Leah LaBelle, Lolita

Leah LaBelle was one of my most recent discoveries.

This twenty-six-year-old Canadian singer participated in the third season of American Idol and nowadays she is recording her debut album, set to be release in late 2013.
Leah also got notability while posting cover videos on youtube.

Leah LaBelle has released two songs, so far: Sexify and Lolita, both produced by Pharrell Williams.
While, Sexify is the "classic" R&B song, way too similar to artists like Alicia Keys - and we don't need another one, bringing nothing new.
But Lolita prevails for being so different and unique. It's exciting, fresh and makes eager to see the next steps of this young singer.

Lolita is a upbeat song, full of drama but most of all, it shows her power, her groove and her intensity in music. Lolita is the perfect presentation card to Leah LaBelle.

Richie Campbell, That's How We Roll

The Portuguese reggae artist Richie Campbell is working on his second album, after the success of My Path, released in 2010.

The first single of his new work is now available for purchase on iTunes and Richie has also shared a video to join this beautiful song.
That's How We Roll video was recorded in Kingston, Jamaica, on two of the most problematic neighborhoods - Creek and Tivoli Gardens. The video was produced by Philip "Jr Blender" Meckseper, directed by Salvador Colaço and edited by Endless Youth.

According to the reggae artist "We chose to record in Jamaica and in these two neighborhoods specifically to show there's something that goes beyond distance, nationality, color and social status. The values. We easily judge who, for not having the same easiness that we do, chooses the wrong way for survival. What we want to show with the music and the video is that in any part of the world, of Portugal, to one of the most dangerous cities of the world we can find people with one common goal, be and make everything to a better world and a better society."

Following this explanation we can understand why the song's title is sang by so many different people with different backgrounds, lifes, jobs and goals.

About the new record, Campbell revealed to Myway "it will be sort of the same style as My Path, maybe with more soul influences and more mature and consistent as the other one".

"We represent fi di people weh them heart not cold,

That's How We Roll!

Step away from the crime and nuh bow down fi gold,

That's How We Roll!

'Cause from you burn violence you haffi burn silence and

Talk to the World!

So put your hand to your heart, get up and do your part

and say... That's How We Roll"

Remember the artist has already several Performances scheduled in Portugal. You can see him on May 17 - Queima de Braga, June 15 - Positive Vibes festival, in Vila Nova de Gaia, July 29 - Sumol Summer Fest and August 3 - Sudoeste TMN.

News // Lily Allen with new album

Lily Allen previously said she wouldn't make music again, but she is on studio preparing new songs.

According to the British newspaper Daily Star, two years after she said she wouldn't record an album again, Lily Allen is on RAK studios in London working on an album that might be released in 2013.

"Lily has been in the studio trying different sounds and writing new tracks. She's not at a stage where she can start recording but the new album is definitely under way and there's a chance it could be released early next year," revealed a source to the same newspaper.

The same source added "When Lily retired she honestly thought she'd never record again. But she started writing for the new Bridget Jones musical and that gave her the bug back. Her life has changed so much since her last album and she now has a different perspective. Lily wants a more mature sound and is penning tracks about Ethel and Sam." 

During her musical hiatus, Allen launched her own record company In The Name Of and a fashion label Lucy In Disguise.

Until now, the news haven't been confirmed by Lily herself.

News // Pearl Jam's new album set for 2013

The North-American band Pearl Jam confirmed to Billboard a new album.

The guitarrist Stone Gossard revealed that the band - known for songs like Alive or Just Breathe - is working with Brendan O'Brien and have already recorded "some great songs and we've written some more and we're going to do some more recording over the next three or four months and most likely the record will come out hopefully next year."

Gossard also explained that "I don't like to talk about it too much before it's done because it has a tendency to change direction on me." and adding that they are "having a great time and are as excited as ever about making music."

At the main time, you can check Stone Gossard's side project Brad and their new album United We Stand to be released next April 24.

Listen their video for A Reason To Be In My Skin below.

News // Jack White with more details about new work

Jack White revealed on his Official Site more details about Blunderbuss.

The album Blunderbuss will go to stores on April 24, 2012 has as art cover a picture of Jack White and crow.

The tracklist was also announced on the same post.

1. Missing Pieces
2. Sixteen Saltines
3. Freedom At 21
4. Love Interruption
5. Blunderbuss
6. Hypocritical Kiss
7. Weep Themselves To Sleep
8. I’m Shakin’
9. Trash Tongue Talker
10. Hip (Eponymous) Poor Boy
11. I Guess I Should Go To Sleep
12. On And On And On
13. Take Me With You When You Go

Remember Love Interruption, the first single taken from Blunderbuss.

News // Green Day announced a new album

The American Green Day are on studio recording the album that is going to follow 21st Century Breakdown released in 2009.

Yesterday, on Valentine's Day Billie Joe Armstrong announced the news, writing on his personal Twitter
"Happy Valantine's day! Officially started recording the new record today. It's FUCK TIME!!!!".

In October, the band performed on Webster Hall in Manhattan where they included new songs like Wow, That's Loud and Make Out Party being described by Rolling Stone as "a departure from the band's more politically-minded records American Idiot and21st Century Breakdown, with more straightforward lyrics focused on aggression, sex and pleasure."
Besides the confirmed upcoming album, the band is also returning to stages this year performing on Summer Sonic Festival, happening in Japan on August 18 and 19.

Check below a live recording of one of Green Day's new songs Carpe Diem.

News // David Fonseca releases two albums this year

As we announced last week, the Portuguese singer known for songs like Superstars, U Know Who I Am or Kiss Me, Oh Kiss Me is releasing not only a record, but two instead.

