YouTube sensation Lindsey
Stirling is perhaps the first – and only – artist in the world to
blend classical violin, modern dance, and pop into to one amazing
confection.
On
September 18th, Lindsey will be releasing her self-titled debut
album, Lindsey
Stirling,
coming off the heels of an incredibly successful presence on iTunes.
With 10 original tracks, the album will showcase Lindsey’s
signature violin-electronic-dubstep style – opening with
“Crystallize,” her most popular piece. Lindsey has already sold
over 300,000 songs, several of which have hit the iTunes Top 100 as
well as the top of the digital electronic charts. Lindsey also has
plans for a follow-up album of covers, putting her unique twist on
everything from existing video game themes to pop music.
Are you ready? Here is the
incomparable Ms. Lindsey Stirling...!
MS: I am so blown away by
your take on “The Phantom of the Opera” theme song!
LS: Oh neat! I was so
excited about doing it!
MS: Well I for one am
totally in awe your talent, I've never seen anything like it
in my estimation, ask anyone, I don't gush easily.
LS: That's so awesome!
Thank you so much Michael!
MS: You really took to the
violin.
LS: Well I was drawn to
the violin as a kid, because ever since I was little I had this
center stage syndrome. (laughs) My parents took me to all the free
orchestra concerts in town, and it was very obvious to see who the
stars of the orchestra were. (laughs) At the beginning of the concert
the violinist comes out and plays an “A” note for the orchestra
and I was like: “Wow, they are the stars of the orchestra”. I
started taking violin lessons when I was five, because I thought they were
beautiful, fast and fun!
MS: The passion when you
play the violin is so overwhelming.
LS: Generally I do it so
much, so I have to love it, it has never gotten old.
MS: You utilize it in
other mediums, expand on that.
LS: Well in High School
there were a bunch of guys who were in a rock band. I had a crush on
every single one of them. They were all older than me, but I played the
violin and I offered to play with them one time – they had me
play a song at one of their concerts. So, it's like oh my gosh, a
dream come true for me because all of these boys are so cute! From
there I ended up becoming part of the band and we went on this little
rock band tour....I was sixteen, it's a really fun memory, but
looking back we were not really very good. (laughs) But it opened my
eyes to how the violin could do all different types of music. They
all left on missions so I was left without a band and I started
writing music to my favorite radio hits, like: Hip-Hop. I explored
different types of mediums because I was kind of getting burnt out on
classical. Writing radio hits is what got me onto “Americas
Got Talent”. Then I decided I wanted to start writing my own music, music that I like, I started looking for producers – I always want to
keep a fresh style so I do everything from rock to trance music,
it's fresh and always new. Even with no vocals, people seemed to be
entertained the whole time.
MS: Even with no vocals,
with your “The Phantom of the Opera” video I was enthralled. Very few
people have ever attained that.
Being a big fan of the movement in music known as punk, I am entirely looking forward to this...Have a terrific weekend everyone !
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Circle Jerks "My Career As A Jerk"
To Be Released on DVD September 25
I was a participant on a very long musical adventure through all the fun and miserable times and thinking about this I don't know if i'd change any of it!
- Keith Morris
From the beginning, LA punk band the CIRCLE JERKSwere rooted in controversy. Formed by ex members of Black Flag and Red Cross (now Redd Kross) in late 1979, the band came to encapsulate the image, sound and energy of California Hardcore Punk.
Filmmaker David Markey (1991: The Year Punk Broke, The Slog Movie) mixes in-depth interviews, rare live footage and historical perspective to illustrate the story of one of the most influential bands in the American underground.
"I was at many of these shows, and let me tell you, there wasn't a tighter band in Los Angeles at the time," said Markey. "Making this film reminded me just how truly great they were."
My Career as a Jerk follows the band from their early days and classic debut to navigating the independent label and touring scene of the 80s to the addictions, fights and injuries that forced their break up.
Of course the story doesn't quite end there...
Features interviews with members Keith Morris, Greg Hetson, Lucky Leher. Earl Liberty, Zander Schloss as well as J. Mascis (Dinosaur Jr), Henry Rollins (Black Flag), Brian Baker (Minor Threat, Bad Religion), and more.
Bonus Materials include: Deleted Scenes and Bonus Interviews
OK, I know Gore Vidal was a great author and playwright, but what I will always remember him for is that he inspired one of the most awesome train wrecks of a movie based on his novel "Myra Breckinridge" I want to read the actual book one day, but until that time comes...
We have one of the best bad movies ever made, which brought many delights outside of the actual cinematic work itself, a very public cat fight between the ever gorgeous Raquel Welch and the late great Mae West... film critic Rex Reed's acting debut, not to mention the film debut of a young beautiful woman named Farrah Fawcett, may she too rest in peace.
