You Sing, I Write

Visit You Sing I Write's New Website!

2010-11-19T16:30:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone! I haven't updated Blogger in a while because I now have a brand spankin' new site at http://yousingiwrite.com/. Once you visit it, add your email address to my mailing list and I'll send you updates on the blog, my music life and any exciting contests and freebies going on.

Please update me to your RSS feed as well at http://yousingiwrite.com/feed. Tons of new articles and interviews have been posted since the redesign Friday (including my day with Keith Urban!).

I'd love to hear your feedback on the new design, so definitely contact me and let me know what you think! Thanks again for all your support over the past three years. Can't wait to see what the future will bring for You Sing I Write!

Celebrate 3 Years of You Sing I Write Friday!

2010-11-09T21:20:00.000-05:00

Over the past three years, what started as a crazy dream to interview and cover bands has fully come alive — for some of you, right before your very eyes. Fresh out of college in a non-writing related job I launched You Sing I Write as my creative outlet. It was a simple concept: I loved music, so naturally that's what I'd write about.

Never in a million years did I think I'd be published on RollingStone.com, AOL, MTV or Marie Claire, but my adventures traveling to music festivals, interviewing Grammy Award winning artists and covering local talent allowed me to get this far. I couldn't be more grateful.

Last year, my friend Monica and I put together a benefit concert for TWLOHA, an organization we've admired since college and this year I decided to do the same. What started as the desire to raise money for the American Cancer Society in hopes to cure my cousin who was diagnosed over two months ago, now has a more personal significance as she recently passed away.

The night will include performances by four amazing bands as well as provide information on how you can help out your local American Cancer Society chapter so we can beat this horrible disease. Oh, and my website will be relaunching too thanks to Wendy Hu and Joel Brower!

For the official invite, visit Facebook. Complete details below.

Friday, November 12th at Southpaw, Brooklyn (125 5th Ave)

The N Result / Alexa Wilkinson / Tor Miller Band / Whale Belly

18+ w/ ID

admission: $10

door time: 8PM

Hope to see you Friday!

YSIW Three Year Anniversary Show 2 Weeks Away!

2010-10-29T00:00:00.002-04:00

Flier design by Wendy Hu

Just wanted to post a friendly reminder of my three year blog anniversary/site relaunch concert on November 12th at Southpaw in Brooklyn! Wendy sent me an amazing flier that I plan to start posting around Brooklyn, so feel free to grab it and do the same.

Since it's just two weeks away, I'm taking a hiatus updating the blog in order to make sure all the content is ready. Be sure to follow me on Twitter for my up-to-the-minute adventures.

With a solid mix of hip-hop, folk, rock and pop artists, November 12th proves to be a fun night of music. Feel free to RSVP on Facebook. Complete details are below.

Friday, November 12th at Southpaw, Brooklyn (125 5th Ave)

The N Result / Alexa Wilkinson / Tor Miller Band / Whale Belly

18+ w/ ID

admission: $10

door time: 8PM

A portion of the ticket sales will go to the American Cancer Society in memory of Silvia DeAngelis.

Hope to see you there!

Lady Antebellum Talk Dating, Drunk Dialing and Dylan

2010-10-22T12:00:00.000-04:00

To say 2010 is Lady Antebellum's year would be an understatement. The trio kicked things off in January with the release of their sophomore album, Need You Now, and a Grammy win for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group under their belt. The nominations continued, as the band has five nods at both the CMA Awards and American Music Awards next month -- tying them with the number of nods Eminem received for the latter awards show.

I chatted with Lady A's Hillary Scott, Dave Haywood and Charles Kelley at their recent benefit performance in New York about success, songwriting (they've already begun penning a follow up to Need You Now) and why you should put that phone down at "a quarter after one."

What is your songwriting process like?

Dave: If anything, it's really musical. We start a lot with melodies and instrumentation and trying to figure out good melodies for verses and choruses. We get to lyrics sometimes second, so we'll start humming a melody, finding something, and see where the music takes you as far as lyrics are and what you want to say and go from there. We love great melodies and great songs that have great hooks and melodies, so we start a little bit more on that side as opposed to other people that start more lyric-based. Sometimes we'll do it the other way.

For my complete interview with Lady Antebellum, visit The Boot.

YSIW Celebrates Three Years --Thank You!

2010-10-21T18:02:00.000-04:00

Interview with Martina McBride, CMA Festival 2009

Photo Credit: Wendy Hu

It's hard to believe that three years ago today I wrote my very first blog post! Fresh out of college in a non-writing related job, I yearned for a creative outlet and my former MTV colleagues suggested I start a music blog. I'm so glad I did.

Interview with Vince Scheuerman of Army of Me, Union Hall 2007

Hundreds of shows and interviews later, I can't imagine a day without posting a review, feature, or Q&A. Along the way I've interviewed some of my favorite musicians, had my share of exclusive content and a few starstruck moments. Whether it was chatting with Pat Benatar on the phone, stumping Lady Antebellum on a few questions or struggling with a lost voice and fever while interviewing Better Than Ezra, I'm still in disbelief that this is my life.

Interview with Fergie, Zootopia 2009

Thank you so much for keeping up with You Sing I Write over the past three years! There's nothing I love more than reading your comments, questions for artists, and show recommendations. You're the reason I continually update the site. I have many exciting things lined up in the next few weeks with my site redesign and video interviews — can't wait for you to see! I'd love to meet you all at my big bash at Southpaw November 12. Make sure you come and say hi!

Related Links:
• I'm Not A Groupie: A Music Lover's Tale of Getting That Interview
• YSIW Celebrates Two Years!
• I'm With the Band
• Top 10 Interviews

Life Analysis: Through Music

2010-10-20T16:35:00.000-04:00

Photo Credit: Wendy Hu

It has happened to all of us. You hear a song that takes you back to a specific time and place. Whether it be your childhood, college or an experience that has drastically changed your life, for the good or the bad, you’re transformed back into that moment in time.

Last weekend Monica and I worked from home and she played music from her Gaslight Anthem Pandora station (we’re obsessed with this Jersey band so much so that I think we’ve convinced Farrah to come out to their next show). While some obscure bands came up that we never heard of, I was ecstatic when Jimmy Eat World’s “A Praise Chorus” came on.

“Are you gonna live your life wonderin’ standing in the back lookin’ around?
Are you gonna waste your time thinkin’ how you’ve grown up or how you missed out?
Things are never gonna be the way you want.
Where’s it gonna get you acting serious?
Things are never gonna be quite what you want.
Even at 25, you gotta start sometime.
…
Someone’s gonna ask you what it’s all about
Stick around nostalgia won’t let you down
Someone’s gonna ask you what it’s all about
Whatcha gonna have to say for yourself?”

For my complete article, visit Busted Halo.

The Ataris Bring Music, Nostalgia to Hoboken

2010-10-19T17:00:00.004-04:00

"Come up close," frontman Kris Roe said before he kicked off his set at Maxwell's Sunday night. "We're a band from Indiana called The Ataris."

Not that concertgoers weren't aware. For most, The Ataris were a part of their childhood. Song requests were screamed out all night spanning their album catalogue. While Roe often joked with the crowd, most requests were played.

While the band has seen numerous lineup changes over the years, die-hard fans found comfort in that Roe continues to sing the songs they grew up on with the same passion he did over a decade ago.

For the complete review, visit Hoboken Patch.

Related Links:
• Q&A with Kris Roe of the Ataris: Part 1
• Q&A with Kris Roe of the Ataris: Part 2
• The Ataris' "Blue Skies, Broken Hearts" Acoustic Tour Hits New Jersey
• Song of the Week: "Boys of Summer"

Sara Evans, 'A Little Bit Stronger' -- Story Behind the Lyrics

2010-10-18T17:00:00.003-04:00

Photo Credit: Wendy Hu

Last week, I interviewed Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood of Lady Antebellum before their benefit concert for Musicians On Call at City Winery. Hillary filled me in on the story behind one of the songs she wrote, Sara Evans' latest single, "A Little Bit Stronger." A very personal song, she said it's a track that means more to her now then when first written.

For the complete article, visit The Boot. Stay tuned for my exclusive interview with Lady Antebellum in the upcoming weeks!

Join YSIW for CMJ Thursday Night in Williamsburg!

2010-10-16T11:30:00.000-04:00

I'm psyched to be hosting my first CMJ party next Thursday night in Williamsburg! The show will feature performances by two of my favorite New York bands including The Ramblers, The Canon Logic and Los Angeles based Nightmare and The Cat.

Free shirts from CPHARRIK, and all kinds of delicious food from YIEatN will also be provided. The show starts at 10pm and all are welcome, but space is limited so make sure you RSVP. Come say hi if you do stop by!

Complete details below:

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Food: 7:30pm, Show: 10pm

132 N 5th St, Brooklyn, NY

RSVP: mission2cmj@gmail.com

Hope to see you there!

Lady Antebellum, Amos Lee Dazzle for Musicians On Call

2010-10-14T17:00:00.001-04:00

Lady Antebellum Fan Club Party
2009 CMA Music Festival
Photo Credit: Wendy Hu

Lady Antebellum filled fans in on the meaning behind their hits Wednesday night during the sixth annual benefit concert for Musicians On Call at New York's City Winery. Having volunteered at St. Jude's in Nashville, Lady A's Hillary Scott explained how much the non-profit, which brings live music to the bedsides of patients at hospitals, means to the band.

"We're very excited about helping the cause and raising money," Hillary tells The Boot. "Music is so healing. Whether you're in a hospital bed or you're driving down the road just broken up with your boyfriend, it has such a healing power. What better way than to go into hospitals and equip musicians to sing for these patients who are just looking for a smile?"

Though Lady A have yet to perform at hospitals for Musicians On Call, with a chapter in Nashville, band members Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood say it's a cause they plan to get involved with. "We're not curing diseases or anything, but to be able to put a smile on somebody's face during a tough time can always be a cure as well," Dave says.

For my complete review of last night's show, visit The Boot. Stay tuned for my exclusive interviews with Lady Antebellum and Amos Lee in the coming weeks!

Save the Date: YSIW's 3-Year Anniversary Bash November 12

2010-10-13T17:00:00.002-04:00

I am beyond excited to announce that my site redesign will be complete next month! Wendy Hu (photographer and designer extraordinaire), Joel Brower (programmer guru) and I are working hard to migrate all the content and have the site fully functioning for my 3-year celebration November 12th at Southpaw in Brooklyn.

Since it's just under a month away, I'll be posting less frequently in order to make sure all the content is ready so follow me on Twitter for my up-to-the-minute adventures. With that said, feel free to read through past interviews (on the right sidebar) and I'll be back from time to time because I can't stop writing altogether!

I can't wait for my big bash November 12th. I've been putting together shows for the past two years, but this year is by far the most diverse lineup and showcases bands you NEED to know! We have a solid mix of hip-hop, folk, rock and pop artists that I really think you'll dig. Stay tuned for the official flier and for more info, check out the bands who will be playing below!

Friday, November 12th at Southpaw, Brooklyn (125 5th Ave)

The N Result / Alexa Wilkinson / Tor Miller Band / Whale Belly

18+ w/ ID

admission: $10

door time: 8PM

A portion of the ticket sales will go to the American Cancer Society

Watch Tor Miller Band perform a cover of Ray LaMontagne's "You Are the Best Thing" at last year's bash below. Maybe I can make another request for it this year. What do you think? Hope to see you November 12th!

Song of the Week: "Our Kind of Love"

2010-10-08T17:15:00.000-04:00

Their third No. 1 single off sophomore release, Need You Now, Lady Antebellum have been making waves in the music scene. Being that I'll be interviewing them next week and spent the past few days researching and watching old videos, I thought it'd be fitting to make "Our Kind of Love" my song of the week.

If you have any questions you've been dying to ask Lady A, let me know in the comments!

Watch "Our Kind of Love" below.

Music As Religion?

2010-10-07T17:00:00.002-04:00

For as long as I can remember, I’ve turned to music when questioning life and making major decisions. While some find solace in prayer, going to church or synagogue, I simply go to my iTunes playlist.

Blasphemy?

To some.

For me, not so much. My criteria is simple.

Major life questioning: Switchfoot

Simply unwinding: John Mayer

Nostalgic for my childhood: Backstreet Boys

And my most recent addition:

Sheer disbelief and being thankful: Pat Benatar

For my complete article, visit Busted Halo.

Gaslight Anthem at Radio City: A Review

2010-10-06T17:00:00.003-04:00

Photo Credit: Tony Cano

New Jersey favorites the Gaslight Anthem packed Radio City Music Hall Thursday night for a marathon set of nearly two hours. While the band showcased songs from their entire catalogue, their gratitude to fans was apparent as frontman Brian Fallon continually thanked fans when he could find the words.

Shortly after 9 p.m. Radio City went dark while “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” played through the speakers. The band took the stage to screaming fans and powered through “High Lonesome,” “Boxer,” “We Came to Dance” and “The Diamond Church Street Choir,” an impressive variety of songs from their three full length albums before Fallon addressed the crowd for the first time.

“Radio City. We started playing in basements. Elvis might even show up. I know we’re in New York, but I imagine New Jersey is represented in the crowd tonight.”

For the complete review, visit BumperShine.

Related Links:
• You Sing, I Write's Top 5 Concerts of 2009
• Band of the Week: Gaslight Anthem
• Five Albums to Prolong Your Summer
• All Points West: Music, Mud Wrestling, and Beer Gardens

Band of the Week: MayOrWest

2010-10-05T17:30:00.000-04:00

Together since 2005, MayOrWest got their start practicing at guitarist Pete Cataldo's apartment on Hoboken's Jackson Street. The four-piece alternative punk rock band has since performed throughout Mile Square City at venues including Maxwell's and The Dubliner, the location of their first show.

"Our friend bartended there and said he could get us a gig. We only had three original songs, [so I told him] we could play a bunch of covers," Cataldo said.

The band played nearly 30 songs for three-and-a-half hours. An enjoyable experience, they've been performing and recording ever since.

I sat down with the quartet outside Hotel Victor Bar and Grill over beers as they filled me in on their lives as musicians, the inspiration behind their songs and near death van experiences traveling to gigs. Easy-going personalities coupled with a hard work ethic, MayOrWest is one Hoboken act to pay attention to.

For my complete interview, visit Hoboken Patch.

Video Premiere: Benjamin Wagner's "Forever Young"

2010-10-04T17:35:00.001-04:00

Last week, I told you how you could be featured in Benjamin Wagner's latest music video, "Forever Young," the title track off his new album. Today, he was kind enough to allow me to premiere the video for the song. Watch the video below and if you missed the benefit and CD release concert this past Saturday, be sure to download a copy here.

