Universal Republic Records has signed Television Executive Producer/Actor Seth MacFarlane, the multi-talented creator behind the hit Emmy winning FOX Animated Series Family Guy. MacFarlane will record and deliver a fully orchestrated album of 1940s and ‘50’s classic show tunes, scheduled to hit stores and online platforms later this year.
With his recent Emmy nomination for Music & Lyrics this year, MacFarlane felt that the timing was right to release his debut solo album. A music enthusiast, MacFarlane is known as one of the few showrunners in Hollywood who utilizes a complete orchestra and talented composers on a weekly basis to score his three animated shows, Family Guy, American Dad!, and The Cleveland Show. MacFarlane is also an experienced live performer, having played to sold out audiences at London’s Royal Albert Hall and New York’s Carnegie Hall, as well as lending his time and voice to numerous charity benefits.
MacFarlane stated that, “It’s rare in this day and age to have the opportunity to create an album that celebrates the classic, sophisticated sound of rich, lush swing orchestrations. It will be an absolute joy to sing this music, and I look forward to working with the entire team at Universal Republic on what we intend to make an exceptional project.”
The album will be produced and arranged by film and television composer, Joel McNeely. It will include the work of legendary songwriters such as Rodgers and Hammerstein and Lerner and Loewe among other talents from the ‘40s,’50s, and ‘60s. All songs have been handpicked by MacFarlane to highlight the work of these great composers.
In addition to showtunes, the album will feature some original material, including the song ‘She’s Wonderful Too’ written by Joel McNeely for an episode of the Lucasfilms television series The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles. Composed as a short piece for the show, MacFarlane and McNeely (with the blessing of George Lucas) composed additional lyrics and melodies to make a new and more complete song.
The production process for the album will reconstruct the techniques used in the great recordings of this era by utilizing a live orchestra and a big band playing together in the same room where MacFarlane will sing live. The album will be recorded in the legendary Capitol Records Recording Studio where Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Rosemary Clooney and many others recorded prolific albums. Great care is being given to replicate the same microphones, mic pre-amps and signal chains that those recordings used, and the record will be recorded to analog tape, to match the sound of those historic records.
Hamilton Park may have honed their vocal skills while singing in their church choirs, but they are much more than just four guys who share a love for singing. They are a brotherhood born on the basketball courts of Hamilton Park Recreation Center in Atlanta. Hamilton Park, which is made up of Anthony, Mr. Marcus Lee, Chris Voice and Royce P aka The Prince of H.P., turned to both music and basketball as a way to avoid trouble in the streets of Atlanta, and remain on the path of following their dreams. Never once did H.P., imagine that the endless time spent playing basketball, or singing for hours on end, would later lead to being discovered by legendary music mogul Andre Harrell through his partnership with Radio One’s “Superstar Soul Search,” becoming the first group signed to his label, Harrell Records.
In 2010, Andre Harrell and Radio One launched the “Superstar Soul Search” in Atlanta, with the grand prize being a recording contract with Harrell Records. H.P. unfortunately missed the registration deadline, but fate would soon bring the four another chance to perform in front of Harrell. While on a radio promo tour for the competition throughout Atlanta, Harrell heard more and more about H.P. from every radio station he visited. After a visit to Atlanta station WHTA, Harrell learned that the Southeast Regional Manager for Atlantic Records, Yancey Richardson, who had been with him throughout this promo tour, was actually one of the managers of H.P. Harrell reached out to Yancey to set up a meeting with his partner Frame and the group for an impromptu performance. “They reminded me of Jodeci,” said Harrell, who then collected their music and decided to allow them to perform the national anthem at the finals. They were church boys, but they were masculine. I liked their relationship with each other and the way the blended in and out. They looked like a superstar group to me. … They’re like four heads thinking as one.” After H.P.’s rendition blew the entire audience away, Harrell realized they deserved a recording contract more than the other contestants, knowing that with his musical genius combined with H.P.’s potential, the outcome could be extraordinary. “They were better ready to come out with a record than any other contestant who was there,” said Harrell, who was responsible for discovering Diddy. “They had their production team in place. They were ready to go. They were like, ‘Let’s go.’”
From there, H.P. flew to New York to meet with Atlantic Records, where they performed their infectious single “Computer Love” along with Jodeci’s “My Heart Belongs to You.” It took H.P. only two songs to get a standing ovation from an entire conference room of music execs and A&Rs. After seeing this reaction, Harrell knew that H.P. had something special, and knew he could polish them into the flagship group for his new label Harrell Records, a partnership with Atlantic Records. “We weren’t taking ‘no’ for answer,” said the group ironically at the same time.
Hamilton Park successfully marries their athleticism and masculinity from their time on the basketball courts with their sense of chivalry, sensitivity, and ability to tap into their emotions. With three of the group members raised by a single mother and the fourth by a mother and father who are Pentecostal pastors, they collectively have an unfaltering affinity of how to properly treat a woman. Subsequently, H.P.’s infatuation with women evolved has into a matured state, compelling them to strive toward touching female’s hearts with their rebellious, untamed love ballads.
