Category: FEATURES

Feature stories and artist interviews

KEEPIN’ PRETTY FOR THE FANS

A lot has changed for the guys of Pretty Ricky, which consists of brothers Baby Blue, Spectacular and Slick ‘em, as well as Lingerie, throughout the years, but one thing remains the same: they’re freaks.

CONSEQUENCE & ASHER ROTH VIDEO FOR “CHILDISH GAMES”

Consequence premieres the first video from his newly released mixtape Movies On Demand today via YouTube, mtvU, MTV2 and MTV Jams. “Childish Games” co-stars Motown labelmate Asher Roth with production by Mr. Attic. Rik Cordero co-directed the video with Consequence.

APRIL 2010 SONICBIDS “ARTISTS 2 WATCH”

Welcome to another amazing month of music from the incredible musicians that make up the Sonicbids.com community. We have chose a select group of amazing musicians that will be speaking directly to the Skope readers. As always we encourage readers to dig deeper and check out their EPK’s.

INFANTREE OFFER MP3 TO “SPEAK UP”

Infantree is a Los Angeles-based band which formed in 2007 with Alex Vojdani (vocals, lyrics, guitar, keys) Matt Kronish (vocals, lyrics, guitar, banjo) and Donald Fisher (vocals, lyrics, keys, bass, mandolin, guitar) as high school students in Calabasas, CA before solidifying the line-up in 2008 with the addition of drummer Jordan Avesar who provided not…

HARRY PRITCHETT: WORDS OF A SONGSMITH

Maryland singer/songwriter Harry Pritchett has a story that doesn’t read that differently than many artists. First influenced by The Beatles, started writing songs in high school, played those songs for friends who then urged him to pursue music. That pursuit saw him release his latest album Strange Journey last year with one track, “Night Bird”…

J*DAVEY NEW VIDEO “OUTTA THE WINDOW”

Feverish anticipation continues to rise as Jack Davey and Brook D’Leau of J*DaVeY ready the release of their Warner Bros. album, New Designer Drug, for the world. Fortunately, J*DaVeY has prepared another visual feast to indulge those among us who cannot wait to get another fix from the genre bending duo with their new video…

GIN WIGMORE NEW VIDEO “OH MY”

Hot off the heels of some amazing SXSW shows, Gin Wigmore is extending her run with Citizen Cope in support of her recently released debut album Holy Smoke out now on Universal Motown. This soulful lady is also dropping her second single, the powerful “Oh My” accompanied by an equally captivating video.

LORI DIAMOND IS LESS OF A MYSTERY AS STOLI GETS TO KNOW HER

Welcome to a fresh and exciting new week here at Skoped Out. This week we not only have a talented singer/songwriter but this woman is also one of the sweetest people you will meet. Joining us from New England is Lori Diamond. Lori came onto our radar after we received a copy of her newest…

RANDOM STABBINGS & ARTLESS CRITIQUE, APRIL 2010

Miracle Condition, Miracle Condition (Tizona Records) Consider yourself forewarned: your bliss-out flavor of the year is this veteran outfit, two-thirds of whom survived the sinking of US Maple, a band whose stock-in-trade was ostensibly a variety of “reactions to shoegaze” but actually a mishandled, unsellable crapshoot of indie, crazy-ass math-rock and, take a wild guess,…

HUGH CORNWELL IS PRO-FREE DOWNLOADING / MP3

In a recent BBC News interview, former Stranglers frontman Hugh Cornwell endorsed free music downloading, coming just as the British government plans to crack down on illegal downloaders. Hugh, currently touring the United States, argues that a new generation is exposed to his music through the Internet and they, in turn, spend more money on…

MONGREL MIX OFFER MP3 ‘IN THE EROTIC’

Catch mongrel fever at Sullivan Hall in New York City – April 1st, 2010. Mongrel Mix brings American music history into the now with a groundbreaking sound incorporating elements of funk, rock, and latin styles. The mix ranges from acoustic folk tales to angular post-pop and rock. Mongrel Mix is a global band with a…

ON STAGE: STAMPEDE

It’s Saturday night and Stampede is performing at the local bar, O’Brian’s. The place has filled up as the band charges through a raw live show.

