UK R&B Sensation Daniel Merriweather Comes To The States
DANIEL MERRIWEATHER TO RELEASE HIGHLY-ANTICIPATED DEBUT LOVE & WAR FEBRUARY 23RD ON J RECORDS/ALLIDO RECORDS
SELECTED AS VH1’S “YOU OUGHTA KNOW” FEATURED ARTIST – PREMIERES FEB. 1ST
FIRST SINGLE “RED” A MASSIVE UK HIT – CERTIFIED PLATINUM, #2 MOST PLAYED SONG AND DEBUTED TOP 5 ON THE UK SINGLES CHART
CRITICALLY-ACCLAIMED LOVE & WAR DEBUTED AT #2 ON UK ALBUM CHART AND CERTIFIED PLATINUM
NOMINATED FOR 2010 BRIT AWARD FOR INTERNATIONAL BREAKTHROUGH ACT
WINNER OF ARIA AWARD (AUSTRALIA’S “GRAMMYS”) FOR BEST MALE ARTIST
(January 22, 2010 – New York, NY)— Australian singer and songwriter Daniel Merriweather will release his much-anticipated debut album, entitled LOVE & WAR, in the U.S. on February 23, 2010 on J Records/Allido Records. Daniel has been garnering global recognition for his musical artistry and songwriting talent as he builds towards the US release of his debut album. He was just nominated this week for the 2010 Brit Award for 2010’s Best International Breakthrough Act, has won the ARIA Award (Australia’s “Grammys”) for Best Male Artist, nominated for two European Music Awards and has been chosen as VH1’s “You Oughta Know” featured artist premiering February 1st, with his debut single “Red.”
Already an enormous hit in the UK, LOVE & WAR, debuted at #2 on the British album chart over the summer and both his album and single “Red” have been certified platinum. LOVE & WAR has been called “one of the debuts of the, well, century” with “the potential to be a genre-crossing monster” by the UK’s Daily Mirror , ”a handsomely crafted retro-soul affair ” by the Los Angeles Times and “an orgasm for your ears” by no less a harbinger of big things to come than Perez Hilton.
Daily Variety declared “there was no doubt that a new star was born” at his first Los Angeles show this week after he performed his first single “Red,” and stated “Merriweather wowed a packed house Wednesday night at the Troubadour, where such legends as Elton John broke in the U.S. And if the strength of Merriweather’s debut disc, “Love and War” — long on stylistic ambition and old-school instrumentation — is any indication, Merriweather’s West Coast maiden voyage could achieve similar historic significance.”
Other press raves include Q calling Merriweather a “retro-popster primed for chart glory,” Uncut’s 4 star album review, and Music Week’s offering “truly jaw-dropping stuff.” The Guardian calls Merriweather “indisputably soulful” and The Daily Telegraph writes “his rich, trembling soulful voice, melodic flow, and horse percussive stabs call to mind the Fifties idol Dion crossed with Otis Redding.”
The album’s first single “Red,” already certified platinum, was #2 most-played song in the UK and debuted Top 5 on the Singles chart, and features stellar guitar work from Sean Lennon and Harper Simon. “Red” also held the #1 spot in Hong Kong and was Top 10 in Ireland and Malaysia. The first UK single, “Change” (featuring rapper Wale) peaked at #3 on the British airplay chart, debuted Top 10 on the Singles chart, and was a Top 5 airplay hit in Germany, Switzerland, Japan, Denmark, and Austria. The album also features “Water and a Flame” — a sultry duet with Grammy Award-winning soul singer Adele.
Though Merriweather may be best known in the U.S. as the remarkably soulful voice behind “Stop Me” (a standout track from DJ/producer Mark Ronson’s eclectic album Version that went to #1 on the UK’s airplay chart), the 27-year-old Melbourne native firmly establishes himself as a solo artist in his own right on LOVE & WAR, which pulses with ’60s soul keyboards and horns, warm textures of acoustic and electric guitar, and cinematic string arrangements, all anchored by Merriweather’s combustible vocals.
LOVE & WAR is also a showcase for Merriweather’s considerable songwriting talents. He wrote nearly every song on the album with various musician friends, and then presented his compositions to Ronson (who produced the album) and his backing band, The Dap Kings (of Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings), who also played on Amy Winehouse’s Back to Black and Ronson’s Version. “For this album, it’s as if I took all of my influences, shook them up in a box, and came up with a bunch of songs that I think stand away from any one particular genre,” Merriweather says. “I’m as inspired by Q-Tip and A Tribe Called Quest as I am by Vivaldi, Stevie Wonder, Jeff Buckley, or D’Angelo. There are artists who are archivists—they make music directly derived from music they love. I make music by subconsciously blending things I’ve heard throughout my life.”
For more about this exciting newcomer, including audio and video clips, and photos, please visit www.danielmerriweather.com.
About VH1’s You Oughta Know:
VH1’S You Oughta Know franchise, launched originally on VH1.com in late 2004 introduces artists on the rise to the channel’s adult music lover base via VH1, VH1.com and off-air marketing campaigns. This highly acclaimed franchise has helped labels break many artists and has proven to have an impact on their record sales.
The track-listing for LOVE & WAR is as follows:
“For Your Money”
“Impossible”
“Change” (featuring Wale)
“Chainsaw”
“Cigarettes”
“Red”
“Could You”
“Not Giving Up”
“Getting Out”
“Water And A Flame” (featuring Adele)
“Live By Night”
“Giving Everything Away For Free”
“The Children” (Bonus Track)
