"Forgive Me"

FIERCELY AND DEFIANTLY, DANIELIA COTTON

RE-EMERGES FROM THE SHADOWS WITH ‘FORGIVE ME’

1^st Single From ‘A Different War’ Out 2/28/20

https://music.apple.com/us/album/forgive-me-single/1500173385

“Ms. Cotton testifies to pain, need, revelation and redemption in a voice that’s as raw as it is indomitable.” – The New York Times

Hailed by The New York Times for music that’s “soulful enough to fill a revival tent,” DANIELIA COTTON has spent the past few years since her last album pulling herself out of the shadows, and she’s rising again into the light, fiercely and defiantly.

FORGIVE ME, the first single, due Feb. 28, off her newest album, A Different War, arriving later this year, sends a potent message that the “fiery rock vocalist” (American Songwriter) whose voice gives her songs “stunning power” (No Depression) has re-emerged and is delivering even more powerfully moving music than ever.

The hypnotic rhythms of the opening guitar chords transfix us, while Cotton’s somber opening vocals blossom into soaring flights of rocking soul. The evocative and transporting music of FORGIVE ME mimics the lyrics, which the Hopewell, NJ, native wrote with her sister, Catherine Fulmer-Hogan, stressing the necessity of forgiveness in any relationship.

“The only way you survive a relationship is through forgiveness,” says Cotton. “‘Don’t get lost in the fight,’ as I sing in the song. If you’re gonna last, then you’re gonna forgive each other a million times.”

Additionally praised by Billboard, the Los Angeles Times, NPR, and USA Today, among others throughout her career, Cotton, as always, inhabits a song, turning it inside and out, creating transcendent music and lyrics, and carrying us higher and higher with her in her musical flights.

Available at Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon, and where music is consumed on-line.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube

Genre: Rock, Soul, Blues

“Forgive Me” credits

Words: Danielia Cotton and Catherine. Fulmer-Hogan

Music: Danielia Cotton

Players: Andy Hess (Bass), Aaron Comess (Drums), Ben Butler (guitar), Danielia Cotton (guitar, piano, vocals)

Production: JCS (Jw Johnson, Danielia Cotton & Craig Shofed)

Hump Day & Chill

Heart & Soul
Christopher La Fleur

Just sit right back and you'll hear a Hump Day & Chill tale about artist and model Christopher La Fleur. This particular yarn is brought to you by the ever so talented Tye Briggs via his Favorite Hunks & Other Things blog.

I love this profile! Tye addresses the artist who is also his own work of art. This is something that has always fascinated me as I am cut from like cloth.

Blurred Lines indeed, or not. Christopher is an interesting read and of course he gets naked. "Yes" I went there. However it's all about the piece that accompanies it. 

"Yes" that's what kept me feeling fascination.

Kudos to Tye for an excellent job in hitting the heart of an individual's creativity and soul.

Oh, yeah of course you are now ready, steady, go for a Hump Day & Chill, correct?

This is one that pushes all my buttons and then some. I'm sure they will push yours to infinity and beyond!

Hit it at the NSFW link below...

https://favoritehunks.blogspot.com/2019/05/wild-soul-christopher-la-fleur.html

Monday Motivation

All That Jazz
Katy Perry

This weeks Monday Motivation takes on the shape of Katy Perry showing her jazz love at what else? The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, naturally.

Katy went all out in her, dare I say awesome, unique and completely original choice of outfit. Ms. Perry is going big, as you can see, living her best life as it were.

"Yes" now you are seeing where I am going with this piece of Monday Motivation - live your best life, you only have one damn it, so just do it!

For example today I am hitting the yoga mat, as it does my body and my twisted soul good. Thus I am doing something that is making my quality of life the best it can be. Yeah, it's that simple people, do something that is good for you, buy something that makes you smile or engage in an activity that makes you feel good if you get my drift (wink, wink, nudge nudge)

Even if it means wearing something like Ms. Perry, whatever it is, if it makes you happy, it can't be that bad...can it???

