Lopez Blogs

Alex Sparrow eller Alexey Vorobyov som han heter på ryska, är en mycket charmig, multitalangfull artist som bestämt sig för en internationell karriär. Jag är övertygad om att han kommer att lyckas. Redan nu är han storstjärna i Ryssland med 15 filmhuvudroller bakom sig, klassiskt skolad dragspelare, vinnare av X-Factor, 24 år och Rysslands representant i Eurovision Song Contest 2011.

Jag träffade killen i Amsterdam i samband med ’Eurovision In Concert’ evenemanget. Jag måste tillstå att jag föll pladask för hans personlighet som utstrålar något av ett naturbarns oskyldiga ärlighet. Tilläggas ska att någon vek sparv är han inte och 6-packen på magen lär krävas när han själv insisterar på att göra stuntscenerna i sina filmer.

Egentligen hade Alex inte tid för Eurovision i år eftersom han har fullt upp med att spela in ett nytt album i Los Angeles med och av RedOne. Dessutom skulle han ha huvudrollen i nya filmproduktioner men när ryska TV-kanalen C1R utsåg hans låt ”Get You” som bidrag i Düsseldorf sprack hela tidsschemat men det fanns ingen tanke på att säga nej till ESC. Att delta i ESC har varit en av Alex’ drömmar och han deltagit i Rysslands uttagning i två gånger tidigare.


Nu spenderar han en hel del av sin tid i Stockholm eftersom teamet bakom Alex är svenskt och låten ”Get You” är skriven av svensk- marockanen RedOne. ”Det är bara jag som inte är svensk på scenen. Dansare och backing vocals är alla svenskar”. Med andra ord kan Sverige stoltsera med två bidrag i årets Eurovision Song Contest. Det tycker Baronessa Katerina von Gechmen-Waldek, som är manager för Alex Sparrow.

Det har varit mycket skriverier i ryska medier om Alex Sparrow kontra Eric Saade. Man skulle kunna säga att det just nu pågår ett svenskt-ryskt utbyte. Alex jobbar med ett gäng svenskar inför ESC medan svenskarna använder sig av ryska scentricks. Det är Saades glasburstrick som Alex gjorde för ca tre år sedan i samband med en MTV-gala. Alex skattar och säger att han enbart är glad att Eric gör detta coola trick. ”Jag hoppas vi kan bli vänner och kanske kan jag använda Eric Saades duschtrick framöver. Det skulle vara nytt för mig”.


Inför Düsseldorf kommer ”Get You” att få ett nytt intro - för att ge låten lite rysk touch. I samband med intervjun visade Alex prov på sina dragspelstalanger och rev av ett minimedley av en rysk folksång och ”Get you”. Det kanske ger en försmak hur kommer att låta i maj.



PS: RedOne var också en av låtskrivarna till ”Dance Alone” med Love Generation som kom till Andra chansen i Melodifestivalen 2011. Där gick det som bekant inte lika bra.


Photos and videos are done in cooperation with Oikotimes, Radio International, Poplight

Mohombi's album "MoveMeant" is out to the world and to the moment of the release we've heard already half of tracks which were pretty amazing. Arrived part of new tracks hasn't spoiled impression at all. Warm Carrebean happines of "Love In America", Summerish clubby europop of "Say Jambo", melodic poppy mix of r'n'b and raggaetone of "Lovin", recognizable trumpets of RedOne pop in rhythmic pop of "Do Me Right" and even huge romantic ballad "Match Made In Heaven" in a vein of Avril/Leona "I Will Be". Whole album was produced by RedOne and it clearly feels that album was treated like beloved child, polished and filtered to make fantastic international debut for Mohombi. Recently Mohombi has become opening act for Enrique Iglesias in Montreal and also (a little bit personal) when I was few weeks ago in Paris I was really proud to hear French version of "Dirty Situation" on the radio in one of souvenirs shops, you can enjoy it below with album's tracklist.

Tracklist:
1. Bumpy Ride
2. Dirty Situation feat Akon
3. Coconut Tree feat Nicole Scherzinger
4. Love In America
5. Miss Me feat Nelly
6. Sex Your Body
7. Say jambo
8. Lovin
9. Do Me Right
10. Match Made In Heaven
11. Bumpy Ride feat Pitbull

Så har det första officiella genrepet klarats av under fredagskvällen. Utgången är mycket oviss och nästan alla är möjliga finalister eller andra chansare. Trist att det kommer att slås ut bidrag som är värdiga att gå vidare.

Förhandshypade Love Generation med låtskrivaren RedOne startar sist och maken till snyggare nummer får man leta efter. Kommer inte den här låten vidare så fattar jag absolut ingenting. Resten får fru-fortuna eller sms-rösterna avgöra. Om ambitionen är att Sverige åter igen ska hamna på Eurovision-kartan så kan man bara inte sumpa chansen som Lady Gaga producenten serverar oss. Till saken hör att tjej-gruppen kan sjunga och agera. Det är inte en taffligt ihopsatt kvartett som valts ut på grund av hårfärg eller annat.

