After the success of her first album Animal, Ke$ha is set to release her second EP Cannibal scheduled to drop November 22, 2010. Her first single off the album, We R Who We R, was originally pitched and rejected by Rihanna. No doubt that it fits Ke$ha’s audible style. The song is a definite club banger and has the potential to top the charts.
It’s been a terribly long time since I last posted. Too long infact so before I dive into my music post, I want to thank all of you who have kept visiting my page. Even with 3 months of no posts, I still have a nice amount of daily visits. Thank you for visiting and listening to the music that makes me move.
Now back to the aural flavor. While I was channel surfing, I happened upon MTVU and discovered Sky Ferreira Her new American single “Obsession” has an edgy sound that’s like a mix of electro pop and Queen’s “We Will Rock You”. After the first verse I was hooked and anxiously awaited the end of the video to find out her name.
Sky Ferreira’s image, American Apparel with a twist of badass. Sexy, confident and talented, the Portuguese-American singer and song writer wrote for the likes of Britney Spears and now is working with top producers in the industry. Signed by Bloodshy and Avant, Sky Ferreria’s album is set to release in 2011 but she’s already getting ear play with her single “Obsession” and “One” which was released in Europe. Check out Sky Ferreira’s video for her new single “Obsession” above. I bet it will get you movin’. If you like what you hear, be sure to check out her homepage and follow her on Twitter @skyferreira
The fabulously amazing Bruno Mars dropped his debut single Just The Way You Are on Monday and just like his collaboration with B.o.B on Nothin’ on You this song is amazing. The pop/urban singing sensation whisks his listener away with his beautifully smooth voice making his music undeniably addicting. He made his vocal debut to the mainstream with B.o.B but he surely can and will stand strongly on his own two feet with his vocals and song writing skills. Bruno Mars prepares to perform at the Bowery Ballroom on August 25th. Tickets are only $15 so grab em’ because these will sell out fast.
For more on Bruno and to hear more of his solo music check out my previous post on him here and his myspace page.
Perfect weather and perfect air plus Passion Pit!, nothing could compare. Though I’m a newbie to the live show scene, last night was one of my best concert experiences so far. Last night Passion Pit played in Prospect Park, Brooklyn for Brooklyn’s yearly Celebrate Brooklyn festival. I was looking forward to going not only because they’re one of my favorites and I hadn’t seen them live yet but also because my friend has been working really hard to promote their new cover of Smashing Pumpkins song Tonight Tonight for SPIN Magazine so I was happy to help support her hard work. Though I love their music, seeing them live could not compare. The sound infiltrated the crowd and not one person could stop dancing, or singing along for that matter. If you want to learn more about my experience listening to Passion Pit at Celebrate Brooklyn, check out my Yelp! review. Also be sure to listen to Passion Pit’s cover of the Smashing Pumpkins Tonight Tonight and download the track FREE at Levi’s Pioneer Site.
Passion Pit – Tonight Tonight (Smashing Pumpkins Cover)
Fresh blue eyes and a sound that wont stop your body from moving, Carmen Reece’s music not only connects your body to the beat but also your mind to the music. Haling from England, Carmen Reece mixes her classic dance track with the electro dubsteppy feel that we’ve seen come from England as well. It’s a good blend of genre sounds creating a hit dance track. Reece recently announced on her twitter that her new single Raindrop has been added to the top 20 poll on Sirius Hits 1 which you can vote for here. Kudos!
Carmen Reece has also worked heavily with world renounced remixer and DJ Dave Aude who has mixed tracks from artists like Lady Gaga, Beyonce and Pussycat Dolls. Have a hit of Carmen Reece’s sound below. The original release of her new single Raindrop and the remix by Dave Aude are below.
Carmen Reece – Raindrop [DL]
Carmen Reece “Raindrop” (Dave Audé Radio) by DaveAude
I have pretty eclectic taste in music. I like most genres from pop, hip hop, R&B to world music, but I’ve always had a love for electronic sounds. I’ve been made fun of for my taste in tunes being called lame or a hipster so I think it’s funny that my friends find themselves bopping their heads to sounds and artists that I’ve been listening to well before they hit the radio waves. This brings me to the amazing Mike Posner, who has recently graced main stream radio with his single Cooler Than Me. A recent graduate of Duke University (smarty pants!) Posner wrote, crafted and produced his own songs right in his dorm room and after a radio internship where he met Kanye West, he was thrown into the mainstream music game where he met and became friends with Big Sean who saw Posner’s rich talent.
