Tuesday, March 11, 2008
LOHAN SNAGS NE-YO FOR NEW DISC
Singer/actress Lindsay Lohan has enlisted the songwriting talents of Schaffer "Ne-Yo" Smith for her forthcoming album, which will be released later this year via Motown Records.
Ne-Yo is best known for his work with Rihanna ("Unfaithful", "Hate That I Love You", "Question Existing", "Good Girl Gone Bad"), Beyonce ("Irreplaceable", "Back Up", "If", "Flaws & All"), Janet Jackson ("Rock With U", "Let Me Know"), Mary J. Blige ("Fade Away", "What Love Is", "Work in Progress", "Smoke"), Celine Dion ("I Got Nothin' Left"), Christina Milian ("Peep Show", "I'm Sorry", "Y'all Ain't Nothin'"), Leona Lewis ("I'm You"), Nicole Scherzinger ("Happily Never After"), Paula DeAnda ("Make 'Em Clap To This", "When It Was Me", "Walk Away"), Paula Campbell ("Ain't Nobody Stupid"), and Megan Rochell ("Floating").
Do you think he will hit the jackpot again with the "Mean Girls" star?
Posted at 07:26 pm by mokhal
TAYLOR CHRISTENS DATE FOR DEBUT LP
Rapper/singer Teyana Taylor’s upcoming debut album, “From a Planet called Harlem”, will arrive May 20th via Interscope Records. The set will be preceded by lead single “Google Me”, co-written by Cristyle “The Ink” Johnson (Tiffany Evans, Natasha Bedingfield), and produced by Phalon “Jazze Pha” Alexander (Ciara, Keri Hilson).
Posted at 07:24 pm by mokhal
Sunday, March 09, 2008
MUHAMMAD HELPS CAREY MIGRATE ON DANJA PRODUCED TRACK
For Mariah Carey's "Migrate", off her forthcoming album "E=MC²" (Island/Def Jam Records), super producer Nate "Danja" Hills hooked up with songwriter Balewa Muhammad, who's best known for his work with Christina Aguilera ("Get Mine, Get Yours"), Kelly Rowland ("Train on a Track"), and Britney Spears ("Touch of my Hand").
Along with songwriting team The Clutch: Candice Nelson, Keri Hilson, Ezekiel Lewis & Patrick "J.Que" Smith, Muhammad has also crafted hits such as "Like a Boy" – Ciara, "Promise Ring" – Tiffany Evans, "Brave" – Jennifer Lopez, "The Game Song" – Keke Palmer, "Hate 2 Love U" – Amerie, "Hit List" – Paula Campbell, and "Baby Makin' Hips" – Fantasia Barrino.
On the other hand, Kara DioGuardi ("Love Story", "Not Ur Girl", "Each Other", "Neglected" – Katharine McPhee) and Makeba Riddick ("Impossible" – Bayje) are among the other songwriters Danja collaborated with on his flourishing musical career. Wonder who's gonna be next?!
Posted at 07:25 pm by mokhal
Saturday, March 08, 2008
[RANDOM ALBUM REVIEW] THE VERONICAS - THE SECRET LIFE OF ...
- 4ever: produced by Max Martin & Lukasz "Dr. Luke" Gottwald.
- I Could Get Used To This: co-written by Billy Steinberg & Josh Alexander / produced by Don Gilmore.
- Everything I'm Not: produced by Max Martin & Lukasz "Dr. Luke" Gottwald.
- Heavily Broken: co-written by Eric Nova / produced by Clif Magness.
- Leave Me Alone: produced by Billy Steinberg & Josh Alexander.
- Nobody Wins: co-written by Kara DioGuardi /produced by Clif Magness.
- Teardrop Hitting the Ground: co-written by Kelli Ali / produced by Rick Nowels & Stewart Price.
- When It All Falls Apart: produced by Billy Steinberg & Josh Alexander.
- Mother Mother: written by Tracy Bonham / produced by Greg Wells.
- Mouth Shut: produced by Toby Gad.
