by wildangels

Well, after a delay and a change in record labels, we finally get a taste of what to expect from Alexz Johnson's solo disc. I'd say my favorites are swallowed and golden both musically and vocally. Lyrically, I can't tell until I see some official lyrics posted somewhere. Check out the link and see for yourself. The songs are very unique, yet have an interesting 80's sound to em. Not surprising, since Alexz has said Peter Gabriel is one of her influences.

Looks like Kanye West got himself into some trouble with a festival crowd. Granted it wasn't entirely his fault, but still... stuff like this is why they say less is more. Look into it, man.

Amy Winehouse could also benefit from getting a clue. It seems she collapsed in her home and had to be rushed to the hospital. Something tells me that there are less than innocent reasons for the fainting spell. Can someone get her some help already? Enough is enough.

Finally, even though Madonna is jumping ship to Live Nation after her greatest hits release, some people are sticking to more conventional means of getting their music out there. At least for now. Despite all the reports, the Rolling Stones deny they're getting ready to join with the company, ending a 30 year relationship with their label. We'll see how that goes.

That's it for now. See y'all next time!

by wildangels

Hello, everyone! For those who don't read the Country blog, Sorry for my absense. I'm back, though, and ready to get back to business.

First off, Lou Pearlman. You remember him, don't you? He's the puppet master behind Backstreet Boys, N'Sync and other 90's pop acts. Well, instead of making music, he's now facing it. According to yahoo, he's been sentenced for defrauding people and money laundering. I can't say I'm shocked. When your two biggest bands sue you and want to leave, there's got to be something amiss right? Besides that, I always did get an odd vibe off the guy.

Metallica seems to be embracing the old saying "if you can't beat them, join them". The band who became famous for fighting illegal downloading on Napster is now joining the digital world. The site, called Mission: Metallica, will allow fans to get all kinds of cool extras. This is all in anticipation of their new album due out late this year. Some lucky fans will even win the chance to go backstage at every show on their tour. Check out all the details here.

by wildangels

After about a week of rumors and statements from family and others involved, Mariah and Nick themselves confirmed their marriage during an interview. I'm a bit surprised that she made this move, especially talking wanting kids. Wasn't she just going on about how she'd feel "violated" by having children? Ah, well. Good luck to her. Maybe she'll outdo some of the others yet again by actually making a quickie celeb marriage work. If not... well, I guess we know what the next album will be about.

Well, I'm out of here. Take care and I'll see y'all next time with more news and reviews.

by wildangels

Looks like Miley Cyrus isn't the only one looking a bit red right now. Depsite all the publicity Ashlee Simpson has been drumming up with her engagement and coy non-answers to the preganancy questions, she has yet to score a hit single off her new album. As far as the album goes, it came in fourth place... don't expect it to stay in the top 10 long, either.

Meanwhile, Looks like Paula Abdul really put her foot in her mouth. I just read a story on yahoo! about last night's show and how Paula kinda lost it a little. She apparently got all confused and commented on a song that hadn't even been sung yet. Once it was pointed out to her the finalists had only done one song, she backtracked and claimed that she was looking at notes from someone else's performance and got confused. Read the story to see where that one goes wrong. Now, I know this isn't exactly a revelation regarding reality TV, but I have to ask: anyone else smelling a fix in the works? Let me know.

Well, I guess that's about it for now. Take care and see you next time!

by wildangels
According to the Pulse boards, Kelly Clarkson may have her first single from a new album out soon. Make sense, as the album is supposed to be out later this year. I'm excited to hear what she's come up with now that Clive isn't in the picture anymore. I still say My December could've been a big hit had more than one single been promoted. Hopefully, she's just as involved in the album this go around, no matter what sound has been adopted.

by wildangels

So, as promised, here is my review of Mariah Carey’s E=MC2. As I said before, this is a really good disc and it’s exactly what I’d been hoping to hear from her. She’s showing off her vocals more than she had in some songs recently without going overboard. Good to see she’s found the balance so many can’t. The people who said this is an album full of singles were right. There are only a couple I’m not too thrilled with. The others, I can definitely see being hits. I’m gonna go through my favorites one by one. Feel free to reply to this post with your own thoughts.

Migrate: This is definitely a hit in the making. It’s fun, catchy and she sounds good in it. The song starts with her typical whistle note and then smoothly transitions into a nice mid-tempo beat with a high-pitched sound in the background that really adds to the unique sound.

Cruise Control: This is a reggae-influenced song that is another mid-tempo number. She actually adopts a bit of an accent on this one that sounds pretty natural to me. This is bound to be an R&B and club hit for sure.

Side Effects: This is probably one of my favorites. It’s got a slow beat, but Mariah’s vocals are rapid fire as she blasts an abusive/controlling ex. You can just feel the bitterness and determination oozing out of her voice when you listen. Makes you really wonder about what did go on back in the day before her divorce.

