Acclaimed British Artist James Morrison

Acclaimed British Artist James Morrison Returns To U.S. With Single "Wonderful World," and Tour

By Jonathan Widran

James Morrison

A year ago, when James Morrison released his critically-acclaimed debut and its infectious first single “You Give Me Something” in his native U.K., he was a newcomer on Europe’s singer/songwriter scene, fully living up to the album’s title Undiscovered. That all changed in a matter of months, as the collection spent two weeks at #1 on the U.K. album chart, scored two Top 10 U.K. singles (including “Wonderful World”), and reached the Top 5 on the album charts in the Netherlands and New Zealand, and went Top 20 in Norway, Ireland, Germany and Australia. “You Give Me Something,” which became a Top 5 U.K. single, also hit #1 in New Zealand.

Global sales of Undiscovered to date are currently over 2.4 million, and his numerous concert appearances include performing twice in front of British Royalty. He played for Prince Charles at the 2006 Royal Variety Performance, and at the beginning of July sang his two biggest hits at the Concert For Diana at Wembley Stadium before Princes William and Harry and an audience of 60,000 people. Millions more watched on TV worldwide.

Then propelled by its high-profile presence at Starbucks outlets in the U.S., the album hit the States in mid-March amidst a media blitz that included Morrison’s first national TV appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live and an acoustic performance on the Today show. Undiscovered (on Interscope Records) debuted on Billboard’s Top 200 Album Chart at #24, and to date has sold just under 100,000 copies. And currently (July), Morrison has returned to the U.S. to headline a show at the Paradise Rock Club in Boston, before embarking on a three-week East Coast tour opening for John Mayer.

“I grew up listening to and loving so much American music, artists like Otis Redding and Al Green,” he says, “songs where the singer would sing with real soul like they really believed what they were singing about. So while my music may have an English quality because I was born in Rugby (Warwickshire, England), I think over time it will connect bigger with American audiences. The U.S. is a big country for any foreign artist to conquer, but I like working my arse off for stuff rather than having things handed to me. The main thing is that like those artists I most admire, including guys like Cat Stevens and Van Morrison, I try to be honest in my singing. I wanted to write songs that would get to people, that have a pop element instead of being dreary. If I sing with passion and hope, people will pick up on it and like it. They’ll hear the real emotion in my music.”

Signed by Polydor in March 2005, Morrison hooked up with a handful of top producers who have been responsible for other major hit albums of the past two years. Martin Terefe produced K.T. Tunstall’s Eye To the Telescope, Jimmy Hogarth helmed James Blunt’s Back To Bedlam and Corinne Bailey Rae’s self titled debut, and Steve Robson’s credits include Tina Turner and LeAnn Rimes. Hogarth and Robson co-wrote several songs apiece with the singer. Morrison was particularly fond of Terefe, who he says helped bring out his best as both a singer and songwriter.

“I met a lot of writers and producers through the label, and I tended to stick with the ones I liked,” says Morrison. “Martin knows how to make real music, with sort of that underground vibe, and I was a fan of the album he did with K.T. He came in with the attitude of, let’s make the record you really need to make. Usually, my best songwriting comes when I’m in a certain mood, and I take that mood and try to capture it in a song. I usually start off with my guitar and hum a tune to it, try to work out something palatable, and then the lyrics will come. With ‘This Boy’ and ‘Wonderful World,’ the lyrics and music hit me at the same time. Sometimes I expressly try to stay away from relationships, but I was in one when I wrote some of these tunes, so ‘You Give Me Something’ and ‘The Pieces Don’t Fit Anymore’ c0too early and I wasn’t confident enough in myself as a songwriter. I preferred to go off and hone my craft, so I went away for a year and lived on the government dole for a while, got a new manager and lived this crazy life where I stayed in London during the week and Darby on the weekends. Later, when the calls started coming from companies like EMI and Virgin, I felt I had five good songs to come in with.”

With the success of Undiscovered, the singer (who turns 23 in August) has performed before thousands in some of the world’s biggest stadiums and arenas. But he still fondly recalls the days in his mid-teens, when he was busking (street-performing) in the Cornwall village of Porth, singing his heart out on cover tunes for anyone passing by who would stop to listen.

“The funny thing now is that, while I get to do my own songs, I play the same as I did back then,” Morrison says, “singing with my heart on my sleeve and putting everything I have into the performance. In a way, busking is more rewarding because you do that knowing not everyone is going to like it and people from all walks of life are stopping to listen, rather than fans of a particular artist I may be playing with.

“I consider myself very lucky,” he adds, “although I truly believe that luck is about being prepared for an opportunity, and then you have to work very hard to succeed from that point. Even if people say you have talent, it’s still a very hard road. The main thing I say to people who are struggling the same way I did is that they have to believe in what they’re doing and not do it for any other reason than it makes them happy. My favorite part of all this is knowing I’m still that normal little kid from Rugby, born in a sh*t town with no prospects. But now I get to do what I love for a living, without acting like a pop star. I can travel the world but still be myself and retain some measure of dignity.”

Hilary Duff

Pop Star Hilary Duff Talks About The Making Of Her Album Dignity, And Her Songwriting

By Jonathan Widran

Hilary Duff

Since reaching teen stardom as the self-conscious title character on the popular Disney Channel series Lizzie McGuire in 2001, Hilary Duff has become a true multi-media pop figure. She is now well known as a popular TV and movie actress, plus she has also scored multiple hits as a singer & songwriter. Her latest album, Dignity, which features a more sophisticated, electronic/pop sound, was released April 3 on Hollywood RecorD she launched her own clothing line, Stuff By Hilary Duff, which was distributed by Target stores in the U.S. The line was re-launched in 2006 for Duff's debut fragrance With Love…Hilary Duff by Elizabeth Arden. It was one of the three best-selling fragrances launched at U.S. department stores in late 2006.

Describing Dignity’s sound as “a little less pop rock and more electronic-sounding,” Duff has more of a say than ever before as a songwriter, penning all but one song (“Outside Of You”) with longtime collaborator/producer Kara DioGuardi and other writer/producers, including Rhett Lawrence, Tim & Bob and Richard “Humpty” Vission, as well as will.i.am from the Black Eyed Peas.

Released as something of a “teaser” months before the album was finished, Dignity’s first single “Play with Fire” became a minor club hit; its follow-up, “With Love,” was released in early 2007 hit #24 on Billboard’s Hot 100. In a cross-promotional strategic move, the music video for “With Love” doubled as the TV commercial for Duff’s fragrance.

Duff says, “There’s something really exciting about having this new record be so personal, really writing and actually living it based on so many unique life experiences I’ve had. Those people who listen will learn so much about me and where I am in my life right now. It’s a really honest record and shows a new side of me that I’ve never shared before…I can’t wait to get out there and get back into touring again after taking some time off. I’m looking forward to really being myself and having people understand that there’s more to me than just being a nice normal girl. I am nice, but there’s stuff behind that as well, and I’m sharing it because I think they’ll relate to me and understand.”

After taking some time off from music to make a handful of movies over the past few years - including the upcoming War, Inc. with John Cusack - the process of writing the songs for Dignity found the 19-year-old singer reflecting on her life and rediscovering the passion to express herself again. “Dignity is a strong title,” she says, “and my mom has always tried to instill it as a value both in me and (my sister) Haylie. It’s not something you’re just given or get easily, but something you have to work on and that I always hope to strive for. We decided to release ‘Play With Fire’ well in advance to give listeners a chance to get into my new sound, which matches the whole dance/electronic rock sounding vibe.

“I wanted to work on some movies because as much as I love the road, its very exhausting and I needed a break for a while,” she adds. “I needed the break to find my passion again, and I got back into writing easily by just looking back on the last years of my life. I’m able to write what I feel, whether it’s good or bad, and open that part of myself up. It’s really exciting finding out I can do it. It’s easy and exhilarating, so freeing to look inside yourself and feelings you’ve held onto for a long time. I was glad I took the break to make the movie with John (Cusack), because when I got back into the studio, I had a lot more experiences to write about. A lot of Dignity is serious, but some is tongue and cheeky. It’s so my personality, so me and everything I am thinking about.”

Other New Projects

In addition to her film, music and fashion careers, Duff is involved with several charities, is an animal rights enthusiast, a member of Kids With A Cause and donated $250,000 to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. In 2005 she donated more than 2.5 million meals to Hurricane Katrina victims in the south. In late August 2006, she traveled to a New Orleans elementary school and worked with USA Harvest to distribute meals.