Katy Perry on IG -

https://www.instagram.com/katyperry/?hl=en

Pamela Anderson, Jane Fonda & Jake Shears Are "Connected"

Stripped Down
Pamela Anderson

Bet you'd never thought you would see this combo of three names together? Frankly, neither did I, but in the good ole biz of show these days I also know anything goes.

Oh yes, let me spill exactly how these three appear in the same headline. Pamela Anderson stars in a sci-fi short by Luke Gilford, bearing the title Connected. Which also features narration by Jane Fonda and music by Jake Shears. Got it?

Here is what filmmaker/photographer Gilford has to say about it: 

“’Connected’ is a portrait of a woman grappling with aging, self-perception, and transformation in a technologically optimized world,” Gilford explains on his website. “Jackie (Pamela Anderson) is … obsessed with self-improvement tapes (voiced by Jane Fonda), and she is soon drawn to an advanced yet enigmatic wellness spa that promises to enhance her mind, body, and soul.”
The short is quite effective and shows Ms. Anderson in a whole new light, as someone who is yearning for something different than what she has been pigeonholed as. Kudos Pamela you did a bang up job! Cheers to seeing more of this type of of thing from you in your future endeavors, stay Connected. 
View Connected after the jump!

Pamela on the net:
https://www.instagram.com/pamelaanderson/?hl=en
https://twitter.com/pamfoundation?lang=en
www.pamelaandersonfoundation.org/ 

Cure The Mid-Week Blahs, Get Some Soul!

Charles Bradley & Menahan Street Band - Live From The House Of Soul coming to DVD on February 12th The first installment of Daptone Records' new video series

Daptone Records, the fiercely independent label that has been delivering the gold standard for real soulful music for over a decade, is launching a video series of performances by its artists recorded live in the backyard of their Bushwick studio headquarters, affectionately known as "The House of Soul". Live from the House of Soul will debut with a full concert by Charles Bradley, followed by episodes from Antibalas, Menahan Street Band, The Mystery Lights, and more. The first installment of Live From The House Of Soul is directed by Poull Brien and shot in the backyard of Daptone's House of Soul in Bushwick, Brooklyn. It features Charles Bradley at his best with the Menahan Street Band.  Bradley's voice has evolved from a lifetime of paying dues, having nomadically labored for decades at various day jobs from Maine to Alaska - singing and performing in his spare time - before re-settling in his hometown Brooklyn and eventually finding a musical home at Dunham. In his distinctively rough-hewn timbre, one hears the unmistakable voice of experience - each note and gruff inflection a reflection of his extended, sometimes rocky, personal path. It's only fitting that producer, Brenneck (also amember of The Dap-Kings and The Budos Band), would recognize in Bradley a kindred musical spirit - a singer whose performances exude both raw power and poignant beauty. This Live From The House Of Soul series gives viewers an intimate look into the legendary stable of Daptone artists performing at home in a unique setting. The series will be completely produced in-house and feature the tough sound that Daptone has become famous for. More episodes are currently in production. Bradley's upcoming album, Changes, is out April 1st, 2016 on Daptone Records. For more info contact Shazila Mohammed - Shazila (at) MotorMouthMedia (dot) com. This Live From The House Of Soul -Track Listing: "Love Bug" "Where Do We Go From Here?" "Victim Of Love" "Confusion" "The World (Is Going Up In Flames)" "Crying In The Chapel" "Strictly Reserved For You" The DVD also includes bonus music videos for "Where Do We Go From Here?," "Strictly Reserved For You," "The World (Is Going Up In Flames)," and "Heartaches & Pain." Pre-order: http://bit.ly/1QpUli1 Amazon: http://amzn.com/B018ELUCTU

So Big..."Tower Of Power" Turns 48!

