Elise Testone - "This Is Love"

Elise Testone

ELISE TESTONE, ‘SASSY’ SOUL SINGER/SONGWRITER AND FORMER

‘AMERICAN IDOL’ FINALIST, TO RELEASE HIGHLY-ANTICIPATED

2^ND ALBUM “THIS IS LOVE” ON APRIL 17

EAST COAST TOUR TO BEGIN IN CHARLESTON, SC ON APRIL 17; MULTIPLE PERFORMANCES SCHEDULED DURING NEW ORLEANS JAZZ FEST

Stream THIS IS LOVE on Soundcloud

Soulful singer/songwriter ELISE TESTONE, a former American Idol finalist and powerhouse vocalist whose incredible stage presence and bluesy maturity rank with the best, is releasing her long-awaited sophomore album, This Is Love, on April 17 and immediately mounting an East Coast Tour that includes special performances during the world-renowned New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

Elise has toured extensively, with high profile TV appearances on The Tonight Show, Ellen, Live! with Kelly, Access Hollywood, Good Morning America and others.

Elise’s debut album, In This Life, released in 2014, received rave reviews, celebrating her ability to “wail the blues, rock like a b*tch and purr sexily” (Goldmine Magazine). Her unique style owes more to Ella Fitzgerald, Led Zeppelin, Janis Joplin, James Brown and Amy Winehouse than today’s disposable hit-makers.

This Is Love is the perfect combination of soul, rock, attitude and restraint ― a distinct fusion of R&B and rock, subtly influenced by funk and hip-hop that best complements her longstanding reputation as a “sassy” (Yahoo! Entertainment) soul siren. Equally as impressive and at ease at belting James Brown style over a relentless funk groove as she is gently resting her voice over a tender ballad, Testone’s range of influences and vocal capacity know few limits.

“Love has come in and out of our lives in many different ways,” says the New Jersey native, now living in Brooklyn after establishing deep career roots in Charleston, SC. “Sometimes the love is real and sometimes we are bound together by an unhealthy passion or aggression and become trapped under the illusion that what we have is true, when in fact it is the opposite. This Is Love is an artistic expression of those experiences, starting with ‘Flying High,’ a composition focused on the most important love ― self-love.”

Co-written with guitarist Adam Fallen (Clay Aiken, Eric Benet) and Brooklyn jazz, hip-hop, and electronica multi-instrumentalist Jesse Fischer, and featuring Daru Jones (Jack White, Pete Rock) on drums, “Flying High,” starts the album floating joyously through a jazz-flavored, flute-enhanced classic soul orchestral groove. Other players on the album include Broadway’s School of Rock teen guitar phenom Brandon “Taz” Niederauer (also co-writer of album closer, “Tell Me Now”), drummer Robert “Sput” Searight (Snarky Puppy, Ghost Note) and bassist and experimental musician MonoNeon (Prince).

Of special note on This Is Love is “Holly,” written to honor the memory of Elise’s best friend and Charleston roommate, who committed suicide in 2015, two years after surviving life-threatening brain surgery.

“Holly had a light around her that was like no one I know,” Elise recalls. “She could make anyone smile within the first few seconds of seeing her. We bonded instantly and had a relationship built on honesty and playfulness. We looked out for each other. We were family. Both of us young at heart, we shared a deep passion for music. Holly always dreamed of being a music star but was always a little afraid to perform.

“Two years after her surgery, I moved to New York and she moved to Texas. She was very unhappy and ended up shooting herself in the head, or at least that is the story I was told. I know if I was near her that never would have happened. I felt like I mourned her twice in a way. And in no way did I think I would lose her that soon after I almost already did. This song took me three years to write because it was so important, but also because I had a real tough grieving process and felt stuck. I am so happy with how it turned out. I am so confident that every lyric was the right lyric, and I am so grateful to have had the time with her that I did. Hopefully this song can convey the positive mark she has left on me and the world.”