“I was thinking recently about where I am now in my life, and how comfortable I feel about myself,” she says. “I’m a long way from where I started, when I was so nervous just doing my very first video and having no idea if the music career was going to work out. I’ve had so many wonderful experiences since then that have helped me grow. Everything is a natural progression. It’s funny when I look back and see silly things I used to do, facial expressions and dance moves I used to make. I’m sure I’ll look back on today in ten years and not believe I could wear what I’m wearing now! One of the songs on Dignity is ‘Happy,’ and that says it all — I’m happy now, and really lucky to be in a good place in my life. I work hard but I also have a nice life outside of my work and a great family that has helped me stay grounded along the way.”

Kaci Brown

Rising Teen Star Kaci Brown Talks About Her Debut Album, Instigator, on Interscope Records

By Dale Kawashima

KACI BROWN     (photo by Ari Michaelson)

2005 has been a breakthrough year for rising singer/songwriter Kaci Brown, who is only 17. She signed with hot label Interscope Records in January, and she wrote or co-wrote almost all of the songs for her debut album Instigator (which was released this August). In addition, her first single “Unbelievable” was a Radio Disney hit (hitting #1 on their video chart), and she was the opening act for the Backstreet Boys during their recent U.S. and Canadian tour.

Brown is emerging as an attractive, teen pop star who has a marketable, radio-friendly style. However, with her impressive vocals, songwriting ability and musicianship (she plays piano and guitar), plus her plans to get into acting and build a music publishing company, it’s clear that Brown is building a successful, multi-faceted career for the long run.

In a new interview, Brown talked about her young career path, from being a 10-year-old who won the title of Little Miss Texas Grand Talent, to moving to Nashville and singing country, to her current status as a rising pop artist. She also discussed how she met writer/producer Toby Gad, and how he helped define her pop music direction and co-wrote songs with her.

Brown grew up in the small town of Sulphur Springs, TX, and she sang at church, in school and in beauty pageants. “I entered pageants mainly for the talent contests,” explained Brown. “Winning the Miss Texas award helped me get opportunities to open for bands throughout Texas.” She subsequently began performing every weekend at oprys and venues across the state.

Her mother started calling music publishers in Nashville to find original material for her, which led to Brown traveling to Nashville to record a six-song country demo. Soon after, Brown and her family moved to Nashville, and when she was 13, she landed a publishing deal with Barbara Orbison’s Still Working Music. She then collaborated with several top, country songwriters, including Tommy Lee James (who’s written hits for Brooks & Dunn, Lonestar and others).

However, when she eventually shopped for a label deal as a country artist, Nashville A&R execs told her that her voice sounded too pop. So Brown took some time off, and began writing songs by herself, and focusing more on pop music. It was in 2003 that she had a breakthrough, when she met New York-based writer/producer Toby Gad (who has written and/or produced songs for Will Smith, Ricky Martin, Jaci Velasquez, Willa Ford and the Veronicas), who was in Nashville working on some other projects.

“I had a chance to write with Toby, which quickly turned out to be a great experience,” recalled Brown. “It was fun and exciting to write with Toby. I knew I could write country songs, which are much more structured. But writing pop with Toby is more flexible and free-form – anything goes. We wrote a new song in one day, and the next morning Toby called to say he had already built the (demo) track. The track was amazing – it was incredible for him to record such an excellent demo overnight. I then recorded the vocals and the demo came out great. So I decided to definitely pursue a pop direction, and work with Toby.”

Brown spent much of 2004 writing and recording songs with Gad. With input from her manager David Sonenberg (who also manages the Black Eyed Peas and other top acts), she decided to record a full, 11-song CD, and then shop for a label deal. She met and auditioned with labels during Fall 2004, and ultimately decided to sign with (CEO) Jimmy Iovine at Interscope Records.

Her debut CD Instigator features an eclectic variety of pop-related styles, such as the pop-rock single “Unbelievable,” the reggae-influenced “Cadillac Hotel,” the dance/pop “You Fool,” the ballad “Make You Love Me” and the R&B/hip-hop title track. “I love all these different, musical styles on the album,” said Brown. “I like the fact that my second album could go into several directions, because my (first) album is so eclectic and varied.”

With the recent release of Instigator, Brown has been busy touring in support of the CD. She is currently on The First Look Tour (with young artists Fatty Koo and Marcos Hernandez), performing to teenage audiences in malls, high schools and middle schools. And this past summer, she was the opening act for the Backstreet Boys on their U.S. and Canadian tour. “I had a great time opening for the Backstreet Boys,” said Brown. “On the last show of the tour in Montreal, A.J. (McLean) brought me my guitar onstage. I was supposed to sing a sad song, but I was just smiling – I got a standing ovation.”

In addition to promoting her CD (which may include concert tours in Europe and Asia), Brown is also focused on other career goals. She is pursuing acting roles (she’s met with several directors), plus she plans on producing other music artists, and launching a publishing company. Brown not only retains her own publishing rights now, but she wants to sign new writers to her publishing company, and help develop them.

Rihanna Tells How She Got Started, Getting Her Label Deal, And Her First Album

Special Interview (2005): Rihanna Tells How She Got Started, Getting Her Label Deal, And Her First Album

By Dale Kawashima

Rihanna

It was just 18 months ago (in Feb. 2004) that new hit sensation, Rihanna, was an unknown schoolgirl in St. Michael, Barbados. At that time, winning her high school’s beauty/talent competition was a big achievement. Now in late summer of 2005, Rihanna is the hottest, new female artist on the charts, with her reggae/dancehall worldwide hit,  “Pon De Replay.” This single peaked recently at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100, and only Mariah Carey’s longstanding hit “We Belong Together” kept it from reaching #1.

Still just 17, Rihanna has seen her music career skyrocket in the past year. In a short period, she was (1) discovered in Barbados by the hit, writing/producing team of Evan Rogers & Carl Sturken; (2) auditioned for Def Jam President/rap superstar Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter and signed with the label; (3) had a smash hit with “Pon De Replay;” and (4) released (on Aug. 30) her debut CD, Music Of The Sun.

In a new interview, Rihanna talked about her amazing, success story. She spoke about her pop and reggae music influences, growing up in Barbados, getting discovered and signing with a label, and writing and recording songs for her first album.

Growing up in her home island of Barbados in the Caribbean, Rihanna started singing around age 7. “I loved listening to Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Beyonce and other great singers,” she recalled. “I would sing in the shower, and neighbors complained that I was too loud! I also loved reggae music. When I was little, my mom used to run a reggae club, and I got to hear a lot of great music and artists. Some of my favorite reggae artists are Sizzla, Spice Cartel, Bob Marley and Damian Marley.”

Rihanna with Jay-Z.

Rihanna also developed her songwriting skills early on. “I began writing poetry first, and I would save my poems. Then later on, I began writing lyrics.” Rihanna co-wrote many of the songs on Music Of The Sun, mostly collaborating with her producers, Evan Rogers & Carl Sturken (who have co-written and/or produced hits for Christina Aguilera, Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard and *NSYNC).

It was in early 2004 that Rogers first heard about Rihanna during a vacation trip to Barbados (his wife Jackie is from Barbados). “A friend of mine knew Evan and Jackie,” she explained. “We got together and I sang for him, and he was impressed. Evan invited me to record and write with him and Carl (Sturken) at their studio in New York. I then traveled to New York whenever I could. It did take a year for me to record all the demos, because I was going to school, and I could only record during summer and Christmas school breaks.”

Rihanna worked with Rogers & Sturken to complete a four-song demo CD, which included “Pon De Replay,” the ballad “Last Time,” and a cover of Whitney Houston’s hit, “For The Love Of You.” This demo CD impressed Def Jam President Jay-Z, and he invited her to audition for him at Def Jam’s office in New York City.

“I was in the lobby shaking!” remembered Rihanna, right before her audition (which was held in Feb. 2005). “I saw just a little bit of Jay’s face down the hall and I was just like, ‘Oh My God!’ I had never met a celebrity, and to meet a celebrity who’s also the president of the label, that was crazy!”

Rihanna performed in front of Jay-Z, and Def Jam CEO Antonio “L.A.” Reid. The audition went so well, that the Def Jam execs immediately (that same day) signed her to a recording contract. Rihanna recalled, “We were there until 4:30 in the morning closing the deal. Every time I signed my name (in the contract) I was just smiling.”

After signing with Def Jam, Rihanna (with Rogers & Sturken) spent the next three months recording and completing Music Of The Sun. Everyone involved was pleased with how the album turned out. “We agreed that there were several songs which could be the first single,” she said. “But ‘Pon De Replay’ was selected, because it seemed liked the song that would be best suited for a summer release.”

Now that “Pon De Replay” has become a worldwide hit, Rihanna is ready to build upon her breakthrough success. Another strong song on the album, “It’s Lovin’ That You Want,” has just been released as the follow-up single.