H.P. is united through an ineluctable fate. Mr. Marcus Lee and Anthony have been friends for more than 10 years, since they both sang in the youth choir at Paradise Church of God and Christ on the Southside of Atlanta. They later built a close relationship with Chris Voice, who used to sing at choir events while visiting his aunt. When the three saw that they had something special, it was time for the guys to find someone to help manage and develop H.P. further. It was then that an ambitious Anthony approached his uncle, Don “Frame” Howard, who was an A&R for Upfront Entertainment (Devyne Stephens, Akon) and worked with Dallas Austin and Left Eye of TLC and saw firsthand development of many acts that came though Atlanta, such as Another Bad Creation, TLC and Boyz II Men, to fulfill this role. Once Yancey, introduced Royce P to Frame, Hamilton Park had found the missing piece of the puzzle. It wasn’t until all four members sang together that Frame was captivated by each member’s ability to grab the mic as the lead singer, while still remaining a cohesive unit. But the group also has many different complexions within it. Royce P sings with undeniable conviction and passion, engaging listeners with his serious tone that beams from his eyes; Anthony bellows with hope, leading listeners into an optimistic retreat; Mr. Marcus Lee speaks the truth with his soulful array of salacious words; and Chris Voice touches the heart with his silky, inspiring words.
For the next four years, Frame groomed the four members at Hamilton Park Recreation Center & Parkin Scottdale, Ga., where they spent vigorous hours learning their strengths and weaknesses as a group, building camaraderie and teamwork during pick-up games on the basketball court. The four named themselves Hamilton Park, paying homage to the area where their bond progressively became more intact. “It just made sense,” said Mr. Marcus Lee, the group’s lone preacher’s kid. “That’s where we made a commitment to ourselves and to God. Even if we have a group discussion amongst us, it’s going to be in Hamilton Park. That’s where we got our wisdom. It all starts in Hamilton Park.” Yancey, who also helped develop the sound of H.P. with his writing, says the group’s time together is what helped build the strong, brotherly rapport that the guys have with each other. “They open up every session with a prayer and close every session with a prayer; they understand that it starts and ends with God.” In a five-year period, H.P.’s likability transcended across the city, drawing comparisons to hometown platinum-selling groups 112, Jagged Edge and the 1990s group Jodeci, gaining approval from the masses.
“They are what New Edition once was,” said Frame, who, along with Richardson, developed Hamilton Park through their company L7 Entertainment. “These guys are pure. They’re untamed. It’s the chemistry, the unity that makes them special. They come from the tradition of a southern church. Altogether, Hamilton Park is what Atlanta sounds like today.” H.P., who have been influenced by everyone from The Commission and The Clark Sisters to The Temptations and Usher, want to continue the lineage of legendary groups with their youthful soul singing rhythms. They are the face of Harrell Records and aim to reintroduce songs that appreciation women.
In today’s disposable pop environment, H.P. is seeking to reestablish the sheer essence of chivalry and lyrically deliver tasteful grooves that will encourage listeners to reminisce about the time when showmanship was once a direct correlation of male R&B groups. “We’re bringing the real essence, the real R&B back to the bedroom. The stuff Ron Isley used to sing about. It’s tasteful, but graceful,” Royce P said. “It’s passionate and us being us. We’re young and we’re real strong with our love. We pull out the chair, we carry bags and do everything right. So when it comes time. … We do it for the sheets.” As Anthony puts it, “We do it for the ladies. We’re connoisseurs of love. We emphasize the fact that we are young men who are connoisseurs of love. It’s love in the most masculine, most manly way.” “I believe they can bring love songs back to the radio,” Harrell said. “Love songs are missing from the radio. They’ll bring back love and romance for young people.”
With an infectious laugh, 6-inch heels and a perfectly styled bob, she walks into the room and goes straight to the piano. Possessing a good sense of humour, a raw British accent and an un-doubtable eye for fashion, Jessie J has arrived. ”I can’t play…man, I wish I could. I just like to pretend I can,” she smiles.
Jessie J is not just a great pop artist…or a great R&B artist, or even a great hip-hop artist. The British-born, Essex-bred vocalist is malleable enough to encompass several genres, while displaying vocals reminiscent of Motown-era greats. Although she may not be able to play the piano, Jessie is armed with the chops to blow people away, and the song-writing skills to pen a worldwide hit.
After one listen, it’s clear the extraordinary Jessie J stands alone. For Jessie, her Lava/Universal Republic debut album, WHO YOU ARE, showcases the skills of a gifted lyricist while highlighting an unforgettable journey.
While Jessie’s road to success hasn’t always been easy, she’s quick to emphasize the normalcy of her childhood. Growing up the youngest of three children, Jessie’s mother was a nursery school teacher and her father a social worker. “My family is very creative, but no one in my family sings… I was the only one who put my life to a melody…”
For Jessie, melody has been the driving force behind her successful career as a singer/songwriter. At 17, Jessie wrote her first song “Big White Room.” The song was inspired by real life events—specifically the time she was hospitalized at 11-years-old while sharing a room with a younger boy who sadly lost his life.
