One of the reasons why I’m a regular watcher of TV’s The Voice is to see where some of its finest contestants end up going next. Whether they get cut from the show at the Battle Rounds or any of the next steps, there is some immensely fine talent that just doesn’t fit into the rest of the competition. Arkansas native Clinton Washington ended up finishing his time on the show facing off against Top 5 contestant India Carney last season with their beautiful duet of Rihanna’s “Stay”, but he left an indelible mark with his distinct voice and commanding stage presence. His new single “Hearts Beat Loud” is a heart-wringer, and you may need a few tissues to help you get through. Clinton has an engaging and genuine delivery that is so becoming and fits easily alongside some of our finest singers today. Once you hear this knockout of a song you will wonder why it shouldn’t be front and centre on the radio, but alas that is not the nature of our business today. So give the video a good solid watch and look forward to hearing more from this very talented singer. Play it back to back with Adele’s “Hello” 🙂
While Chris Mann rose to national prominence as a contestant who finished in the Top 4 on “The Voice” in 2012, I was already sold on his talent back in 2010 with the release of a self-titled EP that contained a heartbreaking straight-up rendition of Kanye West’s “Heartless”. So to see him go far on “The Voice” as the pop singer with opera background, and then release the major label album Roads not long after has been terrific. And that all led to him touring as the lead in “The Phantom of The Opera” throughout the U.S.! After other achievements and the recent release of the Alzheimer’s anthem “Remember Me”, it’s nice to see Chris delve into his own archives and pull out the sunshine-y “L.O.V.E.” to coincide with the American government’s ruling on marriage for everyone. Love indeed wins every time, and it’s great to hear Chris back in a pop setting where he can exercise his chops a bit differently. There’s a lovely soulful undercurrent that anchors “L.O.V.E.” as a pop song that deserves to be heard this summer. Give it a listen and watch for its upcoming official release.
One of my very favourite underdog contestants from Season 6 of “The Voice”, NYC’s Jake Barker, reminds us of how very good he is and why he ended up on Adam Levine’s team, with his recent cover of Maroon 5’s “Sugar”. This is not a song that I’m entirely crazy about, even after Chris Jamison gave a credible go at it on “The Voice” last season. But Jake’s warm vocal – with the triple fun harmonies as you will see and hear – reminded me when he performed Maroon 5’s “She Will Be Loved” on the show. Neither of these songs are at all easy to cover because of Adam Levine’s unique vocal style, but “Sugar” will assure you of his own style and Jake sends this one home just as well. I’m anxiously awaiting more original Jake Barker songs after last year’s Stage Fright EP. Watch the video above.
I have deliberately waited to write about my two favourite finalists on the most recent season of “The Voice”. I think both Chris Jamison and Matt McAndrew can be superstars if all of the pieces fall into place now that the show is over. Most releases by TV show performers come and go quickly. But Chris and Matt have such resilient talent that they will both be back and continue to be recognized by both fans and the music community. Their original songs recorded for “The Voice” are just terrific.
CHRIS JAMISON, “Velvet”
2nd runner up and Pittsburgh native Chris has an amazingly relaxed and assured personality on stage which came across particularly in his covers of Bruno Mars’ “When I Was Your Man”, Nick Jonas’ “Jealous”, and Justin Timberlake’s “Cry Me A River”. “Velvet” is a mid-tempo R&B pop groover that you should not miss out on. Chris could easily be a new Timberlake or Robin Thicke and “Velvet” is just that slick and soulful. Including “Velvet”, Chris had 3 songs reach the Billboard Hot 100. More songs like “Velvet” will attract new fans and make the demand for more Chris Jamison recordings happen!
MATT McANDREW, “Wasted Love”
I must admit that runner-up and New Jersey-born Matt was not on my radar until his captivating performance of Hozier’s “Take Me To Church”. And it didn’t stop there with Ed Sheeran’s “Make It Rain” just scorching and Damien Rice’s “The Blower’s Daughter” bringing a rather obscure song to a very attentive huge audience. Matt invests considerable power and emotion into his performances and it’s no wonder that “Wasted Love” popped into the Billboard Hot 100 at #14, the highest ever for a contestant on the show – and it’s one of 5 of his songs from the show to appear on the Hot 100. “Wasted Love” is top notch alternative pop/rock with a soulful backdrop reminiscent of U2 and Coldplay that shouldn’t vanish after the show. Although he’s already put out his own independent album almost a year ago called View Of The Pines, you can bet that more songs from Matt will be front and centre for your enjoyment very soon in 2015.