Elise Testone returns to the road, where she continues to wow audiences, when her tour commences April 17 with an Album Release Party, backed by an 11-piece band, at the Pour House in her “second” hometown of Charleston. Two weeks later, she heads to New Orleans with Doug Wimbish of Living Colour, Nigel Hall of Lettuce, and Leo Nocentelli of The Meters, among others, for several performances at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

Her heart more exposed with every note, it’s not uncommon to find Elise on her knees and out of breath at the end of a hard-driving soul tune – all in service of the music. A Top Six Finalist on American Idol in 2012, she has a wide range of fans that knows few barriers, from young festival goers to older music veterans, to jazz and hip-hop lovers.

Elise has opened for B.B. King, Taj Mahal, Snoop Dogg, Sister Sparrow and The Dirty Birds, and Dumpstaphunk, and has performed with Stevie Nicks, Bernie Worrell, Bernard Purdie, Stanton Moore, Skerik, Robert Randolph, The James Brown Band, Ghost Note; and members of Queen, The Meters, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Living Colour, Trey Anastasio Band, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Galactic, Van Halen, Turquaz, D’Angelo, Pete Rock, Cory Henry and the Funk Apostles, Snarky Puppy, Soulive and Lettuce, among others. 

Indeed, nothing compares to seeing Elise Testone live. Her voice fully resonates as she seizes the moment to let the improvs naturally flow.

“I never know what I might do with my voice, and sometimes I’m personally shocked in a positive way when the notes bend unexpectedly,” she says.  “I am also so grateful to a have a strong, passionate, talented and soulful group of musicians, who I call friends, available to play on stage with me in any situation. You never know what special guest may come through either. Always good energy and musicality!”

This Is Love will be available on all online platforms, as CD’s and Vinyl. Learn more at www.elisetestone.com

Wed, April 17^th - Charleston Pour House, Charleston, SC (Southeast Album Release)

Thu, April 18^th - Dead Dog Saloon, Murrells Inlet, SC (Southeast Album Release)

Sat, April 27^th - Howlin' Wolf, New Orleans w/Bonerama Brass Band

Mon, April 29^th – Blue Nile, New Orleans, LA (Wimbash, with Doug Wimbish of Living Colour)

Fri, May 3^rd - New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival w/ Leo Nocentelli

Sat, May 4^th - One Eyed Jax w/Ghost Note

Fri, May 17^th - Camp Jam, Hammonton, NJ

Sat, May 18^th – Rhythm & Brews Festival, Haddon Heights, NJ w/Philthy

Sun, May 19^th - Nublu, NYC , Album Release Show co-bill w/Philthy

Elise Testone on the Web

www.elisetestone.com

Facebook │ Twitter │ Instagram │ YouTube │Vimeo │Pinterest

Saturday Sounds: Prom Night

Be Afraid, Or Not... Prom Night: Original 1980 Motion Picture Soundtrack by Paul Zaza & Carl Zittrer World premiere of the original score and disco songs from the  1980 cult slasher film, featuring unreleased music To be released on May 10th Want to hear something really scary?

Perseverance Records presents the long awaited official release of the 1980 cult classic Prom Night Original Motion Picture Soundtrack. Perseverance worked closely with Carl Zittrer and Paul Zaza to locate and unearth the original masters and all music recorded for the film including unreleased disco songs and score not used in the final production, never heard before anywhere. This marks the first official and complete CD release of the Prom Night soundtrack. While the songs themselves have made appearances on a notorious Japanese LP and eventual bootleg recordings sourced from it, there was no official release of the songs - partially because the movie was made in the waning days of the disco fever.  This soundtrack features four different aspects of the music. First it opens with a re-creation of the score as it appears in the film - or as close to it as it could be assembled from the separate elements. Next is the score that wasn't used in the picture. Then come the disco songs in approximate order - but omitting the Blue Bazaar songs that were not featured in the movie and were used only as filler for the bootleg Japanese LP. The last portion of the album is dedicated to the songs that don't appear in the picture yet are as intrinsic to the sound of Prom Night as the songs that made it. "I remember seeing Prom Night during its release in 1980, when disco was still the craze. I was determined to obtain a copy of the soundtrack and to play the theme song at my senior prom only to find that it was never released. I spent years looking at the audiophile catalog at Tower Records hoping to find a release date but no luck. Now, after almost 40 years, my dream has now become a reality! Fans alike are now able to enjoy the soundtrack!" - Silvio Barretta, Producer Prom Night is a 1980 cult classic horror thriller directed by Paul Lynch (RoboCop, Xena: Warrior Princess, Poltergeist: The Legacy, Star Trek: The Next Generation) and stars Jamie Lee Curtis as Kim Hammond and Leslie Nielsen as Mr. Hammond. The movie focuses on four middle school children, Kelly Lynch, Jude Cunningham, Wendy Richards, and Nick McBride who hide the truth of what happened six years ago to ten-year-old Robin Hammond the day her body was found near and abandoned convent. They swore never to tell anyone of how they taunted Robin, backing her into a corner, frightened, when falling to her death while standing on a window ledge. But on that day, six years ago, someone else was there, watching, and now seeks revenge on prom night!

