Author: admin

Mary J. Blige Talks 'Being Real' and Beyonce Collaboration

Post author By admin
Post date November 30, 2011

It’s no secret Mary J. Blige portrays her life, good and bad, in her songs.

“When life is real it’s not going to be smooth,” the Queen of Hip-Hop/Soul said onstage at the New York Time’s Times Talks event on Monday (Nov. 28) in NYC. “I was just singing from my life, singing through my experiences, singing through the hurt and the pain in order to survive,” Blige said.

Blige finds it important to relate to her music, she told New York Times music critic Jon Pareles during the onstage interview.

“It has to be relative to the audience and you have to have dealt with something,” she said. “I can’t just make a song people can dance in a club to… it still has to be real.”

For my complete article, visit Billboard.

2 Days Left to Send YSIW to the Grammy's!

Post author By admin
Post date November 29, 2011

Last week, I found out I’m in second place for the MusiCares blogger contest! After submitting an entry on what music means to me, I made the final round for a chance to be on the red carpet at the MusiCares Person of the Year event in February honoring Paul McCartney. One of six bloggers selected, I have a chance to head to Los Angeles the week of the Grammy’s and interview all the musicians attending the event and cover the show as well.

Many of you have been following You Sing I Write since day one and this is a HUGE opportunity. For more information and to vote, click here. Make sure you Like MusiCares on Facebook, click “Vote for Blogger Finalists” on the tab underneath the profile photo, hit Enter Now button, type in your Name, Email and select me (Finalist #5 – Annie at You Sing I Write: MusiCares: Changing Lives One Song at a Time). Voting ends Wednesday, November 30th.

If I win, you can be sure I’ll be taking some of your questions to the red carpet to ask all the artists performing. Thanks for your support!

Song of the Week

Song of the Week: "I Wanna Hold Your Hand"

Post author By admin
Post date November 26, 2011

Yesterday, I watched Paul McCartney Live on VH1 Classic and only found it fitting to feature The Beatles this week as my song of the week. While scouring YouTube for my favorite songs by the Liverpool lads, I found this iconic performance from The Ed Sullivan Show. While “I Wanna Hold Your Hand” is one of my personal favorites, watch as the band plays “All My Loving,” “Till Their Was You” and “She Loves You.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1wIXIFfrXI

If you haven’t yet, be sure to vote for You Sing I Write for a chance to cover the MusiCares Person of the Year honoring Paul McCartney. For more information, click here, like the MusiCares page and select Vote for Blogger Finalists on the left. Thanks!

Features First Person

Many Reasons to Be Thankful

Post author By admin
Post date November 24, 2011

As Thanksgiving arrives, it’s hard not to think about what we’re thankful for. Perhaps Madison Square Garden is an unlikely spot to feel gratitude, but I was overcome with gratefulness Monday night while covering Taylor Swift’s performance.

After I picked up my press tickets for the show, I was shocked to find out that my seats were three rows from the stage. For over two hours, I was transported into Taylor’s fairytale world where dreams come true, Prince Charming sweeps you off your feet and, most importantly, love exists.

For my complete write-up, visit Busted Halo. What are you thankful for this holiday season? Happy Thanksgiving!

Concert Reviews Features News

Taylor Swift Welcomes NYC Crowd to Dream World For 'Speak Now' Tour

Post author By admin
Post date November 22, 2011

Recently crowned Artist of the Year at the AMAs, Entertainer of the Year at the CMAs and Billboard‘s Woman of the Year, Taylor Swift proved just how deserving she is of these accolades last night. With two sold-out performances at NYC’s Madison Square Garden — the last two dates of her “Speak Now” Tour — Swift is a fitting example of how dreams come true with a little luck and a lot of hard work.

Swift showcased her catalogue of hits, and even brought out Goo Goo Dolls frontman Johnny Rzeznik for a duet on the band’s “Iris,” a track Swift explained as “one of the greatest songs ever written.” Before she took the stage for “Sparks Fly,” complete with fireworks, Adam Brand and NEEDTOBREATHE opened the night.

For more than two hours, Swift took the audience on a journey. Each song performed had an elaborate story acted out by Swift, her band and dancers. Throughout the numerous scenes within her set, it is evident she dreamed up the entire sequence, down to the tiniest details.