Tracks on Forever Young include "Rainbow Connection" (with Amber Rubarth), "Golden Slumbers" (with Casey Shea), and "You've Got A Friend" (with Mai Bloomfield). Proceeds benefit children's media research and advocacy.

For more information on the project and the inspiration behind each song, visit BenjaminWagner.com.

Related Links:
• "Forever Young" For the Young and Young at Heart
• Artist to Watch: Amber Rubarth
• Jamie Leonhart Keeps Standing Room Only Crowd Singing
• A Family Holiday Album to Benefit Young Writers

Miranda Lambert Kicks Off Revolution Tour

2010-09-30T17:00:00.002-04:00

New York City's Terminal 5 was packed to capacity Wednesday night for the start of CMT's ninth annual CMT on Tour, this year featuring Miranda Lambert, Eric Church and Josh Kelley. New Yorkers put on their cowboy boots and hats for the three-hour show and proved that the city that never sleeps has some very ardent country fans. Hats, beer cups and even one girl's cowboy boot were raised in the air multiple times throughout the evening.

David Nail and Lady Antebellum were spotted in the crowd, as was Josh's wife, actress Katherine Heigl, who danced along to most of Miranda's set. On the heels of their Beacon Theater performance, Lady A and David opted to spend an extra night in New York to catch the show before flying to St. Louis to continue their current headlining tour.

The first day of the tour, Miranda confessed she missed sound check and instead spent the night in Nashville to celebrate fiancé Blake Shelton's induction into the Grand Ole Opry.

For the complete review, visit The Boot.

"Forever Young" For the Young and Young at Heart

2010-09-29T17:55:00.000-04:00

On Saturday, Benjamin Wagner will release Forever Young, a 10-track album of cover songs and collaborations with some of New York's finest musicians. The collection of songs, which include two Bob Dylan hits, connect to his childhood and were inspired by the birth of his daughter, Maggie. This weekend, Wagner and friends will debut the tracks at Rockwood Music Hall during two benefit performances Saturday at 3 and 8pm.

Tracks on Forever Young include "Rainbow Connection" (with Amber Rubarth), "Golden Slumbers" (with Casey Shea), and "You've Got A Friend" (with Mai Bloomfield). Saturday's benefit show will include performances by Chris Abad, Jamie Leonhart, Casey Shea, Bryan Dunn, Emily Easterly, Tony Maceli, James Williams and more. Proceeds will be donated to organizations like Fred Rogers Center and Campaign for Commercial Free Childhood in support of their efforts towards advancing early learning and children’s media.

Next week, You Sing I Write will premiere the music video for title track, "Forever Young" and you can be a part of it! Simply upload a big, non-compressed image of yourself as a baby or toddler on Facebook by Saturday for a chance to be featured in the video. For more information on the project and the inspiration behind each song, visit BenjaminWagner.com.

Related Links:
• Artist to Watch: Amber Rubarth
• Jamie Leonhart Keeps Standing Room Only Crowd Singing
• A Holiday Benefit Concert Recap
• A Family Holiday Album to Benefit Young Writers

Band of the Week: The Boxer Rebellion

2010-09-28T22:25:00.001-04:00

Currently on their first American headlining tour, The Boxer Rebellion have been impressing audiences with their atmospheric rock. With soaring guitar interludes, foot-thumping percussion and frontman Nathan Nicholson's emotion-fueled vocals, the band captivated all in attendance during their show Saturday at The Bell House.

Performing just over an hour, the UK-based band showcased tracks off their albums, Exits and Union as well as debuted new material from their upcoming 2011 release. The first unsigned band in history to break into the Billboard Top 200 Charts with a digital only release, you can expect to hear much more from The Boxer Rebellion soon.

Currently featured in the film, "Going the Distance" with Drew Barrymore and Justin Long, Nicholson and guitarist Todd Howe confessed in an interview before their set that a lot more women have been showing up to their gigs, not that they mind.

"It's good to be back in New York...in Brooklyn I should say. I don't want any people to get pissed off," Nicholson told the crowd after playing "Evacuate."

With vocals that bring to mind U2's Bono and arena friendly musical accompaniment, it's easy to picture The Boxer Rebellion in a stadium setting. Hard to believe they remain unsigned, their American tour promises to be a success. Both lead guitarist Howe and Nicholson command the stage while bassist Adam Harrison and drummer Piers Hewitt flush out the sound. Throughout their set, the band transitioned from slower ballads to more rock centric numbers effortlessly. In fact, on some tracks each member could be found pounding away on some form of percussion.

Tracks like "Semi-Automatic" slowed down their set with solid instrumental interludes while others, like "Soviets" were a welcomed surprise. Switching gears from electric to acoustic guitar, Nicholson told the crowd that the song is "a kind of country song if there were such a song in our repertoire."

While the girls were most excited to hear tracks from "Going the Distance" performed, the band managed to please all in attendance. Whether it was the females nearing close to the stage or the men back towards the soundboard nodding along, The Boxer Rebellion satisfied during their gig in Brooklyn. Lucky fans who stayed until the very end of their set enjoyed dancing and singing along with Nicholson when he jumped off the stage for last song of the night, "Watermelon."

For more on The Boxer Rebellion, be sure to visit them on MySpace and watch a video of Saturday's show here. Stay tuned for my exclusive interview and concert footage.

Song of the Week: "Until You"

2010-09-24T18:00:00.002-04:00

Gearing up for Miranda Lambert's concert next week at Terminal 5, I've been listening to country music all day. (Not that I don't normally listen to country music to begin with...) I came across Billy Currington's song, "Until You" off his latest release and decided to make it my song of the week until I found out it was a cover of Dave Barnes' original. Having featured Barnes on the blog several times, I couldn't believe that I had never heard it before. Watch the video below, I'd love to know your thoughts!

Album Review: Matt White’s “It’s the Good Crazy”

2010-09-23T17:20:00.000-04:00

With 11 tracks of infectious falsetto and defined soul, Matt White impresses on sophomore release, It’s the Good Crazy. From the very first track, “And the Beat Goes On” White manages to capture the listener's undivided attention with his powerful singing, piano playing and whistling. The versatility between each song on the LP electrifies as it's nearly impossible to predict what will come next.

Catchy songs like first single, "Falling In Love (With My Best Friend)" are instantly likable and easy to picture heard on Top 40 radio while the sexy "She's On Fire" offers surprising diversity with a seductive beat matched well with White's deep vocals.

The slower "Taking On Water" follows "She's On Fire" and embodies lyrics that are bound to make every girl's heart swoon. "It's your eyes that keep me hanging around/Make me drive all night to get to your house," he sings over light percussion and acoustic guitar accompaniment.

While White demonstrates his ability to be more serious on a number of ballads throughout his LP, it's on more playful tracks like the 70s influenced "Teacher Teacher" that showcase his talent best. Alternating between slower singing and belting the chorus, his transformation is impeccable. "Off My Wall" follows suit with higher vocals and slow groove building that is sure to bring even the shyest wallflower to the dance floor.

Overall, a remarkably solid release, White makes a name for himself on It's the Good Crazy. In an industry of predictability, White remains to stand out from the crowd.

For more on Matt White, be sure to visit MySpace and to learn about the stories behind his songs, read a recent interview with him on The Huffington Post. Watch him perform latest single, "Falling In Love" below.

Matt White performs "Falling in Love" at Joe's Tavern, Sept 2010 from Julia Allison on Vimeo.

New Music Wednesday: 2AM Club, Hope, Kellee Maize

2010-09-22T22:15:00.000-04:00

Always on the hunt for the latest tracks from up-and-coming artists, this week brings three new artists in completely different genres. I think you'll enjoy each one. Love to know your thoughts!

I caught 2AM Club live a few months ago and was blown away by their catchy harmonies and infectious rap interludes. Watch the video for their latest single, "Worry About You" below.

With airy vocals that bring to mind Colbie Caillat and Kina Grannis, singer-songwriter Hope teams up with Jason Mraz for this breathlessly delicate ballad.

Female rappers don't get enough credit. I've received a few emails from Kellee Maize and was impressed by her words and style. Watch the video for "Third Eye" below.

What new songs are you listening to? Let me know!

You Sing I Write Wins Music Award!

2010-09-21T17:50:00.000-04:00

I received an email last week informing me that You Sing I Write won a Web Excellency Award from Theater Seat Store!

When checking out the site for myself, they write:

"Sometimes it seems that everyone has an opinion about music. This award goes to those blogs who's opinions matter."

The site went on to explain their process of choosing the blogs that stand out for music coverage.

"The team has once again composed a list of the best blogs in music, this time focussing on the heavily-stamped ground of music reviews. We provide the unique sites below in one simple location for your review and enjoyment, while at the same time using the opportunity to award each for their fine writing skills and services to the sprawling world of music and, of course, the dear reader.

The amount of music review blogs out there is staggering to say the least – from professional publications to personal journals, we focussed not on the size of the operation (or indeed the subsequent output) when choosing our award winners but on the sheer quality of content on offer. This will be manifestly apparent to anyone who takes the time to read them."

Thanks for all your support over the years! Mark your calendars for a special 3-year anniversary blog bash November 12th in Brooklyn. More details to come! To check out the other blog winners, visit Theater Seat Store.

Artist of the Week: Joy Ike

2010-09-20T23:30:00.001-04:00

Pennsylvania based singer-songwriter Joy Ike has been making a name for herself. After releasing her second album independently, she won an opening slot performing at this summer's reinstated Lilith Fair through a fan voted contest on OurStage. Since then, she has continued her grassroots approach to music to stay true to her values.

With vocals that recall popular singer-songwriters Sara Bareilles and Regina Spektor, Ike's soulful singing style and breathtaking piano accompaniment impress. What is most striking of Ike is that she embodies a timeless and familiar quality. Songs like opening track, "Sweeter" draw the listener in with her upbeat singing style while the nearly one minute piano intro on "Give Me Truth" relaxes.

Beautiful title track, "Rumors" leaves an impact on the listener with Ike's slow and powerful vocals accompanied by the light strokes of the piano and fitting string features. Despite the impressive music, it is Ike's hopeful and introspective lyrics that allow her to stand out from popular singer-songwriters.

In fact, in an interview with OurStage.com, she touched upon the importance of creating memorable music.

"What a person says reflects who they are. I want to make music that's purposeful and I want to create music that people can hold onto for a long time."

With a release as strong as Rumors, Ike is well on her way.

For more on Joy Ike, be sure to visit her on MySpace and watch the interview below. You can download her track, "Sweeter" here.

Join YSIW and The Ramblers Next Sunday in Brooklyn!

2010-09-17T17:30:00.001-04:00

I can hardly believe it's been a month since I moved to Brooklyn. While I've been exploring all the venues in the area and attending numerous shows in cool locations like rooftops and friends' backyards, I thought, "Why not host my own backyard concert with my roommates?" So, instead of the typical housewarming party, my roommates and I are planning a show at our friend's backyard in Park Slope next Sunday.

Won't you join us?

Brooklyn-based band The Ramblers will bring their soulful Americana for a set you won't want to miss. They'll be performing the night before at Mercury Lounge, so if you're in the area definitely check them out there and come to our soiree the next day for a scaled down, acoustic set. The Ramblers have been compared to The Band and like to refer to themselves as a mix of Jim Croce backed with Booker T. & the M.G.'s. With rave reviews by numerous music publications, they will surely impress.

Be sure to listen to The Ramblers on MySpace and to RSVP for the location of our backyard concert E-mail me. Hope to see you Sunday!

Lights Resolve Host Van Listening Party After Maxwell’s Show

2010-09-16T17:00:00.001-04:00

One of the hardest working indie bands I've come across, Lights Resolve has spent the past four years incessantly touring and building their fan base. Whether on the road or online, they continue to form relationships with fans and Sunday night was their way of thanking fans for that support.

For nearly 40 minutes, Lights Resolve diehards piled into their van and listened to their soon to be released debut full length. Parked outside of Maxwell's, it was the first time they heard the record in its entirety.

"Whenever you guys want to leave, you can. We're not holding you," Reich joked.

By the tenth and final track most were still there, often singing along to the songs they heard earlier that night.

For the complete review, visit Hoboken Patch.

Asbury Fever Showcase Jersey Pride in Hoboken

2010-09-14T21:36:00.000-04:00

New Jersey's Asbury Fever entertained an energetic crowd at the 84th annual Hoboken Italian Festival Friday. On a stage set up in Frank Sinatra Park, the 10-piece band performed over 20 hits, including Jersey staples made famous by acts like Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi, Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes, among others.

Complete with saxophone, trombone, trumpet, guitar, bass, keyboards, and percussion, the group was reminiscent to Springsteen's powerful E Street Band. With strong vocals by lead singer Brad Hobicorn, Asbury Fever had Hobokenites singing and clapping along.

For the complete review, visit Hoboken Patch.

Song of the Week: "Magic"

2010-09-10T17:00:00.001-04:00

While it's been in constant rotation on many radio stations recently, I cannot get enough of this track. "Magic" features B.o.B. rapping with guest vocals from Weezer's Rivers Cuomo. With a catchy beat and a music video that makes crowd surfing look so tempting, it's the perfect song to distract you from the realization that summer is over.

Bob DiPiero, Jamey Johnson Tell Tales Behind Hits in New York

2010-09-09T17:00:00.003-04:00

"How y'all doin? Welcome to Nashville," Bob DiPiero joked before introducing fellow celebrated songwriters Jamey Johnson, Buddy Cannon and Kendell Marvel at the CMA Songwriter Series at Joe's Pub in New York City Wednesday night.

Now in its sixth year, the CMA series brings country to the city every few months, recruiting some of Nashville's finest songwriters to the Big Apple to tell the stories behind their biggest hits. "This is our country hillbilly outpost up here in Manhattan," continued Bob, whose laundry list of country hits include Tim McGraw's 'Southern Voice,' George Strait's 'Blue Clear Sky' and Vince Gill's 'Worlds Apart.'

"They make fun of rednecks. What about 'Jersey Shore'? You've gotta be kidding me. No wonder Bruce Springsteen wants to get the hell out of there in every song he sings. Makes me embarrassed for being Italian, and I'm Italian! Good God in heaven. This is as far from New Jersey as you can get. This is down in Apalachicola," Bob said before he introduced 'Southern Voice.'

For the complete review, visit The Boot and be sure to catch Jamey Johnson tonight on the "Late Show with David Letterman."

