That Rogue Romeo

Photo: Emily Perez

Romeo, Romeo, where for art thou “That Rogue Romeo”.... Well his name is Kevin Stea and he's right here and now.

Kevin is quite ubiquitous and gets around – you may remember him from Madonna's “Blonde Ambition Tour” where he was not only a back-up dancer, but co-coreographer and dance captain for it as well. He also had a featured role as one of the dancers in the Las Vegas show “Goddess” featuring Cristal Connors in the camp classic “Showgirls”.

Mr. Stea is currently conquring another frontier, one he has always wanted to tackle, at the age of fourty-two, he is pursuing a singing career, that combines his love of dance, his visual flair and knowledge of the business having worked with so many greats in it....it's time for “The Rogue Romeo” Kevin Stea...!

MS: Being involved in music as a dancer, what made you decided to pursue it as a voclist/performer?

KS: Music started for me when I went on “Star Search” as a dancer. I pursued a singing career with Capitol Records and that didn't pan out, but it started this little spark in the back of my head. When I went to Italy however I did get offered a recording contract. I was singing on live TV and it was going over really well, so they offered me a contract – they gave me the melodies and I wrote the songs because they wanted the lyrics written in English, that was the most satisfying part of the process, writing the songs. I gave up music for a long time after a series of shady deals...the truamatic experiences that happened in Italy. Recently, when I got injured dancing on tour, I try to look at my injury as a postive thing, not: “I'm an old hag” (laughs) So I thought “what is that one thing that really made me so happy and joyful”? That was writing my music. I knew I needed to pursue it and follow through with it the way I wanted to twelve years ago, or I would regret it for the rest of my life. I'm going to give it my all for as long as I can.

MS: You are doing it at a time when the music industry has so changed, it's much more difficult.

KS: It is much more difficult, but there is much more opportunity to be myself.

MS: Good point.

KS: Back in the day that was part of my frustration. They had me write lyrics about getting the girl and having this grand old time. (laughs) That's not what I want to sing about, that's not who I am. Now with social media and various outlets I have more power than ever to be myself in the music industry. I want to be myself as an artist, not some random production of a label.

MS: “Machine & Magic” is the name of your album, correct?

KS: Yes, it is. 

MS: By the way, do you play any insturments? I'm curious.

KS: Well, I play a little bit of piano and a little bit of drums, but I'm not going to say I will ever play either of them live. (laughs) I work with producers to create the sounds I want, and I usually have to act it out visually for them to get what I am going for. Musicians, being artists themselves understand what I am saying to them with body language.

MS: There are a few other artists I know who do that too.

KS: Sometimes you have to, there are things you can't always say with words that you can say with your body and vice versa.

Make a date with “That Rogue Romeo” at:

www.thatrogueromeo.com

or on Facebook at:

https://www.facebook.com/ThatRogueRomeo

Sandy Zacky Gets Random

Hello everyone, it's that time again, yep, time to "Get Random" and the subject in the "Entertain Me" hot seat is none other than Sandy with a "Y" not "E" Zacky.

You may recall Ms. Z from various posts on this blog most notably my chat with her about her music last year: http://mshinafelt.blogspot.com/2011/10/checking-in-with-jazz-chanteuse-sandy.html

The ubiquitous Ms. Z took some time from her busy schedule to have some fun with me and to say "Hello" to all of her fans....OK, Sandy were waiting...let's do it!

SZ: I'm ready let's play your game. (laughs)

MS: Are you sure about that? (laughs)

SZ: Let's get to it.

MS: Singing.

SZ: The first song I ever fell in love with was "You'll Never Walk Alone".

MS: Sam Cooke.

SZ:  Oh, I love Sam Cooke, everything he ever did was amazing. I loved the inspiration he gave me, he was a very fine man.

MS: Blue Pictures.

SZ: I think those photos are fun!

MS: Solo.

SZ: That is something that I love very much, sometimes I feel insecure though.