Prior to his 2010 graduation, Posner released two EP’s entitled Mike Posner and Brain Trust: A Matter of Time and Mike Posner: One Foot Out The Door both of which are streaming below. A Matter of Time is more of a smoother Pop EP with hints of electronic flavor, most collaborations with Big Sean and a cover of Beyoncé’s Halo.
One Foot Out the Door is definitely more of a mix of music genre’s focusing around electric dance sounds – with even some notes that remind me of NKOTB songs - and heavy rap beats. Collaborations with the likes of Clinton Sparks, whose album drops this year, Benny Blanco, Kid CuDi, 3O3!H and more really brings to light Posner’s musical talents. He hits the listener with a plethora of sounds that makes you move non stop. The EP flows virtually flawlessly and leaves you anxiously waiting for his first album to drop. It is expected out later this year.
Mike is scheduled to tour with the Warped Tour hitting cities all over the country starting June 25th. Unfortunately he is not coming to NYC so if you catch him, I am jealous. If his EP’s are this good, I can only imagine how awesome he is in person. Keep an eye out for Mike Posner, I can assure you you’ll hear his work on his own and other major pop stars songs in the near future.
For more on Mike, check out his official site here and if you like what you hear, leave a comment!
Happy Listening.
Mike Posner and The Brain Trust: A Matter of Time
Mike Posner: One Foot Out The Door
Tracklisting for Mike Posner and The Brain Trust: A Matter of Time
- Tick
- Drug Dealer Girl
- Cooler Than Me ft. Big Sean
- Hey Cupid
- Still Not Over You ft. Eric Hol
- Evil Woman
- Who Knows ft. Big Sean
- Halo (Beyoncé Cover)
- Smoke & Drive ft. Big Sean, Don
- Losing My Mind
- Matter of Time
- Toc
Tracklisting for Mike Posner: One Foot Out the Door
- One Foot Out The Door
- I Don’t Trust Myself (John Mayer Cover)
- Traveling Man
- You Don’t Have to Leave
- Cooler Than Me (Gigamesh Remix)
- Don’t Trust Me (Benny Blanco Remix) ft. KiD CuDi & 3O3!H
- Kiss Me Through the Phone ft. Saigon
- Red Button
- Bring Me Down ft. Big Sean & Freddie Gibbs
- Mirror’s Edge ft. Bun B, GLC & VX
- Speed of Sound ft. Big Sean
- Close the Door ft. Clinton Sparks
Whether or not you realize it, the popular music scene has been inundated with the sweet sounds of Bruno Mars. Hailing from Hawaii with a Phillipino and Puerto Rican background, Mars brings a sweet and sultry Michael Jacksonesqe sound to his music with hints of an Hawaiian feel. His vibrant beats and melodies constantly keep the listener hooked to his music. I for one listened to Talking To The Moon on repeat last night. If you’re not sure if you’ve heard Bruno, he’s been featured on the hit singles Nothing On You by B.o.B. and Billionare by Travie McCoy.
Bruno made a surprise visit to the Spin Magazine offices in SoHo yesterday to perform with Travie McCoy and do a solo acoustic set of his own to promote his new EP It’s Better If You Don’t Understand which dropped today. It truly is impressive when someone sounds as breath taking as Bruno with just a guitar and set of bongo drums. Below, streaming, is Bruno Mars’ EP and his live session at SPIN. I’ve also included another acoustic treat, Bruno’s song All About You which sounds so amazing unplugged, I hope he includes both the plugged and unplugged versions on his album.
Be sure to listen to each stream in full. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed and be sure to follow Bruno on Twitter @thatbrunomars.
Happy Listening!