Swingadelic Offers Big Band Classics in Frank Sinatra Park

2010-09-08T17:00:00.001-04:00

Swingadelic, Hoboken’s legendary swing band, has become a staple in town.

Formed in 1998, the band frequently performs at Maxwell’s and venues throughout the tri-state area. The 12-piece entertained Hobokenites during a recent two-hour set at Frank Sinatra Park. Complete with classic jazz standards by Ray Charles, Count Basie and Duke Pearson as well as many originals, Swingadelic had the crowd dancing and tapping their feet along during the entire performance.

For the complete review, visit Hoboken Patch.

Artist of the Week: Amy Regan

2010-09-07T19:20:00.001-04:00

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.

Song of the Week: "Helium Hearts"

2010-09-03T14:46:00.001-04:00

A few weeks ago I recommended Jason Reeves as an artist to watch. I've interviewed him and covered his live show a few times and can't get enough of him! Check out his latest music video for "Helium Hearts," the first single off his upcoming album.

Backyard Brunch Concert Satisfies Listeners Appetites

2010-09-02T17:40:00.000-04:00

Photo Credit: Raki Lavon

Last Saturday, My My My and Kelli Scarr performed in Williamsburg for a special edition of Backyard Brunch Sessions. Founded and hosted by David Chaitt, every few weekends in the summer he invites friends and music industry enthusiasts to his apartment in Brooklyn for homemade breakfast and an unplugged set of music.

Since the beginning of the summer, Chaitt has been running a contest through Sonicbids for bands all over the country to submit their music for a chance to perform in his backyard. Indie rock outfit My My My were one of two bands selected and traveled from Chicago to play August 21. Their unplugged set featured two guitars and Casio accompaniment that won the hearts of the audience.

Rotating vocals between Russell Baylin and Sarah Snow, the band impressed with spot-on harmonies and emotion-filled lyrics. While powerful choruses in songs like "Swoon" captured the audience's attention, it was last track, "War Party" that struck a chord. A tale about navigating the world through a mid-life crisis, Baylin's raspy, impassioned vocals brought the song to life.

Singer-songwriter Kelli Scarr performed next and quickly quieted the crowd with her delicate vocals and soft guitar finger picking. While she's known best for touring and singing with Moby, the release of her debut album promises more notoriety. Ballads like "Anything" showcased Scarr's beautiful vocals while light horn accompaniment accentuated the track.

Performing the day after her album release party for Piece, she warned the crowd "I'm hurting a little today. So, let's all hurt together in this bright light. This next song is called "Break Up," speaking of hurting. This is when you gotta hand it to someone because they're fucking stupid."

With edgier guitar and more aggressive vocals, she got her point across.

"I want to do a quiet one, but I feel like airplanes keep flying," Scarr said. Ironically, during last song, the soft "Baby Boom," two planes flew overhead. Never showcasing any distraction, Scarr continued with light guitar and breathtaking vocals.

To listen to the recording of Scarr's set, complete with airplanes flying overhead, click here. Stay tuned for video footage of My My My and Kelli Scarr's performance in the upcoming weeks.

Watch CMA Music Festival Tonight on ABC!

2010-09-01T10:00:00.033-04:00

If you weren't able to make it to Nashville for the CMA Festival in June, you can watch over 20 performances tonight on ABC. Join host Tim McGraw as he introduces sets by Jason Aldean, Billy Currington, Alan Jackson, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Taylor Swift and more.

If you haven't seen Taylor Swift's latest music video for "Mine," you can below. Do you think she'll perform it tonight? Tune in at 8/7C to find out!

Taylor Swift

More CMT Music

More CMT Music Videos

You Sing I Write Adventures: August Recap

2010-08-31T20:03:00.000-04:00

Earlier this summer, I wrote a post titled "A Day In the Life with Annie Reuter" after my friend Monica said she wanted to read more about my music adventures. Since then, I received an overwhelming response from readers requesting weekly updates. While my daily life isn't THAT exciting, I've been trying my best to provide monthly recaps. If there is anything specific you'd like to know, be sure to let me know in the comments!

August saw major life changes as I took the leap and moved to Brooklyn with two friends. When it used to take me more than an hour to commute to NYC for a show, I now have five concert venues within walking distance! As luck would have it, since the move my freelance work has picked up. I'll try my best to update the blog on a daily basis, but if I slack off please forgive me!

You can keep up with my apartment life on Busted Halo where my roommates and I blog for "Girls Meet God." Each week we reveal what it's like for three girls with different backgrounds and faiths to live together. Being the token Catholic girl, I've already learned so much about the Jewish faith and what it means to keep Kosher. Read all about it here.

In addition to exploring religion, I've continued writing for Lemondrop where I post articles that explore my dating life (eeek!) and find out love advice from other women. Most recently, I had the pleasure of interviewing Pat Benatar! A few days later, I attended her concert at Nokia Theater and was truly blown away. The way she interacted with the crowd was incredibly enjoyable and it was easy to see the love between her and guitarist husband of 29 years, Neil Giraldo. Whether it was Giraldo telling the audience the story behind "I Don't Want to Be Your Friend, I Just Want to Be Your Lover" (Benatar had a dream he cheated on her), or Benatar confessing her least favorite song to perform, ("Hit Me With Your Best Shot"), they had everyone's undivided attention.

Witnessing Benatar live was a concert experience like no other. A rock icon and inspiration to women everywhere, I never dreamed I'd interview and watch such a phenomenal artist live. It's moments like these that deepen my passion and determination to continue a career as a music journalist. I can't wait to share with you my future adventures!

Related Links:
• You Sing I Write Adventures: A Day In the Life with Annie Reuter
• You Sing I Write Adventures: Why I Love Taylor Swift, June Recap
• You Sing, I Write's Top 5 Moments of 2009
• Q&A with You Sing, I Write

Band of the Week: Titus Andronicus

2010-08-30T23:22:00.000-04:00

Earlier today, I came across a Tumblr post by Titus Andronicus' guitarist and violinist Amy Klein. Titled "Tour Diary Day Four: Rock and Roll Is Dead," Klein writes about the way women are perceived in the media and music industry. Being the only female in indie rock band Titus Andronicus, she's had her fair share of experiences and insults thrown her way. On Saturday, she wrote a powerful post after she dissected the latest issue of Rolling Stone, and asked why females are left out of the discussion and coverage of rock & roll.

"What we’re doing when we exclude women from rock and roll, and from the sense of rebellion that rock and roll promises, is disallowing women that independent perspective. We’re never giving them the chance to think critically about the world, and about the systems that oppress them. When we take women out of the arts, and take them out of art’s ability to critique the way things are, we’re making sure that women keep swallowing the status quo, day after day, and it’s the status quo that keeps us down," she writes.

An insightful read, her entry got me thinking. Having recently read Pat Benatar's memoir and learned of all the hardships she went through being a female in the industry in the 80s -- 30 years later, why aren't more women being showcased for their talent?

It's musicians like Klein who leave an impact. One fifth of Titus Andronicus, her violin interludes are an intriguing addition to the punk rock outfit. With countless Bruce Springsteen and Jersey mentions in their songs, (see "A More Perfect Union") the New Jersey based band has been garnering praise from music publications everywhere. Their popularity only seems fitting, because their songs embody a certain punk urgency that hasn't been heard in years. And with Klein's passion about women in rock, one can only wonder what her influence on future albums will hold.

While slower songs like "No Future Part One" showcases their more serious side, it's tracks like the fast paced "Titus Andronicus" that brings to mind the beginning of the punk era. Complete with heavy percussion and relentless vocals, Titus Andronicus impress.

For more on Titus Andronicus, be sure to visit them on MySpace and check out the video for "A More Perfect Union" below. Definitely give Amy's Tumblr a read. I'd love to know your thoughts.

A More Perfect Union

Titus Andronicus | MySpace Music Videos

Q&A with Pat Benatar

2010-08-27T09:00:00.000-04:00

Earlier this week, I interviewed the infamous Pat Benatar. Thanks for all your questions, I was able to squeeze most of them in! We chatted about life, work and dating -- including whether she still believes love is a battlefield. A true inspiration, Benatar gave me advice about living out your dreams and things she wish she knew in her 20s. You can read an excerpt below and for the complete interview visit Lemondrop.

You talk a lot about trusting your gut. You write, in your memoir, "Rock and roll is really about following your passion with no apologies. Following that sound in your head that only you can hear." What's your advice to 20-somethings trying to find that passion and pursue their dreams?
You have to be smart, of course. You can't just go running off to Kuala Lumpur throwing everything away. You don't want to wreck your life in the pursuit of your dream. I have two girls -- my youngest is 16 and my oldest is 25. I'm right in the thick of this with them. They struggle, they're afraid to take a chance, of what people think. You've got to give it up. You have to stop worrying about this. You have to sit down and really examine what it is in your heart that you really want, what makes you happy. And don't hurt anyone else in the process. Don't trample others to have the dream that you want.

I think everyone should go for what they really, really love. You may only get to do this one time. Don't be worried. Don't think that you can't have most of it. I'm of the belief that you cannot have it all. You can try. I think that you always have to make a sacrifice somewhere. I grew up during the women's movement, and they told us we can have everything. It was a lie. You definitely cannot have everything, not 100 percent. You can have it all, but some part of it at different times in your life will have to take a backseat. If you choose to raise your children, your career will take a backseat for a little while. If you choose to pursue your career at a stronger pace, your kids will take a backseat. It's just the ebb and flow of how life is. Don't make yourself crazy thinking you have to be a superwoman. It's not even possible. Think about what you want personally. Don't let other things, don't let the media, don't let anybody tell you what you're supposed to be, because only you know.

For more on Pat Benatar, visit her MySpace to hear some of her timeless classics.

Album Review: June Shellene's "Wait ‘Til Midnight Ends"

2010-08-25T18:45:00.001-04:00

With soulful vocals, June Shellene impresses on latest release, Wait ‘Til Midnight Ends. No newcomer to the music scene, first album The Lost Art of Love, won two achievement awards from Billboard Magazine. Additionally, her songs have been covered by numerous artists, including jazz musicians and Broadway acts. A powerful vocalist, Shellene satisfies the listener as she blends jazz, blues and soul on Wait ‘Til Midnight Ends.

Self-produced with bassist Jim Cox, the 13-track album combines delicate piano, fitting percussion and soulful saxophone features throughout. Despite the talented musical accompaniment, it is Shellene’s powerful vocals that leave the greatest impact. Her singing style blends well with the music, soaring at the perfect moment and fading to a whisper when she sees fit. Whether she’s singing about things she wishes life would present her on “Not Good Enough Blues” or belting out her emotions in between horn features on “We Won’t Let It Bring Us Down,” Shellene’s talent is undeniable.

Wait ‘Til Midnight Ends begins with the six-minute long title track. A glimpse of what’s to come on the remaining 12 songs, Shellene’s voice accentuates the piano, bowed bass and percussion accompaniment. The seductive “Make a Little Time for Love,” brings to mind Rosemary Clooney’s infamous “Mambo Italiano.” With upbeat percussion and a telling European vibe that transports the listener back in time, it is a song easily enjoyed on repeat. The standout track combines accordion, bass and percussion alongside Shellene’s pitch-perfect singing.

Though the piano is the chief instrument heard on most of the album, additional saxophone and horn interludes add diversity. “Lincoln Avenue” showcases Shellene’s sultry singing style combined with soulful saxophone while “We Won’t Let It Bring Us Down” switches gears with a slow story-like introduction with trumpet and clarinet features.

“Tattoo” is a refreshing change from previous songs. Not a complete escape from her roots, the track showcases a rustic country vibe. While previous songs could easily be envisioned in a jazz club, “Tattoo” has a telling southern influence that brings to mind soul music championed in Memphis.

A voice beyond compare, Shellene’s latest release embodies a timeless quality that brings to mind numerous jazz greats before her. An album that no doubt will stand the test of time, Wait ‘Til Midnight Ends, demonstrates her prowess as a singer and pianist. Continuously evoking emotion throughout each track, one can hear her passion for music on each song and only wonder at the power her next album will evoke.

For more on June, visit her on ReverbNation.

I'm Interviewing Pat Benatar Tomorrow!

2010-08-23T19:30:00.000-04:00

Earlier this summer I filled you in on Pat Benatar's memoir, "Between a Heart and a Rock Place." A compelling read, Benatar is completely honest about what it was like dealing with record label, Chrysalis, and the obstacles she faced as a female artist throughout her career. Having paved the road for numerous female acts today, it is uncertain where women would be without Benatar's contributions.

"Rock and roll is really about following your passion with no apologies. Following that sound in your head that only you can hear," says Benatar.

Tomorrow I'll be interviewing Pat Benatar for Lemondrop. What have you always wanted to know? Be sure to send me your questions and I'll try to get them all in during our interview!

Related Links:
• You Sing I Write's Summer Reading Playlist
• Pat Benatar Reveals Her Struggles and Successes In Memoir
• Song of the Week: "Love Is a Battlefield"
• Contest of the Week: Win a Copy of Pat Benatar's Memoir

Song of the Week: "Life Is a Highway"

2010-08-20T17:30:00.000-04:00

Summer is winding down (I know, I'm sorry. No one wants to hear this), but that doesn't mean the end of road trips, BBQs and good music. This week's song of the week is inspired by Sammy, Darla and Julia, three girls about to embark on a 20-city road trip to discover authentic stories of food, fashion and music throughout the nation.

Watch the video below to find out more on the idea behind Road Hug USA as they embark on their road trip next week.

Road Hug USA from Road Hug USA on Vimeo.

Be sure to follow Sammy, Darla and Julia's adventures on Twitter. And for some inspiration to start planning your own road trip, check out Rascal Flatts' video for "Life Is a Highway" below.

Video of the Day: The Canon Logic's "Dead Man"

2010-08-19T17:15:00.001-04:00

I've covered The Canon Logic quite a bit over the past few years. A band I first interviewed for CMJ and then managed, I'm psyched to be attending their rooftop concert tonight in Williamsburg. (I haven't become a Brooklyn hipster yet...but this may change soon).

Watch their first music video, "Dead Man" below and to read my review of their debut album and download some free tracks here. Expect live tweeting from the show tonight as well. Follow me!

Related Links:
• Q&A with The Canon Logic
• Song of the Week: "Delia"
• The Canon Logic Video Performance
• Canon Logic Lure Fans With Catchy Rock Songs, Sunglasses

Martin Atkins Unleashes 20 Strategies for Indie Bands

2010-08-18T22:51:00.000-04:00

With over 30 years in the music business, Martin Atkins is perhaps best known as a musician. A member of Public Image Ltd, Killing Joke, Pigface, The Damage Manual, and Murder Inc., as well as having made contributions to Nine Inch Nails and Ministry, Atkins continues to make a name for himself. The author and owner of Invisible Records and Mattress Factory Recording Studios, he can also add producer, columnist, lecturer at Columbia College Chicago, drummer, documentary film maker, DJ, and father to his resume.

