It is easy to label an artist as soulful, but increasing difficult to find a real soul artist in today’s music scene. Joy Ike is the needle in the haystack. Her recently released sophomore album, 'Rumors', rises above the rest busting through with a soul sound that has drawn comparisons to Norah Jones, Fiona Apple, and Regina Spektor.
Her single "Sweeter" has received praise from NPR’s music critics with All Things Considered calling her, "a unique blend of neo-soul, with just the right dash of pop...a truly compelling act to watch."
'Rumors' has also racked up an incredible amount of attention in her hometown of Pittsburg, PA and has garnered new listeners across the country building a band of passionate new followers.
Joy released 'Rumors' her second full length album independently and continues a grassroots attempt to stay true to her values.
‘Blessed is an ode to the women out there who have cheating men that just didn’t do right…. Here’s a young woman who sings with the voice of a hip-hoppera. Skye is the cure’ - says PopMusicClub
Forever 21 is giving you a chance to win a trip to New York City to get stylized by the one and only Lady Gaga! One lucky grand prize winner will receive an unbelievable prize package including 2 round trip airline tickets to New York City, hotel accommodations for 2 nights, a shopping spree at Forever 21, concert tickets & VIP passes to a Lady Gaga show, and a style out by Lady Gaga! Enter to win here!
Plus, get Lady Gaga video content, news, and much more on The Lady Gaga Mobile Site. Visit the site on your phone here!
Lady Gaga's second edition of official remixes for the smash single 'Just Dance' are now available! Make sure to purchase yours from iTunes!
Fifty Berklee College of Music students enrolled in a marketing course have launched a grassroots campaign to help land two of their teachers, vocalist Donna McElroy and pianist Jetro da Silva, a televised performance of "America the Beautiful" at the Presidential Inauguration this January.
In support of the application filed with the Armed Services Inaugural Committee, students used YouTube.com to provide worldwide access to a video of McElroy and da Silva giving a stirring rendition of the piece at the 2004 inauguration of Berklee president Roger Brown.
The students’ strategy is to increase the probability of the link reaching the President-elect or his team by using the same tools and tactics used by Obama to win the election. Last week the students began rolling out email, social networks, blogs, and word-of-mouth efforts as means of sharing the video with the world and in hope of getting it all the way to the President-elect.
ABOUT THE PERFORMERS
Donna McElroy is a professor of voice at Berklee, where she has taught since 1995. She is a Grammy nominee, a Dove Award-winner, and an arranger/vocalist on gold and platinum releases by Reba McEntire, Garth Brooks, Amy Grant, and BeBe and CeCe Winans. Television appearances include Tonight Show, and the Grammy Awards. Visit: http://www.donnamcelroy.net
Jetro da Silva is a professor of ensemble at Berklee, as well as the former assistant chair of the piano department, and an alumnus of the college. He has performed with Whitney Houston, George Duke, Stevie Wonder, Patti LaBelle, Earth, Wind & Fire, B.B. King, Gladys Knight, Chaka Khan, Bonnie Raitt, Luther Vandross, and many others. A native of Brazil, he is a brand new US citizen who cast his first vote in this election. Visit: http://www.jetrodasilva.com
ABOUT BERKLEE
Berklee College of Music was founded on the revolutionary principle that the best way to prepare students for careers in music was through the study and practice of contemporary music. For over 60 years, the college has evolved constantly to reflect the state of the art of music and the music business. With over a dozen performance and nonperformance majors, a diverse and talented student body representing over 70 countries, and a music industry "who's who" of alumni, Berklee is the world's premier learning lab for the music of today—and tomorrow.
Lady Gaga is changing the world one sequin at a time! Make sure to check her out in the latest issue of Billboard Magazine, available on newstands November 22nd!
Plus on Monday November 24th, Lady Gaga will be in the studio with JoJo on the Radio at 102.7 KIIS FM in L.A! Listen live at 9PM PST at http://www.kiisfm.com/ or on your iPhone with the I Heart Radio Application. JoJo will be giving out in studio passes all week. Vote for "Just Dance" on JoJo's Top 9 right now by clicking here.
And don't forget, Lady Gaga will be taking the stage at Z100's Jingle Ball 2008 on December 12th! Find out how to purchase or win your tickets here!
