Songwriter

New Music Friday – Debi Nova

December 11, 2009 By Holly Stafford Leave a Comment

With six Grammy Award nominations and a number one dance single under her belt, singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Debi Nova is ready to make her mark on the rest of the world. In March 2010, Decca Records will release Nova’s genre-defying, debut album “Luna Nueva.” The album is an electrifying combination of irresistible Latin rhythms and potent pop smarts that showcase this vivacious artist’s considerable musical gifts (she plays piano, guitar, bass and more) as well as her rich Latina heritage.

Per MySpace:

“I started taking piano lessons at four and by the time I was twelve I knew I wanted to pursue a career in music” stated Debi.

Produced by multi-Grammy nominated Marius de Vries (Madonna, Josh Groban) and Gustavo Santaolalla (“Brokeback Mountain,” “Babel“), Luna Nueva is a labor of love, long in the making, which not only showcases Nova’s electrifying vocals and musicianship, but her songwriting talents as well. The first single is the playful soca/hip-hop inspired “Drummer Boy.”

Already a massive star in her native Costa Rica, Debi has toured with both Ricky Martin and Sergio Mendes as a featured vocalist and has performed for more than 8 million people globally. As a songwriter, the Costa Rican beauty has written hit songs for Belinda and RBD, two of Latin Americas biggest artists. Since the beginning of the year Debi’s been in the studio aiming to create a sound that blends all the influences and musical experiences she’s had. Combining her passion for Bossa Nova, Hip Hop and lots in between, a sound that Debi affectionately terms “Tropical Soul.” You can learn more about Debi’s process of recording an album in both English and Spanish in her new EPK above, and click here to check out her first single “Drummer Boy.”

Filed Under: Awards, Celebrity Gossip, Madonna, Music, Myspace, Videos Tagged With: Babel, Belinda, Bossa Nova, Brokeback Mountain, Costa Rica, Debi Nova, Decca Records, Grammy Award, Gustavo Santaolaalla, Hip Hop, Josh Groban, Latin, Latina, Luna Neuva, Madonna, Marius de Vries, nomination, Performance, Performed, RBD, Ricky Martin, Sergio mendes, Singer, Songwriter, Vocalist

New Music Friday – Hodges

December 4, 2009 By Holly Stafford Leave a Comment

Hailing from Forth Worth, Texas, Hodges is an emerging singer/songwriter who has found a musical home among others who try and tell a story through their song. Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty recognized this when he recently signed Hodges to his RTel imprint on Epic Records. Hodges attributes his vocal strength to his mother, a former RCA Records recording artist. His undeniable ability to craft a melody stems from his father, a Julliard-trained musician, who taught Hodges the importance of sound songwriting.

Per Myspace:

“My influences are really the artists who know how to take the universal themes of songwriting and make them their own,” says Hodges.

Hodges has a wide range of influences, ranging from Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty to U2 and Peter Gabriel. If you are a fan of the tv show “Criminal Minds,” then you probably have heard his song “My Side Of The Story,” which incidentally is also the name of his debut album. It has been some time since the music industry has produced a singer/song writer with this kind of talent for writing ballads. His ballads range from mellow to having a rock edge leaving his audiences able to feel the emotions through the songs that he sings. While he has no official videos out for his music, you can watch an acoustic performance of his song “My Side Of The Story” above.

Filed Under: Celebrity Gossip, Music, Television, Videos Tagged With: Ballads, Bruce Springsteen, Criminal Minds, Debut Album, Epic Records, Hodges, Matchbox 20, Matchbox Twenty, My Side Of The Story, Myspace, Peter Gabriel, RCA Records, Rob Thomas, RTel impring, Singer, Songwriter, Tom Petty, U2

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.