That's One Huge Tower!
Tower of Power

Tower of Power Celebrates 48th Anniversary in 2016 Doing What They Do Best: Playing their Brand of Soul, Funk, Jazz and Rock to Sold-Out Crowds Around the World

Like Towers? This one is huge!
 

Since their formation in 1968, Tower of Power have been recording and touring, playing hundreds of shows annually and releasing 18 studio albums, seven live albums, six compilations and three DVDs. Additionally, Tower of Power has recorded with hundreds of artists as diverse as Aerosmith, Elton John, Little Feat, Phish, Santana, Heart, and many others, forever infusing the radio airwaves with the band’s musical DNA. The legendary group, known for its unique blend of Soul, Funk, Jazz and Rock, plan to celebrate their 48th anniversary in 2016 doing what they love: performing for their fans. With new generations of fans discovering their timeless music, Tower of Power have never been busier or more in demand. "As we push the envelope globally, our audiences are getting bigger and bigger and younger and younger,” said Emilio Castillo, bandleader for Tower of Power. “What a blessing to see this younger generation seeking out this type of music and also to see so many up and coming Tower of Power ‘clone’ bands endeavoring to play our music." About Tower of Power: Since 1968, Tower of Power has been delivering its unique brand of “Oakland style” music and maintaining a class of its own. Leader and founding member Emilio Castillo labeled the group’s sound as “Urban Soul Music.” Over the years, Tower of Power has performed with some of music’s biggest names including Elton John, Santana, Bonnie Raitt, Huey Lewis, Little Feat, Dionne Warwick, David Sanborn, Paula Abdul, Aaron Neville, Aerosmith, Michael Bolton, Billy Preston, Rod Stewart, Toto, and more. Tower of Power’s rhythm section lays down a groove like no other band. The horn driven sound is unique from writing and arranging to mixing and performing. The group’s collection of hits includes “You’re Still A Young Man,” “So Very Hard To Go,” “Soul With a Capital S,” “Soul Vaccination,” “What Is Hip?” Each year, Tower of Power tours the United States, Japan and Europe, playing sold out shows all over the world. Tower of Power Tour Dates: Dec 19, 2015 Gent, Belgium Handelsbeurs Dec 20, 2015 The Hague, NL Paard van Troje Dec 30, 2015 New York, NY BB King's Dec 31, 2015 Hartford, CT Infinity Hall New Year's Eve Show Jan 8-13, 2016 Oakland, CA Yoshi's at Jack London Square Jan 15, 2016 Agora Hills, CA The Canyon Club Jan 21-24, 2016 Seattle, WA Jazz Alley Jan 26, 2016 Bremerton, WA The Admiral Theater Jan 30, 2016 Grand Ronde, OR Spirit Mountain Casino Feb 6, 2016 Stateline NV Harrah's Tahoe South Shore Room Feb 12-14, 2016 Las Vegas, NV South Point Hotel & Casino April 19, 2016 Alexandria, VA The Birchmere April 22, 2016 Collingswood, NJ Collingswood Scottish Rite Theater April 23, 2016 Glenside, PA The Keswick Theater April 26, 2016 Moscow, ID Kibbe Events Center - University of Idaho May 21, 2016 Cancun, Mexico Oasis Arena at the Grand Oasis Hotel & Resort

Show Your Fangs With Matt Nathanson

The haunting album cover art by Angela Deane

MATT NATHANSON UNVEILS SHOW ME YOUR FANGS

NEW ALBUM TO BE RELEASED ON OCTOBER 2^ND
ACOUSTIC NORTH AMERICAN FALL TOUR TO BEGIN ON SEPTEMBER 28TH IN BOSTON
ALBUM AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER JULY 31ST! 

