Showing posts with label Grammy Nominated. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Grammy Nominated. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

Handwash Jukebox


Free Alexa skill featuring hand-washing songs from Lisa Loeb, Zoey Lilly, John S Hall and others help families protect themselves during COVID-19

“Handwash Jukebox” is a contactless Amazon Alexa skill that uses music to help people wash their hands for the full CDC-recommended 20 seconds
Music and technology join forces to help families protect themselves and fight COVID-19. Handwash Jukebox, the new contactless voice skill for Amazon Alexa, plays a different family-friendly 20-second song every time the user opens the skill, the amount of time the Centers for Disease Control recommends scrubbing your hands. The free skill is available now in the Amazon Skill store in the US, Canada, UK, Australia and India. To use, simply enable the skill and then through your Amazon Echo device, just say “Alexa, open Handwash Jukebox.” To learn more, please visit https://www.handwashjukebox.com.

“We created this skill as a simple and fun way to help flatten the curve.” - Daniel Bremmer, Creative Director

There are thirty songs representing a wide range of musical genres in the skill, with more artists being added regularly. About a third of the artists primarily record music for children, including two GRAMMY® nominees—The Alphabet Rockers and Sonia De Los Santos—and GRAMMY® winner Jon Samson. The skill also includes music by Lisa Loeb, Zoey Lily, The Mammals, GRAMMY® winner Sadler Vaden, Icelandic artists Úlfur Eldjárn and Ólöf Arnalds, King Missile’s John S. Hall and Californiosos, featuring “Farmer” Dave Scher of Beachwood Sparks and others.

The skill is an all-volunteer effort led by advertising creative director Daniel Bremmer and creative technologist Layne Harris with GRAMMY®-winning children’s artist Lucy Kalantari. Dublab veteran Derek McNeill serves alongside Kalantari as Music Supervisor. Katherine Choi is the Design Director and Frank Verderosa is the Sound Engineer.

“Given that Alexa is natively a shared household experience, it was the perfect platform for an idea like Handwash Jukebox.” - Layne Harris, Creative Technologist

Full List of Artists (so far!):
Alphabet Rockers, Ólöf Arnalds, Azalia Snail, Californiosos, Clark Chimp, Dog On Fleas, Shana Falana, John S. Hall, Andrew Koestel, Joanie Leeds, Zoey Lily, Lisa Loeb, LoveyDove, Kent Lucas, The Mammals, Marsha And The Positrons, Mi Amigo Hamlet & Alina Celeste, Music With Michal, Nicolas Pacheco, Rithma, Snowflakes, Sonia De Los Santos, Jon Samson, The Slackers, Sweatson Klank, Úlfur Eldjárn, Sadler Vaden.

“Our mission is to remind families the importance of joy, community and resilience–even in times of great difficulty. It felt right to be part of something that would turn an immensely important activity, like hand washing, into a light and fun experience.” – Lucy Kalantari, GRAMMY® winning artist and Music Supervisor  

Saturday, February 15, 2020

"Get Happy" With Leigh Nash

GRAMMY NOMINATED SINGER-SONGWRITER LEIGH NASH RELEASES NEW EP 
Platinum selling artist Leigh Nash releases GET HAPPY, a brand new six-song EP featuring two never-released tracks, “Something Worth Leaving Behind” and “Get Happy,” as well as a newly re-recorded and remastered version of the Sixpence None the Richer track, “Kiss Me,” the song that brought Leigh to the forefront of female singers in the late 90s.