Fresh after his remarkable performance on “The Voice” a few weeks back in the battle rounds when he was unceremoniously cut after a truly brilliant duet of Rihanna’s “Stay” which left audiences everywhere scratching their heads with eyes dripping, 18 year old North Carolina native Joe Kirk has issued his first single, “Believe”. It’s a wise choice to follow a performance of “Stay” with a wide-appeal ballad that shows off Joe’s range quite nicely. Melodically and sometimes vocally, the song is a ringer for Swedish House Mafia’s “Save The World (Tonight)” but as it moves along it changes it up until Joe’s voice is completely let loose after the 3 minute mark. “Believe” is only the start for Joe Kirk and the powerhouse talent that I sure believe lies within and will dazzle us more over the next few years. You can preview and buy “Believe” on iTunesright here.
As you’ve already read in these blog posts, Jake Barker was my underdog favourite on the last edition of “The Voice” with his on-point R&B/pop style, despite having never performed on stage before being on the show. Well since then, he’s released his EP Stage Fright (on my regular iPod playlist 🙂 ), toured with “The Voice”, and proposed to his gal Alyse on stage when in New York City. I’m looking for more to come from talented Jake, but in the meantime the lyric video for “Scared” will get you acquainted with another of the songs from Stage Fright and make you understand why he and his goosebumps-raising voice belong in the limelight. Get Stage Fright on iTunes for a very reasonable price!
We hadn’t heard from 21 year old Louisiana-born L.A.-based MacKenzie Bourg for a hot moment since last year’s heart-warming single “Everyone’s Got A Story”. The singer/songwriter who dazzled us with his unique underdog take on Foster The People’s “Pumped Up Kicks” in 2012 on “The Voice” has been busy working on new songs. So to whet our appetite for what’s to come, MacKenzie unleashed “Impossible Things” online. It’s a fine, empowering song about not being browbeaten and striving for the impossible. Hardly surprising considering MacKenzie battled congestive heart disease shortly before his appearance on “The Voice” – he is an inspiration. Not sure who the other artist was that recorded “Impossible Things”, but MacKenzie’s own version to me is pretty hard to beat and I hope it gets official release. Listen above.
When I wrote about his splendid cover of Maroon 5’s “She Will Be Loved” a month ago, I promised to keep you all informed on what was next for “The Voice” contestant Jake Barker. So with the finale of this season’s show last night and some marvelous performances – including Jake performing with Christina Grimmie, Bria Kelly, and Tess Boyer on a warm rendition of Lorde’s “Team” – Jake immediately unleashed the video for his song “Oh So Simple”. The power of having a song that some people might think is understated is its ability to stay in your memory long after you hear it. Jake’s sweet voice rivals Robin Thicke (say on his “Lost Without U”) or John Legend, and I’m not using those names lightly, I think Jake could easily get into the big leagues with a start like “Oh So Simple”. The video is laid back and supports the easy going stage presence of the singer. Keep your eyes on your iTunes as it will be out soon along with Jake’s debut EP Stage Fright. Jake Barker is one of 2014’s new, amazing talents to watch!!
PS – If the song title is screaming song lyrics of the past to you, then you may be thinking of Barbra Streisand’s “The Way We Were”. But I think it was Gladys Knight that sang “oh so simple” in her rendition instead of “all so simple” in Streisand’s version.
