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YouTube Wednesday: Hailey Steele…country music’s latest rising star is using her voice to take center stage
Hello people of the internet!!! On today’s ‘YouTube Wednesday’ blog post, we are going to discuss an amazing new country singer that you ALL need to keep a close eye on. This talented young musician is an extremely talented writer, guitarist, and vocalist who is quickly on the verge of becoming country music’s next big star. Remember the name Hailey Steele everyone, because you will be hearing this name EVERYWHERE very soon! Hailey already has a very impressive resume, due to her appearances on NBC’s ‘The Voice’ (as a part of a country duo called ‘THE LINE’, she was on Team Christina) and Jay Leno’s ‘The Tonight Show’. She has also has had the honor of sharing the stage with legends such as Willie Nelson and Neil Young. She has also had the honor of being inducted into the South Dakota Country Music Hall of Fame. Hailey is currently signed with BMG Chrysalis Nashville (where she is signed to an exclusive songwriting deal, and has even co-written on fellow ‘The Voice’ alum and country music recording artist RaeLynn’s single ‘Boyfriend’) and is set to release her debut EP on November 18th, 2014. So needless to say, Hailey an artist on the rise please read on so you don’t fall behind.
Hailey uploaded her first original song on YouTube on March 4th, 2012. The song is entitled ‘Electric Blue’ (ELECTRiC BLUE – HAiLEY STEELE) and I think that it is an excellent introduction to just how talented Hailey is. I love how Hailey is instantly able to capture your attention, and leave you under her spell for the duration of the song. This ability really shows just how much of a natural star Hailey is, because not only is she singing while playing the guitar (not an easy task because you have to focus on multiple things at once), but she’s also performing the song in such a way that once the song ends, you instantly want to hear more. The next song that we have to talk about is Hailey’s performance of ‘Boyfriend’ (Hailey Steele – Boyfriend, uploaded on October 6th, 2013) by RaeLynn. I really loved hearing this version of the song, because Hailey and RaeLynn have very different tones and styles, so it is fun to hear this song performed in a fresh way. I loved that Hailey was able to really bring out the sass and attitude in this song, and she definitely makes you just wanna get up and dance. Since ‘Electric Blue’ was a more heartfelt, emotional song, I thought that ‘Boyfriend’ was a fun contrast, and it definitely proves that Hailey is a well rounded artist that can make you cry one minute and then get up and dance the next. The final song that we are going to talk about in this post is my FAVORITE song on Hailey’s YouTube channel, entitled ‘Diamonds’ (Diamonds-Hailey Steele), which she uploaded on January 12th, 2014. I really love this song because it’s fun, catchy, and has a great message that everyone can relate to (basically all of the ingredients to a perfect song in my opinion). I definitely think that this song could be a MAJOR hit, and it makes me excited to see what Hailey will release next. I really love when a songwriter is able to express exactly what they feel through a song, but still make it something that you can jam out to, and Hailey definitely accomplishes this task.
So as y’all can see, I have become a HUGE Hailey Steele fan, and I think once you hear her music, you will be too! It’s not often that an artist has a special something about them that makes you unable to turn away, and Hailey definitely has that quality. I am very excited to see where this talented artist’s career leads her, and all the AWESOME things she is going to be able to accomplish along the way. As Hailey says in her soon to be hit song ‘Diamonds’, “Diamonds take pressure, and patience, and time”. Well it is definitely this diamond’s time to shine!
Stay up to date with Hailey:
YouTube: haileysteele14
Twitter: Hailey Steele (@hailey_steele) | Twitter
Instagram: hailey_steele on Instagram
Facebook: Hailey Steele | Facebook
- All photos and information used in this blog belong to Hailey Steele, RaeLynn, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, NBC, THE LINE, The Voice, Willie Nelson, Christina Aguilera, The Tonight Show, Jay Leno, Neil Young, the South Dakota Country Music Hall of Fame, The city of Nashville, The State of Tennessee, The State of South Dakota, BMG Chrysalis Nashville, Valory records, Big Machine Records, Universal Music Group, Leland Grant, Nicolle Galyon, Abbi Roth, Piper Rastello, Josh Harrell, Chris Gelbuda, and all other original owners. I do not own anything in this blog. If any people, corporations, businesses, companies, etc, were not previously given credit for their work, they are given credit now and their previous absence was unintentional. All opinions expressed in this blog are my own. I wrote this blog for entertainment purposes and no copyright infringement is intended.
