PETIT BISCUIT

By Andy Kellman, AllMusic

One-half of an indie rock duo called Mount Dreams, Mehdi Benjelloun also produces lean and dreamlike dance music, inspired by the likes of Bonobo, Shlohmo, and Flume, as Petit Biscuit. Benjelloun, a native of Rouen, France, started making music on his synthesizer at the age of 12 and was a quick study. Within a couple years, the multi-instrumentalist — who can also play cello and guitar — was uploading early recordings to SoundCloud. In May 2016, at the age of 16, Benjelloun released a self-titled EP highlighted by the dazed “Sunset Lover” and the whimsical “Once Again.” Benjelloun made his first performances around the same time, including an appearance at Festival Panoramas.

This article originally appeared on AllMusic.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source: http://www.allmusic.com/artist/petit-biscuit-mn0003413218/biography

Photo: https://showbams.com/2017/04/21/petit-biscuit-marks-his-bay-area-debut-with-a-sold-out-dance-party-at-rickshaw-stop/

Video: www.youtube.com

AMBER COFFMAN

By James Pearce, AllMusic

New York-based musician Amber Coffman is probably best-known for her part in the alternative rock outfit Dirty Projectors, in which she sang and played guitar. Coffman initially started out as a member of the post-rock band Sleeping People until 2007, when she became a full-time member of Dirty Projectors and toured to promote the Rise Above album. Coffman went on to be a key member of the band for 2009’s Bitte Orca and 2012’s Swing Lo Magellan, utilizing intricate vocal parts and three-part harmonies that became an integral part of the band. Aside from Dirty Projectors, Coffman collaborated with electronic musician Rusko on the 2010 track “Hold On,” as well as “Get Free” by Major Lazer, “She Knows” from J. Cole, and “No Regrets” with Snoop Lion and T.I. In 2017, Coffman made her debut as a solo artist with City of No Reply.

This article originally appeared on AllMusic.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source: http://www.allmusic.com/artist/amber-coffman-mn0000725442/biography

Photo: http://www.stereogum.com/1596081/hear-amber-coffman-on-the-beginnings-podcast/news/

Video: www.youtube.com

LEELA JAMES

By Last.fm

Leela James is a Los Angeles native and soul singer who cites James Brown, Roberta Flack, and Gladys Knight, among others, as influences. Her deep, rich and gritty vocals easily draw comparisons to Aretha Franklin and Gladys Knight.

In 2004, James toured as an opening act for the Black Eyed Peas and Macy Gray. That same year, she was featured on hip hop producer, DJ, and emcee Pete Rock’s album Soul Survivor II, providing vocals to the track “No Tears”.

Her debut album was released on June 21, 2005, entitled A Change Is Gonna Come. The album is a soul music record incorporating the styles of 1960s and 1970s American soul singers, with a mixture of funk, R&B and gospel influences. The first single from the album, entitled “Music,” laments what Leela James sees as the decline of hip hop and soul music and asks for a return to the artistry of musicians of earlier decades. Leela co-wrote most of the tracks on her debut album, with two notable exceptions being her cover of No Doubt’s “Don’t Speak,” and the classic song by Sam Cooke for which the album is named. Notable collaborators on the album include Raphael Saadiq of the 1990s R&B group Tony! Toni! Tone!, Kanye West, and former Fugees member Wyclef Jean.

After parting ways with Warner Bros., James signed with the independent label Shanachie Records and released her second studio album on March 24, 2009, an all-cover set entitled Let’s Do It Again (the title being a homage to the 1975 soundtrack album of the same name by The Staple Singers).

In 2005, she lent her voice to the posthumously released Ray Charles album Genius & Friends, duetting with the singer on the song “Compared to What”. Leela also guested on Robert Randolph and the Family Band’s 2006 album Colorblind, lending her vocals to “Stronger”. In June 2009, she appeared on Moby’s new album “Wait for Me”, performing the vocal on “Walk with Me”.

 

This article originally appeared on Last.fm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source: https://www.last.fm/music/Leela+James/+wiki

Photo: http://lmbnetwork.com/2016/10/28/check-out-dont-want-you-back-leela-james/

Video: www.youtube.com leelajamesVEVO

NINE-YEAR-OLD STUNS ‘AMERICA’S GOT TALENT’ AUDIENCE WITH CELINE DION COVER

By Tatiana Cirisano, Billboard

The 9-year-old America’s Got Talent contestant Celine Tam — named after vocal powerhouse Celine Dion — lived up to her namesake in her AGT audition with an unexpectedly stunning cover of Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On.”

While the young Dion super-fan had no problem charming both the audience and judges with her frequent references to the singer, it’s fair to say that no one would have expected the jaw-dropping performance that followed from the kid.

Things really got interesting when Tam reached the 1997 track’s iconic climax, winning a standing ovation from the crowd (not to mention the rare smile from judge Simon Cowell).

