Category: Artist of the Week

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Artist of the Week

Artist of the Week: Amy Regan

Two years ago, I introduced you to Amy Regan as an artist to watch. Since then, the New York singer-songwriter has continued to record new material, tour and have her music featured in a national Hertz commercial. (Watch video below).

In fact, it was at a gig playing Rockwood Music Hall in New York that art director Haley Fulop witnessed Regan live and later brought her on with the idea for the Hertz campaign. While she’s been compared to Norah Jones and Joni Mitchell, Regan continues to make a name for herself with latest EP, Gonna Get Better.

The four-track EP kicks off with energetic title track, “Gonna Get Better.” Complete with edgy guitar and percussion accentuated by her soulful vocals, Regan quickly grabs the listener’s attention. Next song,
“Keep You Warm” is a ballad with fitting piano accompaniment. With her deep and powerful singing style, the song strikes a chord.

Though only four tracks, Gonna Get Better demonstrates Regan’s versatility as a singer. Effortlessly jumping from a sultry ballad to a more energetic number, she manages to keep the listener intrigued.  “Crazy” is just one example. The track showcases Regan’s more playful side and is a surprising transition from “Keep You Warm.” With piano and vocals that bring to mind Sara Bareilles, one can only expect to hear more from Regan in the near future.

For more on Amy Regan, be sure to visit her MySpace or Web site. Stay tuned for a full album release later this year.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UN39rkphWqQ?fs=1]

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Artist of the Week

Artist of the Week: Elvis Presley

I find it only fitting to make Elvis Presley my artist of the week, being that today is the 33rd anniversary of his death. The King of rock & roll, I’ve been listening to Elvis for as long as I can remember. Whether it’s his infamous, “Jailhouse Rock” or the beautiful “Can’t Help Falling In Love,” his songs are classics.

I’ve posted a few of the more popular videos below for your enjoyment. You can also view previously unreleased photos of Elvis as a 21-year-old at Rolling Stone here. What’s your favorite Elvis song?

“Suspicious Minds”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTYg2Q-vDJ0?fs=1]

“Jailhouse Rock”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UcY_KsvHho?fs=1]

“(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhdUucs8AlY?fs=1]

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Artist of the Week

Artist of the Week: Matt White

With familiar vocals that recall fellow singer-songwriters Jason Mraz and Matt Nathanson, Matt White impresses. While his music combines light piano and guitar accompaniment, it’s his voice that leaves the greatest impact. Soothing and relaxing, tracks like “Love” embody a certain longing many can relate to with a Caribbean vibe while “Taking On Water” is an emotional track with moving vocals and delicate guitar finger picking, suiting the song well. 

In 2007 White broke into the scene with his debut album, Best Days. The LP peaked at No. 4 on Billboard’s New Artist chart and garnered him much praise. Rolling Stone named him one of “10 Artists to Watch” while Details added Best Days in their “best new music bubbling from the underground,” saying White has “a falsetto smooth enough to melt the icy heart of a Brooklyn hipster.”

While it is debatable if White has in fact melted the hearts of Brooklyn hipsters, it’s safe to say he has impressed many New Yorkers. Born in New Jersey, after college White moved to New York where he could be found singing on street corners and in Washington Square Park. His street performing days soon ended as many recognized his talent and he graduated to gigs at Joe’s Pub and the Living Room, not to mention tours with notable acts including everyone from Sheryl Crow, John Mayer and B.B. King to OneRepublic, Third Eye Blind and Counting Crows.

If his music sounds familiar, it’s because tracks have been featured in numerous films, commercials and TV shows like “Shrek The Third,” McDonald’s, “The Hills,” “Brothers and Sisters,” and “One Tree Hill.”

His second album is due out this Fall, and features production from David Baron (Lenny Kravitz) and Henry Hirsh (Lenny Kravitz), as well as mixing from Jack Joseph Puig (Weezer, Goo Goo Dolls, Sparklehorse, Shelby Lynne) and Joe Blaney (The Clash, The Ramones, Prince). If it’s anything like his well-received debut, White is one artist to keep your eyes on.

For more on Matt White, visit him on MySpace and be sure to catch him performing tonight at Webster Hall as part of the New Music Seminar.

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Artist of the Week

Artist of the Week: Tamar Kaprelian

Tamar Kaprelian has been writing songs for as long as she can remember, drawing inspiration at an early age from Disney films and later, music icons Billy Joel and Paul McCartney. However, it wasn’t until she entered and won OneRepublic’s cover song contest in 2008 that labels started to take notice. With Ryan Tedder’s help, she soon signed to Interscope Records and began working on her debut album, due out later this year.

A coming-of-age record that chronicles her life and relationships, Kaprelian is determined to create an album that is real and true to her, both personally and artistically. By previewing a few tracks on MySpace and witnessing her live last night in New York, she is well on her way.