Coming as a Top 10 contestant from TV’s “The Voice”, Arkansas native Cody Belew captured North America’s ears and hearts with his brave cover versions and his genuine personality. At the time, I said that he was the show’s likeable underdog, and later named him one of my13 Performers To Watch For ’13. In advance of his album-in-progress comes another compelling cover, of none other than Prince’s “Purple Rain”. You know the song as an aching pop/rock ballad about love and, especially sex, with its fierce, climactic guitar work. Cody’s rendition of “Purple Rain” strips it all away, almost akin to what Sinéad O’Connor did for Prince’s “Nothing Compares 2 U”, a lesser known Prince song that became the #1 song of 1990. Well almost all of it – Cody’s version is a minimal, similarly aching recording that pulls the heartbreak in the lyrics all the way up for the listener to confront. And with the barren scene in the video, the blurry camera movement, the expressions of the singer, and the absent rock trappings, the emptiness is accompanied by a profound sadness. Even if “Purple Rain” doesn’t end up on Cody’s album – I suspect it won’t, but it should – this video performance is extremely memorable. It’s difficult not to be moved by this beautiful interpretation of heartbreak. Keep your tissue box handy!
Blake Lewis, “Your Touch”
With his latest music, I am so glad that Washington-born American Idol season six contestant Blake Lewis has continued to build on the power of his EDM audience, which took the title track from his 2009 album Heartbreak On Vinyl to #1 on the Billboard Dance Club Play chart in April 2010. That song also reached #4 on my chart and was in the Top 20 on my year end list of 2009. Emotion is a powerful thing with the right arrangement, and though it’s laden in synths and effects, the result on “Your Touch” is a big sounding song that reaches out. And this is probably what drew Microsoft in to use the song to promote Internet Explorer 10 in its commercials. Though it perhaps takes a few listens to gel, “Your Touch” could crossover to pop radio with its exposure. Blake’s third album, Portrait Of A Chameleon will be released by Republic Records and is due later this year. While his last album was released almost four years ago, Blake Lewis has never been away and this new music should not be seen as a comeback but more as coming into its own.
Måns Zelmerlöw, “Broken Parts”
Spring 2013 brings us a new album by 26 year old Swedish sensation Måns Zelmerlow, who charmed us to pieces in 2009’s Melodifestivalen with a star-making performance of “Hope and Glory”, and hosted the show for its 2010 edition. His subsequent sophomore album MZW was a diverse and warm pop album, and that summer I grew quite attached to the song “Rewind”, which peaked at #4 on my chart. The new album is called Barcelona Sessions and looks towards a softer but more honed sound than in the past. “Broken Parts” is a beauty in which the singer’s brilliant voice actually rises above the fragility of the lyrics. I love a singer that transforms the lyrics and Måns has that power in his voice to do so. Barcelona Sessions will be well worth the wait.
Jerry Reid featuring P.J. Soles, “Tell The Night”
Last we heard from Detroit-based singer Jerry Reid, he was jiving with reknown pianist Ben Waters in my favourite song from the delectable 2011 Ballroom Remixed collection called “Out Without Your Boyfriend”, which posted at #3 on my chart. Since then, some interesting songs appeared and vanished from his website, and it’s taken a while but now we have the supurbly edgy and dubsteppy “Tell The Night” available for purchase on Amazon in advance of an upcoming album. Jerry’s commanding vocal makes you a believer fast, and it’s augmented by screams from none other than 70’s movie star P.J. Soles, most noted in the rock music world as Riff Randall from “Rock ‘N Roll High School”, but also in roles in big movies such as “Private Benjamin”, “Stripes”, and “Carrie”. You can hear an excerpt of iton Amazon right hereand as soon as I know of a complete version online I will post it.
i come in PEZ, “You’re The One”
i come in PEZ is the recording name for a new Dutch EDM indie performer who not only knows how to make infectious dance music, but has his head and heart in the right places. It’s really quite a simple record where less is more – there’s a forlorn feel that fuels your emotions, and then it comes forward with a huge, bouncy hook with production by Toby Traxx. This could do very well in dance clubs that take chances on records like this. “You’re The One” is available on iTunes and half of its proceeds go to the Dutch Amnesty International Pride Fund. i come in PEZ also released his eponymous 7 song EP last week containing two versions of the song.
With “Spectrum” as the Billboard #1 Dance Club Play Song of 2012, Zedd wisely follows it with an equally strong song, the title track of his album Clarity. Featuring Foxes on vocals the song ruminates over what people long for if they don’t have it: Someone who will bring perspective to them and their relationship. It’s accompanied by a soaring melody that undoubtedly is filling dance floors across North America (and even the world) as the song rapidly moves up the Dance Club Play chart. Booom!
