[Hot Video Alert] Zoë Badwi - Shoot Me Down

Australian club queen, and one of my 'Ones to Watch,' Zoë Badwi stealthily released her latest single, "Shoot Me Down" back on September 28th via Neon Records/Warner Music Australia.  Written in LA with Frankie-E, the single is the first off of Zoë's as of yet untitled sophomore record.  The song sees Badwi continuing on in the high energy dance direction that first gained her attention back in 2008 with the release of the international SMASH "Release Me."  In the grimy looking, Sydney-shot video, Zoë gets down and dirty with a troop of attractive dancers in a variety of dimly lit shipping containers.  Writhing atop a mass of horny-looking, scantily clad young girls and boys, Badwi really turns up the heat.

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Hot Video Alert: Grant Smillie feat. Zoë Badwi - Carry Me Home

Australian singer/songwriter Zoë Badwi, one of my 'Ones to Watch in 2011' just released her latest single, "Carry Me Home" on June 3rd. A collaboration with prominent Melbourne-based house DJ (and 1/2 of Aussie production duo TV Rock), Grant Smillie, the super catchy dance track failed to chart on the ARIA Singles Chart but it did manage a respectable #7 on the ARIA Club Chart. Previous single, "Accidents Happen" peaked at #71 on the singles chart, a far cry from the Top Ten chart smash "Freefallin'." Pity. It's a good song, and one that deserves a better showing on the charts.

Badwi started out in music as one third of the Aussie girl group Sirens, replacing the third member who left to pursue a modeling career. Sirens enjoyed modest success with their singles "Like Fire, Like Rain" and a cover of "I'm So Excited," originally by The Pointer Sisters. Badwi eventually left the group to pursue a solo career and was ultimately discovered by her "Carry Me Home" collaborator, Smillie. Signing with Neon Records, Badwi released her first single, "Release Me" in 2008, where it went on to reach the #1 spot on the ARIA Clubs Chart as well as two nominations for "Best Dance Release" at the ARIA Music Awards and "Dance Work of the Year" at the APRA Awards. Her third single, the Platinum-certified "Freefallin'" is her biggest success to date, charting at #9 on the ARIA Singles Chart. As I reported in my last post, Badwi is signed in the States with Atlantic Records. Details are virtually non existent right now as to when she'll release her debut album, but it is expected sometime later this year.

Check out the stunning Zoë Badwi in the "Carry Me Home" video below and download the single on Australian iTunes HERE.

Check out Zoë Badwi on the web:

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

Hot Video Alert: Zoë Badwi - Accidents Happen

Rising dance pop star Zoë Badwi released the music video for her new single, "Accidents Happen" this past weekend. As I previously mentioned, "Accidents Happen" is the new single from Badwi's forthcoming debut album which is due out in 2011 on Neon Records (Australia) and Atlantic Records (UK/US).  Working with Static Revenger, TV Rock, Stuart Crichton, Rogue Traders and Amy Pearson, Badwi promises some surprises for her fans, not just a one-note record. Following on the heels of Badwi's tremendously successful fourth single, "Freefallin'," "Accidents Happen" keeps in line with her electro-dance-pop style, delivering a high-energy, up-tempo floor filler. While the lyrics are a bit Cascada-esque in terms of cheese factor, the song serves it's purpose entirely in that it's a future dance-floor anthem through and through.

The video starts out with two quotes (one from Napoleon, one from Picasso), both dealing FATE and how there are NO ACCIDENTS.  The quotes both fade to blackness except for one line in RED..."IT IS FATE. THERE ARE NO ACCIDENTS."  The video starts at the end and REWINDS BACKWARDS.  Groceries come up off the ground and go back into the bag...once spilled coffee is not back in the cup, etc. etc. By the middle of the video, someone hits PLAY and the video changes course, playing out a completely different scenario than what we just saw in reverse.   Timing really is everything.  Fate. No accidents.  The name of the song, the quotes at the beginning of the video...it all makes sense now.  Download the "Freefallin'" EP on iTunes HERE.

Check out Zoë Badwi on the web:

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

Ones to Watch in 2011: Zoë Badwi

Thanks Prophet for the heads up on this JAM. It's the latest single from Aussie pop star Zoë Badwi. Born in Melbourne, the talented Badwi first gained recognition as a member of Australian girl group Sirens, replacing the third member of the group who left to pursue modeling. After experiencing some minor chart successes with "Like Fire, Like Rain," and a cover of "I'm So Excited" (originally done by The Pointer Sisters) Badwi parted ways with the girls to pursue her dreams as a solo artist.

Soon after leaving Sirens, Badwi was "discovered" by Grant Smillie of the Australian electro-duo TV Rock and she speedily signed with Neon Records, with whom she released her debut single "Release Me" (not the Agnes song), taking it straight to the top of the ARIA Clubs Chart. While Badwi did release a couple more singles after "Release Me", it wasn't until her forth single, the Denzal Park-produced, Amy Pearson-written "Freefallin'" that she started to gain international recognition, signing with Atlantic Records in the States and in the UK. {SOURCE} "Freefallin," which peaked at #9 on the ARIA Singles Chart transformed Badwi from a dance club diva to an all around pop star with lots of cross over potential. Badwi is hard at work on her debut solo album, working with the likes of Static Revenger, Stuart Crichton, Rogue Traders, Pearson, and (of course) TV Rock. When asked whether or not the album will be all dance, Badwi promises some elements of surprise. "I'm a fun, happy-go-lucky girl. There won't be any melancholy stuff on there. I want it to be like that old saying, all killer no filler. You can tell when people have rushed a few songs on there, I'm happy to wait for the right songs." The album should be out sometime in 2011. {SOURCE}  As a follow up to "Freefallin'" Badwi will release a new single called "Accidents Happen" in her native Australia. Produced by frequent collaborators, TV Rock, the music video is expected to premiere this weekend. {SOURCE} I look forward to hearing more from Badwi in the coming months.

It's interesting to me that she signed with Atlantic, rather than a dance label like Ultra. Let's hope that they promote her properly in the States. I'd hate to see her talent squandered. U.S. fans can download the "Freefallin'" EP on iTunes HERE.  Listen to "Accidents Happen" HERE and check out the hot video for "Freefallin'" BELOW.

Check out Zoë Badwi on the web:

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