Tracklist + Additional Info: https://mvdb2b.com/s/PRD098  Pre-order: https://mvdshop.com/products/paul-zaza-carl-zittrer-prom-night-original-1980-motion-picture-soundtrack-cd

"For The Many"

UB40 To Release First New Album in Five Years 

Just Ahead Of 40th Anniversary Tour

"For The Many" comes to CD and Vinyl on March 22nd

Includes a 24 page booklet complete with photos of the band 

and lyrics to all songs

The 38 date 40th Anniversary Tour starts on March 29th in Portsmouth

Red, Red Wine - That Is All...

For The Many is the Birmingham reggae veterans' nineteenth studio album - their first since 2013's Getting Over The Storm. It features UB40's founding members Robin Campbell (co-vocals/Guitar), Brian Travers (saxophone/keyboards), Jimmy Brown (drums), Earl Falconer (bass/keyboards/vocals) and Norman Hassan (percussion/vocals), alongside long-time members Duncan Campbell (vocals), Martin Meredith (saxophone), Laurence Parry (trumpet) and Tony Mullings (keyboards). Formed in Birmingham in 1978, UB40 named themselves after the UK government's unemployment benefit form. Their debut album Signing Off was released in August 1980 and is considered by many to be one of the greatest reggae albums ever released by a British band. It was the start of a career that led to 100 million record sales worldwide and dozens of hits, including "Red, Red Wine," "I Got You Babe" and "(I Can't Help) Falling in Love with You" which all topped the charts in the UK and in many countries across Europe. The band had a run of hit albums that have spent a combined period of eleven years in the UK's Top 75 album chart, establishing UB40 as one of Britain's most successful bands of all-time.

UB40 Jimmy Brown said, "For The Many is our first original album with Duncan, and a true reflection of where the band are at right now. It gave us an opportunity to go back to our roots and draw on the 1970s-style reggae that inspired us to be in a band in the first place. We intended to make an uncompromising reggae album and I think we have achieved that. There's lots of dub, various guest toasters and a blend of love songs and political songs. I'm really happy with the final result. We're really looking forward to playing some of these tunes live on our 40th anniversary tour in spring next year." Duncan Campbell said, "After ten years of fronting UB40, for us to make an album of our own original material feels like the final hurdle for me. The album and its title reflect how UB40 are all in support of Jeremy Corbyn and The Labour Party. Both of the songs I have written on the album (I'm Alright Jack and Poor Fool) also reflect this. We all feel this album is going back to what UB40 was all about and we are all excited for everybody to hear the album and looking forward to touring it." Robin Campbell added, "For The Many" is a great mix of reggae styles, while the different artists we have collaborated with will appeal to more fans and tastes in reggae - it really is an album for the many. The 2019 UK tour is a continuation of our 40th year celebrations, as well as sharing tracks from our latest album. We're playing all over the UK instead of a few arenas dates, meaning our fans from all over the UK can get to see us much more locally and up close - truly a tour for the many." ONLINE & SOCIALS:  Website: ub40.global Facebook: ub40official Twitter: @UB40official Instagram: ub40officia

Hump Day & VD

Feel The Love
Sandy Zacky & Mike Clifford

This week Hump Day is brought to you by the letters V & D, rather than "Chill,"
because "yes" beautiful people, Valentines Day falls in the middle of the week. 

