|
|
 |
|
 |
The
Raveonettes
The Raveonettes pounced on the modern rock scene with their distinctive dissonant, droning music, "recorded in glorious B Minor," as proclaimed on their 2002 debut CD, Whip It On. The Denmark duo, Sune Rose Wagner on guitar and Sharin Foo on bass, create a dark and furious landscape that aims to change the formula of garage rock. Not only were all the songs recorded in one key, no more than three chords were allowed, every song had to be under three minutes, and none of the songs contained high hat or ride cymbals. The result is an atmospheric collection of songs that sound like they were plucked from the soundtrack to an old, creepy B horror flick.
In the spirit of the 60s' Beat generation, Wagner wrote many of the songs spontaneously on the road. And while Wagner writes the songs, both Wagner and Foo produce, choose and craft the vocals. Many older influences shine through the Raveonettes' music as the two-piece draw on classic legends like the Cramps, the Jesus & Mary Chain, Suicide and even the Everly Brothers. Continuing their experimental rock, the band recently released Chain Gang of Love, their sequel to Whip It On.
|
Adonis
Hailing from Chattanooga, Tennessee, Adonis has been influenced by a variety of different genres of music and sounds including Hip Hop, Rhythm & Blues, Jazz, Urban Drums and Latin Percussion. His knowledge of music has made him one of the most promising young stars on the current music scene and one of its most sought after producers. His love of music was fostered in his Chattanooga church where he sang in the choir, giving him, what he calls, a spiritual connection to his music. A recent addition to Sean "P. Diddy" Combs' team of Bad Boy writers and producers, Adonis proves that all of his "hype" is more than true. He's written for such artists as J. Lo, Nivea, Dream, Dave Hollister, Faith Evans, Jene, Keith Sweat, Boyz II Men and "P. Diddy," co-writing his "I Need a Girl pt.2" record, which is regarded as one of the most creative and solid records of 2002. His contributions alone have lead to over $20 million in sales at the retail level for various publishing houses and record labels, putting him in the fast-lane towards becoming a part of the elite class of music's "super-producers."
|
|
|
Negroni's Trio
This pop Latin jazz trio will musically inspire you with their fusion of tropical rhythms and Latin jazz sounds. The group was formed by Jose Negroni, a composer member of ASCAP who's a renowned Puerto Rican pianist, musical director and producer. Negroni's Trio has immediately become a sensation in his homeland, Puerto Rico, and Miami. Recently signed by the imprint, Universal Music Latino, Negroni's Trio released their debut album, Naturaleza/Nature this year, and it is available throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. The first single is "Coqui, Coqui," which was penned as a tribute to his native Puerto Rico - the title is evocative of the coqui, a small frog originally of Puerto Rico that makes a "co-key" noise.
|
Dierks Bentley
"I once heard George Jones say in an interview that country music was like religion to him. I couldn't agree more," says Dierks Bentley. "It's where I turn when times are tough and I need answers and it's where I go when I want to cut loose and have fun. As a singer and songwriter, it's not only how I make a living but what gives me direction and purpose in life."
That's completely obvious when you hear Dierks' self-titled album. It's a straight-up country record, made by someone who knows and loves the traditional stuff, and who has a few variations of his own to add. Originally from Phoenix, Dierks grew up listening to George Strait and Hank Williams with his dad. He went from listener to player when he picked up an electric guitar at 13. Moving to Nashville at 19, he immediately immersed himslef in the local music scene, and it wasn't long before he recorded his own record, Don't Leave Me In Love. The album brought him to the attention of music publishers and Dierks became a full-time songwriter for Sony/Tree Publishing. That deal then lead to him signing with Capitol Records. Dierks wrote or co-wrote 11 of the 13 songs on his new album and brought in some of the up and coming musicians he'd worked with in the dive bars and honky tonks to perform on the record.
The first single, "What Was I Thinkin'" took off like lightning. Fast-paced and fun, it tells the story of a wild date, complete with gun-toting daddy, jealous ex-boyfriend and a girl in an irresistible white tank top. "I think we're getting that response because we made music the right way," Dierks says. "We made a record for ourselves, something that we liked, figuring that there's probably a lot of other people who like the same thing." Of course any real country record has a healthy collection of heartbreak songs. "Songs like 'Whiskey Tears,' 'I Bought The Shoes,' 'Distant Shore' and 'Wish It Would Break,' might make you want to sip on a beer and get lonesome for a little bit," says Dierks, "but that's what country music to me is all about...the good and the bad."
At press time, Bentley's debut single had reached the #1 spot on
Billboard's Hot Country Single and Tracks chart and R&R's Country Top 50. Bentley is the first debut artist in two years whose single went to #1 on both charts.
| 
|
|
Gina Gershon
Gina Gershon, who has proven herself as a stunning, versatile actress in films like Bound and Driven, has also crossed over into the songwriting world. For her upcoming role as the frontwoman of an all-girl L.A. punk band in Prey for Rock & Roll, Gershon co-wrote the fast and angsty song "Stupidstar" with fellow ASCAP member Linda Perry. Prey for Rock & Roll premiered at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival and features Gershon's vocals on the film's soundtrack. The movie is a musical snapshot of modern rock and roll life and the search for stardom and success in a competitive and cruel world. The original motion picture soundtrack will be released on Hybrid Recordings in October.
|
Playback
: Fall 2003
ASCAP
Playback
|
|
|
|
|