Monday Memos: Animal Fiction, the ONLY band you will be listening to this summer
Hello people of the internet!!! On today’s Monday Memos I am going to introduce y’all to an AMAZING new band whose music is so infectious and fun, that you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it. As the summer time rapidly approaches, your playlists definitely need a high energy boost, with music that will serve as the perfect backtrack to all of your favorite summer memories. I’ve always thought that the perfect song, by the perfect band, can make a moment truly unforgettable, and with this band you will definitely have fun summer memories to look back on. Who is this band? Well listen close, because you WILL be hearing this band’s name in the future. People of the internet, please allow me to introduce you to Animal Fiction!!! Now please read on to learn about why you will quickly become obsessed with this phenomenal new band.
Animal Fiction is a three piece indie pop band from Los Angeles, CA that consists of Eben Wares, Julian Walker, and Cameron Walker. Cameron Walker should be particularly recognizable by music lovers, due to his work as a touring member of the alternative pop band ‘The Ready Set’ and the indie band ‘1985’. He has also worked as a songwriter for Showtime, NBC, Nickelodeon, Disney, ESPN, and ABC. On February 18th, 2014, Animal Fiction released their debut self-titled EP. The EP includes 5 AMAZING songs that are upbeat and perfect summer tracks (think Foster the People meets Vampire Weekend).The subjects of the tracks talk about subjects like: breaking away from the norm and having an adventure, falling in love, and enjoying the freedom of being young. I really love that these songs are energetic and make you want to dance. Also, the sound of the EP is not only radio friendly (and trust me you will hear this band’s music on the radio VERY soon) but also contains a very unique sound that is instantly recognizable. It’s perfect for the upcoming summer season, and is a MUST on any and all playlists (so go to ITunes and get a copy…well finish reading the rest of the blog and then go…trust me, it’s worth the wait).
Animal Fiction’s newest song ‘Walk In The Sunshine’ (which is not included in their debut EP here’s the link so you can check it out Walk In The Sunshine) is another track that I am really excited about. This song is about having fun, being young, and enjoying life. This track shows that Animal Fiction has truly found their sound, and is becoming comfortable within it. I think that this song really shows a growth for the band, as artists, and their ability to craft and perform songs with catchy lyrics and infectious hooks. It can be very difficult for a band to create a sound that will help them have an immediate impactful debut, but Animal Fiction makes this task seem easy with ‘Walk In The Sunshine’. If this song is any indication of the direction that ‘Animal Fiction’ is heading with their music, then I am very excited for what’s ahead for them. I could easily see this song as a crowd favorite at a concert, and would be excited to see how Animal Fiction would visually show this song in a music video or concert setting. This track definitely solidifies the fact that Animal Fiction is a band to watch, and I think that it’s only a matter of time when everyone is blasting ‘Walk In The Sunshine’, and Animal Fiction’s other songs from their car radios.
So are you excited now?!? You definitely should be! I HIGHLY suggest that you check out Animal Fiction, and keep an ear open for all of the amazing new music they have in store. Whether you’re going on a road trip, hanging out by the pool/beach, or going to an awesome party, this is one band that you will NEED to have on repeat. So what are you waiting for!?! You know you want to check them out! Also, make sure you support Animal Fiction by purchasing their EP, checking out their music video for ‘Everyday is New’ (here’s a link to the AMAZING music video Everyday is New), listening to ‘Walk In The Sunshine’, and staying up to date with the band on all of their social media accounts.
Keep in touch with Animal Fiction!!!
