:: arjanwrites music blog ::

Vote Now! Introducing the Nominees for the MTV Logo ArjanWrites.com Brink of Fame Song Award

Tata! Check out the six artists I've nominated to win the MTV Logo 2008 ArjanWrites.com Brink Of Fame Song Award. I've written about all of these performers in recent months and all them serve up a sweet and crunchy sound that will give you something to chew on for a good while. Let me re-introduce all six again:

Janelle Monae
Jannelle is one of my latest discoveries who has really impressed me with her music, message, mind and movement. She's truly one of those rare talents who dares to think out of the box to create her own distinct brand of music. Growing up in Kansas City, Monae left her troubled surroundings to pursue a career in musical theater in New York City. But her love for Judy Garland, Elvis Presley, Tupac and Michael Jackson took her to Atlanta where she established her own record label and recorded her debut album with Outkast's Big Boi. The result is an exciting LP that offers as much style as substance, which is rare these days.
Listen to "Many Moons"

Chester French
I was one of the first music writers to recognize the talent of these Harvard grads back in the fall of 2006. Captured by their melodic ditties and lyrical wit, I knew that D.A. Wallach and Maxwell Drummey were in it for the love of good music and solid songwriting. Fast-forward to the spring of 2008. The duo is now signed to Pharrell Williams' StarTrak Records and they are preparing their big label debut in September. And even though Chester French are not gay, they are equal opportunity music makers, which makes them even cooler.
Listen to "She Loves Everybody"

Semi-Precious Weapons 
I remember interviewing Justin Tranter years ago when he was doing his solo stuff. He struck me instantly as someone who is never going to fit in a pre-defined little box to meet people's expectations. That's just too boring. Now heading up glam-rock outfit Semi-Precious Weapons, the band is heading for the big time with people like Kate Moss and Jake Shears as some of their biggest fans.
Listen to "Magnetic Baby"

Hercules & Love Affair
Andrew Butler chose the name Hercules & Love Affair for a reason. In Greek mythology, Hercules is considered one of the most adventurous characters. And Hercules & Love Affair is just that. Old-school funk infused with modern electronica and crazy fun discoball glitter. It is a sound that immediately captured me with its quirky stylings that made a lasting impression.
Listen to "Blind"

Lady Gaga
The boys are going gaga over this hot new Lady. Powerful vocals, a spunky attitude and a powerful dance groove can go a very long way, but its her burlesque pop that make LadyGaga a unique phenomenon on the New York dance scene. Before we know it she'll be tearing up a club near you. Simply irresistible.
Listen to "Just Dance"

Heloise & The Savoire Faire
Fronted by the super charismatic Heloise, this band creates a mesh of late-'70s disco-infused dance punk and '80s synth-pop that might remind you of Scissor Sisters, Glass Candy and perhaps even The Gossip. It is a totally super fun sound that will have you jive a little - on the dance floor or your living room.
Listen to "Illusions"

Announcing the MTV Logo ArjanWrites.com Brink of Fame Song Award

I've some exciting news to share!

The fine folks over at MTV Logo are organizing the annual NewNowNext Awards on Saturday, June 7 to celebrate everything to what is new and next in the best of LGBT pop culture across a wide array of mediums including the internet, film, television and music. The event will put a first-ever spotlight on openly gay artists as well as all performers beloved by the LGBT community.

This year, MTV Logo is introducing the MTV Logo ArjanWrites.com Brink of Fame Award that will celebrate some of the most exciting new queer and queer-friendly artists. Check out the YouTube video above that is an MTV Logo promo featuring rapper Cazwell and Amanda Leopore, the undisputed queen of Manhattan's nightlife.

I've nominated six artists artists and songs for the MTV Logo ArjanWrites.com Brink Of Fame Award that I consider fresh and fit for this award. Now that I've put together the nominations it is up to all of you and the rest of the world to vote for your favorite artist so we can crown one of them the winner. (More about the artist nominations here.)

I'll be flying up to New York City to present the MTV Logo ArjanWritesBrink Of Fame Award and announce the winner.

Make sure to catch the MTV Logo's NewNowNext Awards on June 7 at 9 p.m. on a television set or computer near you. The event will be hosted by Candis Cayne (of ABC's Dirty Sexy Money) and performers include The Cliks, Lady Gaga and Dangerouse Muse. A special lifetime achievement nod will be awarded to Janet Jackson.

