recording

Artist Interview – Matt Dragstrem

November 30, 2009 By Holly Stafford Leave a Comment

Chicago Tour from Matt Dragstrem on Vimeo.

A little while ago we featured an article on Matt Dragstrem, an up-and-coming songwriter, who is rapidly gaining recognition with his melodic songs paired with simplistic, yet compelling lyrics. Having just released a behind the scenes video from his most recent tour throughout the Chicago and Nashville areas, Dragstrem is being deemed as an audience favorite and hailed as the new talent in town to write with by respected Nashville songwriters. He is currently in the process of recording for his upcoming full-length album, after receiving great reviews on the release of his EP “Heritage.” Recently, we’ve had the chance to throw out a couple of questions for Matt about things such as his influences and what he hopes are for the upcoming year. Our mini-interview is below. Enjoy!

What are some of your favorite places to have played?

Rockwood Music Hall in New York City has always been one of my favorite places to play. There’s such a great energy in that little hall. Everyone is straight up crazy and I love it. The audience at Rockwood typically sing and often scream my songs much louder than me. Another favorite of mine is the Elbo Room in Chicago. It’s my home town hang out. I love seeing the familiar faces.

What is one of your most bizarre fan encounters?

Well I have a lot of fans from Ireland and England who email telling me all the time how much they love my record. Not really a bizarre encounter but a cool thought that people from overseas are jamming my record. Id love to play over there soon.

Who are some of your inspirations?

I would say my current inspirations: (sifting through iPod) I have Jay-Z’s new record, One Republic’s, John Mayer’s, and the new Norah Jones. But my biggest influence stylistically are Frank Sinatra or Ella Fitzgerald primarily for there approach on singing. These two sing behind the beat and add a little improve to every performance without being forced.

Where do you get your song inspirations from, lyrically speaking?

I am a very in the moment kind of writer. I don’t plan on writing about someone or something specifically that day. I think if you’re honest with yourself in the moment and how you are really feeling about a situation the words (and melody) flow easily. So to answer your question the inspiration in my writing comes from a real place. A side note, when I write don’t know if it’ll be a pop, ballad, or country song. You can’t plan songs out like that but you can focus on creating something great.

What are some of your passions outside of music?

Lately I’ve been obsessing over vintage Ford and Chevrolet trucks. I might cave-in and buy one soon here. Im a fan of road trips and redvines (hopefully at the same time). I’m also crazy about Great Danes though I’m not sure how that beast will fit in the truck.

How has your music evolved since you first began playing?

Well in the beginning Genesis 1 (bad joke) but really in fall 2007 when i started writing songs i didn’t have a focus on my sound. I really played and wrote songs for fun because some of my friends liked what i did. But now after touring, writing, and recording my music has naturally developed into a organic pop sound. And while my voice is more ‘organic’ I’ve always desired to write big songs. Songs that could reach people everywhere.

What are your hopes for the upcoming year?

Well ill share a few things that are going down this year. I’m working on a new EP as we speak. Ive actually got a friend coming over to overdub vocals in a few moments. The EP is going to be sick and have been youtubing my progress on my page (youtube.com/mattofthedrag). I have hopes to write for other people’s records as well, to be touring, and just to be mad busy with what i love to do. Writing, playing, and eating redvines.

Filed Under: Celebrity Gossip, Celebrity Quotes, John Mayer, Music Tagged With: Album, Audience, Ballad, Bizzare, Chevrolet, Chevy, Chicago, country, Elbo Room, Ella Fitzgerald, Email, England, EP, Favorite, Ford, Frank Sinatra, Great Danes, Heritage, inspiration, Interview, Ireland, Jay-Z, John Mayer, Matt Dragstrem, Melody, Nashville, new york city, Norah Jones, NYC, One Republic, Organic, Passion, Performance, Pop, recording, Redvines, Roadtrips, Rockwood Music Hall, Singer, Songwriter, talent, Touring, Write, Youtube

Upcoming Artist Matt Dragstrem

November 20, 2009 By Holly Stafford Leave a Comment

Chicago Tour from Matt Dragstrem on Vimeo.

Matt Dragstrem, an up-and-coming songwriter, is rapidly gaining recognition with his melodic songs paired with simplistic, yet compelling lyrics. He has just released a behind the scenes video from his most recent tour throughout the Chicago and Nashville areas, showcasing his love of music. When asked to describe how he feels his music sounds, Matt thinks its if Tom Petty and Rod Stewart had a child and Frank Sinatra was the Godfather.’ Being deemed as an audience favorite and hailed as the new talent in town to write with by respected Nashville songwriters, Matt currently is in the process of recording for his upcoming full-length album, after receiving great reviews on the release of his EP “Heritage.”

