Jul 18, 2011

New Music: Leona Lewis - Collide!


Songstress Leona Lewis returns to music with 'Collide', a track slated to kickoff her third solo studio album. The song is poised to place her in the dance realm, creating a younger and edgier vibe that starlets Katy Perry and Rihanna have had great success with. The track comes courtesy of French producer Sandy Vee (Firework, Commander, Sexy Bitch) and songwriter Autumn Rowe (Happiness, Swagger Jagger) and has an airy familiarity to both 'Firework' and 'Only Girl (In The World)'. 

Lewis's team have pulled a Beyonce and sampled 'Penguin', a song released in 2010 by another major international DJ, Avicii. While there is still a dispute about whether or not the song is an original production by Avicii, his management have already inferred legal action against the release of 'Collide' saying, "To answer everyone, the first time I heard Leona Lewis 'Collide' was today. I didn't produce it and neither me or my manager could approve it."

Hopefully it's all worth it because a #29 peak on the Billboard Hot 100 [see 'Run The World (Girls)'] is probably not going to sit well with J Records and Syco after the release of the commercial flop that was 'Echo'.

The track has it's positives, it's chorus is catchy and the Vee definitely gave it the 'Stargate touch', enticing you in and shamelessly having you fist pumping by the time you reach the second verse. What bothers me most about the song is not that it's a mere rip-off of yet another club tune though, it's the fact that the lyrical content is so basic and predictable that it's almost insulting to a singer of Leona's stature. The verses definitely take the cake:


Verse 1
"I'll pick you up when you're down, be there when no one's around, 
When you're in unfamiliar places, count on me through life's changes 
I'm in tune with how you feel, everything about this is real
When you're in unfamiliar places, count on me through life's changes"


Verse 2
When you're in unfamiliar places, count on me through life's changes,
Know that you're never alone,
In me you can find a find a home,
When you're in unfamiliar places, count on me through life's changes  


Ultimately, I don't think we'll be seeing this on top of any chart. It's undeniable that Lewis can sing and we were all in agreement that she needed a 'new, younger direction', but I'm not sure that following the dance trend was the best idea. This track barely touches on her abilities as a vocalist and should've been used as a demo in her car if she wanted to show BFFs Katy and RiRi that she could also do a dance anthem.


I really hope the material from this album proves to be more substantial and directional than this. As I've said before, this tells us nothing about Lewis that we don't already know, and doesn't tell us what type of artist she wants to be. To make a long-lasting career in this industry she's going to have to define herself and prove that she deserves to be on the top of any chart. 


Personally, I think they've missed the mark with this track, and I'd prefer to see Lewis doing more R&B influenced records that showcase her unique vocal stylings. Hopefully Syco will pawn this off as a 'promo single' before releasing some serious material prior to the album's release in November. Take a listen to 'Collide' below as well as Avicii's 'Penguin' and let me know what you think!


Jul 17, 2011

Songwriting Feature: Sonyae Elise!


Sonyae Elise is currently staring on Bravo's 'Platinum Hit' with judges Kara DioGuardi and Jewel. I've taken a liking to the show and how it gives insight into a different side of the industry. After the first episode, I was a bit skeptical about Sonyae's ability as a writer, but she has really begun to prove herself as one of the most talented writers we've heard in a long time.

Sonyae's ability to take a lyric and rewrite it to create stark visual imagery is astounding. On 'Stranger To Love', Sonyae pens "Restore my strength, manage to kiss me weak, woke up the woman and put the girl to speak". On another Platinum Hit track, 'Love Me To Life', Sonyae writes, "I'm a walking fraction of who I used to be, love came along and knocked the air out of me", "And if you need the proof, I've got the scars, better make sure that never happens again, and love me to life". She just has such a fresh approach to writing that it makes you want to hear what she has to say next. I really think she has a great career ahead of her as a songwriter. Take a listen to her work below and let me know what you think!



Jun 24, 2011

New Music: JoJo - Limbo!



Yet another track has leaked from JoJo's upcoming third studio album, 'Jumping Trains'. This time, it's a very personal leak for me. I actually heard the song, 'Limbo' a few months ago when the amazingly talented Jessica Ashley demoed it for JoJo's project. Take a listen to JoJo's version of her song below and let me know what you think! Also be sure to check out Jessica's music on her Youtube, Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Jun 21, 2011

Beyonce continues '4' promo in France!



Beyonce is hot on the promo trail for her fourth studio album, '4' which will be released next week. She is currently on the European leg of the tour, and performed her first concert in Nice, France over the weekend to help push the album. Peep some of the footage from the concert below and let me know what you think!