MS: Mike Clifford.

SZ: I adore him and vocally he is perfection.


MS: One Olive Or Two.

SZ: How about five? I want more.

MS: Mary Wilson.

SZ: Such a lovely lady and what a wonderful honor to have met and gotten to know someone who has had such a great career.

MS: Show Me Talk Radio.

SZ: Adore it! Donna Linn is quite a gal, I love her! She goes for it, she is fearless.

MS: Fans.

SZ: Love them all, I can't get enough!

MS: Vitello's.

SZ: Great venue can't wait to perform there again.

MS: Tell us what the future holds for Sandy with a "Y".

SZ: Music is part of my soul and I want to keep going.

Follow Sandy on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Sandy-Zacky-Fan-Page/142692019103428

You can also check her out at: www.sandyzacky.com & http://www.myspace.com/sandyzackymikeclifford

The Strange Familiar: Unwanted

"If I throw away all the garbage in my life /Happiness will come to me/ If I throw away every problem /Every pain will be undone."

One of the coolest bands, The Strange Familiar has just released the even cooler video for their song "Unwanted".

"Unwanted" is the second single from TSF's album "Chasing Shadows" and was featured on one of my favorite TV shows "Pretty Little Liars" - "Yes" that's right I am a "PLL" & "TSF" fan, so there you have that.

Written by Kira Leyden (vocals/piano) and Jeff Andrea (guitar), "Unwanted,"  is one of the most poignant songs on the album. Donning a purple wig and gothic makeup, Leyden portrays a dark character running away from her problems and enticing others to come with her-"

With Leyden's expressive piano melody and stirring vocals, "Unwanted" is a powerful and emotional track portraying the desire to shed unwelcome toxins, whether an inanimate object, a person or a feeling. The song and video, much like the rest of Chasing Shadows, shows off the band's ability to write timeless music that tells a story through its sound and visual imagery; it connects with their audience on a deep emotional level.

Great job TSF, looking forward to seeing you September 18th at The Hotel Cafe in Hollywood, CA !

Un-familiar? Log onto: thestrangefamiliar.com

Sing Along With: Marti Frederiksen

Songwriter, producer, engineer and drummer Marti Frederiksen was a 10^th grade choir boy, yep that didn't take. Marti has had his a hand in some of the best hits of the last decade, co-writing “Jaded” by Aerosmith, “Undo It” by Carrie Underwood,“Sorry” by Buckcherry, and “Love Remains the Same” by Gavin Rossdale. 

With his restless drive Marti could hear the big picture, pick out the possibilities, and create new harmonies. He started, playing drums in a garage band and writing originals when he was only 15.

Three of Marti’s LA-area bands landed record deals, and that led Marti to producing. Soon he was with Virgin Records co-writing and producing for the Southern rock-tinged Brother Cane, including two songs that reached No. 1 in the Billboard Mainstream Rock Charts....with his many hyphenates look behind the control board, it's an engineer, it's a drummer, a songwriter...no, it's Super Marti!

 MS: You are the ultimate one degree of “American Idol” you have worked with everyone from Steven Tyler, Carrie Underwood, James Durbin & Daughtry – amongst others.

MF: I know man. Every year I think “who is it going to be this time”? (laughs) I've worked with so many of them. There were a couple of songs I wrote for Lee Dewyze that didn't make his current album.

MS: That's too bad.

MF: Well I'm actually kind of glad now, the album isn't doing much, and the songs ares still great maybe they will be recorded by somebody else,

MS: Hopefully someone with a higher profile.(laughs)

MF: Who knows, I hope they get accepted, or maybe...I don't know.

MS: It's interesting you have only worked with one of the two successful “American Idol” winners, Carrie Underwood. You have also worked with two successful “AI” alums who didn't win James Durbin and Chris Daughtry. Unless you are Carrie or Kelly Clarkson it seems you are better off not winning if you want to become a music biz success.