“It’s such an incredible feeling to have this hit success – I’m so excited,” said Rihanna. “During the next few months, I will be doing promo tours, and then jumping on a few concert tours. I would also love to get into acting and movies, but right now I am concentrating on my music.”

Natalie Grant

Christian/Pop Star Natalie Grant Talks About Her Album, Awaken, and Her Autobiographical Book

By Dale Kawashima

Natalie Grant

During the past few years, acclaimed singer & songwriter Natalie Grant has emerged as one of the top artists in Christian Contemporary Music (CCM). She has been nominated three times for Female Vocalist Of The Year at the Dove Awards. In addition, this Curb recording artist is becoming established on the mainstream pop and AC charts. Grant is attracting a wide audience, with her strong, passionate vocals, and her songs about faith, hope and love, which are presented via her fresh, dynamic arrangements and production.

Her latest album, Awaken (which was released in March) is already a success, including two #1 CCM hits, “Held” and “Live For Today.” “Held” is about to be promoted onto mainstream pop and AC formats, and it should fare at least as well as Grant’s Top 20 AC hit in 2003, “No Sign Of It” (which was featured in the movie A View From The Top, starring Gwynneth Paltrow).

In a new interview, Grant talked in-depth about her new album, and about her recent experiences, which inspired and influenced many of the songs on the album. “I was starting to write for the album, and I didn’t want to just write songs from a commercial perspective;” explained Grant. “I wanted to write songs that would stand the test of time. I also realized that when you dissect what your faith is, it’s not just about singing happy songs. It’s about loving your neighbor, serving others, and giving your life away (to help other people).”

“One evening (in early 2004), I happened to watch an episode of Law And Order, and the subject was human trafficking,” said Grant. “It was about the sexual exploitation of kids who were only 8-10 years old. I was deeply moved by this issue, so I researched it online. I was horrified to learn that each year more than 600,000 people are sold and abused worldwide, with at least 14,000 shipped to America. On the internet, I did find an organization named Shared Hope International, which was devoted to rescuing children from prostitution, and giving them a home and an education. I decided to call up this organization, and asked how I could help.”

Grant’s discussions with Shared Hope International led to her (and her husband Bernie Herms) taking a trip to Bombay, India in July 2004. “I went to a red-light district in Bombay, and I couldn’t believe what I was seeing,” recalled Grant. “I saw brothels on every corner, kids selling their bodies. I saw a six-year-old girl in a cage. That day I said I would fight this thing. Soon after, I started the Home Foundation, for the purpose of raising money for the mission that’s in Bombay, called Bombay Teen Challenge.”

Several songs on Grant’s new album were inspired by this experience. She co-wrote (with Trina Harmon) a song called “Home,” which is her musical response to the plight of the children in India. “It’s a song that’s based around this issue, but it’s also a song for everybody, no matter who you are or what your story is. There’s also a song called ‘What Are You Waiting For’ (written by Bridget Benenate, Steve Booker & Matthew Gerrard), and the lyric perfectly reflected how I was feeling.”

Another key song on Awaken is “Bring It All Together,” which is a duet between Grant and country star Wynonna Judd. “I saw Wynonna performing at Ryman Auditorium (in Nashville), and she was great live. I loved the vibe and feeling of her show. With her whole story of how she was raised [and her success today], she’s a living example that God does great things.”

Grant is now writing a larger percentage of songs for her albums, but she definitely will still record songs by other writers. “I plan on writing more, but I don’t want to have to write everything,” she explained.” “I do feel passionate about recording my own songs. If I write a song I feel a close connection to it, and I can convey that connection to my audience live. I often write songs from notes in my journal and diary. I actually do most of my writing on airplanes - it’s quiet on the plane and it’s easy to focus.”

In addition to promoting Awaken and touring steadily, Grant is also looking forward to the release of two other, key projects. She just finished recording a Christmas album, which will be released this October. Grant also has completed writing her first book, which is called The Real Me: Becoming The Girl God Sees (W Publishing/Transit). “In the book, I write about my struggle with self-image – I had an eating disorder (bulimia) when I was young. It’s a very honest book, about my struggles with self-esteem.”

Cascada

Special Interview (2007): Dance/Pop Star Cascada Talks About How She Got Started, And Her First Hit Single

By Dale Kawashima

Cascada

It was just two years ago that new dance/pop star Cascada (who was born with the name Natalie Horler) was a little known, pro session singer based in Bonn, Germany. She would sing on tracks produced by various local DJs, but she wasn’t established as an artist or performer. However, in 2004 she began working with the writing/producing team of Yann Peifer & “DJ Manian” Reuter, and soon after recorded her vocals on songs which would become hit singles under her new artist name, Cascada (which means “waterfall” in Italian). And now, Cascada is enjoying worldwide success with her smash single, “Everytime We Touch,” on Robbins Entertainment Records.

“Everytime We Touch” is one of those special, dance/pop hits which just keeps building in momentum and popularity. It features a propulsive, high-energy dance track, with a clear, strong vocal performance by Cascada, and a super-hooky melody and chorus. This song is actually a remake of a midtempo European hit from the early ‘90s, which was originally performed and co-written by Maggie Reilly. Cascada’s “Everytime We Touch” is currently in the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart, and reached #1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Radio Airplay chart.

In a new interview, Cascada talked about her sudden rise to fame as a result of “Everytime We Touch.” She also discussed how she got into the music business, and how she clicked with writer/producers Peifer & Reuter and eventually recorded her debut album, which is also titled Everytime We Touch and was just released (Feb. 2006).

Cascada was born and raised in Bonn, Germany, although she is of English descent. Her parents were both from England, and thus she became fluent in both English and German. She was exposed to music early on, since her father was a jazz musician who had a recording studio in their home. “When I was very young, I would often do recordings in my father’s studio, and we’d do jazz and Disney songs,” she recalled. “I knew at a very early age that I wanted to be a singer – I love singing all styles of music, whether it be pop, dance, jazz, R&B or gospel. In addition to singing, I also took different kinds of dancing lessons, like step dance, jazz dance, hip-hop and street dance. And I’ve done some acting, mostly in plays as a teenager.”

It was at age 17 that Cascada started pursuing a pro music career, doing session work as a vocalist. “I would do sessions and people started to recommend me,” she explained. “Then I started doing studio gigs for Yann (Peifer) and Manian (Reuter). One of the songs I sang was called ‘Miracle,’ and it became a club hit in Germany. Because of this success, Yann and Manian said we should put together a live show. They asked me if I wanted to go on tour as Cascada, and I said, ‘yeah, let’s do it.’ Then another song we recorded became a hit, called ‘Bad Boy’.”

The success of “Miracle” and “Bad Boy” in Germany caught the attention of Robbins Entertainment, an established American label which has broken in the U.S. such European club and rhythmic acts as DJ Sammy, Lasgo, Ian Van Dahl and Narcotic Thrust. Robbins decided to release “Miracle” in the U.S. in November 2004, and it received some radio airplay and club play. However, it was the release of “Everytime We Touch” in the fall of 2005 which led to Cascada’s breakthrough in the U.S. The single has also become a hit in several European countries (including Germany and Austria), plus other countries overseas.

The huge success of “Everytime We Touch” has led to the recording and release of Cascada’s debut album, which includes 14 cuts. Most of the songs were written by Peifer & Reuter, but the CD also includes appealing, cover versions of Savage Garden’s “Truly Madly Deeply” and Kim Wilde’s new wave classic, “Kids In America.” Another highlight is the pop ballad “Another You,” which impressively demonstrates that Cascada can sing romantic ballads as skillfully as she sings high-speed, dance tunes.

Now with the release of her album, Cascada is busy touring and doing promotion. She is performing shows in the U.S., Germany, Austria and Ireland. “It’s exciting having the hit with ‘Everytime We Touch,’ and being able to perform in front of large audiences who know our music,” said Cascada. “I used to be a bit shy as a performer, but now I really feel at home onstage. The shows are high energy with a lot of dancing, and everyone has a good time.”

Jesse McCartney

Pop Star Jesse McCartney Talks About His Album Right Where You Want Me, And His Songwriting

By Dale Kawashima

Jesse McCartney

Still a teenager, 19-year-old singer/songwriter & actor Jesse McCartney has already accomplished much in his young career. By age 10, he was performing on Broadway in The King And I and soon after with The Who’s Roger Daltrey in A Christmas Carol. At age 12 he joined the boy-band Dream Street, whose 2001 album (on Atlantic Records) was certified platinum. Then at 17, McCartney released his first solo album Beautiful Soul (on Hollywood Records), which established him as a pop music star in the U.S. and in several countries overseas.