With emotion-filled lyrics and equally passionate vocals, Kaprelian’s music inspires the listener. First single, “New Day” is a song about “struggling, overcoming and having faith in believing that you can get yourself out of the situation.” A relatable track, Kaprelian takes the listener on a journey with her powerful vocals and the tale’s resolution. “I was lost but I found what I was looking for/Waking up, waking up to a new day,” she sings. (Watch the video for “New Day” below.)

http://www.vevo.com/VideoPlayer/Embedded?videoId=USUV70903968&playlist=false&autoplay=0&playerId=62FF0A5C-0D9E-4AC1-AF04-1D9E97EE3961&playerType=embedded

Kaprelian’s airy vocals on the upbeat “Delicate Soul” brings to mind fellow singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles while tracks like “Purified” and “Three Simple Words” portray a more mature sound. Never one to shy away from how it all began, Kaprelian performed a soulful rendition of  “A Whole New World” from Disney’s film “Aladdin” last night to a packed and sweaty crowd at Mercury Lounge.

With her powerful vocal delivery, piano interludes and string features throughout many of her tracks, Kaprelian’s music strikes a chord. “Three Simple Words” is a moving ballad of love lost with delicate piano accompaniment and angelic vocals while “Transcend” impresses with soaring string interludes and a deeper, more intimate sound.

Look for Tamar Kaprelian’s debut album due out later this year. Until then, learn about her songwriting process and collaborating with OneRepublic in a video interview below.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szR02wPOx4s]

Watch Tamar’s winning cover of OneRepublic’s “Apologize” below. For more on Tamar, be sure to visit her on MySpace.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6FFQ3CJcBU]

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Artist of the Week Features

Artist to Watch: Shwa Losben

Shwa Losben combines impassioned folk and rock & roll for a truly unique sound. Whether he’s writing about a friend who went to Mexico with a guy she met on Craigslist on “Trainwreck,” or critiquing mean hipsters on “Brooklyn Girls,” his tales captivate the listener.

Losben moved to New York in 2007 and has steadily built a name for himself, playing in front of packed venues with his band “The Good Times.” The singer-songwriter released his debut solo album, Chop Chop in 2008. With rave reviews, USA Today wrote, “it deserves to be heard by more people.” Additionally, the title track earned Losben the ASCAP Robert Allen Songwriting Award.

Two years later, Losben is back with his fan-funded release, Good Times Good Times. The 10-track album offers listeners fun, upbeat songs accompanied by intriguing characters and descriptive storylines. Blending folk and rock, Losben’s soulful voice soothes above fitting music. Each song offers something new, whether it be the twangy “Worst Is Over” or the danceable “Penultimate Dance.” A track he has high hopes for, of “Penultimate Dance,” Losben says, “My dream is for it to be the second-to-last song played at weddings and bar mitzvahs.”

Good Times Good Times draws influence from Pulp and Pearl Jam and no doubt has distinct musical components to please every music lover. With resemblance to fellow New York singer-songwriter PT Walkley on “Treat the Disease,” the track impresses with horn features, powerful guitar and percussion and Losben’s wavering vocals.”Total Nightmare” is another danceable gem with energetic keyboard and vocals throughout while “Sandy Don’t Worry” is an impassioned love song reminiscing of the past. 

With an album this diverse, one can only wonder what the future will bring for Losben. Having opened for Ben Folds, he is well on his way. To stream Good Times Good Times click here. For more on Shwa, be sure to visit him on MySpace.

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Artist of the Week Features

Artist to Watch: Jaron and The Long Road To Love

A few months ago I was introduced to Jaron and The Long Road To Love while watching country music videos on CMT. (Yes, I love country THAT much). Jaron looked extremely familiar so I did my research. Remember twin brothers Evan and Jaron from the 90s? Their hits include “Crazy For This Girl,” “From My Head to My Heart” and “The Distance,” many of which landed in major films like “Runaway Bride” and “Serendipity.”

When Evan decided to take a break from the music business to start a family, a decade later Jaron chose otherwise. His MySpace states that in March of 2009, after growing tired of hearing the bad news about the economy, he took out his guitar and wrote a song to feel better.

“I felt selfish. I felt like I had this gift that I was keeping to myself. A friend of mine had told me years before that someday I would realize that my talent belonged to all of us and not just to me. He said I had a social responsibility to share but it took a decade for those words to make sense to me.”

Fast forward to 2010. Quirky current single, “Pray For You” is a staple on country music countdowns and Jaron released his debut country album, Getting Dressed in the Dark, this past Tuesday. The LP features 10 songs about Jaron’s journey to love. Of the album’s theme, Jaron says, “Why do I choose to write about love? Because that’s where I am right now. I’m not interested in writing stories about doors, or blue skies or whatever. It’s not interesting to me right now.”

While “Pray for You,” is a revenge ballad, “Meantime Girl” tells the whimsical story of a fleeting infatuation at a traffic light and “Kill Me For Loving You” is a vulnerable song about the pain of a break up. With his return to music, Jaron says he wanted to do things differently.

“I wanted to write the songs that I felt were being left off other people’s albums. I wanted to talk about the little details that get overlooked but that I think are really the biggest issues. It was also important to me to be very candid in my lyrics and make sure that I was honest in not only my frustrations towards others, but also when discussing my own failings. If honest was going to be the foundation of this album, I had to be willing to start with me.”