Atkins' discussions during the New Music Seminar last month were candid and entertaining. His panel was complete with profanity and quirky stories intertwined with advice for indie bands trying to make it.

"Nobody gives a fuck about you, your band and your music except you," he told those in attendance. "It's not how you're communicating, but what you're communicating. Change is constant. Be aware of it and stay on top of it."

Cleverly titled, "Welcome to the Music Business — You’re Fucked; Problems You Will Face and Simple, Immediate, and Effective Solutions to Overcome Them. Grow Your Brand and Your Band Incrementally," below are 20 of Atkins tips as told at the conference.

1. Have a fucking strategy
2. Get the fuck out of bed (you'll be hours ahead of everyone by the end of the month)
3. Practice for catastrophe
4. Free is the new black
5. Get a diverse skill set
6. Stop overplaying your local market
7. Small is the new huge (don't play arenas, sell out small bars and work your way up)
8. You must have more than one t-shirt for sale
9. Be as good as you need to be
10. Have more than one CD for sale
11. Never take your country to war unless you know the outcome (gas prices, hotel costs -- find out where your fans are and go there, don't just tour the entire country)
12. Pay for tools that work for you
13. Stay on top of new technology (learn social media tools)
14. Don't be an asshole
15. Have a tip jar
16. Stay with friends (cut down touring costs)
17. Book yourself
18. Learn how to screen print (t-shirts, merch)
19. Play songs people want to hear
20. Make cool shit (create something amazing people want to buy)

*Bonus
Never give up!

For more helpful tips, be sure to follow Martin on Twitter.

Related Links:
• Personal Connection with Fans Leads New Music Seminar Discussion
• Hotspur Win NMS Artist on the Verge Competition
• New Music Seminar Introduces the New Music Business
• Artist of the Week: Matt White

Artists You Should Know: Jason Reeves, Matt Hires

2010-08-17T18:47:00.000-04:00

I've been listening to phenomenal singer-songwriters lately. Although I've already featured and interviewed both Jason Reeves and Matt Hires previously on You Sing I Write, since both have new music released today I figured I'd reintroduce them to you.

Jason Reeves is one of my favorite artists. His name may sound familiar because he's co-written on both of Colbie Caillats' albums. Reeves described himself as a hopeful romantic when I interviewed him last year at SXSW, and this can easily be seen in the emotional tales in his songs. You can preview the first track off his upcoming album, "Helium Hearts" on his Web site as well as purchase it on iTunes.

Watch a video of Jason performing "Droplets," a track he wrote with Colbie below.

I first witnessed Matt Hires live when he opened for Tyrone Wells last year. Since then, his music has been featured on numerous television dramas including "Grey's Anatomy" and "Private Practice." About to embark on a headlining tour promoting latest EP, A to B, Hires' wavering vocals and acoustic guitar are sure to impress concertgoers. To stream his EP on AOL click here.

To learn more, watch CNN's video interview with Matt below.

Artist of the Week: Elvis Presley

2010-08-16T20:20:00.000-04:00

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"

"Jailhouse Rock"

"(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear"

Music Addiction: Featuring Hotspur, Gaslight Anthem, Tyrone Wells

2010-08-13T17:20:00.000-04:00

Despite the millions of songs out there, when there's one I love I find myself listening to the same track on repeat all day. Take Gaslight Anthem's "Blue Jeans and White T-Shirts." After catching their hometown set at the Stone Pony last Thursday, I listened to it all weekend non-stop and it has easily become my favorite song of theirs.

I'll add a few more of my current song addictions below. What track do you currently have on repeat? Let me know!

Hotspur: "If These Walls Could Talk"

I've covered Hotspur a few times over the past year. This is their latest music video off album, You Should Know Better By Now.

The Gaslight Anthem: "Blue Jeans and White T-Shirts"

I couldn't find any high-quality videos of the Jersey boys performing the entire song live, but this video made by a fan plays the song in it's entirety. At the concert, frontman Brian Fallon said "Blue Jeans and White T-Shirts" has been the soundtrack to many weddings.

Tyrone Wells: "Dream Like New York"

This is currently my favorite track of the day. I've had it on repeat all afternoon. Tyrone Wells is one an amazing live performer. You can get a feel for him as he sings below.

Introducing New York Summer Music Junkie Contest

2010-08-12T23:54:00.001-04:00

Since moving to Brooklyn this past weekend, I've been constantly urged to visit Brooklyn Bowl, a super hip music venue so I hear. After learning about the NYC Summer Music Junkie contest sponsored by SuperGlued, I just may be making a trip sooner than I thought.

A friend recently sent along information about a music contest through SuperGlued, a community for live music lovers, where you earn points and prizes for all the things you do before, during and after shows, such as Twitter updates, FourSquare checkins, blog reviews and photo and video uploads. The more frequently you post something, the better chance you have to win prizes from Brooklyn Bowl, CMJ, Seaport Music and more.

Points earned will be tracked on SuperGlued's homepage, and top scorers earn weekly prizes throughout the summer. The contest runs until September 4th, so if you haven't yet, be sure to create a profile and start posting! This week the highest earners win a CMJ badge, a pair of tickets to Rock the Bells at Governor's Island, and a pair of tickets to see Bloc Party's lead singer perform at Webster Hall in September.

The biggest music junkie of all wins the grand prize package, which includes a Brooklyn Bowl 365 pass (free admission for you and a friend for one full year) and a guest DJ spot on the Seaport Music Show on East Village Radio. To find out more and sign up, click here. I just may myself too. Good luck!

Video Interview: Graham Colton

2010-08-10T20:05:00.000-04:00

I chatted with Graham Colton back in April after his show at Maxwell's in Hoboken. He filled me in on his songwriting process, upcoming release and what it's like touring with his musical heroes. You can watch the video below and read the complete interview on Hoboken Patch here.

Video Credit: Wendy Hu

Video Interview: Colbie Caillat

2010-08-09T22:53:00.001-04:00

I sat down with Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter Colbie Caillat a few months ago before her performance for VH1 Save the Music. She filled me in on co-writing, dealing with stage fright and her two Grammy wins. For the complete article, visit Hoboken Patch.

Watch the video below.

Video credit: Wendy Hu

Video Interview: Orianthi

2010-08-07T12:00:00.001-04:00

One of my favorite interviews to date, I met up with Orianthi when she was in town last December promoting her debut album, Believe. Having shared the stage with Michael Jackson, Carlos Santana and Steve Vai and with the goal to inspire more girls to pick up the electric guitar, Orianthi is a stand out role model. While she began playing guitar at the age of six, she said being a female guitarist wasn't always easy.

“Guitar is a guy’s thing. I’d get picked on a lot and school wasn’t exactly the easiest time,” Orianthi said. “Actually, my teacher told me I should play the harp, it’s more feminine. It’s kind of like being a male ballerina in a way … I loved playing guitar so much that I stuck at it. I just want to inspire more girls to pick it up and stick at it and believe in themselves with whatever they do. You just have to follow down your path.”

Watch my video interview with Orianthi below to learn more about her passion for guitar, what it was like to perform with Santana and her experience working with Michael Jackson. To read the complete transcription click here.

Video credit: Wendy Hu

Video Interview: The Ting Tings

2010-08-06T19:35:00.001-04:00

The Ting Tings exploded onto the music scene with catchy dance track, "That's Not My Name" two years ago. Their songs have become staples at clubs and bars ever since.

I sat down with Katie White and Jules De Martino last summer when they were in town for All Points West. Watch below as the UK sensation discuss the success of their album, hit single and being fashion icons. For more, be sure to visit their Web site.

Video credit: Wendy Hu

Video Interview: Brandi Carlile

2010-08-05T18:06:00.001-04:00

A few months ago, I caught Brandi Carlile's phenomenal live show and interviewed her for Venus Zine. I've been anxiously awaiting to share my post with you because the interview was so honest and incredibly insightful!

Watch Brandi discuss how Lilith Fair shaped her life musically and socially, her songwriting process and advice on achieving success below. For my complete writeup, where she filled me in about working with Elton John and the stories behind some of her songs, visit Venus Zine.

Video credit: Wendy Hu

Video Interview: Jake Owen

2010-08-04T23:29:00.001-04:00

One of the most comical musicians I've interviewed, Jake Owen sure knows how to make those around him laugh. When asked about his dog touring with him, he informed the CMA press room that his dog was just neutered, adding, "I realize I need to get neutered. I would probably chill out a lot if that happened." The room erupted in laughter.

Whether it's his heartwarming ballads or edgier tracks, Owen brings his diversity to the table. After he hurt his shoulder wakeboarding, he picked up guitar during rehabilitation and the rest, as they say, is history. I chatted with Jake last summer about his writing process, the stories behind his songs and what he thinks about while onstage performing. Some of his answers may surprise you.

Watch the video below and read the complete transcription here.

Video credit: Wendy Hu

Video Interview: Holly Williams

2010-08-03T21:38:00.001-04:00

Music is in Holly Williams' blood. Writing her first song at the age of eight is just one indication. Being the granddaughter of the legendary Hank Williams Sr. and daughter of Hank Williams Jr. doesn't hurt either.

I chatted with Holly in Nashville last year right before her album, Here With Me, was released. Watch below as Holly discusses her music, what she thinks about while performing and her stylish boutique in Nashville. For more on Holly Williams, visit MySpace.

Video credit: Wendy Hu

Video Interview: David Nail

2010-08-02T21:55:00.001-04:00

I'm officially making the move to Brooklyn this week (yay!). With freelance work and packing keeping me super busy, I thought I'd make it Video Week on the blog and showcase all the video interviews I've worked on.

Just over a year ago I began filming interviews thanks to my friend and talented photographer/videographer Wendy Hu. David Nail was the first video interview we conducted last summer at the CMA Music Festival in Nashville. It's crazy to think some of our Q&A's have received over 6,000 views! We have a few more to edit and post later this summer, so stay tuned!

A self-proclaimed mama's boy, Nail filled me in on his transition into the country music scene, the inspiration behind some of his songs and his favorite part of performing in the video below. Be sure to visit him on MySpace.

Video credit: Wendy Hu

Poll of the Week: What's Your Favorite Summer Song?

2010-08-01T21:45:00.000-04:00

Summer is in full swing and there are a few token songs I've heard at every BBQ, party and wedding. My question for you this week is, what's your favorite summer song? Is it Katy Perry's catchy "California Gurls," Travie McCoy's wishful "Billionaire" or Usher's danceable "OMG"?

Watch the videos below and let me know in this week's poll! Be sure to add additional songs in the comments if I left your favorite out.

Katy Perry: "California Gurls"

Travie McCoy: "Billionaire"

Usher: "OMG"

Song of the Week: "Bye Bye Bye"

2010-07-30T12:46:00.000-04:00

Remember that catchy chorus and those impeccable dance moves? Who doesn't? This week's song of the week, *NSync's "Bye Bye Bye" is dedicated to my best friend since 6th grade, Ansela. She'll be getting married this weekend and then moving to Texas, so it's a bit bittersweet for everyone.

We grew up knowing each and every lyric to *NSync and Backstreet Boys tunes and forever debated who was the better boy band. We went to our first concert together, (BSB - I was the hugest BSB fan) and second concert (*NSync - Ansela LOVED them). We even used to fantasize about which member we would marry, she loved Lance of *NSync and my favorite was Brian of BSB. I've already said more than enough to embarrass us both, so go ahead and watch the video below. Enjoy!

Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers and Matt Hires Satisfy Fans at Maxwell’s

2010-07-29T17:00:00.005-04:00

Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers took the stage shortly after 9:30 Tuesday night while Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" blasted from the speakers.

"Welcome to Bulletproof Heart night everybody," frontman Stephen Kellogg told the crowd to screams after the band performed first track, "Scorpio," off their debut album, Bulletproof Heart.

Their 90-minute set included every song off the album played in order as well as newer material during their encore. Many of the tracks were performed live for the first time and at times the band stopped to regroup.

"This is why we're doing this at Maxwell's and not at Madison Square Garden," Kellogg joked midway through "You've Changed" after forgetting the lyrics. The second song of the night, the audience didn't seem to mind.

For my complete review visit Hoboken Patch.

For more on Matt Hires, read my interview with him here.

New Video Wednesday: Band of Skulls, Crash Test Dummies, Christina Aguilera

2010-07-28T17:00:00.000-04:00

This week I'm showcasing three very different videos from three artists in completely varied genres. Whether it's Band of Skulls rocking West Hollywood's Troubador, Crash Test Dummies' take on what's beautiful or Christina Aguilera showcasing a soulful side to her pristine vocals, each video has something unique. Watch them below and let me know what new videos you're watching this week.

Band of Skulls: "Light of the Morning"

Crash Test Dummies: "And It's Beautiful"

Christina Aguilera: "You Lost Me"

Cristina Fontanelli Closes 100th Year Celebration at St. Ann's Feast

2010-07-27T17:05:00.000-04:00

Performing Italian classics, Sinatra hits and Andrew Lloyd Webber favorites to an enthusiastic crowd, award-winning international recording artist Cristina Fontanelli closed the 100th anniversary of St. Ann's Feast Monday night. The classically trained opera singer and former Hobokenite explained just how much the city means to her.

"I've been to some of the most exotic places on the planet," said Fontanelli, who was the first classically trained female singer to sing in Uganda and Kenya. "But," she added, "here I am at St. Ann's 100th festival. I've been to so many places, but let me tell you something: There's no place like home."

For my complete review and interview with Cristina, visit Hoboken Patch.

Personal Connection with Fans Leads New Music Seminar Discussion

2010-07-26T17:16:00.001-04:00

Bill Werde, Kelly Cutrone, Little Steven Van Zandt speaking during New Music Seminar's 4th Movement "The Creative Conundrum" on Wednesday, July 21st

Photo Credit: Workman Entertainment

Last week, artists, managers and music industry enthusiasts flocked to New York’s Webster Hall for the New Music Seminar. The two-day, three night sold-out event featured panels and mentoring sessions from leaders in the business. Moderators included Ariel Hyatt, Peter Kafka, Martin Atkins, Bill Werde and Margaret Cho, who led talks on cultivating artist/fan relationships, music marketing and differentiating yourself from the crowd.

