Anticipation has been building…..to
say the least. Chris Young has been
teasing his legions of fans via social media with snippets of his new single,
“I’m Comin’ Over,” for weeks leading up to its May 12th release on
iTunes. The single quickly hit #1 on the
Country iTunes chart and sold over 70,000 downloads in its first week. But, the teasing did not stop there. CY and his team began posting glimpses of the
soon-to-be-released video. The faithful
were on cloud nine when it was announced the video premiere was set for, May 28th!
The video follows the lyrics of the
song nicely, while adding just the right amount of shall we say….tasteful
sizzle. Each scene leads viewers through
the stages of a relationship that began innocently in a coffee shop, but is now
struggling to end because the couple can’t quite let go of each other. As the woman entices him, the man finally
succumbs.
Swoon over
the video, and lose yourself in the lyrics.
Chris Young has proven once again he is the master of bringing
traditional country in its finest form to the world. With unmatched vocal richness that seems to
flow effortlessly, there is only one question left. How does this man not have a male vocalist of
the year trophy on his mantle?
Industry….your response?
In the world of today’s new country, this tune delights the
traditionalist’s soul. With a backdrop of banjo licks that make you want to
jump up and dance, Make You Mine
tells the longing story of love’s pursuit while the storyteller confidently sets
his sights on the love of his heart, the “miner’s daughter.”
Canadians Brad and Curtis Rempel make up the duo, HighValley. The brothers deliver this infectious single
with a polished blend of sibling harmony.
With shades of Bill Monroe and featuring country legend Ricky Skaggs,
this bluegrass-fused toe tapper is sure to bring a bounce to your step and a
smile to your face.
Single: CountyLine
Proving ever versatile, HighValley’s CountyLinegravitates toward a more modern, dirt
road lovin, fishin in the dark, mud on the tires country flavor. The familiar banjo serves to anchor this tune
as the soaring electric guitar breaks loose.
The lyrics tell their story in a way only country music can. The endearing sentiment of being right where
you are meant to be with the one you love at your side rings true in every
line. A picture is painted of living in
the moment. Work hard…play harder…..and
always appreciate the little things in life.
Soulful, powerful, expressive….somehow these adjectives don’t
adequately describe the voice of one remarkable vocalist out of Los Angeles.Quinn Archer masterfully blends the
edgy vibe of rock n’ roll with the deeply reflective feel of soul.When listening to Quinn’s work, one gets lost
in the richness of her voice and the sleekness of her sound.
Whether playing with a band, or doing solo work, this
talented singer-songwriter is capturing attention.She has worked with the likes of Shooter
Jennings, Ricky Phillips (The Baby’s, Bad English) and Gavin Mackillop (Sugar
Cult, The Rembrandts, Goo Goo Dolls)..just to name a few.Holding her own in the eclectic style that is
the LA circuit, the sky’s the limit for this amazing artist.
I had the pleasure of chatting with Quinn recently on
multiple topics including her latest release, Rest of My Days featuring Marcus
Foster.
AV:Tell us about your childhood. Where
did you grow up?
QA:Ha
I'm not sure where to even begin there without writing an essay and
boring everyone to tears but I grew up in South West London!
AV:How would you describe your sound?
QA:I'm
not sure if Rock n Soul is a genre but I definitely think that is the
vibe of the EP.
AV:Who were your early musical
influences? How about influences today?
QA:I
was definitely hugely influenced by a lot of 70's Rock, Janis Joplin, Led
Zepplin, Fleetwood Mac, The Doors etc. I
also listened to a lot of Aretha Franklin and Etta James.I still am influenced by those artists as I
never get bored of listening to them. But, I honestly listen to a lot
of different music. I'm not stuck on a particular genre. I just love good songs and interesting voices.
I love Chris Cornell, Adele, The Dead Weather, Arctic Monkeys, Ben Howard, Beth
Hart... There are so many great artists out there!