“I was hoping it would be cool with you if I stood here and told you a few of my stories,” Swift said. The audience screamed in approval.

For my complete review, visit Billboard.

Tags Madison Square Garden, Speak Now Tour, Taylor Swift

Benefit Features News

A Night In the Studio: Recording at Brooklyn's Galuminumfoil Studios

Post author By admin
Post date November 21, 2011

Photo Credit: Monica Rozenfeld

It’s hard to believe that I’ve been writing about music for several years, but have never actually been in a studio while a band was recording. Always a dream of mine, when Benjamin Wagner invited me to join him at Galuminumfoil Studios in Brooklyn I couldn’t say no.

For the past five years, Wagner and friends have been recording A Holiday Benefit, a selection of holiday classics while putting their own spin on the music. An annual benefit concert is held each December where the CD is available for purchase and all the proceeds are donated to 826NYC, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting students ages 6-18 with their creative and expository writing skills.

I’ve been covering the benefit shows since their inception in 2007 and each year discover new musicians that I soon become a fan of. So, on a cold Friday in November I headed to Galuminumfoil Studios, not exactly sure what to expect.

Shortly after 8 p.m. I entered the studio where half a dozen or so artists were hanging out, writing lyrics to sing and trying to decipher the right piano chords to play with the track. That night, the vocals for the group number, “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” were being recorded.

A huge fan of the song, Wagner said “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” is the reason A Holiday Benefit came together.

“I went to Chris [Abad] and said we should get everybody together and do something. It’s because I loved this song when I was a kid,” he recalls. “What if we got all our friends together and did one on our own and made money for a charity?”

In it’s fifth year, over $15,000 has been raised for 826NYC.

While some of the artists have been friends for years, others met for the first time that night. Her first year singing for A Holiday Benefit, Georgia native Mary Bragg was excited to be part of the project and even wore a pair of Santa Claus socks to get her in the spirit.

“We’re not a band that has been rehearsing together. Sometimes things happen and you have to redo it,” she said of the recording experience.

As Wagner finished writing the lyrics to the song, singer-songwriter Misty Boyce took to the piano to record the last of the instrumentals. Meanwhile, studio engineer and producer Jeff Berner gave her further instructions for the track.

“My idea is to have some ethereal piano in the background. This is going to be a long fade and we’ll dub more parts in,” Berner said.

Once the piano part was perfected, the solos were assigned and each singer took turns at the mic for a few takes.

Bragg was up first and impressed with spot-on vocals. Though the first take sounded like a keeper, everyone in the room had her sing it two more times for their own enjoyment.

Initially excited to sing Bono’s part in the song, Boyce was nervous during her recording session.

“When I get nervous I get cold,” she told Wagner who urged her to do some jumping jacks. “I’m Bono. Fuck, it’s too much pressure man!”

“I’ve been singing this song for 25 years, you can sing it for 25 minutes,” Wagner replied to which Boyce started dancing around the studio.

Soon after, Bryan Dunn, Sarah Nisch, Dan Scott and Philip Drennen of Astoria Boulevard, Chris Abad and Wagner recorded their solo parts before the entire crew got together for the group chorus.

“This is gonna be interesting. I’m glad we’re saving this for last,” Berner joked.

As the group huddled together and shared headphones and mics, it was hard not to get into the holiday spirit. With their perfected harmonies and all around talent, A Holiday Benefit, Vol V. will no doubt be a success.

After a few takes, the group was satisfied with their performance and went into the studio to listen to the song on the speakers. Nodding along and at points, mouthing the words they seemed satisfied at the final product.

“And that’s how it’s done!” Bragg said, summing up the night.

Be sure to catch the artists perform December 14 at Rockwood Music Hall II. For a complete lineup and to order your tickets click here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5cX_ncZLls

Features News

Taylor Swift Profiled on "60 Minutes" Tonight

Post author By admin
Post date November 20, 2011

Country music sweetheart, Taylor Swift will be profiled on tonight’s episode of “60 Minutes.” The night before her final two sold-out tour dates at New York’s Madison Square Garden, Swift talks to Lesley Stahl about being a role model.

