Wake Up Hollywood

Nikhil Korula

Bio: 

Classically trained in voice from the age of 5, Nikhil Korula first lent his dulcet tones to sing with the likes of opera giants such as Placido Domingo and pop stars Barry Manilow and the late Luther Vandross. As a boy soprano, Korula performed at Carnegie Hall by the age of 10 and also sang for one of Danny Elfman's first film scores. In 1990, Nikhil Korula performed at the 32nd Annual Grammy® Awards with Mike and the Mechanics, sharing the stage on that fateful night with legends, Ray Charles, Miles Davis & Don Henley to name a few. However, after graduating from the USC Thornton School of Music with a Bachelor's Degree in Operatic Vocal Performance, his creative talents drew him to the intense world of songwriting, jazz and improvisation which led to his playing many acoustic sets throughout Los Angeles. This experience in turn helped him to collaborate with some of the city's finest jazz musicians to form the Nikhil Korula Band (NK Band).

Due to its ever-increasing fan following, this vibrant musical act has traveled all over the globe playing festivals such as BONNAROO (2008 & 2009), PLAYBOY JAZZ FESTIVAL (2011) & SUMMERFEST (2007-2014), gathering worldwide attention one fan at a time. Blending the sounds of calypso, rock, reggae, African and Latin grooves, this unique sextet infuses extraordinary musicianship with irresistible dance jams, a combination that has led the NIKHL KORULA BAND to open for such esteemed artists as Dave Matthews Band, Jason Mraz, John Mayer, The Roots, Erykah Badu, Ben Harper, Ray Lamontagne and countless others while also headlining venues like the House of Blues and performing at the Apollo Theater. With dedicated fans, exceptional live shows, and consistently strong songwriting, the Nikhil Korula Band continues to have a remarkable effect and amazing impact on audiences globally. Please visit www.nkband.com for more information!
grooveinfiniti@hotmail.com

Eddie Pence

Bio: 

Originally from Virginia, Eddie Pence now resides in Los Angeles. Currently co-hosting "The Steel Chair Slamcast" on the TradioV.com network and "The RAW After Show" on Afterbuzz TV, the "Hollywood Reporter" named Eddie Pence one of the Top New Faces of the Montreal Comedy Festival, where he was also invited back for repeat performances. Eddie was also invited to the HBO Aspen Comedy Arts Festival as well as HBO's "The Comedy Festival" in Las Vegas. Eddie was a finalist in the Seattle International Comedy Competition, as well as a semi-finalist at the Boston Comedy Competition.

A favorite of the World Famous Improv, Eddie can be seen at clubs and colleges across the country. His credits include Comedy Centrals "Live at Gotham" and "Crossballs", "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson", "Red Eye w/ Greg Gutfield" on Fox News, "History of the Joke" and "Surviving The Holidays w/ Lewis Black" on The History Channel as well as appearing in the "Last Comic Driving" campaign on NBC.
epence17@aol.com

Show Time: 
Tuesday 8:00PM - 8:59PM
(PST)
Show Description: 

The hosts of Wake Up Hollywood Nikhil Korula and Eddie Pence have toured across the country, played to some of the biggest crowds around and know all the right questions to ask these new artists that they hand pick for each week’s show. The best part is none of this radio show is scripted and these guys know what it takes to succeed in the industry and have been good friends for years so you can count on leaving the show with a laugh, a good song or a conversation that will make you think.

Listen to Nikhil & Eddie Live
Tuesdays at 8:00PM (PST)

Show Archives

March 2024

03/12/2024
Melissa Polinar first embarked on her journey when the industry was evolving into something new with the digital age. Many of her first steps forward as a singer-songwriter were in large part thanks to YouTube at its beginning. She bubbled to the top of the website’s music category with a collection of original songs, which instantly set her apart from most other curators who are more known for covers of pop music. Self-penned songs like “Try” and “Meant to Be” solidified her presence on YouTube not just as a singer, but an authentic songwriter known for her artistic poise and lyrical sincerity. It was during the formidable years between her YouTube videos and her extensive songwriting experience at a young age in Nashville when she began to fit into her shoes evolving to the artist that she is today. As the old industry further gave way to the social media era, she was able to reach more of an audience with her work than had arguably ever been available for Asian-American artists before. Polinar put a face and a voice to rising artists worldwide from the early stages of her career onward - thanks to her Internet presence and grassroots approach. In March of 2017, these events culminated into a spotlight for Polinar at SXSW (South by Southwest) in its first official Asian-American showcase put on by the LA-based nonprofit Kollaboration. Throughout her career, Polinar has gained the respect and recognition of several recognizable artists for her unique soulful vocals, heart-bearing lyrical content, and passionate musicianship. These include many other respected singer-songwriters like Jeremy Passion, Ernie Halter, Tony Lucca, and Matt Cusson. Each of one of them collaborated and were featured on 2014’s Calls & Echoes. Polinar’s first full-length album, it was produced by David Ryan Harris, Jesse Barrera, and Josiah Bell. She has also been praised by Grammy Award winners like Questlove (The Roots), Mark Kibble (Take 6), and India.Arie, the last of which was also a collaborator on Polinar’s latest project, Rise At Eventide. Funded by fans via PledgeMusic and independently released worldwide April 2017, Rise At Eventide is a testament to the experience Polinar has gained throughout her long-running career. Listeners are drawn to Polinar’s cover of Sting’s “Fragile” featuring India.Arie on the project. The two singers draw out a soul from one another that is impressive even by their vocal standards. “Fragile” is just the song for Polinar and her Grammy-winning collaborator to fully deliver the kind of swagger that they can draw out of one another. Given that Polinar has received praise for her music from India.Arie for the past several years, it also marks a time for the two longtime fans of each other’s art to respectfully make art together. Rise At Eventide showcases the original music that Polinar has always been best known for. She takes the musical blend of genres ranging from soul to blues and folk that her long-time fans always appreciated in her work and sets it to themes that embrace love, reflection, and self-empowerment. Completing the breezy and reflective nature of Rise At Eventide is the artful direction taken with producing and mixing by Polinar’s longtime friend and collaborator, Jesse Barrera. Polinar also exhibits her production capabilities on co-producing the track “Lost Balloon” which was co-written with Adam Levy (Norah Jones, Tracy Chapman). ​ Previous works released by Polinar include Live at Room 5 Sessions (2015), As of Now (2010), and Bandcamp releases of her YouTube originals and covers. Outside of writing, performing, and producing her own art, Polinar has contributed her talents across multiple albums by other artists.

February 2024

02/27/2024
Professional dancer and choreographer Adarsh Satish strives to help dancers develop their passion for dance throughout the US. The California native has worked with Singer-Songwriter and Award winning actress, Keke Palmer, Desi-Hip Hop artists Lilly Singh, Mickey Singh, Arjun, Bohemia, Diljit Dosanjh and more. Trained in Hip Hop, Bollywood and Bollyhop, Satish specializes in Popping, gliding, grooves, tutting, and House dance—and has been featured in national commercial campaigns for The NBA, Starry Lemon Lime, Tumble and more. Adarsh Satish is represented by Movement Talent Agency and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the University of California, Riverside, and is currently attending California College of ASU for his BFA in Film and Television
02/13/2024
International entertainer, Grammy nominated Singer and songwriter Sarah Daye is a triple threat artist who has toured Internationally from Canada, Sth East Asia to the US successfully over a decade featuring and performing her soulful originals as well as favorites in several genres including; Pop, soul, r&b, funk, jazz, house music, classic favorites, Edm and she's even performed rock hits on major Vegas stages as you'll see. Sarah comes from a musical background raised with her father serenading her along her bedside. She was definitely influenced by both patents and their love for music with an incredible Motown classic record collection as well. Sarah danced and sang through out her childhood to Prince, Micheal Jackson, Madonna, Barry White, Stevie, Barbara Streisand & the list goes on. Eventually she auditioned and was accepted to study at Toronto’s top private musical theatre college in Toronto, Canada where Sarah was born and raised with much culture and richness in a very diverse community. Lady Daye has produced and musically directed hundreds of live shows Internationally since from Canada, to Asia and to the United States now based in LA on her fourth visa as an extraordinary singer songwriter. Being endorsed by many of the pros in the music entertainment business. Including the great; Wayne Vaughn, Chuckii Booker, Narada Micheal Walden, Kevin Flounoy, Kevin Dorsey and Fabian Cooke to name a few. A truly amazing group with incredible accolades, who have truly come through and shown up for Sarah which speaks of her work ethic. Until this day, they all have been supporting her career in several wonderful ways professionally collaborating on current music projects as well. She is grateful! Sarah has a very interesting background to say the least, starting off as a professional dancer first, studying at a few dance schools including "Randolph School of the Performing Arts College". A true triple threat program. Sarah instantly was encouraged by Canada’s top casting directors to focus on her voice primarily as it was unique and clearly a major strength. With disciplines such as Ballet, jazz & tap under her belt, Sarah later took an interest in hiphop, and Latin styles which ended up being two of her favorite styles she flourished in. Daye during 1 st yr of college got invited to audition & was accepted to dance with one of Canada's first top professional hiphop dance companies called "Dodat" which she was apart of for several years working alongside now incredible Choreographer to the stars ‘Luther Brown’. (Janet, Justin Timberlake, Megan Stallion & Coachella, Diddy, Mart J, So you think you can dance judge, and the list goes on..) Sarah has been hands on with her career managing herself thus far. From writing and negotiating contracts, arranging hundreds of shows with multiple bands, producing and musically directing shows, choosing venues, performing private celebrity concerts opening up locally in LA and Internationally for many greats, top charity and major brand events, honoring royalty families, local and International night clubs, celebrity stages like R&B Live Hollywood, The Jamie Foxx Show at LA Live; The Conga Room as a frequent favorite. Not to mentioned, The years of features, festivals around LA and performing, hanging with many greats like Bruno Mars, Andra Day, opening for Teena Marie, Mario, Ray J, Mario and gracing the stage several times with Hollywood actor musician great Jeff Goldbloom in Hollywood too. Sarah has had successful regular residencies such as her nine month stint featuring at The Beverly Hills hotel with her Daye Dream Team band, to singing at the Pasadena Jazz Institute where she started her "Sexy Soul Sessions" in LA first. A showcase residency Daye produced Internationally from ‘Cafe Was’ Hollywood, to Seventy7Lounge in Culver City over 6yrs with her band successfully. The same successful show Sarah took to "Kudeta" in ‘Bali’ Indonesia twice while touring. And the list goes on. She's been busy. This incredible musical journey has taken Sarah many places far and wide, experiencing so many great opportunities including singing with Andra Day opening for Lenny Kravitz in LA at the Greek theater. And her latest Vegas features two years in a row fronting as lead singer for "The Kevin Eubanks band" at T-Mobile Arena for 40,000 +. An annual Microsoft production. This was a blessed referral Daye got from years headlining at The West Adam’s Avenue Jazz music festival in LA with her band. Other great artists Daye has open up for include; Jill Scott & Mos Def at Canada's Urban Musical Festival, Jose Padilla of 'Cafe Del Mar' & Dj Ravin 'Buddah Bar' in KL, As well as Dj Bert Bevans (Studio 54 original Dj) at Zouk ‘Velvet Underground’ in KL. An awesome residency Daye had in Malaysia where she shared a night featuring headlining in the room next to 'Black Eyed Peas' one night, getting to meet and mingles with them too. One highlight Sarah still speaks of was being invited to share the stage and sing 'My Prerogative' with the legendary “Bobby Brown” and Ralph Tresvant from 'New Eddition' for Bobby Browns 40th Birthday @ R&B Live Hollywood on the Cinespace stage, after featuring and opening up for him. Introduced by Magic Johnson who was hosting the evening. All this happened in front of a star studded room of A list artists Including Queen Latifah, Teena Marie, Bone thugs in harmony , Jon B and many more. Simply amazing memories and an opportunity Sarah doesn’t take lightly. Sarah was invited to be a featured Singer songwriter to be published in a book and later music soundtrack opportunity with five time Grammy producer to the stars in which she was featured with a four page spread sharing her story about being a singer songwriter in Hollywood. The book & soundtrack "Sheet Music : The Diary of a Songwriter" was recorded months in the legendary Henson studios in Hollywood where Sarah was a big part of it. The album book launch and production was premiered at "Avalon" in Hollywood. They opened with "St. Beauty" Janell Monet's group. And soon after became Grammy Nomination for the incredible works of the Soundtrack. Now most currently, Sarah's latest project out is Daye's exciting new single "Catch Me (If I fall)" a fantastic fierce collaboration with the legendary producer, songwriter and musical director to the stars "Chuckii Booker". Some of her best writing and recording yet. The songs available now on all platforms. Go get it! Stay tuned for more. She has a few more planned with Chuckii & is currently mixing the next single "Alright" co-written with William 'Papa Lee'. And, completing another with the one and only Narada Micheal Walden as well who wrote produced many hits with Whitney and many other legends. Daye is in her prime and ready to bring it this year most definitely. Her tenacity is undeniable & she's a driving force as you can see. The momentum is building. Stay close to see what's brewing! Many eggs in some magical baskets. She's been grinding and very focused on the prize. Watch her rise! Visit: www.SarahDaye.com Follow all social media links & enjoy new Daye music. Including the new sexy hott single mentored above. A soulful vibe bringin' back the love makin' music to feed your souls; "Catch Me (If I fall)" is a vibe on its own. And a must have on your lovers slow jam playlist y'all. If you like soulful house vibes and vocals. Check out Sarah's single "Love don’t Lie” which was signed to Quantize recordings and came out on the 2020 Miami sampler, which has had some sweet success making it to #1 on the soulful house album chart on Traxsource as well as top 3 & 5 in other categories. It's a great album overall with many legit household names. For the holiday's don't miss the Cali “Christmas” Daye classic “85@Christmas” which Lady Daye wrote with her writing partner William Lee Hanford JR. The songs been airing on the Woman of substance #1 iTunes podcast years for their Holiday Christmas playlist along with a variety of Sarah’s originals found on her website. Enjoy! Any inquiries please email: BookingSarahDaye@gmail.com Lastly, "The DAYE Dream EP" being produced by Grammy Award Winning Drummer and Sarah's MD “Stacey Lamont Sydnor” and Sarah Daye featuring her dream team band is almost complete. Just the final vocals, mixing and mastering. Stay tuned dreamers. She is just getting her mojo going! Keep close. It's #DayeTime She ain't playing. Lady Daye is making dreams her reality!
02/06/2024
Alessandro Gentile is an award-winning director and cinematographer. His short film “Lodo” had its World Premiere at the Santa Barbara Int’l Film Festival in 2022 and has won five awards to date, including the Tim Burton Visionary Award for directing at the Burbank Int’l Film Festival. Most recently, Gentile participated as a cinematographer on the award-winning feature film, “Moon Garden” now screening in select theaters in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Gentile’s “Della” short film is currently in post-production. In 2012, Gentile shot the television pilot for the Emmy Award-winning series “Schitt’s Creek.” In 2014, he co-founded the Highland Park Independent Film Festival. In 2020, Gentile was acknowledged at the Brazil Int’l Independent Film Festival by receiving a Best Cinematography award for his cinematography work on the feature film “Trade” and has garnered two Telly Awards for innovation in youth education. In the commercial world, Gentile has provided services to corporate clients such as Microsoft, BMW and Acura. He has a bachelor’s degree in Film Studies from UC Santa Barbara and studied cinematography at UCLA.