I’ll Be Loving You Long Time: This song actually reminds me on old school R&B. I haven’t seen the track info in my CD jacket yet, but I’m willing to bet there’s an old sample in here. It’s up-tempo and has a bit of a feel-good pop vibe to it as well.

I Wish You Well: This is probably the closest Mariah gets to the sound of her first two albums. Her voice shines over a kinda bluesy/gospel arrangement. It’s a song about using your faith to get through tough times and rising above pettiness.

Well, there you have it: Mariah’s new CD. Check back next time for more music news and reviews. Take care!

by wildangels

Hey, all! Just wanted to stop in real quick and fill you in on Emilio's progress for any Tejano fans out there. According to Yahoo!, he was moved to a rehab facility and is now beginning the next phase of his recovery. They still don't know if the accident will prevent him from performing though. See the full story here.

In other news, Fergie's back! This time, she's doing the theme for the Sex in the City movie. I haven't heard it yet, but I'm excited to. She usually puts out something good. If anyone has heard the song, feel free to share your thoughts on it.

Finally... make sure you come back tomorrow when I will post my review of Mariah's E=MC2. It's #1 on the charts, so you're sure to wanna read this. Til then, take care and "let the music play!"

by wildangels

Well, I'm a bit pressed for time right now, but I wanted to check in and say that I just got the new Mimi album (along with The Emancipation of Mimi). I'm loving it! I'll post a more detailed review later, but suffice it to say that this is the CD I was waiting to hear from her. It shows off her voice and is a great mix of her old and new sound. Stands outs for me right now are "Migrate", "Side Effects", "I'll Be Lovin You Long Time", "Bye Bye" and "I Wish You Well". From what I've seen it also looks like this just may debut at #1, too. Go her!

In the meantime... has anyone else bought them and want to share their thoughts? I'm interested to hear what other fans think about it.

by wildangels

I go away for the day and Dada has completely changed! I see they are now offering mp3s and videos as well. I don't have a traditional cell phone service, so I don't even know if I can get these downloads. I do love, though, how it looks like I'll be able to watch videos here. I miss seeing videos and have even taken to getting up a little earlier now and then to catch Jumpstart and Fresh on VH1. Now, maybe I won't have to.

Has anyone tried the downloads out? Do you like the new service? Sound off- I'm curious to hear from others.

by wildangels

Those who discovered Paula Abdul through American Idol might not remember that she was once accused of pulling a Milli Vanilli. My grandmother used to love buying the tabloids and occasionally she'd show me a story about people I liked. Well, one was about this girl who claimed her vocals were mixed with Paula's for the CD Forever Your Girl.

According to VHI, today was the day she sued Virgin Records over it back in 91. She lost the case, but I still don't get it. The vocals on that album were not that great... I would hope Virgin would've hired someone who sounded better than that if that was what they were doing. Despite the vocal problems, I did like the music. "Straight Up" and "Cold Hearted" were my jams when I was a kid. Who could ever forget that video she did where she and her dancers auditioned for a part and got all the execs hot and bothered? Now, that was a video! If you wanna see more events that happened today, check out the link above.

For all you Mariah fans out there, here is a link to an Island/Def Jam page where you can hear a new Mariah song called "Bye Bye". I just had a listen and loved it! To me, it's a great mix of the hip-hop sound she loves so much and the vocals of her old records. It's a One Sweet Day kind of song in that it talks about losing someone and not wanting to say goodbye.

Well, that's all for now. Check back next time for more. Til then, take care and "let the music play!"

by wildangels
This one one of the best write-ups I have seen about Mariah's new CD. While I have been kinda leaning towards wanting to get it, this actually really makes me excited about the release. It sounds like it's gonna be a great disc. Based on this, I think I may end up liking "I Wish You Well" the most. It sounds like it's gonna be true old-school Mariah and a much more mature song than some of her more recent hits.

by wildangels

Since Mariah is releasing "Touch My Body" on Itunes today, I thought I'd talk about some of my favorite Mariah songs. "Vision of Love" is the first one that comes to mind for me. It was the first single and the first video of hers I ever saw. Let's just say that by the end of that song, I was in awe. "Love Takes Time" and "Vanishing" were favorites of mine cause they were a little more soulful. Especially "Vanishing", which had a really bluesy feel to it.

"Someday", "You Need Me" and "Prisoner" from that album are favorites because they were more uptempo and fun. What can I say? I'm a sucker for any song with some attitude in it. Plus, they were a little different from the other songs she was releasing at the time and I like variety in my music.