Of the many topics discussed, the most prominent was fan interaction. Ariel Hyatt of Ariel Publicity & Cyber PR broke down the 1,000 True Fans logic during the First Movement while additional speakers gave advice.

The concept of 1,000 true fans is that an artist only needs to acquire 1,000 fans to make a living. “A True Fan will purchase anything and everything you produce. They will drive 200 miles to see you sing.” Additionally, if 1,000 fans contribute to buying $100 worth of merchandise, concert tickets, music, etc. throughout the year, this becomes the equivalent to earning $100,000, a comfortable salary most can live on.

Mike Doernberg of Reverb Nation stressed this idea. “Your fans are your value. The deeper the fan relationship, the more value you have as a band. It’s more important than ever to have a relationship with your fans,” he said.

How does one cultivate these relationships and more importantly, maintain them?

Stop talking about yourself and sustain a community the panel advised. Relationships are multi-faceted; create a community and promote other indie bands, don’t just focus on selling your music. By being authentic in your dialogue you attract more people.

“Engagement is not a destination, it’s a continuum,” stated Eric Garland of BigChampagne.

Joe Kennedy of Pandora agreed. “It’s not about the numbers. Build a base of passionate true believers.”

The energetic Martin Atkins had his own take during his 18-minute intensive talk. “Nobody gives a fuck about you, your band and your music except you. It’s not how you’re communicating; it’s what you’re communicating.”

Instead of interacting with fans solely on social media, send out monthly newsletters with one call to action. Be it, “add us on Twitter” or give away a free track; focus on one specific thing to draw fans in. When people have too many choices, they tend to abstain from making any decision.

Live music producer Tom Jackson spoke of music fans in the concert setting. “It’s always about an emotional connection between people. If you can create moments and change their lives at a show, people will keep coming. The key is connecting with the audience.”

While the seminar focused on advising young, independent artists, Just Blaze summed up the discussion best. “When you have fans of your persona, who you are, what you stand for, that’s a lot more powerful than having a number one record.”

You can also read this article on Music Dish.

Dawes Impress at First New Jersey Gig

2010-07-25T22:30:00.000-04:00

California-based folk rockers Dawes performed to a packed room of enthusiastic concertgoers for a little more than an hour at Maxwell's Friday night. While crowd favorite "When My Time Comes" felt like a spiritual experience with fans screaming the lyrics word for word with their fists in the air, the remainder of their hour-long set was nothing short of energetic with minute long musical jams throughout.

With four part harmonies and solid musical features, Dawes' set impressed. Their first performance in the Garden State, frontman Taylor Goldsmith seemed eager to come back.

"If this is our first show in New Jersey, I'd say we're off to a pretty good start," he said midway through their set. "Here's to the first of many."

For my complete review, visit Hoboken Patch.

Song of the Week: "Why Georgia"

2010-07-24T12:30:00.001-04:00

This past week has been a whirlwind of changes. When reflecting on life and next steps I always turn to music. After missing my last bus home to Jersey last week after a stressful day of apartment searching John Mayer's "Why Georgia" came on my iPod. Though the song is a decade old and I've heard it at least a million times, it struck a chord. Maybe my quarter life crisis has finally struck, but his lyrics really hit home.

"Everybody is just a stranger but/That's the danger in going my own way/I guess it's the price I have to pay/ Still 'everything happens for a reason'/Is no reason not to ask myself if I'm living it right."

Regardless of his status in the tabloids and my friends tiring of my obsession of him, his music always manages to make an impact on me. Watch the video below of "Why Georgia" and be sure to follow my concert coverage [cough: gushing] on Twitter tonight when I catch his show in Pennsylvania!

Ryan Bingham Showcases Songs From Upcoming LP

2010-07-23T16:44:00.000-04:00

Ryan Bingham performed to a packed crowd at New York's famed Living Room venue on Wednesday night. The private event featured the Oscar winner alone onstage with nothing but his acoustic guitar, harmonica and powerful vocals. For those in attendance, that was enough.

Before his set began, a pamphlet of lyrics to the songs from his upcoming September 7 release, Junky Star, was passed out. Artist Kiki Smith then introduced Ryan with immense praise.

"We're here to celebrate Ryan Bingham. The wounded part of him that he sings about gives me the opportunity to heal myself. For me, that is very powerful," she said.

For my complete review, visit The Boot.

Hotspur Win NMS Artist on the Verge Competition

2010-07-22T23:45:00.055-04:00

I've been attending the New Music Seminar in New York this week. Three nights of artist showcases and two days of panels, the seminar has featured talks with industry leaders who have provided endless advice to up-and-coming musicians as well as those interested in making it in the music business.

I'll be providing full recaps in the next few days, but I first wanted to congratulate D.C. based-band Hotspur for winning the "Artist on the Verge" competition! You may remember them as Band of the Week a few months ago or one of the acts featured on my TWLOHA benefit concert (before the blizzard of 2009 hit).

Hotspur were selected as finalists from over 500 bands on OurStage based on "the criteria of rising above the noise ceiling and doing it on their own without the help of a major or major independent label." Tuesday night, Hotspur competed against Brooklyn-based hip-hop group Yonas and Pennsylvanian rockers Comic Book Heroes to win $75,000 in musical equipment, services and consultations from the new leaders of the music industry and other valuable prizes to take their career to the next level.

Here's what some of the panelists had to say about Hotspur:

Bill Werde, Editorial Director, Billboard: "We're all talking about managing your own careers. I went down to use the men's room and this was the only band that had anything on the merch table." When introducing the video, "The people with the tightest pants on the lead singer, Hotspur."

Kelly Cutrone, Founder, People's Revolution PR and Marketing: "They looked the most comfortable. There used to be this term we used, FQ which means fuckability quotient. I'm not into seeing them in that way but I think that any 18-30 year-old chick in America, in a bar late at night would want to go home with one of those boys."

Werde: "I was talking to a couple of people in the business watching that show and everyone said the same thing. There was no question that that was the band that was the most polished, the most ready for prime time."

Cutrone: "They looked like rock stars. You should changed your name to Looks Like Rock Stars because you look like rock stars. You know what, Rolling Stone, GQ, Details they all like to put hot dudes with leather pants on their magazines and girls like to buy records with hot dudes. Go do a study of rock and roll. Guys like Bono, he has a really good FQ."

Tom Jackson, live music producer: "Lots of potential. Definitely the most polished. Mr. Frontman, you can be a star. You gotta find those things inside your songs and let stuff breathe. There's nothing wrong with rocking, but tell us a story. A great record takes us places. You guys are what I call Chinese water torture. The pressure never changed. You've got to let your stuff breathe."

For more on Hotspur, be sure to visit them on MySpace and stay tuned for my interview with their music video director Josh Eisenberg.

Related Links:
• Band of the Week: Hotspur
• Song of the Week: "Heads/Tails"
• What Would You Ask a Music Video Director?
• You Sing, I Write + The Jew Spot Present A Benefit For TWLOHA

New Video Tuesday: MeTalkPretty, Paramore, Robert Randolph

2010-07-20T00:55:00.000-04:00

This week, female vocalists lead the race of powerful video releases. While newcomers MeTalkPretty just won MTVu's The Freshmen, placing their latest video for "Wake Up!" in rotation, older favorites Paramore have been around the block a few times. Watch below for the latest from MeTalkPretty and stay tuned for their debut album, We Are Strangers due out later this month.

Although Paramore's video for "The Only Exception" was released a few months ago, I keep hearing the track on the radio and have yet to see the complete video until today. (Which is partially why I still consider it new...to me at least!) A moving song, and even more powerful video, I've been listening on repeat for the last hour.

Last up is the soulful and always energetic Robert Randolph & the Family Band's new track, "If I Had My Way" off latest release, We Walk This Road. With powerful vocals and even more striking musical accompaniment, the track is bound to get your feet tapping.

What other music videos can't you get enough of? Be sure to leave them for me in the comments!

Artist of the Week: Matt White

2010-07-19T13:00:00.073-04:00

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.

Follow YSIW's Coverage of the New Music Seminar

2010-07-18T22:51:00.000-04:00

I'm excited to be covering The New Music Seminar, this week in New York! The two-day, three-night conference includes panels with top industry speakers providing what they've learned in the field and advice for those trying to make it in music. With the main purpose to connect and inform music enthusiasts on how to achieve success in the music business, each night ends with a showcase of artist performances. Stay tuned to You Sing I Write on Twitter for updates, as well as blog posts later this week!

Since I'll be attending and reporting back to you on the days events, I want to know what you're most excited to learn about or which talks you'd like me attend. Be sure to check out the complete schedule here and let me know what you're interested in learning and any panelists or bands you're most excited to see coverage on.

Speakers for the NYC conference include everyone from Pandora and Reverbnation to Myspace Music, CMT and many more. Watch last year's video recap below.

Pre-registration for NMS NYC is closed, but tickets will be available beginning at 6:00 pm, Monday, July 19th at Webster Hall, 125 East 11th Street. For more information and a complete schedule, visit newmusicseminar.com

Song of the Week: "East Coast Anthem"

2010-07-16T10:00:00.019-04:00

Whenever I'm in D.C. I find myself singing Good Charlotte's song "East Coast Anthem." Especially the opening lines, "Walking on the streets of D.C./On the east coast where I live." I'm headed to D.C. for my friend Sarah's wedding this weekend and you can bet I'll be screaming those words as soon as I get there.

I was OBSESSED with Good Charlotte in high school, even convinced I'd marry Benji (haha...some things never change). That is definitely a post for another day. For now, enjoy some old school Good Charlotte footage, circa 1999.

Cut to 2:20 for their live performance of "East Coast Anthem."

Remember their song, "Hold On?" Such a powerful video.

This was my favorite..."Movin' On." I think I need to write a post of my crazy encounters with Good Charlotte. Next week maybe...what do you think?

Artist to Watch: Adam Taylor

2010-07-15T23:45:00.066-04:00

Pennsylvanian poet, Adam Taylor recorded his debut EP, Play the Piano Drunk, his senior year of high school. Produced by his older brother, LIVE founding member Chad Taylor, the release is a jaw-dropping and foot-tapping mix of folk, rock & roll, ragtime and jazz. An old soul, Taylor's songs embody socially conscious lyrics with impressive musical accompaniment.

"Painting Leprosy" kicks things off with an old ragtime vibe. Fast bass guitar and piano soon enter with aggressive percussion. Throughout the track, vocals alternate well between Taylor and Kate Young. A solid way to begin the EP, with upbeat piano interludes and soulful singing, "Painting Leprosy" transports the listener to another era. In fact, one can vividly picture Taylor and Young singing in a speakeasy in the early 1900s.

Next track, "12:51" is a slower folk song with the main focus on Taylor's vocals. With striking percussion mid-song, Taylor proves he's more than your average singer-songwriter. The slow buildup and fadeout of the song impress and the listener never knows exactly what he will hear next.

“I think many of the songs share a bluegrass or folk lineage,” Taylor says. “Where they feel upbeat but tend to have more meaning than a shallow pop song. If you look beyond the catchy melodies there is often a greater depth.”

I couldn't agree more. While "12:51" has soothing vocals with light electric guitar, "Elvis" is a funky blues track with thought provoking lyrics. "The room is turning round/And the world can be confusing/There's no icebergs in Iceland/There's no Thanksgiving in Turkey/Come on, get your reasoning/You know money grows on trees these days/So go on plant a thousand/And be like Johnny Appleseed."

Every track on Play the Piano Drunk is unique and embodies a new genre of music. Whether you're into folk, rock & roll, blues or jazz it is easy to appreciate each influence throughout the seven songs. Visit Adam Taylor's Web site to listen to tracks from his EP and stay tuned for his full-length LP.

You Sing I Write's Summer Reading Playlist

2010-07-14T22:32:00.000-04:00

Photo Credit: Wendy Hu

I think most of us agree that summer is the best time of year. Outdoor music festivals, beach time and vacations, who wouldn't love it? I've been reading some great music memoirs and on the road novels that I think every music enthusiast would enjoy. Read below for my complete list. If I left any books out that you think I should pick up, definitely let me know in the comments!

Between a Heart and a Rock Place

A few weeks ago I wrote a post about Pat Benatar's new memoir, "Between a Heart and a Rock Place." A compelling read, Benatar is completely honest about what it was like dealing with record label, Chrysalis, the obstacles she faced as a female and how she overcame each to become the well-respected artist she is today.

My favorite quote: "Rock and roll is really about following your passion with no apologies. Following that sound in your head that only you can hear."

For my complete review, click here.

But Enough About Me...A Jersey Girl's Unlikely Adventures Among the Absurdly Famous

This is my absolute favorite book in the world. Written by fellow Jersey girl and former Rolling Stone writer, Jancee Dunn, her memoir takes you behind the scenes of working at one of the most respected music magazines and what it's like to interview A-list musicians and celebrities. Each chapter begins with tips Dunn has learned along the way, whether it's what questions to ask to warm up the interview subject or one of my favorite titles, "How to Approach an R&B Artist When You're the Whitest Person in the Western World."

My favorite quote: "The second I stepped through the doors of Rolling Stone as a real employee, I wanted to shake off my old personality like the rigid husk of a cicada. But how could I cultivate a new, hip persona when I lived with my parents in a New Jersey suburb and wore black leggings as pants?"

Cassette From My Ex

Last year, I covered the New York launch party of "Cassette From My Ex." A collection of 60 essays about relationships and mixtapes from musicians, magazine editors, VJs and more, the book is packed with comical and poignant tales of first love, friendship and heartbreak. The stories are relatable and at many times, bittersweet.

My favorite quote: “We made each other tapes because we believed that music articulated what we could not otherwise express.”

Read a more in-depth review here.

Falling Is Like This

A few weeks ago, I attended a book reading by Kate Rockland. For those of you who have always wondered what it's like to date a rock star, Rockland fills us in through her main character, Harper Rostov, who falls for Nick Cavallaro, a punk rocker from New Jersey. The novel, set in the East Village and New Jersey, is a colorful and humorous account of Harper and her whirlwind affair with the rock star every girl dreams about. [Cough: John Mayer?]

My favorite quote: "Being punk isn't about wearing a black armband with a skull on it or listening to certain bands. It's about being revolutionary inside your soul. Being different from everyone else and not giving a shit."

Read my take on the night of her book reading here.

Off the Bus and On the Record

If you were curious as to what exactly happens during an interview, this is the book for you. Complete with 22 candid interviews by teen journalists, the encounters remind me of how I got my start. Not exactly the interviews you'd read in Rolling Stone, the rock stars open up completely to the teens. You also see firsthand how awkward some interviews can be when the reporter accidentally says the wrong title of the album or how to deal with bands who ramble and don't answer the question asked of them.

