Archive - exclusive
RSS Feed
“I’ll be announcing label stuff, and album stuff, and tour stuff pretty soon,” Dixon told me before hoping aboard the “Idol” tour bus. Dixon would not reveal anything more – even dodging a question about whether said album would be released with Jimmy Iovine and Interscope Records. The music mogul and label chairman seemed to like Dixon and commented throughout the season that he thought the singer was as ready as anyone on the show to be played on the radio.
That “product” is Jepsen’s debut U.S. album, Kiss.
“There’s a fine balance there, but we like to party harder than we work I suppose,” singer Tom Parker noted when the UK boy band stopped for an interview with “The Ralphie Radio Show.”
“It’s one of them: ‘Are we singing tomorrow?’ ‘No.’ ‘Let’s go out!’” added bandmate Nathan Sykes. He’s the youngest of The Wanted at 19 years old, and will no longer cop to boozing here in America.
“We are definitely moving forward in the recording studio, making new music,” Knight revealed. “It’s in the infancy stages right now but we’ll definitely have something ready by our tour next year.”
That someone is Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher. McCarthy said her son, 10 year-old Evan, doesn’t watch football.
But the worst was yet to come for the band from Bradenton, Florida. Just five days later, bassist Charles Trippy was diagnosed with a brain tumor.
VIDEO: Red Carpet of the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards
Instead of a black or white carpet, MTV opted for the more tradition red rollout at last Thursday’s “Video Music Awards.” But in typical non-traditional fashion, the network spread media outlets over two stories and both sides of Chick Hearn Court, the road directly in front of LA’s Staples Center. I stood across from the double-decker entrance and watched celebrities such as Miley Cyrus, One Direction, and Katy Perry entered the carpet to near-deafening screams.
- Scooter Braun has made a name for himself in the music industry with his non-traditional moves, such as signing a 15 year-old Canadian named Justin Bieber after watching the teenager perform on YouTube. The manager works with a handful of other acts – from Usher to Carly Rae Jepsen – and just added Psy to his roster. Psy is the man behind, “Gangham Style,” a Korean pop song in the vein of LMFAO that has amassed over 110 million YouTube views since July. I asked Braun why he took a chance in signing the K-Pop star.
“Because he’s an underdog, and I love underdogs,” Braun responded. I inquired about other acts he’s signed, and he simply said, “They’re all underdogs.”
Certainly Psy would be the first Korean pop star to make it big in the U.S., but I’m not sure 110 million YouTube views screams “underdog.”
- You could call Gym Class Heroes an underdog before The Papercut Chronicles II. Prior to its release, the band only had one bona fide hit record to its name with the Patrick Stump-assisted “Cupid’s Chokehold.” GCH added three to that list with “Stereo Hearts,” “Ass Back Home,” and “The Fighter.” What makes the feat more impressive is the era in which it was accomplished: Gym Class Heroes have found a way to cut through all of the dance music on pop radio. Guitarist Disashi Lumumba–Kasongo cited two reasons for the success.
“One, us being true to ourselves as a band and as people,” Disashi said. “And two, the fact that the kids growing up today and people who are grown up already, want to hear more than just one kind of music.”
- For those clamoring to hear new music from Hot Chelle Rae, you won’t have to wait much longer. Guitarist Nash Overstreet told me the band started writing new material in January, and could have a new single out as soon as October.
- The sixth and final season of “Jersey Shore” will also kick off this October – and DJ Pauly D has no regrets about the run.
“It’s been an unbelievable ride for me,” Pauly said before he ducked in to the Staples Center for the VMAs. “Six seasons deep, six seasons strong, and this past one, I can’t wait for it to air. We went out with a bang.”
You would expect nothing less from the Seaside Heights crew. Yeah buddy.
INTERVIEW: ‘Idol’ Colton Dixon Teases Big Announcement Next Week
As the “American Idols Live!” tour enters its final stretch, the top ten contestants from season eleven will turn the page on a chapter of their careers and begin to write a new one. In an interview on “The Ralphie Radio Show,” singer Colton Dixon revealed that his post-show career could officially kick off as soon as next week.
“I’ll be announcing label stuff, and album stuff, and tour stuff pretty soon,” Dixon told me before hoping aboard the “Idol” tour bus. Dixon would not reveal anything more – even dodging a question about whether said album would be released with Jimmy Iovine and Interscope Records. The music mogul and label chairman seemed to like Dixon and commented throughout the season that he thought the singer was as ready as anyone on the show to be played on the radio.
“I think there’s going to be an official announcement about all this, in about a week,” was all the “Idol” finalist would divulge. As far as the first single from his LP, Dixon would not rule out “Never Gone” as a possibility. The song is Dixon’s only original that he performs with his fellow contestants on tour.
