Checking In With: Grace V. "Don't Wanna Be Waiting"

Grace V.

I first encountered Grace V. (the V. stands for Valerie) via an interview request from Project Publicity for the music site I write for, Chorus and Verse.

Every person I interview is uncharted territory until you have been there. Grace V. turned out to be a delightful intelligent woman who, in my book loves to do the most important thing in life, laugh...!

Here is the link to my full length interview with her for her first hit single "When The Lights Go Down" where she looked like a cute spandex mummy in the video.

http://www.chorusandverse.com/content.php?id=20110607A

Grace has been very busy since and has a new single and video out, now, called "Don't Wanna Be Waiting" let's "Check In" with the effervescent Grace Valerie!

MS: Hello gorgeous what have you been up to of late? 

GV: "I've been very busy lately promoting my new single "Don't Wanna Be Waiting". It is also produced by the one and only Randy Jackson! I just got back from NYC where I did a lot of press and radio appearances. I also had an amazing show in Connecticut at Sin City in Jan. I am gonna have few shows in LA in Feb-March".

MS: Initiate the unfamiliar with your music please.

GV: "I think my music is sensual, dancy, fun, very pure. I only sing what is dear to my heart; you want to drive your car and sing along with my songs very very LOUD. It is just awesome! I am very passionate about my craft. And I love to enjoy my life to the fullest"

MS: Chat about your music video.

GV: "My music video is exclusively released today on MTV logo. Tomorrow we are gonna upload it to my YouTube channel and I hope we can beat my "When The Lights Go Down" record!

MS: Do you have a motto? Most artist have a motto, tell us yours.

GV: "I recently found a great quote in The Bible: "For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under Heaven. A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance." That's my MOTTO"

Check out the lyric video for the song, "Don't Wanna Be Waiting"...

Grace is the word at: http://www.gracevalerie.com/

Check out the official video for "Don't Wanna Be Waiting" at: http://www.newnownext.com/grace-v-dont-wanna-be-waiting/01/2013/

The Strange Familiar + "Pretty Little Liars" = An Awesome 2013...!

The Strange Familiar

After having their haunting hit song "Unwanted" featured on one of my favorite shows "Pretty Little Liars" last year, one of my favorite bands The Strange Familiar is back on the show with "Alibi", "Unwanted", and "Runaway Heart" on Season 3 of Pretty Little Liars on January 29, February 12, and March 12 episodes.

The songs are taken from their debut album "Chasing Shadows" - as a huge fan of both this  news is rockin' ! 

Last nights episode featured "Alibi" which is sure be be another hit for TSF.

I checked in with my friend and lead singer for the band Kira Leyden Andrea and asked her to give a shout out to all of you PLL and TSF fans as to what five things she wishes all of you in 2013.

Pretty Little Liars

Take it away Kira....!

1) Love - what's life without love? Love for our families, friends, our significant other, God, for all those who need compassion and a heping hand, and love for life!

2) Health - we often take the little things for granted - like being able to get out of bed in the morning - to see the sun rise - to share a meal with friends and family. But when things like these are taken away, we realize they are not so little after all. I wish for everyone to be blessed with good health of mind, body and spirit in 2013.

3) Peace - I know it may sound like a cliche pageant answer, but I wish for peace in 2013. Peace of mind - peace in our families, peace in our nation, peace between all nations.

4) Laughter - life can be heavy, so I wish that laughter will help lift everyone up in 2013.

5) Hope - for everyone going through a tough time, for anyone in pain... We all have our struggles, but hope is what keeps us going.

Thanks Kira for your well wishes to everyone....and being part of a band and a show that makes 2013 an already better year than 2012.

Turn and face the strange: http://thestrangefamiliar.com/

Liars are pretty: http://prettylittleliars.alloyentertainment.com/

Paul V. "Born This Way"

Paul V. "Born This Way"

"I'm beautiful in my way, 'Cause God makes no mistakes,I'm on the right track baby,I was born this way. Don't hide yourself in regret,Just love yourself and you're set,I'm on the right track baby.....I was born this way" Born This Way - Lady Gaga

Hey Mr. DJ put a book on...well OK that is not what a DJ usually does, but in this case DJ Paul V. has, put a book out.  

Paul  Vitagliano (in case you haven't guessed that's what the "V" stands for) has written a book.

"Born This Way: Real Stories of Growing Up Gay" (Quirk Books; $14.95; October 9, 2012) is 
a collection of adorable childhood photographs accompanied by sweet, funny, and at times 

heartbreaking personal stories of those who grew up LGBTQ. Based on the popular blog of 

the same name, Born This Way is a celebration of growing up gay, childhood, and 

community history and awareness.

With some notable celebrity stories included as well: Congressman Barney Frank,blogger Perez Hilton, Erasure's Andy Bell, columnist Michael Musto,composer Marc Shaiman, radio host Frank DeCaro, singer Sia,and drag superstars Jackie Beat, Coco Peru, and Sutan Amrull(aka Raja, Season 3 winner of Ru Paul's Drag Race).

So what does Mr. Vitagliano have to say about all this?

"I'm really proud of this project, and the connection I hope it brings to both kids (gay and straight alike) and parents - who especially need to be aware of what our experiences are/were like. And more importantly, to put the message out there that gay kids need their parents' unconditional love and support"

And proud he should be, with wonderful reviews and great support from the LGBTQ Community Paul has plenty to be happy about, hey, he was "Born This Way".