 

^{Matt Nathanson, gets his Phyllis Diller on: Oh Fang!}

 <sup>Matt Nathanson’s new album Show Me Your Fangs – his tenth studio recording – delves deeper and further into the complexities and observations of everyday life than any of his previous albums. Songs such as “Giants,” “Bill Murray,” “Adrenaline,” “Washington State Fight Song,” and the title track tell vivid stories touching on the overall theme of self-identity and how we choose to reveal ourselves. These vignettes are all offered wrapped in richer, musical textures with Nathanson’s signature seductive hooks. In as much as these songs have a solemn message, leave it to Nathanson to offer the perfect counter balance with the album’s new single “Gold  In The Summertime” with its sultry ‘70s soul groove.  

Show Me Your Fangs will be released October 2nd on Vanguard Records but starting tomorrow, July 31st, fans can pre-order the album via iTunes and</sup> www.mattnathanson.com <sup>and instantly receive a download of “Giants.”   

To celebrate the release of Show Me Your Fangs, Matt Nathanson will kick off an acoustic North American fall tour beginning September 28th in Boston, MA through October 30th in San Diego, CA. Full list of tour dates below. Tickets go on sale Friday, July 31st and each ticket purchased will include a download of Show Me Your Fangs upon release.

Matt shares, “I’m heading out on a super intimate, acoustic North American club tour this fall. After the last few summers of playing big places (which has ruled, btw), and bashing it out with electric guitars, I’ve been missing just playing acoustic guitar and telling stories. So, I’m leaving the rhythm section at home and Aaron [Tap] and I are gonna bust out for the month of October, troubadour-style.”

SHOW ME YOUR FANGS track listing:
Giants
Adrenaline
Gold in the Summertime
Bill Murray
Shouting
Show Me Your Fangs
Disappear
Washington State Fight Song
Playlists and Apologies
Headphones 

2015 Fall Acoustic North American tour dates

9/28 - Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall
9/30 - Philadelphia, PA @ World Café Live
10/1 - New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
10/2 - Pawling, NY @ Darryl's House
10/3 - Toronto, ON @ The Great Hall on Queen Street
10/4 - Ferndale, MI @ Magic Bag
10/6 - Brooklyn, NY @ Rough Trade
10/7 - Alexandria, VA @ Birchmere Music Hall
10/9 - Carrboro, NC @ Cat's Cradle
10/10 - Nashville, TN @ The Basement
10/11 - Decatur, GA @ Eddie's Attic (5pm show)
10/11 - Decatur, GA @ Eddie's Attic (8pm show)
10/13 - Austin, TX @ The Parish
10/14 - Dallas, TX @ The Kessler Theater
10/16 - Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock
10/17 - Des Moines, IA @ Wooly's
10/18 - Evanston, IL @ SPACE (Society for the Preservation of Arts & Culture)
10/19 - Madison, WI @ Majestic Theater
10/20 - Kansas City, MO @ The Record Bar
10/22 - Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge
10/23 - Salt Lake City, UT @ The State Room
10/25 - Seattle, WA @ Columbia City Theater
10/26 - Portland, OR @ Star Theater
10/28 - San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall
10/29 - West Hollywood, CA @ Troubadour
10/30 - San Diego, CA @ Casbah</sup>
 

^{www.mattnathanson.com
www.facebook.com/mattnathanson
twitter.com/mattnathanson
instagram.com/mattnathanson}

 

Colton Ford's Next Chapter

OK, let's get the obvious out of the way and sweep it under the rug. Colton Ford is best known for being a porn star. That's so fifteen years ago...

Since then Colton has become an accomplished singer and actor. He has had hit singles and albums such as Tug of War. His current EP is Next Chapter. He recently starred in the premiere of the play (which I attended) And All The Dead, Lie Down by Harrison David Rivers directed by John Coppola in Los Angeles, CA.

With a portrayal of Sheriff Trout on Here's hit supernatural series The Lair thrown in for good measure, what's next?

It's time to turn the page on Colton's career. Hey, it's all about that falsetto...Let's meet the 2015 model of Colton Ford.