Crazy In Love

Run The World

Single Ladies

Medley (Bootylicious, Bug A Boo, Telephone)

End of Time

Sweet Dreams

1+1

Jun 13, 2011

Live| JoJo performs new track!


In preparation for her return to music, teen singer JoJo took to the stage in New York to perform the title track off of her upcoming LP, 'Jumping Trains'. Take a look at her performance below and let me know what you think! 

In related news, the video for the first single, 'The Other Chick' has been filmed with director Kai Regan and should premiere shortly. 

   

Beyonce's '4' Leaks!


Yes, Queen B's '4' has leaked. I was one of the first to take a listen to the 'early release' of her new album but I decided to take my time and come up with a few solid points before blogging about it. The album has been receiving positive reviews from critics and fans alike. Beyonce seems to have left the club bangers behind on this album. Instead, she lets her voice do all the work and shines on many of the albums mid-tempos. 

I'm impressed with the change in sound, the album's complete production credits haven't been released as of yet but we do know she enlisted a few different producers to work on the album. I'm particularly liking the spacey electronic elements on 'I Care', 'I Miss You' and 'I Was Here', definitely a different sound for her but it works. 

Overall, Beyonce presents good quality music with an impeccable vocal performance on each track. That being said, I don't think this album will be flying to the top of the charts with a single anytime soon. Ultimately, I think this album will sit well with fans who respect and know her true talent as a performer.

My favourites: 

I Care
I Miss You
Start Over
I Was Here

What do you think of the album?

Jun 7, 2011

Introducing: Karmin Music!


Pop singer/songwriters Amy and Nick form the duo Karmin, a Boston based group that is slowly becoming a Youtube sensation with the release of various covers. Nick, a trombonist who's style is influenced by rock complements the R&B/Pop background of Amy to create a group with distinct style and sound. Take a listen to a few of their covers below and let me know what you think!



No doubt, they'll be signed soon. I'm sure we'll be hearing from them a lot in the future.

Jun 6, 2011

The-Dream preps fourth album!


Looks like The-Dream isn't taking his plans to retire seriously. He has announced the release of his fourth studio album, 'Love IV (Diary of a Mad Man) slated for release on 20 September. The album is said to feature appearances from Jay-Z, Drake, Mary J. Blige, Kanye West and R. Kelly. A single for the project is meant to drop tomorrow (7 June) and is tentatively titled, 'Talk That Shit' (feat. R Kelly). Are you ready for another Dream album?

Beirut keep it current with new single 'East Harlem'!


American band Beirut release their first single, 'East Harlem' since 2009. The track precedes an album and tour which have yet to be announced. Take a listen to the single below and let me know what you think!

Music Video Premiere: Robyn - 'Call Your Girlfriend'!


Swedish popstar Robyn releases the video for her second single 'Call Your Girlfriend' from her highly anticipated album, 'Body Talk'. Take a look at the Max Vatali directed clip below and let me know what you think!

Kelly Rowland gets official with 'Motivation (Remix)'!


It's no secret that Kelly Rowland has been having quite some trouble getting her third studio album, 'Here I Am' off the ground. The singer has been in the studio for almost two years crafting hits with various songwriters and producers for the project. With the release of the project's latest single, 'Motivation' Rowland now looks ready to prep for a definite release of the album. 'Motivation' finally rose to the top of the Billboard Hot R&B chart and has been sitting in the #1 position for two weeks, becoming her second number one single on this chart.

The album is now slated for release later this year (August, hopefully) and will see collaborations from David Guetta, Rico Love, StarGate, Ester Dean, Jim Jonson, Ne-Yo, Jermaine Dupri and Salaam Remi among others. Peep the video for 'Motivation' below and take a listen to the official remix featuring Busta Rhymes, Trey Songz and Fabolous below and let me know what you think!



Jun 5, 2011

New Music: Coldlplay - 'Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall'!


Chris Martin and the boys from Coldplay return with the first official single, 'Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall' from their as yet untitled fifth studio album. The album is currently due for release later this year and sees the band teaming up with famed producer Brian Eno to create their signature acoustic masterpieces that we've become accustomed to.

The album is said to be a mixture of electronic and acoustic elements, so I'm hoping with the help of Eno they've created something special and worth waiting for. Take a listen to the first single below and let me know what you think!

Jun 3, 2011

New Music: Dido - 'If I Rise'


Dido has been under the radar since the release of her 2008 album, 'Safe Trip Home'. She recently recorded the soundtrack for 127 Hours 'If I Rise'. The track features Indian producer/artist A.R. Rahman. Take a look at the video below and let me know what you think!

In other Dido news, the singer is currently in the studio recording her fourth studio album. She will be taking a break from recording after falling pregnant with her first child and marrying Rohan. The album is due for early release in 2012.

