Ones to Watch: Bebe Black

London-based singer/songwriter (and all around bad ass bitch), Bebe Black is most certainly deserving of the "ONE TO WATCH" title.  Black has one of those voices that you just can't get enough of.  Blessed with versatile voice and impressive vocal range, Bebe Black could easily have had her pick of musical genres. Lucky for us, she opted for an edgy pop sound, mixing in elements of jazz, soul and rock, underscored with driving electro beats.  Vocally and production-wise, Black's latest single, "I'll Wait," recalls Sia and Florence Welch (Florence + The Machine), doing away with the heavy EDM influence heard on previous releases like the dubstep-drizzled (amped-up) Lana Del Rey-esque "Never Forget" and the PHENOMENAL "Deathwish." Taken from her forthcoming Columbia Records debut album, "I'll Wait" will be released in the UK October 27th. 

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[Hot Video Alert] Lana Del Rey - Ride

While you can say what you will about Lana Del Rey the PERFORMER, when it comes to Lana Del Rey the ARTIST, there should be no doubt in your mind that this girl's got talent for days.  Case in point, the new video for Lana's latest single, the Rick Rubin-produced "Ride," taken from the forthcoming Paradise Edition of her second studio album, Born To Die, out November 13th on Interscope Records.  In the just unveiled Anthony Mandler ("National Anthem")-directed short film (it runs just over 10 minutes in length), Lana takes on the role of a bad ass biker chick/sympathetic street walker, seemingly unable to distance herself from the male species, even just for a minute.  If you're hoping for an uplifting and uptempo number here, look elsewhere.  "Ride" is yet another haunting and dark downtempo ballad, beautifully and soulfully song by the GORGEOUS 26 year old singer/songwriter and it's video serves as the perfect complement.

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[Hot Video Alert: Double Feature] Lana Del Rey, Summertime Sadness & National Anthem

Controversial American singer/songwriter Lana Del Rey is plowing forward with international promotion for her debut album, Born To Die, with the release of two new summer ready singles. Released June 22nd, "Summertime Sadness" served as Lana's third single in Germany and Austria and her fourth in Switzerland. Earlier this month in the UK Lana released "National Anthem" as her fourth single. Over here in America...we're being ignored.

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Cheryl Cole Preps for Release of A Million Lights; Call My Name Out June 10th

I don't know WHAT just came over me, but I started sweating bullets for Cheryl Cole's new album, A Million Lights.  Sure, catchy lead single "Call My Name" has a sexy video, but it's all a bit too generic, isn't it?  I mean I love me some SOLO Calvin Harris but he's turning into the next David Guetta, isn't he?

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Ones To Watch: Jake Bugg

At first glance (and listen) eighteen year old singer/songwriter Jake Bugg comes from a different time.  In the sepia-toned photo above, Jake channels a young Beatle as he stands confidently in the middle of an empty street, guitar in one hand, cigarette burning in the other.  His new single, "Lightning Bolt," recalls a familiar scene from my childhood, stretched out on the rug in the living room, listening to my parents old Bob Dylan vinyls.  It's uncanny how much Jake Bugg sounds like a young Bob Dylan! I think a lot of it is in the slight nasal quality Bugg has in his voice, while the rest might be the crackling production which reminds me of an old record spinning on the turntable.

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[Hot Video Alert] Lana Del Rey - Carmen

With "Carmen," melancholy songstress Lana Del Rey is up to her old tricks again, and by "old tricks" all I mean is splicing and dicing random clips to make a music video - clips of flowers blooming, the New York City skyline, old time movies, and such, cut with scenes of Del Rey on stage and with her boy toy acting all lovey dovey somewhere around New York. It's all very True Blood-intro like if you ask me, which is still one TV opening credits sequence that I refuse to fast forward through.  It's eerily delicious and I love it, much like Del Rey's own music.  The video premiered on Lana's official YouTube page April 21st with a message - "Thank you to all of the beautiful film makers that helped make this video."

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Cheryl Cole To Release New Single and Album In June, Video Premieres May 2nd

While UK pop fans are all still shaking, hoping and praying for a Girls Aloud reunion, I may have the next best thing.  The return of Ms. Cheryl Cole.  Oh, and for the record, it's just CHERYL now.  That's right folks, Cheryl is back and she's going the MADONNA route and dropping her last name.  Cheryl's brand new single, "Call My Name" will be shipped out to UK radio on Friday April 20th, preceding the singles official release on June 10th. Get ready world!