Free Download: The Script "Before The Worst"

The Script are the Irish trio of Danny O’Donoghue (vocals), Mark Sheehan (guitar), Glen Power (drums) who describe their music as a "whole new brand of Celtic Soul" that is a blend of "hip hop lyrical flow" with catchy pop melodies. Much of their upcoming debut album was recorded in Los Angeles together with top R&B producers like Rodney Jerkins, Dallas Austin and Teddy Riley.

It should come as no surprise that none other than Pharrell Williams is collaborating with the band as well. Williams (who has repeatedly said he is huge fan of bands like Coldplay) might be attempting to repeat the success Timbaland has had with producing pop-rock outfit OneRepublic to give hip hop & R&B a bit of new flavor. Hip hop is moving into new directions and tightening its hold on the pop charts. And in the case of The Script I'm all for it.

Check out a guilt-free MP3 download of The Script's track "Before The Worst" that prominently features Danny's swooning, soulful vocals and a kicky rhythm track to tell a story of loss and moving on. Lead single taken from their RCA debut album is "We Cry" that shows off a lot more of their R&B influences. Watch it here.

Download The Script "Before The Worst"

The Reviews Are In: Janelle Monáe Rocks Hollywood

Janelle Monáe played a four song showcase at The Key Club in Hollywood last night to give people a taste of things to come. Five ArjanWrites.com readers each won a pair of tickets to experience the hotness that is Janelle Monáe for themselves. Also in attendance were Sean "P Diddy" Combs (Janelle's label head) and Antwan "Big Boi" Patton who co-produced her album. A big thank you to Will and Nancy for writing me about the show.

"Exploding on the stage with the delicious 'Violet Stars/Happy Hunting,' she took over the Key Club with natural charisma and a type of genius that can’t be taught," ArjanWrites.com reader Will writes me. "I brought a friend of mine with me who’d never heard Janelle. Within the first few minutes of the show, she was enamored.

"If you’ve ever watched a child dance, when the music hits them, they dance like no one is watching… and everyone loves it.  Unlike most people, Janelle Monae never lost that spirit. You can see the music move through her body. You can tell that she isn’t moving because some over-paid choreographer is telling her to do it. She is moving because she feels it. And the audience feels it too."

Will continues, "I’m trying to keep this short, but I could go on and on about how much I loved the high-tech, futuristic motif and her mastery of every type of vocal style (elements of jazz, rap, etc., even opera). I also respected that, through all the glamor and performance, Janelle’s lyrics shine and make a statement about her world-view. This isn’t throwaway pop. How refreshing!

Nancy saw last night's show as well and compared Monáe to Kelis, Mick Jagger and Grace Jones. She argues the point that the singer is not the type of artist you'd expect on Sean Combs Bad Boy roster. "Her look and sound is so different from what Bad Boy is.  She's a risk for Puffy, she writes me. "A number of people next to us left, I think, expecting to hear a certain sound but getting the complete opposite."

"We'd love, love, love for her to go mainstream, but at the same time, we want to keep her all to ourselves," she concludes.

I have to agree with Nancy but Monáe is too much of a good thing not to be shared. (Check out some of Nancy's pictures here.)

(I'm interviewing Janelle later tonight. If you have questions, email me or leave a comment.)

Watch The B-52's "Ultraviolet" (Live Sessions)

Some people just never go out of style.

Check out a fantastic mini-concert that The B-52's performed at the AOL studios for AOL Sessions. Watch the group play "Ultraviolet," "Love Shack," "Rock Lobster," "Hot Corner" and an interview with the band.

Free Download: The Asteroids Galaxy Tour "The Sun Ain't Shining No More"

Check out a guilt-free MP3 download of "The Sun Ain't Shining No More" from Danish newcomers The Asteroids Galaxy Tour." It is a delicious slice of Motown-inspired coolness updated with some free-flowing European spunk. It's groovy.

The core part of The Asteroids Galaxy Tour are Mette Lindberg (vocals), Lars Iversen (bass, keys). The two met up in the summer of 2007 to collaborate on some demo tapes. They hit off and decided to start recording an album in Lars' self-built studio in his one room flat in Copenhagen.