What better way to celebrate than with Entertain Me's resident chanteuse Sandy with a "Y" not "E" Zacky and her singing partner Mike Clifford? Featuring the title track from their joint CD Love is Everything...duh!

Today is the day we are are given a spoonful of love via every media outlet that can spurt word vomit to make it the focus of the day.

So why not me?! However I am prescribing love in general today. Not love to that one "special" person. If you have someone like that, spectacular! But if not, you can still spread love. It's about being a good person today & everyday.

Get to it and spread your VD love!

Happy Valentines Day Peeps!

Listen closely to Mike & Sandy croon LIE after the jump!

Follow Sandy at:
https://www.facebook.com/SandyZackyDiva/

Follow Mike at:
https://www.facebook.com/MikeCliffordsWonderfulWorld/ 

You Make It Feel Like Christmas

Gingerbread Man/Ed Sheeran/Gingerbread Man/Ed Sheeran
with
Gwen Stefani

"Yes" I know today's byline is the name of Gwen Stefani's Holiday CD. It seems so fitting for this photo op she took witth Ed Sheeran, I mean the Gingerbread Man at The Grove in Los Angeles, CA.

Seriously what could give a Christmas vibe more than Gwen dressed as a Christmas ornament, standing next to a Christmas tree with a man that's good enough to eat I ask you? Uh-huh, that's what I thought, nothing.

Have a Sweet Saturday, only 16 more days until the Big C!

"I got this feelin' inside my bones, It goes electric wavy when I turn it on" Can't Stop The Feeling, Justin Timberlake

Gwen on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/gwenstefani/?hl=en 

Hitting The Tinsel, Gwen Stefani

Be Your Own Ornament!
Gwen Stefani

Since Thanksgiving draws nigh and is officially/unofficially the start of Christmas, yes I said the start of Christmas, because lets face it Christmas is truly more than a day in December it is one long _______ fill in your own blank.

While many of you turkey gobblers will be hitting the bottle this weekend, witness one Gwen Stefani at the Empire State Building tree lighting ceremony, hitting the tinsel as it were. That's correct minions while most of you are keeping Christmas at bay by drinking the pain away this weekend Gwen is embracing it by dressing like a tree ornament so her and the tinsel are one.

Gee you'd never know she has a holiday CD to promote bearing the ominous title You Make It Feel Like Christmas, now would you???

Give in to your inner tinsel desires and bend it like Gwen, be your own tree ornament damn it!

Gwen on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/gwenstefani/?hl=en  

Friday The 13th Part: Dolly Parton

Believe!
Dolly Parton

This Friday the 13th is your lucky day!

Dolly Parton has joined forces with PledgeMusic to launch a pre-order campaign in support of her first-ever children's album, I Believe In You. Comprised of original tunes penned by Dolly, including a reading of her famed “Coat Of Many Colors”, the album is available digitally now, with a physical release slated for Friday, October 13.

Fans can pre-order the album in digital and CD form now on Parton's campaign page. The leaders in direct-to-fan platforms, PledgeMusic allows artists to get more personal with their fans, offering pledgers behind-the-scenes content and items not available anywhere else.

Inspired by her passion for fostering a love of reading amongst children and their families, as well as her beloved organization Imagination Library, I Believe In You is the star's first album written specifically for kids and those young at heart. This year marks 50 years since Dolly released her first album, and 20 years since Imagination Library was established; making the forthcoming album a special contribution to the singer/songwriter's legendary career and the cause so close to her heart.

Since its inception in 1996, the Imagination Library has expanded into four countries serving more than one-million children by providing a brand new, age-appropriate book each month.

With her PledgeMusic campaign, Dolly is inviting fans to join her in her dedication to promoting literacy and joy through music throughout America's promising youth.

Fans who pre-order the album via PledgeMusic will get the AccessPass, which will give them special access to exclusive items straight from Dolly. These include: an early digital download of the album; a custom outgoing voicemail recorded by Dolly herself, plus a CD and digital download; a Recording King RD-T16 guitar autographed by Dolly, and specially crafted to produce a vintage tone, deluxe hard case included; a signed tour laminate; and much more.