Now McCartney has just released his follow-up album, Right Where You Want Me. The first single, also titled “Right Where You Want Me,” has just been released and it's off to a strong start at pop radio. McCartney appears ready to build upon his success, appealing to his large fan base (teenage and pre-teen) while also attracting a wider audience, with his fresh mix of pop, rock and R&B styles.

In a new interview, McCartney talked about the making of his new album, and how he took a more active, songwriting role for the project. In fact, he co-wrote every song on the album except one, collaborating with his musical director Dory Lobel, and with such renowned hitmakers as Kara DioGuardi, John Shanks, E-Man, and the team of Adam Watts & Andy Dodd, who wrote McCartney’s hit, “Beautiful Soul.” He spoke in-depth about his songwriting, and that his expertise is in creating melodies and lyrics. In addition, McCartney took time to discuss his acting career, particularly his role in the new indie film Keith, which will be released in spring 2007.

During most of 2005 and 2006, McCartney was on the road with his band, in support of his Beautiful Soul album. He utilized his spare time to write many new songs. “On the road there’s nothing to do, so I spent a lot of time writing,” explained McCartney. “My musical director Dory Lobel and I set up a mini-studio on the road with ProTools. We set up our studio gear on our bus and in our hotel rooms. We wrote about 15-20 songs on the road, and we had a lot of fun writing. The creative part (of the music business) is the most fun. We would write the melody parts, lyrics, and come up with sampled bits. Dory is great to work with, and he’s an amazing guitar player.”

After McCartney concluded his tour, he and Lobel began completing their songs with several hit writers & producers in Los Angeles. “Once we were off the road, we would collaborate with other writers,” said McCartney. “We would finish certain songs that we started on the road, and we would also write new songs. Dory and I wrote a couple songs with Kara DioGuardi which were mostly finished. Kara is magical. She would sit down for an hour and ask us, ‘Why is that in there (in the song)?’ She’s just on point and knows songs so well.”

Jesse McCartney

“We also worked with (Grammy-winning producer) John Shanks. The two songs we wrote together are called ‘Can’t Let You Go’ and ‘Blow Your Mind.’ John produced two songs and Greg Wells (Hanson, Natasha Bedingfield) produced two songs. Eman (writer/producer of Nick Lachey’s hit “What’s Left Of Me”) produced a song. And I did several songs with Adam Watts & Andy Dodd, who wrote ‘Beautiful Soul.’ I learned so much about production from working with these guys. Someday I’d like to do more production – I’m getting pretty good at ProTools.”

McCartney also elaborated on his own songwriting process. “I’m a big melody and lyric guy,” he said. “I travel with a pen and pad, and I’ll jot down lyric ideas. I also love writing melodies. Dory and I would come up with the melodies, and then we’d find the right chords to go with it. The goal with Right There Were You Want Me was to make a fun, melodic album.”

In addition, McCartney did write certain songs on the album which were more serious, particularly the song “Invincible.” “There’s a very personal track called ‘Invincible.’ It’s a really heavy song about a buddy of mine who died in a drinking and driving accident three years ago. I felt like I had to put that on the record because it contains such an important message for kids my age, which is to think before they drink and drive. It’s so powerful that they’ll have to listen.” The recording of “Invincible” features a sparse vocal by McCartney, accompanied by a 15-piece orchestra.

With his album now completed, McCartney is currently doing promotion and press, and he will headlining a concert tour in the fall. “I’m very excited about the new album and going back on tour. I’m also excited about a movie project that I acted in, called Keith. It has already been shown at the Cannes Film Festival - it’s a deep and powerful film. I wasn’t planning on writing a song for the film, but we did end up writing a song called “We Can Go Anywhere”, which is played over the end credits. This song is also included on the new album.”

Lastly, when asked what advice he would give to young artists and songwriters who are tying to break into the business, he said, “Well, I don’t often give advice. But I would say that to keep trying, to have a lot of perseverance when it comes to your music. You never know what’s going to hit - music is so subjective. Just keep writing and eventually something will hit. Don’t let the rejections get to you and stick with it. It just takes time.”

When asked if singers should get into acting or vice versa, he said, “I don’t necessarily agree with the thought that if you’re a musician you need to act, or if you’re an actor you need to sing. Maybe acting is for you and maybe it’s not. Do what you want to do. To entertain is to entertain.” 

SPECIAL FEATURE: STREAMING VIDEO		Click Here To Watch On YouTube
Watch the video of Jesse McCartney's single, "Right Where You Want Me."

JoJo Discusses

Singer/Actress JoJo Discusses Her Album The High Road, and Hit Single “Too Little Too Late”

By Dale Kawashima

JoJo

Singing & acting star JoJo is still just 15, but she has already accomplished much in her young career. At age 12 she released her debut album JoJo, which went platinum and contained the hits “Leave (Get Out)” and “Baby It’s You.” Then she starred in two major movies, Aquamarine and RV. And now JoJo has another big hit on the charts with “Too Little Too Late,” and she’s about to release her second album, The High Road, on Blackground/Universal Records.

JoJo (born Joanna Levesque) seems to epitomize the new generation of teen pop star, who can smoothly transition from music to films and then back to music, while legitimately demonstrating her skills in both fields. She is setting the bar high for other talented young performers, who know that success in one field may open the door for success in another.

But right now with JoJo, she is focused on just one thing – her music career. She is holding off on acting roles, to promote her new album and then tour. In a new interview, JoJo talked about the making of The High Road, and how she worked with such top songwriters & producers as Billy Steinberg, Scott Storch, Jermaine Dupri, Diane Warren, Soulshock & Karlin, and Timbaland. She discussed how she recorded over 30 songs for the album, before deciding on the 12 songs which made the CD. Notably, JoJo also co-wrote or wrote two of the songs for The High Road (writing “I Can Take You There” by herself), and she said she looks forward to writing a greater number of songs on future albums.

“It’s been three years since my last album,” said JoJo. “I recorded my first album when I was 12, and now I’m 15. From age 12 to age 15 is a big jump in a young girl’s life. I think with the new album, you can hear the maturity and confidence in my vocals. I’m coming into myself and being more comfortable. All of the songs on the album came out well - the music style is mostly urban like the my first album, but there are some rock elements too.”

JoJo began working on the new album in August 2005. “I had finished promoting my first album, then I went to Australia to film Aquamarine,” she recalled. “It was a busy time – while I was in Australia, I auditioned via satellite for RV. When I finished with Aquamarine, I came home and started working on the new album. It was mainly recorded in New York, Miami and L.A. We recorded over 30 songs with a lot of different people.”

When asked if she thought it was necessary to record that many songs, she said, “I feel that doing 30 songs was fine for the album. Some people would say that’s too many to do, and it’s costly to record that many songs. But Chris Brown recorded 50 songs for his album, and then he whittled it down and made a great record. When you record a lot of songs, you come up with different styles and ideas.”

Certainly a key song on the album is the hit single “Too Little Too Late,” which has already reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It was written by the team of Billy Steinberg & Josh Alexander, who are based in Los Angeles. Steinberg is renowned for co-writing such classics as “Like A Virgin,” “True Colors” and “Eternal Flame.” “Too Little Too Late” was produced by Steinberg, Alexander and Vincent Herbert, who is the album’s executive producer, and he is also the exec who signed JoJo to her label deal.

“I loved ‘Too Little Too Late’ from the moment I heard it,” said JoJo. “People can identify with the lyric. Many of my friends have told me how much they relate to the lyric story (about a girl who breaks up with her boyfriend, knowing that his last-minute pleas to get back together are too little and too late). I also love the guitar in the song."

JoJo also co-wrote a song with Steinberg & Alexander called “How To Touch A Girl,” which is one of her favorites on the album. “I was in Los Angeles, and we went to Josh Alexander’s apartment to write. They already had this song title. At first I thought ‘How To Touch A Girl’ seemed a bit too provocative a title. But the lyric we wrote is actually about how to treat a girl, how to touch a girl’s heart.”

In addition, JoJo worked with several other, very notable writers. ‘I was very excited to get together with Diane Warren,” she said. “I love Diane – she’s one of my favorite people. We recorded four or five songs together, two of which made the album, ‘Exceptional’ and ‘Note To God.’ She’s so cool.”

JoJo also reunited in the studio with the writing/producing duo, Soulshock & Karlin, who had written her previous hit, “Leave (Get Out).” Soulshock & Karlin are known for creating hits for Whitney Houston and Monica, and they wrote & produced two songs for JoJo’s album, “Coming For You” and “Good Ol’.” JoJo also recorded songs with top writer/producers Scott Storch, Jermaine Dupri, Timbaland and Ryan Leslie.