“I knew I wanted to write a song about that experience,” she divulges. The song has followed Jessie J throughout her career, and it remains a YouTube and crowd favorite when she performs it live. Her YouTube rendition has been viewed nearly 300,000 times and has garnered over 50 covers organically without radio airplay. “‘Big White Room’ is my comfort blanket, and I’m so happy that people can personalize the meaning of the song…” states Jessie.
Around the same time, Jessie J was signed to a short-lived independent label deal. She toured with various high-profile artists including Macy Gray, Sugarbabes, Girls Aloud, Chris Brown, Jools Holland, Cyndi Lauper and Taio Cruz. While showcasing her diva-infused voice and infectious songs, she had the freedom to explore her sound and a chance to teach herself how to adapt to diverse audiences. “I never had a band. It was me, my CD, my heels and a huge stage to fill. I loved that I had no one and nothing to hide behind…” The label eventually went bankrupt and closed its doors.
Still armed with a SONY ATV publishing deal, Jessie continued to hone her writing skills. It wasn’t long before Jessie had opportunities thrown at her by the dozen. One of her songs, “Sexy Silk,” was selected by NIVEA for a worldwide campaign. “I remember seeing the ad at the cinema and wanting to tell everyone, ‘That’s me! That’s me!”
In the last few years, Jessie has penned songs for the likes of Chris Brown and Lisa Lois the Holland X Factor winner. Her life also inspired the melody of a major hit record, “Party in the USA,” sung and performed by Miley Cyrus. “When Dr. Luke texted me saying my song was #1 on iTunes, I thought it was a joke!” she laughs.
Now, Jessie’s signed worldwide to Universal Music Group. In the US, she inked a deal with Lava/Universal Republic Records and Island Records in the UK. “I feel like my album is an example of what exists in the world of music right now. It’s like my album is an iPod… it’s like when you go clubbing these days, you don’t have a pop room and a separate R&B room, they’re all together. People just appreciate great music…”
The title track and 1st single, “Who You Are” is about a point in Jessie’s career where the singer’s aspirations were hanging on a thread. “The most important thing in life is to be happy, but everything had become too ‘business’ and sterile. I really thought I was going to quit—not music, but the music industry…it wasn’t easy,” Jessie states. “I was really down, but when I’m down, I write a song about it.”
Not all of Jessie J’s songs are built around hardship. Much like Jessie herself, a lot of songs on WHO YOU ARE, are of the fun, upbeat variety she displayed in previous songs such as, “Party in the USA.” Other songs that have had immense reactions on YouTube include “Rainbow,” “Stand Up” and “Whose Laughing Now”—all written about personal times in her life.
Mix a bit of Rihanna with Gwen Stefani, add the charisma of Pink, and you will start to get an idea of what kind of girl Jessie J is. As much as she can be a voice for the hard times, those soulful, Aretha Franklin-esque vocals can also soundtrack the best of times too. Take the Dr. Luke (Katy Perry, Kelly Clarkson, Miley Cyrus) produced song “Price Tag”—an upbeat, energetic dance number that highlights Jessie’s booming voice and can still stand out amidst glossy production.
There’s also the live staple, “Mamma Knows Best,” which showcases her hair-raising range and is an extremely funky ode to her loving parents. “My mom and dad always know best. I hate to admit that sometimes, but the song says it all. I base my confidence on purity and I want to be a role model… I want people to know that I am an unedited version of myself. I plan to expose the good and the bad to show that life is about being WHO YOU ARE…”
Andy Grammer "Keep Your Head Up" S-Curve Records/Universal Music Distribution
You know the feeling.
It’s that familiar warmth that washes over you in the first 20 seconds of your favorite song. That little reminder in your ears letting you know today is going to be a good day. Once the hook of Andy Grammer’s “Keep Your Head Up” hits, you’re already halfway there. It’s that kind of infectious groove that sets the tone for his groundbreaking debut EP, and the kind of talent that turns a regular tune into an honest feeling that stays with you all day.
There’s something wonderfully original about Andy Grammer. Beautifully blending classic and modern styles into a catchy cocktail of genuine pop, Andy’s music is one part John Legend, one part Maroon 5 with a splash of Lauryn Hill. He carries a moving spark to his sound that’s unique in every sense of the word, while wielding a confidence that is reminiscent of rock n’ roll’s glory days. His songs are a throwback to the greats that have come before, and a path that paves the way for what’s to come next.
Establishing himself as a Road Dog, Andy hasn’t stopped stacking up the gigs. He’s played over 100 colleges to date across the country, from Duke to UCLA, and opened for some of the industry’s brightest stars, including Plain White T’s and Josh Kelley. The demand continues to grow from his thousands of loyal followers coast to coast.
Hard work comes naturally to the New York native. After moving to Los Angeles at 20, he put in time tirelessly sculpting his signature sound and building a fan base on the legendary 3rd Street Promenade. A few short years later, Andy was hailed as one of the top-selling artists to come out of the scene, and now packs out LA’s most historic music venues, like the Roxy, and House of Blues on a regular basis. That kind of journey is a testament to relentless perseverance, working hand in hand with natural talent.