Mer kommentarer är på kommande om alla låtar men fram tills dess kan ni höra min intervju med Linda Pritchard som ger mig och många andra östeuropeiska balladvibrationer. Vilken låt jag tänker på tänker jag inte avslöja just nu men jag kan t.o.m. se vissa likheter i utseendet. MEN Linda P är både snyggare och sjunger bättre och har en bättre låt.

Have we already got leaks for at least three or four Mohombi's albums?
Nothing official yet about even first of them that's planned to be released next year but leaks keep coming and here is another one.
"Top Notch" is demo recorded by Mohombi with Usher and produced by RedOne. Mohombi has already released singles with Nelly, Akon, Nicole Scherzinger on the way, and Usher is going to be another stunning point in Mohombi's portfolio attracting international audience to his person one more time. Comparing with previous singles, it's quite different, changing direction to more hip-hop in verses and coming with one of classic RedOne patterns in chorus, it's sitting deep down to your brain from the first listen but it's RedOne and it just can't be not catchy!

Mohombi right after promo-tour in Europe keeps touring in US promoting his fresh hit-stuff with hyper-active programme of visits to radiostations, clubs, etc. One of his stops was on AMP Radio where he gave big interesting interview and performed both of his last singles "Bumpy Ride" and "Miss Me" and future hit "Coconut Tree" that's gonna be released in duet with Nicole Scherzinger and produced by RedOne - due to acoustic performance it still contains warm summerish vibes of Mohombi music but more romantic and intimate that's going to make this duet amazing.

Mohombi - Bumpy Ride
Mohombi - Miss Me

Jenny Berggren who has just released yesterday her solo-album "My Story" visited XL-live with sweet acoustic performance of two album tracks - "Gotta Go" and "Give Me A Faith". Album's (that's all sort of brilliant) definitely caught audience interest on iTunes and right now really needs some more promotion so we hope to see more of Jenny in close time.

And another artist who has just presented new album is Anders Ekborg. After release of new album "Painted Dreams" he performed tracks from it in Nyhetsmorgon. Being one of the most respectable live performers of Swedish music no need to say performance was quite strong!

Anders Ekborg - I come unarmed
Anders Ekborg - Ensam i natten

Just like two months before I can't wait to share with you piece of new Love Generation's single "Good Times" planned for September. Currently it's performed live on different concerts by girls and it's the clearest sounding record I've found, at least you can understand what new song is about quite well.
Song starts from meditative guitar riff sample suddenly blasting with a loud driveous chorus "Everybody's looking for a good good times..." followed by haunting mystic verse, song actually sounds like a more mature sister of previous single "Love Generation" - more sexual, complicated but not less brilliant and catchy as hell!

Mohombi, first signed artist of new RedOne's label "2101 Records" has just released the video for one of the latest RedOnes's hits "Bumpy Ride".
It's a quite qualitative summer video containing all those things you can expect from summer video - ride through the forest, dance fights guys vs. girls, bikini jumping in sea waves, dances at the night open-air party and it all looks quite lovely, Mohombi surprises with a very well choreography. Enjoy!

Two weeeks ago I told you about summer hit Lazee provided with Mohombi - young and talented Swedish-Congolese artist and songwriter from RedOne's camp.
Now Mohombi presents his own brand new single "Bumpy Ride" - ultra-infectious and fresh sounding song mixing r'n'b-vibes, summer dance mood and mild melodic Mohombi's vocal. "Bumpy Ride" is produced by RedOne and it's already second case this year after Love Generation's debut single when RedOne's working with Swedish artists that's actually very pleasant. Don't forget to check another Mohombi's stuff (I love You, Letting Go), probably very soon whole world will be talking about this guy.

Finaly we've got ability to see future Swedish international pop-stars Love Generation closer in their debut video for the first single and what we get is expectedly absolutely loveable and showing these hot Swedish girls as very interesting and charming persons with quite unique personalities. Very qualitative video totally ready to promote project on international level making us wait for future promised album this year even more.

Jonas Altberg well-known as Basshunter being one of the biggest export-prides of Sweden doesn't need special presentation, that's why I'm gonna move right to news. Many artists these days goes RedOne sound and Basshunter isn't exception, it it good? I'm sure yes, Jonas extremely needs breaking his fixed music image and new single can really help him with it. Catchy repeating chorus, nice tune, expressive vocals and RedOne's beat sounds like really loveable formula! Don't forget also to check Digital Dog Remix, these guys keep brand of great remixers.

Fresh RedOne's project Love Generation that I've presented little earlier is officially out and it has already reached Top-10 on Swedish iTunes, girls say that their second single is ready but right now it's time for the first one.