With her album The High Road set for release on October 17, JoJo is definitely focused on promoting her album now. However, she does plan on acting in more films later on. “Right now with my album coming out, my heart is in my music,” she affirmed. “I want to focus on my album, on promotion and touring, and not think of movies yet. I’m going to wait a year to do another movie. I will say that I have been reading some awesome scripts, but I haven’t signed on to do another film yet.”

Lastly, when asked what advice she would give to young singers and actors who are trying to make it, and whether they should do both singing and acting, she said: “I do think if you have success in one field that you can parlay it into the other field. But it should be organic. If you can’t sing but are a great actor, that you shouldn’t do both. Your heart should be in whatever you’re doing, whether it be singing or acting, or doing both. For singers who are trying to make it, sing for anyone who will listen and try not to be shy. You never know which person might know somebody who can help your career. Sing for anyone, because if you’re good, word will get around.”

Josh Groban

Pop/Classical Star Josh Groban Talks About His Songwriting and Collaborators For His Album, Awake

By Dale Kawashima

Josh Groban

Although he just turned 25 this year, Josh Groban has already established himself as one of the world’s most popular, pop & classical artists. This Los Angeles-based singer/writer has previously released two acclaimed, multi-platinum studio albums, Josh Groban and Closer, plus a best-selling live album, Josh Groban In Concert. And now he has returned with his third studio album, the 13-song Awake (on 143/Reprise Records), which includes his hit AC single, “You Are Loved (Don’t Give Up)”.

Awake finds the baritone Groban in excellent vocal form, and the album features his usual combination of stately pop ballads and classical songs sung in Italian and Spanish. However, the album also marks the continued growth of Groban as a songwriter (he co-wrote four of the songs), and Awake branches out into other musical genres, including subtle forays into world music, jazz/funk, and electronica.

In a recent interview, Groban discussed the making of his new album, and how he consciously pursued a wider range of music styles. He also spoke about his songwriting collaborations with Dave Matthews, John Ondrasik of Five For Fighting, and British singer/songwriter Imogen Heap. In addition, Groban mentioned how much he enjoyed working with such diverse musical artists as Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Herbie Hancock, and electronica producer Guy Sigworth.

Groban felt confident and excited about exploring new musical territory for Awake. This is because when he performed on tour, he realized his fans were open to hearing different styles from him. “It was a real eye-opening experience for me,” he said, “because you get an immediate reaction from people. You get to see firsthand who’s buying tickets and who’s buying your album. There were people of all ages in the crowd. So I thought to myself, ‘Cool, I’ve got my peers here.’ And I learned from the tour that my fans are really open-minded, musical, intelligent people who would like to come on this journey with me. So on Awake, I made it my responsibility to take them there gracefully.”

“The goal was to put music on the new album that was stylistically different from a lot of things that I’ve done,” he explained. “I think sometimes people see me singing in front of an orchestra and think, ‘Oh, he’s the PBS guy.’ So I just decided to have fun. There are some songs that the diehard fans from my first PBS special are going to hear and think, ‘We miss the old thing.’ But that’s fine, because I think we’ll have twice as many people saying, ‘We really like the new thing’.”

Josh Groban

Two new songs on the album which reflect Groban’s fresh approach are the ballads “Lullaby” (which he co-wrote with rocker Dave Matthews) and “Weeping,” a song he discovered during a trip to Soweto, South Africa. Both songs feature backing vocals by the renowned South African group, Ladysmith Black Mambazo. “Ever since I heard Paul Simon’s Graceland, it was a dream of mine to sing with Ladysmith in the studio,” he said.

Perhaps the most adventurous musical exploration on the album, is the jazz/funk groove song “Machine,” which Groban wrote with French world music composer Eric Mouquet and Dave Bassett. The recording features stellar keyboards by jazz icon Herbie Hancock, plus crisp horn tracks by the famed Tower Of Power horn section. “Herbie was so cool,” recalled Groban. “He drove up in his red Ferrari, laid down his solo in two hours, blew everyone away, and left in pure legend style.”

In addition to these songs, there are several other standout cuts on Awake. The album’s first single “You Are Loved (Don’t Give Up)” is an obvious highlight. This soaring pop ballad was written & produced by Canadian Thomas “Tawgs” Salter, who is a frequent collaborator of Grammy-winning writer/producer Walter Afanasieff. Afanasieff played piano on this cut. Another key song is the moving, midtempo “February Song,” which Groban wrote with Five For Fighting’s John Ondrasik and British producer Marius DeVries. And “Un Giorno Per Ner Noi” is a beautiful adaptation of the classic 1968 movie theme, “A Time For Us (Romeo and Juliet Love Theme)”.

Overall, Awake is an impressive album which will appeal to Groban’s large, international fan base, and should attract new listeners. “The album still sounds like me,” said Groban. “It still sounds like it’s coming from my heart, and my soul, and my voice most of all. I didn’t want it to sound like I’m trying to be something I’m not. Because the voice I have is the voice I have. This what I wake up with - it’s how I express myself and it’s not something I ever want to lose. But what I can do is choose songs or styles that are more personal to me.”

Jordan Pruitt

Rising Teen Artist Jordan Pruitt Talks About Her Debut Album, No Ordinary Girl, on Hollywood Records

By Jonathan Widran

Jordan Pruitt

The one cultural phenomenon that both parents and kids looking for the next big thing that’s hip and cool can agree on, Radio Disney is the place where musical dreams come true and a powerful source of young teen music in America. Hollywood Records, which is owned by the Walt Disney Company, has filled its roster these past few years with some of the most exciting artists in the teen pop genre. The label’s latest budding star, who is currently receiving airplay at Radio Disney and on pop radio, is 15-year-old singer/songwriter Jordan Pruitt. Pruitt is the most recent addition to a growing Disney-bred lineup that includes Raven Symone, Hilary Duff, The Cheetah Girls, Aly & AJ, plus Corbin Bleu and Vanessa Hudgens from High School Musical.

This past year, well in advance of the February 6 release of Pruitt’s debut album No Ordinary Girl, the label created a highly effective awareness campaign around the talented, wise beyond her years artist. Pruitt was on the road for much of 2006 as a featured performer on the Radio Disney Incubator tour, a special guest opening act (singing 3-4 songs) on The Cheetah Girls’ The Party’s Just Begun Tour, and the opening act for the 40- city High School Musical: The Concert tour which ran throughout December and January. She also performed with Aly & AJ at the Disney co-sponsored 2006 Youth Marketing Conference.

Though the official first single release from No Ordinary Girl is “Miss Popularity,” three other songs on the album were heard extensively throughout the past year thanks, to some cross-marketing via the Disney Channel original movies, Read It And Weep (which featured “Outside Looking In”) and Jump In! (“Jump To The Rhythm”). In addition, the film Air Buddies featured Pruitt’s buoyant cover of Sister Sledge’s “We Are Family.” Also impressive was the huge online success of “Outside Looking In,” which garnered over a million plays on Pruitt’s MySpace page.

A co-writer of nearly every track on her album with hit producer Keith Thomas (Nick Lachey, Amy Grant, Jessica Simpson) and Robin Scoffield, Pruitt’s experiences as a regular teen experiencing real life highs and lows shine through the energetic grooves, shimmering ballads and high-gloss production.

“Keith had known and worked with Robin for a long time and he brought her into the sessions the first day we started writing material for the album,” says Pruitt. “We connected right away, and the three of us together made a good team. We wrote every song together in the same room. Sometimes they began with my ideas, or from a melody Keith or Robin came up with, but in general, the idea was to write about stuff that I had gone through or was going through. I think everyone my age can relate to these songs in some way, shape or form. Keith asked me before I started what kind of message I wanted to convey, and I just said I wanted to be a great role model and project a positive message to not only my peers but to everyone. The first song we wrote, the one that turned out to be the title track, says a lot about my values as a person and a teenage girl growing up in America.”

Born in Loganville, Georgia in 1991, Pruitt began singing at age four at the family church, where her dad was a worship and song leader. “I feel like I’ve been singing in front of people my whole life,” she says. “The first song I got up and sang was ‘Jesus Loves Me.’ Believe it or not, I was kind of shy when I was little, but that’s changed. I still get butterflies before I go onstage sometimes, but for the most part, the stage is home for me.” Gaining more confidence, she sang before audiences ranging from a few thousand to the tens of thousands, at well-known venues in her home state such as Centennial Olympic Park, Stone Mountain, Six Flags Over Georgia and The Fox Theatre.