Animal Fiction’s Facebook: AnimalFictionOfficial
Cameron Walker’s Facebook: CameronWalkerOfficial
Cameron Walker’s Twitter: cameronwalker
- All photos and information used in this blog belong to Animal Fiction, Cameron Walker, Twitter, Facebook, The Ready Set, 1985, heyalex.buzznet.com, ITunes, Ben Watson, and all other original owners. I do not own anything in this blog. All opinions expressed in this blog are my own. I wrote this blog for entertainment purposes and no copyright infringement is intended.
YouTube Wednesday: The Morgan Leigh Band…the newest country super band that is about to take over your local airwaves
Hello people of the internet!!! On today’s ‘YouTube Wednesday’ blog we are going to discuss a band that is on the verge of becoming a huge force in the country music scene. I recently discovered this band on twitter after they followed me (thank you twitter!!!). Fronted by the incredibly unique vocalist Morgan Leigh Boberg, ‘The Morgan Leigh Band’ has already performed all over the United States , and in doing so have obtained a fiercely loyal fanbase. One of the band’s greatest strengths is certainly Morgan’s outstanding vocals, which contain the perfect blend of country and pop tones. Because of this perfect blend of tones from both genres of music, ‘The Morgan Leigh Band’ will certainly become a huge radio friendly band, and I anticipate them breaking out into the mainstream country music scene very soon. Right now is the time in which great bands with phenomenal lead singers are taking over the airwaves both in country and pop music. However, what makes certain bands rise above the rest is their ability to appeal to both genres. So if you’ve never heard of this amazing band then please read on, because you will certainly hear A LOT from them in the years to come.
Morgan Leigh has quite an impressive catalog of cover and original songs that she has uploaded onto her YouTube account. When I listened to Morgan’s covers, I was very impressed by them because these covers serve as a small gauge of just what she is capable of as an entertainer. Morgan’s first video on her channel is a cover of Colbie Callait’s hit track ‘I Never Told You’ Morgan Leigh “I Never Told You” . I really enjoyed this cover because Morgan was really able to tap into the emotion behind the lyrics of the song, and convey these emotions through her performance. Although this song is technically considered a Pop song, it does contained many country undertones and Morgan further brings out these undertones though her performance. I really loved how she was able to add her own flair to the song, while also keeping the aspects of the songs that fans love. Another cover that I really loved, was Morgan’s rendition of ‘Many the Miles’ by Sara Bareilles Many the Miles-Sara Bareilles(Cover by Morgan Leigh) – YouTube. I really loved that this track allowed Morgan to show an R&B element to her voice, while still giving her license to keep her country roots intact. In this performance, Morgan was also able to have fun with the notes within the song, truly allowing her personality to shine through. Although Colbie Callait and Sara Bareilles are very difficult vocalists to compete with, I found that Morgan did a very good job not only covering these songs, but also adding her own unique artistry to these tracks.
Not only has Morgan Leigh covered numerous amazing songs, but she has also released several original songs that further prove that this artist and her band are ready to find a permanent spot on your favorite playlists. One of Morgan’s original songs (which was uploaded on YouTube on June 23rd, 2011),is entitled ‘Runaway Love’ “Runaway Love” Live original by Morgan Leigh, and tells the story of a young girl in search of love. This young girl never felt truly loved by her parents, so she sought love in a relationship. Unfortunately, the relationship did not end the way the girl anticipated, and as a result, her search for love continued. This song is not only emotionally charged, but it also has a very old country soulful tone, which is often a difficult style for many vocalists to pull off. Morgan’s performance of this song is so honest that it causes the listener to feel every word, and share the pain that the girl in the song feels. Another one of Morgan’s songs, which is entitled ‘Foolish’ “Foolish” by The Morgan Leigh Band (original) , is definitely one of my favorite songs that she has uploaded on YouTube. The song is about a girl in a relationship with an unfaithful guy. She tries to leave him, but when she tries to do so he tells her that he loves her to try to keep her in the relationship. This hot and cold type of relationship is a common theme in numerous songs, because it is a problem that many people can relate too. ‘Foolish’ was co-written by Morgan and as such, certainly shows she has cracked the secret of successful songwriting, which is writing music that is universally relatable. I really love the new country meets old country feel that this song has, I can definitely see this song on the radio. After listening to Morgan’s original songs, I am very excited to see how she will grow as a writer. As Morgan continues to grow within her artistry, her songs will only become better, and more infectious.