AMERICAN BANG RELEASE “WHISKEY WALK” VIDEO

Nashville rockers AMERICAN BANG have released the music video for their lead track, “Whiskey Walk.” The clip, which was directed by Mike Jones and Jim Sullos, takes place in an abandoned chemical warehouse and captures the band’s explosive stage presence and their ability to rock n’ roll, which has received great praise from local Nashville…

WHEN STOLI SAYS PHIZZ ED HE DOES NOT MEAN GYM CLASS

It has been a few weeks since we have had a hip hop artist here so I am happy to say I have found the perfect guest to break that trend. My next guest is coming straight out of Ohio by the catchy name of, Phizz Ed. Phizz Ed is controversial, confident, confrontational, and alittle…

YU OFFERS “ON YA HEAD” MP3 FROM SOLO ALBUM

yU, a member of the celebrated hip-hop group Diamond District, is proud to announce the release of his solo album Before Taxes. The album showcases the incomparable skill and talent displayed on his group effort, while pushing this dynamic artist into new territory. Before Taxes will be released April 13th, 2010 via Mello Music Group.

SERGIO MENDES OFFERS “EMORIO” FROM ‘BOM TEMPO’

On May 4th, Sergio Mendes will release his new album, Bom Tempo, on Concord Records following his 2008 Encanto release.   Bom Tempo, produced by Sergio himself, showcases songs from the crème de la crème of Brazilian songwriters and also features a song from his old friend Stevie Wonder, written especially for Mendes in 1977.…

SIR LADY – KIRSTEN DEHAAN

Kirsten DeHaan’s latest album “Thorns On a Crown” was released last October.  The  album has received a big response to date such as, her EP was named top 10 regional album 2009, she was selected by Womens Radio as Hot Up’N-Comer for 2010, her hit single “1984” was featured in the Windows 7 playlist as…

‘GET HIM TO THE GREEK’ SYNOPSIS & RESTRICTED TRAILER

Get Him to the Greek reunites Jonah Hill and Russell Brand with Forgetting Sarah Marshall director Nicholas Stoller in the story of a record company executive with three days to drag an uncooperative rock legend to Hollywood for a comeback concert. The comedy is the latest film from producer Judd Apatow (The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked…

GROVESNOR OFFERS FIRST SINGLE “TAXI FROM THE AIRPORT”

Grovesnor aka Rob Smoughton, drummer for UK electro-pop outfit Hot Chip and glitch-troubadour in his own right, has announced the debut of his solo album, ironically titled Soft Return, on May 25th through Lo Recordings. Grovesnor blends silky vocals with retro synth melodies.

A TASTE OF FREEDOM

It’s been quite a LONG time since I last went to a concert (yeah, funny for a music freelancer right?). Yet, I do have to say that all the time missed was surely made up last Saturday, March 13th, at MGM Grand at Foxwoods in Mashantucket, Connecticut.

BIZARRE RETURNS WITH NEW SINGLE “RAP’S FINEST”

From the early years of the Motown era, Detroit has always been a hotbed for great music.   Multi-platinum recording star BIZARRE proves this holds true in 2010 by welcoming the newest and brightest stars from “The D” to join him on his third solo release, FRIDAY NIGHTS AT ST. ANDREWS that will be released…

AREK RELIGA REMINDS STOLI THAT IT’S GOOD TO BE IN THE USA

Happy Monday to all and welcome back from SXSW in Austin, TX. The Skope/MeowPoww party was incredible! We are back at it this week with one of the most exciting guitarists out playing right now. Coming out of Illinois is Arek Religa. Arek came to the USA via Poland and has not looked back. He…

SNOB DOODLE

Hello & happy TGIF to all Skope readers. We have a fresh Snob Doodle to enjoy over the first weekend of spring. Lets see if you know who Snob is taking a shot at this time? It never ends…