Tam (whose younger sister is named Dion), told the judges she first realized her own talent while singing along to the classic track in the car with her dad. “He was like, ‘Wow,'” Tam said, as her family watched from backstage.

Check out the entire shocking performance, below.

This article originally appeared on Billboard.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source: http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7833859/americas-got-talent-9-year-old-celine-dion-cover-celine-tam

Photo: https://www.thegenxtimes.com/trends/adorable-nine-year-old-celine-tam-stuns-americas-got-talents-judges/

Video: www.youtube.com

SAHBABII: ‘PULL UP WIT AH STICK’ MC ON HAPPY BEATS, WARNERS DEAL, BIRD NOISE AD-LIBS

By Elias Leight, RollingStone

“There’s this little map on ‘Mario Kart,’ this rainbow map and this little beach map, and I like to be in that mindset.”

Atlanta’s SahBabii landed a major label deal on the strength of last year’s “Pull Up Wit Ah Stick,” a bait-and-switch where cheerful, fluffy synthesizers give way to a hard-bitten, ruthlessly repetitive hook. The video for the single has accumulated more than 14 million views on YouTube, while the track has earned remixes from a stars like T-Pain, Wiz Khalifa and Fetty Wap. Now “Pull Up” is beginning to pick up steam on the national airwaves.

Warner Bros will re-release SahBabii’s Sandas mixtape on June 9th. “Pull Up Wit Ah Stick” is the most direct song on Sandas; the rest is at once brighter and more diffuse. Rolling Stone spoke with the rapper about the success of “Pull Up,” his passion for wildlife and his recent internet spat with Offset of Migos.

When did you start rapping?
In 2010 when I first had moved to Atlanta. My brother had been doing music for 10 years. When I first started, I wasn’t even really listening to music. Then I started listening to local music. Rich Kidz, Young Thug, all that. They were all coming up in Atlanta. Thug remind me of [Lil] Wayne; he got that different sound – it’s melodic, not just that regular, repetitive bullcrap. We was bumping that all summer when we was younger.

I did [rapping] just for the fame when I was young; just to be known for it and that type of stuff. I started taking it seriously in 2014 because I wanted to be rich. I just wanted to be rich. And I started liking making music. When I started, I wasn’t doing it for money – I wanted to hear myself on the beat and listen to my own music. At first I was making music just for me to listen to. Then I said, This can be a career and I can get rich off this – ’cause this sounds good. So in 2014, I got to going hard.

You said you had almost quit before Sandas became successful?
The music wasn’t popping off fast. I was making good sounding music, but it wasn’t being heard, and I didn’t have the funds to keep pushing it. I was getting frustrated, stressed out.

What would you have done if you left rapping?
I wasn’t going back to a job. I was probably going to try to get off into cartoons or making video games – which I’mma still do. I definitely wasn’t going to get no job. Hell nah.

Do you think it’s hard to stand out in Atlanta where there are so many successful rappers?
I just do me. I know there’s a lot of talent out here. But I work hard, do me, make sure I’m comfortable with myself. I just look at myself as in a whole different lane and another world. I’m in SahBabii world. I’m not putting on a persona or a fake image. I’m a very colorful person, I love animals and shit – there’s a lot of references to animals in my music. I like playing video games. You can see the fun type of shit in my music.

Where did you get your love for animals?
Shit, I been liking animals. I used to watch a lot of Animal Planet and Discovery Channel. I had three pets; I had fish before. I used to feed the birds breadcrumbs. I’ve been loving animals. I just started putting them in. I’m getting older, getting comfortable with myself – I just say, in my music, fuck it, man. I’m gonna do me on this shit. I just stay true to me. I ain’t never trapped before, never did that. I rap about the stuff that I have been through.

Do you distinguish between rapping and singing?
It don’t really matter. I vibe off the beat. The ad-libs and melodies just talk to me.

And you just find beats online?
I used to steal beats; I was the king of that shit. I was stealing beats off YouTube, SoundCloud. I never thought this was going to be a career so I just got beats off of there. But then it popped off and I had to buy these beats, so I’m moving forward like that. Or I used to go on SoundClick and hit “rap instrumentals” and go through all the beats. You just click – I used to go through 2,000 beats a day, straight clicking. I could tell in two seconds if I’m going to like the beat. Just steady clicking all day.

What would you hear in two seconds that would grab you?
I don’t like that dark sound. I like my beats to sound happy and uplifting, but still with a lot of bass in there. If you heard “Marsupial Superstars” – there’s this little map on Mario Kart, this rainbow map and this little beach map, and I like to be in that mindset. When people listen to it, [I want them to be like], “I’m going to get on the Wii today and play Mario Kart.”

Are you always in that rainbow map space mentally or do you have to work to get there?
I’m always in that mindset. Everything is fun to me. I live in fun world.