This life experience shines through in Andy’s songs. “I want listeners to walk away feeling like just heard something real,” he says. While some of the songs that make up his EP bounce along like a sunny afternoon, Andy doesn’t want his listeners to forget about the deeper side of life that gives way to the night. “In any song I write, the first thing I ask myself is if I’m being honest,” he says. “Not every track is designed to make you feel better, but every track is honest.”
Mariah Carey "Merry Christmas II You" Island Def Jam Music Group
Mariah Carey’s New Holiday Release Merry Christmas II You
Island Def Jam Music Group 2010
(Written In October 2010)
As autumn leaves begin to fall, international superstar Mariah Carey puts the finishing touches on MERRY CHRISTMAS II YOU, her second career album of holiday tunes, arriving November 2nd on the Island Def Jam Music Group. Highlighting the long-awaited new album is a brand new recording of Mariah’s all-time standard, “All I Want For Christmas Is You.”
In addition to traditional yuletide fare – “The First Noel,” “Little Drummer Boy,” “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” “O Come All Ye Faithful” and more – MERRY CHRISTMAS II YOU also contains four original songs composed by Mariah, including the new single, “Oh Santa,” and many more surprises for the fans. Producers on the new album include American Idol’s Randy Jackson, multi-platinum hit-making producer Jermaine Dupri, James Poyser (acclaimed producer for Aretha Franklin, The Roots, Lauryn Hill and more), and five-time Oscar nominee and Grammy/Tony/Emmy award winning composer Marc Shaiman.
Mariah Carey
“Oh Santa”
From Merry Chistmas II You
Islamd Def Jam Music Group
Since it was first released, “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” written by Mariah Carey and Walter Afanasieff, has become one of the essential musical hallmarks of the holiday season, and continues to set sales records each year. The song hit #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 Singles Recurrents chart every year from 2005 to 2008. After ringtones began to be charted in 2006, “All I Want For Christmas Is You” hit #1 for the next three consecutive holiday seasons. It became the first seasonal Mastertone to be certified RIAA gold (2006) and RIAA platinum (2007), and is ranked as the top-selling seasonal ringtone of all-time.”All I Want For Christmas is You” was the featured single from MERRY CHRISTMAS, which has sold over 12 million to date.
Mariah Carey
“All I Want For Christmas Is You”
From Merry Christmas
Columbia Records
Mariah Carey
“All I Want For Christmas Is You” (Exyta Festive 2010 Mix)
From Merry Christmas II You
Island Def Jam Music Group
MERRY CHRISTMAS II YOU is Mariah Carey’s 13th studio album, and follows up her worldwide multi-million-selling Memoirs Of An Imperfect Angel (released September 2009), her multi-platinum E=MC² (2008), and worldwide 10 million selling The Emancipation Of Mimi (2005). The Emancipation Of Mimi generated three Grammy awards (including Best Contemporary R&B Album), two #1 singles, and countless more honors during its 18-month chart stay. Soundscan’s biggest-selling album of 2005, Mimi featured “We Belong Together” (Grammy winner for Best Female R&B Vocal and Best R&B Song) and “Don’t Forget About Us,” Mariah’s 16th and 17th #1 career singles respectively. They tied one of the most enduring chart records in Billboard Hot 100 history, Elvis Presley’s 17 #1’s.
Three years later, Mariah surpassed Elvis when “Touch My Body” (from E=MC²) became her 18th #1 Hot 100 hit. “Touch My Body” spent two weeks at the top, Mariah’s 78th and 79th cumulative career weeks at #1, which tied Elvis’ long-standing all-time high of 79 weeks at #1, as calculated by Billboard. Mariah is now positioned as the only active recording artist in the 50 years of the Hot 100 (which began in 1958) with the potential to surpass the Beatles’ all-time high of 20 #1 hits. The success of E=MC² brought total sales of Mariah’s albums, singles and videos to more than 200 million worldwide, distancing her even further from the pack as the top-selling female recording artist in history.
Hip hop, pop, R&B and electronica converge within the Los Angeles quartet’s sonic framework. i SQUARE —Mike J, Destiny, Briddy and 10Beats—strike a delicate balance between the otherworldly and the infectious. Their debut single, “Hey Sexy Lady,” shows the shape of pop to come. Available now on iTunes and all online retailers via Pentagon/Bad Boy/Interscope, “Hey Sexy Lady” sleekly shimmies with style and substance. Mike J croons out an undeniable melody as Briddy and 10Beats volley rapid rhymes back and forth. Destiny hypnotizes like a techno temptress, beckoning everyone to the dance floor. With production from Rami Yacoub, Carl Falk and Steve Angello, “Hey Sexy Lady” announces the arrival of i SQUARE. Executive produced by hip hop icon Sean “Diddy” Combs and music production collective The Pentagon, i SQUARE ’s forthcoming full-length will prove it’s hip to be square.
