Visit You Sing I Write's New Website!

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!

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!

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!

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

Lady Antebellum Talk Dating, Drunk Dialing and Dylan

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.

Related Links:
• Sara Evans, 'A Little Bit Stronger' -- Story Behind the Lyrics
• Lady Antebellum, Amos Lee Dazzle for Musicians On Call
• Q&A with Lady Antebellum
• Lady Antebellum Bring Nashville to New York at Sold-Out Show

YSIW Celebrates Three Years --Thank You!

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

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

"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"