MF: That pretty much where it stands right now, but who knows, let's wait and see what happens with Phillip Phillips.

MS: You are a musician in your own right, you've played drums, guitar, keyboard and what else?

MF: Since I do all my own demos I take on every instrument, I even do vocals.

MS: Do you prefer songwriting and producing or being artist?

MF: Songwriting and producing, it's more all over the place. Being an artist you have to kind of focus on the one sound and dream, ya know.

MS: OK Marti, if you were an instrument which instrument would you want to be?

MF: Drums man. That was always my thing, if it wasn't for drums I don't think I would be writing songs.

Sing, sing a song with Marti at: http://martifrederiksen.com/

For Immediate Release: Shonen Knife - "Ghost Train"

SHONEN KNIFE RELEASES "GHOST TRAIN" - 2ND VIDEO FROM THEIR LATEST "POP TUNE" ALBUM

On the heels of their North American "Pop Tune Tour 2012" Japanese Pop Punk 

Princesses "Shonen Knife" have released their second promotional video from their latest album release "Pop Tune" (Good Charamel 2012).

 The video is for the track "Ghost Train"  shot at The Osaka Pangea and Shibuya O-Nest in Japan, it was produced by by Mike Rogers and Ken Nishikawa. 

After a brief break from touring Shonen Knife returns to promoting the "Pop Tune" album with a European tour and an "Osaka Ramones" (their Ramones tribute alter ego) appearance in their hometown of Osaka.

Check out the new "Ghost Train" video  below ...

www.shonenknife.net

TV Watch: American Horror Story: Asylum

I'm so excited, and I'm not gonna hide it..."American Horror Story: Asylum" looks amazingly creepy, violent and scary, everything we horror fans loved about the first installment of the FX anthology series.

From the promo trailers and artwork to the cast of returning and new actors: Jessica Lange as a sadistic nun who runs the asylum anyone??? Are perfection!

Also I am excited to see Adam Levine as one half of the characters referred to as "The Lovers" as I am sure with a character moniker like that he will inherit the "Baring Your Booty" legacy of Dylan McDermott.

Seriously October 17th 10pm on FX can not come soon enough, in the meantime here are some of my favorite images and a clip thrown in for good measure - that are building my anticipation to a....fill in your own blank my fellow AHS fans and have a macabre Labor Day Weekend...Boo!

Sister Sadistic: Jessica Lange

Obligatory Hotttie: Adam Levine

I'll Be Your Nympho Tonight: Chloe Sevigny

http://www.fxnetworks.com/shows/originals/ahs/

Blaudzun: Extrapolates

MS: Extrapolate on “Solar”, your current song/video.

Blaudzun: Solar deals with a troubled love life obviously, the title was inspired by Ian McEwan’s novel.  But I try not to explain my songs too much because it deprives listeners of a first an honest chance to discover any meaning or story for themselves. 

This video was shot at locations world wide. It is 100% analogue and was filmed on 35mm with a LomoKino, a re-issue of an old camera from the Soviet Union. It’s directed by my dear friend David Douglas. The parts were you see me singing were shot in Barcelona (Spain).

MS: Do you love performing live?

Blaudzun: Yes I do love it a lot. Songs are meant to be played live in front of people, actually that’s the final stage of the writing process I guess. Songs don’t stop evolving after I recorded them. They continue to grow and change while singing them before an audience. A song is like a living being to me.

MS: Tell us about that rush.

Blaudzun:To be able to sing and to play with other musicians is what I like most. That’s the reason I don’t do solo performances that often. It’s great to create sound and musical layers with talented people and watch those faces in the crowd enjoy and reinforce the music coming from the stage.

MS: What song in your catalog best describes you?

Blaudzun: It depends on my mood I guess, but there’s no particular song that describes me best. Heavy Flowers (the album) as a whole is what I feel is me at this moment.

Discover Blaudzun at: www.blaudzun.com