Now that you know how amazing Morgan’s music is, please allow me to tell you more about her. Morgan Leigh Boberg (the mastermind behind ‘The Morgan Leigh Band’) is a singer/songwriter from Southern California. She has performed and excelled in numerous singing competitions such as: IPOP, Texaco Country Showdown (in Arizona), Artist to Watch of 2013, etc. Morgan is also well known for her participation in the 12th Season of the acclaimed show ‘American Idol’. During her run on ‘American Idol’, Morgan had to pass several preliminary auditions, in order to audition in front of the final panel of esteemed judges, which included: Grammy Award winner/superstar Mariah Carey, multiple award winner/country star Keith Urban, hip-hop/pop star Nicki Minaj, and bassist/record producer/TV personality Randy Jackson. Morgan was able to make it to Hollywood Week, but was eliminated at the end of Hollywood Week, when the contestants were trimmed to the Top 40 contestants. After American Idol, Morgan and her band continued to perform, and soon built up the dedicated fan base they have now. In fact, the band’s fans are so supportive, that they helped ‘The Morgan Leigh Band’ win a contest that offered up and coming bands the opportunity to open for legendary rock star Pat Benatar (the vocalist behind hits such as ‘Hit me with your best shot’), and Loverboy (a successful Canadian rock band that was largely successful in the 80s). The band released their debut EP ‘Sugar’ in 2011 with the assistance of Grammy nominated writer Jamie O’Neal and well known producer Rodney Good. The band is currently in production of their new full studio album (which was funded through a Kickstarter account by fans).
As you can see, this is certainly a band to keep an eye on (or two…trust me they’re worth it). With an exceptionally unique vocalist, a greatly devoted fanbase, and the ears of Nashville industry professionals, I see no reason as to why ‘The Morgan Leigh Band’ will not become a worldwide phenomenon. So if you haven’t discovered the many reasons as to why this band is so awesome, you definitely need to check out their YouTube videos. Also keep an eye out for the band’s future projects, trust me they are going places fast…don’t get left behind.
Keep in touch with ‘The Morgan Leigh Band’:
YouTube: MorganLeighMusicNow
Twitter: morganleighband
Facebook: Morgan Leigh
Website: The Morgan Leigh Band
- All photos and information used in this blog belong Morgan Leigh Boberg, The Morgan Leigh Band, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Website, Kickstarter, Colbie Callait, Sara Bareilles, Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj, Keith Urban, Randy Jackson, American Idol, Pat Benatar, Loverboy, Jamie O’Neal, Rodney Good, and all other original owners. I do not own anything in this blog. All opinions expressed in this blog are my own. I wrote this blog for entertainment purposes and no copyright infringement is intended
Monday Memos Artist Spotlight: Why 2014 Is Going To Be A Golden Year for Bruno Mars!
Hello people of the internet!!! On today’s ‘Monday Memos’, we are going to do an ‘Artist Spotlight’ on the AMAZING performer Bruno Mars. Ready? Let’s get started! Over the years, there have been many artists who enter the music industry with talent and charisma, who instantly steal our hearts and souls. However, every once in a while, an entertainer emerges who is so phenomenally special, that they rise above the others, and leave us in awe of their musical abilities, Bruno Mars is one of these entertainers. Bruno Mars (whose real name is Peter Hernandez) was born on October 8th, 1985 in Honolulu, HI. At the tender age of two, he began performing throughout Hawaii, and by four he was performing shows five nights a week. Bruno has stated that his father moved to Hawaii from Brooklyn and began a group called ‘The Love Notes’, who sang 1950’s doo-wop and did impressions of Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Elvis Presley. As a young boy, Bruno began performing with this group, and did an Elvis impression. After he completed high school, Bruno moved to Los Angeles, CA in order to continue his musical pursuits.