Music Video Premiere: Shontelle - Say Hello To Goodbye!


Shontelle first grabbed my attention in 2008 with her single, 'T-Shirt'. After downloading the song I lost interest in her and moved on. She went on to release her sophomore album, 'No Gravity' which fell off my radar until I came across this track a few weeks ago.

'Say Hello To Goodbye' is the third single from 'No Gravity'. Produced by Martin Hansen, the guitar ballad really brings out the best in Shontelle, focusing on her tone and clarity. It's a great direction for Shontelle and should hopefully put some life back into her sophomore project. Take a look at the video below and let me know what you think!

Beyonce preps '4'!


Yes Queen B is making her return, and so am I so there's no better post to start off with than the release of Beyonce's fourth studio album '4'. The album has been recorded over the past year and was lead by the single, 'Run The World (Girls). Bey gave two stellar performances of the single at the Billboard Music Awards and on the finale of The Oprah Show (see performances below).



The track samples Major Lazor's 'Pon De Floor', and was written by The-Dream among others. It sees her following the dance trends that have pretty much dominated the charts for a good two years now. The video was directed by Francis Lawrence and is definitely one of the best videos of the year. The video, along with a few high profile performances of the single ultimately saved it from falling completely off the charts.



Beyonce's team quickly realized 'Girls' wasn't taking off as they had thought they would, they quickly moved on to a follow up single. I think there was a bit of confusion as to what would serve as the project's next single. Bey went on to perform 'her favourite song from the album', '1+1' (The-Dream) on American Idol before releasing 'The Best Thing I Never Had' (Symbolyc One/Babyface) as the project's official second single. The performance on American Idol reinforced Bey's place in the industry as one of today's top female vocalists. Jay-Z filmed footage of her rehearsal backstage which quickly went viral after it was posted on his website. Bey is now filming the video for her second single which should premiere within the next few weeks.





The album is set for release on 24 June, but with no Top 10 single in sight just yet, we're all very interested to see what her first week sales will look like. I think we'll be seeing between 400-500k copies.



Anyway, take a look at all the promo material from her upcoming project and let me know your thoughts!

Apr 6, 2011

Sade preps 'The Ultimate Collection'!


Sade will release 'The Ultimate Collection', a compilation of her best work on 3 May. The album precedes the sultry artist's US tour with John Legend and features four new tracks as well as a remix to 'Moon and the Sky' from 2010's 'Soldier of Love' featuring Jay-Z. You can now listen to one of the new tracks, 'Still In Love With You' below. Let me know what you think!

Jennifer Hudson performs on AOL Sessions!


Jennifer Hudson continues the promo rounds for her sophomore album, 'I Remember Me'. The songstress stopped by AOL to perform on their Sessions series. Watch her do what she does best below and let me know what you think!

Where You At?


Angel


I Got This


I Remember Me

Apr 5, 2011

Music Video Premire: Katy Perry & Kanye West - E.T.!

Katy Perry and Kanye West team up on 'E.T.', the fourth single to be lifted from Perry's 'Teenage Dream' album. Take a look at the video for the single below and let me know what you think!



The single becomes Perry's fourth #1 from 'Teenage Dream'!

Introducing: Patrick Droney!


Singer/songwriter Patrick Droney had success with his debut album, "The Other Side" and has begun prepping material for a second album. While the album is still in the works, I recommend you check out a demo 'Used To Know". The track is a sample of what to expect from the album! Also, take a look at another demo, "Between The Lies" below and let me know what you think!

Beyonce preps fourth LP!

Yes, Queen B is about to return to take back her throne (not that anyone took it in the meantime). Beyonce is prepping for the release of her fourth as yet untitled studio album which now has a release date of mid June. The songstress was spotted shooting the album packaging only a few days ago with photographer Ellon Von Unwerth (Christina Aguilera) which means the first single can't be too far away. I think we'll hear it by the end of April, and knowing B, it'll be a SMASH! Check back soon for the premiere!

Imogen Heap continues to pioneer music, releases 'Lifeline'!


So I've only been a fan of Imogen Heap for about a year now, but her musical catalogue speaks for itself. She is a true genius in creating music that sounds like nothing else out there. This time, Imogen has gone even further and has enlisted the help of her fans to create her first single, 'Lifeline' from her upcoming album. The album will be released within the next three years as Imogen continues to collect ideas, sounds and lyrics from fans around the world to put together an album that is entirely what the fans want. Take a listen to the first single below which was create with the help of sounds and lyrics from fans across the globe and let me know what you think!

Riri & Jen perform 'California King Bed'!

Rihanna and Jennifer Nettles teamed up at the Country Music Awards to perform 'California King Bed', a song off Rihanna's 'Loud'. Take a look at Rihanna getting slayed on her own song below and let me know what you think!