When Emotions came out, I fell in love with the title track almost immediately. Especially the note towards the end. I still wonder how she does that! It was also nice to see her open the album with something more fast paced and fun, since she had mainly released ballads until then. "Make It Happen" was another really great uptempo track and at the time I just loved that really inspirational message in it. She didn't lose the attitude, though, including "You're So Cold" on the CD. It starts off so slow, you think your in for another ballad until the beat picks up and takes you by surprise.

Mimi's at her best, though, with ballads. "And You Don't Remember" from Emotions is a classic for me. It's so soulful and emotional and a great song to belt out when you're not feeling so great and you just want to let it out.

"Dreamlover", the lead single from Music Box was another instant favorite. I remember dancing around my house rocking out to this one and just having a great time. It's one of those feel-good songs that just makes me smile every time I hear it. "Now That I Know" and "I've Been Thinking About You" were just really fun dance tracks I couldn't help but like. There's something about the message of the songs, too, that appeals to my nostalgic side. I mean, these songs just seemed to be made with her teen fans in mind. "Hero" is also one of my favorites because of it's inspirational message and amazing vocals. I still try and belt along to this one sometimes.

Her Daydream CD's lead single, "Fantasy", was kind of a surprise. I think that was the first time she had some hip-hop in her songs and sampled another song in one of hers. It was a great song, though, and my teenage self loved it. Meanwhile, "One Sweet Day" always makes me bawl like a baby most of the time. It makes me think of my grandmother, who was like a second mom to me. I always thought it was really interesting how she and Boyz II Men were writing pretty much the same song without realizing it until they showed what they had to eachother. I loved "Always Be My Baby" because it was such a fun song and really great to sing along to. My other favorite is "Forever", just because it reminds me of those old 50's ballads for some reason.

So, now Mariah's away from Tommy Motolla and things are really getting shaken up. "The Roof" and "Breakdown" were total shocks to me, but I loved them. From the first beats, I could tell we were gonna see a whole new Mariah.To this day, I'm not sure I like the direction these ended up leading her in, but they're great tracks. Of course, it's not a Mariah CD without some ballads and there were some good ones here. I remember loving "Outside" and "My All" the most. "Outside" even inspired a paper for a music class in college.

Rainbow's actually the last Mariah album I have. Again, not thrilled with how far she's gone in that hip/hop direction. She doesn't seem to show off her voice as much lately. Still, there were a couple here I loved. "Heartbreaker" was just lots of fun to listen to and sing along with and come on- who didn't love the dueling Mariahs video? "Against All Odds" is one of the moments on this CD where you see classic Mariah and it's one of my favorites from the 80s. Mariah's vocals seem to make it even better then it was originally. Finally, couldn't help but love "Cry Baby". Even though I tend to like the songs without such a hip/hop feel, this one still gets to me. Can't explain it, but it does. The video was great, too.

Well, there's some of my favorites from Mariah- now what about you guys? Do you like her more pop-influence songs? Is hip/hop Mariah your favorite? Let me know, it's always fun to hear what other fans think.

by wildangels

Hello, out there! Like I promised, here is one of the tracks from Makell Bird's How to Walk on Water. He said I could post any tracks I wanted and I decided to use this one since he said it was his favorite. For a few other tracks, make sure to visit the MySpace page I linked below. Enjoy and don't forget to post your own thoughts on it! I'll post a few lyrics as well as soon as he sends them my way! I'm working on showcasing some other artists as well, so keep checking back!

by wildangels

Hello, out there! As promised, here is a new feature I hope to post from time to time where I discuss the music with the one who's making it! First up is Hip Hop/R&B/Rap artist Makell Bird. We talked about his CD How to Walk on Water.

1) "Intro"
He says- Well for the intro, I wanted a totally cinematic feel. Believe it or not I got my boy Paul Johnson, who I convinced to be a voice actor to a degree. His voice was really horse that day because he was sick. I told him I was thinking about hiring a voice actor to do a movie trailer like intro for the CD. He said he could do that. I said PROVE IT... he sounded just like the dude. So, I instantly recorded him saying the intro plus about a dozen other sweepers for my upcoming projects. And as far as the music itself. I found it fitted perfectly.

I say-This was a nice intro with some cool sounds in it. I also liked how the end of it bleeds into the next song. It reminds me of how the second disc of Christina's Back to Basics begins.

2) "Get It Poppin'"
He says- Well Get it Poppin was always intended to be the Intro track. But since I wanted to put the "cinematic intro" on there. "Get It Poppin" got moved to track 2. It's basically a re-introduction to me as an artist from a more "Vegas" perspective, but it still had that gritty "Dirty South" vibe. So it was perfect!

I say- This track really lives up to its name, making you want to get up and move when you hear it. I really love the violin in the background, too.