After seeing the Oscar-winning film JUDY, Leigh was struck by the similarities in her own trajectory as an artist with that of Judy Garland. The movie, and especially Renée Zellweger’s performance of “Get Happy,” resonated with her in many ways. “When you’re an artist, and you’re the most down, you still have to put on a smile for the crowd, for the people who paid to see you. I love the lyrics to the song and feel the words deeply.” She wrote “Something Worth Leaving Behind” after picking up her father’s guitar and thinking how great it was that it didn’t have to be plugged in to work. While her dad had passed 12 years earlier, his guitar was ‘something worth leaving behind.’ “I wanted to sing about what lasts, what is enduring, what is going to matter as you grow. The song is about keeping those things dear.” Other tracks on the EP include “God Gave Me Horses,” written with the award-winning songwriter Connie Harrington (Tricia Yearwood, Rodney Atkins, Lee Brice ), My Love, My Drug” and “Don’t Let me Die in Dallas,” a song about her father that was written with Tom Douglas (Tim McGraw, Miranda Lambert, Lady Antebellum). The project boasts production credits of Nash’s husband, Stephen Wilson, Jr. as well as Ben Shive’s (Colony House, Dave Barnes, The Gray Havens) twist on the 20th Anniversary version of the Sixpence None The Richer hit, “Kiss Me” 

While Leigh calls the experience of re-recording “Kiss Me,” the song that made her and her band globally famous, a “delightful friend to revisit,” this new release has made her fall in love with writing music all over again. “I am hopefully wiser, and my heart is more open, than five years ago. GET HAPPY is more representative of where I am right now. I am so thankful I still have the chance to record music…I am feeling pretty joyful about it!”

In support of GET HAPPY, available here: https://www.leighnash.net/get-happy-player, Leigh will be playing select shows in March, with summer touring plans to be announced soon.

https://www.leighnash.net  // @leighbirdnash (Instagram) 

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Michael's Musings

I Don't Know About You, But I'm Feeling Dirty
Michael Shinafelt
"You got me lookin' up high, You got me searchin' down low, You got me, I know you knowYou got me jerkin' back 'n' forth" - Devo "Jerkin Back and Forth" 

We're the kids in America and we are so totally being jerked back and forth. I dunno, how you feel. But I feel like it's time for a MotherF#cking revolution


Damn! did you catch all the classic song references I made to my Current Mood? It's time to hit it!!!


Don't want no more of The Crying Game - seriously

This factory ain't about to be shut down

Jump Back!!! 

I am not a killer, I bring American Men the brides they want

BTW if it hadn't been for those bones

Lizzo Grammy nominated for Truth Hurts. One of my favorite songs of the year - get it!

"God has the most toxic fan base" - Satan

Shout out to Donald Trump I heard my Grandmother say: "Stupid MotherF#cker" for the first time



Woman Crush of the Week - my friend Naama Kates for her Podcast The Incel Project follow it here: https://twitter.com/IncelProject

"The human race is at 2% on Rotten Tomatoes" - God

What's my nightmare? Things that make you go hmmmmmmm....I'm too decisive for that!

People Have The Power

What about you? Seriously from the bottom of my...he told me to ask (think about it, but not too much)

Jennifer Lopez claims she co-starred in and produced Hustlers for free. Please she doesn't even wake up for less than ten grand a day. More power to her!

Where did my innocence go? Find out at:
https://www.instagram.com/michaelshinafelt/?hl=en
https://twitter.com/MShinafelt

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Margaret Cho Gets Her Some "Law & Order: SVU"

Got Massage?
Margaret Cho
Photo:
Albert Sanchez 
One of my favorite people and my favorite TV Shows of all time, together on one night...I'm so in! 

Emmy and Grammy Award-nominated actress, comedian, author and producer Margaret Cho will guest star in the record-breaking 21st season of “Law & Order: SVU.”

Cho will guest star as the manager of a massage parlor who’s swept up in a sex trafficking sting operation.  The episode, titled “Counselor, It’s Chinatown,” will air in November. 

An accomplished performer in all formats, Margaret Cho could be called the “Queen of all Media” having conquered the worlds of film, television, books, music and theatre. She has five Grammy Award nominations (two for music albums, “Cho Dependent” and “American Myth”) and one Emmy nod for her groundbreaking work on NBC’s “30 Rock.” Never one to shy away from a difficult or taboo topic, her socially aware brand of stand-up comedy has made her both a thought leader as well as a teacher to those with open minds and open hearts. In 2017, Rolling Stone magazine named her one of the 50 Best Stand-Up Comics, calling her “the sort of funny, sex-positive feminist and LGBT activist younger comics continue to look up to.”  Equally as important as her creative side is the causes she is passionate about. Margaret is widely recognized for her charitable work with gay rights and anti-bullying campaigns. In every segment of her life, Margaret is honest, forthright, passionate, uproarious and always entertaining. 

