Skope

MTV RADIO’S MORNING FACTS FOR MONDAY, APRIL 25th, 2011

CEE-LO GREEN TALKS “FORGET YOU” Cee-Lo Green knew he liked “Forget You” when he recorded it, but wasn’t’ sure that the label or the masses would be on board. During his Vh1 Storytellers on Tuesday night, he said the song was born out of frustration at his label, who were not happy with the songs…

JIMMY RAE CATCHING SOME SHADE WITH JANE GOWAN

Are you ready to learn more about Jane Gowan who is the founding member and lead singer/songwriter of the pop/rock band Shade?   I hope so because Jane has lots to say about this and that.   Find out about the new album ‘Highway’ or how “If you don’t know how to play hockey in…

SKOPE TV PHONER FEAT ADAM TYLER

If you are looking for a fresh face on the pop/dance scene we have found your guy. Adam Tyler is a young, ambitious, and talented all around musician. We got to chat with Adam via phone on April 8 and he really opened up. Adam is busy preparing to release his debut album ‘Shattered Ice’…

TREVANTE “BE MY GIRL” DEBUT SINGLE VIDEO

Seventeen-year-old Trevante Halliburton is no stranger to the hard work demanded of him by the notoriously competitive music industry. While most teenage boys were worried about grades and girls, Trevante was perfecting his craft on the road to stardom.

LILY HALPERN RELEASES NEW VIDEO “WISHLIST”

The video for 18 year old pop/R&B sensation Lily Halpern’s latest infectious pop single, “Wishlist”, has just been released.   Starring Megan Parken, the celebrity blogger best known for “Megan Hearts MakeUp”, the video showcases Shalin Sharman’s stellar direction, and was filmed at Coney Island’s famed boardwalk, as well as The Billiards in Brooklyn, New…

MTV RADIO’S MORNING FACTS FOR THURSDAY, APRIL 21st, 2011

RIHANNA SCORES 10th NUMBER ONE SINGLE! Rihanna’s “S&M” rises to the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, giving the singer her 10th number one and ownership of a pair of historic chart records.   According to Billboard, Ri Ri logs the shortest span between a solo artist’s first and 10th number one hits…

THE BELLE BRIGADE: SIBLING REVELRY

Sometimes, it’s just right there in front of you. It’s that thing that is so apparent; it becomes lost in its own obviousness. And often it only takes one chance event or one simple decision to reveal providence. In the case of Barbara and Ethan Gruska, it began as a little innocent mischief that siblings…

INDABA MUSIC & PAUL SIMON REMIX CONTEST

Starting April 14, Indaba Music is offering the opportunity to remix a track from Paul Simon’s just-released album So Beautiful or So What. The individual vocal, background vocal, drum, percussion,   guitar, and textural instrument tracks that Simon and producer Phil Ramone used for the final mix of “Love Is Eternal Sacred Light” are online…

PUSHA T NEW VIDEO “MY GOD”

New Pusha T video link below in case you missed it. Pusha was one of the only guest for Kanye’s set at Coachella last weekend. New project coming on Decon. [youtube Clo0U1BMR5I nolink]

MTV RADIO’S MORNING FACTS FOR WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20th, 2011

DEMI LOVATO OPENS UP; LEAVES DISNEY SHOW In Demi Lovato’s forthcoming interview with 20/20, the pop star isn’t holding anything back.   According to TMZ, in the pre-taped interview, Lovato admits that she was a “cutter,” and that she began doing it as early as 11 years old.   The now 18-year-old said that it…

Jennifer Castle, Castlemusic

Female singer-songwriters are very often pigeonholed very quickly and given little opportunity to evolve artistically without their past releases being referenced. Lucky for Jennifer Castle, she’s left every door open on Castlemusic, her sonically lush debut. All nine tracks feature a depth of aesthetic and sonic approaches, all held together by this Toronto songwriter’s patient…

STOLI FINDS A BAND FROM LA CALLED STRIPPER

So what do you think when a band calls themselves Stripper and their logo is a hot young woman exposing her breasts (look inside)? Well you do like I do and turn the music on. Obviously at first we thought, attention whores, but the music is real good rock music with a f$^& you attitude.…