About the group’s musical mission, Mike J puts it best. “This is a whole new genre. There’s rap, there’s R&B and then there’s iSquare.”
i SQUARE officially formed in 2009 under one roof. That roof happened to be Babyface’s Brandon Way studios in Los Angeles. Mike J was working as a writer and producer at the studio, while Briddy was interning. The two decided to collaborate one day at the suggestion of The Pentagon’s Damon Thomas. It was instantly magic. Deciding to expand their creative palette, Briddy brought in 10Beats, and the trio began writing fervently. They wanted a female voice to add another layer to the experience. Destiny happened to take a meeting at Brandon Way one afternoon, and she caught their collective eye. With her inimitable style and rock star swagger, she was the perfect fit. Conjuring explosive sonic chemistry, the group cut “Party Life.” Thomas heard it, and he called Interscope. The label became I SQUARE ’s home almost immediately after their first performance.
The i SQUARE philosophy starts with a distinct sound, and that sound can incorporate anything. Destiny explains, “I call our music ‘Gumbo’ because the songs have a little bit of everything. It’s ear candy.”
“Hey Sexy Lady” is especially tasty. Bouncing with an eclectic electro beat and hip hop flare, the single is the perfect party track.
“This is our pyro record,” declares Briddy. “We always wanted to explode into the game. We didn’t want to come in gradually because our personalities aren’t very gradual. We’re in your face. We can take over any party with that song. ‘Hey Sexy Lady’ lets everybody know we’re here to have fun.”
The good times begin with “Hey Sexy Lady,” and listeners get to meet the four distinct personalities building i SQUARE. Destiny goes on, “‘Hey Sexy Lady’ introduces the world to each of us. Mike J’s a balladeer. 10Beats gets people hyped with super sexy rhymes. Briddy’s amped all the time, and his energy is contagious. I do the ethereal singing. It’s our duty not to half-step. We’re about to smash the stage.”
iSquare has found quite the combination of mentors in executive producers Diddy and Pentagon. The group charmed Diddy from their first performance, and he’s been on board with iSquare ever since. About working with the legend, Mike J says, “Diddy is seriously like our big brother. We can call on him for anything, and we always go to him for advice. He gives us a perspective that’s invaluable.”
With tightly choreographed dance moves, vibrant visuals and uncontainable energy, the iSquare live show is an experience. Destiny is a space-age femme fatale with a larger-than-life style. Mike J has got an R&B soul that injects heart into the music. 10Beats turns everything upside down, rapping while playing piano, while Briddy is a triple threat as an MC, producer and dancer.
10Beats explains, “Our presentation is always pretty big. We’ve even got our own dance, ‘The Square Dance.’”
For i SQUARE, boundaries don’t exist. On “Show Must Go On,” the group creates an uplifting and anthemic pop tune that’s danceable and thought-provoking. There’s a spacey theatricality to the song that elevates i SQUARE. “When it comes to music, you have to dare to be different,” says Mike J, “you can’t be scared to try new things. We’re trying to make our own path. Briddy would throw a giraffe sound in there and chop and screw it if he could. Anything goes for us.”
That “anything goes” mentality permeates everything that i SQUARE does. Beyond the music, i SQUARE is a lifestyle. It’s about being yourself—whether you’re at school, at work or at the club. It’s about recognizing your own potential. It’s about having a good time. It’s about loving every minute of your life. It’s about letting the world see who you are.
10Beats elaborates, “We want to promote that it’s cool to be yourself. It’s cool to be that kid in school who everybody doesn’t love. When you get older, everybody’s going to look up to you.”
In a day and age where artists don’t take risks, i SQUARE thrive on bending boundaries and busting open pre-conceived notions. They have no fear of letting their individuality shine through. Briddy concludes, “When I was growing up, I liked to play with action figures and draw anime characters. People just thought I was weird because I was a goofy kid. As I grew up, I became more comfortable with being myself and I began to believe in myself. If you believe in yourself, people are going to believe in you. That’s the i SQUARE philosophy. We give people something to believe in. You can’t box us in. We are the box. We’re going to bring people together again and make the world have a party.”
Get ready because i SQUARE are about to spark a party for the ages.
Ever since the release of his debut solo single, “Beautiful Soul” in December of 2004, Jesse McCartney has transformed from Bubble Gum Pop teen idol, to a credible all around entertainer. In 2008 Jesse had a totally unprecidented comback in music by reinventing himself from a Pop/Rock/Teen Pop sound, to a Rhythmic R&B/Pop sound, That album was appropriately titled, Departure, because that is exactly what it was. At the time, he left everything about his previous sound behind as he teamed up with A list producers like, Christoper “Trickey” Stewart & The Dream, Sran Garrett & The Clutch, and J.R. Rottem among others. Those producers would help him construct a style for a new audience that included more mature themes.