Ledisi Brings Holiday Cheer For All To Hear With National Tour This Christmas Season
Ledisi's giving audiences a special gift this December when she headlines a national tour featuring songs from both her new holiday album It’s Christmas and selections from her major label debut album Lost & Found (both on Verve). The Oakland-native and two-time 2008 GRAMMY nominee is known for giving electrifying live performances, described as a "religious experience" by Billboard.com (2.15.08). The Boston Globe said of her Newport Jazz Fest performance "If there had been a roof at the park, the singer would have torn it off the sucker...she jokingly threatened to stop her set and go home if the people in the audience didn't stand up and shake their booties. They obliged" (8.11.08).
'It's Christmas' Tour Dates: December 4 - Carolina Theater - Durham, NC December 5 - Variety Playhouse - Atlanta, GA December 7 - Dillard University - New Orleans, LA December 10 - El Rey - Los Angeles, CA December 11-14 - Yoshi's - San Francisco, CA December 16 - Dedry Experience - Chicago, IL December 18 - Fillmore - Detroit, MI December 19 - BB King's - New York, NY December 20 - Keswick Theatre - Philadelphia, PA December 22-23 - Rams Head - Annapolis, MD
Ledisi is sure to light up the stage with her blend of R&B, soul, and gospel while slow burners like "This Christmas (Could Be The One)" create an elegant and tender holiday moment also essential to the season. Though it bears a similar name to the Donny Hathaway classic, "This Christmas (Could Be The One)" is one of the four original songs co-written by Ledisi for her new holiday album.
Ledisi adds another accolade to an unprecedented year with a BET J Virtual Awards nomination for Female Artist of the Year. This special awards ceremony bridges the worlds of music and virtual reality and will air November 25 at 8:30pm ET on BET J, followed by an encore online broadcast at 10:00pm ET on BET.com. Earlier in 2008 Ledisi was nominated for the Best New Artist Grammy award while her album also earned a Best R&B Album nomination. She has made numerous high-profile jazz festival appearances throughout the year as well as a performance with Prince at Coachella and on The Tonight Show, with Sergio Mendes on the Tonight Show, and a week with the Count Basie Orchestra at the legendary Blue Note in NYC. Ledisi also performed in George Clooney's film Leatherheads and the Reprise Theatre Company's Once On This Island.
This kid never stops!!! Colin Munroe is set to put out a new mixtape and has released his upcoming tour dates for the rest of the year. His Unsung Hero mixtape includes 14 tracks of artists such as DC’s native Wale, NYC’s up and coming Mickey Factz, and legend Blaqstarr just to name a few. The album was co-produced by Sickamore & The Famous Firm in Dallas Austin’s Atlanta studio. Dallas Austin has produced pop acts such as TLC, Madonna, and P!nk. You can check out the trailer below and tell me what you think.
The mixtape is set to be released digitally Dec. 1 through www.unsunghero.tv as well as OnSmash.com. You can get a preview of a track set to release exclusively on Discobelle.net next week, so keep a look out for that. The track is Will I Stay, which is Colin’s forthcoming album Don’t Think Less of Me. This version though is actually remixed by Dallas Austin and features Wale. I will send the track out once it is premiered, so if you want a copy, hit me up back here.
Here are his upcoming tour dates. Look out for the Dec 9th date where he teams up with Wale, Mark Ronson, Nick Catchdubs & Kid Cudi at Highline Ballroom New York.
12-02 Toronto, ON – Tranzac Club w. Proton 12-03 Los Angeles, CA – Viper Room w. Proton 12-04 New York, NY – Studio @ Webster Hall w. Proton 12-06 Atlanta, GA – Lenny’s w. Proton & Spree Wilson 12-09 New York, NY – Highline Ballroom (supporting Wale, Mark Ronson (DJ Set) & KiD CuDi) 12-12 New London, CT – Hanafins Pub w. Flowers & Kain
Z100 just announced the official line-up for Jingle Ball 2008! And none other than the retro-sexual pop-tart, Lady Gaga, will be performing! She'll be performing as part of an A-List line up including Ne-Yo, Leona Lewis, David Archuleta, Brandy, Paramore, Katy Perry, Jesse McCartney, Chris Brown, and special guest host Rihanna!