January 2024

01/30/2024
Nikhil Korula 9:22 AM (7 hours ago) to me, Sam Bio and there will be no links, today. NK ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Behzad Dabu Date: Mon, Jan 29, 2024 at 9:07 PM Subject: behzad bio To: "Behzad Dabu is an actor, producer, and writer based in Los Angeles. He grew up in Syracuse, NY and got his BFA in Acting from Columbia College Chicago, where he also worked after college as the Senior International Admissions Officer; traveling all over the world working with students and their families on creating careers in the arts. He has worked extensively on stage at some of the best theaters in the country, especially in Chicago and LA, and is a proud company member at TimeLine Theatre Company which presents stories inspired by history that connect with today’s social and political issues. With a passion for working with playwrights and new play development, he originated the role of 'Amit' in "Samsara" at Victory Gardens Theatre, for which he was nominated for a Jeff Award - Best Actor. He also originated the role of 'Abe' in the Pulitzer Prize-winning and Tony-nominated play, "Disgraced" which he performed at American Theatre Company, Goodman Theatre, Berkeley Repertory, Seattle Repertory, and the Mark Taper Forum at Center Theatre Group. On screen, you can see him as 'Simon Drake' on Seasons 3 and 4 of How To Get Away With Murder on ABC, as 'Amir' on the Showtime series The Chi, and on Disney’s The Lion Guard. He also appeared in episodes of The Good Place, All Rise, Chicago P.D., Drive Share, You're So Talented, Dealbreakers; and in the films Mirage, Star Vehicle, Weathering, Pick Up, Hoop, King Rat, Imperfections; as well as various audiobooks, podcasts, and national commercials. Behzad is the Director of Acting for Hillman Grad, a faculty member at Last Acting Studio, and the Acting Coach for the TV series The CHI. He strives to be a strong advocate in regards to representation in the arts and media; and is a founding member of The Chicago Inclusion Project, which seeks to level the playing field and provide resources in the arts for people of color, women, LGBTQ+, and people with disabilities. He is a skilled audience engagement facilitator and experienced post-show discussion leader. behzaddabu.com -- www.behzaddabu.com Instagram: @behzaddabu
01/23/2024
Kabir Chopra is a South Asian filmmaker and actor who loves romantic comedies, often inspired by his own dating failures. He studied dramatic writing at NYU Tisch and created the award-winning comedy web series SWIPED TO DEATH, which explores the messy realities of online dating in New York. As an actor, Kabir has appeared in MADAM SECRETARY (CBS), AMERICANISH (Sony Pictures) and DEFINITION PLEASE (Netflix). When he's not writing, Kabir can be found telling awful dad jokes on TikTok. He currently resides in Los Angeles where he is still searching for the perfect bagel. kabir@kabirchopra.com www.kabirchopra.com
01/16/2024
Avi Castellanos is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter and producer. His music is a mix between atmospheric indie pop, rock, folk, electronic and R&B. His music can be defined as ‘psychological pop’ music, in which he lyrically discusses topics such as self-discovery, self-reflection, finding inner strength and processing tumultuous moments throughout life with a cinematic and dreamy sonic landscape. He views himself as a musical chameleon. He loves to blend and absorb so many different types of music and constantly strives to reveal different layers of himself as an artist. His influences include artists such as Lana Del Rey, Gregory Alan Isakov, Kehlani, Pink Floyd, Bon Iver, James Blake and London Grammar. Instagram: @avicastellanosmusic_
01/09/2024
Mahesh Kotagi is a pharmacist turned stand-up comedian, actor, and screenwriter. He has been featured on Netflix is a joke radio and co-produces the underground comedy show Combover - in a hip barber shop in Queens NY, which was featured in the NY Comedy Festival. Instagram @maheshkotagi TikTok @maheshkotagicomedy Web: www.maheshkotagi.com
01/02/2024
Mayank Deogaonkar is an award winning South Asian American filmmaker with a diverse background. Originally born in India, he has been raised in the United Kingdom, and the United States. This upbringing has made him appreciate the multifaceted and diverse world we live in. As such, he strives to tell stories that discuss the struggles and obstacles faced by an immigrant abroad. Mayank has worked as a writer, director, and video editor on multiple projects. In 2021, he has won Best Script for American’t at the New York Cinema Awards. In 2023 his debut short Butterscotch garnered two awards for Best Short Drama at the Indian Film Festival of Cincinatti and Best International Short Film at Yellowstone International Film Festival. Mayank recently began M.A.D. House Entertainment Limited with a goal of expanding the opportunities for South Asian filmmakers based in the US.

December 2023

12/19/2023
Jeffrey Henderson An accomplished storyboard and development artist, Jeffrey’s career has included a wide- ranging assortment of feature film, television, video game, VR, animation and comic book projects. Major film credits include: Black Adam, Ms. Marvel, Christopher Robin, Inception, Twilight: Eclipse and After Earth, to name just a few. He also worked with Sam Raimi on a number of film projects, including Spider-Man 3 & 4, World of Warcraft and OZ, The Great and Powerful. Television credits include The Boys with Dan Trachtenberg and the critically-acclaimed Fargo for creator Noah Hawley. Henderson has also contributed to a number of high profile video game titles, including Injustice 2, Fallout ’76, Destiny, Dishonored 2 and was also a principal storyboard and conceptual artist on the TRANSFORMERS 3D attraction for Universal Studios. He’s lectured and taught courses on storyboarding/ visual storytelling/ film direction at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA, The Savannah College of Art & Design/SCAD, as well as The University of the Nations in Kona, Hawaii. As an actor/ voice over artist (SAG/ AFTRA), and a successful singer/ songwriter (ASCAP), he's contributed vocal performances, songs and music to a number of film, TV and video game projects as well. He had a deal with MCA before he moved to LA while moving here from Vegas, where we were based and got signed out of and eventually recorded with Sylvia Massey, who worked with Tool, System of a Down and Prince, to name a few. As a filmmaker, his short film, Star Wars: The Sable Corsair, won the "Audience Choice" at the 2016 LucasFilm Fan Film Awards. It's a project that saw him taking on multiple roles: director, lead actor, screenwriter, producer, storyboard artist, art director and post- supervisor. You can find Jeffrey online at planethenderson.com, on social media as @planethenderson, and find his online T-Shirt/ Print shop at: PlanetHenderson.Threadless.com
12/12/2023
Eric Bradley (born December 10, 1970) is a Los Angeles-based guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He is lead vocalist and guitarist in the band The Young Royals and currently serves as the guitarist and backup vocalist for the band Levinhurst. He graduated from William Fremd High School in 1989. In 2003 Bradley reformed the band Melt with Comes with the Fall bassist Adam Stanger and drummer Josh Howser; they were later joined by second guitarist Jason Saracco.[1] Melt released a five-track EP titled Color the Sky in 2005[1][2] before changing their name to The Young Royals in 2007.[1] Their debut album Day of Truths came out later that year.[1][3] As of 2012, The Young Royals have undergone some lineup changes with Shane Soloski and Eric Leiderman respectively on bass and drums and released a new five-track EP called Prelude to A Good Heavy. In addition to fronting The Young Royals, Bradley also serves as the guitarist and backup vocalist for Levinhurst, an independent musical project that blends the surnames of vocalist Cindy Levinson and her husband Lol Tolhurst, former drummer and keyboardist for The Cure. Bradley first appeared on their second album House by the Sea, on which he also plays bass guitar, released in 2007. They were later joined by Michael Dempsey, another founding member of The Cure, and released a third album in 2009 called Blue Star. Eric provided touring in support of Alice in Chains guitarist Jerry Cantrell. In 2009 Alice in Chains released Black Gives Way to Blue, their first album in 14 years; Jerry Cantrell listed Bradley among the many people he wished to thank within the liner notes. Instagram: @ebiz12
12/05/2023
Cameron has performed and recorded with members of Prince, Led Zeppelin, David Bowie, Janes’s Addiction, and The Knack. Selected studio sessions include filmmaker David Lynch, Gino Vannelli, remix albums by Frank Sinatra and Johnny Cash; the latter which was produced by Snoop Dogg. Various composing / songwriting credits include TV’s General Hospital and Nashville. His latest 2023 release is “LOVE EVERYBODY” produced by Tucker Martine; featuring Brian Blade and Tim Lefebvre. Available at cmosounds.com A relocation to Portland in 2008 enabled a reprieve from the music industry grind of LA / NYC and turned his attention to releasing musical effects accessories as part of Jack Deville Electronics and to continue consulting with other companies to improve their products. Continuing on this path, Zashabuti was launched in 2019 with the ZAMP hitting stores in December 2023. zashabuti.com In his spare time he also runs Eclectic Sounds - a music store / record store in North Portland. eclsounds.com

November 2023

11/28/2023
Michael Kim-Sheng is a producer and composer between musical worlds. Born into a musical family, he started piano lessons at the age of 4. The music of Chopin and Debussy was always playing in the background at home, and it continues to resonate in his compositional voice. As a teenager, his friends introduced him to new genres of music, and he was driven to learn electric guitar, drums, and sound recording. His musical work is a meeting between these backgrounds, falling between classical and popular genres, and combining acoustic instruments with electronic rhythms and textures. He pursued formal studies in composition at Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, and at McGill University. He won the SOCAN grand prize for emerging composers in 2018 and the Audience Prize and Honorable Mention in the 2020 Graham Sommer Competition. As an artist, he is always considering the feelings that composition can evoke in his body, and it is often a sensation that drives him to create. Many of his compositions have come from a spontaneous feeling of being moved, and he considers it his duty to bring these feelings to life through music.
11/21/2023
Born and raised in upstate New York, actor Chad Michael Collins began his entertainment career in Los Angeles as a Hollywood publicist before gravitating towards acting. He has since amassed several dozen major television, film, video game and voice-over credits. Collins is best known for his franchise-starring role in the internationally renowned ongoing Sony Pictures SNIPER action film series. SNIPER: G.R.I.T., the 10 th entry in the series and Collins’ seventh appearance in the lead role released in Fall 2023 on VOD and DVD, and re-teamed him with ‘Agent Zero’, ‘Lady Death’ and ‘The Colonel’ Dennis Haysbert. Collins first appeared as ‘Brandon Beckett’ in SNIPER: RELOADED, playing the son of Tom Berenger’s original legendary Marine sniper.  He reprised his role in SNIPER: LEGACY, SNIPER: GHOST SHOOTER, SNIPER: ULTIMATE KILL, SNIPER: ASSASSIN’S END, and SNIPER: ROGUE MISSION, currently available on Netflix USA where it enjoyed a 9-day run in the “Top 10 Most Watched Movies” list in December 2022. Gamers around the world continue to enjoy playing as Collins’ ‘Alex/Echo 3-1’ character from the global smash hit CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE. Collins starred as the lead in the massively commercially and critically successful first-person shooter, the best-selling video game of 2019 and 2020, and its wildly popular battle-royal counterpart CALL OF DUTY: WARZONE. His character returned to the CALL OF DUTY frontlines via the WARZONE 2.0 RAID Season 1 gameplay mode and ongoing DLC content, and Collins reprised his lead role in the recent CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE 3 release (November 2023). Smartphone gamers also continue playing as ‘Alex’ in CALL OF DUTY: MOBILE with Collins’ popular operator a fan favorite in the first-person mobile device shooter. Collins recently wrapped filming a lead role in the gritty action-thriller film THE WRECKER with co-stars Harvey Keitel, Tyrese Gibson, Danny Trejo and Mena Suvari and DESERT DAWN opposite Kellan Lutz and Cam Gigandet. In 2022, Collins appeared as a lead in several released films: SNIPER: ROGUE MISSION; the Redbox Original ASSAILANT, a gripping psychological thriller-actioner starring Collins, Casper Van Dien and Poppy Delevingne; and the military action-horror film DEAD ZONE (with Michael Jai White). 2023 saw the release of the rom-com ONE YEAR OFF, with Collins as a lead opposite Jeff Fahey via Lionsgate on Feb 7th, and he stars as a lead in the forthcoming sci-fi/horror feature THE BUNKER (with Tony
11/14/2023
Teresa James and the Rhythm Tramps are on quite a roll. Her persuasive pipes slathered in honey and soaked in Texas-bred sass, keyboardist Teresa James and her band, the Rhythm Tramps, have long reigned as one of Los Angeles’ leading contemporary blues outfits, even though their uncommonly imaginative repertoire, much of it supplied by Terry Wilson, James’ husband, producer, and bassist, is by no means strictly limited to the 12-bar form. Their 2019 CD Here in Babylon was nominated for a Grammy in the Contemporary Blues Album category. Rose-Colored Glasses, the band’s new release on Blue Heart Records, continues that proud tradition. It’s their 12th album and once again showcases Teresa’s enticing way with a lyric and Terry’s prolific songwriting talent, poured over grooves that’ll grab listeners and refuse to let go until the very last notes have rung. A coterie of Texas guitar greats guest on the set, including Anson Funderburgh, Lee Roy Parnell, Johnny Lee Schell, Snuffy Walden, and Dean Parks. “This new album is kind of veering a little bit more into soul,” says Teresa. “But to me, blues is more of a state of mind. It’s where you’re coming from. It’s the attitude and the heart that you bring to it.” By any yardstick, Teresa got an uncommonly early start on her lifelong profession. “There was always music playing in my house. My dad was a huge music fan. He had all kinds of musical interests, so I was exposed to a lot of different kinds of music.” “I studied classical music until I was about a sophomore in high school. When I was like eight or so, my dad taught me how to play guitar. Those were the seeds which would eventually lead to a musical career including recordings with Walter Trout, Eric Burdon, Spencer Davis, Tommy Castro, Stephen Bruton, Randy Newman, LeeRoy Parnell, Neil Diamond, and more; plus live performances with countless others, including Marcia Ball, Levon Helm, Lloyd Jones, Delbert McClinton, and Eric Burdon & the Animals. She has been a featured act on Delbert McClinton’s Sandy Beaches Cruises for more than twenty years. Teresa ultimately left Houston at the encouragement of Terry Wilson and his buddy Tony Braunagel, who had relocated to L.A. Terry proved the perfect musical cohort for Teresa. “His songs are brilliant. I think he’s a really great songwriter. And we’ve collaborated on quite a few, but I think what I bring to his songs in the interpretation is just a good match. He knows the kinds of things that I’m going to be able to put myself into to expand them,” she says. “Over the years, we have definitely developed a partnership that works.” Her band, The Rhythm Tramps, consists of world class players that have toured or recorded with artists including Eric Burdon & the Animals, Bonnie Raitt, Delbert McClinton, Jimmy Reed, Lightin’ Hopkins, Jimmy Vaughan, Johnny Nash, Smokey Robinson, Tom Jones, Tower Of Power, and more. In 1998, The Rhythm Tramps released their debut album, The Whole Enchilada, on Jesi-lu, with Teresa and Terry’s studio cohorts including guitarists Watts, Schell, and Stephen Bruton. Braunagel and Herman Matthews manned the drums. Subsequent releases include Live (2000), Oh Yeah! (2003), The Rhythm Method (2004), and The Bottom Line in 2007. “The Bottom Line is a really good one,” says Teresa. “We still do most of the songs on that album, and that was the one where we got the BMA nomination.” Next up was Country by Request (2008), followed by 2010’s You Know You Love It, Come On Home in 2012, Bonafide in 2016, and the Grammy-nominated Here in Babylon in 2018, which was mixed by Ed Cherney with Jay Bellerose on drums. As if the band didn’t keep her busy enough, Teresa has also done considerable vocal work on film soundtracks and song demos in Los Angeles. One of her favorite composers to work for in the studio is Randy Newman; she was one of the background singers on “Putin” from his 2017 CD Dark Matter. Soon to have a full dozen albums under their collective belt spanning 23 exciting years, Teresa James & the Rhythm Tramps remain a staple of the Los Angeles-area blues scene in addition to an international touring artist, with a sound all their own. Moving easily from Texas-style grease and blues into Memphis soul or New Orleans-flavored grooves and all points in between with fun and abandonment, as one critic said, “there are no clichés in this band.” https://teresajames.com/
11/07/2023
James Graves is a singer songwriter out of Southern California. While growing up, he had dabbled in lots of creative passions including musical theater, then improv and sketch comedy through his college years and performing shows in LA and Vegas, but as the years went on music clearly became his main creative outlet. James started singing in bars and breweries doing solo shows which eventually led to him starting a country rock band called Westbound 66. Over the years, they have been performing at local gigs but eventually have become a regular around the honky Tonk circuit of Southern California regularly appearing at Brandin Iron in San Bernardino, Cowboy Palace in Chatsworth, and Buckle and Boots in Lancaster to name a few. After years of playing honky tonks and dive bars like the bands of Nashville, Westbound 66 has crafted their own sound combining country, rock, storied lyrics and harmonies. Look for upcoming shows and music from Westbound 66 in 2024!