Pruitt showed an amazing talent for songwriting from an early age and her dad helped her make her first rough demo - a handful of worship songs, sung straight from the heart - when she was in fifth grade. Her aunt and uncle, who had been asking her for the recording for the longest time, gave it to their friends from church, who happened to know Keith Thomas’ nephew. When Thomas heard it, he saw loads of potential (“he says he loved the way I popped my voice,” Pruitt recalls) and asked her to come to Nashville for an audition at his studio in Franklin, TN. He signed her to his production company, Levosia Entertainment, and then brought in Scoffield to begin a relentless agenda of songwriting and recording. “It was all so new to me, working from 12 noon to 12 midnight, but it was also so much fun,” says Pruitt, whose family moved along with her to Nashville.

Thomas subsequently shopped the project to a few labels. Hollywood Records offered the best deal, and soon the singer found herself auditioning for The Disney Channel, singing “Outside Looking In.” A day later, Disney executives called and said they wanted to put the song in their original Disney Channel film Read It And Weep. “A few weeks later,” she says, “I was doing my first music video. How cool is that?”

Over the past year, Pruitt has had some wild experiences being the object of fan affection, with kids her own age running after her as she boards the tour bus just for a touch, a smile or an autograph. The attention is surreal, but she reminds herself when she looks out from the stage that everyone singing along is a real person with real feelings. Her faith in God, her family (including a little brother) and manager/producer Thomas are there every step of the way, to keep things real as her star ascends.

“I’m just taking things day by day now, focusing on what’s important and surrounding myself with this amazing team of people who make sure I’ve got a good head on my shoulders no matter what happens,” Pruitt says. “I think the key to finding longevity in the music business for me involves keeping my morals and values, writing songs that touch people and have meaning, and connecting with the fans who make it possible in a personal way. I know it’s bold to say, but I think I’m a pretty classy girl, so I’m never going to show my tummy to sell records.”

“My parents have done a wonderful job raising me,” she adds, “and with everything I do, I want to honor them and of course, God. I also want to keep making music with Keith, who is such an amazing and talented person. He’s the most genuine person I know, and comes up with the sickest melodies! I think we’ll be making records forever.”

Hilary Duff

Pop Star Hilary Duff Talks About The Making Of Her Album Dignity, And Her Songwriting

By Jonathan Widran

Hilary Duff

Since reaching teen stardom as the self-conscious title character on the popular Disney Channel series Lizzie McGuire in 2001, Hilary Duff has become a true multi-media pop figure. She is now well known as a popular TV and movie actress, plus she has also scored multiple hits as a singer & songwriter. Her latest album, Dignity, which features a more sophisticated, electronic/pop sound, was released April 3 on Hollywood Records.

Dignity follows an impressive string of successes on the pop charts and beyond. Duff’s #1 2003 debut album Metamorphosis went triple platinum in the U.S. and sold five million units worldwide. Her platinum second album, Hilary Duff, hit #2 on the Billboard Top 200 in 2004 and racked worldwide sales of over three million, while 2005’s Most Wanted (another #1) hit the two million mark. To date, she has sold over 13 million albums worldwide.

Duff’s most commercially successful films include Cheaper By The Dozen, The Lizzie McGuire Movie, Agent Cody Banks (all in 2003) and 2004’s A Cinderella Story. In early 2004, just as she was wrapping up her three-year run on the TV show and scoring the hit singles “So Yesterday,” “Come Clean” and “Little Voice,” she launched her own clothing line, Stuff By Hilary Duff, which was distributed by Target stores in the U.S. The line was re-launched in 2006 for Duff's debut fragrance With Love…Hilary Duff by Elizabeth Arden. It was one of the three best-selling fragrances launched at U.S. department stores in late 2006.

Describing Dignity’s sound as “a little less pop rock and more electronic-sounding,” Duff has more of a say than ever before as a songwriter, penning all but one song (“Outside Of You”) with longtime collaborator/producer Kara DioGuardi and other writer/producers, including Rhett Lawrence, Tim & Bob and Richard “Humpty” Vission, as well as will.i.am from the Black Eyed Peas.

Released as something of a “teaser” months before the album was finished, Dignity’s first single “Play with Fire” became a minor club hit; its follow-up, “With Love,” was released in early 2007 hit #24 on Billboard’s Hot 100. In a cross-promotional strategic move, the music video for “With Love” doubled as the TV commercial for Duff’s fragrance.

Duff says, “There’s something really exciting about having this new record be so personal, really writing and actually living it based on so many unique life experiences I’ve had. Those people who listen will learn so much about me and where I am in my life right now. It’s a really honest record and shows a new side of me that I’ve never shared before…I can’t wait to get out there and get back into touring again after taking some time off. I’m looking forward to really being myself and having people understand that there’s more to me than just being a nice normal girl. I am nice, but there’s stuff behind that as well, and I’m sharing it because I think they’ll relate to me and understand.”

After taking some time off from music to make a handful of movies over the past few years - including the upcoming War, Inc. with John Cusack - the process of writing the songs for Dignity found the 19-year-old singer reflecting on her life and rediscovering the passion to express herself again. “Dignity is a strong title,” she says, “and my mom has always tried to instill it as a value both in me and (my sister) Haylie. It’s not something you’re just given or get easily, but something you have to work on and that I always hope to strive for. We decided to release ‘Play With Fire’ well in advance to give listeners a chance to get into my new sound, which matches the whole dance/electronic rock sounding vibe.

“I wanted to work on some movies because as much as I love the road, its very exhausting and I needed a break for a while,” she adds. “I needed the break to find my passion again, and I got back into writing easily by just looking back on the last years of my life. I’m able to write what I feel, whether it’s good or bad, and open that part of myself up. It’s really exciting finding out I can do it. It’s easy and exhilarating, so freeing to look inside yourself and feelings you’ve held onto for a long time. I was glad I took the break to make the movie with John (Cusack), because when I got back into the studio, I had a lot more experiences to write about. A lot of Dignity is serious, but some is tongue and cheeky. It’s so my personality, so me and everything I am thinking about.”

Other New Projects

In addition to her film, music and fashion careers, Duff is involved with several charities, is an animal rights enthusiast, a member of Kids With A Cause and donated $250,000 to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. In 2005 she donated more than 2.5 million meals to Hurricane Katrina victims in the south. In late August 2006, she traveled to a New Orleans elementary school and worked with USA Harvest to distribute meals.

“I was thinking recently about where I am now in my life, and how comfortable I feel about myself,” she says. “I’m a long way from where I started, when I was so nervous just doing my very first video and having no idea if the music career was going to work out. I’ve had so many wonderful experiences since then that have helped me grow. Everything is a natural progression. It’s funny when I look back and see silly things I used to do, facial expressions and dance moves I used to make. I’m sure I’ll look back on today in ten years and not believe I could wear what I’m wearing now! One of the songs on Dignity is ‘Happy,’ and that says it all — I’m happy now, and really lucky to be in a good place in my life. I work hard but I also have a nice life outside of my work and a great family that has helped me stay grounded along the way.”

The Cheetah Girls

Disney’s The Cheetah Girls Talk About Their Album, TCG, Plus Their Acting and Concert Tours

By Jonathan Widran

The Cheetah Girls

Since the first airing of their self-titled Disney Channel original movie musical in 2003, the Cheetah Girls have been a multi-media success story and a cornerstone of the Disney film, television and recording universe that has attracted teen and young adult audiences worldwide. The group has sold millions of copies of the soundtracks to the first two Cheetah Girls films and several hundred thousand more of Cheetah-Licious Christmas and the recent live CD In Concert: The Party’s Just Begun Tour. All of this has been the prelude, however, to the trio’s new recording TCG, which their new label Hollywood Records is billing as their official debut studio album.

With the exception of their 2005 holiday venture - which was created to capitalize on the success of the first two films and their best selling soundtracks - TCG marks the first time that Adrienne Bailon (age 23), Sabrina Bryan (23) and Kiely Williams (21) have recorded under their own names rather than their Cheetah Girls characters “Chuchie” (Adrienne), “Dorinda” (Sabrina) and “Aqua” (Kiely). By exploring their personal musical identities apart from their screen personas, the girls look forward to terrific new possibilities of crossover success.

To help them convey a more personal creative vibe and an eclectic range of musical styles - from salsa and hip-hop to electronica, dance-pop and heartfelt ballads - the group vibed in the studio with some of today’s hottest producers. Jonathan “J.R.” Rotem (who has worked with 50 Cent, Rihanna and Ashley Tisdale) utilized a sample of Lionel Richie’s “All Night Long” for “Fuego,” the Latin party anthem the Cheetahs co-wrote that kicks off the album. They also worked with *NSYNC’s JC Chasez, Nephew, Antonina Armato (who produced the first Cheetah Girls soundtrack) and two Australian production teams, the Wizardz of Oz and Dreamlab.

