Lopez Blogs

Continuing the discussion from Monday and how the onslaught of social media has changed the way pop careers are launched (and destroyed)... today it's a look at breaking down the barriers between fan and artist and how perhaps now more than ever fans can be intimately involved in the creation and launch of their hot new faves latest release. Many people have used this to their increasing advantage - for example, Simon Curtis built up a huge twitter following by offering free tracks once his twitter followers had reached certain levels. It worked and now 19,000 hang on his every word and eagerly await his next album. But there are other, more cost effective ways to encourage fan - let's see what one young English troubadour has up his sleeve...


I've written about Luke Leighfield a few times. His third album "Have You Got Heart?" (turns out I have) had me utterly enchanted. For those too lazy to click on the link for my review, it's essentially a giddy and enticing mixture of saucy Queen-esque guitar riffs, Billy Joel via Ben Folds piano chords, achingly memorable melodies and a sterling vocal delivery infused with passion and emotion from the singer himself. He's created these songs from scratch and worked extraordinarily hard to get them out there for public consumption and his love for music and melody shine through in each note, each nuanced vocal inflection, each bitingly relatable lyric. Added to this was my obsession with his Christmas single I'm So Confused By Christmas this festive season which made me resolve to be a better person. And it's insightful view of Christmas life would have fitted perfectly onto Have You Got Heart. If you haven't already heard that album you should really check it out now - follow Luke on twitter for details of how to purchase. And do so quickly because it's time to move on. Luke announced today that he is ready to record his next album, New Season. He's written the songs and he promises they will be amazing - i've no reason to doubt him, particularly if the song above (New Season with the We Heart Arts Band) is on the album. I mean, that song alone takes a driving beat, crashing cymbols, some wonderfully intricate piano work and guitar licks that make me tired and exhilarated watching them all at the same time. Sadly, Luke is out of money. I mean it takes time to be a full time musician, marketing yourself, making music and getting it out there. Bring on Project New Season. For an initial upfront investment of varying levels you can get everything a guaranteed copy of the cd to your own song to a show in your living room to Luke being at your general disposal for a day! You don't see Lady Gaga doing this! You can learn all about the different offers available by visiting this website AND watching this video. Viewing of the video is absolutely essential. It not only shows how utterly charming Luke actually is, but evidences thathe scrubs up well in a suit, demonstrates he has a great sense of humour and showcases his tres bon taste in music (there's a bit of Annie Lennox's Walking On Broken Glass as well as Vanessa Carlton's A Thousand Miles). Add to this a cheeky wink from his photographer, a full run down of products on offer and 10% of all money going to Christian Aid and you'll be whipping out your credit card and begging Luke to take your money. And quite rightly so. He's going places and you can help him get there. Now let's finish with his cover of the lovely Nerina Pallot's Real Late Starter which is equally as brillo as Joe McElderry's cover only in very different ways.

Indie-artist Andrea Kellerman more known as Firefox AK prepares her third album "Color The Trees" for release and the first single from it is "Boom Boom Boom" with new video directed by Robin Kempe Robinovich.
Firefox AK has recommended her with latest releases as artist performing in dark electronic but delicate music softened with her light vocal and gentle tunes. As absolute highlight of Firefox AK music I'd recommend you her collaboration with LAID on track "Once I was like you" from second Andrea's album "If I Were A Melody" - stunning club meditative trance-track that turned to be one of our favorite tracks of 2008. Another great electro-track I'd recommend you is "Winter rose" recorded with Tiger Lou.
New single keeps the line of dark melodic and stylish electro-tracks with lighter chorus but still hypnotizing atmosphere quite accessible for those who isn't into this sort of music too much. "Boom Boom Boom" is produced by Andreas Mattsson (Popsicle/Hello Saferide etc), Lasse Mårtén and Björn Yttling (from Peter Bjorn and John) who was responsible for some records of Robyn, Lykke Li, Anna Ternheim, Lisa Miskovsky and many others.