Upon moving to Los Angeles, Bruno worked with many undiscovered artists, such as Ne-Yo (who later wrote a hit song for the artist Mario, and has since become a huge star as well). Bruno has stated that he learned the importance of songwriting by watching how Ne-Yo wrote music. Bruno realized at that moment that he wanted to learn how to properly write songs, in order to (as he has stated to ’Vibe Magazine’), “…be respected for the songs that I write.” Bruno worked on his writing skills, and at the age of 18, he received a recording contract with the legendary ‘Motown Records’. Unfortunately, Bruno was later released from his contract due to creative differences, and he moved back to LA and continued to pursue his musical ambitions. He soon began working with songwriters/producers Phillip Lawrence and Ari Levine, and the trio soon became a highly sought after team called ‘The Smeezingtons’. Bruno soon began writing songs for popular artists, and in 2006, he met with Aaron Bay-Schuck (who at the time had just left his A&R position at Epic Records). Aaron (who later became Bruno’s manager); soon took a job at Atlantic Records, and wanted to sign Bruno immediately. However, Atlantic Records thought that Bruno was not ready yet, so Aaron kept The Smeezingtons on as songwriters and producers for the label. In 2009, Bruno was finally signed by Atlantic Records as a solo artist, and immediately began writing hits for artists such as Travie McCoy, Flo Rida, and B.O.B (Bruno lent his vocals to Travie McCoy’s song ‘Billionaire’, and B.O.B.’s song ‘Nothin on You’, which was his first real exposure as a solo artist).
In May of 2010 Bruno released his E.P ‘It’s Better If You Don’t Understand’, which peaked at #99 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart. In August of the same year, Bruno co-wrote Cee Lo Green’s hit track ‘Forget You’, which was a huge hit for both artist (although Bruno did not sing on the track). Bruno’s debut full length album ‘Doo-Wops & Hooligans’ was released in October of 2010, peaked at #3 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart (and also peaked extremely high in numerous other countries, causing the record to be a vast improvement from his EP). Doo-Wops & Hooligans received a total of seven Grammy nominations in 2011 & 2012, and won in 2011 for ‘Best Pop Vocal Performance for the single ‘Just the Way You Are’. In 2012, Bruno released his second album ‘Unorthodox Jukebox’, which peaked at #1 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, and garnered Bruno five Grammy nominations in 2013. Bruno’s music has earned him international fame, and has been used in numerous commercials, as well as covered on the popular U.S musical-comedy ‘Glee’. Bruno is scheduled to perform at the halftime show of the 2014 U.S. Super Bowl, and honestly is most likely going to put on an amazing show.
As you can see, Bruno has had a very long road to achieve his fame and acclaim as a vocalist/songwriter/producer. Although he his past three years have been phenomenal, I think that 2014 is definitely going to be Bruno’s golden year. I anticipate him doing very well at the Grammys, and possibly even releasing another album by the end of this year, or in early 2015 (and we all know when he does release another album, it’s going to be musical perfection). Honestly, the Super Bowl Halftime Show is arguably the biggest event for an artist to perform at, thus Bruno’s invitation to perform there, proves that he is now recognized as one of the top musicians, currently in the industry. I anticipate that Bruno will only become more famous and will one day become a musical icon, just like the artists that he idolized as a young boy in Hawaii.