Don't miss Lady Gaga take the stage at this incredible show! Find out how to purchase or win Z100 Jingle Ball tickets here!
Also, AOL Music has included Lady Gaga in their list of 10 Women Who Rock in 2008 at #3!!! Check out the entire list of honorees and see why Lady Gaga makes the cut on AOL Music's Spinner.com by clicking here!
Get Aboard the Soul Express with the Philadelphia International Records (PIR) Release, Love Train: The Sound of Philadelphia, In Stores & Online Now!
Philadelphia International Records (PIR) Presents 'Love Train: The Sound of Philadelphia'. The 4-CD, 71-Song Boxed Set Includes Classics from the Pioneers of Soul.
VIDEO: Watch a clip of Harold Melvin's Blue Notes performing 'Wake Up Everybody' from the upcoming PBS Special, Love Train, airing in December. Check your local listings.
AUDIO: Listen to the classic Teddy Pendergrass track "Love T.K.O", from the collection
Various Artists Love Train: The Sound of Philadelphia Sony Legacy / PIR / Gamble-Huff Music Available In Stores & Online Now!
Tracklisting:
Disc 1 1. Expressway (To Your Heart) - Soul Survivors 2. La-La---Means I Love You - The Delfonics 3. Cowboys To Girls - The Intruders 4. Hey, Western Union Man - Jerry Butler 5. Ready Or Not Here I Come (Can't Hide From Love) - The Delfonics 6. Only The Strong Survive - Jerry Butler 7. Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time) - The Delfonics 8. Brand New Me - Dusty Springfield 9. Don't Let The Green Grass Fool You - Wilson Pickett 10. You're The Reason Why - The Ebonys 11. Drowning In The Sea of Love - Joe Simon 12. I'm Stone In Love With You - The Stylistics 13. I Miss You - Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes 14. Back Stabbers - The O'Jays 15. Sunshine - The O'Jays 16. I'll Be Around - The Spinners 17. Slow Motion (Pt. 1) - Johnny Williams 18. Me And Mrs. Jones - Billy Paul 19. If You Don't Know Me By Now - Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes 20. Love Is Here - The Futures
Disc 2 1. Love Train - The O'Jays 2. Break Up To Make Up - The Stylistics 3. Family Affair - MFSB 4. It's Forever - The Ebonys 5. Time To Get Down - The O'Jays 6. There's No Me Without You - The Manhattans 7. I'll Always Love My Mama - The Intruders 8. The Love I Lost - Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes 9. I Wanna Know Your Name - The Intruders 10. Dirty Ol' Man - The Three Degrees 11. Put Your Hands Together - The O'Jays 12. Thanks For Saving My Life - Billy Paul 13. Mighty Love - The Spinners 14. Be Thankful For What You Got (Pt. 1) - William DeVaughn 15. For The Love of Money - The O'Jays 16. Where Do We Go From Here - TheTrammps 17. T.S.O.P. (The Sound of Philadelphia) - MSFB (Featuring The Three Degrees)
Disc 3 1. Then Came You - The Spinners w/ Dionne Warwick 2. Love Is The Message - MFSB (Featuring The Three Degrees) 3. When Will I See You Again - The Three Degrees 4. Where Are All My Friends - Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes 5. Picture Us - Bunny Sigler 6. Bad Luck - Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes 7. Give The People What They Want - The O'Jays 8. Billy's Back Home - Billy Paul 9. Hope That We Can Be Together Soon - Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes (Featuring sharon Paige) 10. Do It Any Way You Wanna - People's Choice 11. The Big Hurt - People's Choice 12. Let Me Make Love To You - The O'Jays 13. Wake Up Everybody - Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes 14. I Love Music - The O'Jays 15. Don't Leave Me This Way - Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes 16. Let's Groove - Archie Bell & The Drells 17. Livin' For The Weekend - The O'Jays
Disc 4 1. Kiss And Say Goodbye - The Manhattans 2. I'm Not In Love - Dee Dee Sharp 3. You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine - Lou Rawls 4. THE Rubberband Man - The Spinners 5. Enjoy Yourself - The Jacksons 6. Free Love - Jean Carn 7. I Don't Love You Anymore - Teddy Pendergrass 8. See You When I Git There - Lou Rawls 9. Use Ta Be My Girl - The O'Jays 10. Close The Door - Teddy Pendergrass 11. Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now - McFadden & Whitehead 12. You Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else - The Jones Girls 13. Hurry Up This Way Again - The Stylistics 14. Love T.K.O. - Teddy Pendergrass 15. I Ain't Jivin', I'm Jammin' - Leon Huff 16. It's Gonna Take A Miracle - Deniece Williams 17. If Only You Knew - Patti Labelle
Take a look at the 1970s style with these exclusive pics of artists featured on the collection!