To pre-order I Believe In You, please visit:www.pledgemusic.com/projects/dollyparton
 

# # #

LINKS

Dolly Parton:
www.dollyparton.com
www.facebook.com/DollyParton
www.twitter.com/DollyParton
www.instagram.com/dollyparton   

Believe In The Power Of Dolly

I believe, I believe, I believe in the power of Dolly Parton!

Dolly Parton has joined forces with PledgeMusic to launch a pre-order campaign in support of her first-ever children's album, I Believe In You. Comprised of original tunes penned by Dolly, including a reading of her famed “Coat Of Many Colors”, the album is available digitally now, with a physical release slated for Friday, October 13.

Fans can pre-order the album in digital and CD form now on Parton's campaign page. The leaders in direct-to-fan platforms, PledgeMusic allows artists to get more personal with their fans, offering pledgers behind-the-scenes content and items not available anywhere else.

Inspired by her passion for fostering a love of reading amongst children and their families, as well as her beloved organization Imagination Library, I Believe In You is the star's first album written specifically for kids and those young at heart. This year marks 50 years since Dolly released her first album, and 20 years since Imagination Library was established; making the forthcoming album a special contribution to the singer/songwriter's legendary career and the cause so close to her heart.

Since its inception in 1996, the Imagination Library has expanded into four countries serving more than one-million children by providing a brand new, age-appropriate book each month.

With her PledgeMusic campaign, Dolly is inviting fans to join her in her dedication to promoting literacy and joy through music throughout America's promising youth.

Fans who pre-order the album via PledgeMusic will get the AccessPass, which will give them special access to exclusive items straight from Dolly. These include: an early digital download of the album; a custom outgoing voicemail recorded by Dolly herself, plus a CD and digital download; a Recording King RD-T16 guitar autographed by Dolly, and specially crafted to produce a vintage tone, deluxe hard case included; a signed tour laminate; and much more.

To pre-order I Believe In You, please visit:www.pledgemusic.com/projects/dollyparton
 

# # #

LINKS

Dolly Parton:
www.dollyparton.com
www.facebook.com/DollyParton
www.twitter.com/DollyParton
www.instagram.com/dollyparton  

James Durbin's Video For "Parachute" Pops

"I have Tourettes and Aspergers, but Tourrets and Aspergers don't have me. You know, I'm doing what I can to suppress it and I don't let it take advantage of me. It's not who I am. You know, I'm James Durbin. Like I said in the beginning, I am here to show America who I am, and it is what it is" - James Durbin

James Durbin has been proving the above statement ever since he was a finalist on "American Idol."

With his upcoming sophomore CD "Celebrate" dropping April 8th - and his video for his single "Parachute" out now, there is no stopping "The Durbin."

Hope you tuned in last night to watch James take the stage and perform "Parachute" on "Idol."

Enjoy the video below...!

                                                                    "Parachute"

Durbin Rocks! https://shop.durbinrock.com/

Pa Rum Pum Pum Pum, It's Pentatonix !

Happy Holidays!

OK, being PTX's official bitch do you think my second Christmas gift to you would be anyone other than?

Noooooooooot!

Here with a really awesome rendition of "The Little Drummer Boy" from the deluxe edition of their Holiday CD "PTXmas" are Scott, Kirstie, Avi, Kevin & Mitch hitting it at Runyon Canyon in Los Angeles, CA -

Enjoy! Only Twenty-Three more shopping days until Christmas get crackin' Ho ho ho!

                                                              "The Little Drummer Boy"

Stuff Your Stocking at: http://www.ptxofficial.com/

Go Daft Punk! "PTX Volume 2" Drops Today!

PTX Go Daft!

Pentatonix new album "PTX Volume 2" drops today and in honor of their latest the gang has let loose with a hot new video for a track on the CD of them doing a medley of Daft Punk songs..!

PTX Go Daft, Yes!

Happy PTX CD release day!

                                                                PTX - Daft Punk Video

Get your PTX on and order their new CD here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/ptx-vol.-2/id723084990

Jazz Hot Kristin Korb: "What's Your Story"?

Photo: Ulrik Jantzen

What's Your Story?, the new album from internationally recognized jazz artist Kristin Korb answers that very question with 12 timeless tunes that celebrate her story as a jazz vocalist and bassist. 