“I wrote that, probably a little over a week before we started the tour,” he said of the track. “It was very spur of the moment; very last minute.”
Dixon’s album has been in the works since seventh place finish on “Idol.” The Tennessee-born artist says that his camp has about thirty songs to choose from for his forthcoming album.
INTERVIEW: No Longer a ‘One Hit Wonder’ – Carly Rae Jepsen Looks Forward to ‘Kiss’
“Call Me Maybe” singer Carly Rae Jepsen wouldn’t deny that she definitely took note when her song with Owl City, “Good Time” began to climb up the charts. The track has officially relieved her of the “one hit wonder” moniker.
“I think there definitely was a little bit of a ‘pressure-off’ when I saw that ‘Good Time’ was doing really well,” Jepsen explained aboard her tour bus to “The Ralphie Radio Show.” “But, I try never to focus on the success of a song. It’s more just I feel it when I’m writing it and when it’s done and when the product feel ready.”
That “product” is Jepsen’s debut U.S. album, Kiss.
“No one’s heard it yet; it’s not released until September 18 but, I already feel really pumped and really proud and if people like it, that’s bonus.”
When the Canadian singer says “no one,” she of course means the public. But people inside her camp, including manager Scooter Braun and superstar Justin Bieber, have heard the record in its entirety.
“Scooter called me today saying, ‘You should feel really proud; this is fantastic,” Jepsen said. “At the end of the day, if my family, friends, and I dig it then I feel like I’ve won over my main crowd.”
Jepsen is ramping up press and public appearances leading to the release of Kiss. Then it’s off with The Biebs for a 40-plus date trek of North America on the “Believe” tour. During the run, Jepsen will reunite with a former tour-mate from years ago: guitarist and Bieber musical director Dan Kanter.
“He played with a band called Shiloh,” recalled Jepsen, who toured Canada, in a van, with the group. “We got to know him then, and now we’re gonna be doing it stadium-style later on in life. It’s really, really cool.”
The whole experience with “Call Me Maybe” has been cool in itself for Jepsen, culminating with President Barack Obama telling a radio station in New Mexico that he thinks the track is a “cute pop song.”
“I get surprised every day,” Jepsen admits. “There’s a moment where I’m having to pinch myself. You hear {The President’s comments), you hear that the (U.S.) swim team’s done it, you heard that Katy Perry has decided to make a parody of it. It’s really good news and keeps life really interesting and really exciting right now.”
INTERVIEW: The Wanted Admits ‘We Like to Party Harder Than We Work’
The Wanted has been in high demand since its introduction to the U.S. earlier this year with the hit single, “Glad You Came” and TV appearances on the likes of “Ellen” and “Chelsea Lately.” But the busy schedule hasn’t slowed the boys down from having a food time.
“There’s a fine balance there, but we like to party harder than we work I suppose,” singer Tom Parker noted when the UK boy band stopped for an interview with “The Ralphie Radio Show.”
“It’s one of them: ‘Are we singing tomorrow?’ ‘No.’ ‘Let’s go out!’” added bandmate Nathan Sykes. He’s the youngest of The Wanted at 19 years old, and will no longer cop to boozing here in America.
“I have to abide by the law and behave myself,” a suddenly semi-serious Sykes said. “So, unfortunately, currently in the States, I am not drinking (alcohol) at all.”
“The fake ID doesn’t work anymore,” Parker quickly shouted. “He’s too famous for that sh*t!”
Regardless of whether it’s water or whiskey, the party won’t be slowing down anytime soon. Matter of fact, the band’s current schedule is so hectic, most of the guys can’t tell you where they’ll be win. The Wanted wasn’t sure when its tour with “Call Me Maybe” singer Carly Rae Jepsen ended, and also didn’t know what or how many dates they’ll be supporting Jepsen and Justin Bieber. The boys did note that they’re embarking on an international tour later this year and that they’ll be in attendance in Los Angeles for the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards. The Wanted is up for “Best New Artist.” The show also falls on Max George’s birthday, September 6.
INTERVIEW: NKOTB’S Jordan Knight Confirms New Tour, Music for 2013
The fellas of New Kids on the Block aren’t planning to re-retire anytime soon. In an interview that aired Thursday on “The Ralphie Radio Show,” Jordan Knight divulged the band plans to both release new music and tour next year.
“We are definitely moving forward in the recording studio, making new music,” Knight revealed. “It’s in the infancy stages right now but we’ll definitely have something ready by our tour next year.”