Perez Hilton, the self-proclaimed 'Queen of All Media', took some time to interview Lady Gaga about the latest developments in her career! Check out this exclusive video interview right here!
Plus, watch YoungHollywood.com's exclusive "Music Video In Progress" feature with Lady Gaga on the set of her "Poker Face" music video. Watch it here!
Plus, the music video for Lady Gaga's new single "Poker Face" just made its broadcast premiere on LOGO network's NewNowNext PopLab! Have a look here!
Everyone who's anyone is singing the praises of Lady Gaga and her debut album, 'The Fame'. Check out what people are saying!
"From its opening track until it closes, The Fame fails to come up short on funky sounds to amuse fans of this dance genre. However, what carries this album to new heights is the combination of voice and the razor sharp lyrics which accompany it." – StarPulse.com
“An album full of hits.” – Billboard
"Lady Gaga is the next rock/pop/electro superstar – or maybe she is the first. Mix one part Blondie with one part Madonna, swirl it in a bath of the Scissor
"Lady Gaga is the next rock/pop/electro superstar – or maybe she is the first. Mix one part Blondie with one part Madonna, swirl it in a bath of the Scissor Sisters and Junior Senior, throw in some glitch and sprinkle with glitter and you come close to the recipe." – DJ Ron Slomowicz of About.com
'The Fame' Tracklisting (US Version):
1. Just Dance (featuring Colby O'Donis) 2. LoveGame 3. Paparazzi 4. Poker Face 5. Eh, Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say) 6. Beautiful, Dirty, Rich 7. The Fame 8. Money Honey 9. Starstruck (featuring Space Cowboy & Flo'rida) 10. Boys Boys Boys 11. Paper Gangsta 12. Brown Eyes 13. I Like It Rough 14. Summerboy
Purchase your own copy at Amazon.com or from the iTunesMusic Store!
"I'm not lying, I'm just stunnin' with my love-glue-gunning! Just like a chick in the casino, I take your bank before I pay you out. I promise this! Promise this! Check this hand cause I'm marvelous!" - Poker Face
Lady Gaga's new club-banger, "Poker Face", has a smoking new music video! Watch it today on Imeem! "Poker Face" will be available on her debut album, 'The Fame'!
"How our love will blow it all away." - 'Everybody Here Wants You'
TheUrbanMusicScene.com says Kenny Lattimore's interpretation of "Everybody Here Wants You" is 'destined to be played back instantly after you hear it the 1st time'. Check out his riveting version of Jeff Buckley's masterpiece.
Kenny Lattimore Timeless - Available Now Verve Records Myspace
Plus, now you catch up with Kenny on all the latest tour dates, music news and more by visiting his revamped website, http://www.kennylattimore.com/, or by calling him at (323) 271-0781!
In support of her highly-anticipated debut album, Lady Gaga just launched a new and improved website! Here it is in all its fabulousity: http://www.ladygaga.com/
Plus, Lady Gaga is the opening act for the New Kids on the Block sold-out reunion tour, and she's coming to a city near you! Don't miss the chance to watch this pop phenomenon work her magic! Check out the official tour dates for Lady Gaga, the incomparable new girl on the block!