- Revolution: produced by Raine Meda & Chantal Kreviazuk.
- Secret: produced by Toby Gad.
- Speechless: produced by Toby Gad.
I used to read lots about The Veronicas, but my interest in them raised dramatically when I've learnt that their debut album, "The Secret Life Of …", contains alliances from songwriting/production duo Billy Steinberg & Josh Alexander ("Heartbeat" – Paris Hilton / "Too Little, Too Late" – Jojo / "Over It" – Katharine McPhee / "Don't Let It Go To Your Head" – Fefe Dobson / "The Best You Never Had" – Leona Lewis), and as I initially expected, the set is lighthearted and so much fun.
The opener "4ever" sounds like a cross between Ashlee Simpson's "Boyfriend" and Kelly Clarkson's "Since U Been Gone", so you can't go wrong there! However, I can't really decide whether their cover of Kelli Ali's "Teardrop Hitting the Ground" is better than the original, but one thing's for sure, it sounds more modern (the instrumental in the middle of the song is incredibly catchy as well).
On the other hand, this disc is not without its flaws … The Tracy Bonham penned "Mother Mother" disappoints – considering that she's also behind the beautiful ballads "Naked" and "Whether You Fall" off the Lesbian themed series "The L Word".
Rating: (4/5) – Very Good
Posted at 06:35 pm by mokhal
MINOGUE SETS U.S. RELEASE DATE FOR "X"
Australian bombshell Kylie Minogue has christened April 1st as the U.S. release date of her latest album "X", which features hits like "2 Hearts", "In My Arms" and "Wow".
The rejuvenated set also includes an exclusive bonus remix of the Lil' Eddie penned "All I See" featuring rapper Mims.
"X" sports additional collaborations from Bloodshy & Avant: Christian Karlsson & Pontus Winnberg (Britney Spears, Christina Milian), Greg Kurstin (Jessica Simpson, Donna Summer), Guy Chambers (Kelis, Delta Goodrem), Cathy Dennis (Janet Jackson, Kelly Clarkson), Richard "Biff" Stannard (Emma Bunton, Holly Valance), Karen Poole (Rachel Stevens, Leona Lewis), Cutfather & Jonas Jeberg (Mercedes, Jordin Sparks), Freemasons: Russell Small & James Wiltshire (Beyonce, Kelly Rowland), and DJ Calvin Harris (Sophie Ellis Bextor, Roisin Murphy).
Posted at 06:32 pm by mokhal
Friday, March 07, 2008
VARA EARMARKS MAY RELEASE FOR "STORYBOOK DIARIES"
Model turned singer Stefani Vara will release her forthcoming debut album, “Storybook Diaries”, in May via Siri Music/Universal Motown Republic Group. The set will be preceded by lead single “Lately”, written by Bless’ed Pen: Chauncy Jackson & Kim Croft (Tamia, Katharine McPhee), and produced by The Insomniax (Joanna “Jojo” Levesque, Bobby Valentino).
Other musicians expected on “Storybook Diaries” include Rich Harrison (Mary J. Blige, Toni Braxton), and Soulshock & Karlin: Carsten Schack & Kenneth Karlin (Solange Knowles, Keyshia Cole).
Posted at 11:03 pm by mokhal
GHOST, DENCH ROLL WITH ROTEM, RONSON, REMI, FUTURE CUT
Along with songwriting partner Ian Dench, singer/songwriter Amanda Ghost – best known for her work with James Blunt (“Beautiful”), All Saints (“Flashback”), Beyonce & Shakira (“Beautiful Liar”), Shontelle (“Superwoman”), Jordin Sparks (“Tattoo”, “Virginia is for Lovers”, “Freeze”) – is currently working on various upcoming projects with super hitmakers Jonathan “J.R.” Rotem (Teedra Moses, LeToya Luckett), Evan Rogers & Carl Sturken (Kelly Clarkson, Christina Aguilera), Will “Will-I-Am” Adams (Mary J. Blige, Whitney Houston), Mark Ronson (Nikka Costa, Amy Winehouse), Salaam Remi (Joss Stone, Leona Lewis), and Future Cut: Tunde Babalola & Darren Lewis (Lily Allen, Kate Nash).
