Kristine W has announced that her single, Walk Away will be on the May "Promo Only" DJ CD. That means we should expect to be hearing Ms. W on BPM before we know it.
Note that Kristine will release the physical CD and digital download to Perfect Beat before anywhere else. But don't worry, we will let you know as soon as its available on iTunes! And having been lucky enough to have heard the song live, let me tell you when I mean it when i say this single is going to tear up the dance charts this summer.
Interesting to note that is being billed as Tony Moran feat. Kristine W... wonder what that says about the remixes?
I wanted to let you know that they added a Diva Divo radio to the site! Make sure to check it out. I think the plan is to create a Diva Divo Radio station that highlights featured artists and gives you something to listen to while you read the site.
Seems like they also added a search feature and the bottom of every page - now you can search the site for past articles and stuff.
Johnny and me are really excited to go see Icey this Friday at Avalon. Hey, the club itself might be showing its age but they still get some great DJs! Icey is on the road to promote his latest mix CD Disco Rodeo. Here is the track list.
While I am the first to admit that Björk doesn't always do it for me, I will say that some of her songs are really great. Songs like Joga, It's Oh So Quiet, Big Time Senstuality, Bachelorette and Hunter are truly unique, smart and listenable. For the most part though, I find that her music is a little too "out there" for me.
I am not sure whether to class her latest effort Earth Intruders as one of her greats or one best left in orbit. Admittedly, I was intrigued that she was working with Timbaland, as her contingency is far more alternative than people like me who often enjoy more mainstream beats. Was this going to be her "selling out" record? I had to find out. I bought the track on iTunes and have been listening to it on and off for about a week. I will say it grows on you!
Hearing her abstract vocals colliding with Timabland's beats can be jarring on the first half dozen listens. But the more you hear the song, the better the beats are and the song takes on its own life. Almost two different composostions, the music and the lyrics often fight for dominance. Yet, when they do mesh, they do so perfectly - as in the chorus where the sings "We are the earth intruders / We are the sharpshooters / Flock of parachuters / Necessary voodoo".
She hasn't done anything as dancey in over a decade and I won't be surprised if it cracks the top twenty on the dance charts when the inevitable mixes are released. Do I think she has sold out? I am not sure. Her lyrics still are strong, oddly poetic and meaningful and at the same time, in classic Björk style, teetering on the insane and nonsensical. Also, this music is probably a true testament to Timbaland's ability to craft a danceable song. When working with Nelly Furtado and Justin, he can be assured of recreating his formulaic success of a decent vocal combined with mainstream beats. Here, with Björk, he is forced to work in the constrains of her eccentricity and the result is engaging.
Make sure and check out her single on iTunes and let us know what you think!
Hope you're all well! Check it out: here's the cover image and track listing for ULTRA NATE's upcoming album: Grime, Silk & Thunder (released on May 22). I've loved the first two singles, "Love's the Only Drug" and "Automatic," so I can't wait to hear the whole thing! Actually if you go to her official website, you can listen to snippets of some of the other tracks... including "Falling," which she wrote about her new baby son!! (sounds like it's about a boyfriend, doesn't it? But it's not! There's a little DIVA DIVO insider trivia for ya ;))
Overall, the album sounds like it's going to have a disco vibe... I can't wait! Anyway, check out the cover and tracklisting below... can't wait to hear what you guys think of the album! TRACKLISTING:
1. Loosely Based On
2. Love's the Only Drug
3. Freak On
4. Give It All You Got - Chris Willis
5. Scandal
6. Automatic
7. Slow Grind
8. Falling
9. Getaway
10. Feel Love
11. Lethal Shot
12. Star (It's Showtime)
13. This House
14. It's Over Now
(Oh, and check back tomorrow for some more ULTRA NATE news... ;))
A few weeks back we announced that DJ Encore was about to release his new album. Well, the album still isn't out until May... but the new single is here... and it's hot!
Check it out: "Walk on Water." It's really Euro, and if you loved DJ Encore's "Intution" album, this is more of the same sound. I guess you could criticize the single and say that it hasn't progressed much, stylistically, in the last five years. But to be honest... I don't care. I'm loving it, anyway.
It's also the first DJ Encore song with his new vocalist, Johanna. She replaced Engelina, from the last album. They sound a lot alike, in my opinion!