October 2023

10/31/2023
On May 10th, 2023 John was inducted into the National Blues Foundation's Blues Hall of Fame On July 3rd, 2023 John won the Living Blues Magazine Award for: BLUES ARTIST OF THE YEAR On September 23rd John won 2 Blues Blast Magazine Awards! 1 for TRADITIONAL BLUES ALBUM OF THE YEAR - Hard Times 1 for BEST LIVE ALBUM OF THE YEAR - Teardrops for Magic Slim He also received a LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD!
10/10/2023
Poorvi Mehta is the definition of the girl next door– a curious soul with a passion to connect with people and understand the interworkings of love, life, and relationships. When she is not busy being the quintessential tech geek, she is often found conversing with her friends, colleagues, and family members about topics that affect their everyday lives. Poorvi is very relatable and entertaining with her quick wit and sarcastic personality. She enjoys getting into in-depth conversations and can delve into difficult issues with compassion and understanding. Besides specializing in digital forensics, running her own podcasts, dating in this crazy digital world, acting and doing her own stunts. Poorvi is also an entrepreneur who is always on the lookout for the next new idea. My Podcast site: That's What We Said

September 2023

09/26/2023
The Elias-Miller Project — EMP for short — is a southern funk-rock power duo based in Pasadena, CA. Wielding a combined 35 years of songwriting experience, dual frontmen Mike Miller and Mike Elias are reviving deep pockets, humble lyrics, and old-school grooves for the modern moment. Originally from Sacramento, Miller has released two albums, and graced stages from the Knitting Factory to the Bitter End, alongside Donovan Frankenreiter and others. Elias, a Jewish convert to Catholicism, was an Elvis impersonator as a teenager.
09/19/2023
The Record Company The 4th Album Round Hill Records Release Date: September 15, 2023 “I ain’t ever givin’ up…” —DANCE ON MONDAYS At 2pm on December 19, 2022 — the dreaded final day of the year in the music business — The Record Company got a telephone call from the, um, record company. It was the head of the label, who’d been sitting on their new demos for months, while the band sat in limbo. It was a scene out of a movie about the bad luck bands sometimes have with big record labels: a pleasant “hello” led to a Charlie Brown’s teacher murmur that amounted to “you’re dropped from the label, Happy Christmas, fellas.” Apparently, the label was going “in a different direction” — Hollywood code for “The Record Company’s many radio hits and Grammy nomination are no guarantee that you’re going to push further into their idea of mainstream, or that you’re great at TikTok.” “It was tough to swallow,” says bassist Alex Stiff, “because we had already set out to write the most stripped-back and raw record we’d done in years, and they had demos of this new music, and ultimately dropped us. Combine that with some new economic realities, a canceled tour, and we really felt like everything was crashing down at once.” On The 4th Album, The Record Company see that rejection as a rite of renewal, a way to cleanse themselves, to start over. They head back to their roots: creating the raw, self-produced, blues-based music that in past years earned them multiple Billboard #1 AAA songs, a Grammy nomination, and brought them from playing small clubs to arena tours supporting John Mayer and Bob Seger. These “roots” would include half-working dumpster guitars, no-name drum sets from garage sales, no click tracks or studio tricks, all recorded in the bass player’s living room. “Almost every band you love at some point tends to drift away from that raw spark that made them unique in the first place,” says drummer Marc Cazorla. “They search for bigger sounds, bigger budgets, more expensive instruments, producers, mixers, etc. We’ve been subject to that as well, but now we’ve come back full circle to what matters most: making raw, honest music that moves peoples’ souls.” The band titled the new collection “The 4th Album” to signify the start of a new chapter. When the needle drops, we hear TRC lead singer Chris Vos spit out an offhanded quip: “I ain’t ever givin’ up,” an impromptu line that is an instant touchstone for anyone who’s ever seen their dreams fading, and then been able to regain hope. That line quickly became a call-to-arms for the band and a rock-solid theme for this album. Says bassist Alex Stiff: “We all want to be moving on the steady rise forever, but then one day that momentum stops, and you’re not prepared for it. This song is very autobiographical as to what we were going through. Finding the answer required a lot of soul searching, but ultimately we found it through the music. For us, it was saying: ‘I’m not doing a dance for anyone anymore.’” On The 4th Album, the band uses the same microphones that have been dropped at bar gigs a few too many times, and the same tarnished 2008 computer with recording software mostly laughed at by today’s standards. The album cover shows a hand-cut metal sign given to the band by a fan at a 2021 show in St Louis, Missouri. For the live show, the band is performing as a trio again, purposely scaling back bigger lineups they’ve used in the past. “We keep going back to a less-is-more philosophy with the new songs, and that translates to the show as well. The space between us is the 4th member,” says singer Chris Vos. On songs like “I Found Heaven (In My Darkest Days),” we hear Chris singing about walking a troubled path, but finding salvation in music, set to his harmonica and gospel roots wailing. “Talk To Me” displays a Motown-style drum and bass funk groove, while “Highway Lady” sets a 70’s smooth AM Radio backdrop, with the city views seemingly far behind in the rear view mirror, singing: “Highway Lady, where we gonna go today?” The 4th Album finds the band at peace with themselves operating as outsiders in an ever changing musical landscape. “You’re not going to find us posting goofy videos, salad recipes, or telling the internet what every song is about,” says Chris. “We’ve had some ups and downs, but we’ve managed to find a way through it, and put it all back into the music.” The 4th Album is due for release September 15th, on Round Hill Records.
09/12/2023
Taissa is a Latinx-American television and film actor. Taissa was born in Arizona to her Jewish-Brazilian parents Paula Menna Barreto and Oscar Zveiter, but she was raised in Brazil. She also speaks three languages. After training in dance for over 10 years in Brazil, Taissa started to receive roles in theater and film. She has studied the Meisner technique and later studied Theater in Mesa's College in Arizona. While studying theater, her appearance on the musical production Curtains garnered regional attention and she was described "visually captivating" on a review by the Phoenix New Times. Taissa also performed as Mary Warren in 'The Crucible' for a regional Arizona production, part for which she won the Theater Outback's award for Best Supporting Actress. As a dancer, she has worked for Arizona Opera's production of Aida for their 2012 season. Taissa now devotes most of her time to her on-screen career. Her most recent credits include playing Maureen on the newest acclaimed mini-series 'Pam & Tommy' on Hulu that premiered February 2022 and playing Gino Carmine's Wife opposite Giovanni Ribisi and Miles Teller on the highly awaited new drama series about the making of 'The Godfather' movies: 'The Offer' on Paramount+ set to premiere April 28th 2022. Taissa will also be making her debut on 2 new shows this year. You'll be able to see her in supporting roles on the feature film 'First Oscar' opposite veteran actor Michael Lerner and on the short film 'Consultation Room 125' set to premiere later in 2022. Commercially, she appeared on a promo for The Masked Singer in 2021, and she has also worked on ads for brands like Apple, Alaska Airlines, Amazon, and Google to name a few. www.taissazveiter.com www.facebook.com/taissazveiter Go Fund Me link for new short film project: https://gofund.me/f0651844 Trailer for fundraising new short film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvjQRY3BLpM
09/05/2023
Hailing from Washington, D.C, singer-songwriter Sidney Riley has been involved with the arts since he learned to play the piano at age 9. After discovering his deep passion for singing as a cast member of Children’s Choice, a popular children’s British television show filmed in the Middle East, Riley decided then to take his musical career more seriously. While in high school, he formed an acapella group and began writing original music. During that time, he and his high school choir had the fortune to perform at The Kennedy Center Honors whose honoree that year was Quincy Jones, the most decorated producer and composer to date. Soon after celebrating this momentous occasion, Riley fell critically ill with Meningoencephalitis, a rare disease that had him fighting for his life in a coma for several months, overcoming a 1% chance to live. Upon waking from his coma, he formed a paralysis causing immobility from his neck down, medical experts related to him that he would never walk again. After many months of rehab, which included re-learning how to walk again, Riley shocked his friends and family when he walked unassisted across the graduation stage to receive his diploma, with the full chamber choir by his side. Riley credits his recovery in part to the role music played in his life, by keeping him motivated through that difficult time and giving him a sense of purpose. After graduation, the musician made a full recovery and moved to New York City to attend Fordham University. Since then, he has made music his priority. He now resides in Los Angeles, and is currently involved in several projects for himself, as well as for other artists from various genres. Sidney Riley is ready to put his best foot forward while letting music guide his journey. Learn more about Sidney by visiting iamsidneyriley.com

August 2023

08/29/2023
Classically trained in piano, clarinet and voice, Lisa Martin is a musical force that draws from the sounds of Joni Mitchell, Tori Amos and Ani Difranco. Based in Los Angeles, this singer-songwriter has been on stage most of her life from the time she first sang a solo in her kindergarten production, to most recently singing at Disney Hall with the LA Philharmonic. Growing up in the classical genre, Lisa was an Arizona All-State clarinet player, Principal Clarinet for the Metropolitan Youth Symphony in Phoenix and expanded her musical horizons by singing in vocal jazz ensemble as well as playing keyboard in jazz band. Lisa has a degree in Music Education from Northern Arizona University, where she also played in a hippie rock band called Spincycle. The beginning of her career started in entertainment while working for EMI/Capitol Records and Warner Music Group, but her talents eventually propelled her into another obsession: songwriting. She knew she had to follow her heart and become the songwriting artist she is today. Lisa is currently working on her first EP. In the meantime, catch her performing at venues across Los Angeles. https://instagram.com/lisa.martin.336333?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
08/22/2023
NIKHIL KORULA Classically trained in voice from the age of 5, Nikhil Korula first lent his dulcet tones to sing with the likes of opera giants such as Placido Domingo, pop stars, Barry Manilow and the late Luther Vandross. As a boy soprano, Korula performed at Carnegie Hall by the age of 10 and also sang for one of Danny Elfman’s first film scores. In 1990, Nikhil Korula performed at the 32nd Annual Grammy® Awards with Mike and the Mechanics, sharing the stage on that fateful night with legends, Ray Charles, Miles Davis & Don Henley. However, after graduating from the USC Thornton School of Music with a Bachelor’s Degree in Operatic Vocal Performance, his creative talents drew him to the intense world of songwriting, jazz and improvisation which led to his playing many acoustic sets throughout Los Angeles. This experience, in turn, helped him to collaborate with some of the city’s finest jazz musicians to form the Nikhil Korula Band (NK Band). Due to its ever-increasing fan following, this vibrant musical act has traveled all over the globe playing festivals such as BONNAROO (2008 & 2009), PLAYBOY JAZZ FESTIVAL (2011), THE SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL (2013-2019) & SUMMERFEST (2007-2019), gathering worldwide attention one fan at a time. Blending the sounds of calypso, rock, reggae, African and Latin grooves, this unique sextet infuses extraordinary musicianship with irresistible dance jams, a combination that has led the NIKHL KORULA BAND to open for such esteemed artists as Dave Matthews Band, Jason Mraz, John Mayer, The Roots, Erykah Badu, Ben Harper, Ray Lamontagne, Gavin Degraw, Gary Clark Jr, Thievery Corporation, Sublime with Rome, The Fray and countless others while also headlining venues like the House of Blues and performing at the Apollo Theater. In 2013, Nikhil Korula had the pleasure of recording 5 new songs for a new EP called SOLO SESSIONS with musical heroes of his, Butch Taylor and Jeff Coffin, from the Dave Matthews Band. One of the songs from the EP, "Fade Away," charted, debuting at #106 and moving all the way to #10 on the Hot AC charts. Singer-songwriter, Nikhil Korula also wrote the opening track, "Start It Up," for Ziggy Marley's new self titled album which recently won the Grammy for BEST REGGAE ALBUM, giving Korula his first Grammy® as a songwriter. In 2017, Korula and his band would open for Ziggy Marley at Summerfest 2017 and also perform at Arroyo Seco, a new music festival put on by the creators of Coachella at the Rose Bowl alongside Tom Petty, Mumford & Sons, Weezer and The Meters, to name a few. Korula and his eclectic band opened for Robert Randolph at Summerfest 2019 in front of thousands so look for the NK Band to make their return to Summerfest 2024 next summer. Nikhil Korula and his band released their 8th album, REVOLUTIONS, on January 29, 2021 and opened for Rock ’N Roll Hall of Famers, ZZ Top, at Summerfest 2021! Currently, Nikhil Korula has now started a new blues trio with drummer, Gene Coye (Seal, Larry Carlton) and bassist, Andre Desantana (Jason Mraz, Sergio Mendes) and recorded a 15 song album with 5 originals and 10 covers of artists who inspired Korula to start a blues trio. Chuck Leavell, famed keyboardist for The Rolling Stones, Allman Brothers Band and Eric Clapton, recorded piano and organ on 2 songs for the new album called CROSSROADS along with some other heavy hitters and was released on July 28, 2023! With dedicated fans, exceptional live shows, and consistently strong songwriting, the Nikhil Korula Band and Nikhil Korula Power Trio continue to have a remarkable effect and amazing impact on audiences globally. Please visit www.nkband.com and www.nkpowertrio.com for more information on both bands! www.nkband.com www.nkpowertrio.com @thenikhilkorulaband @thenkpowertrio
08/15/2023
Steve Rose is a nationally acclaimed music photographer having spent over 8 years in the industry photographing over a thousand shows in that time. Steve's work has been featured on Rolling Stone, Guitar Player, Forbes, and the Smithsonian. Early on in his career, he was fortunate enough to be hired by Neal Schon and spent the next five plus years touring with Journey as one of their photographers and with Neal for his side projects. During his time on the road he has worked in a number of legendary locations like Madison Square Garden, The Forum, Fenway Park, Wrigley Field and The Gorge to name a few. When he is not on the road, Steve is the house photographer at a number of venues in and around Los Angeles like the Hollywood Palladium, FivePoint Amphitheatre, The Greek Theatre, The Riverside Municipal Auditorium, House of Blues Anaheim, and Shrine Auditorium. Aside from his work with local venues, he has also worked with notable acts such as: Slipknot, Alice in Chains, Korn, Deftones, Lamb of God, Primus, and My Chemical Romance. In addition to his work with bands and venues, he has also developed strong relationships with a few music companies like Ernie Ball/Music Man, Fender, Gibson, Orange Amps, Yamaha, and Echopark Guitars. When he is not working, he enjoys being home with his family and playing guitar on the couch to whichever of his two cats are willing to stay for the show. Throughout the years, Steve Rose has built a reputation of being a photographer known for delivering high-quality work and being timely and reliable. This consistency has afforded him many great opportunities and he always makes himself available to help out other photographers when he can with any questions they may have. steverosephotos.com Instagram Facebook
08/08/2023
Elliott Yamin returns with his fourth album, ‘As Time Goes By’, a genre-bending collection of emotive originals highlighted by his soulful and evocative voice. Influenced by some of his favorite music of the last few decades, Yamin has crafted a timeless set of songs by fusing R&B, urban, rock and contemporary elements all while remaining true to what his fans love about him the most: his expressive voice and performance. Unafraid of experimenting with multiple production styles in a single song, the album ranges from emotional ballads with an 80's flair to Motown-style upbeat grooves with a modern edge. Yamin launched his recording career following his appearance on American Idol Season 5 as the top 3 finalist with his highly anticipated debut album Elliott Yamin, which debuted at Number Three on the Billboard album chart and was the highest- debuting album by an independent artist in SoundScan history. The self-titled disc achieved gold status in the U.S. and Japan (where he continues to maintain a large audience), and yielded the platinum hit ‘Wait for You.’ In the wake of the first album's release, Yamin received considerable media exposure on countless television shows, while gaining extensive performing experience by touring around the world with his live band. He released the Christmas-themed “Sounds of the Season: The Elliott Yamin Holiday Collection’, later that same year which would be reissued in expanded form the following year as ‘My Kind of Holiday’. Yamin's second official album, Fight for Love, followed, spawning the successful singles ‘Fight for Love’ and ‘Can't Keep on Loving You (From a Distance)’. His third album, ‘Let’s Get to What’s Real’, found Yamin stretching as an artist as a writer and co-producer. Yamin continues to tour domestically and internationally which have also included three trips to Africa as a spokesman to the ‘Malaria no More Foundation’ as well as a variety of charities, relief groups and peace organizations. Having been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of 16, he has worked tirelessly as an activist and spokesman for the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) to help create awareness and raise money for research. Elliott Yamin was born in Los Angeles and soon after, his family moved to Pasadena, CA where he first discovered his vocal talent while singing with his neighbors. Yamin later moved to Richmond, VA as a youth, and soon found employment singing cover material in a local jazz group and working as a DJ on a local R&B radio station. While Elliott was working in a pharmacy when he took a chance to drive to Boston, Massachusetts and audition for American Idol and won a spot on Season 5. His signature performances in the competition, with renditions of Donny Hathaway’s ‘A Song for You’ and Stevie Wonder’s ‘If You Really Love Me’ made him a fan favorite and catapulted him to 3rd place in that year’s season. Simon Cowell described him as “potentially the best male vocalist” of the season, while Stevie Wonder encouraged him to pursue music full-time. It’s been full steam ever since. Instagram: @singlikeyaminit

July 2023

07/25/2023
Lisa Klein is a co-founder of MadPix, Inc. a film production company committed to making engaging documentaries about social justice issues. Her most recent project, THE S WORD , is a documentary that tackles one of the most cloistered issues of our time through the emotional stories of suicide attempt and loss survivors. Lisa’s decision to make THE S WORD stems from her own experience. As a survivor of both her father’s and brother's suicides, she struggled with the "whys" for years. She was driven to document it and open a much needed conversation because she believes no family should have to experience the pain her family endured. In 2012, Lisa co-directed OF TWO MINDS , a journey into the lives of remarkable people living, struggling and triumphing with bipolar disorder. Both THE S WORD and OF TWO MINDS won the prestigious SAMHSA Voice Award, the most significant award for mental health filmmaking. In addition to filmmaking, she is an author, and speaks at universities and organizations around the world, raising awareness about mental health issues. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan and holds an MFA from the University of Southern California. www.madpixfilms.com Lisa Klein, Director The S Word www.theswordmovie.com www.madpixfilms.com www.facebook.com/suidoc Twitter - @Suidoc Instagram: @Suidoc
07/18/2023
Grammy nominee Stephen K. Peeples was the original, award-winning producer of “The Lost Lennon Tapes” radio series for Westwood One from 1988-1990, and writer/producer of hundreds of WW1 programs in the preceding five years. • He earned a Grammy nomination as co-producer of the “Monterey International Pop Festival” box set with Lou Adler and Geoff Gans (Rhino/MIPF, 1992). • Peeples was raised by career newspaper journalists and music-lovers in Miami and Los Angeles. His first music industry gig was as an Associate Editor at Cash Box magazine in Hollywood in 1975. He went on to be a Media Relations-PR executive for Capitol Records (1977-1980), Elektra/Asylum Records (1980-1983) and Rhino Entertainment (1992-1998). • Moving online, he was Rhino’s first web editor (1996-1998), then elevated to content editor of Warner Music Group websites (1998-2001). • Based in the Santa Clarita Valley just north of L.A., Peeples was the award-winning Online Editor for The Signal newspaper’s website from 2007-2011, and wrote-hosted-co-produced SCVTV’s WAVE-nominated “House Blend” local music TV show from 2010-2015 (archived online and still airing in reruns). • The Santa Clarita journalist was a News Editor at SCVTV’s SCVNews.com from 2017-2021 and SVP/New Media for Rare Cool Stuff Unltd. from 2010-2018. • For more info and original stories, visit https://stephenkpeeples.com/. For exclusive behind-the-scenes interviews, subscribe to Peeples’ YouTube channel. www.stephenkpeeples.com
07/11/2023
Priya Mehta is a comedian, actor, dancer, content creator, podcast host and wedding entertainment planner. Originally, she was in finance for 10 years and during that time, Priya started to discover her true passions and interests in entertainment. Priya started taking improv classes in 2017 and then transitioned into stand up comedy in 2019. When the pandemic hit in 2020, she moved to LA from Atlanta, created and produced her own self empowerment podcast called Inhale Courage Exhale Fear, helping her develop her own voice. Two years ago, Priya quit her finance job and is now fully immersed in the arts as a creative, still continuing to exercise different outlets that feed her soul. Last year, she hosted and produced a south asian comedy show at Ha Ha Comedy Club, selling out the main room of 140 people and plans to host more comedy shows in the future. Currently, she is taking acting classes and has been in numerous commercials, music videos and game shows. Priya continues to work with brands creating content and is also getting her feet wet in the wedding entertainment business, where she provides a broad range of services from MC'ing events to writing and performing skits, dances, editing music and playing the dhol. IG: https://www.instagram.com/priprimehta/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@priya.mehta?lang=en Stand up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bw0slcUEr20 Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inhale-courage-exhale-fear/id1536049351