The “Give It To You” singer is prepping for his own tour, as he wraps up the “Live and Unfinished” trek with dates across Canada on October. But first, Knight and company will perform both nights of “Summer Mixtape Fest 2012,” a two-day celebration of pop music inside Hersheypark Stadium in Hershey, PA. The lineup features everyone from Kelly Clarkson and The Fray to DJ Pauly D and Carly Rae Jepsen. Saturday’s roster includes LL Cool J, The Backstreet Boys, and the first concert from 98 Degrees in 10 years.
“I had some behind-the-scenes info. I knew it was going down,” Knight said of the comeback. “That’s one of the things I’m looking forward to, is seeing the reaction to the 98 Degrees reunion.”
When asked to recall what was most difficult about NKOTB’s comeback in 2008, Knight cited the pressure and uncertainty that surrounded the group.
“It’s a lot of pressure getting back in to the spotlight and the biggest thing is, you don’t know what to expect. So it is kind of nerve-wracking,” the singer explained. “When we came back and we performed on ‘The Today Show,’… we didn’t know how many people were going to show up. For us, that was the scariest thing.”
Nick Lachey and his crew may have a chance to experience those exact same feelings, as 98 Degrees will perform on “Today” before Saturday’s set in Hershey.
INTERVIEW: Jenny McCarthy Moves to Chicago for Family, New Boyfriend
Turns out it was a family decision for Jenny McCarthy to relocate from Los Angeles back to her native Chicago.
“My son, I feel like wasn’t getting the childhood that I wanted him to have in LA,” explained McCarthy at the grand opening of Mohegan Sun’s new Vista Lounge at Wombi Rock in Uncasville, CT. “That, on top of, met someone I really like and care about. So all of those things combined made me kind of come back home.”
That someone is Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher. McCarthy said her son, 10 year-old Evan, doesn’t watch football.
“He judges people on their spirit, which is perfect,” the actress said. “[The relationship] is still new, and my son loves being in Chicago for his friends and my mom and dad live there.”
By all accounts, it seems things are on the up-and-up for the 39 year-old. McCarthy is preparing for her new prime time show on VH1, and recently graced the July/August 2012 edition of Playboy. The model told me she feels sexier now than she did at 20 years old.
“I think women come in to their own later in their age,” she said. “When we’re 20 we’re still trying to figure out who we are; trying to be something. At 39 we’re like, ‘Take it or leave it.’ We kind of want to get off more than turn people on.”
INTERVIEW: We The Kings’ Travis Clark Talks Staying Cool, Overcoming Issues, New Music
After the 2012 that the band We The Kings endured thus far, one would probably wonder what it would take for the pop-rock quartet to cancel a show. The answer is not “a drummer’s broken arm,” or “a bassist’s bout with a benign tumor.” “An attempted kidnapping of the group” would also be an incorrect answer.
“We will never be the band to cancel a show, unless we’re literally on our death beds,” lead singer Travis Clark told me at this year’s Vans Warped Tour. “Danny [Duncan] broke his arm snowboarding, and we’re just like, if he broke his arm playing drums or something like that, that’s more of a reason maybe to cancel a show. But snowboarding and doing something that’s not your job, and breaking your arm, you kind of have to pull through and do something.”
But the worst was yet to come for the band from Bradenton, Florida. Just five days later, bassist Charles Trippy was diagnosed with a brain tumor.
“Thankfully, he’s perfectly okay,” Clark said. “He got everything checked out, and it was benign. They had it extracted; he had a bald head and everything.”
It went further downhill from there. Clark could not speak about the incident on the record, but in a recent interview with idobi Radio’s “The Gunz Show,” the lead singer recalled an attempted kidnapping of We The Kings after a show in Malaysia. A man who posed as the guys’ bus driver took the band on a wild ride that ended only after a car chase and an alleged payoff of authorities in the country by the said driver. Footage of the confrontation was on YouTube but has since been removed.
Despite all of this, We The Kings have not only played every date as scheduled, but the band has also released a new EP and spent the summer on the main stage of Warped Tour. Clark and company still end each set with the band’s first breakout single, “Check Yes Juliet.”
“We’ll never be able to beat that song,” Clark admitted. “I don’t mean that in the sense of, ‘We’ll never be able to write a better song.’ We’ll never be able to write a song that is more emotional than that song because it’s where the majority of our fan base found us from.”
Clark went on to candidly address another issue regarding the way fans compare a band’s new material to tracks previously released.
“When a band releases a CD, and [fans] are just like, ‘Oh, this is not as good as the first one.’ Like, it’s never going to be as good as the first one,” he said. “No matter what, it will never be as good as the first one, unless a specific song relates to you in a very personal way.”