An iTunes link to the song is below... let me know what you guys think!
Hope your weeks are off to a solid start! Johnny and I just returned from our vacation in Disneyworld today, so expect more regular updates - promise ;) Oh, and the new DIVA and DIVO for April will be announced tomorrow!! I know we're halfway through the month, but the feature stories aren't really planned to always start at the beginning of the month... sometimes it just depends on timing (and how easy it is to set up interviews! ;) )
Anyway, while me and Johnny were in Disneyworld, we checked out the dance club Mannequins on Pleasure Island. What a cool place!
To enter, you ride an elevator up to the second (or was it third?) floor... you enter and you're on the upper, catwalk level that overlooks the dance floor. The room is decorated with neon colored mannequin figures glowing under blacklight. There are lounging areas and a DJ booth, but then you descend to the main dance floor level: damn! The dance floor is constantly ROTATING, which is very dangerous after a few Red Bull & vodkas, let me tell ya ;) They also do an amazing job with lighting, the sound is superb, and there's some extra touches (like periodic blasts of cold fog, perfect to add to the atmosphere AND cool off sweaty dancers!) that make it a damn fun place to party. I have to admit, I was a little surprised... I mean, it's Disney - not Ibiza! haha.
The music was awesome, too... no hip hop! Unless you count an interesting remix of Fergie's "Glamorous" (but I don't). I remember Kelly Clarkson "Walk Away,"... Madonna "Jump"... and a bunch of other pop remixes... my fave kind :)
Anyway, it made me think... what's the coolest club you've ever been in? I mean, I don't know that MANNEQUINS would be my ultimate #1, but it did make me think back on all the different venues I've experienced... anyone have any favorite places, experiences, or incredible clubbing moments that made you ask, "Why Can't EVERY club be like this?"
You know there's nothing we love more than bringing you some good gossip... so try this on for size: Turns out that the Queen of Dance music (that would be Madonna) has been in the studio with the current Prince of Pop (Justin Timberlake).
Her Madgesty's representatives have confirmed that she's been working in a London recording studio on her new album, and that Justin has been there working on a collaboration of some kind. This is in addition to the news we reported a while back, that producer Timbaland has been part of Madonna's upcoming album, too.
Rumor has it that the album is looking to be Madonna's most expensive production EVER. Sources say that despite the commercial success of 2005's Confessions on a Dance Floor, she really wants to explode again on US radio. After all, you all probably recall that aside from the Top 10 hit "Hung Up," Confessions had a hard time getting radio play in the US - too much "dance" for the big radio corporations!
No one's confirming a release date for the album, but there's a good chance that it will come out in November, 2007. Rumor has it that around that time Warner Bros. may release a boxed set of CDs and DVDs celebrating Madonna's 25th year in the music business... and it would make sense for the new release to coincide.
So there you have it, a little speculation... but a little fact, too: Madonna and Justin Timberlake working together!
Here's hoping that they have more success than the time Madonna collaborated with his ex, Miss Britney Spears... "Me Against the Music" underwhelmed, and even in the wake of their famous lip-lock, it only reached the 30s on the Billboard Hot 100. (Though despite that... I still think it's a great single!)
Hope you're all doing well! Me and Johnny are in sunny Florida, spending the week in Disneyworld... by the time we get back, we'll have a brand new APRIL DIVA and DIVO up on the site for ya - promise ;)
In the meantime, wanted to check in and post a few pics from the premiere party for ADAM BARTA's new video, "I Wanna Hold You." It was a few days ago in NYC... about 500 guests armed with glowsticks rang in the new video, which is being served to MTV and Logo... we'll have a clip of it on the site soon!
It was at SPLASH in New York City... and check out the dancers... yum!!
Be sure to check out Adam's MySpace
I'll be partying at Pleasure Island here at Disney for the next few days... expect a full report to follow.
Now, I'm not incredibly familiar with Crooklyn Clan, I just know that they're some pretty talented DJs. But most recently, I discovered this cache of remixes they put together: Crooklyn Clan Vault. It's this a treasure chest of mash-ups and rare remixes they put together by combining songs... dance and rap, old and new, good and... not-so-good :)
But the songs themselves are HOT. I think my personal favorite would probably be "Holiday Love," (a mash-up of Madonna's "Holiday" and Justin Timberlake's "My Love). Almost as cool is "London Fly High," which combines Fergie's "London Bridge" and... umm... I'm not sure what the other one is ;)
Anyway, not a big update today, just something fun I discovered that I wanted to share with y'all. So check out the Vault, take a few listens, and let me know if you find any that you particularly like!
