: @Palomafaith hi I'm really excited! , couldn't have asked for better people to work with ill probably c u soon ;) xxx"

Cher Lloyd has been spotted meeting with mega-producer and hitmaker RedOne (Lady Gaga, Enrique Iglesias, Sugababes) in America.  It's assumed that they were discussing plans for the young pop star's forthcoming debut album.  While it's uncertain at this point which record label signed Lloyd, she did sign a contract with Syco (along with Matt Cardle, Rebecca Ferguson and One Direction). RedOne + Cher Lloyd? Yes please. {SOURCE}             

Speaking of One Direction, the third-place finishing boy band from last season of the X-Factor appears to be moving in the right direction as far as their burgeoning pop careers are concerned. The first step? A proper band logo.  The logo is fairly straight forward, featuring a black background with a white number "1" and a D with an arrow inside.  Next to the "1 D" is "One Direction" spelled out in red letters.  So are they "One Direction" or "1 Direction?" A bit confusing, no? {SOURCE}

Katrina Darrell (AKA 'Bikini Girl' from American Idol Season 8) has released a TERRIBLE version of "Big Spender." In the accompanying video, Darrell frolics around the beach, on a boat and in the club with a bevvy of half naked men and women.  While the vocals are weak, the video is actually pretty slick.  "Big Spender" was originally written by Cy Coleman and Dorothy Fields for the musical Sweet Charity.  The song has been covered by many but most famously by Peggy Lee and Dame Shirley Bassey.{SOURCE}

R&B singer JoJo is reportedly hard at work on her long-delayed 3rd studio album for Da Family/Blackground/Interscope Records.  While the New York Post reports that the songs for the new album are all "mastered & ready to go," JoJo Tweeted on Friday about a forthcoming collaboration with R&B megaproducer Rodney 'Darkchild' Jerkins (Destiny's Child, Jennifer Lopez), saying: "Grateful 4the wisdom, talent, spirituality + humbleness that makes @ONLY1DARKCHILD the brilliant mind he is . Loving what we're cookin up...." Hmm. Interesting. In September JoJo released her first mix-tape exclusively to Rap-Up.com and if that material is any indication of what JoJo is working on then we have a lot to look forward to.

14-year old Dionne Bromfield is getting to release a new single.  The British singer, who is signed to Godmother Amy Winehouse's Lioness Records, released her debut album in 2009.  The album peaked at #33 on the UK Album Charts and her debut single, a cover of The Shirelles' "Mama Said" peaked at #43. While her first album was a compilation of Motown cover songs, the new record features original material.  First single,  "Yeah Right" features Atlantic Recording Artist Rapper (and son of of Joseph "Rev Run" Simmons, one of the founding members of influential hip hop group Run–D.M.C.)  Diggy Simmons.  According to Bromfield (via Twitter) they shot the video for the single last Friday. Expect it to premiere before the single is released on March 20th.

Anyone remember the boy band O-Town?  Here's a quick refresher...the band released two albums in the early 2000s (the first of which reached #5 on the Billboard 200) and 2 top ten singles ("Liquid Dreams" and "All Or Nothing"). After their second album failed to make an impression on the charts they were dropped by J Records and the boys went their separate ways. Ashley Parker Angel went on to have a semi successful solo career, while the other band members faded into relative obscurity...until now.  According to TMZ 4 of the 5 original O-Town members (minus Parker Angel) have gotten back together and are in the process of recording the first new O-Town album since 2002's O2.  Hey I think they have a shot.  Take That did alright without Robbie Williams right? {SOURCE}

I love Mashups, especially when done well. Case in point, check out one of my favorites featuring La Roux, Robyn, Whitney Houston and Taylor Swift. Now for my latest obsession.  Leave it to Perez Hilton to find a brilliant bit of pop fun like this.  Not sure who created this Mashup but it's awesome. The mashup uses Britney Spears' "Hold It Against Me," Kat Graham's "Sassy" and Adele's "Rolling In The Deep." In one word...Amazing. {SOURCE}

I have always loved me some Blake Lewis and this new video featuring Lewis with buddy and collaborator BT further solidifies his place in my list of favorite Idol Alums.  To hear Lewis in his beatboxin' element, check out this new video for his original song, "She Loves The Way," produced by BT.  Lewis first performed "She Loves The Way" on the American Idols Live! Tour back in 2007 becoming the first Idol alum to sing an original song on the Idol tour.  This video is set to the Beatbox Stutter Edit Mix of the song and was made using a MacBook Pro, "the iSight, BT's Stutter Edit plugin, Loop Pedals, a Kaoss Pad and KJ Sawka on drums." Brilliant! According to Lewis on his YouTube channel, "3 live takes at London Bridge studios in Seattle, Washington is all it took for BT to take my song and make a kickass example of how Stutter Edit can be used with video." Watch the video HERE.