The multifaceted Ms. Korb - also writes and has taught music as well...she now calls Denmark her primary residence and has a great sense of style and humor.

Time to let your inner Sherlock out and unravel the mystery of who is Kristin Korb and What's Her Story...???

MS: Your CD tells your story as a jazz vocalist and bassist with eleven classic tracks and one original. Give us the inside scoop on the original track.

KK: It's called "Always Searching For My Baby". It's about a friend of mine I met when I was teaching at USC, Amber Navran, she took in all the jazz stuff and does her own thing, she has a band now call Moon Child.

MS: Oh cool. I thought that it was great that you were inspired to put "Don't Fence Me In" on your album by your parents.

KK: My Dad was always making up songs when we were kids and he would quote things that we thought he made up, and then we would hear it on the radio. I grew up on Country music and within the jazz repertoire "Don't Fence Me In" is about as close as you are going to get to Country. (laughs) There's a little bit of humor and tongue in cheek to it, so for me it was a fun song to do.

MS: Your parents also pushed you to be independent and follow your own path as well.

KK: Yes, definitely whether they enjoyed that later in life or not. (laughs)

Photo: Ulrik Jantzen

MS: How was your teaching stint at USC by the way?

KK: It was great! The level of musicianship in that school is so high. It was so inspiring for me to walk into the building and hear the music. To be a part of that was really amazing.

MS: You also taught in my home state at Central Washington University, cold enough for you?

KK: It was cold, and there's a lot of cows there. (laughs)

MS: So what influenced you to record an album that told your story?

KK: A lot of it was inspired by my move to Denmark. Whenever you move to a new place everything is different, the language, the culture, the weather...I found myself going back to things that reminded of why I fell in love with jazz in the first place and people and things that I love. It's all about the stories and the memories, like how a certain song can remind you of something you ate in a restaurant, that was the time you  heard it and it extends to a particular emotion.

MS: You were drawn to jazz in Middle School, why?

KK: Here's what happened, I was in sixth grade getting ready to go to Middle School and the music groups from the school came to visit us. They performed for us, I heard the band and I was like, uh yeah, OK. I heard the orchestra and thought, not so much. Then the vocal jazz ensemble performed, they had cool out fits, they moved to the music, smiling and having a blast! I knew that's what I wanted in music, at the time I did not know what this is, all I know is I wanted it. To me it was empowering that I could be a part of something that would make other people have a good time.

MS: One of my favorite tracks on your CD is "I Wanna Be Loved" which you equate with turning forty.

KK: Yes!

MS: I actually liked turning forty I want to hear your take on it.

Photo: Ulrik Jantzen

KK: It was great! I was kind of worried about it going towards it, thirty-eight to forty I was a little like, I'm going to be forty, what does this mean? How do I feel about it? Then when I turned forty, I was having so much fun, I have great friends, fulfilling work, I'm not for want of anything. I have the best life ever! Everything is out there and exposed and "I Wanna Be Loved" and this is how I want it.

MS: Since living in Denmark how much have you grown to like curry red herring?

KK: If I call it herring, then I am like ewwwwwwwwwwww, herring! But if I call it sild, I can stomach that! (laughs)

Get more of Kristin's story at: http://www.kristinkorb.com/

T.G.I.F. - Naama Kates Plays Room 5, Los Angeles CA

If you live in the Los Angeles, CA area and are planning on hanging out this evening, why not do it with indie darling Naama Kates at Room 5.

This critically acclaimed chanteuse will be hitting the Room 5 stage at 10 pm sharp...!

She is currently promoting her sophomore CD "King For The Day" the follow-up to her hit freshman debut "The Unexamined Life".

So, if your Friday Calendar is free, and you have no plans get your ass to Room 5 at 10 pm and check out Naama.

Oh, I will be there too, so if you come to the show, say "Hello".

                                            Naama Kates "King For The Day"
Get your "King" on at: http://www.naamakates.com/

Room 5 info: http://www.room5lounge.com/

Traci Lords Revisits "Stupidville"

Actress/Singer and Writer Traci Lords was born in Steubenville, OH where she was the victim of a sexual assault at the age of ten.