3) "Tha Matrix (Freestyle)"
He says- Well I got that beat from a producer named Bigg T. He sample some music from the movie "The Matrix"... As soon as I heard the beat I recognized it. The Matrix is one of my favorite movies. As soon as I heard it I had that feeling that "I could take over the world with this beat"! So, I wanted to talk rap slower on that beat so people could here EVERY word I was saying. So, I dropped it and there you have it!

I say- I love the beat in this song- it's fun, light and is something I can hear being played in any club. I also love the sample included. The modern, uptempo beat mixed with the operatic, dramatic vocals makes for a nice contrast.

4) "Everywhere We Go"
He says- It had a banging beat. So, I dropped it. I was choppin' it up on myspace with an artist I felt had some real talent (Young R). So, I did my part then tossed it him and he dropped some heat on it. Young R won the ATL Record Pool shortly after doing that track with me. Then I put the Rocky Quote on there to give it that extra punch!
I say- This wasn't one of my favorites, but it's still pretty cool and the message is nice. There's a quote added in there saying how it's not about how hard you get hit, it's about if you can get up and keep moving. You can't blame anyone else for the way your life is.

5) "Chapelle Excerpt"
He says-I always liked Dave Chappelle and when I heard him saying that I instantly said "I gotta put that on one of my albums!". It is an ode to myself and all the other ghetto ass white dudes out there. Me originally being from Atlanta I instantly agreed with his opinion haha.

I say- This is a cute little interlude that keeps things very light hearted and offers a bit of a break.

6)  "Find Me Somebody"-
He says- That was just a crazy beat to me. So, I figured I would just Wild out to it. I wanted to this whole "up and down" bouncy voice motif to it. My girlfriend heard it and said I was crazy haha!

I say- This is my absolute favorite track. I love the rythm of the vocals and the beat. Add a little Queen into the mix and I'm a very happy person.

7) "U Can't Be Me"
He says- Well, that was baically like from me to people in 'the industry'. I figured alotta people who are famous or own Huge major labels. Their fame and money comes with alotta strings attached. So, in a sense I bet there's a part of them that wants to be like me (i.e. more independent). But "U Can't B Me!". Originally I was planning on doing the whole song myself. But my voice alone sounded too plain on the track. So, I brought in Natika to spice things up. She's a pretty good rapper too.
I say- I like how this one starts with just a little piano and then in comes the beat. Natika and Makell blend nicely vocally in the song.

8) "Bedtime Stories" (this actually has two other parts later on).
He says- Well, my boy Paul Johnson has some CRAZY stories! And they're all true!. I mean I first heard those stories like 2 years ago and he had me rollin'. I always like to have some comedy on my album so people get a full range of emotions when they hear my music. I thought it would be funny to get him to tell those stories on the album. We were there the whole time recording him. If you listen closely you can hear us laughing in the background.

I say-Paul Johnson has a very commanding voice, demanding your attention and he definitely can tell a story. Btw, yes I did hear the laughter in the background!

9) "I'm an ATLien"
He says- That was just for all those people from Atlanta who love Atlanta and loved Outkast's whole ATLien vibe. In our eyes, that was their best album. So, I just wanted to recapture that vibe and give a view of Atlanta to anyone with an outside perspective.
I say-This one has a cool futuristic sound that definitely fits the title.

10) "Can't C Me (Freestyle)"
He says-I've loved 2Pac since 1995. That was one of his hardest beats. So I dropped it in my version.
I say- The sound has a strong, energetic beat that fits the message of the song well.

11) "Put Ya Money Up (Freestyle)"
He says-Well, me living in Vegas, I wanted to have a casino sounding song. Like a gambling song. So, that beat was perfect and I could just have fun with it. I didn't know any info about the beat so I actually had to contact 4-Ize himself to get the credits haha!
I say- This sort of reminds me of some of the stuff the new hot producers do beat-wise. I like the vocal effects and rhythm of the vocals in this one.

12) "Have Some Fun"
He says- Well, I've been working with DJ Taz since 2000. I worked on his mixtape "Classic: The Black Mongoose" and wrapped that up in October 2007. So, he threw me the track and I dropped it. DJ Taz is one of the best producers out there.
I say- This song has a little bit of a harder beat to it then the others, while still having a bit of a laid-back feel to it that's fun to listen to.

13) "Bedtime Stories 2"
More adventures of Paul Johnson

14) "Simple Shit (Freestyle)"
He says- I made a really simple sounding "snap music" beat. So, I figured I figured I'd drop a "simple" freestyle over it. And I didn't have a title for it, so, I just called it "Simple Shit" haha.
I say- This is one of the more unique freestyles on the CD. The vocals almost remind me of Twista, cause of their speed and phrasing.

15) "4eva and Always"
He says-That was originally intended to be on Natika's forthcoming album. Natika is a singer here in Vegas that I signed to ADE. But at the time, I had more tracks done towards my project. So, I did a quick verse over it and decided to put it on my album.
I say- This song reminds me of one of those old-school R&B tracks from the early to mid 90s.