Well this is unexpected.  Swedish electro-pop Goddess Robyn is releasing a new single off of her fabulous, critically acclaimed Body Talk album.  Co-penned by Robyn and Klas Åhlundm, "Call Your Girlfriend" will be released as the follow up to Robyn's last single, "Indestructible," which peaked at #4 on the Swedish singles charts.  According to Robyn, fans can expect the accompanying video will be released in "probably February or March."  Can't wait for some new Robyn!  Robyn's "Dancing On My Own" was nominated for a 'Best Dance Recording' Grammy so look out to see if she wins when the Grammy's air on February 13th. {SOURCE}

You may remember when Travis Garland performed his debut solo single, the Danja-produced "Believe" on American Idol in May of last year.  Prior to his solo debut Garland was the lead singer of NLT, an American boy band that also featured Kevin McHale, now of Glee fame.  The band released 4 singles and were scheduled to release their debut album however it never materialized on the group disbanded. Promoted heavily be Perez Hilton, Garland's Idol performance was supposed to be the catalyst Garland needed to launch him into solo stardom but that never happened.  Signed to Interscope/Geffen Records the singer/songwriter is supposedly working on his debut album, due out sometime this year, although details are sketchy at best.  As of January 11th, fans can download a free 5-track EP called Last Man Standing.  Get that HERE. It's a nice place holder while we await Garland's next move.

Looks like Ke$ha's next single off of Cannibal has been selected.  Fans can expect to hear "Blow" on the radio starting February 8th.  The Dr. Luke/Max Martin/Benny Blanco-produced electro-stomper is typical Ke$ha in that her voice is auto-tuned to shit.  The jury's still out on whether or not this single's any good.  The Prophet appropriately labels it "Take it Off" Part 2 and I can't say that I disagree. Ke$ha's latest release, the mini album Cannibal peaked at #15 on the Billboard 200 chart. First single, the infectiously catchy "We R Who We R" peaked at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.  "Blow" entered  the Billboard Hot 100 at #97 as a result of it's early promotional release.{SOURCE}

Up & coming singer/songwriter/producer/Duke-graduate Mike Posner has announced his third single and it's one of my favorites off of his debut album, 31 Minutes To Takeoff.  Produced by The Smeezingtons (Sugababes, Travie McCoy, Justin Bieber) "Bow Chicka Wow Wow" is the perfect choice for a third single in that it's a sonic departure from previous two singles "Cooler Than Me" and "Please Don't Go."  The closest thing Posner has to a ballad on the album, "Bow Chicka Wow Wow" is a sexy surprise from Posner. Can't wait to see the video for this one.  The single was sent to U.S. radio outlets on January 18th.  Posner's first single, "Cooler Than Me" peaked at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 while follow up "Please Don't Go" fared less successfully, peaking at #16.  "Please Don't Go" will be released as Posner's second UK single on March 13th. {SOURCE 1, 2)

What's this about Joe Jonas going electro for his upcoming solo album? Sounds...interesting? Dare I admit that I'm intrigued?  This could make me start caring about the Jonas Brothers...err...at least about one of the Jonas Brothers.  Jonas, who's working with Danja (Madonna, Usher, Britney Spears) on a new project, revealed to MTV News that he wants his new sound to be reminiscent of Daft Punk.  Looks like Jonas is planning on riding the dance/pop wave straight onto the charts with this new album. I'm interested to see if he can pull it off.  According to Jonas, "I listen to a bunch of stuff you dance to, kind of electro-based."  Also working with Jonas on his debut? None other than Music Is My King Size Bed-favorite Frankmusik. AMAZING. {SOURCE 1, 2}

Another pop star going dance-crazy? How about American R&B singer Mya.  The "Case of the Ex" singer has recorded a single called "Love Is The Answer" and it was produced by Miami-based DJ, Remixer and Producer Cedric Gervais.  Wow. Can't wait for this one!  Mya, who was runner up on the U.S. reality TV series Dancing With The Stars during it's ninth season, promises lots of dancing in the upcoming music video for the song.  According to Mya in an interview with E! Online, "There is a lot of dancing in this video, but it's nothing like what I did on Dancing With The Stars. It's way more Madonna than ballroom." "Love Is The Answer" is out on February 8th. Listen to a clip HERE. {SOURCE 1, 2)