Bruno Mars: All About You (Unplugged)
Bruno Mars: It’s Better If You Don’t Understand
Tracklisting
1. “Somewhere in Brooklyn”
2. “The Other Side”
3. “Count on Me”
4. “Talking to the Moon”
Take a little bit of Outkast, early 90′s hip-hop and Kid Cudi esque sound and you come up with the diverse music that is B.o.B. B.o.B, producer, singer, song writer and otherwise jack of all musical trades, first graced us with his musical presence with his song I’ll Be in the Sky back in the beginning of the year. The single, which does not appear on B.o.B’s debut album, is only a sample of the sounds we hear on The Adventures of Bobby Ray. The album is an eclectic mix of rap, hip-hop, rock and pop featuring the likes of Bruno Mars, Hayley Williams, Lupe Fiasco and Emminem.
The diversity of the songs’ sound is quite refreshing and a pleasantly unexpected surprise from what some may have anticipated for the 12 track album. You even hear a bit of electro-pop mixed into the songs, especially in Satellite, a bonus track featured on the album.
I’d like to predict that B.o.B is a good example of the evolution of popular music. He’s combined all popular genre’s to make them unique and his own. I’ve been lucky enough to get my hands on a copy of the B.o.B presents The Adventures of Bobby Ray which is set to drop tomorrow 4/27. Feel free to check out the full album below. I have also featured the bonus track Satellite at the end of the stream.
Happy listening.
Tracklist
1. Don’t Let Me Fall (prod. Bobby Ray)
2. Nothin’ on You (feat. Bruno Mars) (prod. The Smeezingtons)
3. Pass My Shades (feat. Lupe Fiasco) (prod. Crada)
4. Airplanes (feat. Hayley Williams of Paramore) (prod. Alex Da Kid)
5. Bet I (feat. T.I. & Playboy Tre) (prod. A.D & Kutta)
6. Ghost in the Machine (prod. Bobby Ray)
7. The Kids (feat. Janelle Monae) (prod. Bobby Ray)
8. Magic (feat. Rivers Cuomo of Weezer) (prod. Dr Luke)
9. Fame (prod. Bobby Ray & Jim Jonsin)
10. Lovelier Than You (prod. Bobby Ray)
11. 5th Dimension (feat. Ricco Barrino) (prod. T.I. & Lil’ C)
12. Airplanes (Part II) (feat. Eminem & Hayley Williams of Paramore) (prod. Alex Da Kid)
13. Higher (prod. Polow Da Don) [Bonus Track]
14. Satellite (prod. Bobby Ray) [Bonus Track]
15. Yesterday (prod. Bobby Ray) [Bonus Track]
There have been a lot of rumors floating around the internet about Lady GaGa and her album for 2010 but no one really seems to know much about it and it’s supposed to drop on March 23rd. Talk about it being on LOCK DOWN. With what seems to be an unofficial album of GaGa’s (at least un-released in the U.S.A.) floating around the internet boasting hot tracks like Kaboom and Fashion, it’s hard to say what’s in store for this new release. Today, I’m bringing you two new GaGa tracks which will most likely be singles off the mysterious upcoming album. Reloaded and Super Lova (which is rumored to have been originally written for Ms. Britney Spears) are major dance hits which isn’t surprising for the Haus of Gaga. Enjoy. I promise you’ll have them on repeat all weekend.
Rihanna hit the internet with a sex charged new video for “Rude Boy” her third single off her latest album “Rated R”. After not so stellar reviews upon first listen of her first single Russian Roulette, Rihanna, and the amazing talent of her video director Melina Matsoukas has helped to transform her songs into body moving hits. The video for “Rude Boy” which is a caribbean term for a “tough guy gangsta”, brings us back to Rihanna’s Barbadian roots with a salacious video featuring Caribbean colors, sounds and dance flavor.
Though some have noted the video’s similarity to M.I.A’s video for “Boyz”, Matsoukas said that”…the video lends from a lot of Rasta culture and ’80s Atari vibe and that’s what we went with…”. You can see this is true when looking at Jamacian artist Major Lazer’s video for “Pon De Floor”. Drawing from similar musical influence, it’s safe to say Matsoukas wasn’t copying M.I.A’s “Boyz”. It’s also good to see a Rihanna video that represents her culture. Pop music tends to become monotonous and monocultural after a while. It’s refreshing that she’s pushing the envelope by putting some cultural flava’ into the mainstream.
If you like or are curious to learn more about Reggae music, be sure to visit VPRecords’ website the only Reggae focused music label in the world. Also, check out The Making of Rude Boy to see story boards and direction during the video.