Today: March 17th 2013 two football players living in Steubenville, OH were found guilty of raping a sixteen year old girl and sentenced accordingly.

By all accounts Steubenville, OH is very proud of it's "Boys Club" and the outcome of this trial is a victory.

The trial and national focus that was shined on it brought Ms. Lords back to the place she was all too happy to leave. She took her thoughts, feelings and opinions public via the media. As a fellow writer she expressed to me how one of the ways she got those feelings out was via her song "Stupidville".

Although the trial had an outcome in favor of the victim, rape is an experience that stays with the violated party forever. Sexual assault is a huge epidemic in the world with one occurring on an average of every two minutes...."Stupidville" indeed.

MS: Hi Traci, what was it like growing up in Steubenville, OH?

Traci Lords

TL: I left when I was about twelve years old, and was raped there when I was ten. Which, I think poisoned my mind. Rape is not something that you can really deal with at any age, it's extremely difficult. But when you are an adolescent dealing with the violence and dealing with that kind of an assault it really does something to your psyche. It completely shaped me, it gave me a lot of angst, I completely hated myself...doubted everything...I have no doubt that it influenced me going into my teens. With the normal things going on with being a teenager I turned to drugs, ended up being on the streets, doing porn, doing all those things because of the whole mind fuck that goes with all of it. You feel you're not worthy and you try to take the power back in whatever way you can. 

MS: Tell everyone about "Stupidville".

TL: This is not about me, I was so incensed by the recent incident in my hometown that I couldn't sleep. I write a lot in the  middle of the night, as a writer you can relate to this I'm sure.

MS: Yes, I can.

TL: It haunts you, it calls you, I wrote my feelings about the what was going on, how I felt it, and it became "Stupidville". The struggle was whether I once again wanted to stand up for this, you know this isn't something I have just now come out about. For the last 48 hours I've been reading things like "Look, she's finally stepping forward with these shocking allegations"...and you know what?! I've spoke of this twenty years ago, Hello?! I wrote a book about it...

MS: You also addressed it on your CD "Control" with the song "Father's Field".

TL: That was my first record in 1997 - I've been talking about being a victim of violent assault for twenty years! It's like, "No, I'm not jumping on any band wagon" I'm just so angry, that I realized my voice, because of who I am, people will tune in and they'll look for whatever reason. Just for curiosity, or maybe they want to mock my music, maybe see how well I've aged - the bottom line is: I don't care if they like me, I care if they hear me. This is a world wide sickness that is not going away, when you talk about this poor woman in India who got rape and murdered, her crime? Going to a movie with a male friend and affording a bus, it's not even human, what's going on?! Before we can even deal with the Global issue we have to deal with what's going on in our own backyard. For me what happened in Steubenville, OH really was my backyard. So, like a lot of artists do when I can't express myself anymore through words, I do it through my art. I am a singer, I am a writer, I am an actress, I am all of those things. That's where "Stupidville" came from, that's what the locals call it, that's pretty much what all of Ohio calls it. This is not directed at the good people of Steubenville, OH, there are good people there....and to them I say, "It's time for you to step up"! It's not about bashing the good people of Steubenville, it's there to remind them that this crap has been going on and it's been going on long enough, and it's time for them to do something about it!

Traci on "Piers Morgan Live"

MS: Like you stated "deal with what's in our own "backyard".

TL: We're dealing with "Baby Athletes" here that get a free pass, that get to do whatever they want because what can they do?! Oh, they can throw a fucking ball, are you kidding me?! They're the "jocks" the "untouchables" whatever they are, they're the ones who will go and pick on the little gay boy at school and nobody does anything. Then they wonder why the gay boy goes and does some hideous thing in retaliation, or God forbid hurts himself because he can't deal with it.

MS: I've always wondered whatever happened to parents being involved in their children's lives?

TL: That's what I'm talking about, whatever kind of violence is happening in schools, why are the parents not doing more?! 

MS: While I have no desire to be a parent, one of the things I find offensive in our current state of the world is I think parents don't think they have any fucking responsibility anymore.

