Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Hip-Pop Artist Keaira LaShae: Get To Know This Superhero



With a dash of electrifying vocals, a smidgen of gravity defying choreography and a whole lot of Superhero Swag, newcomer R&B/Pop superstar Keaira LaShae is the epitome of all-encompassing talent. Having a natural flair for music, fitness and dance, the advocate for female empowerment is gearing up to make a permanent indentation in the industry with a summer release of her self-titled EP. Recording in Rodney Jerkins’ Studios in Los Angeles, Keaira LaShae is putting the final touches on Keaira LaShae in partnership with Duane “DaRock” Ramos (The Pussycat Dolls, Nicki Minaj & LL Cool) and Sanchez Holmes (T.I, Young Jeezy) amongst others. Songs on the EP reflecting love, female empowerment & a little bit of attitude are guaranteed to connect with audiences near and far as illustrated by “Superhero”, the first single from the EP:
Additionally Keaira LaShae will have 3 songs featured in the upcoming motion picture, “Unattended – The Cost of Neglect” in theaters Fall 2012.
In addition to being a songwriter and musician, Keaira LaShae is also an accomplished choreographer and fitness instructor. Singing in her Church while growing up in Tampa, Keaira LaShae entered a dance competition and beat competitors twice her age with her natural choreography talent. A leading fitness instructor for Daily Burn with P90X director Mason Bendawald, Keaira LaShae encompasses attributes of a well-rounded and incredibly talented individual ready to make her mark on the industry. 

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Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Robert Rorison's Blue Balloon - New Album 'Hearts Are Pretty Heavy'


Blue Balloon - Hearts Are Pretty Heavy
Robert Rorison released his astounding debut album recording through Marketstall Records yesterday on May 14th, 2012 under his new all-purpose nom-de-plume Blue Balloon. The release is limited to an initial run of 500 numbered, hand-packaged, signed compact discs.
 
“Hearts Are Pretty Heavy” is an album several years in the making during which time Robert not only lost a longterm relationship, a couple of jobs and several friends as he pursued the sound he had in his head, but also suffered mental health issues that Rob has had to fight hard to overcome. Rorison is not fucking about when it comes to his music.
 
His early days as a beat-matching hip-hop DJ  (Wu Tang Clan were his watershed moment) led him to a lyrical complexity and rhythmic intonation that are simultaneously worthy of both your admiration and devotion.  ‘I see little lyric shaped holes in the world I feel like I can fill…the words are a lot like puzzles I have to work into a song’ says Rob. This rings ever more true as the lyrical gymnastics and lithe poetry of ‘Hearts Are Pretty Heavy’ reveal themselves to the patient listener, gripping you more tightly with every play.
 
Influenced heavily by hip-hop but having had his head turned by Leonard Cohen, Daniel Johnston and Elliott Smith, Rob spent a long time wending his way through quirky acoustic covers of the likes of Prince, The Cure and even Will Smith before finding his true voice – a clear, heartfelt sigh that can rise to desperation and drop to a tremble in the space of a note.
 
Having solidified his growing reputation as a master songwriter and performer with support slots for First Aid Kit and Stornoway Rob is now ready to reveal the first document of his heartfelt, heavenly work in the shape of ‘Hearts Are Pretty Heavy’.

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Thursday, May 3, 2012

Six60 Release US Tour Dates

Six60 is ready to head full speed into the U.S., with their debut self-titled release out now! Hailing from New Zealand, this energetic electro-pop powerhouse brings together the perfect blend of soul, rock, dub step and drum and bass. Already gaining huge success in their homeland, the group is ready to take on the rest of the world! With over 110,000 Facebook fans, the band already has a double platinum debut album including the double platinum selling singles “Rise Up 2.0” and “Don’t Forget Your Roots.”

The band’s infectious track “Forever” is now available for free download opening with gorgeous vocals, mixed with silky and harmonious guitars, the song picks up with hammering beats and layered synths that will make your jaw drop.

Six60’s music is versatile and vibrant, as their explosive guitars, thick beats and fierce vocals fill each inch of the room with pure and utter perfection. From heavy hitters like “Get,” to the hypnotic track “Run For It,” that channels Miike Snow, Six60 prove there is nothing they can’t accomplish. Slick guitar riffs accompany smooth vocals to create a stunning album that will not only intrigue you, but become an instant favorite.

Lucky North American fans will be thrilled to find out that this Spring Six60 is heading on a nation wide tour of the US.

This, my friends, is what rock n’ roll is all about….Six60 Live and Massive!