“It would be really easy to say, ‘I’m 21 now. I do what I want. You raise your kids,’ but that’s not the truth of it. The truth of it is that every singer out there with songs on the radio is raising the next generation. So make your words count,” she says.

Well known for her interaction with fans, (remember that infamous 15-hour autograph signing at CMA Fest last year?), Swift asserts she’s never had a bad incident meeting the fans and it’s certainly not part of a bigger business plan.

Tune into CBS tonight at 7pm ET/PT for the complete special. Be sure to follow me on Twitter tomorrow night for up-to-the-minute details on her show at Madison Square Garden.

Tags 60 Minutes, Taylor Swift

Song of the Week

Song of the Week: "Drive All Night"

Post author By admin
Post date November 17, 2011

Last week, NEEDTOBREATHE released the video for “Drive All Night,” the newest single off their album, The Reckoning. Currently on tour with Taylor Swift, the South Carolina natives have been making a name for themselves with their high energy Southern rock.

Their latest single further proves just why Swift hand-selected them to open up for her every night. With arena friendly choruses, catchy banjo interludes, a driving drum beat and frontman Bear Rinehart’s yearning vocals, “Drive All Night” adequately showcases the band’s staying power.

Watch the video below and be sure to catch them on their headlining tour next year. For complete dates, visit their Web site.

Artist of the Week Band of the Week Concert Reviews

Band of the Week: Blackberry Smoke

Post author By admin
Post date November 16, 2011

Earlier this month, Atlanta based Blackberry Smoke transformed New York’s Hill Country basement into a hillbilly hoedown of sorts, to steal words from their track “Up In Smoke.”

“We’re playing in the basement in New York City and it’s beautiful. We came to boogie, didn’t we?” frontman Charlie Starr asked the energetic crowd.

With screams and raised beer bottles, the audience agreed.

The band exudes classic Southern rock bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd. It comes as no surprise then, that Blackberry Smoke have shared the stage with ZZ Top, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Shooter Jennings, Cross Canadian Ragweed, among others.

Their set November 2 at Hill Country combined gritty electric guitar riffs, rollicking keyboards, a steady drumbeat and Starr’s charismatic stage presence, making for a captivating show. Blending Southern rock, country and blues, the soulful act had everyone in the basement dancing and clapping along.

Performing for nearly two hours, one hour in Starr let the crowd know that they weren’t going anywhere.

“Don’t get in a hurry, we’ve got a lot of boogieing left to do,” he said.

While Blackberry Smoke performed many of the tracks off their most recent release, Little Piece of Dixie, including their hit “Good One Comin’ On” and the stand-out “Restless,” their two hour set spanned their catalog with older fan favorites like the bluesy “Son Of A Bourbon.”

In between songs, the lively crowd would frequently scream song requests that were often fulfilled soon after. With a killer live show and collaborations with George Jones and Jamey Johnson, Blackberry Smoke continue to impress. With any luck, they’ll soon become a household name.

For more on Blackberry Smoke, visit their Website. Watch their video for “Good One Comin’ On” below.

Tags: Good One Comin’ On, Blackberry Smoke, Blackberry Smoke Videos

Features News

Daniel Wayne To Perform At Glasslands Gallery Thursday

Post author By admin
Post date November 15, 2011

With a distinct sound that some say exude Jeff Buckley and Roy Orbison, Brooklyn-based musician Daniel Wayne has been busy making a name for himself. With the recent release of his debut EP, he’s playing a show in his home borough this week.

Born in Cincinnati, Wayne was immersed in country and bluegrass music as a child. It’s no wonder that his music is a distinct blend of both these genres and also embodies rock influences.

“My mom was born in Kentucky and my stepdad is from Kentucky and they were always listening to bluegrass music. I guess I just got immersed into that,” he said. “I think that’s where my influence comes from as far as that country side.”

Honesty is the key to standing out as a musician in New York, Wayne said.

“I just try to keep it sincere and honest. I think the main objective of any artist is to find their own voice and sing from that perspective. If they do that, they’re going to stand out naturally,” he said. “If you’re coming from a perspective of sincerity and just being yourself, everybody can stand out.”

For my complete interview with Daniel Wayne, visit CBS. Be sure to visit his Web site for more information.