“This is definitely our most personal CD,” says Sabrina, who is originally from Yorba Linda, CA. “The fans knew us as our characters, but this time around they’re going to know us on a personal level and connect with us on a first-name basis.”

Kiely Williams, originally from Alexandria, VA, echoes her fellow Cheetah, adding, “It’s taken us a long time to get to the point where we can truly be ourselves apart from our characters, and TCG completely represents each of our individual tastes and favorite styles of music. This was a great opportunity to finally explore who we are as artists apart from the characters, and even though the four-month recording time is fast by today’s industry standards, it seemed like forever because we couldn’t wait to finish and have the chance to get it out there to the fans. When we listen back now, we’re really proud of what we’ve done.”

Kiely adds that each Cheetah Girl brings a unique musical sensibility to the mix now that they’ve been given more artistic control over their tracks. “I’m probably the most eclectic of us, listening to everything from Pachelbel to Biggie! My left of center personality and outside-the-box outlook on everything makes things different. Adrienne is our Latin girl - she’s about the Latin music and there’s a lot of that flavor here. She also pushed us to record some of our songs in Spanish, which was fun. And Sabrina is our Orange County girl, totally into Gwen Stefani and No Doubt, and the rockers and electric guitar parts are here because of her. We all have backgrounds as dancers, so we’re always thinking about how the songs will translate visually when we’re onstage. We bring our three outlooks to the party and it’s amazing.”

Starting with the recent release of TCG’s first single “So Bring It On,” all the Cheetah Girls need to do to translate this eclectic magic into a huge presence on the pop charts is get their millions of Radio Disney listeners to light up the Top 40 request lines. Based on their success with this audience, it seems clear that their fans will follow the Cheetah Girls wherever they go.

Their “The Party’s Just Begun” tour from September 2006 to March 2007, which featured a rotating series of Disney opening acts like Miley Cyrus (as Hannah Montana), Vanessa Hudgens, Everlife, Jordan Pruitt and T-Squad, was a complete sellout. It grossed $26 million over 86 concerts, while boasting the record for the largest sales in the history of Houston’s Reliant Stadium with an impressive 73,200 tickets sold. The previous record holder was none other than Elvis Presley.

This audience is just a fraction of the 13 million viewers who watched the initial run of their first film The Cheetah Girls, and the even larger audience which watched their adventures in Spain in the 2006 sequel, The Cheetah Girls 2. The DVD of the first film sold over a million copies, making it the second best selling DVD for a Disney Channel movie after High School Musical. These onscreen numbers translated to impressive CD soundtrack sales; the first went double platinum, and the second hit #5 on the album charts while selling 1.3 million.

The Cheetah Girls whirlwind continues this fall. As part of the TCG promotional campaign, Adrienne, Sabrina, and Kiely are appearing appear on 70 million Kraft Macaroni & Cheese boxes, and there will be Cheetah Girls dolls, a Nintendo video game, and an exclusive line of stationery at Limited Too.

The girls are also each exploring their own talents. Kiely is writing a self-help book for teen girls and co-starring in the 2008 Adam Sandler-produced comedy I Know What Boys Like alongside Anna Faris, Katharine McPhee and Rumer Willis. Adrienne is preparing to record her first solo album, a mix of Spanish and English songs, while Sabrina is co-writing “Princess of Gossip” for Pocket/MTV Books and starring on Dancing With The Stars this fall. In January, the girls will be heading to India in January 2008 to film their third Cheetah Girls movie.

“It’s a pretty intense schedule,” Kiely says, “and our personal friendships with each other help a lot when it’s rough and we’re tired and cranky after these long days of so much activity. We all know what the other is going through, and we have a shoulder to lean on wherever we go. We’re also each very close with our friends and family, which helps keep us grounded. But really, it’s all so much fun. We love having the opportunity to travel and see many interesting places, and we feel blessed to have these once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.”

“Our main goal,” Kiely adds, “is to make positive, uplifting music that everyone can enjoy. It's not just for young people. But we want to show people that music doesn't have to be risqué or provocative to be enjoyable. We’ve done that with this album, and I'm really excited to see what our fans and their friends and sisters, aunts, uncles, and grandmothers think about it. Our favorite moments happen when we look out from the stage and see a little girl out there dancing on a chair. The mother looks at her daughter and is so happy to be able to be there to share the experience with her. Beyond the material success the Cheetah Girls are having, those are the kinds of things that really warm our hearts.”

Veronicas

Hit Australian Duo The Veronicas Talk About Their U.S. Album Release, Hook Me Up

By Jonathan Widran

The Veronicas

In light of their recent 12-gig stint opening for the Jonas Brothers, everyone’s been asking 23-year-old twin sisters Lisa and Jessica Origliasso -  aka the Veronicas - what it was like touring with this hot teen band. True Veronicas fans, however, remember that in 2006, when the girls were promoting their debut album The Secret Life Of The Veronicas across the U.S., it was the Jonas Brothers who opened for them. This year’s Jonas/Veronicas shows coincided with the recent U.S. release of the duo’s second album Hook Me Up, which was first released last November in their native Australia. They’ve also been getting the buzz going in the U.S. on other tours this year with Natasha Bedingfield and Hanson.

While the Veronicas’ first release only reached #133 on the Billboard 200 album chart, it hit #3 on the Heatseekers chart and its single “4ever” reached #20 on the dance/club play chart. While they made steady progress breaking through in North America, the album enjoyed massive success overseas, particularly on their home continent, where it reached #2 in Australia  (four-times platinum) and #5 in New Zealand. And their latest album Hook Me Up reached #2 on the Australian charts, going double platinum and spawning four Australian Top 10 singles. The  title track “Hook Me Up” was their first #1 single in Australia and was followed by the Top 10 hits “Untouched,” “This Love” and “Take Me On The Floor.”

“Considering the fact that we haven’t toured the U.S. in a while and our second album was just released, the exciting reaction we received from the young fans at the Jonas Brothers shows really amazed us,” says Lisa. “Because our music has edge and attitude, we can relate to older pop/rock fans as well, but being on tour with the boys was a way to familiarize ourselves again with old fans here and make some new ones from the younger age group. Those fans are wonderfully dedicated and enthusiastic, and Jess and I had a blast doing our half-hour sets. It was intense but really fun.

“We’re quickly figuring out that America is a completely different ballgame when it comes to a new artist breaking through to the masses,” she adds. “Looking at the Jobros success, the music is just the start and it’s all about going multimedia. No matter how good your songs are, you have to be on a million different shows, guest star in movies, have a big presence on MySpace and build your brand. In Australia, we achieved what we did purely because of our records, but we also expanded into fashion working with Choice Calvin Klein and the Australian hair product company nu:u, and releasing our own fashion line at Target stores in Australia last year. In the U.S. we sang the title song on the TV show Related, appeared in the show and our song ‘4ever’ was in the Amanda Bynes movie She’s The Man. We also guest-starred and sang on The Suite Life of Zack & Cody. So our goal is to let the music speak for itself while building the Veronicas brand in the U.S.”

The Veronicas

Teen Vogue dubbed The Secret Life Of The Veronicas “sweet and vicious” and the duo’s debut showcased both their trademark harmonies and talent for writing catchy pop rock tunes. Rather than simply duplicate that vibe on Hook Me Up, the sisters exchange their early pop punk influenced stylings for a powerhouse explosion of electro-beat—a sound they absorbed while living part of these past few years in the Hollywood Hills and immersing themselves in what Lisa calls “the underground electro-rock scene.” She says, “Jess and I started getting inspired by getting out there and hearing these bands that our friends were telling us about, and incorporating those intense grooves and sonic ideas into our own sound just from naturally living and breathing where it was taking place. Because we’ve grown so much as songwriters, singers and artists over the past few years, we knew we weren’t going to just do the same album over again. It’s only natural that different things would inspire us over the course of time, and we would write about different things. The point with Hook Me Up was to make a record that reflects where we are right now. But the harmonies thing was going to stay, because we’ve been doing that since we were five!”

Recorded mostly at Lisa and Jess’s townhouse in the Hollywood Hills, their sophomore date features collaborations with top hitmakers Shelly Peiken (Christina Aguilera) and John Feldmann (The Used, Good Charlotte) as well as three holdovers from their first album: Greg Wells (Mika), Billy Steinberg (Madonna, Celine Dion) and Toby Gad. While Gad contributed three songs to the first album, Hook Me Up is driven by the new dynamic in his creative relationship with the girls. Each day, Gad, who penned Fergie’s 2007 smash “Big Girls Don’t Cry” and whose credits include Hannah Montana, Beyonce, Sean Kingston and Donna Summer, would drive over to their pad and set up a makeshift studio. Lisa and Jess would share gossip with him and tell them about all the drama in their lives and see if any of it could be developed into new material.