MS: Hey how are you?

CF: I'm driving and eating, it's one of those days where I have to schedule my bathroom breaks. (laughs)

MS: You recently moved back to Los Angeles.

CF: I've been back in LA for a year and a half. I lived in New York seven years prior to that. It was time to move back to LA. I got everything I needed to from New York and I didn't have to be there to do what I was doing. I love New York though and still make trips there.

MS: Obviously I saw you in the play And All The Dead, Lie Down. This was the first time it was done ever, correct?

CF: Yes, it's the first time it was done. The writer, director and my co-star Kila Packett all developed it. It was a great experience!

MS: Kila and yourself had amazing chemistry!

CF: Yeah, we wanted to make it real and we worked hard on that. I really enjoyed it. I haven't had the opportunity to play a drama in quite some time with the things that I've done acting wise. It's usually been more cheeky, or like Sheriff Trout on The Lair stuff along those lines. So it was fun to explore that energy, there were more emotional things happening in this project than what I have been able to play in the other things that I have done.

MS: There was a lot of nudity and free balling in the show, I was told that was in it before I went, but was not expecting as much as there was.

CF: It wasn't supposed to be gratuitous. The whole idea and concept of this was that the audience is a voyeur. Your peeking in the window and watching a couple in their own natural habitat, without them having the knowledge of being watched. When they come out of the shower they take their towel off and they get dressed, when they go to bed and have sex they take their shit off...you know what I mean? It was the way it would be in real life and that's what the playwright & director wanted.

There is a thing about seeing a penis. We know Nicole Kidman was nude on Broadway, but when Daniel Radcliffe was nude we heard a lot more chatter about that. Some people are really taken aback by it and some just accept it as part of what the story is. The director was very cautious and concerned that it not be delivered in a way that was gratuitous.

MS: Mainly the conflict in the show stemmed from one of the couple being HIV + and the other being HIV - what are your thoughts on that?

CF: I think everybody has to figure out how they want to love. I am of the mind set that it would not be an issue for me if I was feeling somebody, and falling in love with somebody. We all should be educated about how you get it and how not to get it. We also have to recognize that we are a species that has to deal with sexually transmitted diseases, I don't care what it is you are at risk even if you practice safe sex. Personally I am not of the mindset that I am going to give someone head with a condom on, it's not for me. I make sure there are no cuts and sores in my mouth and I generally stay away from people cumming in my mouth. Just little things that make my experience safer. If your sexually active and not in a relationship chances are you are going to connect with someone that might be HIV +.

People now have undetectable viral loads, I don't live in fear around it. It certainly does not dictate whether or not I get to know somebody. That's the way that I look at it. The more that you are educated and the more you get to know the dynamic of HIV the less fear based you will be. You will be more open with regard to loving somebody without placing those kinds of conditions on that love.

Photo: Kevin McDermott

MS: Let's talk about your current EP Next Chapter.

CF: OK.

MS: It's more hard R&B and less Electronica than your previous efforts.

CF: My roots are R&B/Soul that's where I have lived all my life. When I was signed with Virgin in the 90's it was straight R&B. I moved into House Music and subsequently EDM. There has always been a thread of soul in my music and certainly in my vocal arrangements, you can tell my roots are in that genre of music. Now that I am in my fifties I want to do music more reflective of where I live and who I am...I certainly love Dance Music. The new stuff I am working on is more R&B/Soul, but it has the ability to be re-mixed into a dance song. That is how I am shifting musically. My next album is definitely going to be more Soul/R&B/Contemporary. Depending on the single release we will have a re-mix package that will give all of the different musical vibes and energies, but the album version will be of the R&B/Soul genre.

MS: I really loved Love is Taking Over which you co-wrote.

CF: Thanks! I co-wrote all of them except for the covers of Yesterday and Something About You.