It's always a bit of an embarrassment when another artist performs your song better than you. Anyway, good performance overall, Jennifer nailed it!

Mary J. Blige returns with 'My Life II'!

So I was a bit shocked to hear Mary J. Blige was prepping the release of another record. Her past effort, 'Stronger With Each Tear' was really underwhelming in my opinion and I felt that she needed to take some more time off to get re-inspired and perhaps find a different or more modern direction for her sound.

Be that as it may, Blige returns with the first single, 'Someone To Love Me (Remix)' featuring Diddy and Lil. Wayne. The song precedes the album, 'My Life II: The Journey Continues', a sequel to her 1994 hit album, 'My Life'.

Blige is said to have worked with collaborators Swizz Beatz, Danja, Stargate, Johnta Austin and Kanye West. Take a look at the video for the first single below and let me know what you think!

Lily Halpern premieres 'Wishlist' video!

Lily Halpern is an upcoming singer/songwriter who is about to take the teen pop world by storm. She has just released a video for her single, 'Wishlist'. Take a look at the clip below and let me know what you think!

Jessica Ashley covers 'Born This Way'!

Cover star Jessica Ashley premieres another video, this time for Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way'. Take a look at her rendition below and let me know what you think!

j

Kelly Rowland premieres 'Motivation' video!

Kelly Rowland is trying to kick her solo career off again with the release of 'Motivation' featuring Lil. Wayne. The track serves as the 'first' single from her as yet untitled upcoming third studio album. Take a look at the sensual clip below and let me know what you think!

Feb 23, 2011

Jessica Ashley covers Pink's 'Perfect'!


Upcoming singer, songwriter and producer Jessica Ashley covers Pink's 'Perfect', putting her own unique style on the track. Take a look at her performance below and let me know what you think!



Jessica will release her debut single, 'If You're Out There' next month. Check back here soon, I'll post it as soon as it's been released. (In case you were wondering, I have heard it and it's amazing!).

Feb 19, 2011

Video Premiere: Britney Spears 'Hold It Against Me'!


Britney Spears is also preparing for the release of her seventh studio album, 'Femme Fatale' on 25 March. The album is preceded by the number one single, "Hold It Against Me". Take a look at the Jonas Akerlund directed video below and let me know what you think!

Lady Gaga readies 'Born This Way'!


Lady Gaga is reading her sophomore album, "Born This Way" for release in May. The singer/songwriter recently performed the title track at the Grammys. Take a look at her chart-topping single below and let me know what you think!

Jennifer Hudson returns with 'I Remember Me'!


Jennifer Hudson will return to music on 22 March with the release of her sophomore album, "I Remember Me". After the success of her Grammy winning self-titled debut album, Hudson took time off to work on further film projects and deal with the loss of her mother in late 2008.

The first single from the upcoming album, "Where You At?" premiered in mid January and was produced by Harvey Mason Jr. and written by R. Kelly. Hudson recently performed the track on both the Oprah and Ellen shows. Take a look at her amazing performances below.





The official album cover and tracklisting have also been released. Peep them out above and below.

1. No One Gonna Love You
2. Angel
3. Where You At?
4. I Remember Me
5. Everybody Needs Love
6. Why Is It So Hard
7. Don't Look Down
8. Feeling Good
9. I Got This
10. Believe

I really can't wait for this project, Hudson is one of the few real artists left in this industry.

Jan 14, 2011

Timbaland Thursdays: 'Take Your Clothes Off'!


Timabaland joins super-producers Kanye West and Swizz Beatz with the release of 'Take Your Clothes Off' featuring Missy Elliott. The track serves as the first release for Timbaland Thursdays, an effort to release free music each week. Take a listen to the track below and let me know what you think!

New Music: Nicole Scherzinger - 'Don't Hold Your Breath'


Nicole Scherzinger finally plans to release her debut solo album later this year. After working with a team of producers, Scherzinger is said to have collaborated with RedOne to create an album project as opposed to collecting singles from various producers. After success with the lead single, 'Poison' in the UK Scherzinger has now released another RedOne track, 'Don't Hold Your Breath' as the second single off the project. Take a listen to the track below and let me know what you think!


Me likey!

Jan 13, 2011

New Music: Britney Spears - 'Hold It Against Me'


Pop princess Britney Spears returns to music this week with the release of 'Hold It Against Me', the first single to be lifted off of her upcoming seventh studio album. Take a listen to the Dr. Luke and Max Martin produced track below and let me know what you think!



With the track selling over 150 000 copies on its first day of release on iTunes there's no doubt that this will be another number one single for Britney. Props to Dr. Luke and Max Martin for changing up their sound.