PAUL MCCARTNEY’S UP AND COMING TOUR

Having played some three dozen shows to over 1,000,000 fans over the course of 2010, Paul McCartney’s record-smashing Up and Coming Tour will make its first U.S. stop of 2011 on Friday, June 10 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, NV. The announcement of Macca’s return to Las Vegas comes nearly two years to…

DARK DARK DARK “WILD GO” VIDEO

Dark Dark Dark are also excited to share the video for the title track from Wild Go. Shot in South Africa by Santiago Mostyn. It opens with a chorus of “oooohs” and unfolds into a foggy, dream-like landscape.  

JEFF BRIDGES SIGNS WITH BLUE NOTE RECORDS/EMI MUSIC GROUP

Having earned an Academy Award for “Best Actor” for his portrayal of a grizzled former country music legend in the 2009 film Crazy Heart, actor and musician Jeff Bridges has signed a recording deal with EMI’s Blue Note Records, which will release his major-label debut album in late summer. Inspired by their collaboration on Crazy…

¡MAYDAY! SIGNS TO TECH N9NE’s STRANGE MUSIC

The call of ¡Mayday! has been answered. Florida-born hip-hop group ¡Mayday! and Kansas City-based Strange Music have inked a deal that brings the group to the roster of hip-hop’s hottest label. When the members of !Mayday! got the news that they are officially Strange’s newest act, they quickly broke out the ceremonial bottle of Flor…

ROCKY ROCKS POUGHKEEPSIE

Rocky Votolato spent years singing in the band Waxwing with his brother Casey and friends, before shying away from the post-hardcore and establishing himself as a singer-songwriter. His latest album True Devotion was released on Barsuk the record label in 2010.

THESE BOYS ARE STRANGE

What a great way to explore the music scene in a new city. Recently relocating to Portland Oregon from Austin Texas, The Strange Boys, a four piece from Austin, made me feel right at home. East End, in Southeast Portland was the host for said event. A steamy basement venue with black walls and low…

Morgan Bracy, End of Cinderella

I don’t usually say this but I really do feel like a star is born after hearing Morgan Bracy’s new release.   I never had a chance to hear her critically acclaimed debut album ‘Dirty Laundry’ but I can now say that ‘End of Cinderella’ is a brilliant piece of work. Everything about this album…

James Sera, Reality of the Fantasy

First and foremost I have to say that James Sera is a highly skilled guitar player after hearing ‘Reality of the Fantasy’.   Now that I got that out of the way let’s find out more about this debut album.   The new record features James playing solo on the acoustic guitar with nothing more…

Shaky DeVille, Hot Asphalt

Named after the classic ’76 Cadillac Coupe de Ville, Shaky DeVille is still cruisin’ along with style & pizzazz.   I actually reviewed what was supposed to be their self-titled debut album back in ’09 but low and behold ‘Hot Asphalt’ is the new debut.   Lead singer & guitarist Matt (M.S.B.) DeVille actually stopped…

NEW ALBUM FROM THE RED JUMPSUIT APPARATUS COMING OUT

The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus recently wrote and recorded their latest album, Am I The Enemy, for an August 2011 release in partnership with Collective Sounds, the new label created by The Collective, a full-service entertainment management, media and content production company. The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus’ third studio album contains 11 politically charged, post hardcore alternative…

MURS NEW VIDEO “VARSITY BLUES”

Fresh off this year’s edition of his annual Paid Dues festival, Los Angeles rapper Murs presents the six-song Varsity Blues 2 EP, the sequel to 2002’s first installment. Murs (just about) kicks drugs and alcohol, pulls a gun on the ‘other guy’, dedicates one song to a dead love, another to a lost groupie, and…

MTV RADIO’S MORNING FACTS FOR FRIDAY, APRIL 15th, 2011

LADY GAGA TO PERFORM AT MTV VIDEO MUSIC AID JAPAN Lady Gaga will perform at the MTV Video Music Aid Japan on June 25th.   Gaga is the first performer to be announced for the 10th annual MTV Video Music Awards Japan, which are being dubbed the Video Music Aid Japan this year in order…