MS: Sorry I didn't stay and hang out to say Hello after the play. I figured it was OK since I saw you before. (laughs)

CF: No worries I figured you had something to do. (laughs) 

Keep moving forward with Colton at:

https://www.facebook.com/ColtonFordMusic

https://twitter.com/coltonfordmusic

Go Bangin' Rackettes With Clairy Browne

“JENNY” VIDEO PREMIERE ON YAHOO.COM

NEW SINGLE FROM UPCOMING EP
LOVE CLIQUES TO BE RELEASED ON AUGUST 5^TH

Currently on U.S. Summer Tour through October 1st

Get your Rackettes on with the Bangin' Clairy Browne!!!

Australian sensations CLAIRY BROWNE & THE BANGIN’ RACKETTES have just premiered their new video “Jenny” on Yahoo.com.  “Jenny” is the new single from the band’s upcoming EP LOVE CLIQUES to be released on August 5th.  The four track EP will be available digitally, and a limited edition 10" vinyl version will be available at retail locations exclusively via AEC (Alliance Entertainment Corporation).  

LOVE CLIQUES is in follow up to the band’s highly acclaimed U.S. Vanguard debut album BABY CAUGHT THE BUS which featured the internationally successful single “Love Letter.”  

Praised by NPR who described their sound as “Rich In harmony…. a little bit of soul fused with blues, doo-wop, jazz and R&B,” Clairy Browne & The Bangin’ Rackettes returned to the U.S. this past weekend kicking off their national cross country tour on Saturday, June 21st headlining at the Summer Fest in Ann Arbor, MI. On June 28ththe nine piece Australian band will bring their unique indie soul to the Vino Fest inWashington, DC; On June 29th they’ll perform on The Jewel for a Rocks Off Boat Cruise and on July 17, 18 & 19th, the band returns for their third residency at The Cosmopolitan hotel in Las Vegas. Following their U.S. tour which wraps at The Troubadour in Los Angeles on October 1st, the band will remain in the States to begin recording their follow-up album, due for release in 2015 on Vanguard Records.

WATCH THE YAHOO! PREMIERE OF “JENNY” HERE

It's Hard Out There For A Rackette

CLAIRY BROWNE & THE BANGIN RACKETTES U.S. Summer Tour 2014:

2014-06-25     Columbus OH - The Basement
2014-06-26     Pittsburgh, PA – The Club @ Stage AE
2014-06-27     Bordentown, NJ – The Record Collector
2014-06-28     Washington, DC – Vino Fest
2014-06-29     New York, NY – Jewel Boat Cruise
2014-07-17     Las Vegas, NV – Cosmopolitan
2014-07-18     Las Vegas, NV – Cosmopolitan
2014-07-19     Las Vegas, NV – Cosmopolitan
2014-07-22     Phoenix, AZ – Crescent Ballroom
2014-07-24     Dallas, TX – Gas Monkey Bar & Grill
2014-07-25     Austin, TX – The Belmont
2014-07-26     Little Rock, AR – Juanita’s Café & Bar
2014-07-27     Nashville, TN – 3^rd & Lindsley
2014-07-29     Birmingham, AL – Zydeco
2014-07-31     New Orleans, LA – House of Blues
2014-08-01     Shreveport, LA – Strange Brew
2014-08-02     Monroe, LA – Live Oaks
2014-08-04     Jackson, MS – Duling Hall
2014-08-05     Atlanta, GA – The Earl
2014-08-07     Miami, FL – Bardot
2014-08-08     Orlando, FL – Bombshell’s Tavern
2014-08-11     Charlottesville, VA – The Southern Café & Music Hall
2014-08-13     Boston, MA – The Sinclair
2014-08-14     Philadelphia, PA – Underground Arts
2014-08-16     Toronto, ON, Canada – Horseshoe Tavern
2014-08-17     Rochester, NY – California Brew Haus
2014-08-20     Hamden, CT – The Space
2014-08-22     New York, NY – Le Poisson Rouge
2014-08-28     Providence, RI – Fete Lounge
2014-08-29     Northampton, MA – Iron Horse
2014-09-01     Montreal, QC – Casa del Popolo
2014-09-06     St. Louis, MO – Firebird
2014-09-07     Lawrence, KS – Granada Theatre
2014-09-08     The Blue Note – Columbia MO
2014-09-09     Vanguard Music Hall – Tulsa OK
2014-09-11     Oklahoma City, OK – ACM @ UCO Theatre
2014-09-13     Denver, CO – Marquis Theatre
2014-09-14     Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge
2014-09-16     Doug Fir Lounge – Portland OR
2014-09-18     San Francisco, CA – Bimbo’s 365 Club
2014-09-20     Reno, NV – Cargo
2014-09-25     San Diego, CA – Casbah
2014-10-01     Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour

clairybrowne.com

Jason Walker Has The Beat

Look! It's Jason Walker!

International recording artist Jason Walker is back with his latest hit "Beat Don't Stop" which shot to number five on the Billboard Dance Charts.

In addition to kicking it on the charts, Jason's "Raise Your Hands" won an Out Music Award for Best Inspirational Song.

OK, everyone what are you waiting for? Put on your dancing shoes, it's Jason Time!

MS: Mr. Walker I must compliment you, you have quite the falsetto going on.

JW: Oh, thanks. It's not a falsetto though.

MS: Really?

JW: I'm just Fucking with ya! (laughs)

MS: I really like the message of "Beat Don't Stop" by the way, you made a statement that there a shift of consciousness is happening in the world right now. I agree, you can actually feel it happening.

JW: Oh completely.

MS: People are realizing that they need to work together and do something to make a change.

JW: Oh yeah, things are not going to change on their own.

MS: Madonna is one of your musical idols I noticed. There are parts of the video for "Beat Don't Stop" that remind me of the video for "Ray of Light".

JW: Oh really? That's cool! I love that album, it was ahead of it's time when it came out.

MS: The press release on says "Beat Don't Stop" went to number five on the Billboard Dance Charts. Did it climb any higher post the release?

JW: No, it peaked at number five. I will be honest with you, I was happy when it went to the tenth spot on the charts and then it kept moving, and I thought it would be great if it went to number five and I got my wish.

MS: Explain your statement about being a "child of the rave".

JW: I'm a raver baby. I was in Pittsburgh in the late 1990's and the rave scene, at least there, was jumping off. It was a really magical time, one of the best times of my life! One of my best friends and I went to a lot of parties together and discovered a lot of music, you can't buy those kind of memories. The rave scene was a great time for music, especially dance music, there was so much incredible stuff out at that time. My love of club and house music really solidified itself during this period within me. Oh, that music, it was so much fun! It was never about the drugs, so many people made it about the drugs, it was never about that for me. It was about going and listening to who was playing what and how it made you feel, that's the definition of dance music, it's about how it makes you feel.

MS: You also mentioned that you thought of  dance music as something to bring people together.

                                                     Jason Walker "Beat Don't Stop"
                                           
JW: Oh it completely does. I don't feel that it has lost any of that, I feel like dance music has lost a little bit of soul, that bothers me. But hopefully it's something that me and other artists who feel like I do can bring back a little bit.

MS: Dance music has to be really good and stand out to me, or I won't listen as most of it is generic.

JW: A lot of it really is anymore.

MS: You also had a number one video on Logo "I Can't Get You Off Of My Mind".

JW: I did!

MS: So, did you pop a bottle of champagne to celebrate?

JW: Well, actually I did! (laughs) I had some people over and we drank a lot of champagne. (laughs)

MS: Did you serve any finger foods?

JW: No, we just stuck to liquor. (laughs) We didn't get too wasted, but wasted enough!

Get the "Beat" with Jason at: http://www.jasonwalkermusic.com/