The new sound he was creating allowed him to go from a Radio Disney artist who struggled to chart with his second album, (Right Where You Want Me) to climbing the charts with four hit singles and a deluxe edition later released, In fact, Departure’s first single “Leavin”, written by “Trickey” Stewart, and The-Dream, reached the top of the American Top 40. This was not only Jesse’s highest charing single, but this was also one of the highest charting songs in Hollywood Records history, staying at the top of Ryan Seacrest’s coutown for six weeks. It held the record for second most weeks at number one in 2008!
Even though McCartney’s breakthrough single was written by “Trickey” and The-Dream, he also used that time to spread his wings as a song writer. As he co-wrote 5 songs on the album (international versions included) , one of those songs later became a major hit for another artist. That song was, “Bleeding Love”, written by Jesse McCartney and Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic, and soon became a massive hit for X Factor winner, Leona Lewis. It became one of the fastest selling songs in UK history.
Now that McCartney has finally become comfortable in his own skin as a musician, things can only get better for him Talk of his untitled fourth album began in March, 2010 when it was announced that Sean Garrett had produced three songs for the project. It has been said via Twitter that the album was completed this past August, it will have a similar vibe toDeparture , but will have even more of an Urban/R&B feel to it. The first single is a hot club style song called, “Shake”. It was produced and co-written by Joshua”Ammo” Coleman, along side writers, Jacob Kasher and Jeesse Mccartney himself. Ammo is probably best known for producing hits with Dr. Luke. Luke and Ammo have worked on hits for the likes of Miranda Cosgrove, (”Kissing You”) Ke$ha (”Your Love Is My Drug”) and many others. McCartney’s fourth album is due in October from, Hollywood Records. Take a listen to his new single right here
You may not have heard BC Jean’s name, but you’ve probably heard her work. The San Diego-born singer and songwriter tells a poignant story of overcoming romantic betrayal on the song “If I Were A Boy,” which she co-wrote with producer Toby Gad. The track, which appears on Beyoncé’s I Am…Sasha Fierce album, became a chart-topping, multi-platinum hit for the megastar.
Jean’s powerful version will appear on her upcoming debut album to be released early 2011 (J Records), which the 22-year-old is currently completing after working with a host of top-notch collaborators including rock producers Howard Benson (The All-American Rejects, My Chemical Romance), Brian Howes (Daughtry, David Cook), Zac Maloy (David Cook, Jason Castro), and pop hitmakers The Matrix (Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera), Ryan Tedder (Leona Lewis, Kelly Clarkson, Beyoncé) and Max Martin (Katy Perry, Pink). The result is a sparkling collection of edgy, rock-pop sing-alongs and touching balladry that paints an appealing portrait of this vibrant, young talent.
BC Jean
“If I Were A Boy”
J Records
The daughter of a piano and trumpet-playing stockbroker father and a talent manager mother, Jean comes from a musical family. Her grandparents, in addition to being painters, were also singers and actors who appeared on such television variety programs as The Perry Como Show and The Fred Waring Show in the 1950’s. Jean fell in love with music from a young age. “My favorite song was ‘She Drives Me Crazy’ by Fine Young Cannibals,” she says. “I would get up on our coffee table, use a lamp as a spotlight, and put on shows for my parents. When they were sick of me, I would set up my cats and dogs, stuffed animals, and Barbies as an audience and perform for them. And I would make my friends be my back-up singers,” she recalls with a laugh.
At age 14, Jean, who played piano, began converting the poetry she was writing into song lyrics. “I listened to No Doubt’s Tragic Kingdom, Britney Spears, and Alanis Morrissette and wrote down all of the lyrics to figure out how the songs were constructed,” she says, “that’s how I taught myself.” She also fell in love with the rock records her parents were listening to, albums by Aerosmith, Queen, Heart, and Rod Stewart. In high school, Jean began singing with a San Diego cover band that performed everything from Madonna and Eminem hits to old-time rock and roll and country songs. Her first live show with them was at The Sahara Casino in Las Vegas at age 15. “It was really great because it gave me stage experience and taught me how to sing harmonies. But I wanted to write and perform my own music.”
Jean convinced her mother to move with her to Los Angeles and began collaborating with various songwriters and producers who lived in her apartment complex in the San Fernando Valley. “I worked with this one producer and we recorded in a tiny closet in his apartment. I was drenched in sweat, with one leg here and one arm there trying to sing the high notes,” she recalls. Jean kept writing and making demos until one day she read an article about songwriter/producer Toby Gad in Recording Magazine and decided to send him a message through MySpace. Gad, who has worked with Fergie and The Veronicas, wrote her back and asked for a meeting. Next thing Jean knew, the two were writing songs together in New York, which is where “If I Were A Boy,” was created.
BC Jean In Studio With Producer Ryan Tedder Part 1
Recording her Lead Single
“You’re A Guy”
“I had just found out that my boyfriend had cheated on me,” Jean says. “Toby and I were walking around Times Square and there was an amazing smell coming from this pizzeria. I was doing the diet thing and was like, ‘Mmm, you smell that? If I were a boy, I would totally eat that.’ And he said, ‘What did you say?’ And I said, ‘I wish I were a boy so I could eat pizza and popcorn and wear baggy clothes.’ He asked me what else I would do and I said, ‘I’d be a better man than my ex-boyfriend,’ and he was like, ‘How would you sing it, BC’? We went back to the studio, I came up with the lyrics and melody, and we wrote it in 15 minutes. It’s such a simple song, but it’s very honest and I think that’s why it works.”