AV:When
you came to LA, you played with a band while also doing solo gigs. What
was it like playing the LA circuit as a female singer?
QA:I
have been in quite a few bands since I've been here and always loved the band
vibe. Its like having a band of brothers! It's definitely a bit
scarier as a solo artist but I have really enjoyed doing both.
AV:The
lyrics of “Walk Through The Fire” ring true for everyone, painting the picture
of the growing pains we all go through. Tell us about how this song
came to be.
QA:I
wrote this song with Steve Fox and Robbie Nevil.It was just one of those special moments that
happened when we had been discussing the subject matter.Then, in a few hours the three of us came up
with the music, melodies and lyrics that fit perfectly together.
AV:The
single, “Rest of My Days” is absolutely beautiful! The soft melody lets
yours and Marcus Foster’s vocals take center stage. Tell us about your
collaboration with Marcus and the origin of this song.
QA:Thank
you! It was one of those funny situations where it's like a musical playdate.
Your managers drop you off in the studio and say they'll be back in a few hours
to see how you've got along. Luckily writing with Marcus was awesome.
I love his voice and vibe so much.We
wrote the song that afternoon. When the managers came back, we played it to
them.They were like "ok lets
record this tomorrow!"
AV:The
EP for Dark Places will be released in July, but I understand the single will
get some attention on television in June. Tell us about that.
QA:Yes!
Dark places will be on the second to last episode of this season’s “Continuum.”The video for it, featuring 3 mystery cast
members, will also be released at the same time!
AV: “Dark
Places” showcases your incredibly soulful vocal talent. I understand you
recently completed a kickstarter campaign to raise funds to shoot a video for
this single. You raised $23,000, while the required amount was only
$11,000. Amazing support from the fans. What were you thinking when
you saw the funds climbing to eventually more than double the needed amount?
QA:I
couldn't believe it! When we started it, I was honestly worried that we
wouldn't make the goal as I couldn't imagine people donating that much.So when we hit the goal in 30 hours, I was
completely floored. It did have a lot to do with the massive support from fans
of TV show “Continuum” who really went above and beyond to make this happen.
AV:What else is on the horizon for you?
Where can fans find you?
QA:I
am going to be going back in the studio soon to complete the full album and
then fingers crossed I will get to go on tour later in the year.But for now, I am just super
excited for the release of the full version of the single for Dark Places ( in
June) and the EP to follow in July! There will be updates on https://www.facebook.com/QuinnArcherMusic and http://quinn-archer.com/
Coming off the highly successful
album, Neon, Chris Young releases an
ode to his live show. A.M, is a collection of tunes that get
you up on your feet, “Lighters In The Air” so to speak. Never fear though, the heart fluttering love
songs make their appearance as well.
The first single, “Aw Naw,” powers
out of the gate with guitar riffs that demand attention. The playful lyrics, cleverly written by
Young, Chris DeStefano, and Ashley Gorley, paint the picture of a fun-loving
night with friends that turns into an encounter that won’t let the night end
early. A departure from the traditional
sound that Young has become known for, Aw Naw shows him reaching creatively while
not straying too far.
The current single, “Who I Am With
You,” is one of the aforementioned love songs that doesn’t disappoint. Young’s exceptional vocals melt hearts with
lines like...
“Because with you I’m
a lucky man. You’re the best part of who
I am,” and the chorus...
“Who I am with you is who I really wanna be
You're so good for me
When I'm holding you, it feels like
I've got the world in my hands.
Yeah a better man, is who I am with you.”
"We’re
Gonna Find It Tonight” is another standout.
Again with a harder edge, the pounding drum intro and screaming guitar,
make you ready to fist pump in the air and get your dance on!
On the
softer side, a popular modern communication vessel makes its way into
song. “Text Me Texas” describes the
longing for that special someone to make contact, while the ultimate realization
sets in that the “text” will more than likely never come. A beautiful, sway-worthy song that pulls in a
bit of that traditional flair.