* GRAB THE FREE DOWNLOAD of “FOREVER” *


TOUR DATES 
Wednesday, June 6, 2012 – Hotel Utah – San Francisco, CA 
Thursday, June 7, 2012 – Crystal Bay Club Casino – Crystal Bay, NV 
Saturday, June 9, 2012 – TBD - Los Angeles, CA 
Sunday, June 10, 2012 – Anthology - San Diego, CA 
Tuesday, June 19, 2012 - The Mercury Lounge - New York, NY 
Wednesday, June 20, 2012 - Tin Angel - Philadelphia, PA T
hursday, June 21, 2012 - The Great Scott - Boston, MA 
Friday, June 22, 2012 - The 8x10 - Baltimore, MD 
Saturday, June 23, 2012 - Woodbury Reggae Festival - Woodbury, CT 
Sunday, June 24, 2012 - Bayley Beach Park - Rowayton, CT (Free Show) 
Wednesday, June 27, 2012 - Hard Rock Cafe - Pittsburgh, PA 
Thursday, June 28, 2012 - Woodlands Tavern - Columbus, OH 
Sunday, July 01, 2012 - Summerfest - Milwaukee, WI



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"Happy Endings" with Ghostly Glam Duo WAZU - Debut EP Out Now!

If you’ve been paying attention to the NYC music scene (and you should be!), you know that Brooklyn-based Australian transplants WAZU have been generating heaps of buzz as of late. “Murder 1,” the synth-heavy, post apocalyptic first single from their three song WAZU EP (Anti-Language Recordings) is getting rave reviews. The accompanying video premiered exclusively on Contact Music and was recently featured as Video of the Day on SPINNER. Watch it here: http://www.spinner.com/2012/02/20/wazu-murder-1-video-of-the-day/

The track is a glorious, vicious little tease of what’s to come from this male-female duo that appear to have swallowed some of the same sexy electronic pills as The xx, but have regurgitated them in a much more elaborate and foreboding fashion. “Happy Endings,” the second track off the EP produced by the legendary Kevin McMahon (Titus Andronicus, Real Estate, Swans, The Walkmen), is a cynical sing-along that resonates with the lyrics, “take a look at me / I’m living proof / Happy endings don’t have room for two.” Never has heartbreak sounded so enticing and danceable. It is now available for free download.

In their first week of playing together as WAZU, the duo performed seven shows in six nights at the Top 10 “Best of the Fest” Festival at Toronto Indie Week 2010. “We showed up planning to play three shows, but [we] kept winning!” Shortly after, the band performed as part of the CMJ Festival at Lower East Side staple The Living Room, the Neon Reverb Music Festival in Las Vegas, and the Dropout Party at Don Hill’s in NYC. In the past few months WAZU made the Top 3 of the Deli Magazine’s Year End Best of NYC poll for emerging artists in 2011 and the EP has earned the band glowing reviews and promising mentions in In-d Scene UK, Some Kind of Awesome, and Alfitude, to name a few.

Catch WAZU at one scheduled shows listed below, and be on the look out for WAZU’s debut LP, also produced by Kevin McMahon, Summer 2012.




TOUR DATES 
5/8: Boardner’s “Kitty Kitty Bang Bang” in Hollywood, CA 
5/24: Deli Magazine Best of 2011 Festival in Brooklyn, NY



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Monday, April 30, 2012

The Songwriting Process: Finding What Works for You

Music is love in search of a word
By Richie Gilbert

The songwriting process can be a rather personal journey. I'm sure there must be as many different ways to approach writing a song as there are songwriters. I'm going to outline a few basic approaches that I like to use when writing a song. Some of them I use more often than others, because it's easy to get used to doing things one way. But I tend to get bored using the same formula time after time, so sometimes I like to mix it up.

Writing from Melody

My most commonly used approach to the songwriting process is to write the melody first. I have always been comfortable writing melody, and I believe a strong melody is of extreme importance. So this is where I usually begin.

I've played guitar for many years and am very comfortable on this instrument, so I often sit around noodling on it. I play around with some of the melodies that always seem to be circling in my head until I fix upon one that I find compelling. You don't need to be proficient on the guitar or any instrument to write melody, although it can certainly help. Simply humming some lines into a hand-held digital recorder is enough to get your ideas flowing.

Once I have those initial strains of melody I play around with various chord progressions until I find one that I feel complements the melody. I then move on to the lyrics, drawing inspiration from the emotion that the music evokes in me. I work hard to ensure the words and lines conform to the melody in a way that sounds natural.

This is one of the most challenging aspects of the songwriting process for me, so I don't skimp on the effort necessary to achieve the results I'm after.

Lyrics First

Sometimes I know what I want to write about before having any music worked out. I'll begin writing lyrics for my new song with only an idea of the rhythm I'm going to use, and no idea of the melody. I generally don't wait until the lyrics are complete before I begin working on the melody and the chords. In fact, once I'm happy with the general direction, the music starts to suggest itself to me pretty early on.

I find it easier to write good lyrics using this approach, as I don't have to be concerned about making the words fit the music. It will be the other way around. However, I still have to create clever lines that flow naturally within a solid rhythmic structure.