Seven Against Thebes, Self Titled

Over the years we’ve seen rock & hard rock slowly erode into over-commercialized, corporate puppet shows providing us all with music that is extremely sing songy, predictable, highly popish & overly corporate sounding. I hereby call this new breed of music “Poser Rock” & I want to take this time to personally congratulate all the…

STOLI FINALLY GETS TO ASK AUGUSTANA ABOUT “BOSTON”

Okay I can hardly contain myself today. The weather is perfect, NBA playoffs are starting, 3 day weekend, and I get to feature & interview my friend Daniel Layus of Augustana. Dan & the guys are gearing up for the release of their new album on April 26 & a massive tour starting in May.…

THE BAMBOOZLE ROADSHOW CANCELLED

Due to unforeseen routing and lineup issues, The Bamboozle Roadshow will not be taking place as planned.   Fans who purchased tickets will receive a full refund at points of purchase. www.thebamboozleroadshow.com

SPIN & RED DISTRIBUTION PARTNER WITH TARGET TO LAUNCH SPIN SPECIAL-EDITION “MUST-HEAR MUSIC” MINI-MAG

SPIN, the premiere resource for music discovery, and RED Distribution are excited to announce the SPIN special-edition Must-Hear Music mini-mag, available exclusively at Target on Sunday, April 17, 2011. For $4.99, consumers will have access to exclusive interviews, reviews, and photos from SPIN, 32 of the latest must-hear songs courtesy of two bonus CDs,featuring tracks…

MTV RADIO’S MORNING FACTS FOR THURSDAY, APRIL 14th, 2011

LADY GAGA IS ANTI-PLASTIC SURGERY Lady Gaga said she has never had plastic surgery.   The pop sensation, who graces the cover of the May issue of Harper’s Bazaar with horns adhered to her face, said she’s never permanently altered her body.   Gaga, who reportedly makes upwards of 62-million dollars a year now, currently…

The Gertrudes, Dawn Time Riot

What makes Dawn Time Riot such a miraculous listen is how, with all its unmitigated energy, the record still manages to keep up its timely and highly entertaining pace throughout the record. Featuring eight players and over 100 guest musicians from the Gertrudes native Kingston; there is the worry that The Gertrudes could turn into…

CAROLINE JONES SHINES ON NEW RELEASE ‘FALLEN FLOWER’

Singer/songwriter Caroline Jones chose Fallen Flower’s 11 tracks from over 45 songs recorded at New York’s Avatar Studios and Nashville’s Loud Studios in 2010. Caroline singlehandedly wrote and produced the album in addition to playing guitar, 6-string banjo, harmonica, and singing both lead vocals and harmonies.

JARED EVAN “EMBERS” VIDEO

Jared Evan’s unique, genre-bending sound has already been featured on ESPN, Entourage, MLB Network, X-Games, and the “More Than A Game” soundtrack. Currently, he is in the studio recording his debut album, slated for release in 2011, with such marquee producers as Polow Da Don, ill Factor, Pharrell, Jimmy Douglass, Danja, Boi-1da and !llmind. [youtube…

THE SHIVERS RELEASE NEW SINGLE “USED TO BE”

On May 10th, The Shivers will return with their latest record More, set for release on Silence Breaks. Recorded in Manchester, UK early last year, the album finds Queens, NY songwriters Keith Zarriello and Jo Schornikow exploring everything from shambly garage rock to melancholic barroom ballads.

JORDIN SPARKS JOINS NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK & BACKSTREET BOYS

Grammy nominated, platinum recording artist, Jordin Sparks will join the New Kids On the Block and the Backstreet Boys as a special guest on the highly anticipated NKOTBSB upcoming North American concert tour.   Sparks was officially confirmed Tuesday, April 5th when NKOTBSB premiered their new single on, On Air with Ryan Seacrest.   Sparks…

Fair Weather Watchers, Out Past the Garden

It is through a contemporary interpretation of folk that songwriter Ginger Hebert and company has unveiled Out Past the Garden, a 13-track collection of songs admittedly “written and hoarded for years.” The emotive, yet approachable lyrical matter is laid over a delicate musicality foundation and features an intermittent array of unconventional instrumentation the likes of…