From the first track to the last, this
album is strong, creative, diverse, and an all around stellar compilation. Pick up a copy at the links below, or
anywhere music is sold.
The New Queen of Bluegrass, as
named by the Wall Street Journal, has
released a 2-disc set that embraces the title but also explores beyond.Rhonda Vincent’s “Only Me” crosses the
line between bluegrass and country showing all the while that the two are
forever intertwined.The five-time
Grammy nominee delivers a traditional, powerful, and enchanting compilation of
six bluegrass and six country songs that stay true to her roots and display the
raw talent of this gifted artist.
The title track, featuring Willie
Nelson, exhibits an inherent bluegrass sound with multiple instruments taking
turns on the melody while presenting the magnificent blending of Vincent and
Nelson’s voices.From there, Vincent
takes you on a journey from mourning the loss of love to the allure of the big
city in “Busy City” to the longing and heart wrenching
admissions of “I’d Rather Hear I Don’t Love You (Than Nothing At All).”
On disc two, Vincent leads off with
a song she penned at the tender age of 16.With insight and sentiment beyond her years, “Teardrops Over You” cries
traditional country heartache at its best.She also pays homage to country music’s pioneers with her spot on renditions
of some classics.From Connie Smith’s
“Once A Day,” to George Jones’ “When The Grass Grows Over Me,” to Ernest Tubbs’
“Drivin Nails”, she does them all proud.
Whether you are a fan of country,
bluegrass, both, or new to it all, this CD will draw you in and amaze.Vincent’s fabulous vocals and masterful
mandolin have you mesmerized from the first note to the last.Get a sneak peak at two of the tracks on her website,
www.rhondavincent.com , then head
to wherever music is sold and get the full set.You won’t be disappointed.
In the words of a country music
legend…..
“When Rhonda Vincent opens her
mouth, it’s great…whether she’s singing country or bluegrass.This collection of songs on “Only Me” is
incredible.God gave Rhonda an
unbelievable voice and I am so thankful that we get to enjoy it.I love her like a sister and enjoy her music
as her biggest fan.”
--Dolly
Parton
Need we say more.
Review By:Alicia Overman, Music Central Promotions02/2014
Touring and performing on stage with Radio Disney, having her first promo tour endorsed by Gibson Guitars, and starring in a movie developed around her band....all before the age of 20! I had the pleasure of chatting
with a young lady who is a star in the making, and is approaching it all with the wisdom of someone twice her age. She is a singer, songwriter, actor, choreographer….and does it all with
a philosophy of work hard, stay true to yourself, and there are no limits to
what a person can accomplish. An
admirable insight from a teenager in the limelight.
“I
try to live each day so I can look back and be proud of who I am.”
Nashville recording artist, Celeste Kellogg,
is capturing the attention of Music Row in a big way.
She was accepted as an emerging artist by the Country Music Association
at last year’s CMA Fan Fest. Linda
Davis, mother of Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott and talented singer in her own
right, declared Celeste to be the “Shania Twain of this generation.” High praise for a very talented artist
indeed.
Pop Star Magazine covered her promo tour, making her the 2nd country artist to be featured. Taylor Swift being the first. iHeart Radio named her an "Artist to Watch." We couldn't agree more!
Celeste tells us a little about her
childhood, her desire to be an authentic artist, and her plans for the future.
AV: Tell us a little about yourself. What sparked your interest in singing when
you were only 6 years old? Where did you
grow up? Who were your musical
influences growing up?
CK: I grew up in southeastern Virginia. I started singing at the age of 6
in a church choir. My dad would sing me to sleep every night,
singing the Eagles and James Taylor. My
mom was a choreographer. She had me in
dance at the age of two. So you can say music has always been around
me. My dad sounds a lot like Alan Jackson. As I grew older I became an Alan fan. Musical
influences growing up would have to be Shania, Alan and Wynonna Judd.