Lady Gaga / New Kids on the Block Tour Dates:
10/8 – Los Angeles, CA – Staples Center 10/9 – Sacramento, CA – Arco Arena 10/10 – San Jose, CA – HP Pavilion 10/11 – Las Vegas, NV – Mandalay Bay 10/27 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden 10/29 – Atlanta, GA – Gwinnett Center 10/30 – Charlotte, NC – Time Warner Cable Arena 11/1 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Bank Atlantic Center 11/2 – Tampa, FL – St. Pete Times Forum 11/5 – Philadelphia, PA – Wachovia Center 11/6 – Providence, RI – Dunkin Donuts Center 11/7 – Atlantic City, NJ – Borgata Casino 11/8 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena 11/10 – St. Louis, MO – Scottrade Center 11/11 – Kansas City, MO – Sprint Center 11/12 – Omaha, NE – Quest Center 11/14 – Denver, CO – Broomfield Center 11/15 – Salt Lake City, UT – E Center/United 11/18 – Edmonton, AB – Rexall Place 11/19 – Calgary, AB – Saddledome 11/21 – Vancouver, BC – General Motors Place 11/22 – Seattle, WA – Tacoma Dome 11/23 – Portland, OR – Rose Garden Arena 11/25 – San Diego, CA – Cox Arena 11/26 – Los Angeles, CA – Nokia Theatre
Philadelphia International Records (PIR) Presents 'Love Train: The Sound of Philadelphia'. The 4-CD, 71-Song Boxed Set Includes Classics from the Pioneers of Soul. "Motown brought the soul, Stax brought the grit and PIR brought the magic.”
AUDIO: Listen to the classic O'Jays track "For The Love Of Money", from the collection
Various Artists Love Train: The Sound of Philadelphia Sony Legacy / PIR / Gamble-Huff Music Available In Stores & Online on October 21, 2008! Pre-Order on Amazon
Tracklisting:
Disc 1 1. Expressway (To Your Heart) - Soul Survivors 2. La-La---Means I Love You - The Delfonics 3. Cowboys To Girls - The Intruders 4. Hey, Western Union Man - Jerry Butler 5. Ready Or Not Here I Come (Can't Hide From Love) - The Delfonics 6. Only The Strong Survive - Jerry Butler 7. Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time) - The Delfonics 8. Brand New Me - Dusty Springfield 9. Don't Let The Green Grass Fool You - Wilson Pickett 10. You're The Reason Why - The Ebonys 11. Drowning In The Sea of Love - Joe Simon 12. I'm Stone In Love With You - The Stylistics 13. I Miss You - Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes 14. Back Stabbers - The O'Jays 15. Sunshine - The O'Jays 16. I'll Be Around - The Spinners 17. Slow Motion (Pt. 1) - Johnny Williams 18. Me And Mrs. Jones - Billy Paul 19. If You Don't Know Me By Now - Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes 20. Love Is Here - The Futures
Disc 2 1. Love Train - The O'Jays 2. Break Up To Make Up - The Stylistics 3. Family Affair - MFSB 4. It's Forever - The Ebonys 5. Time To Get Down - The O'Jays 6. There's No Me Without You - The Manhattans 7. I'll Always Love My Mama - The Intruders 8. The Love I Lost - Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes 9. I Wanna Know Your Name - The Intruders 10. Dirty Ol' Man - The Three Degrees 11. Put Your Hands Together - The O'Jays 12. Thanks For Saving My Life - Billy Paul 13. Mighty Love - The Spinners 14. Be Thankful For What You Got (Pt. 1) - William DeVaughn 15. For The Love of Money - The O'Jays 16. Where Do We Go From Here - TheTrammps 17. T.S.O.P. (The Sound of Philadelphia) - MSFB (Featuring The Three Degrees)
Disc 3 1. Then Came You - The Spinners w/ Dionne Warwick 2. Love Is The Message - MFSB (Featuring The Three Degrees) 3. When Will I See You Again - The Three Degrees 4. Where Are All My Friends - Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes 5. Picture Us - Bunny Sigler 6. Bad Luck - Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes 7. Give The People What They Want - The O'Jays 8. Billy's Back Home - Billy Paul 9. Hope That We Can Be Together Soon - Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes (Featuring sharon Paige) 10. Do It Any Way You Wanna - People's Choice 11. The Big Hurt - People's Choice 12. Let Me Make Love To You - The O'Jays 13. Wake Up Everybody - Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes 14. I Love Music - The O'Jays 15. Don't Leave Me This Way - Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes 16. Let's Groove - Archie Bell & The Drells 17. Livin' For The Weekend - The O'Jays