Jess says, “That's why a lot of the songs we wrote with him come across as emotional and dramatic. I'd have to say this record is even more personal than the first one, which was hard because the first record was very much us.” Lisa adds, “Toby really got what we wanted for this record. We played him some of the electro beat music we were loving and we’d have those intense therapy sessions, and soon there was this bond that was so natural and easy. He might play a beat or have a lyrical idea, or one of us might, or he would have a hook and we would develop it from those seeds.

“Toby came to understand the differences in our personalities, that Jess is more assertive in her opinions and has no trouble telling people what she thinks, while I’m less decisive and usually need to get a bunch of opinions before making a decision,” she says. “But when it comes to songwriting, we both fight to the death for our own opinions. Joining forces with outside writers and producers like Toby is the perfect way to balance our unique ways of approaching the writing and recording process. Jess and I complement each other’s strengths and weaknesses, but what makes The Veronicas work so well is that we both share an equal passion for what we do together.”

Like their friends the Jonas Brothers, the Veronicas are quickly emerging as role models for a new generation of young women, especially those who want to pursue careers in music and the arts. Asked what advice she gives girls who want to know what it takes to be as cool and popular as they are, Lisa says, “I just tell the girls the basic things, to go for it, believe in themselves and always make sure they’re surrounded by a loving support system. To get anywhere in this business, you need people who will encourage you. It’s also essential that you’re pursuing this career for the right reasons, and for the love of music.

“There are a lot of quick ways to become famous these days,” she adds, “but truly passionate singers and musicians are not in it for a quick shot at fame. They know it’s hard work and not as glamorous as it looks. As long as you’re dedicated and stay grounded, have a good head on your shoulders and have good people around you, you have a legitimate shot. Another key thing is learning to take charge and do a lot of things yourself. The less you rely on other people, the happier you’ll be. That starts with writing your own songs and seeking out collaborators who share your vision and want to reach the same goals.”

Barnev Valsaint Becomes Top Back-up Singer with Celine Dion, Develops New Production Company

By Dale Kawashima

Barnev Valsaint

Canadian vocalist and writer/producer Barnev Valsaint has enjoyed stellar success during the past decade, with a #1 song in Canada, then touring and eventually settling in Las Vegas to work as Celine Dion’s top backup vocalist in her band. Valsaint is currently performing in Dion’s spectacular show, A New Day, to sold-out audiences at the 4,000 seat Colosseum at Caesars Palace. The show has entertained over one million fans so far.

Valsaint recently took a break from his busy schedule to talk about his background and success in Canada, as well as working with Dion, who is now the biggest-selling female artist of all time. He also discusses his love for producing, which he continues, in addition to performing 200 shows a year with Dion.

Growing up in Montreal, where the population is divided between French and English as the predominant language, Valsaint started his education on the north side of Montreal, where he spoke French as his first language. “I went to school, which was taught in French and spoke French at home,” he recalled, then moved to west Montreal. “Once we moved to the west island, all my friends spoke English.”

Music, the universal language, was a large part of Valsaint’s entire family. “We got into music because of church. My parents, my uncles, my whole family were very gospel oriented. There’s not one person in my family who doesn’t sing.” However, Valsaint was the first in his family to pursue music professionally.

While in college, where he studied to become a teacher, he began to work with a group called Dubmatique. “They asked me to [write and sing] a chorus for one of their songs and that song became the #1 song in Canada.” The song, “Soul Pleurer,” said Valsaint, was a metaphor. “If you take the two words, they say ‘your soul is crying.’ It was dedicated to some friends of ours who had died in Montreal. It was a very touching, emotional song that a lot of people could relate to.” The song, which was a hip-hop/ R&B rendering, was not initially well received. “Hip-hop was very new to the Quebec culture. They were not ready for stuff like that. I was singing the R&B hook on the song. The radio stations didn’t want to play it, nobody wanted to play it, but we [didn’t give up]. The song finally played once on the radio and people just kept calling and it became the #1 hit in Canada. We toured Europe and Canada for so long, I dropped out of school and that’s when I knew what I wanted to do for a living.”

Once the tour with Dubmatique was finished, Valsaint released a record and toured with his R&B group, Nodeja. Shortly thereafter, in late 1998, Dion was looking for a male vocalist.

“Celine wanted me to come on tour because her former backup vocalist, Terry Bradford, decided he’d been touring long enough and wanted to do other things. They called me in for an audition and it was between me and another guy. They sent the videotape to Celine and she said, ‘I want Barnev.’ I was only supposed to be on tour with her during her Let’s Talk About Love  world tour. Basically, I was just filling in for Terry and was only supposed to go for that one tour. Then once that tour ended, they asked me to stay. They were such good people, and [at the same time] my group basically deteriorated because everyone wanted to do their own thing. I decided I might as well stay with Celine, and have been with her ever since.”

Barnev Valsaint singing a duet with Celine Dion.

Valsaint has nothing but the highest regard for Dion. “I’ve met and worked with a lot of artists, and I don’t think I’ve ever met an artist at the level that she is to be as grounded as she is. She just loves everyone who surrounds her. She’s thankful and she recognizes that she needs everybody around her. We make her look good and she knows that. She’s such a sweet person.”

Now that Dion has settled to raise her son and taken a respite from touring, Valsaint has accordingly made his home in Las Vegas. “At the beginning I loved touring because I was in a different city every week,” explained Valsaint. “But once it gets to the Celine level, you don’t see your family, you don’t see your friends or your girlfriend. Basically you have to fly people in to come and stay with you for a week or two, because there’s no way you can leave and go see them. That was the only negative aspect of the tour. Everything else is great. But being in Vegas, you do a show and you come home; that’s the best. You’re doing what you love, you’re performing and the show is sold out every night. You’re not in a hotel; it feels good. I like touring, but it started getting a little hard because I’m very close to my family.”

Valsaint is the only male backup singer in Dion’s show. He was featured with Dion on The Oprah Winfrey Show and is currently among 59 musicians, vocalists and performers in her New Day presentation currently at Caesar’s Colusseum. He performs all the duets with Dion. “I do all the duets she has. We have sung the R.Kelly song, ‘I’m Your Angel’ and the Peabo Bryson song, ‘Beauty and the Beast.’”  Because of the vast sets and choreography, the duets are not currently in the show, but Valsaint believes they may come back as the Colosseum show evolves.

Now that he has a “day job,” Valsaint is following his other passion- producing. “I’ve been doing it since the beginning,” said Valsaint. “Every record I’ve collaborated or participated with, I’ve produced one or two songs on the album. It’s something I’ve always loved to do. I decided to start my own production company (Polar Bear Entertainment) and started writing & producing songs.” Over the past couple of years he has been working with his partner Yacoub Moilim to prepare a catalog of songs. “We’ve been collaborating since the beginning on different projects.”

Moilim now resides in Las Vegas, so he and Valsaint can continue their project. “We have a studio in the house where we can continue with production. We did one song that a friend of mine really liked. So I gave him a copy and he sent it to a publisher in Los Angeles. The publisher liked it and arranged a meeting with actress Nadia Bjorlin, (who has starred in the soap opera, Days of Our Lives). We met with Nadia and agreed to produce her. She’s an amazing singer and she has a lot of potential.” Valsaint and Moilim have composed a number of songs, and have begun the process of attracting attention to their work.

Valsaint offers his advice for vocalists looking to achieve his degree of success. “Never give up. Never let anybody tell you that you can’t sing or you can’t make it. Because seriously, if Celine did it, if I did it, anyone can do it- if you have the talent. It’s a matter of persistence and believing in yourself. There’s not a method, there’s not a guideline, not a book to tell you how to make it. Just believe in yourself and keep on going until you can’t go anymore, because you never know. You could be in the right place at the right time. You could be anywhere and somebody might recognize the talent that you have. Keep your head up and keep trying and never burn your bridges. You never know who’s in front of you or behind you.”

Valsaint feels very fortunate to have achieved such a high degree of success in his career. “I’ve been blessed to have worked with all the people I’ve worked with. They’ve all been very professional and such good people. “Just two weeks ago, my parents met Celine. We spent time hanging out in her dressing room, having a ball. It’s very rare you see people like Celine in the music industry. For Celine, it’s all about who she surrounds herself with. She surrounds herself with family. The people who work with her become an extension of her family. She has her family close to her at all times. She makes sure that she’s around good people, and I get that same feeling from Nadia (Bjorlin).”