Gore Vidal, was a literary and political trouble maker, something he was quite proud of...may his legacy live on.
It’s
no surprise that musician, songwriter and melodic dude Killian Wells,
hails from New York City. Only the eclectic energy of a town like NYC
could produce a pop star whose music appeals to dance freaks, new
wavers and rockers alike.
Although
he struggled with anxiety and panic disorder since he was a boy,
Killian learned to masterfully harness that nervous energy into his
music.
Marked
as “someone to watch” by bloggers, critics and fans alike, the
buzz about Killian is growing. With his latest single and video
co-starring GloZell & featuring Nixon...Yep Killian “It's Like
That”!
MS:
So, let's talk about your music, I was watching the video for “It's
Like That” just before you called, would you be the bored employee
at the diner you portrayed? (laughs)
KW:
Probably not (laughs) I am kind of an overachiever. I'd probably be
running the diner within a month.
MS:
Well sometimes creative people tend to check out.
KW:
Yeah, I definitely go into my own little world sometimes, and taking
Klonopin for anxiety disorder doesn't help. (laughs) That helps me
check out. Society in general these days suffers from some form of
anxiety, there is always something to be anxious about, some people
just don't tolerate it well. I have anxiety disorder since I was
sixteen.
MS:
Tell me about your fascination with music, when did it start?
KW:
I've always been involved in the arts, I, funny enough I wanted to be
a movie director when I was a kid. That is one of my fascinations
with my music videos.
MS:
The video for “It's Like That” is great by the way.
KW:
I always have a hand in everything I do with my my music videos.
Which is really rare for a pop artist, most people have handlers who
are doing all the stuff for them. I've always wanted to be in
entertainment to some degree, I initially wanted to be a director,
then I wanted to get into acting, when I was twelve I met with New
York agents who said the problem was that I looked my age, they
wanted older who could play younger, well I said “Fuck This”. I
was so upset that I couldn't do something that I wanted to do because
of the way that I looked. Pop music was something that I have always
been into, I thought if all these other kids can do this, then why
can't I? I've always been very entrepreneurial driven, so I saw not
just as a talent, but as a business. So I started studying the music
business and seeing how I could do that, I did my first demo at the
age of fifteen...then I um, um...I lost my train of thought,
Klonopin! (laughs)
MS:
(laughs) Oooops!
KW:
Oh Yeah, now I remember I had a background in music, I used to sing
in a chorus at an old folks home. (laughs) And at five years old I
used to sing “Spoonful of Sugar” from “Mary Poppins” not gay
at all. (laughs)
MS:
One of my favorite quotes from the video of “It's Like That” that
I have to ask you is: If Lady Gaga said sesame seed buns were all the
rage this season, would you wear them?
KW:
Uh no. I actually wrote the line “Lady Gaga says sesame seed buns
are all the rage this season”.
MS:
It's very funny.
KW:
Thanks. It's funny because GloZell gets all the credit for it, everyone thinks it's her line because she says it. Little
does everyone know, I wrote the treatment for the video. (laughs)
You may remember Ms. Strand from my "Entertain Me" chat at the beginning of July about her "Born Tonight" album and her infectious we've all "been there, done that" single "Jekyll or Hyde" - if not here is the link to jog your memory: http://mshinafelt.blogspot.com/2012/07/getting-to-know-shara-strand.html
Well Shara has released the official music video for "Jekyll or Hyde"...Enjoy and have a great week!
Former Teen Idol and "Entertain Me" staple Mike Clifford is celebrating - today July 25th 2012 marks the 50th Anniversary of his signature hit "Close To Cathy".
Mike "I'm Not Dead Yet" Clifford has a few things to say about CTC's 50th...
MC: It feels like 10 years since I recorded it
MS: Did you think the song would be this enduring?
MC: Never. I was hoping it would last 15 days on the charts, but it actually lasted 12 weeks in the top 100. It's just amazing - I'm still identified with it and I have so many memories associated with it, along with so much wonderful feedback, it's just amazing!
MS: What do you want your legacy to be?
MC: Everyone is given some kind of talent whatever it may be. Mine was singing and other things shot off of that with the acting and the dancing. I just tried to make the most of what I had at the time, and constantly improve myself to be the best I could always be...I worked hard to make the most of what little talent I had. (laughs) My legacy is for people to remember, whatever I did, I always tried 100% ! The proof is in the pudding, if you are still listening to my music, not just "Close To Cathy" 50 years later...
MS: Cool!
Check out Mike in a more recent performance of his signature hit "Close To Cathy"
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