Disc 4 1. Kiss And Say Goodbye - The Manhattans 2. I'm Not In Love - Dee Dee Sharp 3. You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine - Lou Rawls 4. THE Rubberband Man - The Spinners 5. Enjoy Yourself - The Jacksons 6. Free Love - Jean Carn 7. I Don't Love You Anymore - Teddy Pendergrass 8. See You When I Git There - Lou Rawls 9. Use Ta Be My Girl - The O'Jays 10. Close The Door - Teddy Pendergrass 11. Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now - McFadden & Whitehead 12. You Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else - The Jones Girls 13. Hurry Up This Way Again - The Stylistics 14. Love T.K.O. - Teddy Pendergrass 15. I Ain't Jivin', I'm Jammin' - Leon Huff 16. It's Gonna Take A Miracle - Deniece Williams 17. If Only You Knew - Patti Labelle
About Philadelphia International Records:
In 1971, Gamble and Huff founded PIR as the outlet for their creative vision. Building a stable of Philly-based talent, PIR reached the tops of the charts from day one. In one memorable nine month period during 1972-73, they sold over 10 million records as Billy Paul’s Grammy-winning “Me & Mrs. Jones,” the O’Jays’ “Back¬ Stab¬bers” and “Love Train,” Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes’ “If You Don’t Know Me By Now,” and the Intruders “I’ll Always Love My Mama” all charted at the same time.
PIR became the birthplace, incubator and launching pad for the Philly Soul sound, a unique blend of R&B rhythms, sweet soul vocals, deep funk grooves, pulsing horn charts and lush string arrangements with melodic structures combining elements of pop, jazz and world music. A sophisticated sound lovingly crafted by engineer Joe Tarsia at his Sigma Sound studios by some of the 20th century’s most influential producers and production teams – including Thom Bell, Linda Creed, Gene McFadden & John Whitehead, Bunny Sigler, Dexter Wansel, and others, including Gamble & Huff themselves – Philly Soul set the stage for disco, smooth jazz, adult contemporary music, quiet storm, and more.
Gamble & Huff’s PIR songs and productions have truly permeated the musical DNA of contemporary culture. They have been covered or sampled by a vast array of artists including Jay-Z, Babyface, Nelly, OutKast, Angie Stone, Simply Red (whose #1 version of “If You Don’t Know Me By Now” in 1989 earned Gamble & Huff the Best R&B Song Grammy), Bette Midler, Mary J. Blige, Michael Bublé, Kanye West, 50 Cent, and T.I., among many others.
When asked by Russell Hall of Performing Songwriter magazine, “What are the characteristics of a great song?” Kenny Gamble replied, “A great story.” To which Leon Huff added, “And a great melody.” And Gamble responded, “Like Duke Ellington said, ‘It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing.”
Check out the debut music video from R&B/Pop Sensation Tynisha Keli! You will fall in 'Love' after first glance!
Tynisha Keli 'I Wish You Loved Me' on iTunes Warner Bros. Records www.tynishamusic.com www.myspace.com/tynishakeli
ABOUT TYNISHA:
“A lot of people call it history / It’s only right to call it my story / Because I’ve been through a lot / And thought it’d never stop / With everything that I‘ve got I held on.” — From “Misunderstood” by Tynisha Keli
Tynisha Keli may be all of 22, but she’s lived a lot of life in those two decades. Ask her about it and she’ll tell you about her experiences growing up poor with a troubled single mother trying to raise four kids. It’s why the young singer and songwriter titled her debut album The Chronicles of TK. “This album is me from start to finish,” Keli says. “Every song is about something I’ve gone through, from the moment I left home at 14 till now.”
Her personal journey may have been riddled with obstacles, but Keli delivers her story with uplifting optimism, setting vignettes from her life, both happy and sad, to an irresistible backdrop of urban-influenced rhythmic groove and touching R&B balladry crafted by leading songwriters and producers Kara DioGuardi and J.R. Rotem, who between them have worked with such artists as Britney Spears, Rihanna, Gwen Stefani, Kelly Clarkson, Ashlee Simpson, and Ashley Tisdale. A sophisticated blend of indelible vocal melodies and thumping, minimal beats, the music makes you want to blast it out the window and sing along at the top of your lungs.