Posted at 06:43 pm by mokhal
BEYONCE HEATS IT UP WITH STARGATE ON UPCOMING ALBUM
An official song title from Beyonce's forthcoming 3rd album has been released. The track entitled "Erotic" was written by Amanda Ghost, Ian Dench, Johnta Austin, and produced by Stargate: Tor Erik Hermansen & Mikkel Storleer Eriksen. Although its one of the several titles from the "Irreplaceable" singer's upcoming album to be registered, the song may not make the final cut of the album.
Amanda Ghost & Ian Dench are writing/producing partners, and have worked together with Stargate on songs for the likes of Jordin Sparks ("Tattoo", "Virginia is for Lovers", "Freeze"), as well as Beyonce & Shakira ("Beautiful Liar").
On the other hand, Johnta Austin collaborated with the Norwegian production duo on tracks for Mariah Carey ("That Chick", "Bye Bye"), Leona Lewis ("Angel"), Chris Brown ("With You"), Jordin Sparks ("Just For The Record"), Trey Songz ("Can't Help But Wait"), and Mario Vazquez ("I Bet", "We Gon' Last" and "Fired Up").
Beyonce's as yet untitled 3rd effort is scheduled to boast additional alliances from Ryan "Alias" Tedder (Whitney Houston, Jennifer Hudson), Jack Splash (Alicia Keys, Britney Spears), Cristyle "The Ink" Johnson (Jennifer Lopez, Natasha Bedingfield), Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins (Toni Braxton, Chante Moore), Kara Dioguardi (Celine Dion, Kelly Clarkson), Tim "Timbaland" Mosley (Nelly Furtado, Ashlee Simpson), and Freemasons: Russell Small & James Wiltshire (Heather Headley, Faith Evans).
Posted at 04:09 pm by mokhal
SYMONE CALLS ON FRANKIE STORM FOR NEW LP
Singer/Actress Raven Symone has recruited the talents of up and coming songwriter Tawanna “Frankie Storm” Dabney for her forthcoming album, due 29th April via Hollywood Records.
For those who came in late, Dabney is best known for her work with Rihanna (“Don’t Stop The Music”, “Cry”), Samantha Jade (“Turn Around”), Jordin Sparks (“Now You Tell Me”), Brooke Hogan (“Love You, Hate You”), Jessi Malay ("Invincible"), and Stacie Orrico (“I’m Not Missing You”, “Take Me Away”, “Don’t Ask Me To Say”).
Symone’s as yet untitled disc will also sport collaborations with producer Eric Hudson (Tiffany Evans, Fantasia Barrino), and songwriting team The Clutch: Candice Nelson, Keri Hilson, Balewa Muhammad, Ezekiel Lewis & Patrick “J.Que” Smith (Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez).
Posted at 01:55 pm by mokhal
WYATT POSTS NEW JOINT @ MYSPACE
Soul songstress Keke Wyatt posted a new song on her official MySpace profile entitled “Shining”, so make sure you check it out!
Even though no release date has been set yet for her forthcoming album, “Ghetto Rose”, the disc is said to spawn alliances from Stargate: Tor Erik Hermansen & Mikkel Storleer Eriksen (Paula Campbell, Mary J. Blige), The Underdogs: Harvey Mason Jr. & Damon Thomas (Toni Braxton, Fantasia Barrino), Durrell “Tank” Babbs (Aaliyah, Kelly Rowland), Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins (Jennifer Hudson, Mariah Carey), Bryan Michael Cox (Claudette Ortiz, Faith Evans), Warren “Oak” Felder (Jennifer Lopez, Karina Pasian), Dana “Rockwilder” Stinson (Christina Aguilera, Janet Jackson), and Shamora Crawford (Cheri Dennis, Blu Cantrell).
[Visit] Keke Wyatt @ Myspace
Posted at 01:54 pm by mokhal
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