Watch all-new episodes of “Law & Order: SVU,” the longest-running primetime drama in television history, Thursdays at 10 p.m. on NBC.

Margaret on IG - 

Saturday, June 8, 2019

Get, Get, Get "The Motivator!!!"

Photo:
Jon Abeyta
CHERIE CURRIE & BRIE DARLING
Reveal Official Album Cover For “The Motivator” - Out August 2



Time For Some Motivation -

Los Angeles-based, female rock icons, Cherie Currie and Brie Darling have joined together to record their debut album, The Motivator.  The album will be released August 2, 2019 on Blue Élan Records and is available for pre-order today –http://smarturl.it/CherieBriePreOrder

Cherie & Brie also revealed the official album artwork today and have released their cover of The Youngbloods’ “Get Together,” which is available on all streaming services – http://smarturl.it/CCBDGetTogether and Cherie Currie & Brie Darling - Get Together [Official Audio]

In addition, the video for lead track & single, “The Motivator” can be viewed here: Cherie Currie & Brie Darling - "The Motivator" [Official Music Video]





The Motivator was produced by the six-time Grammy nominated Dave Darling (Brian Setzer, Stray Cats, Janiva Magness, Tom Waits) and features nine classic covers by bands including T. Rex, The Rolling Stones, Stevie Wonder, and John Lennon, plus three powerful new originals, “Too Bruised,” “I’m Too Good, That’s Just Too Bad” and the topical “This Is Our Time.”

Guests on the album include a host of family and friends who came in to do backups, including Currie’s sister, actress Sondra Currie, her ex-husband, actor Robert Hays; friends, Susan Olsen of Brady Bunch fame, Leslie Koch Foumberg,  and actress/director, Allison Scagliotti. Darling’s brother, Henry Berry is on “He Ain’t Heavy”; and brother Phil Berry does a guitar solo on the Kinks tune “Do it Again” while her sister, Rory Berry Bishop plays drums on Thunderclap Newman’s “Something in the Air.” Patti Quatro—Suzi’s sister and a member of Fanny—plays guitar and sings on “For What It’s Worth.”

The Runaways front-woman and solo artist, Currie, met the Fanny drummer and singer, Darling, in 2017 and immediately connected.  Currie had come in to contribute vocals to Fanny Walked the Earth, a reunion album from the trailblazing Fanny, the first all-female band signed to a major label (Reprise) in 1969.  Though the two musicians were certainly admirers of each other, they had not yet met until that session.  Once connected, the idea to continue collaborating was hatched and soon the idea to record an album was solidified.

It was decided they would record an album of cover songs that resonated with the duo.  The covers chosen mostly share—unintentionally—a socio-political resonance that’s as relevant today as when the songs were written.  “The original album concept was that Brie was going to sing a few, I’d sing a few, and we’d back each other up,” furthers Currie. “But I knew our voices really work well together. On T. Rex’s ‘The Motivator,’ Brie did a great soulful rock scratch vocal but maybe I have more of a tough rock quality to my voice, so I think Dave decided I was going to sing it.  But in my head I heard a duet, me doing the first verse, her on the second verse….and that started the dialog of using our voices together as a concept. Our voices complement each other, so we decided we should share the majority of these songs, because it makes them better.”  Producer Dave Darling says, "It's extremely rare to have two such powerful vocalists in the same band. Cherie's a steamroller and Brie's a flame thrower. That just doesn't happen!"  