June 2023

06/27/2023
Darryl Phinnessee is a globally recognized Grammy Award- winning singer, songwriter, performer, composer, vocal arranger, and producer based in Los Angeles, CA. A native of East St. Louis, IL, Darryl fronted various local R & B bands, sang Gregorian Chant as a choirboy at St. Joseph’s church, gospel at his grandfather’s baptist church, and earned a Bachelor of Music degree in classical voice from Southern Illinois University. His unique voice and eclectic talents led him to work with Michael Jackson as both touring vocal director and featured vocalist. He has also recorded and toured with Rod Stewart, Lionel Richie, Don Henley, and Clare Fischer. Being in much demand in L.A.’s recording studios, Darryl has sung with Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston, Ringo Star, Luther Vandross, Anita Baker, The Black Crowes, Mariah Carey, James Brown, and Quincy Jones, to name only a few. Phinnessee co-wrote the Emmy-nominated theme song “Tossed Salads And Scrambled Eggs” for Frasier, the critically acclaimed American television series, and sang on Dancing With The Stars for seven years. Darryl recently returned from Halden, Norway, performing all Stevie Wonder compositions, as featured vocalist in concert with the Norwegian Wind Ensemble and is currently recording his solo record with the working title, Rare. For more information on Darryl Phinnessee, please visit the following website links: https://www.facebook.com/darryl.phinnessee/
06/20/2023
Ryan Dusick is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, the founding drummer of the world’s most popular band Maroon 5, a mental health advocate, and an author. His life has been a long and winding road from aspiring pop star with anxiety, to heartbroken alcoholic, to thriving mental health survivor, and messenger of hope in recovery. Ryan grew up right in the middle of Los Angeles, California, at the intersection of Hollywood and real life, and his journey of inspiration, devastation, and redemption has been a series of crossroads. As a boy, he dreamt of pitching for the Dodgers and writing novels, but arm injuries sidelined his burgeoning baseball career just as rock music became his new passion and purpose. Founding the group Kara’s Flowers in 1994 with fel- low Brentwood High School students Adam Levine, Jesse Carmichael, and Mickey Madden, Ryan and his bandmates worked tirelessly for a decade before the group changed its name to Maroon 5 and finally had its first hit album Songs About Jane. Multiple hit songs, two Grammy Awards, and 20 million albums sold later, Ryan found himself suffering and without direc- tion when his career as a performer came to an end just as it was taking off. After years of struggling with physical and mental health challenges, Ryan finally overcame in 2016, when he began his journey of recovery, cul- minating in a new life path full of meaning, purpose, and fulfillment. While earning his master’s degree in clinical psychology at Pepperdine Universi- ty’s Graduate School of Education and Psychology, he decided it was time to write his story, in hopes of helping others who might see themselves in his personal struggles. Now working as a mental health professional at the Missing Peace Center for Anxiety in Agoura Hills, California, and beginning his new journey as an author and advocate, Ryan is spreading the message that recovery is possible, and some astounding things can come with it. https://www.ryandusick.com/
06/13/2023
Anjali is originally from Cambridge, MA, where she lived until completing her bachelor's degree in neuroscience at Harvard University. Starting from a young age, she trained in Indian and Western dance forms and by her college years, was an experienced choreographer and even had begun her own dance company. After college, she moved to Mumbai, India, where she worked with healthcare non-profit organizations while also laying the foundations for a start in a career in entertainment - as an actor, dancer, and voice artist. She returned to NYC to complete her Master of Public Administration before resuming her professional journey in entertainment in Mumbai. A newcomer to both Maximum city and its industry, she landed over 50 commercials, acted in various theatrical productions, performed in improv comedy shows, various web series, commercial and independent feature films, and Amazon's first original TV show, 'Inside Edge'. She also choreographed and/or danced in a range of music videos and live shows. Anjali's voice can be heard across Travel XP's world travel shows, numerous commercials and corporate/radio ads, the characters of multiple animated feature films, and as the channel voice of Disney International India, on which she remained a presence until moving back to the US in 2018. Since her return to the US, she has acted in a range of projects, including at least 50 more commercials, the lead role in the 2022 Christmas release of ‘The Snowball Effect’, a co-star role in the TV series ‘Kevin Can F**k Himself’, and the lead in a series of upcoming short films in both Hindi and English. Her short film, “Your Love,” just started on the current festival circuit and has already won its first award at the Global Music Awards. She continues to provide her consulting expertise as an independent contractor for various non-profit organizations. To follow her performing arts work, please visit www.anjalikhurana.com or imdb.me/AnjaliKhurana and on IG: @khuranasahab Website: www.anjalikhurana.com
06/06/2023
Vyjayanthi Neha Vadrevu is a screenwriter, actress, anthropologist, and former adjunct professor of Applied Anthropology and Autoethnography at the City University of New York, and founder of www.rasa.nyc. Her foundation for all arts and social sciences began with her training in Indian classical dance since her childhood. She studied dramatic and comedic acting and writing techniques, most recently at School of Visual Arts, UCB, and People’s Improv Theater in New York, and Writing Pad, The Berg Studios, and Westside Comedy Theater Improv in Los Angeles. She has been writing fodder for screenplays to reconcile the “third culture kid” experiences as a child of South Indian immigrants who settled in Chicago. Instagram: @vyjayanthi_vadrevu

May 2023

05/30/2023
Mouzam Makkar was last seen recurring as Commander Nouri on Paramount+’s “Seal Team” and in the series regular of Jennifer McDuffie on Ava DuVernay’s “Naomi” for The CW. Prior to that, Mouzam was a series regular in ABC’s “The Fix”, and NBC’s “Champions”. Additional credits include recurring roles in “Law & Order: SVU”, “NCIS”, “The Exorcist”, “The Vampire Diaries”, and “Chicago Fire” and guest star roles in “American Horror Story”, and “Bones”, to name a few. On the feature side, she has worked in independent films such as “She’s in Portland” and “Freelancers Anonymous”. Her performance in the comedy short “The First Session” earned her a Best Actress Award at the NBCUniversal Short Cuts Festival. Mouzam Makkar is a graduate of the School at Steppenwolf and the Improv and Sketch Writing programs at The Second City in Chicago. www.mouzam.com
05/23/2023
Darryl Phinnessee is a globally recognized Grammy Award- winning singer, songwriter, performer, composer, vocal arranger, and producer based in Los Angeles, CA. A native of East St. Louis, IL, Darryl fronted various local R & B bands, sang Gregorian Chant as a choirboy at St. Joseph’s church, gospel at his grandfather’s baptist church, and earned a Bachelor of Music degree in classical voice from Southern Illinois University. His unique voice and eclectic talents led him to work with Michael Jackson as both touring vocal director and featured vocalist. He has also recorded and toured with Rod Stewart, Lionel Richie, Don Henley, and Clare Fischer. Being in much demand in L.A.’s recording studios, Darryl has sung with Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston, Ringo Star, Luther Vandross, Anita Baker, The Black Crowes, Mariah Carey, James Brown, and Quincy Jones, to name only a few. Phinnessee co-wrote the Emmy-nominated theme song “Tossed Salads And Scrambled Eggs” for Frasier, the critically acclaimed American television series, and sang on Dancing With The Stars for seven years. Darryl recently returned from Halden, Norway, performing all Stevie Wonder compositions, as featured vocalist in concert with the Norwegian Wind Ensemble and is currently recording his solo record with the working title, Rare. For more information on Darryl Phinnessee, please visit the following website links: https://www.facebook.com/darryl.phinnessee/
05/16/2023
Lahna Turner is a dynamic and accomplished performer who has captivated audiences worldwide with her wit, humor, and fearless approach to comedy. She is a comedian, musician, actor, writer, producer, and director. She has appeared on many popular platforms, including NBC, Comedy Central, Hulu, Animal Planet, Netflix, Tubi, VH1, and truTV. She has performed at premier venues worldwide and participated in several USO tours. Her three critically acclaimed comedy albums, "If These Lips Could Talk," "D!@k Jokes And Other Assorted Love Songs," and "Limeade," are a testament to her comedic prowess. Despite her busy schedule, Lahna remains a devoted mother to two teenagers and continues to tour the country and work in and around Los Angeles, where she resides. Lahna’s exceptional talent, passion, and dedication make her a true standout in the world of comedy and entertainment. https://www.lahnaturner.com/
05/09/2023
You know Dessy Di Lauro’s sound when you hear it. She is one of music’s most distinctive artists who, in her duo Parlor Social (with partner Ric’key Pageot), has found new ways to fuse sounds as varied as ragtime, swing and hip-hop infused R&B into a unique musical style. Perhaps not since Dr. Buzzard’s Original Savannah Band have the swinging Hepcat musical arrangements and swagger made famous by the great Cab Calloway been so consistently a part of the contemporary musical conversation. Di Lauro brought that throwback style into the musical conversation, but as you will soon learn, it would be a mistake to confine her to the jumpin’ jive box. She is reinventing herself with her Lo-fi, rnb, neo-soul, hiphop, Cuban, Brazilian musical vibes, sung in several different languages, poignant and thought provoking lyrics and beautiful Melodie’s. Her tone is sultry and her delivery is tremendous! She is a trailblazer and her music and visuals are beautifully creative to match. Be on the lookout, this is just the beginning for Dessy. 2023 is the year Dessy becomes a household name in the music industry worldwide. https://www.instagram.com/dessydilauro/?hl=en https://www.tiktok.com/@dessydilauro https://www.facebook.com/GreeneyedbanditD/ https://www.facebook.com/dessydilauromusic/ https://open.spotify.com/artist/35YOSjcWopBcbgUjIaTyTH
05/02/2023
Delivering sonic sundaes that will just as much make you hit the dancefloor as uplift you, Charis brings a unique style to pop and r&b, combining elements of synth-pop and electro in her EP “Open Eyes.” The Los Angeles singer-songwriter pulls you in with her distinctly sultry tone and lower register, all the while funneling her storied life experiences into her music, giving an air of adventure packaged into a danceable and inspiring soundscape. She released a cover track with Magic Records (Astronomia) that has amassed close to a million streams on Spotify alone. Be sure to look out for her upcoming release with Magic Records and a rock collaboration both coming June 2023. She’s a unique, dynamic artist that can make you groove in ways you didn’t know you needed to. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charismaticcc/ YouTube: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UC6YzSXgDuZiSlfd2FtvOxcg Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CharisMaticcc/?ref=bookmarks Tik Tok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZTdx4M26U/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/49uqm0TGX0UQPpRY27fjyU?si=Z_1PXSkISkqmjxlLQaPhCQ Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/charis/1492941448 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/artists/B0016CHNJC/charis Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/charismaticcc

April 2023

04/25/2023
Vikram Dasgupta is a multi-award winning filmmaker born in New Delhi and currently living in Toronto. His short film "Calcutta Taxi" was in the races for the Academy Awards in 2014, and his commercial for the Pan Am TO2015 titled "Are You Ready" was nominated for the Cannes Lions in the Best Film category. His latest documentary "Beyond Moving" premiered at the HotDocs theatre and is currently streaming on Apple TV.
04/18/2023
Mezzo-Soprano Noted for her “commanding and dramatic presence” (Opera News), mezzosoprano Renée Tatum continues to garner recognition in the most demanding of operatic repertoire. In the 2022-23 season, Ms. Tatum returns to the Metropolitan Opera for Maddalena in Verdi’s Rigoletto, sings Suzuki in Madama Butterfly with Palm Beach Opera, debuts her first Verdi Requiem with the Harvard Radcliffe Orchestra and MIT, sings a recital with pianist Eileen Downey and the Needham Concert Society, Mozart’s Missa Brevis and Vesperae solennes de confessore with the Masterworks Chorale, Maddalena in Rigoletto with The Rochester Philharmonic and ends the season as the soloist in a world premiere with the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra. She also joins Varna International as a faculty voice teacher and presents a masterclass for The Boston Wagner Institute. Future seasons include Flosshilde and Waltraute in Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen in concert with The Dallas Symphony, Verdi's Requiem, Dame Quickly in Verdi's Falstaff and engagements with the Metropolitan Opera. Last season, Ms. Tatum made her Atlanta Opera debut as Cornelia in Giulio Cesare, followed by a recital with the Boston Artists Ensemble. Later in the season, she debuted Fricka in Das Rheingold with Nashville Opera and Margret in Wozzeck with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. She also continued her long relationship with The Metropolitan Opera in their new production of Rigoletto and Ariadne auf Naxos. Ms. Tatum’s relationship with The Met spans 11 years and has included nearly 100 performances including Fenena in Nabucco, 3rd Lady and 2nd Lady in The Magic Flute, Emilia in Otello, Inez in Il Trovatore, Adonella in Francesca da Rimini, and Waltraute and Flosshilde in Robert LePage’s Der Ring des Nibelungen.  Ms. Tatum is holds degrees from The Juilliard School, Manhattan School of Music and California State University Fullerton. She is an alumna of San Francisco Opera’s Adler Fellowship as well as graduate of The Metropolitan Opera Lindemann Young Artists’ Program. Ms. Tatum has taught through Harvard University’s Office of the Arts and was a Visiting Artist in Residence for The Longy School of Music in Boston in 2020-21. She is Artist Teacher of Voice at The University of Tennessee and maintains a private voice studio in the Boston area.
04/11/2023
Kerey Viswanathan is an award-winning director of web-series, shorts and music videos based in Connecticut and New York City. A graduate of Hampshire College in Amherst Massachusetts, he has a B.A. in Filmmaking and Screenwriting. He has been mentored by industry level professionals in directing, acting and screenwriting. Among those include Susan Shilliday (Screenwriter- Legends of The Fall) Gabriel McKinley--Playright (EXTINCTION), Paul Calderon- (Actor/Playwright)-Boardwalk Empire, Pulp Fiction, Bosch) Among many directing credits, he has directed over 30 web commercials, and has directed episodes for three webseries including the first season of the webseries SHAW now streaming on youtube- which won BEST WEBSERIES at the Astoria Film Festival and 'What Do You Bring To The Table' a comedy South Asian Platform talk show hosted by Comedian Rajiv Satyal, featuring interviews with guests such as Hasan Minhaj and Deepak Chopra, Lilly Singh, Utkarsh Ambudkar and Comedian Zarna Garg. He is currently working on a documentary about artists with autism. A Creative Storyteller at Heart. Kerey loves to craft innovative and engaging content that explores issues of both cultural diversity and neurodiversity. He loves to bring those themes into other genres such as sci-fi, fantasy, and comedy. In his spare time he loves to draw, paint, read books, hang out with friends and travel! https://www.kereyviswanathan.com
04/04/2023
“Rising hip-hop artist and female powerhouse,” Wowashwow has a flare for the theatrical, a freestyling fluency fierce enough to threaten the male-dominated hip-hop scene and brings an “unbridled bravado through no holds barred, unapologetic rhymes.” With the visual surrealism of Missy Elliot, the untamable “energy of Tina Turner meets Mick Jagger,” and the genre-fluidity of Radiohead, our South Jersey/Philly raised visionary is paying homage to her punk rock heritage, in an evolved, more eccentric way, to bring you “Pure Imagination,” out April 14, 2023. This is her second single off of the upcoming album, “The Algorithm,” set to release summer 2023. “With a strong musical background and the untamable energy of a female powerhouse, Wowashwow is a visionary who is poised to make a bold mark on the hip-hop world. Her ability to span genres and obliterate the hip-hop/pop formula makes her a unique and exciting artist to watch.” - Elnews At age six, Wowashwow was writing her first original songs which quickly led to an early career as the lead guitarist and singer of punk rock band, “Rise from Ashes.” This newfound fame evolved into a tour where she opened for The Ramones’ drummer, Marky Ramone, and recorded her first album under the direction of the iconic rock legend, Steve Albini. At age 18, Wowashwow moved to NYC and discovered the underground hip hop and ballroom scene, heavily influencing her approach to songwriting, stage performance and overall lifestyle. Now hailing from Los Angeles, she’s played over 15 shows in two years, opened for Snoop Dog and Travis Barker, appeared at the Soul Train Awards 2022, charted #115 on the Hot300 List and has been featured in Remixd Mag, SXSWPop, Stitched Sound, Earmilk, and MUNDANE Mag, with appearances on Rockstar Superhero Podcast, Dash Radio, the Unstarving Musician Podcast and regular radio rotation on 101.5 FM (Los Angeles) and iHeart Radio’s Arena Podcast. Her latest music video, “Class Enrollment,” accumulated over 40K views in the first couple weeks and placed #1 in The Countdown. Wowashwow is currently in the running for the Tiny Desk Contest and is gearing up for a summer tour including Miami Pride main stage and Electrolux Festival San Francisco. Follow Wowashwow - Website | Instagram | Spotify | Twitter | TikTok | Facebook