16) "Training Day Excerpt"
He says-That's just a quote from Denzel Washington I felt fit for this album, on the serious side.
I say- Another quote interlude about looking at things realistically and taking your time. The quote says you have to make changes to yourself sometimes before you can change anything else.

17) "Void in My Life (Freestyle)"
He says- That's probably my favorite track. It's just a short glimpse of my life in this music business and the struggle between someon's faith and their job.
I say- This is probably one of the most emotional songs on the CD and I love the melody and phrasing.

18)  "Living in the Projects (Freestyle)"
He says-That's basically an uplifting track for all those people who get tired of watching "MTV Cribs" and seeing all these other people who are basically holding up a mirror and saying "See, were doing much better than you".
I say- This is another slow number that reminds me of 90's style R&B mixed with a more modern beat and phrasing.

19) "Ghetto Queen (Freestyle)"
He says- That's basically me in pure story telling mode. It's about young women who chose to be sexually active and the pitfalls of that. It's kind of like the song "Verge Uv Ambition" from my previous album "Birth Uv Destruction".
I say-This is another more laid-back song that I enjoyed a lot. Once again, he manages to mix a little of the old with a little new.

20) "Rev. Hagler Speech Excerpt"
He says- I actually got that off youtube. I was looking for an inspirational speech to coincide with the serious side of my album. I was originally looking for some Martin Luther King or Malcolm X type of speech, but I came across that and thought it was perfect.
I say- This is a stirring speech that adds a bit of a break in the action

21)  "Will You Remember Me?"
He says- I'm not really a big fan of country music. But, I DO know that alot of them have pretty good lyrics. I heard that beat with that Sarah McLachlan hook and thought it would be a nice touch to the album. It's probably the most uplifting message on my whole album.
I say-I love the original song and it's cool that he chose this. The song has a nice, relaxed feel to it while still being good for a little dancing.

22) "Bedtime Stories 3" Another really funny yet true moment from Paul Johnson's life.
 
23) "My Problem (Jealousy- Freestyle)"
He says- Alot of the lyrics in the song I hold true because I actually DID know some people who said they weren't interested in working with me. Then later I found out it was mainly just because I was white! So, I thought I would do a track to project my views on such simple minded shit like racism and jealousy.
I say-This is one of the deeper songs on the album and has a nice, soft feel to it.

24) "Go Back (Freestyle)"
He says- That's like a reminiscent track. A song that gives a little bit more into my background.
I say- I like the background singer and the effects on her vocals in this one. This is a nice track to sit back and relax with.

25)  "Outro"
He says- Usually I just talk on my outros and give people information on how to obtain more music from me or contact me.
I say- Makell hooks fans up in this one by telling them how they can get his music and contact him.

So there, you have it. Makell Bird's How to Walk on Water. Check out his MySpace to hear some songs and get his music. He just released a mixtape yesterday called Makell Bird Presents Maktown Radio Vol. 1: The Spityogame Takover (Co-hosted by DJ Taz). Check back here another time when I post some lyrics and a song or two. Til then, take care and "let the music play."

by wildangels

Hey, everyone!! Just wanted to give you all a head's up about a cool new feature I'll be adding occasionally to the blog. It's called "He Said, She Said" and I got the idea after meeting up with an artist named Makell Bird on MySpace. He's a rapper nicknamed the Mixtape King of Las Vegas. You can see his page here.

Sometime next week, I'll be review his new CD called How to Walk On Water. In addition to my thoughts on each track, you'll get to hear from Makell himself on the songs. Also keep an eye out for Jnel and J Magazine on MySpace as well, where I'll be submitting an interview with him. I've also interviewed several other artists for it.

In other music news, looks like P!nk and Kelly Clarkson aren't the only ones getting ready to put out new material. Mandy Moore is also working on a new CD. I'm interested in seeing what she comes up with since I really enjoyed Coverage and Wild Hope. She seems to be one of the few teen pop artists of her time that are still putting out music and working to grow as an artist, so that's pretty cool to me. Let's just hope she doesn't start slamming her later albums too once the new one comes out.

by wildangels

According to Billboard, a special mini-edition of Kelly Rowland's Ms. Kelly is gonna be released. As a music fan, I like the idea of these re-releases just cause I like extra material like music videos and extra tracks. As a music consumer? Well, let's just say I don't often buy CDs anymore when they first come out. I waited ages to get Pink's I'm Not Dead just because I don't really feel like buying a CD twice just to get the few extras.

The industry could probably do a lot to improve their relationship with consumers if they came up with a way for consumers who already bought the CD when it came out originally to download the extras for free/a very small charge. Many CDs today have little papers included telling you how to get ringtones or other special deals. Maybe they could include a paper with a special promo code in the initial 1 or 2 shipments of the CD that will allow them to download these extras if/when a re-release is done.