You recorded most of Sandas in your bedroom?
No, in my brother’s bedroom downstairs. I never went to any big studio; I couldn’t afford that stuff. I recorded in my brother’s bedroom, and I’m still doing that. I got some little speakers in there. When you got your own studio, you can really find yourself. If I was to go in a big studio – the bird ad-libs wouldn’t be on “Pull Up Wit Ah Stick.” The weird noises I’m making on “Marsupial Superstars” wouldn’t be there. People wouldn’t understand, and they look at me like I’m crazy. Like, “What the fuck is this nigga doing making all these weird noises? Probably just wasting time.” But that stuff really makes the songs. They would just look at me like, What’s wrong with him?

This is where it all came from: I can’t switch up on the bedroom. When I have to record in the big studio, that’s when I do it, but I like T3 to be engineering it. That’s my big brother. We’ve been doing music since I was younger, so he already knows what effects I like. He did all my videos back then, the artwork, engineered the whole project. He’s amazing. You don’t need a major producer. It don’t take all that.

Did you think you had a hit when you recorded “Pull Up Wit Ah Stick”?
I like the instruments on that. I liked it when I finished, but then I grew out of it. It was already old to me, and I thought it was too simple, me just saying, “pull up wit ah stick.” But people loved it. And it’s about the people.

Why do you think that song has connected?
It’s a fun-sounding song. You got the club vibe with the bass. You got even little kids dancing to this. It’s them happy type of instruments.

The video for “Pull Up Wit Ah Stick” got a lot of attention due to all the guns in it.
Ain’t nobody even get a papercut out there. We just holding guns – soldiers and police officers hold guns all the time. We just respecting our second amendment. In Georgia, it’s legal to have guns down here. Nobody got slapped, nobody got punched, nobody got a papercut, nobody got cut by a pencil, nothing.

Have you heard the T-Pain and Fetty Wap versions of “Pull Up Wit Ah Stick”?
I heard it. That feels good. You know T-Pain – he’s a legend. I would’ve never thought he would’ve remixed my song. I used to listen to him when I was younger. He started the AutoTune.

Is the Drake remix that you’ve talked about still in the works?
He told me he was going to do it, but I know he’s a busy man doing what he gotta do, so I ain’t really stressin’ it. I’m just doing me.

How did you end up connecting with Warner?
They was the last ones trying to sign me. I had, like, 16 labels trying to sign me. Warner came in last and won. There’s not really that many superstars in their urban department. They just started rebuilding their urban department. They gave their artists to Atlantic. A lot of people was telling me, if I go over to a label with a big artist, I have to sit behind them and the big artist will be a priority over me. [Warner] was telling me I don’t have to sit behind anyone. They told me I could be the Lebron and the Michael Jordan over there. They treat me like a priority over there.

You and Offset have been throwing jabs back and forth on social media lately. What’s going on between you two?
I’m chilling man. I ain’t wanna keep talking about that or doing videos. I got caught up in the clown-ism with that. I got caught up into that. That’s not even how I carry myself, doing all that on social media. I want to stay positive. I had said I would never do something like that. So I’m ashamed of myself for even doing something like that. I’m going back to the positive place. Focusing on my music – I don’t care about that negative stuff. I’ve got a lot of people depending on me, man. I got a family of six of us. I’ve got cousins and all that; there’s like 20 of us staying in this one house. I got a lot of people depending on me. I gotta stay focused.

This article originally appeared on RollingStone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/sahbabii-on-happy-beats-and-bird-noise-ad-libs-w485900

Photo: http://musiconthedot.com/5-facts-sahbabii/

HEY VIOLET

By Heather Phares, AllMusic

Playing punk-pop with the emphasis on the pop, Los Angeles’ Hey Violet feature guitarist/keyboardist/vocalist Miranda Miller, drummer/vocalist Nia Lovelis, bassist/lead vocalist Rena Lovelis, and guitarist Casey Moreta. The group formed out of the ashes of the hard rock band Cherri Bomb, changing its musical direction after parting ways with vocalist/guitarist Julia Pierce in early 2013. Soon after, Moreta joined as a temporary member but became a full-fledged part of the band that March. In February 2015, the band announced its new name was Hey Violet, and released the single “This Is Why” the following month. Hey Violet signed to 5 Seconds of Summer’s label Hi or Hey Records and toured with the band that May, June, and July in support of their debut EP, I Can Feel It. The band added touring bassist Iain Shipp as a full-fledged member in September 2016, shortly after the release of the poppier Brand New Moves EP, which spawned the hit “Guys My Age.”