My favorite quote: Pete Wentz talking to the interviewer, Zac: "You got, like, a VJ-esque quality. You could be a VJ. Honestly, I'm putting it in that if I ever have to write a recommendation for you or anything, call me up for a reference."

Zac: "Ok, I'll put, 'Pete, Fall Out Boy, recommends me for a VJ position.'"

Pete: "By then I'll probably be a garbage man and you can't even put Fall Out Boy. They call me up and I'll be like, "I remember when I was in a band! It was awesome!"

What books are you reading this summer? If I left any out that you've enjoyed, let me know!

Artist of the Week: Tamar Kaprelian

2010-07-13T21:30:00.002-04:00

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.)

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.

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

Poll of the Week: What's Your Favorite Music Film?

2010-07-12T14:25:00.000-04:00

I was talking with a friend recently about our favorite music films. We were both giving each other suggestions and I quickly realized just how many I have yet to see. I'm curious as to some of your favorites and ones you highly recommend. Let me know in this week's poll and feel free to add your picks in the comments!

What's Your Favorite Music Film?

"Almost Famous"

"School of Rock"

"This Is Spinal Tap"

Other

Song of the Week: "American Slang"

2010-07-09T12:23:00.000-04:00

If you've been following You Sing I Write at all over the past two years, you know of my love for Jersey boys The Gaslight Anthem. Earlier this week, they released the music video for "American Slang," the title track and debut single off their new album.

Set in New York, the music is agressive with unrelenting percussion and soaring guitar riffs, all underneith frontman Brian Fallon's powerful vocals. Watch it below! And, if you missed my review of their album release show, you can read it here.

Related Links:
• You Sing, I Write's Top 5 Concerts of 2009
• Band of the Week: Gaslight Anthem
• Five Albums to Prolong Your Summer
• All Points West: Music, Mud Wrestling, and Beer Gardens

Artist to Watch: Shwa Losben

2010-07-08T17:00:00.002-04:00

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.

Cary Brothers and Greg Laswell Kick off Co-Headlining Tour

2010-07-07T17:25:00.000-04:00

Cary Brothers and Greg Laswell showcased their emotion-filled songs and onstage banter last night at Maxwell's while Harper Blynn provided a fitting backing band throughout each set. The first night of their summer tour, Tuesday was just a glimpse of what is to come.

"I'm originally from Nashville, but I hated country music and I always listened to British music," Brothers said. "That's why when I sing I sound British."

Though he dislikes country, he said his song, "Blue Eyes," is the closest he came to writing a country song. Well known for being featured on the Grammy Award-winning soundtrack to the film "Garden State," the track was definitely a crowd favorite.

For the complete review on Hoboken Patch, click here.

Watch Cary Brothers' new music video for "Ghost Town" below.

You can see Greg Laswell's video for "Take Everything" below. Fun fact: he's actually singing the words backwards so it appears accurate in the video.

Greg Laswell "Take Everything" from Vanguard Records on Vimeo.

New Video Tuesday: Gold Motel, Maroon 5, The Postelles

2010-07-06T18:10:00.000-04:00

Maroon 5 are back with the first single off their upcoming September release, Hands All Over. The video for "Misery" is a bit violent and involves frontman Adam Levine's girlfriend trying to kill him. While the new album includes guest vocals by Lady Antebellum, the band haven't left their well-known pop sound. Watch the video below and for more on the new album, see Rolling Stone's video interview with the band here.

A few days ago Spin.com posted Gold Motel's new music video for "Safe in L.A." With an airy, California vibe and a distinctive Motown sound, the track is bound to get you tapping your feet along. Watch it here.

The Postelles' latest music video for "White Night" just may make you forget the ridiculous heat we've been having here on the East Coast. Combining influences of 50's doo-wop and garage rock, the band is readying the release of their debut album, co-produced with the Strokes' guitarist Albert Hammond Jr., this October.

What new releases have I missed that you can't stop listening to? Let me know in the comments!

Song of the Week: "Free"

2010-07-02T09:15:00.002-04:00

As Fourth of July weekend approaches, what better way to kick off the festivities then to salute our troops and remember why we're all here? Watch Zac Brown Band's emotional performance of "Free" below.

Q&A with Chambers

2010-07-01T14:00:00.001-04:00

Last Tuesday, Chambers released debut album, Old Love. With the goal to capture their live sound on the record, having witnessed their show this past Saturday, the five-piece band no doubt accomplished this. The LP embodies 11-tracks of aggressive rock & roll, hard vocals and killer guitar riffs that is bound to energize every listener.

I chatted with frontman Dan Pelic before the show about Chambers' songwriting process, maintaining his voice throughout the set and what exactly he's thinking about when screaming in the pit while fans are jumping on him. His answers may surprise you. Read below for more and be sure to visit the band on MySpace.

Reviewers have been comparing you to Doomriders and saying Old Love is an Album of the Year contender. Why do you think the album has been so well received?Well, I think they give us too much credit. I think these guys will probably hear someone else who’s just as exciting two months from now and say, “Oh, that’s the album of the year.” That’s a really scary, heavy term that we’re not deserving to have placed upon us right now being that we haven’t even been playing out for a year yet. I appreciate the general excitement about the record. I think what it is is that we’re a mish-mosh of a bunch of different influences. We’re not trying to reinvent the wheel or anything like that. We are something refreshing in our energy and the fact that we’re rooted in rock & roll makes us accessible and headbangable. That’s something a lot of the reviewers are getting excited about. That they’re not having to compute and decode and decrypt what we’re trying to do. It’s something they can turn on and immediately start banging their head to and get into.

But, we’re still refreshingly different in the sense that we’re rock & roll being played heavily with extremely hard vocals over it. I think that’s our secret. I come from a much heavier background where I’m rooted in hardcore punk and metal and everybody else in the band are strictly rooted in rock & roll. I think that’s our secret, just combining heaviness in one portion and the other portion being something with more swagger and rock & roll with sleaze.

What's your songwriting process?
Originally, it was the band riffing. We would have three band practices a week, I wouldn’t come to one of them and they would riff and just noodle around for an entire practice and record it. They would send me riffs and would say, “Write over it and come in.” Basically what happens is, they send me a demo and then I’ll take something that I’ve already written or I’ll write to it and put it over the music and we’ll come in to meet together and adapt whatever I’ve written to fit over it and do some arranging. The vocal melodies are made to the music, but the lyrics are written as poetry and that’s taken and put over the music. It’s basically jamming and taking parts and gluing them together. A lot of times the words have been written and the way that we structure the words will dictate how the arrangement of the music will go down at the end of the process.

I wanted to ask you about “Crap Out.” You’re screaming in it, but there is also some singing too.
The singing is actually Nathan Gray. He sings in a band called The Casting Out. He was in a legendary band called Boy Sets Fire and he’s providing the clean vocals on that track. It started off as me screaming that line, but then I started to sing that second line and I thought it was a good dynamic to have. It wasn’t really working for me. I don’t feel my clean singing vocal tone really fit.

We became friends with him from playing together with his new band and we decided to bring him into the studio and he did it and it sounded great. He came over to the studio at 1 ‘o’clock in the morning when all they wanted to do was drive back home to Delaware. He was a sport about it and stayed around and recorded those vocal tracks and he realized that chorus to its fullest potential.

Do you plan on doing that in the future?
Yeah. I’m a big Phil Anselmo fan from Pantara, Superjoint Ritual and Down. I don’t play guitar or anything, everybody else writes everything, they write the music. Provided that what they want to do allows for me to do some clean vocals, I want to do some clean vocals. But gritty, none of this Auto-Tune stuff. I want to do something gritty, but cleaner than the aggressive screaming that you hear on the rest of the record.

The title track is very edgy and aggressive, but underneath it’s almost more of a positive song.
It is in a way. Basically the song is about being really hung up on somebody for a long time. I don’t know if you want to use the metaphor, “Getting under somebody to get over somebody.” But, it’s about being really hung-up on somebody for a while and making a real strong sexual connection with someone [else] that it’s just so ridden with ecstasy that you kind of forget.

If you listen to the words, it’s about having great sex with someone and forgetting about someone and helping them teach you that you can make a new, strong connection. Albeit it’s sexual and shallow, but a new connection with someone else to help you get over someone from the past. So yeah, I guess it is a positive song. It sounds angry and everything but when you listen to the words . . . when you juxtapose that with the rest of the songs on the record, I think it sounds probably the most positive out of all the other songs that we have.

Do you have a favorite track, or one that means more to you than the others?
“So Here’s That Song I Wrote About You” I really love that one and “The Nest.” Those are probably my two favorites on the records. I want to start playing the last track, “Tragedy” live. My bandmates aren’t too keen on playing it live, but I want to make it happen as soon as possible. That’s my personal opus. I wrote that in a hospital bed when I was going out with somebody who was absolutely robotic and terrible. Wouldn’t even come visit me while I was hospitalized. That song is a symbolic last straw. That song to me is really heartfelt. So I would definitely say “Tragedy,” “The Nest” and “So Here’s That Song I Wrote About You” are the pinnacles for me.

What can fans expect from your live show?
A lot of our hype has come from the UK. People really want us to come there, but it’s hard. Airfare, money. We were offered a tour over there with a band called Trash Talk but it was only eight dates and it was x amount of money per date. We don’t care about losing money to expose ourselves. We’ve been spending tons of money on PR and radio to help get our music onto the radio and get people to listen to us and write about us. It would have been a catastrophic amount of monetary loss. One dude in our band has a mortgage to pay. He’s trying to sell his house to alleviate that financial burden for himself.

There’s critical acclaim, but that’s not what matters the most. What matters the most is getting people to watch you. We feel that every single show we play, we nab a couple of new fans no matter where it is, be it here or out of state. That’s the bread and butter of being a band. People can talk and hype and hype and hype. There have been a million bands that I know that have been hyped, but nothing has happened for them. People from the press and reviewers and reporters can say what they want, but it really doesn’t matter if people aren’t coming along to your shows and singing with you.

What are you thinking about while you’re onstage or on the floor performing and people are jumping on you and pushing you across the floor?
So, while everything is happening around me and people are jumping on me and what not, aside from physically dealing with the onslaught, I am thinking about the meaning behind each line that I am singing. If I just sang the words, I wouldn't be half as into it. But when I'm remembering and reliving what I went through to need to write those words, I explode.

How do you maintain your voice?
Just like traditional singing, opera singing, singing in a rock band, whatever, there’s a technique to screaming just like there is for that. Basically learning proper technique and a lot of it is breath control and the way that you open up your throat to release the breath, it’s all about using your gas tank to put it out there. Long story short, learning proper screaming technique is essential for maintaining your voice, not only in the long term, but through the course of your set. If you’re just blowing out your voice in the first 10 minutes of your set and the last 15-20 minutes suck, that sucks for everybody. A lot of people think that music that has screaming over it is just senseless screaming. No, there’s actually technique. I’m hitting notes. I’m listening to the monitors and I know where I’m at. There’s definitely a technique and an art to screaming.

What makes Chambers different from every other band out there?
I think the fact that we’re dangerous sounding, we’re dangerous to see live to a degree. We’re very aggressive, but the fact that even though all five of us come from such different backgrounds, all five of us have common rock & roll influences, and who the fuck doesn’t like rock & roll? Anyone can come in and move to our music and appreciate it is what I feel makes us different. We’re very dangerous, but we’re not complicated to digest. We’re not so offensive that you can’t get over the things that we’re saying and talking about and doing onstage. The fact that anyone can at least appreciate it is what sets us apart while still being very aggressive and on the edge and what punk rock and hardcore bands are “supposed to be.” We try to be as heavy as we can but we still have this swagger to our music that’s rooted in rock & roll. We have a very diverse group of friends and those are your first fans and all our friends dug it from the get-go.

How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard you?
I usually tell people we’re a really aggressive rock & roll band with heavy vocals. We don’t like to be pigeonholed into punk or hardcore or metal core, metallic hardcore as they call it in England. We have integrity. We have ideals that are rooted in hardcore and punk, but we like to play in front of whoever is in the audience. Whichever audience we play in front of it doesn’t matter as long as people are banging their heads and things are happening for us. We want to be successful without compromising ourselves. That’s where our integrity lies. We’ll never compromise our sounds, but we’ll do what it takes to bring this to be career musicianship.

You Sing I Write Adventures: Why I Love Taylor Swift, June Recap

2010-06-30T17:00:00.013-04:00

Photo Credit: Wendy Hu

Last month, I posted my first "Day In the Life." A first person article about my music adventures, I received an overwhelming positive response and my poll of the week informed me that you, the readers, would like to read similar posts on a weekly basis. I'll try my very best to keep up-to-date!

June has been a whirlwind of CD release parties and concerts. Last week alone, I attended five shows in a row. An exciting first for me, I was introduced to quite a few new bands and genres of music.

Tuesday night I made it to the Studio at Webster Hall just in time to catch New York favorites, Lights Resolve. They debuted a few new tracks from their upcoming release to a packed crowd. Definitely a more aggressive feel than their previous material, between their gritty guitar riffs and unwavering energy, it is sure to be a success. You can download their latest EP for free here.

Wednesday night I covered Dion Roy's EP Release Party at the Living Room. Earlier that day he debuted at No. 16 on the singer-songwriter iTunes charts and throughout the week he charted to No. 8. Pretty impressive!

Being a Jersey girl, I've heard of the infamous Stone Pony in Asbury Park, but surprisingly never made it to a show there. This all changed when I saw Tor Miller Band open for Quincy Mumford Thursday. You may remember Tor Miller Band from my TWLOHA benefit concert back in December. I'm in disbelief that they're only in high school. Their song, "I'm Alright" is still stuck in my head. (Video below)

Friday and Saturday I covered shows for Hoboken Patch. Good Old War, Yukon Blonde and Audra Mae quickly became new favorites of mine. While waiting for Good Old War to take the stage at their sold-out show at Maxwell's Friday night, I learned that I was standing beside Circa Survive frontman Anthony Green. Pretty cool, no? You can read my full recap of the show here. Saturday night I witnessed my first heavy rock show when covering Chambers' record release. I've never seen fans jump on vocalists and guitarists before at a concert and it was an experience I will never forget. Read all about it here.

