Did you know that there are over 400,000 children in foster care in the US? Rising Pop-Reggae artist Justin Anthony, who was a product of the foster care system here in the US himself, wants you to know the facts and realities about foster care and the adoption process.
In his recently released PSA, Justin talks about his own experiences as a foster child as well as the need for more Americans to learn about and become a foster or adopting parent.
Its always great when an artist takes the time to build awareness for a cause and its great to see a young artist at the beginning of their career like Justin realizing the value of giving back.
Above is Justin Anthony's PSA for the National Adoption Council.
For more information check out www.familiesforall.org
Fresh off his own debut reggae album's arrival on store shelves, Calvin Broadus is helping another emerging Island-pop artist get a leg-up in the game. On Good Luv, the Black Vibesa debut and latest feature from Elevate Music's Justin Anthony, Grammy-winning beatsmith Winston "Blackout" Thomas provides a brass-laced instrumental backdrop for verses dedicated to a special woman in the artist's life. Seeing as Anthony's got singing covered, Snoop reverts to rapping, contributing some Doggy-style flows on the front as well as ad-libs throughout the jam. The headliner's next album, produced entirely by Blackout, has yet to receive either a title or a solid drop date. Fans can, of course, stay tuned to Black Vibes for the latest on the forthcoming set.
Fresh off his own debut reggae album's arrival on store shelves, Calvin Broadus is helping another emerging Island-pop artist get a leg-up in the game. On Good Luv, the Black Vibesa debut and latest feature from Elevate Music's Justin Anthony, Grammy-winning beatsmith Winston "Blackout" Thomas provides a brass-laced instrumental backdrop for verses dedicated to a special woman in the artist's life. Seeing as Anthony's got singing covered, Snoop reverts to rapping, contributing some Doggy-style flows on the front as well as ad-libs throughout the jam. The headliner's next album, produced entirely by Blackout, has yet to receive either a title or a solid drop date. Fans can, of course, stay tuned to Black Vibes for the latest on the forthcoming set.
Rob & Nino (Robert and Ninos Hanna) are brothers whose lives have always centered around music. In the summer of 2010, along with their producer, Ivar Lisinski, they sat down and tried to identify their style. They examined their musical history and preferences, primarily R&B and pop. At the same time, the brothers wanted to create a more contemporary sound that would excite a new generation. By combining their beloved old-school styles with a cutting edge aesthetic, they produced the unique sound which now defines their music. Rob & Nino's songs arouse nostalgic feelings while remaining playful and experimental, something that is popular in today's music. A lot has happened very quickly for Rob & Nino. They have a strong reputation as songwriters with other artists, and are regarded as hit-makers. They recently earned a top-2 hit in Japan with the single "Speed Up" by Kara. The trio: Robert, Ninos, and Ivar, have proven to be a very successful combination and have been recognized by big names such as Red One, Jay Sean, JLS, and Alexandra Burke. They have a fan base which is constantly growing and are well on their way to becoming a worldwide hit.
Joel Van Dijk is a Los Angeles transplant living in the heart of the POP Machine. A certified "triple threat," Joel makes his living playing guitar and producing, while in the meantime recording, writing and singing on his own records. He is set to release his highly-anticipated second full album A Kind Of Blues. Which is either a modern take on the blues genre, or a prime example of blues blasphemy. "This ain't your daddy's blues!" he says about this eclectic blend of swampy blues, jazz and soul, hiphop beats and electronic elements, . "This is not a throwback record, this is for the current generation." Joel was raised on the blues. His mother hosted a blues radio show in his hometown while his father taught him the I-IV-V chord progression and the blues scale in the infancy of his guitar training. Blues music was unavoidable in the household. He wowed audiences at blues jams at the early age of 15 years old and while he cast off the blues in his late teens and throughout his career, the soul and the sound of the blues still haunted his voice and his playing, something he could not deny. After hearing his first record Truthseeker, his colleague and friend (singer Algebra Blessett) said to him "You are a blues man!" Coming to terms with this potential fate he began to craft his own "kind of blues."
"A Kind Of Blues" transitions seamlessly between swampy bass beats and grooving live band arrangements and everything in between. The album topic range is a recount of the two years since he released Truthseeker. From songs about life on the road life as a touring musician with chart topping Aloe Blacc, and observing Aloe's rising career (see POPMachine, Road Again, Wherever I Go) to the revolutionary spirit embodied around the world via Occupy and the Arab Spring (see Revolve, Freetrain), and finally his thirst for expression and desire to follow his artistic path (see, My Song, BeYoself). Not without a sense of humor, JVD covers Aloe Blaccs hit tune "I Need A Dollar" with a slowed down sexy-fied groove and later features Aloe singing a fresh new arrangement of the Bill Withers classic "Ain't No Sunshine." Lending to the influence and reference of Miles Davis, Joel revamps the classic tune "All Blues" with an electro-downtempo twist featuring Bridget Barkan on vocals. Wafeekee of The Flux drops by for a rap verse on My Song and A Kind Of Blues (the song) . For all instruments and voices not supplied by Joel (he plays all of the instruments on some of the tracks), he enlists his all-star band of friends and world-class musicians, dubbed "Special Force" for the studio and live shows. This very talented group of individuals have a staggering credit list, playing for likes of Mariah Carey, Van Hunt, Aloe Blacc, Snoop Dogg, the Scissor Sisters and more. They are a musical steam train when in motion Yes, It's been done before, but not like this. It's self-conscious and sociallyconscious, it's blues but it's not the blues, it's hard to describe but easy to feel. You could compare it to the likes of Outkast, Beck, Ceelo, Doyle Bramhall II or new blues sensation Gary Clark Jr., but that would only get you in the ballpark. This is new and original music from an upcoming force to be reckoned with.