Per Myspace:

“With an impending debut EP set for release in the coming weeks, Matt Dragstrem stands at the forefront of something potentially very special. Inspired by folk-rock greats of the past, Dragstrem seems to have inherited the best elements of his heroes work before moulding them into a sound of purity and innocence all his own. Born in Chicago, Dragstrem underwent a musical education whilst developing his talent in Nashville some years later. His subtle, dulcet vocal style favours the playful, finger-picking way he approaches his guitar work – similarities with a young, raw Rod Stewart aren’t too far wide of the mark. At only twenty-one years of age, Matt Dragstrem possesses a future of immeasurable promise.” -JOEL CRANE (NME, Q, Mojo)

The video above proves that Matt is so much more than a pretty face and an unstoppable personality, but a genre-defying voice whose unique quality finds a comfortable spot in any style of music. Keep an eye on this one, kiddos. He’s sure to become a household name in no time.

Filed Under: Celebrity Gossip, Music, Myspace Tagged With: Album, Chicago, EP, Frank Sinatra, Heritage, Joel Crane, Matt Dragstrem, Music, Nashville, recording, Rod Stewart, songs, Songwriter, Tom Petty, Tour, Video

New Music Friday – Dead By Sunrise

October 9, 2009 By Holly Stafford Leave a Comment

“Out Of Ashes,” the debut from the side project of Linkin Park’s frontman Chester Bennington’s new band, is here. Dead by Sunrise started to form in 2005 while Bennington was writing songs for Linkin Park’s “Minutes to Midnight” Album. The band also features Ryan Shuck and Amir Derakh (from Orgy/Julien-K), bassist Brandon Belsky, drummer Elias Anda (also from Julien-K), and keyboardist Anthony Valcic.

Per Dead By Sunrise:

“I came up with a few songs that felt and sounded really good, but I knew they weren’t right stylistically for Linkin Park. They were darker and moodier than anything I’d come up with for the band. So I decided to work on them on my own rather than turn them over and have them transformed into Linkin Park tracks,” says Bennington.

The band’s name, which was previously “Snow White Tan,” reflects the time during the album’s recording in which the band was living a ‘really self destructive lifestyle’ and weren’t sure they were going to make it to the next day. Bennington says the albums’ name is from ‘coming out of that self-destructive path and rising from the ashes.’ Back on May 10, 2008, the band performed three songs, including the song “Morning After,” at the 13th anniversary party for Club Tattoo in Arizona. The song was written by Bennington and originally performed on December 9, 2001 at the Live in Berlin concert. This was the first time that he had officially performed the song under a new name.

Recording of the band’s debut album began in July 2008 after touring for Linkin Park had finished. “Crawl Back In” is the first official single off the album, followed by “Let Down.” Dead by Sunrise’s MySpace page is featuring the video for the band’s first single, and will hold an exclusive listening party for its debut album on their page this week. Fans will be able to stream the album, which will be released by on October 13th, in its entirety on Myspace from October 8th through the 10th. MySpace will direct users to the listening party via links on both the site’s homepage and its music page. They are scheduled to perform at The Gramercy Theatre in New York City on October 14th, and at the Roxy in Los Angeles on October 19th. You can watch the video for the song “Crawl Back In” above. HWDamers – Let us know what you think!

Filed Under: Celebrity Gossip, Music Tagged With: Album, Amir Derakh, Anthony Valcic, Arizona, Band, Berlin, Brandon Belsky, Chester Bennington, Club Tattoo, Concert, Crawl back In, Darker, Dead By Sunrise, Debut, Elias Anda, Exclusive, Julien-K, Let Down, Linkin Park, Listening Party, Live, Los Angeles, Minutes To Midnight, Morning After, Myspace, new york city, NYC, October, Orgy, Out Of Ashes, recording, Roxy, Ryan Shuck, Self Destructive LifeStyle, single, Snow White Tan, Stream, The Gramercy Theatre

Twittering Your Love: Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson Back Together-Miley Cyrus Dumps Justin Gaston

June 9, 2009 By Crista Webster 5 Comments

Twitter. It’s pretty much strong>Facebook for people with ADD. You can change your mind every two seconds. You can let people know how you’re doing, announce that you’ve had a baby (like Lance Armstrong did here), you can let the world know that you and your lesbian lover who placed a restraining order on you are back together (maybe…and with one of those annoying semi-colon happy faces), and you inform the world that you are your jailbait girlfriend have called it quits…because distance is like, so hard and stuff.