AV: You were a part of Radio Disney…tell us
about that. How did you become
involved? How old were you when you did
that?
CK: When I was 12, I saw that Radio Disney was
holding auditions for a Tween Pop Group on their website. I asked my Mom if I could audition and she said "Sure! You don't have a Disney voice, (your
voice is more country) but every audition is an experience so why
not!" So that's the way I looked at it. I auditioned and was
honored to be a part of the group. We opened for Raven, The Jonas
Brothers, Miley Cyrus, the Cheetah Girls and Kelly Clarkson. It was such an
amazing experience and that's when I realized that music is what I wanted to do
for the rest of my life.
AV: You
attained success in Germany
with the single “The Look” from your 2010 CD “This Is Where I Wanna Be,”
produced by multi platinum producer Andrew
Lane. Tell
us about creating the CD. With this
being your debut CD, what goals did you have going into production?
CK: When my first CD, This Is Where I Wanna Be,
was released at the end of 2010, my song ‘The Look’ charted #20 on iTunes in Germany! With this being my first CD, I started by
co-writing 4 songs with Nashville
songwriters: Anthony Little, Noah Gordon, Kris Bergsnes and my music producer, Andrew Lane.
About a year later, I came back to Nashville
with songs I had written by myself and the same songwriters helped me tweak them
a little bit. Then, I recorded the final
5 songs for the CD. During the
production of the CD, I just wanted my sound to be different….something people
hadn't heard before. We just ended up
putting this sound together that was authentic. Later, people would say it was
country, pop, and rock with a touch of soul! It wasn't intentional but that's what
happened!
AV: After Radio Disney ended, you started a
band called No Limit. Where did that
name come from?
CK: We named the group that to tell kids and
teens like us that "If you work hard and stay true to yourself, there is
NO LIMIT to what you can do!" And that was our message for 3 years!
AV: You and No Limit garnered the attention of
someone in another art form. Tell us
about the movie “No Limit Kids: Much Ado
About Middle School.”
CK: We actually got the attention of award
winning producer and director, Dave Moody. He asked us to be in a movie
that he was directing, later called "No Limit Kids: Much Ado About Middle
School". The screenplay writer, Josh Moody, wrote the movie around
us. It was such a cool experience being able to act in a movie because it was
something I had never done before! Coming
off the set of the movie you have so many emotions, and I found myself writing
19 songs!
AV: Compare putting your thoughts and emotions
into acting vs. writing/recording music.
CK: Personally, I think it's a little bit
harder to put my thoughts and emotions into acting than singing because acting
is a different character. When I'm
singing a song it's easy to put emotion into it, especially if I wrote it. That’s because I know the feelings that went
into the song. I do think the two go
hand and hand, though. I have done more
acting since then and would love to do more!
AV: You released your 2nd CD this year called
“Broken Record.” Again working with Andrew Lane, how is
this CD similar/different than your debut CD?
Did you approach this project with the same philosophy as the debut CD?
CK: "Broken Record" was released in
April 2013. I think the biggest
difference between this CD and my debut CD is that I wrote all of the songs on
"Broken Record" by myself. It's a CD that I am really proud of and
hopefully people will like the music that comes from my heart. I did approach
the CD with a similar approach as my first CD in the fact that I just wanted it
to be different! And I really hope people will like it :)
AV: What inspires
you to write? What inspired the title
cut from “Broken Record?”