I know this may not be a perfect plan, but I do think music fans would really appreciate something like this. The label system seriously needs the PR right now. Who knows, it might even boost sales a bit, especially early on.

by wildangels

First, Janet releases an album that goes to #1. Then, Mariah comes out with a new single that's a hit with an album coming soon. Now, Whitney's getting into the act. According to Billboard, we can expect to hear new music from her before the end of the year.

I've always loved her voice, so I'm glad she's going to give her career some attention again instead of making tabloid headlines. The only question is, can the music transcend all the craziness of the past few years? I'm rooting for her.

by wildangels
Who knew? Her new video for "Touch My Body" features her enbracing her inner geek by chasing one around with toy guns and acting kinda goofy. It's pretty different from most of what I've seen from her, so it was kinda cool to watch. Still loving the song, too. The voice is definitely back! Check out the  VH1 Top 20 Countdown when it comes on, cause it's sure to be playing on there soon if it's not already.

by wildangels

Mariah is milking the comeback she acheived with her Emancipation of Mimi CD for all it's worth. Her first single off E=MC2, "Touch My Body", has reached #34 on the charts. It's expected to explode from there as well as a few other tracks from the CD. Early reviews seems to be favoring "That Chick" and "Migrate".

I wasn't sure if I was gonna be into this new era of hers, but after hering the lead song and some of these glowing reviews, I've changed my mind. Mariah appears to be back for the long haul and I'm excited to hear what she's come up with. .

by wildangels

I've read on some forums that Pink is getting ready to start writing a new album. After listening to M!ssundastood and I'm Not Dead recently,  I'm psyched. I think she's one of the more talented vocalists and writers out there. Now, if she'd just cut ties with PETA....

Don't forget, I still want to hear your favorite songs. Do you agree with my choices? Do I need my head examined for picking a certain song? Let me know! I'd also love to hear what your favorite of her CDs is. Til later... take care and "let the music play!"

by wildangels

Awhile back, I was telling y'all about the show Instant Star and the lead actress/singer Alexz Johnson. Well, it seems she's set up an official MySpace now. Check it out if you haven't heard any of her songs. She's quite the singer. I recommend skin in particular. It's very stripped down and allows you to hear her voice fully without the music getting in the way.

According to one of the few blog posts there, she's shopping her material around after the mess with Capitol and is continuing to work on new tracks. Can't wait to hear what comes of this...

by wildangels

I've been listening to P!nk's I'm Not Dead a lot lately. She's one of my favorite singers/writers and I though because of all that, I'd rank my favorites from all her CDs.

10- "Split Personality" from the CD Can't Take Me Home. There is just something about this song that gets me and it's hard to describe. I just know that anytime I pop that CD in, this is the song I want to put on.

9- "Stop Falling" from the CD Can't Take Me Home. This is the other song I listen to a lot off that CD. This song is all about Pink's vocals. She manages to put so much pain into each line... you really believe what she's saying.

8- "Catch Me While I'm Sleeping" from Try This. This is not my favorite CD by pink, but I love this one. She's got a great vocal on here.

7- "Misery" from Missundastood. She and Steven Tyler sound great together and I love the old bluesy vibe to this one.

6- "Stupid Girls" from I'm Not Dead. This is just a funny song and I agree with almost every word in the lyrics.

5- "Family Portrait" from Missundastood. I love the lyrics to this song and the pain she manages to get across in it. Anyone who has gone through family issues can relate to this one perfectly.

4- "Just Like a Pill" from Missundastood. While I like the vocals in this song, the lyrics are what really make it for me. They're clever and honest and you just feel every word she sings.

3- "Leave Me Alone (I'm Lonely)" from I'm Not Dead. Who hasn't wanted to be left alone once in awhile, even if you do really care about a person? It's such a relatable song and I like the contrast of the fun, upbeat music with the slightly dark lyrics.

2- "Heart Breaker" from I'm Not Dead. I love this one because it shows that P!nk can rock with the best of them. Again, her delivery and words are perfect and I can't help but get lost in the emotion of the song.

1- "Who Knew" from I'm Not Dead. Emotional does not even begin to describe this song. I feel every word each time I hear it and have occasionally gotten a little teary with it. It's a song about appreciating who you have now and how that's not always easy to do. You get caught up in every day stuff and take some things from granted.

Well, there it is: my favorite P!nk songs. Do you agree? Think I'm crazy? Let me know about it!! Feel free to post your own favorites in the comments.

by wildangels

Here is the last part of my interview with Ieshia. In it, she discusses her upcoming CD and her plans for the future. I hope you've all enjoyed this series.

Jamie: Tell me about your Album.