March 2023

03/28/2023
Gregory Jay Leon is a Los Angeles hard rock guitarist notable for his stints in Quiet Riot and Dokken. He was also in a band called Suite 19 with Gary Holland, who was later replaced by Tommy Lee. Greg Leon is considered an influential and important musical personality in the Hollywood Hard Rock/Heavy Metal scene of the late 1970s and early 1980s, playing an integral part in the successive fortunes of the acts he was associated with. BACKGROUND Greg Leon was born in 1958 and grew up in Glendale, California, a foothills community of Los Angeles, and immediately made an impact on the blossoming live hard rock scene of Hollywood's Sunset Strip in the late 1970s. Primarily playing guitar and handling vocals, the acts that he fronted were Suite 19, with future Great White/Dokken drummer Gary Holland and then future Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee, and the Greg Leon Invasion, with bassist Joey Vera (later of Armored Saint, Fate's Warning and Anthrax) and drummer Carl Elizondo (later of Jag Wire, and playing under the stage name Carl James). The Invasion would release the "Every Time" b/w "Stay With Me Tonite" 7" single with Vera on bass who was fired when it was discovered by Greg Leon that he had been moonlighting with Armored Saint. Vera's replacement, Chuck Stevenson and Elizondo played with Greg on the Greg Leon Invasion picture disc released by Azra/R2R in 1983. He took the place of Randy Rhoads in Quiet Riot, and as the pre-George Lynch guitarist in Dokken (Don Dokken has since made the group's first EP, which graces Greg on the cover). During this period Greg also had a considerable local reputation as a guitar teacher, working at Rhoads' mother's guitar studio in Burbank. SUBSEQUENT CAREER Greg Leon had several incarnations of the Invasion and played with various L.A. acts after his exciting early days. He also had a brief time with Greenworld Records' Midwestern act Vyper, while at the same time gathering a name for himself as a guitar amp modifying specialist. In the late 1990s, Greg fronted a band called Wishing Well which also featured Survivor drummer Marc Droubay and English-born bassist Stuart Brooks (ex-Black Cat Bones, Leaf Hound, The Pretty Things). The trio released their eponymous debut album in 1997. However, by 2003 Greg Leon was once again playing the LA club scene under the name The Greg Leon Invasion, featuring Boston-born bassist George Roelke and Ohio-born drummer Greg Stevens, taking the group for a European festival tour in 2005 on the strength of new recordings, coupled with the myth related to his name. The line-up also performed July 13, 2007 at the annual 1980s-era hard rock music festival Rocklahoma. In 2008 former White Lion drummer Greg D'Angelo replaced Stevens in the band. Greg is married with Canadian singer Suza Wood and in 2005 he produced her first album titled Sweet Freedom. https://gregleoninvasion.com/
03/21/2023
Samantha and Melia Franks are a sister duo based out of Los Angeles. Having grown up in a musical family with both parents being musically inclined as well as being the granddaughters of the well-known Jazz singer, Michael Franks, the sisters started singing and building their musical partnership when they were just toddlers. Their influences range from artists like Stevie wonder to Sade, Tom Waits, Hozier, Sara Bareilles and more. The sisters began recording at ages 13 and 16 and have since branched out from singing covers at home to producing original pieces in established studios with an emphasis on lyricism and the full harmonic blend of both of the sisters’ voices. Currently, the sisters ages 18 and 21 are focusing on playing local gigs and releasing singles as well as working on their individual projects as separate artists. The two aspire to create connection and relatability for their listeners through their music.

February 2023

02/28/2023
Being born and raised in Chicago by a family from Kerala (South India) has definitely given me a unique perspective on the world. The first film I ever saw in my life was “Disney’s Dinosaur”, which had an ever-lasting effect on me. As a child, I was constantly obsessed with dinosaurs and started researching them at a young age, watching “Disney’s Dinosaur”, The Land Before Time, and the Jurassic Park movies on repeat. My first childhood dream was paleontology, and while that dream died quickly, my fascination with dinosaurs never ended. In 2005, when I was in 5th grade, I got inspired to watch not only dinosaur movies, but also monster movies, like “King Kong” and “Godzilla”. These two cinematic icons led me to finally say, “I want to make movies”. All the way from middle school to high school to college and up until now, I was always known as the guy who never stops talking about monsters, dinosaurs, robots, and any characters that are not human. The films that continue to inspire me are “Transformers”, “Avatar”, the “Universal Monsters”, and any other film with amazing creature designs. Non-human characters speak to me in a way human characters don’t. Non-human characters don’t live within the constraints of what a human can or can’t express. I remember the first time I ever cried watching a movie was at the ending of Peter Jackson’s King Kong in 2005. That film really showed me how to give life, feeling, and character development to a non-human character, and I wanted to achieve that in my work. In my early childhood, I wasn’t even thinking about watching more South Asians on screen because I was so caught up in my love for monsters. However, when I was in college, I started volunteering for South Asian film festivals and I really started to notice how little people who looked like me were represented on screen. I started focusing more of my work towards representing South Asians, as well as other minorities, while still maintaining my love of monsters. After graduating from Columbia College Chicago in 2016, I made a short film called “The Color of Me”, about a woman with a magical curse that her skin changes color and she turns into 5 different races, and an adopted African-American falls in love with her. The film was a chance for me to explore racism and colorism through a fairy tale romance perspective. The film received many awards in the festival circuit, including “Best Original Concept” at the Las Vegas Black Film Festival. The film is now available on Amazon Prime. Shortly after releasing “The Color of Me”, I moved to Los Angeles and used my education and film festival experience to get a job at Paramount Plus. After 5 years of navigating the LA scene and moving up in the world of filmmaking, I decided it was time to finally make my dream project, an Indian Dinosaur movie. I partnered with famed Mumbai-based author Vaishali Shroff (author of “The Adventures of Padma and a Blue Dinosaur”) to write the short film “Rajasaur”, the first-ever short film to feature dinosaurs discovered in India. Right when the COVID-19 pandemic started, I self-funded, produced, directed the short film, which is now available on Disney Hotstar. My upcoming goals for the future are taking classes in Special Effects Make-Up, booking more commercial acting roles, producing a web-series, and hoping to produce a feature film similar to the monster films that inspired me, with a South Asian cast. Something I have recently learned about myself was noticing how persistent I can be with my goals, and that is a trait I have kept to keep pursuing and keep inspiring for my art. Websites & Social Media: Instagram: @sreejithnair94 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sreejith.nair.3194/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sreejithnair94/ IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5627012/ Website: https://www.sreejithsnair.com/
02/21/2023
Kartiki Gonsalves is a Sony Artisan, one of the first women selected in India as a Sony Imaging Ambassador for the Sony Alpha series as a natural history and social documentary photographer & filmmaker. She is an Indian Natural History, Social Documentary photojournalist/ filmmaker currently based out of the Nilgiris and Bombay in India. Her work has two foci. One is environment, nature and wildlife, where she seeks to raise awareness about marvelous diversity of nature and wildlife and the importance of conservation. The other is cultures, communities and their connections. An avid traveller & explorer, her work primarily revolves around nature, cultures, communities, animals, and the environment and how they are all intertwined. She travels extensively searching for photos, stories and videos to raise awareness about cultures, communities, animals, and the environment. Capturing unique aspects of different cultures around the world is something that she loves. Though she also seeks capture the oneness of mankind. Her primary focus is on the photograph and filming of wildlife and diverse cultures. She seeks to make a direct impact on the environmental and cultural issues that define our times. She focuses primarily on stories, photos and videos to raise awareness about conservation of biodiversity and on forgotten communities, their lives and their progress. She is currently working on a three long term projects: a project on wild cats that inhabit the mountainous higher altitudes of the Western Ghats. She recently completed an assignment in a remote village in central India, photographing and documenting the lives, stories and art of local traditional artists of the Adivasi and the Biel communities. Post which she traveled and worked on a photo feature and footage documenting the life in the cold high deserts of the Indo-Chinese border in the Greater Himalayas. Her most recent film is releasing on Netflix worldwide in December of 2022 called ‘The Elephant Whisperers’ which follows an indigenous couple as they fall in love with Raghu, an orphaned elephant given into their care, and tirelessly work to ensure his survival. The film highlights the beauty of the wild spaces in South India and the people and animals who share this space. She continues to document our natural world to better understand the profound connection that we share with it. She brings awareness to the challenges we face, but also focuses on solutions with her projects and shows success stories where conservation is working. She uses the media of photography and film to connect people to the natural world. Her work has been published in various national and international photography, travel and wildlife magazines, books. She has also filmed several advertisements, documentaries & reality series. She travels extensively searching for photos, stories and videos to raise awareness about cultures, communities, animals, and the environment. Capturing unique aspects of different cultures around the world is something that she loves. She seeks to make a direct impact on the environmental and cultural issues that define our times. She works with natural light which requires a lot of patience and research, but when you learn how to use it the right way it adds that extra “magic” as she calls it and enhances the images in the most beautiful way. She photographs nature in an artistic way, focusing on details, light, textures, colours and moods, and using creative camera techniques to best capture the beauty of a scene. The beauty of nature, emotion and natural light are a great source of inspiration to her. She strives to evoke emotion in the viewer rather than just capturing the image. After all her traveling, the people she has met, her experiences along the way, she strongly believes that there are no borders. As she says that we all live under the same sun and sleep under the same moon and walk on the same soil. We are all are part of the same gigantic intricate web of life. It is very clear that all living things around us are connected whether we’d like to understand it or not. Does it matter what you’re wearing, what you look like, where you come from and what you do or how much money one has? No, it does not. The connections, happiness, laughter, love, pain, struggle and loss are all universal. She says "There is such intense beauty in diversity" and after a lot of thought, traveling to remote places and meeting people from all walks of life, she has come to the conclusion that it is empathy that connects us all together. There is a oneness and that she seeks to portray in her work as a photographer and filmmaker. She conveys a sense of her experiences and emotions, drawing the viewer much deeper into her work. Her ultimate goal is to create a lifetime body of beautiful work that has deep meaning and that carries a message of hope for preserving what we do have which will make a difference for the generations to come. Websites & Links: http://www.kartikigonsalves.com https://www.instagram.com/kartikigonsalves www.earthspectrum.org www.maptia.com/kartikigonsalves Doug Blush is an award-winning director, producer, editor, writer and cine- matographer whose work includes over 200 feature and television projects, and is a member of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) as well as the American Cinema Editors (ACE). His recent credits include, as consulting editor and co-producer, the 2020 Critics’ Choice Award and 2022 Peabody Award-winning MR SOUL!, the 2019 Academy Award-winning PERIOD. END OF SENTENCE, the 2018 Academy Award-winning ICARUS, and, as supervising editor, the 2013 Oscar winner 20 FEET FROM STARDOM, for which he also received the ACE Eddie Award for Best Docu- mentary Editing. Doug co-owns MadPix Films, a Los Angeles-based production and post pro- duction company. He is also a longtime film educator with classes and seminars at USC, UCLA, Syracuse University and the YoungArts Founda- tion in Miami, as well as exchanges and panels in Indonesia, Brazil, New Zealand, Armenia, Malaysia, Nigeria, China, Latvia, The Netherlands and more.
02/14/2023
Patrick Lazzara is a writer-director- actor born in Buffalo, NY and grew up in Las Vegas, NV. He is the writer-director and co-star of the short film thriller “Restless”. Growing up playing sports, his true love has always been movies. After receiving a copy of Leonard Maltin’s Movie Guide, he set out on a quest to see all notable and interesting movies. At his local video store, he became the top renter. He attended the Community College of Southern Nevada and the University of Nevada Las Vegas taking theater, film, and screenwriting courses. He honed his craft making short films. As an actor he attended the Joseph Bernard Acting Studio appearing in One Act and full-length plays. In 2003, he moved to Los Angeles, CA to pursue his career as a filmmaker and actor. In 2009, he wrote and directed the award-winning short film “The Astray”. He wrote the screenplay to the Producer’s Guild Association’s Make Your Mark Film Festival award winning short film “Loose Ends”. He is the writer, director, and star of his first feature film “Burn”, which was picked for distribution and is available on Amazon Prime, iTunes, Google Play, Red Box and Tubi.
02/07/2023
Almanya Narula is an award winning international actor, writer, and fight choreographer. She started her career in the entertainment industry at a young age where she was a child actor in various Bollywood films. Previously, she was very involved with the Chicago theatre industry collaborating as an actor and fight choreographer for several acclaimed and award winning productions. In 2019, she became the first woman of color to be nominated for a Joseph Jefferson Award in Fight Choreography for Gary Kates' 'Monsieur D'Eon is a Woman. Inspired by the life of Noor Inayat Khan - an Indian princess turned British WW2 spy, Almanya recently developed a multi award winning and critically acclaimed solo show based on the aftermath of Noor's attempted escape from Avenue Foch (WW2 Gestapo HQ) leading up to her tragic assassination. 'Noor Inayat Khan: The Forgotten Spy', premiered at the Hollywood Fringe Festival in June 2022 and was met with rave reviews from the audience and critics. It was nominated for 6 awards taking home 2 wins! Almanya holds a B.A. in Theater & Advanced Management with minors in Stage Combat and Voice Over from Columbia College Chicago, an M.A. in New Arts Journalism from School of the Art Institute of Chicago . In 2022 she graduated from the Stella Adler: Art of Acting Professional Conservatory. https://thatalmanyanarula.wixsite.com/almanyanarula https://www.instagram.com/almanyanarula/