For more on Jaron and The Long Road to Love, visit him on Facebook and MySpace. You can watch the video for “Pray For You” below as well as download the album on iTunes here.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atBg9zLI2bA]

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Artist of the Week Benefit

Artist of the Week: Lenka

Australian singer-songwriter Lenka crafts catchy, upbeat pop songs that are bound to get stuck in your head after just one listen. The former actress got her start taking acting lessons with Cate Blanchett, but it wasn’t until a role in a play required  her to sing that she became passionate about music.

Since then, Lenka’s 2008 debut album has garnered rave reviews and many of her songs have been featured on commercials and hit TV shows including “Ugly Betty” and “Grey’s Anatomy.” While many of her songs deal with broken hearts and failed relationships, the music behind each track is uplifting.

Songs like “The Show” feature energetic horn and piano accompaniment. “I’m just a little bit caught in the middle/Life is a maze and love is a riddle/I don’t know where to go, can’t do it alone/I’ve tried, and I don’t know why,” she sings. If the song sounds familiar, you may remember it from an Old Navy advertisement. 

The beautifully delicate, “Don’t Let Me Fall” embodies her angelic vocals with a moving string arrangement. Conducted by composer/arranger David Campbell (Beck’s father), the track is light and airy, sounding reminiscent to a lullaby.

Lenka is currently working on her sophomore album, due out later this year. If you’re in New York this Thursday, you just might get to witness her debut a few songs live at Girls Who Rock! For more information, visit the Facebook invite here and be sure to give Lenka a listen on MySpace.

Watch the music video for “The Show” below.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elsh3J5lJ6g]

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Artist of the Week

Artist of the Week: Sahara Smith

Texas-based singer-songwriter Sahara Smith‘s vocals are a unique blend of rustic and angelic. An old soul, the 21-year-old’s lyrics are descriptive and well beyond her age.

While tracks like the twangy “All I Need” relax, others, like seductive “The Real Thing” intrigue the listener.

“I used to think that happiness was hiding in the dark/I believed in everything but love,” she sings emotionally on “All I Need” with light guitar and percussion accompaniment.

Born in Austin, Smith started performing locally at 14. She garnered national attention at 15 after she was selected to compete in A Prairie Home Companion’s ‘Talent from 12-20’ contest and took home second place. Since then, she has been pursuing a career as a singer-songwriter and hasn’t turned back.

Smith will be making her New York debut June 14-16th supporting her upcoming August release, Myth of the Heart. Overseen by the legendary T Bone Burnett and producer Emile Kelman, the album will feature many of Burnett’s first-call session players including drummer Jay Bellerose, guitarist Marc Ribot and bassist Dennis Crouch.

To hear more from Sahara Smith, visit her on MySpace

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Artist of the Week

Artist of the Week: Frank Sinatra

After reading an article on Frank Sinatra today, I opted to make it Hoboken Week on the blog. Born in Hoboken in 1915, Sinatra began singing in public during the 1930s and continued performing until 1995.

Currently, Martin Scorsese has plans to film a biopic about ol’ blue eyes. While the film is still in talks, Scorsese’s first choice to play Sinatra is Al Pacino. Sinatra’s daughter, Tina, said she favors George Clooney in the lead while Leonardo DiCaprio’s name also came up. What are your thoughts? Who would you want to play Sinatra? For the complete Guardian article, click here.

Rather than provide a complete biography, I’ll post some Sinatra classics below. Which song is your favorite?

“Fly Me to the Moon”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9h0MNMfKuQ]

“New York, New York”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WV02nP9PLnQ]

“My Way”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vua8wka5Cys]

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Artist of the Week

Artist of the Week: Billy Currington

Grammy nominated singer-songwriter Billy Currington burst onto the country scene in 2003 with his critically acclaimed self-titled release. Two albums later and many concerts later, Currington continues to make a name for himself with hit songs and festival anthems.

CMT recently reviewed California’s Stagecoach festival and wrote praises of his performance:

Billy Currington proved to be a wise choice to join the Stagecoach lineup. So many of his songs could have been the event’s official anthem — “People Are Crazy” (painted on numerous T-shirts and tailgates), “Swimming in Summertime” (lots of bathing suits but no pool in sight) and “Don’t” (as in, “Honey, should I keep doing drunken handstands even though that guy behind me is trying to watch the show?”). Currington’s new single fits the bill, too — an easygoing tune called “Pretty Good at Drinking Beer.”

Recently nominated for the 2010 CMT Music Awards for Male Video of the Year for hit single, “People Are Crazy,” 2010 is a promising one for Currington. Additionally, he was just added to Carrie Underwood’s upcoming fall tour.

With his relatable, reflective lyrics and soothing vocals, Currington proves to be a force to watch in the country music scene. Songs like passionate ballad “Must Be Doin’ Something Right” and the fun, life-affirming “People Are Crazy” in which he sings, “God is great/Beer is good/And people are crazy” leave an impact on the listener.

For more on Currington, visit his Web site and watch some videos below.

“People Are Crazy”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKpQRjj_WbU]

“Party For Two” with Shania Twain

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzD0nd7tzNI]

“Must Be Doin’ Something Right”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbQfE2Oi6Wo]

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