We posted a while ago about Hilary Duff's recent reinvention as a dance diva... well now that her new album "Dignity" is out, I thought I'd let you know the verdict:
Two thumbs... sideways? I'm really not sure how to feel about the album. It's probably best defined as electro-pop... not totally "dance," but every track is just a few extra BPMs away from a cool club mix. It's very 80s, very Kylie Minogue... kind of like when Kelly Osbourne released her album "Sleeping in the Nothing" a few years back. Remember that? Anyone? Haha ;)
Anyway, the main problem is that the girl can't frickin' sing for the life of her. I mean really. I love Kylie's music, but I've never thought she was a particularly good singer. Well, Hilary Duff makes her sound like Barbra freaking Streisand. Kylie's voice is thin, but Hilary's is tone deaf! I'm not 100% sure that she actually sings more than two or three notes throughout the whole album, it's so flat and monotone. Anyone who's ever heard me do karaoke is probably wondering where I get off criticizing anyone else's voice... but I'm not the one with a recording contract, okay?? ;)
The album would have been a lot better if they had embraced the dance aspect whole heartedly. "With Love" is a great song, but for the most part this is pop music with a tiny hint of dance.
Here's a pic of Hilary (with her sister Haylie) at the release party for the album last night at The Abbey in West Hollywood... does anything else think she's looking like a not-as-pretty version of Mandy Moore lately?
I'm curious to hear what you guys think of it... take a listen on iTunes through the link above, and let me know if it tickes your fancy! Not bad, but I don't think any of our favorite divas need to worry about losing their crown to Miss Duff anytime soon ;)
Sorry for the infrequent updates the last few days... end of the month is crazy... it's now April so we'll be revealing our all new DIVA and DIVO of the month soon! Any one have a guess??
This weekend Jade and I checked out the Christina Aguilera "Back to Basics" tour on its Boston stop. I'm not a huge personal fan of Christina, but I have to admit that the girl can outsing most other artists out there right now! She's certainly a DIVA, too... I have it on good authority from someone in her inner circle that she's seriously on the "demanding bitch" side.
But hey, the girl delivers, that's for sure. She opened the show with "Ain't No Other Man," closed with "Fighter" (which was a really odd choice, if you ask me) and filled the in-between time with a good number of tracks from her current "Back to Basics" album.
Here's a YouTube clip of the opening number that night:
Best performance of the night? Maybe I'm a little blinded by the visuals, but it was probably Christina in a catsuit, whipping and teasing a lucky audience member who was dragged onstage for "Nasty Naughty Boy," a burlesque number off the new album. I wouldn't have minded being the strapped down "victim" for that flaying ;) (Yeah, Miss Aguilera is looking mighty fit lately!)
She did touch on most of her "old" hits, working a latin version of "Come on Over (All I Want is You)" and a reggae-ish "What a Girl Wants" into things. She also did a fantastic, simple version of "Beautiful" as her first encore, which was much appreciated. I do think she's an awesome singer, but she sometimes overdoes the vocal gymnastics. I think she still thinks it's 1999 and she has to convince all of us that she's more talented than Britney, damn it! Eaaasy, Christina: we get it, we get it!
One of the highlights of the night was definitely one of her most club-friendly tracks: Dirrty. And even better, she performed "Still Dirrty" (from the new CD, a retort to media reports that she's "cleaned up her act") by putting those classic chaps back on that she made famous a couple years back.
The Pussycat Dolls opened for her, and they were surprisingly entertaining. Again, maybe I was just blinded by the skin quotient ;) But any girl who can do backflips in heels is alright by me. For their big closer, "Don't Cha" they wrapped things up with the Ralphi Rosario remix version, which was a nice salute to their club fans.
Overall, a great show and a vast improvement over Justin Timberlake's last weekend. Although I have to say... when their forces combined back in 2003 for that Justified and Stripped Tour... damn, that was amazing!
Ah, memories... sniffle ;)
Alright guys, that's my check-in for now. Talk to you all tomorrow!