-joelvandijk.com"One of the best guitarists I know coming with blues for a whole new generation - JVD - say no more" -Aloe Blacc
"A fresh breath of air from the smog of the PopMachine."- Joseph Gonzales "Trippy and smooth but still pop and catchy."-Peter Dyer
A Kind of Blues NOW OUT on Bandcamp & CDBaby, & the iTunes release TBA! Physical copies will be available from 12.7 on
Finally, the bicycle is built for two! Companion Bike Seats, a San Francisco-based startup, created the first rear-mounted bike seat and needs your help on kickstarter to go from prototype to production. The seat's strong frame can safely carry an extra person, who's comfortably enjoying the ride on a padded seat and foot rests. Bicyclists can now offer rides to their friends, pick them up from work or even start bike-taxi and ride-sharing services.
The growing popularity of bike sharing programs in major U.S. cities highlights the fact that bicycling is becoming a major form of mass transit for commuters. Bike sharing organizations such as CapitalBikeShare.com in Washington D.C. and Arlington and bcycle.com in Chicago, Denver San Antonio and Houston are quickly transforming city transportation. Companion Bike Seats supports this movement and aspires to make bicycle commuting even more efficient by enabling a second bike-commuter to ride on every bike.
Visit Companion's Kickstarter page to pledge your support and make the project happen.
Esprit De Corps is a new, Los Angeles-based music group focused on creating reggae/soul music with an 80's-style influence. Taken literally, the term "Esprit De Corps" refers to the ability of a group to maintain pride, loyalty, morale and fellowship to an institution or oneself and others. The new band, which promises a fresh, unique spin on reggae music, was founded in 2011 by Fred Card and Shock Mama Cherry with Grammy award winning producer Neal Pogue guiding the ship on production and strategy. Card, a Brazilian-born guitarist who now lives in L.A., started playing in reggae bands back when he was in high school. By his senior year, he was already recording songs and playing gigs with Jamaican star Earl Zero. Over the years, Card has worked with Junior Kelly (he produced "Lots of Herbs"), Sizzla, Anthony B., Michael Rose, Tanya Stephens, Gregory Isaacs and Buju Banton. Most recently, he has written and remixed songs for Bassnectar, and is now part of the production team at Fulton Yard Unlimited, which just produced the first single off of Earth Wind & Fire's new Greatest Hits album. Card's role in Esprit De Corps is as multi-instrumentalist, songwriter (music/arrangements) and coproducer. Shock Mama Cherry's early roots were in the heart of Brooklyn, where she began writing poetry and music at the early age of 10. By the age of 16, she was signed to a record label and began writing, recording and performing soul music on a much broader scale. Since that time, Cherry has been working in and around the music industry in a variety of capacities (including writing for artists such as Jaheim and Dwele) and has even delved into modeling and acting. She was introduced to Card in 2010 by producer/engineer Neal H. Pogue, and their mutual love of reggae sowed the seeds for Esprit De Corps, where she is lead vocalist/ songwriter.
CHeck out Esprit DSe Corps new single "Is it Too Late" below
Rising artist and "The Voice" contestant Sonia Rao has released her newest single, the soulful and alternatively charming track "She" from her debut album "Calm Her". "She" is Sonia's latest offering after releasing her album earlier this year. The LA and SF based artist will be a force to be reckoned with in 2012 as her buzz and album continue to grow. Check out "She" below.
BIO Artist Sonia Rao combines her soulful voice with piano, singing her original songs. Some are haunting, some are joyful, some are gritty and raw, but all feature Sonia's incredible voice and honest lyrics. Fans are struck by how deeply personal her songs are; in listening to her lyrics, one feels they are hearing her innermost thoughts and feelings. These intimate stories, combined with Sonia's striking voice, draw listeners to her music. Following her recent appearance on NBC's The Voice, Sonia released her debut album, 'Calm Her' in August 2011.
Growing up in New Jersey with first-generation immigrant parents, Sonia says that her parents have challenged her decision to pursue music every step of the way, a process that has helped her clarify and articulate why playing music is so important to her. Since childhood, Sonia searched for a way to express herself that "felt like enough". From painting to dancing to acting out, nothing felt like a deep enough expression of her emotions until she wrote her first song in the spring of 2010. Sonia says, "Once I wrote that first song, I spent the rest of that year in San Francisco writing in my little multicolored room, drinking insane amounts of coffee, introducing my classical violin to the blues and country, and collaborating with as many musicians as I could."