Lawson, “Learn To Love Again”
Digging four songs deep now into the (soon to be released in North America) Chapman Square album, the talented lads in Lawson perhaps have their strongest single to date. It’s more large-and-in-charge than their other songs, supported by an expensive-looking video featuring some fancy dancing that may detract from the band’s performance. Nonetheless after all of their touring, I expect their February 2 show in Toronto to go over big with any pop music lovers who like guys who can play so well and write great songs.
Martha Wash, “It’s My Time”
It’s fan-tastic to know for a disco/dance music buff like me that Martha Wash has released her first album in 20 years called Something Good, though she’s really never been away from the dance music scene at all. Best known for her classic work with Two Tons O’ Fun (you probably first heard her on Sylvester’s magical “Dance (Disco Heat)”), The Weather Girls, Black Box, and C+C Music Factory with her instantly recognizably powerful voice, Martha has always had an identity with dance music lovers even if she wasn’t seen in the videos. “It’s My Time” is an uplifting, magnetic song to which so many listeners can relate whether it’s remixed and on the dance floor or not. Let’s hope she’s gonna be touring – and maybe she’ll be able to perform some of those megahits along with her new songs, having had 6 solo Billboard Dance Club Play #1’s (most recently in 2007) and 7 others on which she was a featured vocalist. 13 #1’s!! Take that!!
George Nozuka, “Don’t Go”
Let’s say welcome back to New York-born Canadian singer George Nozuka, who under his first name had some significant success in Canada with “Talk To Me”, “Last Time” and “Lie To Me” from his debut album Believe back in 2006/07. He has a smooth-as-silk vocal that pulls emotion from each word. “Don’t Go” continues in that style from his sophomore album Beautiful, and the video features some excellent dance moves from George as well. He comes from an amazingly talented family of brothers (including fave of mine Justin) but has a style all to himself. Hopefully I’ll get to dig deeper into his new album over the next while.
BAKER, “If U Love Me”
L.A. singer BAKER definitely has a strong set of followers, who keep visiting the post where I introduced you to himand his song “Convince Me” back last May. It looks like his first album will drop soon, and it’s being preceded by a winning, summery slice of pop called “If U Love Me”. If you pine for California beaches, you’ll see most of the video for the song is set there. Not sure about why he’s wearing the big boots at the beach in some scenes, nor why the big blue boom box accompanies him most of the time, but the video does prove to be a memorable showcase for BAKER because of his soaring voice. But if you see a guy on an L.A. beach with a blue boom box, well…
TYLER SHAW, “Kiss Goodnight”
The second Much Music Coke Covers contest winner is Vancouver’s Tyler Shaw, whose down-to-earth personality and crisp vocals made him an obvious contender in the contest. As I witnessed this past summer (in a local concert that also featured previous winner Danyka Nadeau), Tyler has the easy-going stage presence, voice, and choice of songs (such as an acoustic version of “Rolling In The Deep”) to command attention. This continues with his first release “Kiss Goodnight”, not by any means an earth shaking in-your-face original, but it’s the perfect song to showcase everything that I’ve described. Tyler Shaw definitely has the potential to gravitate beyond his domestic success.
BRIAN FUENTE, “Sidelined”
It’s not just the finalists that I hear and watch for when I check out TV’s “The Voice”, because winning the whole shebang is only one part of the show. More so in seasons two and three have there been terrific performers who haven’t made it to even the semi-finals for varying reasons. Mississippi-born Nashville-based 29 year old Brian Fuente is one of those performers. To me, the songs that were chosen did not showcase the extent of his vocal prowess nor of course did they showcase what a great guitar player he is. You can hear lots of that U2-Coldplay-inspired playing on his song “Sidelined”. The simple-themed video below helps put Brian’s talent front and centre while telling an interesting story. Brian has recently released independently a five song EP called 1983, on which he played almost every instrument. I think it’s time for his coach Blake Shelton to pick up the phone… Look for more releases soon from Brian and his new band The Shadows.
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