I must also be sure it sounds like a song. When writing lyrics without music we run the risk of it turning out like a children's poem, with each line the same length as the last, and with a predictable rhyming scheme.

Today's hit songs don't tend to follow this neat, buttoned-down format. They are much more likely to sport lines of varying lengths, and rhymes in somewhat unexpected places. Listen to a few current popular songs and you'll see what I mean. Try to keep this in mind when writing lyrics first.

Start with the Title

This is probably the songwriting process that has the potential to produce the most powerful, focussed songs. When you write from a title you don't have to worry too much about where the song is going. Your main job is to simply keep it on course. As long as you make sure each line and section points back to your title you shouldn't have any trouble doing this. If you come up with a really good title your song will practically write itself.

Coming up with a great song title can be as easy as keeping your eyes and ears open. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, try to keep a small part of your mind on the lookout for phrases that command attention.

Newspaper headlines are full of potential song titles. So are presidential speeches, products on the shelves of the local supermarket, and museum exhibits. Great song titles are everywhere! Just listen in on the conversations of little old ladies at the bus stop. You are sure to pick up a few golden nuggets!

When you have your title, start asking yourself questions about it. Let's say our title is "Never Again". Who is saying this? Is it you? Who or what are you saying it about? Has your trust been betrayed? Perhaps the title refers to a night of unbridled debauchery! (Never again!!!)

Keep asking yourself questions until you've gotten to the bottom of it. You'll find your answers provide so much information that your song is already under way before you've written a single lyric.

Writing with a Partner

Whether you focus on the words or the music, collaborating with another songwriter is a priceless experience. I can't say enough about the advantages of this particular songwriting process. When you find a compatible writing partner to share in the act of writing a song, you'll find the possibilities are almost endless.

The more you bounce ideas off of each other, the faster they start flowing. Many times I have come away from a collaborative songwriting session with ideas for two or three songs other than the one we've been writing! The key is finding a writing partner who you trust and with whom you can exchange meaningful and valuable ideas.

Although it seems as though it would help to find someone who has similar influences and writing style, it might be better if they don't. When you draw from different musical backgrounds, the songs you write together will become something you probably couldn't accomplish alone.

Of course, you will have to be able to agree upon a certain direction, but if you can both be flexible (which is essential), there is the potential for writing some very interesting material.

What's Your Favourite Approach?

When I set out to write a song, these are a few of the different approaches that work for me quite nicely. Try them for yourself and see which you are most comfortable with. There are, of course, many more that are not outlined here. Experiment a bit and see if you can come up with some of your own.

I'm Richie Gilbert and I have been passionate about writing songs for many years. I also spend much time in my home recording studio, and am active in pitching my songs to music publishers.

To learn more about the craft and business of songwriting, please visit my website at http://www.inspired-songwriting-tips.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richie_Gilbert
http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Songwriting-Process:-Finding-What-Works-for-You&id=7030690


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Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Australia's Arcane Saints Announce Canadian Tour Dates


Grunge rockers ARCANE SAINTS whom have become an explosive hard rock force to be reckoned with in their native Australia and most recently China, are now proud to announce their latest adventure that was encouraged by The Trews for their first Canadian tour in Quebec and Ontario.

"We’re extremely excited to be an Australian band touring Canada for the first time. Having recently opened for The Trews here in Australia they could not speak highly enough about the Canadian rock scene and this inspired us to tour the great north." commented vocalist/ guitarist Michael John.

With two EPs, frequent commercial radio airplay and an appearance on MTV’s “Up and Coming Bands” documentary behind them in their relatively short career, Arcane Saints are prepping to show the Canucks some great Aussie rock!

Arcane Saints came together when singer/guitarist Michael John (a relative of Iron Maiden founding member Steve Harris), invested his prize money from an international song writing competition and got a one-way ticket to Melbourne, Australia from his home country of New Zealand to form the quartet with bassist Jim Luxford, guitarist Michael “Sheep” Gooding and drummer Sam Sablinskis.



Arcane Saints "IGNITE" Tour Dates:

Facebook Event - http://www.facebook.com/​events/206960719382048/

April 21, 2012 - Bar le Scanner - Quebec City, QC
April 23, 2012 - Crobar, QC - Montreal, QC
April 24, 2012 - Spill Coffee Bar - Peterborough, ON
April 27, 2012 - Revolutions - Kingston, ON
April 28, 2012 - Bovine Sex Club - Toronto, ON w/ Darlings of Chelsea, The Dirty Water

For More info: www.ArcaneSaints.com


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Thursday, December 15, 2011

A little about Jolt Radio.org

Jolt radio is a free form online radio station located in Miami, Florida. This online station acknowledges emerging independent artists from the local, national, and international scene. As an open source space for bands, artists, and music lovers alike, Jolt Radio is helping to contribute to the independent music community.

So head on over to Jolt Radio to discover new bands, listen to some favorites, participate in the community and find local live music listings.


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