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Hot Video Alert: Lana Del Rey - Blue Jeans

"Blue Jeans" might just be my favorite track off of Lana Del Rey's debut album, Born To Die so I'm beyond ecstatic to see it get it's own official single release.  Released in the UK on April 8th through Interscope Records, "Blue Jeans" serves as the album's third single, backed my remixes from Gesaffelstein, Odd Future and Blood Orange with remixes on the way from RAC, D/R/U/G/S and Kris Menace.

Produced by Emile Haynie and co-written by Haynie, Lana Del Rey and Dan Heath, "Blue Jeans" was originally released as a double A-side with her debut single "Video Games" back in October when it became my OBSESSION.  The song was preceded by the release of a self-made music video, uploaded onto Del Rey's YouTube page on September 9th which at this point has over 11 million views.

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Hot Video Alert: Lana Del Rey - Born To Die

"Born To Die" is the stunning title track taken from Lana Del Rey's forthcoming debut album due out January 30th in the UK (Polydor) and January 31st in the U.S. (Interscope).  According to Lana, "The songs I've written are an homage to true love and a tribute to living life on the wild side."  Besides "Born To Die," other confirmed tracks on the album include "Million Dollar Man," "Off To The Races," "Blue Jeans," "Carmen" and of course "Video Games."  The new single is set to come out in the UK on January 23rd, backed up by some undoubtedly fierce remixes from Damon Albarn, Woodkid and Clams Casino.  While the song offers no surprises, it's far from being a disappointment. "Video Games" and "Blue Jeans" were both subtly amazing.  They offered nothing in the way of big anthemic choruses, soaring high notes or catchy beats, instead focusing on the unique and retro tone of Del Rey's voice.  With the release of "Born To Die," Lana Del Rey reiterates the fact that less is more. Pop music truly can be beautiful without pomp and circumstance.

Since the release of "Video Games," Del Rey's official first single, the girl's been blowing up on the blogosphere.  People either love her or they hate her. I for one, am in head over heels in love (check out my 'Ones To Watch' post).  Sure, I take issue with the fact that "Lana Del Rey" is little more than a character created by a label to sell records, but her talent is undeniable.  For me...talent overshadows politics and Lana Del Rey has proven herself in the talent department.  After her homemade video for "Video Games," released back in July, amassed over 8 million hits, the song started gaining momentum.  The song hit #1 on iTunes in nine countries including the UK, Australia, Holland, and France.  The song went on to peak at #1 in Germany and a respectable #9 on the Official UK Singles Chart. The song has won over critics worldwide as well, earning the prestigious "#2 track of the year" title from Q Magazine, with the magazine also naming Del Rey the "Best New Thing."  While U.S. success has been elusive as of yet, I'm hopeful that America will come to it's senses soon enough.

Check out the sweepingly cinematic video for "Born To Die" below.  Directed by Woodkid, the video was conceived by Lana Del Rey herself.  The video is truly epic, with no expenses spared by her label.  I was worried that with the release of her first major label-funded, big budget music video, we'd lose some of the darkness that we've been seeing in Del Rey's homemade productions.  Well, don't you worry.  "Born To Die" is filled with heartbreak and tragic loss, all the while showcasing stunning camera work, beautiful scenery and even two adorably ferocious tigers. Lana Del Rey looks like a goddess.  The video truly is the perfect complement to an already perfect song. I cannot WAIT for this album to drop.  While you're waiting, why not download the "Video Games" remix EP on U.S. iTunes HERE.

Check out Lana Del Rey on the web:

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

Ones to Watch in 2012: Lana Del Rey

While the rest of the blogging world might have been drooling over Lana Del Rey months ago, I'm only just now falling in love. What can I say? There's no excuse.  October 16th was the release date for Del Rey's debut double A-Side single, "Video Games" and "Blue Jeans," so I fell in love with her at a good time.  While I'm not above listening to songs via YouTube my BlackBerry doesn't do video so well and this is music that I need to have by my person on the daily. It's THAT GOOD!

Lana Del Rey once called herself a "gangsta Nancy Sinatra" which, although meant as a joke, spread through the blogosphere like wild fire.  As embarrassed as she may be by that remark, I think it's kind of a perfect description, minus the gangsta maybe.  The music is most certainly not "GANGSTA" stylistically the lyrics are hard hitting and emotive.  Upon listening to and watching the video for "Video Games," I independently thought of the Sinatra comparison, so I think she might be on to something there. Embrace it girl!

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