This article originally appeared on AllMusic.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source: http://www.allmusic.com/artist/hey-violet-mn0003417430/biography

Photo: https://www.buzzfeed.com/caitlinjinks/hey-violet-are-your-new-fave-music-obsession

Video: www.youtube.com

THE STEEL WOODS

By Stephen Thomas Erlewine, AllMusic

A group of Southern rock traditionalists from Nashville, the Steel Woods lay claim to the sound pioneered by Lynyrd Skynyrd. Like Skynyrd, the Steel Woods balance heavy blues-rock with Southern poetry, and this quartet add a bit of plain-spoken outlaw country to the mix, as evidenced on their 2017 debut Straw in the Wind.

Prior to forming the Steel Woods, guitarists Wes Bayliss and Jason “Rowdy” Cope were both pursuing musical careers. Cope found work as a session musician and played in Jamey Jonhson’s band, but once he met Bayliss at a Nashville gig, the two clicked. First they became friends, then they wound collaborating, adding bassist Johnny Stanton and drummer Jay Tooke to round out the lineup. An eponymous EP came out in 2016, and the next year saw the release of Straw in the Wind on Thirty Tigers.

 

This article originally appeared on AllMusic.

Source: http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-steel-woods-mn0003610052/biography

Photo: http://thebluenote.com/event/the-steel-woods/

Video: www.youtube.com

KODIE SHANE

By Famous Birthdays

About

Rapper and only female member of the group the Sailing Team who became known for her spotlight verse on their single “All In.” She has had success as a solo artist with her debut EP Little Rocket and her standout single “Losing Service.”

Before Fame

She grew up around music and made the decision to pursue it at the age of 13.

Trivia

Her song “Hold Up” was featured by Fact magazine as one of the 10 rap and R&B tracks you need to hear this month in September 2016.

Family Life

She was born in Atlanta, Georgia and she moved to Chicago, Illinois when she was a toddler. Her grandfather named her after a cowboy.

Associated With

She collaborated with Lil Uzi Vert and Lil Yatchy on her song “Hold Up.”

This article originally appeared on Famous Birthdays.

Source: https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/kodi-shane.html

Photo: https://bossip.com/1385498/interview-with-the-sailing-teams-kodie-shane/

Video: www.youtube.com KodieShaneVEVO

 

SPENCER LUDWIG GETS NEW ‘FEELS’ ON REMIX EP

By Bryan Kress, Billboard

If Spencer Ludwig’s refreshing blend of jazz, funk, and pop on the 2016 viral hit “Diggy” caught you by surprise, prepare for six more sides to the song on his new EP Diggy Feels, Pt. 1, out now via Warner Bros. Records. Including remixes by Grammy-winning electronic artist RAC, St. Lucia’s Nick Paul, and Jeffrey Brodsky, the new release gives fans a chance to see the developing dimensions of the prodigious trumpeter and singer.

“I put together this collection of remixes for two main reasons. The first is to be able to connect with all types of music lovers from all over the world,” Ludwig tells Billboard, in typical two-part fashion. “The other main reason… is to showcase the amazing talent within my inner circle. I am so proud to call all of these incredibly talented producers friends, and I am honored to be a platform for their discovery.”

While some selections came naturally from the studio, like the remix by “Diggy” writing partner Daniel Nigro, others were more personal — as is the case with the feature from middle-school collaborator Cary Singer and another from AHEE, who shares an alma mater with Ludwig.

“I’d like to think that ‘Diggy’ is a song for everyone,” Ludwig says. “Whether you’re into pop, EDM, deep house, tropical house, dubstep, nu disco, indie alternative… there will be a remix for you, and this will also hopefully turn into the beginning of our journey together.”

Part 1 will be followed by the second installment on June 16, that Ludwig says will be “full of whole new group productions and feels.” Check out the new EP on Spotify below, and be sure to catch Ludwig perform at Billboard’s Hot 100 Festival this August at Jones Beach Theater in Long Island, NY.

This article originally appeared on Billboard.

Source: http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/7825658/spencer-ludwig-feels-remix-ep-listen

Photo: https://theknockturnal.com/scene-spencer-ludwig-album-showcase-sohohouse/

Video: www.youtube.com Spencer Ludwig

SAM GELLAITRY

By Matt Collar, AllMusic

Scottish DJ/producer Sam Gellaitry makes forward-thinking genre-bending electronic music that is as evocative and experimental as it is club-ready. A native of Stirling, Gellaitry first began making music in his teens after his older brother introduced him to a computer-based production application. With his family’s blessing, Gellaitry left school at age 16 to focus on music. By the time he was 18, he had gained enough attention for electronic label and collective Soulection to release his Short Stories EP in 2015. That same year, he also released the Escapism EP, on XL Recordings. Two more EPs, Escapism II and Escapism III, dropped in 2016 and 2017, respectively.

This article originally appeared on AllMusic.

Source: http://www.allmusic.com/artist/sam-gellaitry-mn0003462436/biography

Photo: https://aestheticmagazinetoronto.com/2016/08/01/photos

Video: www.youtube.com