BC Jean In Studio With Producer Ryan Tedder Part 2
Recording her Lead Single
“You’re A Guy”
Jean had already been in talks with several labels about signing a recording deal when “If I Were A Boy” became a hit for Beyoncé, sparking a fierce bidding war for her services. “You eagerly wait for a multi-talented new artist to come along like BC Jean,” says Sony Music Entertainment’s Chief Creative Officer Clive Davis. “She’s already proven her major songwriting ability. And, what’s more, she’s got a truly powerful voice with edge and natural soulfulness. We’re all really delighted that BC has chosen us as her musical home.”
Recording her album is the culmination of a lifelong dream for Jean. “Writing songs and singing is how I express myself,” she says. “I don’t always communicate so well because I keep my guard up with people, so being able to do it through music is important. I’m way more vulnerable in my songs. I want people to listen to them over and over and feel something. I try to make what I write about relatable, but with a lot of musical twists and turns to keep it interesting. I don’t just want to write something that’s catchy, it should still sound good years from now.”
Take classic emcee skills and dope lyrics, add pop sensibility and rock energy. Stir. Sprinkle a dash of inspiration from a literary icon. What do you get? Vonnegutt.
Formed in early ‘07, the band has quickly built a tremendous buzz, placing in the top ranks of several unsigned band lists, drawing an ever-growing fan base, and catching the eye of several record labels. In the summer of 2008, their popularity earned them a spot at the Vans Warped Tour in Atlanta.
Though the band’s success may seem to have come easily, Vonnegutt’s two founding members had been paying their dues for years before crossing paths. Frontman/emcee Kyle Lucas was earning a name for himself in the underground hip-hop and mixtape scene. Guitarist Neil Garrard was busy doing session work for some of the south’s biggest names in Rap/R&B(Dungeon Family, Pastor Troy, and Kelly Rowland).
Looking to create something that fit his expansive musical tastes, Lucas decided to form an alternative hip-hop band. Garrard soon responded to his flyer at a local music shop, and after meeting they recognized their shared vision and musical chemistry.
Within months, with the help of friend and producer Michael Woodruff, the duo had created their first record, a promising marriage of rock, hip-hop, funk, and electronica. The Vice Nine EP lit up the internet with thousands of plays on Myspace and a big response from college radio with their single “Bright Eyes”. Their style has been described as “refreshing” and “a unique blend of hip-hop & rock.” They went on to play many shows in and around the Atlanta area earning a sizable following.
After a few lineup changes, the band solidified its lineup with the addition of Taylor White on drums and Patrick Postlewait on bass. In November of ‘08, after much speculation of what record label the band would call home, Vonnegutt officially signed with Big Boi, of the Grammy award winning duo Outkast, and his Purple Ribbon Records.
2009 was a growing year for Vonnegutt. They traveled up the east coast playing shows, they played Fox’s Good Day Atlanta and NBC’s MetroMix Morning show. On top of performing, the band also finished their debut album, Falling Up The Stairs.
With putting in over 2 years of writing and recording, Vonnegutt finished it’s debut album. Enlisting the help from producers Billy Hume (Rehab, Lil Jon, Heavy Mojo) and Simon Illa (D. Woods) the band feels this album is a true representation of what Vonnegutt is. Falling Up The Stairs has been greatly anticipated and is set for a 2010 summer release.
Vonnegutt 2010 EPK
Purple Ribbon Entertainment
Big Boi Featuring Vonnegutt
“Follow Us”
From Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty
Enrique Iglesias returns his eagerly-anticipated new album, Euphoria. With its seductive pop, driving hip hop beats and heart of pure passion, Euphoria is set to bring a rush of blood to the dancefloor, with VIP guests including Akon, Nicole Scherzinger, Usher, Puerto Rican reggaeton duo Wisin and Yandel, Juan Luis Guerra and the legendary Lionel Richie.
His most diverse, eclectic collection to date, Euphoria is also Enrique’s first album to feature songs sung in both Spanish and English. “This territory is so exciting for me,” says Enrique. “It taps into so many different styles of music. It’s like nothing I’ve ever done before.”
‘I Like It’ is the first international single from the forthcoming album, produced by Red One, it features a vocal cameo from Lionel Richie, reprising the chorus of his timeless hit ‘All Night Long’. The track is an upbeat floor-filler and comes backed with a crazy hot remix from #1 selling US rapper Pitbull (‘I Know You Want Me’). Enrique was thrilled to work with his friend Lionel Richie, but it was Pitbull who really took it out of him. “Man, working with Pitbull, it’s like he’s got everybody in the world’s mojo, his energy is so intense. And shooting the video together was just insane… ”
Other tracks on Euphoria include Enrique’s Spanish-language smash ‘Cuando Me Enamoro’, featuring Latin superstar Juan Luis Guerra, which crash landed in top 10s across Latin America and Spain on its release. Then there’s the sizzling ‘Heartbeat’, a duet with Nicole Scherzinger of the Pussycat Dolls. It’s utterly pop but emotionally naked. Says Enrique, “If you can create an upbeat song and still put sentiment in it like that… man, that song is raw.”