Check out the groovy trailer for the book below....

To get a copy of "Born This Way" go to: http://bit.ly/WSSGGT

Follow Paul V. on his BTW (Born This Way, not By The Way) blog at: http://www.BornThisWayBlog.com

Running With "Scissor Sisters"

Scissor Sisters: Live in Victoria Park - London 2011 on DVD Feb 19   Brand new concert from London's Lovebox Festival,  released for the first time ever on DVD!   According to the Chinese New Year, 2013 is my year! Yes I am the year of the snake.....woot! So how fitting that this year would give birth to the release of a concert DVD from one of the best bands I have ever seen live, because like tits, you can not see the Scissor Sisters on the radio either! Here they come on DVD, are you ready?! Scissor Sisters: Live in Victoria Park! Yep, it's going to be a great 2013! The Scissor Sisters certainly need no introduction, having toured around the world, collaborated with the likes of Elton John and Kylie Minogue and sold millions of albums. Bono from U2 describes the band as "the best pop group in the world." Every one of their 4 albums reached the top 5 in the UK charts, with their first two albums making the #1 spot. Their most commercially successful single, I Don't Feel Like Dancin' (2006), charted at #1 in the UK and throughout Europe. They have released 18 singles to date. This brand new DVD contains the stunningly electrifying performance from the Scissor Sisters at Victoria Park in London, on 17 July 2011. Colourful and glitzy as ever, the New York outfit who brought garish costumes and twisted disco sounds to the capital, fully embraced the weekend's flamboyant spirit. Tracks: Night Work Any Which Way  Laura  Take Your Mama  Kiss You Off  Fire with Fire  Comfortably Numb  Paul McCartney  Filthy / Gorgeous  I Don't Feel Like Dancin'  Invisible Light Bonus Tracks: Harder You Get  Running Out Cut me gently with a "Scissor Sister" at: http://www.scissorsisters.com/

Pop Princess Shara Strand "Gets Random"

Pop Princess Shara Strand claimed her territory with the release of her EP "Born Tonight" the title coming from a verse of the Rosanne Cash song "Seven Year Ache" which Shara does a wonderful cover of on the disc.

Also on the EP is Shara's hit single "Jekyll or Hyde" the song is so popular that coming Tuesday, January 22nd a disc of re-mixes is dropping, yes including dance ones.

Shara dropped by "Entertain Me" to respond to 10 Random Things I tossed out to her, let's see what she said in return...


1. Born Tonight:  My debut EP everyone that has something for everyone! OUT NOW! 



2. Make-over:  Shara Makeup Studio at The Pierre Hotel in the Dominique Salon will have you looking and feeling INCREDIBLE! 


3. Showtime at the Apollo:  Still nervous thinking about doing that show. The producer literally had to push me on stage! But, the scary clown man never came out and I rocked it!


4. Get Here:  Oldie but goodie. I performed this on Showtime at The Apollo.

5. Re-mixes:  Jekyll or Hyde remixes out Jan 22nd. D1 Music, Mike Rizzo, Paul Goodyear, and Wayne Numan ALL did their thaaang!!


6. Treble Clef:  I've always hated music theory  BLECH!


7. Broadway:  My real schooling for everything thats evolving in music.


8. Whiskers on Kittens:  I played Liesl, and I never had so much fun doing a show!


9. Pop Princess:  Honored, humbled, and excited every time I hear "pop princess" in the same sentence as my name!!


10. Jekyll or Hyde:  Wahoo! Touring starts NEXT WEEK!


Keep up with Shara and check out her tour dates at: http://www.sharastrand.com/

Marie Parie: 5 "Beautiful" Things

"Alien" Marie Parie is back. The Parisian pop artist has called the United States home since 2005. Her background gives her music a unique take on American society.

Bewildered with "Dating" she now delivers her personal take on beauty in the world with her new single "Beautiful".

Marie has appeared on "Entertain Me" before and I also did a full length interview with her which you can read at "Chorus and Verse" http://www.chorusandverse.com/content.php?id=20121005A

Here to list 5 "Beautiful" Things is Ms. Marie Parie...!

1. The innocence of a child

2. The simplicity of nature that made us to a perfection, no matter what our judgment is

3. The love that bind all of us as one connectedness. never goes away no matter what chaos we caused to nature

4. The brain to understand one another

5. The heart to forgive what our brain can't explain


"Beautiful" is a journey to innocence “back to childhood, children and the inner child”. When we lose the innocence, we lose ourselves.  We are all here, and we all make theories to what make us real or not real, or what makes us human or non human “I  personally believe I’m an alien, ”, and we try to extract the truth in all that. Well, in all what we are, perceive, touch or feel; there’s beauty" - Marie Parie 

Make it a  "Beautiful" day and give Marie's music a listen on her Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/MarieParieMusic

Or visit an alien world at: http://www.mariepariemusic.com/

Pentatonix: "Thrift Shop," Tour & Larry King

Do those PTX'ers ever take a break?! Judging by the fact that they have a new video and song cover out of Macklemore's "Thrift Shop" the answer is obviously a resounding "No".

Also this week the group will be appearing Thursday January 17th on the 100th episode of "Larry King Now".

Oh and on top of that, they are on tour as well...I will see all of you Los Angeles PTX fans at The Henry Fonda on Thursday January 24th, I can't wait...!

Let's go to the "Thrift Shop" shall we?

PTX: http://www.ptxofficial.com/