Earlier this month, after writing an article for Lemondrop, I learned it was featured on AOL's homepage. I received an overwhelming response (nearly 300 comments) and learned that my piece struck a chord with many readers. That's the main reason I decided to pursue journalism — to make an impact. Unfortunately, my family was less than pleased as they feel I portrayed them in a bad light. Read the article here and let me know what you think. If I at least made a few people smile and realize they're not alone, then I'm satisfied.

A journalist's job is not always an easy one, but at least I can live with knowing I was 100% "honest and unmerciful" (cue one of my favorite "Almost Famous" lines). This whole experience really made me curious as to how songwriters do it. Artists like Taylor Swift display their inner most thoughts and feelings for everyone to hear. Not to mention, name their ex-boyfriends! Don't they ever face resistance and shy away from it? I've always loved Taylor, but this month really put things into perspective.

Perhaps, subconsciously this is why one of my favorite questions to ask artists is if they're ever afraid to reveal too much in their songs. I asked Taylor Swift this very question last year at the CMA Music Festival and this is what she said:

"For me, writing a song, I sit down and the process doesn’t really involve me thinking about the demographic of people I’m trying to hit or who I want to be able to relate to the song or what genre of music it falls under. When I sit down and write a song the only person that I’m thinking about in that room is the person that I’m writing the song about and what I want them to know and what I wish I could tell them to their face, but I’m going to say it in a song instead. So, for me, music is really more about a diary and a confession. I love it. I love getting to say things to people that I wouldn’t say to them if I was standing face to face with them. Music is a way of verbalizing those things that I feel that I can’t say."

For Taylor's complete press room conference interview from the 2009 CMA Fest, click here.

Insightful answer, no? In fact, every time I've ever asked a singer-songwriter this question, they've pretty much said the same thing, adding that when they have held back in songwriting, they've regretted it. While I definitely still have a lot to learn, I think I'm on the right track.

Updates from last month's post:

I FINALLY got to chat with Benny from Gaslight Anthem (photo above) and am working on setting up an interview with the band. You can read my review of their sold-out New York record release show on Venus Zine.

My Hanson interview was posted a few weeks ago on Lemondrop. Check it out here. I'd love to know your thoughts!

Chambers Celebrate Record Release at Maxwell’s

2010-06-29T17:00:00.000-04:00

Photo Credit: Robert T. Huber

As Chambers took the stage late Saturday night, it was evident this would be a record release party like no other. A mosh pit soon formed a few feet from the stage while frontman Dan Pelic told the crowd, "Come closer. I promise I won't hurt you."

Together for just more than a year, Chambers' debut album, Old Love is aggressive rock & roll with heavy vocals and ear-grabbing guitar riffs. With the goal to make a record that captured the band's live sound, after witnessing their performance Saturday it was obvious this was accomplished.

For the complete review, visit Hoboken Patch. Stay tuned for my interview with Dan of Chambers in the upcoming days.

Good Old War, Yukon Blonde and Audra Mae Impress at Maxwell’s

2010-06-28T21:02:00.000-04:00

It was evident on Friday night that Good Old War, Yukon Blonde and Audra Mae don't want their current tour to end. With two shows remaining, the bands couldn't get enough of each other. Whether it was Audra Mae calling members of Yukon Blonde and Good Old War onstage during her performance or a nearly five-minute jam between members of all three bands during Yukon Blonde's set, their excitement permeated into the sold-out crowd.

Good Old War began with "My Own Sinking Ship" complete with accordion accompaniment. As the trio alternated instruments they continuously danced around the stage. Circa Survive frontman Anthony Green surprised concertgoers at the end of second track, "Weak Man" when he jumped onstage to sing along with the band.

For the complete review, visit Hoboken Patch.

One Day Left to Vote for You Sing I Write as MTV Twitter Jockey

2010-06-26T15:41:00.000-04:00

Last week, I told you about MTV's search for a Twitter Jockey. They're currently looking for a social media enthusiast who will act as a liaison between the public and staff at MTV.

If you feel You Sing I Write should be a contender vote here. There are two spots still open, so if you enjoy reading music news and interviews I provide and think MTV can benefit from my help, feel free to nominate me! The voting ends tomorrow, June 27. Thanks for your support!

Here are the rules:

1) MTV selects 18 candidates.
2) You, the audience, selects two (2) candidates through open nominations.
3) The 20 candidates compete in a series of Twitter-based challenges.
4) Five candidates move on to the final challenge round in New York City.
5) You, the audience, votes for the final MTV TJ during a live televised show on August 8, 2010.

To find out more about the contest, and how to enter visit http://tj.mtv.com/about.

Dion Roy Showcases New Songs at EP Release Party

2010-06-25T17:00:00.013-04:00

Wednesday night, singer-songwriter Dion Roy performed new tracks off his latest EP, The Nearest Light to a packed crowd at New York's The Living Room. As he showcased his emotion-filled songs with a full band, Roy proved he is an artist to watch. Midway through his set, he informed the crowd that his EP debuted at No. 16 on the singer/songwriter chart on iTunes. A day later, The Nearest Light, peaked at No. 8.

Roy started his EP release party with a few songs from his full-length album, Gallery, including "Wants It" before he performed The Nearest Light in it's entirety. When I interviewed Roy earlier this year, he told me the track is a collection of different relationships he has been in.

"At first glance, ['Wants It' sounds like] I’m heartbroken. If you listen or read the rest of the lyrics it shows how I was heartbroken but when she decided to come back into my life it was like, 'See you later.'" A personal track, Roy says it's a song he plans to play throughout his career.

"I'm so humbled you're all here tonight," he told the room before introducing first track off his EP. "The Wave is kind of a love song," he said.

With Roy's descriptive lyrics combined with Peter Roessler on guitar, Ed Marshall on bass, and Boots Factor of Stephen Kellogg and The Sixers on drums rounding out the sound, the song struck a chord.

Next track, "Dirty Hotel Scenery," showcased an edgier sound with heavy percussion and bass accompaniment. One of the first songs he ever wrote, Roy said it's one of his favorite tracks. The set concluded with the beautiful haunting ballad "Of Grey" and the upbeat "On the Way Down." The room fell silent throughout each song, as Roy captivated the audience's attention.

The Nearest Light has remained within the Top 20 singer/songwriter position on iTunes throughout the past three days. Additionally, it has been licensed for use in the upcoming seasons of "The Real World" and "Keeping Up with the Kardashians." With a U.S. summer tour in the works with "American Idol"'s Josiah Leming and Todd Carey, Dion Roy shows no signs of slowing down.

Be sure to visit Dion Roy on MySpace and you can read my interview with him here.

Artist to Watch: Jaron and The Long Road To Love

2010-06-24T17:15:00.000-04:00

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.

Thank You for Supporting Girls Who Rock!

2010-06-23T17:00:00.104-04:00

Photo Credit: Wendy Hu

Nearly two weeks ago, Girls Who Rock took over New York's Santos Party House. What started as an idea among three friends turned into a four-hour party with nearly 400 guests. Raising just under $5,000, the benefit concert partnership between She's the First and AfricAid resulted in sponsoring three girl's four-years of high school education.

The money raised will help sponsor the girls two-year program of the Kisa Project via AfricAid, which is one of the many partner programs that She’s the First supports worldwide by encouraging fun, affordable grassroots fundraising among young women and men. AfricAid was chosen as the beneficiary because the organization recently piloted The Kisa Project, an initiative that enrolls girls in leadership training and digital storytelling workshops, where they learn to share their lives with sponsors through rich, vivid videos.

Through the Kisa Project, young women in Tanzania will finish their schooling, go through a powerful 2-year leadership training program, start their own service and business projects, and build meaningful relationships with students and sponsors in the United States through kisaproject.org and shesthefirst.org.

The night was a success with impressive performances by Kat DeLuna, Shontelle, Lenka, MoZella, Vita Chambers, Cara Salimando, Kelli Pyle and DJ Kalkutta. Kat DeLuna even taught the audience the official "Push Push" dance.

Online donations can still be made here. The girls sponsored through Girls Who Rock will be communicating to all of their co-sponsors on the She’s the First blog throughout the year. Thanks so much for all of your support and for helping promote the importance of girls education! Stay tuned for updates from Girls Who Rock and ways you can get involved in the future.

If you missed the show, you can still watch it on livestream here.

The Gaslight Anthem Celebrates New Record Across State Lines

2010-06-22T14:00:00.002-04:00

Photo Credit: Wendy Hu

From the moment the Gaslight Anthem took the stage at New York City’s Irving Plaza last Tuesday, the energy in the room skyrocketed. The day of their record release for new album American Slang, the New Jersey quartet demonstrated what a rock show should be. As fans clapped along at the right moment on every song, singing word for word and creating havoc by dancing and crowd-surfing in a mosh pit on the floor, the excitement of the sold-out show was evident.

For my complete review with additional photos, visit Venus Zine.

Stream Griffin House's Latest Release on AOL Music

2010-06-21T21:26:00.000-04:00

Just over a year ago, I featured Griffin House as artist of the week. A colleague introduced me to him and I haven't been able to stop listening since. His honesty and sincerity are evident in each song and he is one singer-songwriter to be on the lookout for.

Tomorrow, he releases The Learner but you can listen to the album in it's entirety on AOL Music here. House blends the emotional with humor on his upcoming disc. Complete with songs about following your dreams ("Gotta Get Out") and chasing an unobtainable girl ("She Likes Girls"), The Learner has much to offer listeners. Taking a step away from past albums, his LP has a much edgier feel.

"Feels So Right" is an upbeat track that's bound to get your feet tapping with heavy musical accompaniment including piano, percussion, horn and guitar. Though the album is definitely a step in a new direction for the Nashville singer-songwriter, longtime fans will be pleased that his meaningful lyrics and deep vocals never falter as tracks like "Let My People Go" and "Native" can attest.

Be sure to give Griffin House's new album a listen here and stay tuned for upcoming tour dates on his Web site. You can download "She Likes Girls" for free below.

Contest of the Week: Win a Copy of Pat Benatar's Memoir

2010-06-20T21:15:00.000-04:00

This past Tuesday, Pat Benatar released her memoir, "Between a Heart and a Rock Place." You can read my thoughts on it here as well as peruse an excerpt of the book here.

One lucky reader can win a copy of it this week! Just add You Sing I Write on Facebook or Twitter and tell me why you want to receive "Between a Heart and a Rock Place." I'll pick a winner next week. Good luck!

For more on "Between a Heart and a Rock Place" watch a synopsis below as well as Benatar performing "Hit Me with Your Best Shot." What's your favorite Pat Benatar song?

Song of the Week: "Push Push"

2010-06-19T13:52:00.000-04:00

Last Thursday, Kat DeLuna impressed the packed crowd at Santos Party House for Girls Who Rock with her catchy beats and seductive dance moves. This week, she debuts the new video for latest single, "Push Push" featuring Akon.

Sure to be a summer hit, she even picked a fan from the crowd to teach him and the entire audience the official "Push Push" dance. Watch the videos below and learn it yourself!

Pat Benatar Reveals Her Struggles and Successes In Memoir

2010-06-17T20:46:00.000-04:00

Earlier this week, Grammy-winning singer Pat Benatar released a memoir, titled "Between a Heart and a Rock Place." Well known for hits including "Heartbreaker," "Hit Me with Your Best Shot" and "Love Is a Battlefield," the book takes the reader on the road and behind the scenes throughout Benatar's 30+ year career.

A compelling read, Benatar is completely honest about what it was like dealing with record label, Chrysalis, and the obstacles she faced as a female artist throughout her career. Having paved the road for numerous female acts today, it is uncertain where women would be without Benatar's contributions.

"Between a Heart and a Rock Place" begins in Benatar's childhood and the reader is introduced to the start of her career and classical voice training. We learn the history behind every album she and her band made and the meanings behind many of the songs. From an encounter with Frank Sinatra to taking the stage when she won her first of four consecutive Grammys for best female rock performance, the reader is in Benatar's head witnessing each accomplishment with her.

Additionally, Benatar takes us on the set of her first music video for MTV in 1981. "You Better Run" was the second video to be played on the network, (right after the Buggles' "Video Killed the Radio Star"), making Benatar the first woman to appear on MTV. This marked the start of a new outlet for musicians and Benatar takes the reader along for the ride. She talks of how the early VJ's were music lovers.

"They weren't the pretentious music journalists you sometimes see today; they were music fans who happened to be journalists. It was all very good-natured, no probing for deep dark secrets, no expose about your personal life. It was all about music," she wrote.

Watch the video below for Pat Benatar's description of "Between a Heart and a Rock Place."

As her memoir ends, Pat Benatar forms an independent label and is finally able to call the shots. While she continues to perform today and her musical legacy is far from over, "Between a Heart and a Rock Place," offers fans and music lovers a behind-the-scenes look at what exactly goes on in the life of a rock star. Throughout the memoir, she gives beneficial advice for up-and-coming artists and stresses the importance of girls to stand up for themselves.

"Rock and roll is really about following your passion with no apologies. Following that sound in your head that only you can hear," she writes.

You can read an excerpt from the book below. Stay tuned for my upcoming contest to win a copy of Pat Benatar's "Between a Heart and a Rock Place."

Browse Inside this book

Get this for your site

Vote For YSIW to Become MTV's First Twitter Jockey

2010-06-16T22:45:00.000-04:00

Earlier this week, friend and colleague Tammy Tibbetts informed me of MTV's current search for a Twitter Jockey.They're looking for a social media enthusiast who will act as a liaison between the public and staff at MTV. The voting started this past Monday and ends June 27th.

Do you think You Sing I Write should be a contender? If so, you can vote here.There are two spots still open, so if you enjoy reading music news and interviews I provide and think MTV can benefit from my help, feel free to vote!

Here are the rules:

1) MTV selects 18 candidates.
2) You, the audience, selects two (2) candidates through open nominations.
3) The 20 candidates compete in a series of Twitter-based challenges.
4) Five candidates move on to the final challenge round in New York City.
5) You, the audience, votes for the final MTV TJ during a live televised show on August 8, 2010.

To find out more about the contest, and how to enter visit http://tj.mtv.com/about.

Q&A with Hanson

2010-06-15T16:50:00.001-04:00

Over a decade and five albums later, Hanson is back with their latest, Shout It Out. They're not quite the boys you remember. They've got a grown-up look and a few twists to their sound -- piano-driven arrangements, a more soul-oriented feel -- but the band never left its summer-pop roots.

I chatted with Taylor Hanson about the new album, life as a husband and dad, and whether he's tired of playing "MMMBop." His answers may surprise you.