To listen or purchase “The Motivator,” visit: Cherie Currie & Brie Darling - The Motivator




Follow Cherie Currie here: Facebook




Be the first to follow Cherie & Brie on:
Instagram “New”- cheriecurrieandbriedarling



Twitter “New” - @CherieandBrie 


Sunday, January 28, 2018

Praise The Lorde

Angelic
Lorde
It's Grammy Sunday and time to give thanks. What better way to do it than to offer up praise to Grammy Album of the Year nominee Lorde

If there is paint drying that I can watch somewhere I will not be tuning in. That being stated there is much speculation as to why Lorde is the only Album of the Year nominee not performing since she is in town and has been belting out her latest efforts everywhere else.

Werd has it that she unlike the other nominees in her category who are male, she was not offered a solo spot. She was approached to take part in the Tom Petty Tribute singing American Girl...WTF?!

How weird would that be coming from a Kiwi? For those of you not in the loop that is a common nickname for people originating from New Zealand.

It's a shame Lorde won't be taking to the Grammy stage to croon, so let's offer up our gratitude for her music and praise her!

Lorde on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/lordemusic/?hl=en

Saturday, January 20, 2018

Gotta Serve Somebody


Bob Dylan, he's a poet and you know it...

Gotta Serve Somebody: The Gospel Songs Of Bob Dylan
Coming to DVD and digital formats February 9th

Features an intense performance from Bob Dylan, plus performances from Aaron Neville, Shirley Caesar, Dottie Peoples, and many others during behind-the-scenes making of the Grammy-nominated compilation "Gotta Serve Somebody" released 15 years ago

"The best African-American covers of Dylan songs since Jimi Hendrix."
The New York Times
Marking the fifteenth anniversary of GRAMMY-nominated album Gotta Serve Somebody: The Gospel Songs of Bob Dylan, MVD Entertainment Group will reissue the film of the same title. Gotta Serve Somebody: The Gospel Songs of Bob Dylan features an intense Bob Dylan performance from 1980 of "When He Returns" as well as powerful performances and interviews with Aaron NevilleShirley CaesarFairfield FourMighty Clouds of Joy, and Dottie Peoples, reflecting on their faith and connections to Dylan's Christian music.

Now, with the November release of Columbia Records' "Trouble No More: The Bootleg Series Vol. 13 / 1979-1981," a further exploration of that period has taken place, which began with this album and film. "It was an honor to have made an impression on the great artist himself with these recordings," said the film's producer Jeffrey Gaskill. From 2009 to 2011, Bob Dylan opened 40 concerts around the world with Gonna Change My Way of Thinking (his Grammy-nominated new version re-written and recorded for Gotta Serve Somebody: The Gospel Songs of Bob Dylan with Mavis Staples.) in concert halls in Los Angeles, New York, Hong Kong, London, Beijing, Shanghai, Adelaide and this performance in Tel Aviv (video HERE).

Just a month after his recording with Staples he would kick off a new tour in Stockholm Sweden and perform Solid Rock (what many consider the theme song to his gospel era concerts) for the first time in over twenty years. Dylan would continue to perform this rousing song as well as other gospel era songs at numerous concerts across Europe and beyond. The two-time Grammy nominated compilation would be released on Sony/Columbia one year later on April 1, 2003 (video HERE).

"This gospel music was Bob Dylan's ultimate rebellion, and it took much more courage than strapping on an electric guitar," said Gaskill. The film offers historical insights into this Bob Dylan era provided by Jim Keltner, Fred Tackett, Spooner Oldham, and Regina McCrary - all of whom performed and recorded with Dylan at the time. Famed record producer Jerry Wexler, who produced the records, and music journalists Paul Williams and Alan Light, also disclose insights.