Lindsay Lohan Twittered Monday that she was leaving London with her favorite person and that she had great news to share…maybe. Shortly thereafter, Lohan was snapped by the paparazzi that she called, floundering around Heathrow airport with former flame Samantha Ronson.

Via People:

“They haven’t started fighting yet, but they are back together as far as Lindsay is concerned. Lindsay has been doing so much better and has been giving Sam her space. She is really dedicated to making it work.”

So much better than snorting blow out of a belly-button while flashing the hidden camera taping you your lady-bits? I guess violating a restraining order is slightly better than that.

Not to be outdone in Twitterverse, everyone’s favorite DUI waiting to happen, Miley Cyrus used her Twitter to announce her sorrow at having to leave 20 year-old boyfriend Justin Gaston behind in LA as she travels to Georgia to film the movie “The Last Song”. Gaston, like a good man in need of a meal ticket, simultaneously Twittered his great sadness at Cyrus’ departure.

However, Twitter is fickle, kittens. It seems that Miley Twittered just this past Saturday that she and former boyfriend Nick Jonas were hanging out together.

Via E!

“I’m in a dark theater ‘writing’ a song with nick j who is rockin a faded eggplant shirt! ”

Again with the colon happy face. Knock it off kids. I doubt Gaston was colon-face happy to read that Nick’s shirt was “rockin”. Also, since when does Miley write songs? As for Sam and Lindsay…I’d watching out for boiling bunnies on the stove circa “Fatal Attraction.” Apparently Twitter also makes you delusional. Speaking of which, are you following Hollywood Dame?

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Images Via: Bauer Griffin

Filed Under: "Miley Cyrus", Celebrity Couples, Celebrity Crime, Celebrity Feuds, Celebrity Gossip, Celebrity Hook Ups, Celebrity Quotes, Jonas Brothers, Lindsay Lohan, Movies, Music Tagged With: "Miley Cyrus", Airport, Album, back together, Break Up, Filming, Georgia, Justin Gaston, Lesbian, Lindsay Lohan, London, lover, Movie, Music, Nick Jonas, record, recording, restraining order, Samantha Ronson, Split, The Last Song, Together, Twitter, Writing

Britney Spears Plots to End Fathers Control, Returns to Lutfi ?!?

April 2, 2009 By Holly Stafford Leave a Comment

Britney Spears is a sneaky lil’ thing!! Together with Sam Lutfi’s little sister Christina, the pair hatched a plan to override her fathers control over her by getting a cell phone to Britney so she can contact Sam behind her fathers back! Christina testified in a Los Angeles court on Wednesday about the incident, claiming Britney had initially called Sam’s cell phone number in mid-January to speak with Christina.

Per People:

“[Britney] told me she wanted to get a hold of Sam,” said Christina, 25, whose brother had once been Spears’s manager. “She wanted him to help her find a lawyer, and wanted someone to get a prepaid cell phone to her. She was scared because her father was blackmailing her with visitation rights over her kids… She asked me, ‘Will Sam be able to help me?’” Christina added.

Spears told Christina to meet her at the gym on the 5th floor at the Peninsula Hotel on January 16th. When Christina arrived, she saw Spears working out with her mother and a bodyguard. They later met up in the sauna at the hotel, and thats where the exchanging of the cell phone took place, with Christina telling Britney the phone was from Sam and ex boyfriend Adnan Ghalib. Britney’s security team later discovered and confiscated the phone from her purse.

Blair Burke, a lawyer for Britneys’ father Jamie, testified on Wednesday that Britney was in such fear of Sam that she asked if she could have him arrested to keep him away from her. An alleged recording of the singer is making its rounds on the internet, in which she asks for a lawyer’s help in ending her father’s legal control. Burke claims that Britney repeatedly denies that she was seeking outside legal help, and expressed doubt in the recording’s authenticity.

Jamie Spears and a lawyer were granted indefinite legal control over Britney following her two forced hospitalizations in early 2008. The ongoing hearing is to determine whether to extend a restraining order against Lutfi. Jamie Spears alleges Lutfi is harassing his daughter and is conspiring to disrupt his legal control over her life. Bryan Freedman, the attorney for Lutfi, is denying that he has done any wrongdoing.

“Sam’s only crime was trying to help out a friend,” Freedman tells PEOPLE. “When someone asks for your help, that person is obviously not scared of you or in need of a restraining order.”

Closing arguments in the restraining order case won’t be heard until April 21. Lutfi is forbidden to have any contact with Britney until then. Hopefully after then, he still won’t be allowed back into her life! Hang tight Brit. Just like the kitten poster at my dentist.

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