Ieshia: My album is due for a 2008 release, hopefully before my birthday, which is May 2. It will be titled Still Standing because despite of everything I've been through, I'm still standing. The album will actaully be a cool transition story within itself. It takes me from a good relationship to a bad relationship and when I let go of that bad relationship, I find happiness. It’s time to celebrate, dance, rejoice and help others

Jamie: What else are you working on?

Ieshia: This year, I plan on releasing my first book entitled GIGSTER which is a book especially for artists with club listings and diffrent venues for them to perform. To perform at these clubs, most are required to present something for consideration. That's what i'm doing with my book. I'm doing the work for them and letting them know what each club or venue in each state is requires an artist to present to them in order to perform. Hopefully, My gigster book will turn into a Gigster Transportation Service for singers. Most singers have great talent but there talent is hidden due to finances or not being able to get to gigs due to a lack of transportation. Eventually, Gigster will spin off from a book to a transportation service with a low monthly fee that drops off and picks up a singer , raper, poet to casting calls and performances. Each year, a top artist will be picked for a promo tour. I'm looking for gigster to also have a special fund where each artist get there own marketing package, including demo recording, photo shoot, media kit & more, everything an artist needs to live their dream. Then, a non profit organization called Verity Envision, which keeps teens off the street and in the classroom, doing productive things! There will be GED and educational programs designed to help people reach their goals in life, all while offering a limited amount of financial assistance for rental and utilities through donations.

Jamie: Thanks for taking the time to chat with me. This has been really interesting.

Ieshia: You’re welcome!

by wildangels

Last time, Ieshia talked about getting signed and losing pretty much everything to Hurricane Katrina. Today, she discusses trying to bounce back from that experience and a little about her music.

Jamie: Around the same time, you had mention you were going to school. Can you tell me about that?

Ieshia: I was attending Delta College of Arts & Technology and I completed my degree in Visual Communication that I was working on prior to Katrina. I love to design and I knew that being a singer I was going to need CD COVERS, FLYERS, POSTERS, etc. I figured why not learn it myself and save myself some money while also doing what I love? I've been getting clients since I graduated. My first client I had was when we returned to New Orleansin 2006: TBC BRASS BAND. I also do Music Production and write songs & poems. I also draw.

Jamie: So you basically have your hands in every aspect on your singing career

Ieshia: yes, so I can help others and myself

Jamie: Is there any particular part you prefer? (singing, design, writing, etc)

Ieshia: I love it all, so they all are equal. I try not to limit myself. I sing Country, Rock & Roll, but my genre is rap hip hop & R&B. I just wrote a country song called "Can't Give Up Now that I'm hoping a movie will pickup for a soundtrack

Jamie: When you write, do you mostly draw from your own life or do you take experiences you've heard about from others as well?

Ieshia: I write about my life but mostly, I write about what’s going on in the world in general. I write songs people would love to say but can't say it, songs that give hope and are a guiding light for someone. I don't write just to write and make a hit. I write to touch someone through what I'm saying and make a difference.

Jamie: You mentioned in your information having the album done and having to start it all over.... tell me a little about the recording process and what you had to do to get the project back on track.

Ieshia: We were having some problems and our landlord was about to evict us, but God Showed up again and pulled us out of harms way. We found an organization to pay our rent and my husband and I got jobs again. We started networking and getting to my career again. While I was pregnant and on bed rest, my husband wrote a long letter explaining our situation and how much he loves me and wants me to live my dream. It reach many celebs and top indutry insiders, but only a few reached out to help. Then, Giana Garel & Chuck D of Poublic Enemy read my husband's letter out load of the Famous national Radio Show on The Real Talk Show and help started pouring in. Keep in mind, due to Hurricane Katrina, I'd lost my industry contact, promotional flyers, posters, cd covers, master recordings. I had nothing and had to start over with a $0 budget. Producers started To send me tracks and I wrote new songs. I also entered lots of Contests. I was chosen top 10 in the CW's Dig it or Dis it competition and semi finalist in the How She Move Event Contest with lil mama. Now, here I am getting management deal offer and publicist, I have fans in the UK and the US. My name is known. My MySpace page gets over 300 songs plays and hits a day and my Profile has been viewd over 12,000 times in 4 months since joining the site. I still don't have the money to record my album in the studio, though, or take professional photoshoots nor do I have the clothing for the shoots but people are contacting me with offers of help for free if I offer to design things for them.

Jamie: Do you have a favorite song you’ve written?

Ieshia: Actually I love them all. My song "hott sex" is the most popular with 1,5000 play in less than 3 months. I also wrote a poem about what we went through in the convention center that my fans love. I have a new dance song similar to the Soulja Boy's hit called "Hater Walk".

Jamie: There is a lot of change in the music industry today and so many people are now turning to things like MySpace. How do you feel about the changes happening and the new ways people are getting music?