According to the label Universal, David Fonseca is going to release two records this year.

The project is called Seasons and celebrates two albums - the first part: Rising, which is going to be released next March 21 and the second: Falling, scheduled for September 21.
Other songs will only be released digitally. Mostly this Seasons is going to show David Fonseca's life in songs, for a year.

The new single is going to be What Life Is For and revealed next February 6.

On his Official Site, Fonseca explaines the entire concept behind Seasons:

"The challenge is completely new for me and maybe that’s why I’m so excited with the whole project. The idea: a year of experiences and personal observations transformed into songs, a musical portrait of the days that marked that path in a kind of calendar / musical journal. A pen in a paper doing its journey without interruptions, limitations, filters or plans, the days going by until the final goal. My history told chronologically, like an open book during a year”.
“What Life is For”, “Seasons” first single, is the first episode of this adventure starting now. I’m on board, only you are missing."

News // Jack White release solo album

Twelve months after the official end of The White Stripes, Jack White is going to release his first solo album.

The record is going to call Blunderbuss and will be released on April 24 through his label Third Man and Columbia, as checked on his website.

On a press release, White said his album Blunderbuss is "an album I couldn't have released until now. I've put off making records under my own name for a long time but these songs like they could only be  presented under my name. These songs were written from scratch, had nothing to do with anyone or anything else but my own expression, my own colors on my own canvas."

(Single's back cover)

The first single taken from the album Blunderbuss is Love Interruption (check it below!), being available to purchase digitally tonight. On February 7, Third Man will release a 7" single edition including a b-side song Machine Gun Silhouette.

News // David Fonseca with new album in March

The Portuguese artist revealed news for March.

The Portuguese magazine Blitz that is going to stores next Friday, January 27, includes an interview with David Fonseca who reveals a new album is arriving soon.

About the new songs, Fonseca says on the same interview that "there will be more rock components and more components related with dance music than before... That mixed with my private musical universe."

Check the last single U Know Who I Am, taken from Between Waves, released in 2009.

News // The Killers release new album in 2012

The Killers are already preparing their forth album to be released on 2012.

Brandon Flowers spoke with Zane Lowe from BBC1 where Flowers confirmed the band is back together and preparing their new record.

On the telephone, Flowers told the Killers have already started to write new songs including one named Battleborn, which probably will be part of the album.

After releasing his solo work - Flamingo - The Killers' singer is really excited to be with the band again and promised very good news "We don't want to make a Hot Fuss 2, or Sam's Town 2 or Day & Age 2. (...) Maybe we will take all that stuff, and the best of all of them, and really do what we know how to do."

He also said on the interview that Brendan O'Brien and Steve Lillywhite were the producers that have work with The Killers so far.

The album has no title and has no releasing date yet, with Brandon Flowers confirming the album is going to be released on this year that's starting.

Listen Brandon Flowers' interview to BBC 1:

News // Stone Roses on Optimus Alive 2012

The British band Stone Roses is confirmed to Optimus Alive, on Passeio Marítimo de Algés.

(Photo: Pennie Smith)

The band is going to perform on Optimus Alive'12 on July 13. The band confirmed their presence (read here) on the first day of this festival, as headlines for that day.
They've recently announced their return in 2012, confirming a new record and a contract with two labels: Universal in the UK and Columbia on the USA.

Remember Radiohead, Florence + The Machine, Metronomy, Caribou and Mazzy Star are the other confirmations for this festival next edition happening in 2012.
To know more about Optimus Alive 2012 - bands, tickets info and everything else - click here.

News // The National release two new songs

The National are starting to work on new material and the singer Matt Berninger said that the songs his mate Aaron Dessner sent him were "the best songs we ever wrote", on an interview to Jam. They are "more immediate and visceral".
He also added "We are beginning to be very excited with the new album."

The singer also explained the songs that Aaron Dressner has been working on are "less academic and intellectual" than the previous ones and were influenced by the fact that Dressner is now a parent.
"I'm in love with them. I passed all night, listening over and over some things he sent me", completed Berninger.

The band passed by CBC Radio's Q Show at Toronto's Glenn Gould studio, where they played two new songs Rylan and I Need My Girl, check them below.

News // Paul McCartney new record

The new record from the ex-Beatle Paul McCartney is going to be released next February.

According to the Italian news agency Ansa, on the interview given to Radio2, the artist known for his Beatle career and solo songs like Paul McCartney also revealed that is "going to be completely different from the others" adding the record is going to be "old fashion, but modern at the same time".

The artist also added the album is going to count with Diana Krall and her band.

News // Coldplay's Chris Martin "Kanye West has changed the way we listen music"

Chris Martin, Coldplay's lead singer revealed on BBC Radio 1, that he believes the rapper Kanye West helped the music consumers to realize the idea that it's possible to embrace more than one genre of music.

On the same interview, Martin shared that he and his band mates really believed that music buyers no longer feel "obligated" to listen a specific genre anymore.

The band is releasing a new record "Mylo Xyloto", next monday October 24th. Talking about the album, Martin told the band isn't afraid of doing it because people's reaction towards music have changed, saying: "Don't you think that music now shouldn't fall into a particular box? I don't think anyone thinks like that any more. You don't see so many goths, hippies, rockers and hip hoppers any more. People like Kanye West are changing the way we all listen and the internet."

He also added: "Look at Tinie Tempah. Just the song 'Pass Out' has about eight different types of music in it. This time, we're on our fifth record, we're all in our early to mid-30s so there's an element of, 'If we don't make it now we've got to give up.'"

Coldplay as recently seen their song with the pop singer Rihanna "Princess of China" leaked online, being the third song taken from their "unborn" Mylo Xyloto, check it below.