CK: I actually came up with the idea for the
song in 2009 and that it would say “Bro Bro Bro Broken Record” but I didn't
write the song until 2012. I thought it
would be a cool name for a CD because it's like a record! Different situations
that I go through or that I see my friends go through inspire me to write
certain songs. "Not Your Girl" was about a break up that I went
through that didn't really make sense. There was really no reason to break up,
so this song was about getting over that and moving on. "Broken
Record" is written about seeing the same guys say the same thing to a bunch
of different girls and a girl wanting to find that one special guy. I wrote
"Rain" when I was 16. It was
the night before a break-up that I felt coming and I couldn't stop it nor
understand how the relationship had gotten so bad. "Tornado".... now
I'm not really sure what I wrote that about. It doesn't really make much sense but it does
at the same time. It's about an up and down relationship. I wrote "Superman" about a
"dream guy" that I had kind of made up in my head. I took different
traits that I liked in different guys and put them all together to be my
SUPERMAN!
AV: What has the
fan interaction been like? Where can the
fans find your music?
CK: The fan interaction has been great!!! I had
a booth at CMA Fest Fan Fair X this year and had a listening station where
people could listen to "Broken Record". I was so excited to see their
reactions to my music! 75% of the people who listened to my EP, bought it,
which really meant a lot to me. One of the most important things to me as a
songwriter is knowing that people can relate to and like the songs I write!
Especially if it can help them through a situation! I've gotten a lot of tweets
about how a song of mine has helped somebody with a situation or that it was
theirs and their significant other's song. That puts the biggest smile on my
face!
Fans can find my music on iTunes, Amazon, CD Baby, Google Play or they can get
an autographed physical CD off of my website...... http://celestekellogg.com
AV: What’s on the
horizon?
CK: Up next for me is filming my "Broken
Record" music video that multiple TV networks are waiting for. Country Girl Power Tour is in development,
along with lots of meetings, performing and promoting my music, and with a
possible radio tour to promote the single!!! I can't wait to visit more places
in the United States and around the world! I'm looking forward to meeting you guys and meeting more
music fans! I love you all and thank you so much for the support you've given
me! Without you guys, there would be no concert, no glow sticks, no songs - you
make our dreams as musicians come true! Thank you!
We were about to prove without a doubt……the
answer was/is YES.As I waited for one
of the best rock bands to come out of the 80’s to hit the stage, my mind was
racing.At the forefront of my thoughts was
the fact that I was on the verge of experiencing a concert that I had been
waiting to see for 25+ years.The
opportunity/timing never presented itself for me until now.So to say I was simply “excited” for this
night would be a colossal understatement.
The moment was here. Night Ranger hit the stage!While some of the members have changed over
the years, they sounded as solid as ever.With Jack Blades running the stage, twirling with his guitar flying
around him, and belting out the lead vocals, you couldn’t prove by me that 25
years had passed.Brad Gillis blew us
away with his stellar guitar licks.He
mesmerized the fans with not only NR’s tunes, but also jammed on an Ozzy
Osbourne smash, Crazy Train.Gillis, who
played with Ozzy some 30 years ago, was teased by Blades that he wouldn’t
remember how to play any Ozzy songs after that many years.Gillis tore it up!Kelly Keagy still amazes with strong
vocals while pounding out the hits on the drums.He also left the drum set to come center stage
to sing lead on two of the band’s smash hits, “Goodbye” and “Sister
Christian.”
While the charter members thrilled the fans, Joel Hoekstra
on guitar and Eric Levy on keyboards were equally as impressive.Joel, who possesses every bit the “rocker” look,
dressed all in black with long hair that whipped around as he played to the
crowd, had us in the palm of his hand.Eric, who bears a striking resemblance to former keyboard player Alan
Fitzgerald, lit up the keyboard with a magnificent solo that awed the
concertgoers.
At one point I closed my eyes (no pun intended) and if I
hadn’t known better, I would have sworn I was 15 again hearing the original
recordings of these songs.From early
hits like “Don’t Tell Me You Love Me” and “Sing Me Away” to later smashes “When
You Close Your Eyes,” “Four In The Morning” and “Rumours In The Air,” this band
did not disappoint.I can promise you
this….….there will not be a long waiting period before I see this band again
live.I’ve already been checking out the
tour page on their website!You should
too!