Is a song better when it's based on something specific in your life?
The quality of a song does not depend on the subject matter. It depends on what subject matter gets into the song, but it doesn't depend on whether that subject matter actually happened. As little kids, we would write songs about betrayal, relationships that had gone bad and the cheating woman. Where did that come from? You don't know exactly where stories come from necessarily, but that's what a song is. It's a relatable story. The songwriting process is about never turning off and always being aware of what's around you and not being afraid to be inspired by things.

For my complete interview with Taylor Hanson on Lemondrop, click here.

Band of the Week: Hypernova

2010-06-14T20:46:00.001-04:00

Iranian rock band Hypernova have risked their lives to play music. In Iran, simply holding a rock show could mean arrest, large fines or even a public flogging. Hard to believe? The fact that Hypernova have put their lives in danger by playing secret gigs in Iran gives you an adequate indication of their passion for music. It also makes me wonder just how many American bands would do the same.

"The underground scene in Iran is pretty intense," explains frontman Raam. "There are many amazing musicians driven by a burning passion who are literally putting their lives on the line for their music, just like we did. There's nothing more beautiful than raw and sincere music."

The band made their way to the U.S. in 2007 and released their debut album, Through the Chaos this past April. Rock & roll at their core, Hypernova blends gritty guitar and percussion, Raam's deep vocals and moving lyrics for a truly unique experience. While they have been compared to New Order, Interpol and Franz Ferdinand, the quartet is well on their way to making a name for themselves in the West.

Many tracks off their album sound autobiographical. On "American Dream," Raam sings, "I know that I'll never go back home/To the life I had, the life that I had known ... All I wanted was the rock & roll/All I wanted was to see the world." While rock is at their core, tracks like "Universal" and "Viva La Resistance" have an underlying catchy dance vibe.

A song about living in the moment and not knowing which day could be your last, Hypernova prove their point on "Viva La Resistance." "The boys, they are shouting and the girls, they are dancing/'Cause it ain't no fucking crime ... So dance like you've never danced/Scream like you've never screamed/'Cause this one might be your last," Raam sings with powerful guitar and drums behind him.

First single "Fairy Tales" has garnered much buzz and was recently nominated for mtv U's "The Freshmen." With Raam's baritone vocals and the band's equally gritty beats, the raw emotion is evident. Hypernova kick off their summer tour tomorrow at Bowery Ballroom in NYC with Kashmir. Be sure to visit MySpace to hear their music and watch their video for "Fairy Tales" below. You can read more about the band from a recent interview with NPR here.

Related Links:
• Artist of the Week: Lenka
• Artist of the Week: Sahara Smith
• Artist of the Week: Billy Currington
• Band of the Week: The Spring Standards

Song of the Week: Country Edition

2010-06-12T11:00:00.014-04:00

Lady Antebellum Fan Club Party, 2009 CMA Music Festival
Photo Credit: Wendy Hu

Being that just around this time last year I was in Nashville covering my first country festival (and first country concert for that matter), I found it fitting to pick a few country songs to feature this week. Keith Urban is one of the first acts I discovered back in college and I'm excited to post a video from his CMT Crossroads performance with John Mayer. I think you'll love it!

Keith Urban More CMT Music More CMT Music Videos

My next track is by an up-and-coming band that is starting to make waves in the country scene. Indiana based Shakin' Bake will share the stage with country superstars Luke Bryan, Justin Moore, Randy Travis, Bucky Covington this summer. Listen to current single, the emotional "The Underdog" a listen here.

Nashville based country artist Chelsea Rae has a powerful vocal style that brings to mind Carrie Underwood with a rock side that recalls Miranda Lambert. Having garnered an audition for the coveted Sunday Night Writer’s Night at the famous Music City Bluebird Café, Rae is well on her way. Give her a listen on MySpace.

Join Eric Hutchinson and Barefoot Beach Rescue Project This Summer

2010-06-11T10:00:00.013-04:00

The Barefoot Wine Beach Rescue Project is a partnership between Barefoot Wine and the Surfrider Foundation, a nonprofit environmental organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world’s oceans, waves and beaches. About to kick off its fourth year, the Barefoot Wine Beach Rescue Project is partnering with singer-songwriter Eric Hutchinson to bring awareness and create a "barefoot-friendly" coastline.

The first cleanup of the summer will take place 4 p.m. on June 12 in Rockaway Beach, New York. Additional stops throughout the summer are listed below. Hutchinson will join volunteers on the beach during cleanups and perform live at special celebrations afterwards.

“I never pass up a trip to the beach. East Coast, West Coast – it doesn’t matter,” Hutchinson said. “I’m thrilled to be touring with Barefoot Wine this summer and playing for the awesome volunteers who give their time to clean up their local shores.”

2010 Dates with Eric Hutchinson

New York, NY (Rockaway Beach) Saturday, June 12

Austin, TX (Lady Bird Lake) Saturday, July 10

Portland, OR (Willamette River) Saturday, August 7

Miami, FL (North Miami Beach) Saturday, August 28

For more information on the Barefoot Wine Beach Rescue Project, click here.

Watch GIRLS WHO ROCK Live Tonight On You Sing I Write!

2010-06-10T09:00:00.013-04:00

After two months of planning, Girls Who Rock is finally here. Featuring performances from Kat DeLuna, Lenka, Shontelle, MoZella, Cara Salimando, Vita Chambers and Kelli Pyle, tonight Santos Party House in New York will showcase an all-star lineup for a great cause: funding girl's education worldwide.

All proceeds from the concert will go toward sponsoring a girl in Tanzania via AfricAid. If you haven't purchased your ticket yet, you can here. If you're not able to make it to New York, you can still donate to the cause and watch the show live right here on You Sing I Write!

Watch Girls Who Rock live below. The concert starts at 8 p.m. and streams live until the show is over. Enjoy!

Watch live streaming video from girlswhorockny at livestream.com

Wishing You Were In Tennessee This Week?

2010-06-09T16:54:00.000-04:00

Me too.

With Bonnaroo and CMA Music Fest going on, I'd do anything to be at both. Alas, I'm not. But that doesn't mean I can't pretend I'm there, right? Thanks to Paste and SPIN magazines, I can listen to free tracks from their Bonnaroo samplers and envision myself in a sweaty crowd, packed like sardines with my fist in the air. Download each sampler above and join me, won't you?

If that's not good enough for you, WFUV is broadcasting Bonnaroo live. Tune into 90.7 FM this Friday from 7:00 p.m. - midnight for performances by The National, The xx, The Temper Trap, Diane Birch, Mayer Hawthorne and more. On Saturday, from 7:00 p.m. - midnight, the music marathon continues with performances by Norah Jones, LCD Soundsystem, Jimmy Cliff, and The Gaslight Anthem. If you're not in New York, you can stream WFUV online here.

Country music fans need not make the trek to Nashville to CMA Music Festival to listen to free tracks from up-and-coming acts. Just click here for your 10 free songs. If audio tracks don't cut it, tune into CMT tonight at 8 p.m. for the CMT Awards with live performances by Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley, Zac Brown Band, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood, LeAnn Rimes, Keith Urban and (my favorite) John Mayer.

I'll have some more tracks for you Saturday so stay tuned. Here's to being in Tennessee next year!

Q&A with Val Emmich

2010-06-08T18:00:00.088-04:00

Last week, I covered New Jersey based singer-songwriter Val Emmich's acoustic set at Turtle Club in Hoboken. Before and during the show he took fan requests. Emmich said with six albums, it's often difficult to teach his full band each individual song. "For these acoustic shows, I feel like I need to pay back my fans and play what they want to hear."

Afterward, we chatted about his songwriting process, life at Rutgers, and how his acting roles on hit television shows like "Ugly Betty" and "30 Rock" influence his life. Read on to find out how the former American Studies major got his start in music and advice he has for you. Be sure to visit Val Emmich on MySpace and stay tuned for a new album in the upcoming months.

What is your songwriting process like?
The songwriting process for this album was a lot different. Previously, I would usually find myself in some mood. Frustrated, sad or hyper, I would pick up a guitar or set up a piano and it would come out in some way. Then, I would sing a melody that came to me naturally and work on lyrics. It usually happened in that way; music, melody, lyrics. In this case, I worked with this production team called Near Records. We just sat there and co-wrote together. I’d sit at the piano or someone would play guitar and I’d sing. It was fun for me because it got me out of my own head. Being a solo artist can sometimes have its limitations. It’s also very freeing because no one’s saying no to you.

You went to Woodstock by yourself to write a few albums ago. Do you find it better to be by yourself?
I guess it’s an ongoing search. At that moment, let’s call it a bad breakup with my record company. So, I needed to find what I loved about music again and find a rebirth. I really did feel like a child going away to learn from square one. It was really liberating. I would just sit there. I woke up in the morning, drank coffee and wrote whatever came to me. I know I wrote songs alone there with no distractions that I would have never written anywhere else and couldn’t write today because I was putting myself in that situation. I was lonely. I was isolated. I had a big beard. I was unkempt and I just feel like I had nothing to do but write, and it made me feel safe to write.

I think it’s about finding new challenges and new ways to get you out of your habits because I think you could become predictable. Often, people like first albums of people and then they think they went off. I think it’s hard to keep it fresh. This new album was the same thing. I tried to come up with a new process.

You’ve been in a bunch of TV shows including "Ugly Betty" and "30 Rock." Do any of those experiences find their way into your songs?
Into the songs, no, but into me as a person. Anytime you can meet new people. Today I met this guy who was talking like he had a frog in his throat. I was just obsessed with his voice. Maybe a year down the line, some voice lyric will come. Or a character in fiction I write. I just feel like you should be open to life. The TV stuff, it puts me in touch with fear because I’m always scared when I do those things and I’m meeting new people and they’re used to what they’re doing and I’m the newcomer. But it’s a challenge. It makes me feel alive.

Some of your songs come across as being sad, but the music is often upbeat. Why is that?
On my last record, I wanted to try to do it all by myself with literally no one else. The Woodstock stuff, Sunlight Searchparty, I wrote by myself but then played it live for the band. For Little Daggers, I did it by myself in my bedroom. I wanted no one else to get in my head. I sent a bunch of songs to a producer friend of mine, Jason Cupp and he said, “What I like about these songs is that they sound happy, but they’re kind of sad. The good ones. You should get rid of these and focus on these other ones that have that weird juxtaposition.” He pointed it out to me. That was intentional, but it was something that came out naturally.

I love your song “Hurt More Later.” What was the inspiration behind it?
I think it’s so joyous to get into a relationship even when you have a feeling, “I don’t think this girl is the right one for me ultimately. But it feels good now. I kind of feel like she’s a cheater maybe or she’s not being totally honest. But, we have a good chemistry and the sex is good.” So, you let yourself go even though you know you’re going to hurt more later. That was the feeling I was trying to capture. Throw caution to the wind.

What’s going through your head when you’re performing? I noticed you close your eyes a lot.
Not always. This was a peculiar situation where people are right there and I didn’t have a stage. Usually when you’re on a stage and the lights are there, you’re shielded a little bit and you see nothing and that helps to open up. I did go into my own shell today.

My thoughts wander and I try to follow them if I feel like a lyric hits me and I’m angry I go with it. Or, if I feel hyper I let my body do it. I’m just trying to find a new way of enjoying it. This sounds so crazy, but I just thought [performing] does remind me of sex where someone will do something and you’re like, “Oh wow. Woah, I never thought of that. Let me do that,” and you follow the feeling just because it feels good. Same thing onstage. You’re like, “I’m going to go over here. Woah.” It’s about being open to that and I think some people are too scripted and they get into routines and they don’t feel spontaneous onstage.

Do you feel a song comes out better when it’s based on real life, or do you draw from fantasy as well?
Both. There are literal songs where this literally happened. “Shock,” a song about deceit literally happened and I just wrote what happened, my blatant feelings. There are other ones that I take an emotion and I let it wander. I find that the ones that aren’t bound to truth are usually more interesting. It’s just like acting. If you go for a role as a killer, do people assume you’re a killer? No. You just feel like, “Oh, I’ve felt anger before. I’ve felt out of control before. I can imagine taking the next step and killing. If I could just think there.” It’s the same thing with songwriting. If I feel sad I can sometimes make myself feel sadder in songs. Who wants to hear a lukewarm song? You want to hear the most extreme feeling you can and the most potent.

I went to Rutgers also so it’s always nice to see fellow alumni succeed at what they love. What was your background there?
Sometimes I wish I went to the Fine Arts school there, Mason Gross. Part of me is artistic and part of me is really cerebral and I like factoids and more scholastic stuff. [My major was] American Studies. It’s a focus on America in all different facets. So it’s history, literature, economics, politics. So many people just get a narrow focus. They only major in politics or only major in economics. I get it all, so it’s probably a metaphor of me as a person just trying to be well rounded. Someone important in my life always tells me I’m a jack of all trades and a master of none. Which, she doesn’t really mean as a compliment I don’t think. But, I do like to dabble. Maybe I’d be better off just focusing on one thing and being excellent at it. At Rutgers I did the same thing, I minored in English and minored in Philosophy because I just wanted it all. I still want it all.

What’s your advice to aspiring singers?
I followed what I wanted to do. Luckily my parents weren’t the kind of parents where I came home and they said, “American Studies. What job are you going to get with that?” They supported the music I wanted to do so I was fortunate in that way. If you have a bunch of people telling you “No,” it’s a lot harder. Another person in my life found me in college and said, “I really think you’ve got something here,” and it made me believe I could do music. I really believe the nurturing of art and artists is important, which is why I always try to talk to people and answer emails because you never know when your email might be the thing that they go, “Maybe I could do this.”

My inspiration: surround yourself with people who make you believe. A friend from Rutgers was here tonight who I haven’t seen since Rutgers and he said, “It makes me feel comforted that you’re still doing what you love.” And I got what he meant. I’d be upset if some of my friends stopped doing what they love. I would lose faith. I feel like you just take examples from other people and if I’m an example to someone, then that’s an amazing thing.

Artist of the Week: Lenka

2010-06-07T23:31:00.002-04:00

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.

Poll of the Week: How Often Do You Want to Read About My Adventures?

2010-06-06T22:33:00.000-04:00

On Monday, I debuted the first installment of my new column, "You Sing I Write Adventures." I've received an overwhelming positive response and definitely know this is something I will continue to write. While the week I wrote about was definitely jam packed with events, not every week in the life of a music blogger is that exciting. I wish it was!

Regardless, I plan on keeping you filled in on who I'm interviewing, anecdotes about meeting bands and whatever else I think you might find interesting. If there is anything you're curious to know, definitely reach out! With all that said, here's this week's poll:

How Often Do You Want to Read About My Adventures on YSIW?

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