*All photos and information used in this blog belong to YouTube, Bruno Mars, Atlantic Records, Motown Records, Barry Gordy, Cee Lo Green, Travie McCoy, B.O.B., Philip Lawerence, Ari Levine, Aaron Bay-Schuck, Flo Rida, Arista Records, Elektra Records, BMG Rights Management, Fueled By Ramen, Warner Music Group, Grand Hustle Records, Rebel Rock, Boston.com, Ne-Yo, Vibe.com, hitquarters.com, wallpapergrab.com, and all other original owners. I do not own anything in this blog. All opinions expressed in this blog are my own. I wrote this blog for entertainment purposes and no copyright infringement is intended
YouTube Wednesday: 7 Minutes in Heaven, the next pop-punk band that will soon take over your radio
Hello people of the internet, for today’s ‘YouTube Wednesday’ blog I am going to introduce you all to your newest pop-punk obsession…7 Minutes in Heaven. The mastermind behind 7 Minutes in Heaven is the amazingly talented Timmy Rasmussen. This pop-punk band is very close to exploding all over your radio, so if you want to be ahead of the curve, continue reading. Ok are you ready?! Then let’s get started.
Timmy Rasmussen is a 20 year old musician (as of 2013) from Battle Ground, WA (I know that is such a cool name for a town!). He began 7 Minutes in Heaven in December of 2011, and the music originally had a very acoustic tone. Timmy initially released a Christmas EP through PureVolume (a website where aspiring musicians can showcase their work…here’s a link to 7 Minutes in Heaven’s page: 7 Minutes in Heaven on PureVolume). The Christmas EP received a lot positive feedback, and this inspired Timmy to move to Des Plaines, IL in order to seek more opportunities to share his music. After relocating, he released a track titled ‘Undercover Lovers’, which according to 7 Minutes in Heaven’s Facebook page had an unintentional “rad 80’s” feel to it. I completely agree with this statement due to the fact that this song has a touch of a synthesizer sound to it, which is certainly reminiscent of the early to mid 1980’s. I like this track because it not only has a cool throwback element to it, but it instantly grabs the listener’s attention, and leads you wanted to hear more. The next track he released was a fun tune entitled ‘Strike Three’. This song (which was an old track that was remastered for fans), certainly shows 7 Minutes in Heaven’s roots. Although the remastered version of this song has numerous instruments and very good production on it, you can certainly hear the original acoustic tone of the song, which shows how Timmy was able to flawlessly transition 7 Minutes in Heaven’s original sound into a more pop-punk sound (which is the musical direction Timmy eventually wanted to go in).
The first true pop-punk track that 7 Minutes in Heaven released was the infectious song ‘California’, which was released digitally on July 16th, 2012 (7 Minutes in Heaven – California – YouTube). This song is the perfect tune to add to your summer road trip playlist, or to remind you of that special summer love. I have been playing this song non-stop for the past few weeks, and I have to say that it becomes more addicted each time you play it. On March 8th, 2013, the band’s first original record ‘Get in the Van!’ was released, and I have to say that it is honestly one of my favorite albums of 2013. The songs are all super catchy, and the sound is very reminiscent of late 90’s-early 2000’s punk/alternative rock. If you’re a fan of Blink-182 or Simple Plan, then you will definitely like this record. One aspect of this album that I found particularly interesting was the name of track # 2 entitled #SorryNotSorry. I really loved the use of a hashtag (the name of this symbol: #) in the track’s title, because it is a play on this popular twitter feature, which I believe will really resonate with 7 Minutes in Heaven’ younger fans. Every song on this record is good enough to currently be on the radio, so I would suggest buying the entire album, because you will not regret it. Although this band is currently unsigned, I see big things on the horizon for 7 Minutes in Heaven. I can certainly see this band’s songs on constant radio rotation and with fans worldwide. If you haven’t already heard of this emerging super band, become familiar with them now, so you can say that you knew about them first!
Here are some links so you can connect and stay informed with what’s going on with 7 Minutes in Heaven.
7 Minutes in Heaven:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/7MIHband
Facebook: 7 Minutes in Heaven
YouTube: 7 Minutes in Heaven – YouTube
Instagram: 7mihband on Instagram
*All photos and information used in this blog belong to 7 Minutes in Heaven, PureVolume, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Timmy Rasmussen, ITunes, and all other original owners. I do not own anything in this blog. All opinions expressed in this blog are my own. I wrote this blog for entertainment purposes and no copyright infringement is intended