Pre-order at the MVD Shop or on Amazon

TRACK LISTING
Arlethia Lindsey - Every Grain of Sand
Bob Dylan - When He Returns
Sounds of Blackness - Solid Rock
Shirley Caesar - Gotta Serve Somebody
Dottie Peoples - I Believe in You
Aaron Neville - Saving Grace
Helen Baylor - What Can I Do For You'
The Fairfield Four - Are You Ready
Great Day Chorale - In the Garden
Mighty Clouds of Joy - Saved
Chicago Mass Choir featuring Regina McCrary - Pressing On
Rance Allen - When He Returns

Monday, July 17, 2017

Fresh Off The Bloat: Margaret Cho

Cho Bloat
Margaret Cho

It's time again for some Cho Bloating, Yaaaas Qween!

Five time Grammy & Emmy nominated comedian Margaret Cho has much to celebrate as she was recently named one of Rolling Stone magazine’s 50 Best Stand-Up Comics of All Time http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/lists/50-best-stand-up-comics-of-all-time-w464199?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=021417_16&utm_content=daily and is set to launch what is sure to be her sickest stand-up comedy show to date this fall. 

A pioneer amongst women in comedy, Margaret doesn’t take anything for granted as she continues to tackle difficult subjects with sensitivity and her razor sharp insight with her takes on addiction, abuse, activism and Asianness. It's all about the politics of disgust and what is disgusting about politics. Aptly titled, Fresh Off The Bloat,” Margaret says:

Fresh Off The Bloat” is my sickest show to date.  My grandmother said "You look like bloated as if you've been found dead in a lake after several days of searching." Koreans are the most savage of all the Asians. My new show is all about being fresh off drugs and drinking and suicide and coming back to life - finally fished out of the river Styx. It's meta. It's magical. It's me.

The initial “Fresh Off The Bloat” tour dates go on sale Friday, July 21 here:http://margaretcho.com/tour/ -  Please note that the December 6 show in Belgium will go on sale July 20.  Additional dates to be announced in the coming weeks.

Margaret’s new TV project Highland has been picked up for pilot by TNT Network. Highland will chronicle what happens when two extended, dysfunctional Korean-American families who share the same patriarch must come together after tragedy strikes. As it turns out, the most reliable person in both families is the one who just got out of rehab.

"Executive producer Liz Sarnoff (Lost,Barry) and Margaret Cho's brilliant script exposes Margaret's warm heart and bracing humor, balancing powerful emotional truths with laugh-out-loud scenes and characters," said Sarah Aubrey, executive vice president of original programming for TNT. "Highland continues TNT's commitment to bringing diverse voices and worlds to television. We look forward to making a pilot with such a singular talent as Margaret Cho.” 
“FRESH OFF THE BLOAT” TOUR DATES

9/23/2017
Chicago Theatre
Chicago, IL, USA

9/24/2017
Orpheum Theater - Stage Door
Madison, WI, USA

9/29/2017
Sands Bethlehem Events Center
Bethlehem, PA

10/5/2017
The Wiltern Theater
Los Angeles, CA, USA

10/12/2017
2 SHOWS
Gramercy Theatre
New York, NY, USA

10/14/2017
Warner Theatre
Washington, DC, USA

10/21/2017
2 SHOWS
Castro Theatre
San Francisco, CA, USA

11/5/2017
The Fillmore
Philadelphia, PA

11/25/2017
Queens Hall
Edinburgh, UK

11/26/2017
Tivoli Theatre
Dublin, Ireland


11/28/2017
St. George’s Hall
Bristol, UK

11/29/2017
Glee Club
Birmingham, UK

11/30/2017
The Lowry
Manchester, UK

12/1/2017
Academy
Sheffield, UK

12/2/2017
Brighton Concert Hall
Brighton, UK

12/4/2017
De Meervaart
Amsterdam, Netherlands

12/6/2017 – on sale July 20, 2017
Zuiderpershuis
Antwerp, Belgium

12/8/2017
Bremen
Copenhagen, Denmark

12/10/2017
Shepherd’s Bush Empire
London, UK

12/12/2017
Latter
Oslo, Norway 

Margaret Cho Official Website http://www.margaretcho.com/
Margaret Cho Twitter: https://twitter.com/margaretcho/
Margaret Cho YouTube channel:  https://www.youtube.com/margaretcho