“I wanted the album to be something you could put on and have fun listening to with your girlfriends, or even roll to with your boys,” Keli says. Chronicles accomplishes all that and more, showcasing not only Keli’s soulful vocal stylings, but also her emotional versatility. “Tynisha is feisty and strong, yet she has a vulnerability to her,” DioGuardi says. “She has this incredible ability to interpret emotion on a song that is really unparalleled. The music is her emotional channel.”
Tapping into her feelings didn’t always come easy for Keli, whose father was killed when she was barely a year old, leaving her mother too overwhelmed to raise her and her brother and the two children she had in subsequent years. Growing up in the port town of New Bedford, Mass., Keli says, “We had to fend for ourselves. My upbringing was taking care of my siblings, which was why music became such a big part of my life. I couldn’t leave the house, except to go to school, so all I had was my music. I didn’t know that I wanted to be an artist, I just had a passion for singing. Music was my escape.”
Raised on the soulful sounds of her mother’s favorite Luther Vandross, Jodeci, and Tevin Campbell albums, Keli learned to deal with her feelings through singing. “My mom used to play a lot of sad R&B songs and cry. That’s when I saw the emotion in music. I realized that I could apply that to my life and it would help me.”
In 1999, Keli met Scott Ross — a former member of the platinum hip-hop group Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch — who taught her how to perform and work a crowd. “I would run to his house after school and spend 30 minutes performing in his basement, then leave so my mom wouldn’t know I didn’t come straight home from school,” Keli says. “But I really loved it; singing was the only happiness in my life, aside from my siblings.”
Hooked, Keli, then 14, moved to Florida at Ross’s request, to pursue a music career, and a year later to Los Angeles where she landed a spot in the pop group Girl Society, which signed to MCA Records. But the pop group was an awkward fit for the R&B-loving Keli and she decided to try her luck at a solo career. She created a MySpace page and blogged about her life, drawing thousands of young people to comment and offer their support and encouragement. Last year, a song she posted, “Wish You Loved Me,” produced by the Atlanta-based production duo Tha Corner Boyz, was championed by a fan whose father happened to be a program director at 93.7 WZMX in Hartford, Conn. He put the song in regular rotation, where it remains a Top 20 track alongside tracks by Rihanna and Alicia Keys.
Now signed to Warner Bros. Records, Keli is thrilled to be working with DioGuardi, who is one of the industry’s most sought-after songwriters and producers. “Kara pulled something out of me that I didn’t even know I had,” Keli says. “I don’t know how she does it, but she brought the project to life.”
“I always fall in love with the underdog,” DioGuardi says. “When I met Tynisha I thought she was a survivor, but also somebody who was still open. No matter what happened to her, she just kept persevering and moving on because she believed in herself, and that was very compelling to me.”
Keli’s confidence and passion for music comes through loud and clear on The Chronicles of TK. From the sweetly unforgettable “Lullaby” to the heartbroken “Shattered” to the playful “Hype Me” to the thoughtful “Lights Out” to the confrontational “Woman” to the insightful “Conversations With God,” Keli sings each song as if her life depended on it. And for her it does. Listen carefully to the lyrics on “Misunderstood,” a song she co-wrote with Tha Corna Boyz, and you’ll hear why. The song begins with a answering machine message from her mother thanking her for her forgiveness, describes Keli’s time in foster care, and ponders what life would have been like if she had been able to save her father.
“A lot of kids grow up in messed-up homes — whether they’re on drugs, or being promiscuous, or skipping school — and the root of the problem is whatever’s going on with their family,” Keli says. “I’ve gotten such a strong reaction to ‘Misunderstood.’ Girls have sent me messages begging me to put it on the album because they relate to it so much.”
That her fans have drawn strength from her experiences is Keli’s main motivation as an artist. “I wasn’t put on this earth just to sing,” she says, “I’m here to help people with my music. I want to make them smile. I want to help them get out whatever it is they’re holding in because that’s what helped me growing up. I had Brandy and Faith Evans to turn to and help me deal with whatever I was going through. If I can do that for others, then I’ve done my job.”
Here's a new great track from Colin Munroe titled “Will I Stay”. It was written, performed and produced by Munroe, off the upcoming “Don’t Think Less of Me” LP out early 2009.
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