January 2023

01/31/2023
Accomplished Singer/Songwriter Gedina has courageously forged her path as not only a successful music artist, but also as an entrepreneur and CEO, and a fierce advocate for advancement for emerging independent performers. Each of Gedina’s endeavors is proof of all the wild magic that comes from living with utter boldness and crystal-clear intention, including her new album, “Out of My Shell,” releasing in March 2021. In anticipation of her sophomore album release, Gedina is set to premiere her upcoming single, “North Star,” the follow-up to her recent power anthems, “Messy” and “Transformer.” With her magnetic brand of “mermaid-pop,” a sound shaped by her lifelong status as a salty-haired surfer girl, this new single continues in the vein of her larger work in an untapped genre of music that empowers and elevates while leaving a life-changing impact for each and every listener: “affirmation pop.” “North Star” provides a grounding cinematic ASMR-esque guided meditation to take all mermaids into the midnight sky: a finding of vision, purpose and breath, all baked into a two-minute, inspiring meditation. The song invites people to find their own “North Star” to follow within their lives, and not let anything get in the way of reaching one’s life’s purpose or destiny. Written and co- produced by Gedina alongside Drew Kapner (who’s engineered records for artists including Jason Derulo and Twenty One Pilots), Gedina’s dynamic and compelling sound carries notes of pop and dance blended with her powerhouse vocals, apparent throughout the inspiring and uplifting single. “North Star” will be available to stream internationally across music DSPs in February 2021 and serves as the third attraction of “Out of My Shell.” As a completely independent artist and visionary, Gedina is determined to shake up the music-industry culture and carve out a space for artists to fully express themselves while making a positive impact. In her efforts to blaze a new trail, Gedina recently launched her own company, “4th Door Records, Inc.,” a transformational venture record label that is paving the way for emerging artists in the industry to explore career strategy in a viable way. She’s been in the music industry for a long time and she saw a formula of building artists that she didn’t agree with– where the labels dictate how artists create, what they look like, and what music they put out. Thus, 4th Door was born with the intention of empowering transformational artists to tap into music, mindset, value and own their entrepreneurial journeys to make the positive influence that they desire. In summary, 4th Door Records is building brands and allowing for entrepreneurial musicians to carve out their space and place by selling their products the way they’ve always envisioned, giving them the tools through marketing support, branding consultations, support systems via product management, finance, investor education, and more. Gedina is filling a void in the music industry as a powerhouse CEO with kindness as an action word; she is a mindset coach who lets her family, friends, artists, and fans know they are safe no matter what, while simultaneously pushing them to be their best selves and tapping into inner dialogue, powerful spoken word, and affirmations. Through discovering, developing, and delivering the next generation of transformational artists, 4th Door Records is creating a world where the universal language, music, empowers the listener to author and own their lives through vulnerability, accountability, connection, and passion. On Gedina’s 2018 debut album, “Tell’em,” she introduced the world to the raw passion and uncompromising honesty essential to her mission as an artist: instilling women with the courage needed to rewrite their own stories, and to build a more beautiful reality for themselves. Gedina has gone through her life learning along the way, experiencing hardship and trauma, excitement and let downs, peaks and valleys, and has channeled her struggles into raw and relatable lyrics and affirmative, encouraging and inspirational ballads. Through the lyrics of the 12-song album, Gedina strives to help and inspire women find their voice, stay in their power, and dismantle all things that no longer serve them. Raised by a single father in Santa Cruz, CA, Gedina, discovered her love of singing as a little girl, thanks largely to “The Little Mermaid” soundtrack and to the golden-voiced icons she finds infinitely formative, such as Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, Celine Dion and Whitney Houston. After graduating from high school at age 15, while spending her early teen years busking and singing in local clubs, Gedina enrolled at UC Irvine and continue to gig in nearby blues bars. Shortly following her college graduation, Gedina made the move out to LA to navigate the music industry and soon landed a blind audition on season three of NBC’s Emmy-award winning musical competition series, “The Voice.” That same year, Gedina released her debut single “Shame,” revealing the depth of her warm authenticity and spirited songwriting. By 2015, she scored an international hit with “First Time, First Love,” a track that has now amassed over 2.2 million streams on Spotify. When not recording new music in the studio or overseeing her company, Gedina loves to surf and enjoy California’s coastal beaches, travel the world, as well as train and teach martial arts.
01/24/2023
A highly versatile artist, Pete Hopkins is an American singer who started singing at the age of two. Pete Hopkins is an accomplished performer, vocalist, award-winning songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. He writes and delights like a chameleon slipping seamlessly through Pop, Rock, EDM, R&B, Funk, Punk, New Wave and many other hybrid genres with original style and Fair.
Pete Hopkins prolifically refuses to be tied down to one style of music. He is a multi-genre Vocalist, Singer/Songwriter, Guitarist and Composer who can engage an audience alone with a mic, accompanying himself on acoustic guitar, or fronting a full band with equal comfort and command. He is also an accomplished Engineer and Music Producer, widely acclaimed the world over for his song-writing, 4 octave vocals, and guitar work. Www.petehopkinsmusic.com
01/17/2023
Acclaimed singer/songwriter Kristina Morse is back with a fresh new synth-pop anthem “On Fire.” Previously Kristina’s 2018 Garibaldi EP garnered praise from fans and critics alike with Music Connection featuring her as the unsigned artist of the week. Continuing to catch fire, Keep Walking Music described her as “among the most beautiful voices we have heard,” and her songs were featured on the Women of Substance Podcast as well as on Future House Cloud’s Future of Pop playlist on Spotify. A musician in every sense of the word, Kristina does much more than just sing. Playing multiple instruments since the age of five, she’s a classically trained violinist who has expanded her skills to guitar, piano, and synthesizers among others. Starting in chamber choirs, high school musicals, and indie rock bands Kristina has been performing her entire life. While traveling and performing across the pond, she discovered a new passion among Dublin’s songwriter scene. She quickly paired her desire to share stories with her wide-ranging musical background to create original songs, winning songwriting competitions and gaining a local following. After graduating from the prestigious School of the Art Institute of Chicago, she brought her inquisitive songwriting to a new audience in Los Angeles, performing in world-famous establishments including the Hotel Cafe and the House of Blues. She has lent her voice and writing talents to highly acclaimed international touring artists and DJs such as Pretty Pink, as well as podcasts, film, and television. ON FIRE PRESS RELEASE: The synth-pop revenge anthem you’ve been waiting for is here. Kristina Morse delivers an infectious and empowering earworm with “On Fire,” a mix of soulful vocals and ‘80s inspired electronic beats, ready to set your mind ablaze. The unique pairing of Kristina’s powerful, sultry voice and the gritty, late-night dance track answers the question: “What if Florence Welch crashed a synth-pop banger from The Weeknd?” Kristina’s haunting voice, reminiscent of pop vocalists like Jessie Ware, Banks and LEON, starts as a controlled vocal ember, burning brighter with each note until it radiates with deep warmth. Using her signature vivid imagery to tell a tale of unleashing your own light, catching spark, and setting the naysayer “on fire,” Kristina’s new single, a slick, synth-laden bop, ala Katy Perry or Bebe Rexha, is the perfect song to belt in the car, blast in the club, or fire you up for a run. SOCIAL LINKS: Instagram: instagram.com/kristinamorsemusic/ YouTube:youtube.com/@kristinamorsemusic Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0Dd71Hq5Bw5BCiIPiENsfA?si=5RYjLfQ8S92zSa-qriuZiw
01/10/2023
Chris Thomas is a composer for film, television, theme parks, and TED Speaker. He’s written music for several Emmy-nominated films, theatrical releases such as Haymaker and Don't Look Back, and Woman Rebel, which was shortlisted for an Academy Award. In 2020, Chris won the Hollywood Music In Media Award for his work on Imagine Symphony Live. He’s worked on film projects with Hollywood stars such as Kathy Bates, Samuel L. Jackson, Bob Odenkirk, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Danny Trejo, Rico Rodriguez, Luke Perry, and Zoe Bell. In television, he worked as a composer, orchestrator, and conductor for networks such as ABC, FOX, HBO and CBS. In recent years, Chris composed the logo music for Sony Picture’s The Hideaway Entertainment, and the dating app Date Night, and is currently working on a new video game score. Chris has been in demand in the theme park industry. He has written music for the Evermore Adventure Park, Knott's Berry Farm, Queen Mary Chill, Dreamland (UK), Los Angeles Haunted Hayride, Seismique, INK: Stories on Skin (Museum of Latin American Art), LA's Magic Bus Experience, and The Void 4D virtual reality games. In the concert world, Chris’s works have been performed from Carnegie Hall, Sydney Opera House, to the Hollywood Bowl. He recently premiered a series of concert works at Clarinet Fest in Brussels, and Cite des Arts in Paris. His compositions and arrangements have been performed and recorded by groups such as the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, Los Angeles Master Chorale, Hollywood Studio Orchestra, Pacific Symphony, Northwest Symphony Orchestra, Fear No Music ensemble, and various American festival ensembles. His works are published with FJH Music, Wingert-Jones Publications, Walton Choral, and Carl Fischer Music. After growing up in the Pacific Northwest, Chris left for the prestigious Scoring For Motion Pictures & Television program at the University of Southern California's graduate school. There he connected with Hollywood's A-list composers and filmmakers and launched his diverse and evolving career. https://www.christhomasmusic.com/ Site - https://www.christhomasmusic.com/ Insta - https://www.christhomasmusic.com/ Facebook Link - https://www.facebook.com/chris.thomas.music/
01/03/2023
Rust belt blues shouter and guitar slinger Larry McCray was born in 1960 in Magnolia, Ark., about 12 miles from the Louisiana line. He spent his early years on a farm as the second youngest of nine siblings. After trying his hand at saxophone in school, his older (and only) sister, Clara, introduced Larry to the guitar and the transformative music of the three Kings of the blues (B.B., Freddie and Albert). By the late ’80s, Larry had attracted the attention of Virgin Records executive John Wooler, who had recently started a subsidiary label, Point Blank Records, featuring blues, soul and Americana artists. He signed Larry McCray as his first artist. Larry’s debut album, Ambition—aptly named as it fused elements of blues, rock, and soul to create a contemporary blues sound—was recorded in a friend’s Detroit basement studio and released in 1990 to critical acclaim. Throughout the 1990s, Larry continued to help define blues rock by collaborating with artists such as labelmate and fellow guitarist, Albert Collins, and releasing the much more slickly produced Delta Hurricane in 1993 (produced by British blues maven Mike Vernon), Meet Me at the Lake in 1996 and Born to Play the Blues in 1998. Over the past three decades of nonstop touring and recording, Larry has played and shared the stage with such blues greats as BB King, Buddy Guy, Albert King, John Mayall, Johnny Winter, Robert Cray, Keb Mo, Jimmie Vaughan, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Joe Bonamassa, as well as rock legends the Allman Brothers, Phil Lesh, Jonny Lang, Joe Walsh, Levon Helm, Chris Robinson, Dickey Betts, and countless others. In 2021, Blues Without You, Larry’s latest, a 12-track release was recorded on famed blues rock guitarist Bonamassa’s Keeping the Blues Alive nonprofit label with producer Josh Smith, a partnership that has also spawned a video (for the upcoming single, “Arkansas”) and a documentary. “Larry’s still a relatively young man, with a lot to say, and the world needs to know who he is. It’s the perfect time to have a rebirth of his music,” Bonamassa says. “He knows he’s a badass, he just needs to be reassured and reassure himself that he can stand up there with the greats. Social Media Links: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialLarryMcCray https://twitter.com/TheLarryMcCray https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN6LicWU_lIonIhmzxH3zOg https://www.instagram.com/OfficialLarryMcCray/

December 2022

12/20/2022
There’s something intrinsically empowering and uplifting about Los Angeles based singer/songwriter Sam Babayan's music. With each composition, Babayan effortlessly melds a rich sense of ancient soul drawn from his native Armenian roots with a deliciously bold blend of blues and psychedelic rock. The combination weaves a sonic tapestry that is most aptly described by the titles of most recent LPs with his band The Dirty Diamond: “From the Stars”, the electric album which beams down with the penetrating power of solar flares and 60’s Marshall stacks - and “To the Stars” a stripped down acoustic offering which makes the listener feel like they are privy to a private fireside session among old friends. Touching on themes from ego death to actual death, Babayan extends a gentle yet firm guiding hand and invites us to explore the cosmos and our own consciousness.
12/13/2022
s a child Gene taught himself to play drums. By the time he was a teen, Gene was playing in numerous community choirs and jazz ensembles spanning from Chicago to NY. Gene received his BFA in jazz at California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), where he studied under famed jazz legend Joe Labarbara. While in college Gene toured with Carlos Santana and his son Salvador. Upon graduating, he quickly established himself as one of the most sought after drummers in Los Angeles. Of late, Gene has won a Grammy with the John Daversa big band, and has been recording, touring and performing in Europe and the US with SEAL, Larry Carlton, Bob Reynolds, Richard Bona, Mike Landau, Robben Ford, Stanley Clarke, Terrence Blanchard, Pharoah Sanders, Tom Scott, Bennie Maupin, John Beasly’s Monkestra, Thundercat, Flying Lotus, Cody Chestnut, DJ Khalil, Big Krit, Rick Ross, Mali Music, Nai Palm (Hiatus Kaiyote) Leslie Odom jr. ... all in addition to recording and producing his own band The Endangered and numerous other artists from LA to NY. “I’m particular to focusing on the drumming of any album I listen to, and Gene Coye is as good as it gets when it comes to the drums. The guy has imagination, power, nerve, chops, and most importantly, musicality.” – Peter Erskine Instagram: @GeneCoyedrums
12/06/2022
"Matt Record is a solo artist playing all over Indianapolis and the great state of Indiana & beyond incorporating a wide variety of genres, dynamically powerful vocals, expert guitar work and live looping. Matt recently played for the Jim Irsay Family at various fundraisers including Kicking the Stigma, as well as gameday entertainment for Indianapolis Colts fans at Lucas Oil Stadium. Genres covered and composed include: Rock, Soul, Funk, Acoustic Singer-Songwriter, Old School Country, Bluegrass, Blues, Funk-Rock, Experimental, and Psychedelic Jam. Matt's most recent release is entitled Black Swan https://open.spotify.com/album/4U4KBR4DnQ5RMlEzUJwn9I , a heartfelt acoustic EP. Previous outfits include The Magnet, based in Los Angeles which debuted at the world-famous Viper Room in 2003 and went on to record 3 EP’s. After relocating to the shores of Oregon, writing songs at a drive thru coffee hut and recording them in a cabin on a lake outside of town, he set up in the great city of Chicago forming the band Kickbush who released a self-titled 7 song EP on Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/kickbush/421485337 and Spotify https://open.spotify.com/artist/3h7isx4j6RjQPjpJQhVclj "

November 2022

11/29/2022
Jackson Allen grew up in Northern California and has been playing music professionally since his teens. As a multi-instrumentalist he plays drums (his fist instrument), bass, guitar, banjo, mandolin and vocals, but guitar is his main instrument. He’s played or recorded with such artists as Zara Larrson, Narada Michael Walden, Nik West, Gary V, Martin Nievera and many more. He has also written music featured in TV, film and commercials. Instagram: @jacksonallenguitar
11/22/2022
Carl Kozlowski has been a standup comic and innovative reporter for over 25 years, and won the title of America's Funniest Reporter at the world-famous Laugh Factory . He also was the co-founder of Radio Titans podcasting studios (www.radiotitans..com) produces standup comedy shows for Catholics all over the country with Catholic Laughter (www.catholiclaughter.com) and co-hosted the popular talk show "Man Up" on KRLA (www.manupshow.net). His sitcom pilot "Dozed and Confused" can be seen here Dozed and Confused pilot teaser on Vimeo and his website is www.carlkoz.com. He is happy to finally be cured of narcolepsy and awake to enjoy being on this show! Dozed and Confused: Tales from A Nutty, Narcoleptic Life: Kozlowski, Carl: 9798360823865: Amazon.com: Books
11/08/2022
Greg Spero and a million creative paths, Greg Spero is a musician on a mission. A multifariously creative force who’s built an entire ecosystem that empowers self-expression, Spero creates music and tech that embodies limitless possibilities. A Chicago-area native based in Los Angeles, the pianist/keyboardist, producer, arranger, composer, bandleader, YouTube educator, label-owner and internet entrepreneur has devoted a good deal of his time to building vehicles that connect fellow artists with audiences. Familiar to a diverse array of listeners through his collaborations with the pop star Halsey and the funk/fusion Miles Electric Band, Spero has also composed music for film, theater and television, written songs with Rolling Stones bassist Darryl Jones, and co-produced tracks with Ski Beatz. In recent years he’s focused on Spirit Fingers, his powerhouse quartet featuring a cadre of the era’s definitive players, including drummer Mike Mitchell, aka Blaque Dynamite. Spero’s new album, 2022’s The Chicago Experiment, is a collaboration showcasing a brilliant cast of hometown improvisers with Makaya McCraven, Marquis Hill, Joel Ross, and Jeff Parker. Always seeking outlets for creative expression, Spero responded to the isolation imposed by the pandemic by launching Tiny Records (an imprint of Ropeadope Records). The label’s L.A. studio became the home for Tiny Room Sessions, a prolific series of livestream performances pairing top-shelf jazz instrumentalists with artists such as Lido, J’Von, and Terreon “Tank” Gully. Spero also launched the innovative tech startup weeBID, the first fan-initiated crowd-funding platform. With early supporters like Quincy Jones and Herbie Hancock, the company reverses the crowd-funding dynamic by allowing an artist’s fans and supporters to solicit new work or projects.
11/01/2022
Ben Schenberg: Growing up, Benjamin Scott was enthralled by his mother's collection of old soul, rock and folk records. This led him to take up piano and guitar at a young age, always writing songs throughout childhood. Today, he wears his influences proudly (John Craigie, Allen Stone, The Wood Brothers), and has crafted a sound that is uniquely his own, yet familiar in the same way catching up with an old friend is familiar. Recent years have brought Scott's sound into the indie-country realm, never straying too far from the sound of one voice and an acoustic guitar. Stripped back, his music feels more like an old story told around a campfire or a contemporary American folktale that only you're privy to. Scott continues to play and tour the country with hard funk band Glass Bandit as a vocalist and rhythm guitar player. You can find him and the band around Austin, Texas. He continues to write, grow, and craft timeless stories that embody the American Midwest. Listen and learn more by connecting with Benjamin on socials and streaming platforms. Glass Bandit: An 8-piece powerhouse band based in Austin, TX, Glass Bandit has evolved into a force of hard funk. In addition to releasing their latest single, Ghost, the band has been captivating audiences throughout the Midwest and across the country, crafting an unforgettable live show in preparation for the release of their first full length album. benjaminschenberg.com https://www.instagram.com/benjaminscottatx/