TL: Ask me my greatest job in my life? Being a parent, I take it very seriously, I have an amazing five year old son. He is not accidentally amazing, I am not a rich woman and I don't have a nanny, I have put a lot of time in with him and we have a lot of conversations, the amount of work and energy that goes into raising someone who is conscious is insane, but so worth the while. There are people who have looked at what I am doing and saying: "Oh, look a slut talking about a slut", those are the people I am directing the title "Stupidville" to! That kind of mentality is what feeds the ugliness of our society, you can tell I'm really pissed!

"Stupidville" video

MS: I don't blame you, when someone does something to someone I love - male or female, my gut reaction is "Tell me who they are, I 'll kick their ass" but, do I actually do it? No, but I will defend people in the appropriate capacity. 

TL: When you start taking your children to the play ground and begin teaching them to play with others. You spend that time saying: "We don't hit other people, we respect other people, we are kind, use words to communicate" - we are supposed to teach that, why all of the sudden is that gone? 

MS: The verdict came in today on the Steubenville, OH rape trial, what do you think of it?

TL: Relieved at the guilty verdict. But don't think the punishment fits the crime! One and Two years. I hope this girl sues them in civil court.

Keep up with the developments on "Stupidville" when the single is officially released proceeds will be going to a organization to stop violence against women and others. For all the latest log onto: http://www.tracilords.com/

Margaret Cho "Intervention"

Yep it's Friday, and it's March 1st...! So let's kick off the month with a little levity, shall we...?

With the video for the song "Intervention" from Margaret Cho's Grammy Nominated CD "Cho Dependent".

The Video features indie artists Tegan and Sara.

Check out the interview I did with Margaret about "Cho Dependent" for Chorus and Verse:
http://www.chorusandverse.com/content.php?id=20100815A

Happy Friday and beware the ides of March....!

"Cho" out at: http://www.margaretcho.com/

For Immediate Release: Swans

It's time to duck your head under water and bring it back up....the Swans are back...!

Industrial legends SWANS release a new double CD studio album The Seer 

August 28, 2012

Recorded at Studio P4 and Andere Baustelle in Berlin, by Kevin McMahon and
at Marcata Studio, Gardiner, NY, by Kevin McMahon. Additional recording at
Trout Recording, Brooklyn, NY, engineer: Bryce Goggin. Mixed by Kevin
McMahon at Marcata. Produced by Michael Gira.

SWANS: Michael Gira - voice, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, harmonica,
casio, sounds; Norman Westberg – electric guitar, voice; Christoph Hahn –
lap steel guitars; electric guitar, voice; Phil Puleo – drums, percussion,
hammer dulcimer, voice; Thor Harris – drums, percussion, orchestral bells,
hammer dulcimer, handmade violin thing, vibraphone, piano, clarinet,
voice; Christopher Pravdica – bass guitar, voice, incredible handshake.
Honorary Swan: Bill Rieflin – piano, organ, electric guitar, acoustic
guitar, drums, percussion, casio, synthesizer, bass guitar, voice, bird
idea….

SPECIAL GUESTS INCLUDE : Al and Mimi of Low - (co-vocals with MG on
Lunacy); Karen O – (lead vocal on Song for a Warrior); Jarboe –
(background vocals on Piece of the Sky and The Seer Returns); Akron/Family
– (background vocals on Piece of the Sky)… (many more guests)

NOTE FROM MICHAEL GIRA:
“The Seer took 30 years to make. It’s the culmination of every previous
Swans album as well as any other music I’ve ever made, been involved in or
imagined. But it’s unfinished, like the songs themselves. It’s one frame
in a reel. The frames blur, blend and will eventually fade.

The songs began on an acoustic guitar, then were fleshed out with
(invaluable) help from my friends, then were further tortured and seduced
in rehearsals, live and in the studio, and now they await further
cannibalism and force-feeding as we prepare to perform some of them live,
at which point they’ll mutate further, endlessly, or perhaps be discarded
for a while.

Despite what you might have heard or presumed, my quest is to spread light
and joy through the world. My friends in Swans are all stellar men.
Without them I’m a kitten, an infant. Our goal is the same: ecstasy! “

http://younggodrecords.com