‘One Day At A Time’, is a departure into mellow calypso, the melody coming to Enrique after he had spent so long battling on the song that he was driving home from the studio in despair. “I turned straight round and went back to record it,” explains the perfectionist. “It was one of those special songs that make you fight for it.” ‘Dirty Dancer’ is a party piece, thick with slamming synthesisers and featuring vocals from Usher, who announces that this is a song “for the dirty girls, all around the world.”
Born in Spain, raised in Miami, and now an international superstar, Enrique discovered his musical talent young, but got his first record deal from a small Mexican label while using a fake name. In 1995 he won a Grammy for his first ever Spanish release (Enrique Iglesias) and in 1999 his eponymous English language debut went on to sell six million albums, go double-platinum in the US, and achieve gold or platinum status in 32 countries. Since then he has had a string of successful albums, from Escape (2001), 7 (2003) and Insomniac(2007) to hisGreatest Hits album (2008), while his sold-out world tours have established him as a captivating live performer.
In the US he is one of the biggest-selling Spanish artists of all time, with over 12 million albums sold and 19 #1 Billboard Latin hits across the Americas. Meanwhile, in the UK Enrique has sold 2.2 million albums and 1.6 million singles, the biggest of which – the inimitable ‘Hero’ – spent four weeks at #1 and is now a staple of teary X Factor scenes. Enrique has had 12 top 20 singles, and six Top 10 singles in the UK, including ‘Bailamos’, ‘Could I Have This Kiss Forever’, ‘Escape’, ‘Not In Love’ (ft Kelis), and ‘Do You Know’.
Traditionally, Latin artists release Spanish and English versions of the same songs. “But I always wanted to combine completely different songs, rather than translate them,” Enrique explains. “I’d write one I liked in Spanish, but then I’d write one I liked even more in English, so then there’d be this internal competition to write an even better one in Spanish, and vice versa. The US is now the biggest market for Spanish songs, so this is an experiment.”
“I know people always believe their new record is the best thing they’ve ever done, but truly, this record is my most diverse, my most exciting and the most surprising album I’ve made in my career,” he says, grinning wildly. The anticipation is tangible.
Cash Money Records’ singing sensation, Jay Sean caught up with Craig and Matt of Clizbeats.com, while on tour with Joe Jonas and Jojo. He took time to reflect on the massive success he enjoyed with his American debut album, All Or Nothing and its monster hit “Down.” He also tells the story behind his R&B [...]
Right before Nick Carter from the Backstreet Boys hit the road with New Kids On The Block on one of the hottest tours of the summer, he checked in with Clizbeats.com! Nick talked in detail with Craig and Matt Clizbe of Clizbeats.com about anything and everything, in a career spanning candid discussion! ! Listen to this rare exclusive [...]
Whether he was an intern, A&R, or Pop superstar record executive Sean “Diddy” Combs has used his talent for branding and collaboration to make new and exciting impacts on the world of entertainment. In our interview we found out that new and exciting was exactly what he was going for when creating his latest album. [...]
Music Mogul Andre Harrell and his friend and artist, Robin Thicke check in with Clizbeats.com to talk about the eatly days when they first started working together.
Andre Harrell & Robin Thicke Interview
Download Interview Here If Needed (Right Click Save As)
Stay tuned to Clizbeats.com as we introduce you to Andre Harrell’s [...]
Join us as we introduce you to a hot new rapper on the rise. West LA’s Mann called into Clizbeats.com to talk about making music with industry heavy weights like 50 cent, and being signed with mega producer J.R Rotem’s Beluga Heights Records. Take a listen below!
“What’s “Buzzin’” In Mann’s World
Multi-platinum selling superstar CHRIS BROWN is getting the party started early with his brand new single “Turn Up The Music,” being released to radio stations now!!! The track will be available at all digital music stores on February 14.
Written and produced by The Underdogs, the energetic track will appear on [...]
Last month we told you how Lil Wayne’s song “Mirror”, featuring Pop singer Bruno Mars went from deluxe bonus track, to the next officially released single from his album, The Carter IV. The song grew by popular demand to become the highest charting song from the record that wasn’t originally intended to be a single. [...]
The Los Angeles Police Department revealed earlier today that the body of legendary Soul Train host, Don Cornelius’ body was discovered dead around 4 a.m. in his Sherman Oaks, California., home. He was pronounced dead at 4:56 a.m. at Cedars-Sinai hospital from a a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
75 year old Cornelius was a disc jockey, who [...]
The following statement was just released from Nick Carter in regards to his sister, Leslie’s passing.
Nick Carter is thankful to the many people and the fans who have shared their wishes and prayers during this tragic time. We want to let the fans know the tour will go on as promised. “Performing [...]