October 2022

10/25/2022
CHANDLER is a singer-songwriter from small-town, Alabama who mixes real sounds and personal stories with chill pop vibes to create an emotional experience. He has collaborated with artists from Los Angeles to New York and everywhere in between, including Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda; Grammy award winning producers, Jintae Ko, John Greenham and Femke; and Nashville’s top hit songwriters, Rob Persaud, Deanna Walker, and Will McBeath. He’s recently been featured on EDM duo, Tokyo Smoke’s latest project, "Lie to Me.” CHANDLER's work has been featured in Rolling Stone, Sinusoidal Music, KIMU, Tongue Tied Magazine, Space Sour, Pop Passion, Minimalistic Music, TJPL News and Reviews, and more. With the last of 3 original EP’s on the horizon, CHANDLER continues to expand his artistry and push himself creatively. The final EP, "Moments Awake," will be paired with a tasting menu, creating an intimate experience that transcends listeners deep into the throws of his mind and taste buds. https://linktr.ee/whatsupchandler
10/18/2022
"Gregg Wright is in the top echelons of the world's great guitarists!" according to the international publication Blues Matters. Inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in 2013 and receiving the "Living Legend" Blues Award in 2019, Wright is an electrifying guitarist, singer, songwriter and live performer  who leaves audiences breathless! “Gregg Wright has an extra gear most guitarists don't have!" raves fellow Bluesman Zac Harmon. With years of touring with Michael Jackson, Mick Fleetwood and a host of top tier music artists under his belt, Wright has developed a confident and engaging stage presence. He initially comes off as "Mr. Smooth" but can go for your jugular in an instant, without warning. Gregg Wright, began his professional career on the U.S. Southern circuit in the mid-1970's. He honed his craft with years of playing  one-nighters across the Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Texas, often opening shows for the big national touring acts of the day. “I was privileged to work and learn around greatness!” says Gregg. “I opened several times for Albert King and Freddie King, and learned a great deal from watching them up close. Their words of encouragement really energized me. I owe them a huge debt of gratitude!" An '80's move from Louisiana to Los Angeles saw Wright become a session man and "hired gun" touring guitarist. His reputation grew over the next decade doing albums and tours with Mick Fleetwood, Michael Jackson, the Gap Band, Berlin and Spencer Davis. Wright's incredibly precise, high energy live performances have brought many a crowd to its feet and screaming for more. Total audience satisfaction is guaranteed with Gregg Wright . . . "King of the Rockin' Blues!" https://greggwright.com
10/04/2022
Dorian Holley’s one of a kind voice has graced audiences worldwide. He was Vocal Director for the late Michael Jackson’s “This Is It” tour and for 27 years performed as a vocalist on every one of Jackson’s solo tours. He has toured with Rod Stewart, Queen Latifah, Don Henley, Lionel Richie, Linda Ronstadt, and Jimmy Vaughn. In 2019 and ‘20 he toured with James Taylor and Coldplay. Dorian has given Master Classes in Moscow, Russia, Geneva, Mexico City and Paris and created vocal performance classes at Los Angeles College of Music. He was a featured soloist for Dave Grusin’s big band presentation of Westside Story at Disney Hall, singing “Maria”. The Dorian Holley Band is fresh off 19 burning, sold out performances of A Love Letter To Marvin Gaye, which Dorian created and produced; a 2 hour retrospective of The Prince Of Motown’s canon. The shows feature a 16 piece all- star band including a live string ensemble and brass. They also took the show to The National Black Theatre Festival in Charlotte, North Carolina last summer for 4 house rocking shows. Dorian was vocal coach on American Idol 11 of its glory years. He was lead singer in The Rickey Minor Band on Jay Leno’s The Tonight Show. He was also in the Black History Museum special at the White House that won an Emmy. He is in the band for the Aretha Franklin Grammy Special. He was vocal coach for the pilot Million Dollar Singer and was part of the Emmy winning Kennedy Center Honors 2020. He has coached on The Masked Singer and is the first black contractor, assembling and conducting 2 massive choirs for the Oscars. Dorian has backed up Stevie Wonder, Sting, Adele, Jason Derulo, Smokey Robinson, The Dave Matthews Band, Usher, Tori Kelly, Erykah Badu, Seal, Christina Aguilera, Fifth Harmony and countless others. He is the voice of Grosberger in Stir Crazy and the voice of Choir Boy in The Five Heartbeats. He sang in the new Coming To America, the Jungle Book, Star Wars, Creed II, How The Grinch Stole Christmas; tons of movies and TV. His solo CD is called “Independent Film. Dorian is married to Uber lawyer Shawn Holley, and has 3 beautiful daughters, Nayanna, Sasha and Olivia. #officaldorianholley www.thedorianholleyband.com

September 2022

09/27/2022
Who is Victor Lemonte Wooten? "Who am I? Now, that's a good question." Victor Lemonte Wooten is a unique human being. Born the youngest of five boys, he began learning to play music at the tender age of two. He started performing in nightclubs and theaters as the bassist with the family band at age five, and at age six, was on tour with his brothers opening shows for legendary soul artist Curtis Mayfield. Soon after, he was affectionately known as the 8-year-old Bass Ace, and before graduating high school, he and his brothers had shared the stage with artists such as Stephanie Mills, War, Ramsey Lewis, Frankie Beverly and Maze, Dexter Wansel, and The Temptations. But, this only begins to tell the tale of this Tennessee titan. Wooten, now a five-time Grammy winner, hit the worldwide scene in 1990 as a founding member of the super-group Bela Fleck and the Flecktones. Continuing to blaze a musical trail with the band, Victor has also become widely known for his own Grammy nominated solo recordings and tours. Among other things, he is a loving husband and father of four, a skilled naturalist and teacher, a published author, a magician and acrobat, and has won every major award given to a bass guitarist including being voted Bassist of the Year in Bass Player Magazine's readers poll three times (the only person to win it more than once.) In 2011, Rolling Stone Magazine voted Victor one of the Top Ten Bassist of ALL TIME. "I was born at the right place and the right time to a wonderful family." Victor Lemonte Wooten was born September 11, 1964 to military parents on an air force base outside of Boise, Idaho. Soon after, the family packed up and moved on as military families often do. It was during the years stationed in Hawaii that the brothers began performing as a five-piece band. With Regi on guitar, Roy on drums, Rudy on sax, Joseph on keys, and Victor on bass, the Wooten Brothers band was born. Performing in their front yard, the band immediately began honing their skills. Victor credits the brothers' early ability to play a variety of musical genres to the experience of relocating frequently, the diversity of 1960's radio stations, and the unwavering support of their parents who provided many opportunities and booked all of their performances. "My brothers, who were already playing music, knew they needed a bass player to complete the family band. Regi started teaching me as soon as I could sit up straight, and my parents let him do it." Victor has been heralded as "the Michael Jordan of the bass" and "one of the most fearless musicians on the planet." These qualities were evident when, in 1981, his older brother, Roy, recommended him as a bluegrass fiddle player for a job performing at a nearby amusement park. Victor, having never played violin in his life, was thrilled to meet the challenge. He borrowed an instrument from his high school orchestra teacher and immediately began practicing. Quickly learning the most popular fiddle tunes and techniques, he took the job at Busch Gardens' The Old Country in Williamsburg, VA playing fiddle and bass in the Good Time Country Show. "I remember getting that call from Roy. He trusted me. I had to learn to be a fiddler real quick, almost over night. I don't think the people who hired me ever knew I'd never played before." What they soon found out was that the brothers were quickly becoming star attractions. The Wooten Brothers rapidly became staple figures and star attractions at the park throughout the 1980's working in the German, Italian, Country and Bluegrass, and Americana shows. The years 1980 and 1981 found the brothers performing for US troops overseas as the band for the Busch Gardens USO show. Traveling the world was an eye-opening time of learning for young Victor, but it was one summer performing in the country show that, unbeknownst to him, changed his life forever. That was when he became aware of a unique banjo player named Béla Fleck. "My brothers and parents were the foundation. They prepared me for just about anything by teaching me to keep my mind open and to learn to adapt." While messing around with a friend's banjo between shows, the friend commented on Wooten's unique banjo sound. Because the instrument is tuned different from a bass, Victor's lines came out sounding pretty strange when he played his friend's instrument. With a thick southern accent, the friend told him that he sounded just like a banjo player named "Baylor Fleck". Wooten couldn't imagine anyone playing a banjo that way, so he sought out to find out who this Baylor guy was. When he finally heard a recording of Béla's band New Grass Revival, he was hooked. In 1987, Victor traveled with his friend to Nashville, TN. During their short visit, he connected with the banjoist Fleck for the first time. After their initial meeting, Wooten and Fleck kept in touch and continued sharing musical ideas. In 1988, Wooten found himself living in Nashville. Later that year, Béla and Victor, along with Victor's inventive brother Roy "Future Man" Wooten, and harmonica & piano wizard Howard Levy, formed the eclectic ensemble Béla Fleck and the Flecktones. With a dozen recordings under their belt, the band has created a completely new sound and has become known for its genre-defying music. Currently, over twenty years later, the band is still going strong. "Musically, that means not being rigid and not having to play in a certain way." A few years after he began touring with the Flecktones, Victor released his first solo project, A Show of Hands. Recorded with only a 4-string bass, no multi-tracking, and a lot of groove and soul, this revolutionary CD was voted one of the most important bass records of all time. Musicians wanting to learn Victor's unique style and elusive techniques began seeking him out for lessons and seminars at music stores and schools around the world. These workshops became the training ground that lead to the formation of his acclaimed Bass/Nature Camp in 2000, which eventually expanded into Victor Wooten's Center for Music and Nature. These "intensive" style programs, now in its thirteenth year, welcome all instrumentation and vocalists, and have helped thousands of people of all ages from all corners of the world enhance their musical and personal lives. "People frequently thank us for sending their new spouses home." In 2009, Wooten Woods became the new home for all of Victor's camps. The nearly 150-acre retreat, owned by Victor and his wife, is located on the beautiful Duck River west of Nashville, TN. This picturesque retreat center, largely built by the hands and hearts of past students, has provided many more opportunities for Victor and his staff to share their lifelong experiences with others. "We give students the opportunity to completely let go and be themselves while congregating in a peaceful non-competitive manner on an equal playing ground with each other and their instructors. We've found this to be the best environment for learning." April 1st, 2008 marked the debut of two new releases by Victor Wooten. Palmystery (Heads Up) is his sixth solo recording and contains a collection of all new music. It features Bootsy Collins, Mike Stern, Keb Mo, Carl Denson, Jd Blair, Derico Watson, Saundra Williams, Anthony Wellington, Steve Bailey, Will Lee, Dennis Chambers, The Lee Boys, The Wooten Brothers, and others. The album showcases Wooten's jazz composition and arranging skills with songs like "Two Timers", 'Flex', and "Song for my Father", but also brings to the forefront his artistically humble side with the celebratory track "Bass Tribute" and the thought provoking "I Saw God". On the same date, Victor released The Music Lesson-A Spiritual Search for Growth Through Music, a self-published novel about Life and Music. The book presold hundreds of copies before its release quickly becoming a "must-read" for musicians world-wide. The choice of using this unconventional approach to sharing unique ideas about music was a surprise to all. Offering an intriguing story full of anecdotes and mysticism, The Music Lesson has helped free the minds of musicians worldwide. Soon after its release, it was picked up and published by the Berkley Publishing Group/ Penguin USA Inc. Now translated into multiple languages, The Music Lesson is currently used as required reading and part of curriculums in study groups, schools, and universities including the prestigious Berklee College of Music and Stanford. With the success of the book came the release of The Music Lesson audiobook (Tantor Audio). Victor lends his voice as the narrator and main character, but enlisted many of his friends and fellow musicians to read the parts of all the remaining characters. Victor also wrote and performed the musical score to the audio book, which was voted as a one of five finalists at the 2011 Audie Awards (the audio book's equivalent to the Grammys) in the category of Personal Development. "My mom always said the world needs more than just good musicians. She said we need good people." Wooten's sought-after skills and growing popularity have lead to recordings and performances with artists such as Chick Corea, The Dave Matthews Band, Bootsy Collins, Branford Marsalis, Mike Stern, Prince, India Arie, Keb Mo, Dennis Chambers, Susan Tedeschi, Gov't Mule, Bruce Hornsby, Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller, Frank Gambale, the legendary Moroccan group Nass El Ghiwane, and many others. His respected reputation as a teacher and speaker/lecturer on the subjects of both Music and Nature have garnered invitations for him to speak and teach at schools, universities, classes and spiritual centers around the world. Some of these places include Strathmore College, Berklee College of Music, Stanford University, Harvard, Mississippi State, Miami University, Middle Tennessee State University, The Haven (Gabriola Isle BC, Canada), Various Nature Centers and camps, and The NYC "Y" with Dan Levitin, author of "This Is Your Brain On Music". Along with recording Grammy winning and Billboard charting albums with Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, Victor also spearheaded the formation of the super-group SMV with two of his childhood heroes, Stanley Clarke and Marcus Miller. He continues to record and tour with the Flecktones, various other artists, and as a solo artist. He also currently leads six to eight camps at Wooten Woods each year (which he takes part in all day every day). With all of this going on, it would seem like Victor Wooten would have no time for anything else, but that is not the case. Taking matters completely into his own hands, Wooten has recently formed his own record label. Vix Records, Wooten's self-proclaimed "Label of Love", entered the scene in 2011 with a re-mastered version of his pioneering debut solo CD. The new version, A Show of Hands 15, contains three bonus tracks and is also released on vinyl. "If the world were to follow you today, where would you lead them?" Continuing to grow and always willing to share his gifts with all who desire to learn, it seems that Victor Wooten has no plans of slowing down. I'm currently writing the sequel to The Music Lesson, and have at least three more books planned after that. I feel like we're just getting started with the camps and Wooten Woods. Now that we are officially recognized as a not-for-profit organization (501c3), the door is wide open. Vix Records has already released multiple products and we're not even a year old yet. Writing music for movies and television is the next logical step, and with the amazing team I have helping me, including my manager Danette Albetta, my assistant Dave Welsch, and my wife Holly, I'm sure we'l accomplish all of our dreams and more. You know, my kids are actually starting to play gigs on their own now. Who knows, I may be able to retire soon and become their manager. I'm just happy that people like what I do and that I have a lot of support. You can't beat that. Keep checking in at VictorWooten.com to stay current with everything Victor Lemonte Wooten has his hands and heart wrapped around. He's moving quickly, so you'll have to try hard to keep up. One thing is for sure; you won't want to miss any of it
09/20/2022
Jeff Coffin is a globally celebrated saxophonist, composer, educator, and is a member of the legendary U.S. rock group, Dave Matthews Band. You may also know him from his 14 years, and 3 Grammy Awards, with the genre-defying Bela Fleck & the Flecktones. Jeff fronts numerous groups when not touring with DMB and has released 17+ solo CD's on Ear Up Records. Coffin is known for his musical passion, his deep commitment to music education, and his continued dedication to improvisational music. Jeff is also a Yamaha Performing Artist & Clinician, a Boston Sax Shop Ambassador, teaches improvisation at the prestigious Vanderbilt University, authored numerous music books, authored a children’s book, produces, engineers, mixes, draws, and runs his own critically acclaimed record label, Ear Up Records. Links: https://www.jeffcoffin.com/ https://www.earuprecords.com/ https://www.facebook.com/jeffcoffinmusic/ https://www.instagram.com/jeffcoffin/ https://twitter.com/jeffcoffinmusic
09/13/2022
Despite the nickname, Akina Adderley is much more than “the little woman with the big voice.” A rock/soul vocalist, songwriter, bandleader, arranger, and producer based in Austin, Texas, Adderley’s music reflects both her modern rock ‘n roll sensibility and her deep jazz roots. Margaret Moser (Austin Chronicle) wrote, “Jazz is in Akina Adderley’s blood, and it flows with a warm mix of old-school soul and R&B.” Akina’s father is acclaimed jazz pianist and arranger Nat Adderley, Jr. (long-time bandleader for Luther Vandross), and her grandfather and granduncle were venerated jazz musicians: cornetist Nat Adderley, Sr. and alto saxophonist Julian “Cannonball” Adderley (Miles Davis, Kind of Blue). While their towering musical legacy flows through her, Akina’s artistry is all her own.  Akina’s music crackles with infectious grooves and incisive lyrics, but live performances bring that heat to a whole other level. Audiences “instantly fall for her dynamism and her superstar performance,” says Laurie Gallardo of KUTX-FM, moved by what the Austin American-Statesman calls her “rich, emotive pipes.” Drawing comparisons to Tina Turner and Sharon Jones, Akina’s stage presence is captivating and electrifying. Akina has performed across the country, sharing bills with Booker T., Budos Band, and Big Sam’s Funky Nation, as well as with Austin favorites Gary Clark, Jr., Shinyribs, Bright Light Social Hour, Bob Schneider, Alejandro Escovedo, and Carolyn Wonderland. She is a featured backing vocalist on recordings by Charlie Mars, James McMurtry, Jackie Venson, and Gregg Rolie (Santana and Journey), among others. Akina has released two records with her 8-piece soul band, Akina Adderley & The Vintage Playboys, two records with modern jazz group, Nori, and is currently slow-releasing a batch of soul/rock singles under her own name. One of these singles—her 2020 social justice anthem, “Broke”—was a featured placement on the TV show Walker on the CW. A local Austin favorite, Akina is a Black Fret artist, a songwriter with The House of Songs, and was honored in 2012 by the mayoral proclamation of Akina Adderley Day in Austin.
09/06/2022
Clayton Joseph Scott was born on the Westside of Los Angeles in Venice Beach, California. He began his music career at the age of two when his father bought him a eukelele and the “Born in the USA” vinyl by Bruce Springsteen. The music of troubadours like Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, and Bob Marley, served as the soundtracks of Clayton’s youth and from a young age, the art of story telling through song became an idea that would shape Clayton’s music to this day. Clayton’s songs follow in the steps on the path of modern roots/rock performers like Michael Franti, Trevor Hall, Xavier Rudd, and, John Butler; to deliver a positive message, while invigorating audiences of all cultures to listen and dance with a purpose. His catalogue of original compositions range from deeply reflective soul/folk ballads to danceable world-beat arrangements that have won fans around the world! While traveling and living in India in 2008, Clayton began to write and compose his own music inspired by the cultures and travelers he met while exploring the greater world outside of his California home. Upon his return to the United States in 2010, he recorded his first studio album Heavy Restand began to pursue his music career in earnest; touring the US West Coast and Europe sharing the songs he wrote during his early life travels. In 2012 Clayton returned home from Los Angeles and began work on his acclaimed album More Love (released in 2012) which began to receive radio airplay across the United States and Europe. During this time Clayton formed a touring band with a group of Los Angeles musicians named “Brightside” who served as the musical backdrop to the stories Clayton shared in the lyrics of his songs. Upon the release of More Love, Clayton and Brightside began regular national tours and festival performances across the USA and spent the next seven years promoting their music to a growing fan base. In this time Clayton opened and toured with acts such as Jack Johnson, Trevor Hall, Brett Dennen, Michael Franti & Spearhead, White Buffalo, Donavon Frankenreiter, Rebelution, and Cas Haley. In 2014 Clayton Joseph Scott and Brightside teamed up with drummer Adam Topol (Jack Johnson, Culver City Dub Collective) who joined the band and together headed into the studio to record and release Clayton’s third album West of Lincoln (2014) which Topol served as producer. West of Lincoln received positive reviews as a follow up to More Love, the songs “Home” and “LA Woman” from the album were played on radio stations across the country. In 2018 Clayton and Brightside ventured into the studio to record their latest and most ambitious full length project LET GO (released Dec. 2020)and were set to share the new music beginning with a tour of Australia in early 2020 which was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Upon his return from Australia and entering a new world shaped by the COVID Pandemic, Clayton left his home in Venice Beach and moved to Southern Oregon’s Rogue Valley, to begin work on his fifth album View From the Moon ( released summer of 2021). Working with local musician Aaron Reed (The Brothers Reed) Clayton aimed to craft an album of songs that reflect the depths of the collective experience during the pandemic while still offering hope for better tomorrows. As the world begins to re-open, Clayton looks forwards to sharing his new music with fans old and new at LIVE music performances and continue to utilize the redemptive power of storytelling in song as a means for positive change in the world at large.