'Calm Her' was the result of an amazing fundraising effort in which fans, friends, and fellow artists from The Voice, raised thousands of dollars to help Sonia create her album. When asked about the inspiration for the album title, Sonia says, "I wrote the title track, 'Calm Her', about society's attempt to stifle the intuitive, creative, and sexual energy of women. What I am trying to say with this song, with this album, and with my own actions is that society will never be able to suppress something as enormous as the feminine, and thus, it is impossible to 'Calm Her'.
As she sings about in the delightful track "Here, Now," Sonia is grateful for all of the support in her life and feels incredibly lucky to be living her passion. You can hear her music on iTunes and find her performing in San Francisco and Los Angeles at venues such as The Hotel Café, The Viper Room, and Yoshi's.
For upcoming shows, tour dates, and music, go to soniarao.co
Sonia Rao a recent finalist on "The Voice" has released her debut album , "Calm Her". This project is the culmination of Sonia's amazing performances on The Voice and a voracious fundraising campaign on Indigogo. Sonia is a rising star that will change the way pop music is perceived in this country and beyond! Get to know Sonia Rao!!
BIO Artist Sonia Rao combines her soulful voice with piano, singing her original songs. Some are haunting, some are joyful, some are gritty and raw, but all feature Sonia's incredible voice and honest lyrics. Fans are struck by how deeply personal her songs are; in listening to her lyrics, one feels they are hearing her innermost thoughts and feelings. These intimate stories, combined with Sonia's striking voice, draw listeners to her music. Following her recent appearance on NBC's The Voice, Sonia released her debut album, 'Calm Her' in August 2011.
Growing up in New Jersey with first-generation immigrant parents, Sonia says that her parents have challenged her decision to pursue music every step of the way, a process that has helped her clarify and articulate why playing music is so important to her. Since childhood, Sonia searched for a way to express herself that "felt like enough". From painting to dancing to acting out, nothing felt like a deep enough expression of her emotions until she wrote her first song in the spring of 2010. Sonia says, "Once I wrote that first song, I spent the rest of that year in San Francisco writing in my little multicolored room, drinking insane amounts of coffee, introducing my classical violin to the blues and country, and collaborating with as many musicians as I could."
'Calm Her' was the result of an amazing fundraising effort in which fans, friends, and fellow artists from The Voice, raised thousands of dollars to help Sonia create her album. When asked about the inspiration for the album title, Sonia says, "I wrote the title track, 'Calm Her', about society's attempt to stifle the intuitive, creative, and sexual energy of women. What I am trying to say with this song, with this album, and with my own actions is that society will never be able to suppress something as enormous as the feminine, and thus, it is impossible to 'Calm Her'.
As she sings about in the delightful track "Here, Now," Sonia is grateful for all of the support in her life and feels incredibly lucky to be living her passion. You can hear her music on iTunes and find her performing in San Francisco and Los Angeles at venues such as The Hotel Café, The Viper Room, and Yoshi's.
Reb is best known for his hit song "Without You" Feat. Trey Songz (nearly 3 million views on YouTube):
REBSTAR'S BIO
Malmo, Sweden isn't exactly considered a Hip-Hop hotbed but it's the birthplace of Rebstar, one of the fastest rising new artists in the industry. No longer is Rap music confined to the streets of New York or the stages of Los Angeles. Rap music and Hip-Hop culture have captivated the globe and for proof one needs to look no further than Rebstar.
Growing up in Sweden, Rebstar was introduced to the English language that would fuel his rhymes at an early age. His mother insisted he enroll in an international elementary school that taught English, hoping that it would afford him more opportunities in the future. Rebstar made his way through school eventually deciding to move to the UK to study law. As he hit the books hard, Rebstar couldn't shake the feeling that he was meant to pursue music full-time. He dropped out of school and moved back to Sweden. Upon returning home, Rebstar took the first step towards making his music dreams come true by establishing his own record label called Today Is Vintage.
With an aggressive determination and a lifelong passion on his back, Rebstar released his debut single "Without You" featuring Grammy-nominated singer Trey Songz. The song exploded onto the scene, garnering airplay all over the globe. The accompanying video racked up over 3 million views online cementing Rebstar as one to watch. "Being a European artist, I pull influences for my music from all over the world," says Rebstar. "My sound isn't easily defined because I don't have the typical American or European Hip-Hop flow. The music is a mash-up of different genres and cultures." "Without You" was a smash hit in Sweden, becoming the 3rd most requested song on Swedish Radio in 2008.
In addition to his hit with Trey Songz, Rebstar has also collaborated with Drake, Ray J and Rich Boy. As he puts the finishing touches on his project"Summerhouse", Rebstar looks toward the future while being mindful of the path he took to get to this point. Sweden's a long way from the streets of New York. But as Rebstar has found out, passion and the power of music know no boundaries.
