Selah Sue Announces Support Slot on Ed Sheeran's U.S. Tour; Self-Titled Debut Album Out August 21st

Belgian singer/songwriter (and Music Is My King Size Bed 'One to Watch') Selah Sue is about to EXPLODE stateside! Mark my words!  In addition to releasing her self-titled debut album on August 21st via Columbia Records, the talented songstress has been announced as the opener for Ed Sheeran's forthcoming VH1 You Oughta Know Tour, kicking off September 17th in Toronto!  Now, that's what I call an extreme vote of confidence!

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Duffy Announces New 'My Boy' Remix, Single Out March 14

And the remixes keep on coming! I am LOVING the fact that soul singer Duffy is getting her new tunes remixed. So far the single best Duffy remix for me still is the Gareth Wyn remix of "Mercy" but perhaps the newly announced Alias Club Mix of new single, "My Boy" will take the cake? The single was co-written and produced by Albert Hammond and Duffy herself and also features backing vocals from Hammond. Ever amazing hip-hop group The Roots can also be heard as the rhythm section on the song. The single version is actually different from the album version, remixed by producer and engineer Tom Elmhirst. Due out March 14th on A&M Records, "My Boy" will feature the Elmhirst version, as well as a B-Side called "Tell Me."

"My Boy" is Duffy's second single off her sophomore album, Endlessly. The album debuted at #9 on the UK Albums Charts and at #72 on the Billboard 200 with first week sales of 18,000 copies. Duffy's debut record, Rockferry, went #1 in the UK and sold over 2,000,000 copies, going 5 x Platinum. In the States the album debuted at #4 and managed to sell an impressive 848,000. Let's hope things pick up for Duffy, as I'd love to see her come stateside and do a little promo. Lord knows her album needs a bit of help over here.  Listen to the fabulous Gareth Wyn remix of "Mercy" below.

Duffy 'Mercy' (Gareth Wyn Remix) by Gareth Wyn

Check Out Duffy on the web:

Official Site//MySpace//Facebook//VEVO

Duffy Releases 'My Boy' in March, Unveils Single Artwork

Duffy has unveiled the artwork for second single, "My Boy," taken from her sophomore set, Endlessly (A&M Records), which came out last fall. The album debuted at #9 on the UK Albums chart, which, while not as impressive as her # 1 debut album, Rockferry, still was a pretty good show of support for the Welsh singer/songwriter. Over in the U.S. Endlessly was a bit of a flop, coming in at #72. For a brand new artist from across the pond, this might be halfway decent, but considering that Rockferry peaked at #4 on the Billboard 200 back in 2008, #72 is a big disappointment.

While the critics have been all over the place with regards to Duffy's new record, on the whole I'm pretty happy with it. As much as I loved Rockferry, it was all a bit one note for me. I'm pleased to hear Duffy taking some risks on her new album, experimenting with a bit more pop/electro sounds on songs like the Stuart Price co-produced "Lovestruck" and on "Girl."  Single #2, "My Boy," was co-written and produced by Albert Hammond and is due out in the UK on March 14th and will be paired with an exclusive iTunes B-Side, a song called "Tell Me." The song features a rhythm section by the Grammy-winning hip-hop group The Roots.  UK fans can also pre-order the song on iTunes HERE which features an exclusive remix by Tom Elmhirst. Check out the video for Duffy's first single off of Endlessly, "Well Well Well," which peaked at #41 on the UK Singles chart. Download Endlessly on iTunes HERE.

Check Out Duffy on the web:

Official Site//MySpace//Facebook//VEVO

Hot Video Alert: Duffy - Well, Well, Well

Oh Duffy, Duffy, Duffy. Where have you been all of my life? Back in 2008, Duffy was just one of a rather large crop of British artists who crossed over to this side of the pond and found moderate success. NOW, her forthcoming sophomore effort is one of my most anticipated albums of the year. Due out November 29th in the UK and December 7th here in the U.S., Endlessly marks Duffy's triumphant return to the scene after a couple of years out of the spotlight. First single "Well, Well, Well" is a smokin' hot soulful little number that recalls elements of Duffy's last major hit, "Mercy." My fear with her new album is that it's going to follow the same format as Rockferry. One romper, stomper of a first single, followed by a string of sleepy ballads. While I do have high hopes for this album, I choose to remain cautiously optimistic...at least until I hear more album clips. Check out the Chris Cottam-directed video below. "Well, Well, Well" was written by Duffy and Albert Hammond and is available now on iTunes via A&M Records.

