I’m sure some of you remember our Artist Spotlight feature on Jaiden from last year. Well this NYC based singer has been on his grind since the last time we spoke on him. He recently got off a run singing back-up for Jay Z’s American Gangster tour and just sent his newest track to Concrete Loop. Dubbing himself “The Cure,” Jaiden definitely has what it takes to bring the R&B game back to the top. “Paradise” was produced by horn player, KeyKat.
♫ Hollyweerd - Have You Ever Made Love to a Weerdo?
The newest splash on to the MySpace hipster scene is Hollyweerd with their funk-jazz-soul-hip-hop fusion hit, “Weerdo.” Pictured from left to right, The Love Crusader, Tuki, The Dreamer and Staggo Lee, make up the fearsome foursome that music columnist and critics have called “Beatles-esque.” Regardless of whether or not you agree, you can’t deny the feel-goodness of “Weerdo,” with its pulsing baseline and warm saxophone interlude.
Meet J*Davey. The Los Angeles based duo has been doing it for a long time, making their mark as underground superstars, featured in several publications. For years, they have generated a huge buzz. I have always been a fan of theirs, so I decided to feature them with the new track “Slooow.” I love J*Davey because they transcend genres and their music is what I like to call “raceless music.” Everyone can relate to their sound, their melodies and their lyrics.
Alice Smith may not be new to some CL visitors but nevertheless she deserves a spotlight. The NYC-based singer has been making waves since late ‘06 when she released her debut album , For Lovers, Dreamers & Me. Rolling Stone listed her as one of the ‘10 Artists to Watch in 2006′ and just last month she was honored with a Grammy nomination for ‘Best Urban/Alternative Performance’.
Her music is often described as a Soul/Rock/Pop blend but Alice has an array of musical influences including: Go-Go, Country, Classic Rock, R&B, Blues, Jazz and Gospel music. In the early 2000s, while she was wrapping up her studies at Fordham University, she sang with Greg Tate’s improv band, Moomtez, that drew upon a broad range of influences and was a part of the Black Rock Coalition.
2008 is just around the corner, and I’m sure that it’s going to be an exciting year for music. Various cool & new artists have been hitting the scene these past couple of years and I think that ‘08 may be just as promising. There should be some interesting releases coming out, from singer/songwriters to huge producers.
Janet Jackson and Mariah Carey are making their come backs yet again and we know those are going to be obvious sellers - but what about the newcomers who have been grinding it out and waiting their turn to make an explosion onto the scene?
Meet Dréa. This singer, songwriter, self-taught pianist, guitarist and drummer out of Buffalo (New York) is bound to make some moves in the music industry.
Influenced by Lauryn Hill and Prince as well as the “music politicians” (as she likes to call them) of the 60s and 70s, she has dubbed her music a ‘marriage of political consciousness paired with the raw undertones of intimate reality’.
“Back in the day, you had Bob Marley, Nina Simone and Marvin Gaye speaking for the mute. Their musical contribution to this world is invaluable. I’m going for that same method of staying true to you and saying what needs to be said like only I can say it!” -Dréa
Although she has a production deal out of LA; she has yet to secure a major album deal. If you like what you hear, make sure you check out her other great songs via myspace and tell her CL sent ya.
Meet Chase, Qui, and Zandric. Collectively, they form the sensational vocal trio of Dirty Rose. Dirty Rose is brought to you by the talented producer and songwriter, Bryan-Michael Cox. Chase and Zandric, both from Houston, and Qui, a native of Alabama all have amazing voices and are powerhouses in their own right. Dirty Rose doesn’t remind me of any other male group out now, and I can appreciate their vocal versatility and maturity. Be on the look out for them, with their single, “All 4 Love,” impacting radio soon!
A little something different for CL this time around. Meet Rissi (pronounced Ree-cee) Palmer. She’s here to show you that you don’t have to be blonde-haired and blue-eyed to be a country star. She was offered a pop record deal by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, but when it came time to pick a direction, she followed her heart and chose country. And she’s received much acclaim from media outlets alike. Now, Rissi is set to release her debut album, Rissi Palmer, tomorrow, October 23.