Boom Boom Boom (Martin Vogel Remix)
Boom Boom Boom (Boeoes Kaelstigen Remix)
Boom Boom Boom (James Curd Remix)
Boom Boom Boom (Coucheron Remix)

When whole world of legal music buyers waits for new Roxette's album to be released on February 11th hardcore fans already enjoy leaked full-length tracks on youtube and other sources. So if you can't wait for official release you can check some diamonds of new album already now (videos are getting deleted by EMI pretty fast so these videos can disappear already when you read it).
After reviewing earlier presented samples we actually don't change opinion about favorites. It's "Speak To Me" - dark atmospheric ballad with epic choruses in a style of "Wish i Could Fly", "Only When I Dream" - another beautiful pop-track with expressive choruses starting with old-school pop-rock Roxette exploding with heart-breaking choruses and more dynamic "Big Black Cadillac" with life-asserting beat and dynamite energy.

1. Way Out
2. No One Makes it on Her Own
3. She's Got Nothing on (But The Radio)
4. Speak to Me
5. I'm Glad You Called
6. Only when I Dream
7. Dream on
8. Big Black Cadillac
9. In My Own Way
10. After All
11. Happy on the Outside
12. Sitting on Top of the World

Well, guys, I've missed our daily MF-update only once and it's already whole pack of news, I need to share with you immediately.
Tomorrow press will listen to songs for the first time and we'll hear first reviews that I'll sure share with you in English. What if we have the winner in the first heat? Dilba? Danny? Le Kid? We can't say for sure but bookmakers already consider Le Kid and Danny as coming winners of semifinal! Like for example unibet.com

Aftonbladet readers take Danny as the biggest favorite though. Pernilla Andersson follows him.

You can also watch Danny rehearsing choreography with famous choreographer Nick Bass here.

By the way Pernilla is the next artist who has presented her single cover. Her re-release of the latest album "Ö" with competing single "Desperados" and 2 new songs will be released on February 28th. She considers Melodifestivalen as first of all opportunity to present new song in front of the big audience with stylish band, guitar and "Desperados" that she thinks is a real hit. Recently Pernilla appeared at Guldbaggegalan 2011 with 3 other popular indie-ladies of Swedish music - Marit Bergman, Rebecka Törnqvist and Titiyo performing Tim Hardin's Swedish cover of "If I were A Carpenter".

Another coming Melodifestivalen-release belongs to Melody Club, last week they performed two new songs "Sweet Disaster" and "Dreamers Wasteland" in XL-live sounding very nice in acoustic and should be even better in studio version on forthcoming band's album.

If you thought that Anniela is completely newcomer in schlagerland you're wrong. 7 years ago she participated in kids-show Super Troupers with Amy Diamond, Anna Bergendahl and Jonathan Fagerlund. The host of the show was not less than Charlotte Perrelli and among judges you could see Christer Björkman, Anniela's rival Shirley Clamp and Nina Inhammar from Friends. Anniela was singing Celine Dion's "The Power of Love" and pretty good for 14 years old girl I should say. Check yourself!

Expressen this year following example of already traditional Schlager-bible from Aftonbladet publishes its own special Schlager guide with Shirley, Sanna and Linda on the cover. You can check cover above and watch photoshooting with girls below, Shirley as always delivers loads of fun, though Linda too, above you can see her not the best photo from that session that unlikely will be published.

If you know Swedish well don't forget to check Telia's interviews with such schlager-stars like Eric Saade, Linda Pritchard, Swingfly, Julia Alvgard, Loreen, Melody Club, Sara Lumholdt, Sara Varga and Simon Forsberg here.

And I'm leaving you with opening act of this year Dilba performing her latest single mix of her old hit "I'm Sorry" on SVT. Isn't it proof that girl can sing dance music not less amazing than she used to sing her soul-music.