Check Out Duffy on the web:

Official Site//MySpace//Facebook//VEVO

UK Soul Singer Duffy to Release New Single and Album in November

I've been waiting for new stuff from both Adele AND Duffy since they released their respective 2008 debut albums and while both imports have been hard at work on follow ups, it appears that Duffy is going to be the first one out of the gate.  I'm fine with this...in fact I'm excited by this!  The 6.5 million selling, BRIT and Grammy-winning Rockferry is no doubt a solid album through and through but as soon as "Mercy" came out...that was it.  While the album had loads of other good songs, NONE of them possessed the same energy that "Mercy."  The rest of the songs were soulful ballads. Nothing wrong with a good ballad, but "Mercy" sort of set a bar for any subsequent singles in my mind.  "Warwick Avenue" was great but by and large, the rest of the material she had to work with (not to mention new track "Rain On Your Parade") was snooze-city.

The upcoming release of Duffy's follow up album, Endlessly was announced yesterday.  Due out November 29th on A&M Records, the album will be preceded by "the infectious lead single" "Well, Well, Well," which features The Roots on rhythm section. I'm excited already!  The new album was written and recorded in New York and London this past year with the help of Albert Hammond and "together they have written and produced the next chapter of Duffy's meteoric career."  Duffy has a lot to prove with her sophomore album, especially considering how successful her debut was and I honestly wish her nothing but the best.  Definitely one of the most anticipated album's of the Fall.  "Well, Well, Well" is due out November 21st.

Check out Duffy on the web:

Official Site//MySpace//Facebook//VEVO

New Artist to Watch - Paloma Faith

Paloma Faith is one of another crop of British singers that I'm newly obsessed with. I first heard Paloma when Popjustice did a little feature about her in April. Her debut single on Epic Records is called "Stone Cold Sober" and it's out in the UK on June 15th. I think Faith's voice sounds similar to Duffy's except with a bit more bite. She's a former Burlesque performer and magician's assistant so maybe that's why she's got so much sass and spunk.

Needless to say, I can't wait to hear what else she has to offer. I ordered a rare promo on Ebay that features some remixes by Cicada. Can't wait to hear this girl with a thumpin' dance beat! Check out her MySpace for videos, song clips and more. You can also follow her on Twitter.

Check out Paloma on the internet:

Facebook /MySpace /YouTube /Twitter /iLike /Bebo /LastFM

Amy Winehouse Wannabes? I Think Not!

I can't believe that it's been 4 months since my last post! So much to talk about musically! Wow. Where do I start?

Well...how about with my last album purchases? Let's start with Duffy, the 24 year old Welsh singing sensation that's (hopefully) about to break out in the U.S. this Spring. (May 13th via Mercury Records).

2 parts old soul, one part pop, Duffy's vocals conjure up thoughts of Amy Winehouse, Carole King, Dusty Springfield and, some have said--The Supremes. Having reached #1 in the UK with her single, "Mercy," Aimee Anne Duffy offered US audiences a chance to download the track on iTunes for free a couple weeks ago, as the "free song of the week." What's more...the U.S. version of the video was just released onto iTunes as well (there's a UK version as well). I purchased the album, Rockferry on CDWOW before realizing that it had a U.S. release date. Oh well. The rest of the album is hot as well--"Stepping Stone" and "Hanging On Too Long" are a couple of the standouts.
Next up, we have 19 year old Adele--the British singer/songwriter who made it up to #2 with her single, "Chasing Pavements" in her native UK (though her album made it to #1--just like Duffy). Another similarity to Duffy is her vocal comparison to Amy Winehouse AND her producer, Mark Ronson. I see the similarity between the two vocalists, however I think people need to stop searching for a new Wino--I still am holding out for Amy's grand return some day (though it's going to a be a depressing return if recent reports are to be believed). Adele stands tall as her own artist. Her album, 19 is brilliant. Check out "Hometown Glory" available on iTunes, also check out the video.

Finally--the youngest of the bunch, 16 year old Gabriella Cilmi, the brilliant Australian singer who's dazzling Europe (and her native Australia) with her sexy single, "Sweet About Me" and her recently released Lessons To Be Learned (which I just ordered from CDWOW). While young Gabriella's single has had its highest chart position down under, she is climbing the UK chart. Signed to Island Records, and recorded with British pop-power producers Xenomania--she has a busy career ahead of her, touring with British pop group the Sugababes and Nouvelle Vague and James Blunt. While there is no current U.S. release date, I have hope that she will eventually see one--OH...and she's been compared to Wino. Shocking. I'm excited to hear what else Gabriella has to offer. I heard a couple of the remixes done for "Sweet About Me" and was pleasantly surprised. Duffy has a couple of bootleg remixes and one official (yet unreleased) mix...Adele has no remixes out, to my knowledge. I guess not everyone can (or should) be remixed. Whenever Amy Winehouse gets her health back in order and releases a new album, I'll be ready--and despite the comparisons these girls are collecting, they are certainly individuals--and talented individuals at that.