Ieshia: Myspace is awesome! Although it can be a blessing a curse, it has been nothing but a blessing to me and it's an honor to be a part of MySpace. Ithelps me network with so many people and receive help, while also offering help. I get the most of my design clients though MySpace and Craigslist.

Check back tomorrow, when she tells us a little about her album and her plans for the future. Until then, "let the music play".

by wildangels

My interview with Ieshia continues as she discusses getting signed and the event that brought her career to a stand still...

Jamie: Tell me about your deal with Pimptown. How did that come about?

Ieshia: I was looking through a newspaper ad that was looking for singers, rappers etc. it said to call for an audition. I called him and he loved my voice. A few weeks later my grandmother signed me to a recording contract with his company. One month later I had my first performance, when I opened a concert for his top artist. We got married March 16th 2003. We had our first child May 22, 2003 and our daughter was born August 5th 2004.

Jamie: In your information, you mentioned Hurricane Katrina pretty much forced you to go back to the beginning career wise. Can you elaborate on that and tell me about what you experienced during the storm?

Ieshia: My career was starting to take off with gigs, tours and more lined up by my celebrity booking agent Lionel Robinson. We'd just brought a car and a house when the storm was coming. My husband had been through many storms, and this was my first. We talked it over and decided to get out of the city. Even though we'd just brought a car, we didn't have enough gas or the money to buy the gas to get out, so we stuck the storm out. I was so terrified, I scared myself to sleep. When I woke up, I went in the other room and said, "Wow, that storm wasn't so bad after all." My husband said "look outside". I looked outside and there it was: Hurricane Katrina. I ran back under the covers like Shag and Scooby! When the storm was over, everyone was getting ready to make and eat breakfast when all of a sudden water started to come in the front door. We couldn’t stop it from coming in, so we grabbed our kids and belongings and ran upstairs. We were stranded on the second floor with no food for 3 days. We flashed the lights in the sky when helicopters passed by, but noone would save us.

Jamie: How did you finally get rescued?

Ieshia: Luckily, there was a neighbor that lived in the subdivision that owned a boat. Come to find out he was going around rescuing. his neighbors. We let him take the another family in his boat first, but when he came back to us we didn't want to leave each other. We couldn't my husband is 300 plus pounds, plus it was myself our two kids, his sister and her two sons. We all couldn't fit into the little boat, so he went and found some more help. When he returned, we grabbed our belongings. My kids and my husband and his sister and one of her sons got in the boat. Myself and my sister in laws other son got on the jet ski bikes. That was my first time on a jet ski; first time in the water actually.

Jamie: Can you describe the ride for me?

Ieshia: When we were riding through it was as riding in a murky lake; river for that matter. The water was so deep If I would have stepped in it I would have drowned. My husband is 6'3 and when he went to go and save the other family I mentioned earlier, the water was up to his chest; close to his neck. They didn't bring us far after rescuing us. The nearest dry was on Chef Menteur Highway. We found a shopping cart and put our kids inside of it and started the long journey to the convention center. Luckily, the police let us get some food & drink out of stores to give us the strength to keep walking. As we walked, guns were pointed at us and my children were crying hysterically. My husband passed out from dehydration because he would go into the stores and get food and drink for us and not himself, because there wasn't enough. He recovered, though. The original plan was to go to our house (they stayed with her sister-in-law during the storm) but when we looked down coming of the exit, our house and our entre area was under water to the roof tops. It was a good things we went by my sister's house because we would not have made it otherwise.

Eventually, Ieshia and her family made it to the Convention Center, where even more drama was to unfold. They were forced to deal with death, violence and people who were trying to profit off the evacuees situation. They also had to endure family members who were less than accommodating to them once they were able to reach Grambling. Ieshia and her husband managed to find jobs so that they could get a place of their own again. Ieshia’s job actually involved distributing various supplies to other victims of the storm. Join me next time for another part of my interview with Ieshia. Til then, "let the music play..."

by wildangels

is apprently the new CD by Mariah Carey. According to Billboard, it's due for an April  1st release and I can't wait. Ok, the title is iffy and the cover I saw (if it's real) is really trashy IMO, but hey: the girl can sing her ass off and I love that.

Mariah has been a favorite of mine ever since she came out with "Vision of Love" in the 90s, and it's been nice to see her (someone with true vocal talent) making it as far as she has. Mimi was a breakthrough after her infamous breakdown period and from the buzz I've seen, this disc should be yet another hit to add to the comeback.

by wildangels

is the first single by HipHop/R&B singer Ieshia. I recently met her through MySpace and got the chance to interview her. Starting Monday, I'll be posting the interview in parts each day (it's a long one, but a good read). For now, I thought I would let y'all check out the video she posted on youtube of her singing "Still Standing." If you want to check out other songs, visit her MySpace page.