For their live performance they swell up to a 6 piece band with a fully fledged horn section, clavinet sounds, a drummer and guitarist to re-create their rich throw-back sound on stage. They insist they are neither a duo nor a band. Think of them as more of a collective with an evolving line-up and sound. Their name came from one of the collective's members. "I stole it from Miloud, our Moroccan trumpet player, who runs a hippy jewelery shop when he’s not rehearsing with us," Lars explains in a press release. "I like it because it sounds like the title of a film or a book, rather than a band name. It’s asking you to step in to a story and join us on a journey - a trip in our galaxy."

The songs Mette and Lars recorded are steeped in a shared love of the soul of Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and Sly Stone. You can hear it in the honking horns, shimmering strings and driving bassline of "The Sun Ain't Shining No More." It's sweet and crunchy.

Download TAGT "The Sun Ain't Shining No More"

Listen to Isabel Guzman "Mysterious"

The Swedes just have an incredible knack for cranking out slick pop ditties that will have you tapping your feet whether you want it or not. It must be in their water.

Isabel Guzman is no exception to that rule. The emerging Swedish pop diva (who was classmates with Robyn) is ready to take over the dance floor with a brand-new EP, titled "Kill The Boy." The entire project was inspired by comic book stories,  dark city landscapes and most notably the NBC television series Heroes. "The images of a dark deserted city, the future, superpowers and the splash of neon individuals, all dancing; some for therapy and others just because pop runs through their veins," Guzman explains in a press release.

The first single taken of that album is the electro-pop stomper "Mysterious" that will surely get the boys and girls dancing with its punctuating beat and Guzman's lusty vocals.  There's no release date yet for "Kill The Boy." Right now, Guzman has just shared the EP among some friends and a couple of bloggers like me. Time to take it to next level I'd say. (Click here to listen a remix of "Mysterious" by Lilla Bjorn.)

Listen to Maroon 5 ft. Rihanna "If I Never See Your Face Again"

I have to be honest. I've never been a big fan of the formulaic sound of Maroon 5, but I got to hand it to Adam Levine and his pals guys for consistently serving up solid pop tunes. Their brand-new single is not any different. "If I Never See Your Face Again" is a duet with global chart powerhouse Rihanna that will be hitting a local radio station near you very soon. My prediction is that this song will be one of the biggest jams of the summer. Not because of the pairing of two popular acts, but simply because the song is deliciously catchy from start to finish.

Listen to Maroon 5 ft. Rihanna "If I Never See Your Face Again"

Free Download: Morgan Page vs. Lifelike "The Electric Road"

Los Angeles DJ/producer Morgan Page put together an atmospheric mash up of his own new single "The Longest Road" and Lifelike's electro gem "So Electric." Combining Lissie's folky vocals with that sleek French dance beat makes up for an excellent piece of dance music. This is easily one of my fave dance tracks of 2008 so far.

It's typically a track I'd add to my favorite iPod playlist and play on repeat on one of those frantic overnight cross-oceanic rides. It has such a soothing and timeless quality to it. Close your eyes and dream away high in the sky.

Download Morgan Page vs. Lifelike "The Electric Road"

Free Download: Kerli "Walking On Air"

Estonian pop singer Kerli is one of the newest talents to emerge from the Merlin production studios, which is run by Bloodshy & Avant who are responsible for recent hits by Britney Spears and Kylie Minogue. But Kerli's music is nothing like the catchy pop fare people have come to expect from Merlin. It has a gothy twist that is best described as Björk meet Evanescence meets atmospheric electro pop.

Born in Elva, Estonia, a tiny, then-Soviet occupied town of 5,000 people in the forest, Kerli first hit the scene in 2002 when she appeared on Fizz Superstar, a Baltic talent competition equivalent to American Idol. Her success on the show was followed by appearances  on Estonia's Eurolaul song contest and Sweden's famed Melodifestivalen in 2004. But Kerli's big break came in the summer of 2005 when Kerli was invited to perform for Island Def Jam chairman L.A. Reid. He was impressed by her performance and signed her to his label on the spot.

The first single taken from her big debut label debut album "Love Is Dead" is the spooky "Walking On Air," which is one of my favorite tracks on her album (note the similarity between the rhythm track on "Walking On Air" and Britney Spears' "Piece Of Me"). Download a totally guilt-free MP3 below for a limited time only (courtesy of Island Records). "Love Is Dead" will hit stores on June 10.

Kerli "Walking On Air"

Listen to Janelle Monáe's Debut Single "Many Moons"

At the risk of turning into a Janelle Monáe fan site, there's more to report on the singer today.

Bad Boy Records announced last night that "Many Moons" has been selected as the singer's debut single. It's a quirky little number that matches style with substance. "When you're growing down instead of growing up, tell me are you bold enough to reach for love?," she sings. The genre-blurring song clearly invokes memories of Outkast and that should come as no surprise as it was co-produced by Antwon "Big Boi" Patton.

You must listen to this. This is finger-licking good.

Listen to Janelle Monáe "Many Moons" [Real]

Free Download: Electrocute "On The Beat"

Electrocute's new single "On The Beat" is a cute little nod to The Go Go's who must have inspired this totally fun new track. Written by the duo's founding member Nicole Morier and produced by Dutch DJ/producer JunkieXL, "On The Beat" is taken from the group's new digital EP that is available on iTunes now.

Morier founded Electrocute back in 2002 when she met former band member Mia Dime in Berlin's bustling avant-garde electro scene. After releasing some demo material and touring with Peaches across Europe and Australia, Morier decided to call it quits and focus on her songwriting career back home in Los Angeles. Most recently, she wrote tracks for Britney Spears, The Bird & The Bee and JunkieXL's latest album.

But Morier couldn't resist singing and performing, and resurrected Electrocute together with her new pal, sassy Aussie Legs Le Brock. "On The Beat" is one of the six tracks on this new EP that is filled with spunky California surf pop with its rooving electro dance beats, swaggering fuzz fueled guitars and sugary vocals.
(Click here to download Electrocute's "On The Beat" EP on iTunes.)

Download Electrocute "On The Beat"

Listen to Lorraine "When I Return To The World"

After a couple of false starts, Norwegian trio Lorraine is shooting once again for international success with their excellent new single "When I Return To The World" that will be released in the U.K. on May 19. The song is taken from the group's long-awaiting debut album, tentatively titled "Pop Noir," that is scheduled for release this summer.

Hailing from Bergen, Norway, Lorraine are Ole Gunnar Gundersen (vocals), Anders Winsents (guitar) and Paal Myran Haaland (keyboards, programming). They first hit the European music scene in 2003 with songs like "Perfect Cure" and "Echoes," followed more recent work such as "Italian Girlfriend" and "Transatlantic Flight." After parting way with Columbia Records, they now have a deal with Waterfall Records UK to bring  their music to the masses. Their influences include Depeche Mode, a-ha, Pet Shop Boys and New Order.

"When I Return To The World" is an epic slice of '80s inspired pop-rock that is interspersed with the sound of Indian sitars that gives it a timeless and exotic flavor. The single is backed with a brand new track 'Beyond Sky', plus a remix package from current club darlings The Camel Rider and Manhattan Clique.

Be Janelle Monáe's Guest at The Key Club Next Week

ArjanWrites.com is giving away no less than 5 pairs of tickets to Janelle Monáe's showcase on May 6 at The Key Club on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood that is hosted by Sean Combs. Monae is stirring up a storm and this is the place you'll wanna be to see this new phenomenon do her thing. Seeing is believing. And since this is one of her first engagements on the West Coast you will surely hang among some A-list celebs and industry peeps.

Submit your name in the drawing after the jump and I will pick 5 winners from the entries next week. Your name will be added to Ms. Monáe's guest list for the show next week.

Continue reading "Be Janelle Monáe's Guest at The Key Club Next Week"

A Look at the Coachella Music Festival 2008

Work kept me on the East coast this weekend, but my buddy Kevin made it to Coachella this year. Packed with his big lens and photo credentials, he got up close and personal with the performers (and even backstage in the trailer area). See, feel and smell a little bit of Coachella after the jump. (And yes, that's British model Agyness Deyn on the polaroid.)

Continue reading "A Look at the Coachella Music Festival 2008"