August 2022

08/30/2022

Based in Los Angeles, CA, Jay Denton is a songwriter/producer/artist and the founder of
ENDURE Studios. Blending genres and styles, and bringing his multi-instrumentalism to every
track, Denton builds music from the ground up and is involved in every element from the
inception of the songs and the production, to the mix/mastering process.
Originally from Dallas, TX, Jay moved to LA for an international relations degree at the
University of Southern California, and worked internationally before beginning his music career
as a songwriter in Nashville, TN. With his side job as a Krav Maga instructor and fight trainer,
Denton ironically started working in the industry as a touring fight trainer for The Band Perry and
others before his own music started gaining traction.
Moving back to Los Angeles, Denton put out his full debut album, "Locked", which garnered
placements in shows ranging from The Bachelor and Temptation Island, to The Olympics, ESPN,
and more, and prompted him to start his own studio, ENDURE Studios.
In 2019 Denton traveled to Beirut, Lebanon, and wrote/produced the ENDURE album, "For
Home" with Syrian refugees - featuring US artists alongside them. That album was featured by
The United Nations (UNHCR), American Songwriter Magazine, Shine On Hollywood Magazine,
and Daily News Egypt, and others.
Now looking to expand back to Nashville as well, Denton is building out ENDURE Nashville
alongside his studio in Los Angeles, and building teams of artists, songwriters, and producers in
both music epicenters to fuel both the work the studio does domestically and overseas in conflict
zones.
Denton's vision is to bring artists together from all over the world, and use music as a bridge to
connect cultures, styles, and stories in ways rarely seen before. Currently back and forth between
LA and Nashville, Denton is working on a wide array of projects with artists in both cities,
alongside his own project, and is planning the next ENDURE global, collaborative album.

08/23/2022

Jeff Coffin is a globally celebrated saxophonist, composer, educator, and is a member of the legendary U.S. rock group, Dave Matthews Band. You may also know him from his 14 years, and 3 Grammy Awards, with the genre-defying Bela Fleck & the Flecktones. Jeff fronts numerous groups when not touring with DMB and has released 17+ solo CD's on Ear Up Records.

Coffin is known for his musical passion, his deep commitment to music education, and his continued dedication to improvisational music.

Jeff is also a Yamaha Performing Artist & Clinician, a Boston Sax Shop Ambassador, teaches improvisation at the prestigious Vanderbilt University, authored numerous music books, authored a children’s book, produces, engineers, mixes, draws, and runs his own critically acclaimed record label, Ear Up Records.

Links:

https://www.jeffcoffin.com/
https://www.earuprecords.com/

https://www.facebook.com/jeffcoffinmusic/

https://www.instagram.com/jeffcoffin/

https://twitter.com/jeffcoffinmusic

08/16/2022

Rajiv Satyal is a Los Angeles-based comedian/host. His TV-clean act has made him one of the most versatile comedians working today. He began his career in his hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio.

Rajiv had an unusual entry into standup, doing his act for then-World No. 1 tennis player Pete Sampras in a locker room. Satyal has some interesting claims to fame: he opened for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in front of 17,000 people. He made the massively viral I AM INDIAN video, which has been seen over 50 million times, shared by Bollywood stars, and used to introduce the Indian Prime Minister in Shanghai and Dubai. He has opened for Russell Peters more than any other Indian comedian. Rajiv has opened multiple times for Tim Allen, Sebastian Maniscalco, Jo Koy, Kevin Nealon, and Dave Chappelle, and even opened Chappelle’s very first show after his much-publicized African hiatus. One night in New York City, Satyal closed the show at Gotham Comedy Club, following one of his heroes, Jerry Seinfeld.

Satyal performs weekly at the Laugh Factory in Hollywood. He has 13 videos with over 100,000 YouTube views each, and been featured by Amazon, NPR, Nickelodeon, Netflix, GQ, Bob & Tom, Times Now, The New York TimesThe Wall Street Journal, Advertising Age, The Times of India, and The LA Times.

Rajiv is the only person ever to perform standup comedy on all seven continents. He co-created the world-touring Make Chai Not War, a Hindu/Muslim stand-up show. The U.S. State Dept. sponsored it, sending it to seven cities in India. The show became part of the Congressional Record after being mentioned on Capitol Hill to Secretaries of State Hillary Clinton and John Kerry.

This University of Cincinnati engineer and former P&G marketer has done stand-up at more than 100 colleges. He named his alma mater’s online radio station “Bearcast,” launched/managed a Miss India America’s career, and has spoken to audiences from Fortune 500 companies to NFL players on innovation, DE&I, and personal branding. His corporate clients include P&G (14 times), GE (8 times), Google, General Mills, Quaker, Toyota, Cisco and more. He runs a consulting business called the Standpoint Agency, which helps marketers generate insights for their brands. He gave a TEDx Talk, “The Jester Is King.”

Satyal has acted in national commercials and in TV shows. He recorded 130 episodes of his podcast, The TanGent Show, and has interviewed everyone from Deepak Chopra to Seth Godin to Preity Zinta. In his spare time, Rajiv writes TV ads, performs improv, and produces sketches. His writings have made the front page of Medium and received hundreds of thousands of views on Quora.

In 2018, Satyal ran a Kickstarter — 100% funded in one day and exceeded 2x its goal ($56K total) in one month — to launch his own talk show, What Do You Bring to The Table? Guests include everyone from Hasan Minhaj (Satyal’s old roommate) to Lilly Singh to Dr. Vivek Murthy, the first Indian U.S. Surgeon General.

Rajiv has written and performed three 100-min one-person shows, each one with a different theme. In 2019, the subject is politics, culminating in a performance at the U.S. House of Representatives. In 2017, Taking a Stand, all about music, led him to become the first standup comic ever to perform at Spotify.

And back in 2013, Rajiv wrote No Man’s Land, a show about his dating life that sold out all performances from LA to NY to San Francisco to Cincinnati. This show actually led to Satyal’s marriage, which itself had a comedic arc: Rajiv proposed to his girlfriend while opening for Kevin Nealon, and at his wedding, Russell Peters finally opened for him.

08/02/2022

"a spectacularly creative young pianist...a very poetic player" – Orange County Register

“sonorities reminiscent of the stormy meter-high waves of a wild ocean.” - Ostholsteiner Anzeiger

Kai Ono is a singer-songwriter composer-pianist living in Queens, NY. He likes the color grey, the things that fly, and games of most kinds.

Kai’s writing primarily revolves around unsung moments of daily life, with an emphasis on compassion over romance. His music tends to either be tender ballads or maximalist absurdity.

After studying classical/jazz piano and composition in his undergrad, Kai immediately moved to New York City to play with the most skilled, inspired, and attractive people on the planet, and so far, he has made some solid progress. He’s been releasing songs steadily since 2020, and also is on the Tiktok grind. If you like his music, you should check him out there too.

Website: kaionomusic.com

Socials:

FB: facebook.com/thisiskaispage

IG: thisiskaisinsta

TikTok: thisiskaistiktok

July 2022

07/19/2022

Who is Victor Lemonte Wooten?

"Who am I? Now, that's a good question."

Victor Lemonte Wooten is a unique human being. Born the youngest of five boys, he began learning to play music at the tender age of two. He started performing in nightclubs and theaters as the bassist with the family band at age five, and at age six, was on tour with his brothers opening shows for legendary soul artist Curtis Mayfield. Soon after, he was affectionately known as the 8-year-old Bass Ace, and before graduating high school, he and his brothers had shared the stage with artists such as Stephanie Mills, War, Ramsey Lewis, Frankie Beverly and Maze, Dexter Wansel, and The Temptations. But, this only begins to tell the tale of this Tennessee titan.

Wooten, now a five-time Grammy winner, hit the worldwide scene in 1990 as a founding member of the super-group Bela Fleck and the Flecktones. Continuing to blaze a musical trail with the band, Victor has also become widely known for his own Grammy nominated solo recordings and tours.

Among other things, he is a loving husband and father of four, a skilled naturalist and teacher, a published author, a magician and acrobat, and has won every major award given to a bass guitarist including being voted Bassist of the Year in Bass Player Magazine's readers poll three times (the only person to win it more than once.) In 2011, Rolling Stone Magazine voted Victor one of the Top Ten Bassist of ALL TIME.

"I was born at the right place and the right time to a wonderful family."

Victor Lemonte Wooten was born September 11, 1964 to military parents on an air force base outside of Boise, Idaho. Soon after, the family packed up and moved on as military families often do. It was during the years stationed in Hawaii that the brothers began performing as a five-piece band. With Regi on guitar, Roy on drums, Rudy on sax, Joseph on keys, and Victor on bass, the Wooten Brothers band was born. Performing in their front yard, the band immediately began honing their skills. Victor credits the brothers' early ability to play a variety of musical genres to the experience of relocating frequently, the diversity of 1960's radio stations, and the unwavering support of their parents who provided many opportunities and booked all of their performances.

"My brothers, who were already playing music, knew they needed a bass player to complete the family band. Regi started teaching me as soon as I could sit up straight, and my parents let him do it."

Victor has been heralded as "the Michael Jordan of the bass" and "one of the most fearless musicians on the planet." These qualities were evident when, in 1981, his older brother, Roy, recommended him as a bluegrass fiddle player for a job performing at a nearby amusement park. Victor, having never played violin in his life, was thrilled to meet the challenge. He borrowed an instrument from his high school orchestra teacher and immediately began practicing. Quickly learning the most popular fiddle tunes and techniques, he took the job at Busch Gardens' The Old Country in Williamsburg, VA playing fiddle and bass in the Good Time Country Show.

"I remember getting that call from Roy. He trusted me. I had to learn to be a fiddler real quick, almost over night. I don't think the people who hired me ever knew I'd never played before."

What they soon found out was that the brothers were quickly becoming star attractions. The Wooten Brothers rapidly became staple figures and star attractions at the park throughout the 1980's working in the German, Italian, Country and Bluegrass, and Americana shows.

The years 1980 and 1981 found the brothers performing for US troops overseas as the band for the Busch Gardens USO show. Traveling the world was an eye-opening time of learning for young Victor, but it was one summer performing in the country show that, unbeknownst to him, changed his life forever. That was when he became aware of a unique banjo player named Béla Fleck.

"My brothers and parents were the foundation. They prepared me for just about anything by teaching me to keep my mind open and to learn to adapt."

While messing around with a friend's banjo between shows, the friend commented on Wooten's unique banjo sound. Because the instrument is tuned different from a bass, Victor's lines came out sounding pretty strange when he played his friend's instrument. With a thick southern accent, the friend told him that he sounded just like a banjo player named "Baylor Fleck". Wooten couldn't imagine anyone playing a banjo that way, so he sought out to find out who this Baylor guy was. When he finally heard a recording of Béla's band New Grass Revival, he was hooked.

In 1987, Victor traveled with his friend to Nashville, TN. During their short visit, he connected with the banjoist Fleck for the first time. After their initial meeting, Wooten and Fleck kept in touch and continued sharing musical ideas. In 1988, Wooten found himself living in Nashville. Later that year, Béla and Victor, along with Victor's inventive brother Roy "Future Man" Wooten, and harmonica & piano wizard Howard Levy, formed the eclectic ensemble Béla Fleck and the Flecktones. With a dozen recordings under their belt, the band has created a completely new sound and has become known for its genre-defying music. Currently, over twenty years later, the band is still going strong.

"Musically, that means not being rigid and not having to play in a certain way."

A few years after he began touring with the Flecktones, Victor released his first solo project, A Show of Hands. Recorded with only a 4-string bass, no multi-tracking, and a lot of groove and soul, this revolutionary CD was voted one of the most important bass records of all time.

Musicians wanting to learn Victor's unique style and elusive techniques began seeking him out for lessons and seminars at music stores and schools around the world. These workshops became the training ground that lead to the formation of his acclaimed Bass/Nature Camp in 2000, which eventually expanded into Victor Wooten's Center for Music and Nature. These "intensive" style programs, now in its thirteenth year, welcome all instrumentation and vocalists, and have helped thousands of people of all ages from all corners of the world enhance their musical and personal lives.

 

"People frequently thank us for sending their new spouses home."

In 2009, Wooten Woods became the new home for all of Victor's camps. The nearly 150-acre retreat, owned by Victor and his wife, is located on the beautiful Duck River west of Nashville, TN. This picturesque retreat center, largely built by the hands and hearts of past students, has provided many more opportunities for Victor and his staff to share their lifelong experiences with others.

"We give students the opportunity to completely let go and be themselves while congregating in a peaceful non-competitive manner on an equal playing ground with each other and their instructors. We've found this to be the best environment for learning."

April 1st, 2008 marked the debut of two new releases by Victor Wooten. Palmystery (Heads Up) is his sixth solo recording and contains a collection of all new music. It features Bootsy Collins, Mike Stern, Keb Mo, Carl Denson, Jd Blair, Derico Watson, Saundra Williams, Anthony Wellington, Steve Bailey, Will Lee, Dennis Chambers, The Lee Boys, The Wooten Brothers, and others. The album showcases Wooten's jazz composition and arranging skills with songs like "Two Timers", 'Flex', and "Song for my Father", but also brings to the forefront his artistically humble side with the celebratory track "Bass Tribute" and the thought provoking "I Saw God".

On the same date, Victor released The Music Lesson-A Spiritual Search for Growth Through Music, a self-published novel about Life and Music. The book presold hundreds of copies before its release quickly becoming a "must-read" for musicians world-wide. The choice of using this unconventional approach to sharing unique ideas about music was a surprise to all. Offering an intriguing story full of anecdotes and mysticism, The Music Lesson has helped free the minds of musicians worldwide. Soon after its release, it was picked up and published by the Berkley Publishing Group/ Penguin USA Inc. Now translated into multiple languages, The Music Lesson is currently used as required reading and part of curriculums in study groups, schools, and universities including the prestigious Berklee College of Music and Stanford.

With the success of the book came the release of The Music Lesson audiobook (Tantor Audio). Victor lends his voice as the narrator and main character, but enlisted many of his friends and fellow musicians to read the parts of all the remaining characters. Victor also wrote and performed the musical score to the audio book, which was voted as a one of five finalists at the 2011 Audie Awards (the audio book's equivalent to the Grammys) in the category of Personal Development.

"My mom always said the world needs more than just good musicians. She said we need good people."

Wooten's sought-after skills and growing popularity have lead to recordings and performances with artists such as Chick Corea, The Dave Matthews Band, Bootsy Collins, Branford Marsalis, Mike Stern, Prince, India Arie, Keb Mo, Dennis Chambers, Susan Tedeschi, Gov't Mule, Bruce Hornsby, Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller, Frank Gambale, the legendary Moroccan group Nass El Ghiwane, and many others.

His respected reputation as a teacher and speaker/lecturer on the subjects of both Music and Nature have garnered invitations for him to speak and teach at schools, universities, classes and spiritual centers around the world. Some of these places include Strathmore College, Berklee College of Music, Stanford University, Harvard, Mississippi State, Miami University, Middle Tennessee State University, The Haven (Gabriola Isle BC, Canada), Various Nature Centers and camps, and The NYC "Y" with Dan Levitin, author of "This Is Your Brain On Music".

Along with recording Grammy winning and Billboard charting albums with Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, Victor also spearheaded the formation of the super-group SMV with two of his childhood heroes, Stanley Clarke and Marcus Miller. He continues to record and tour with the Flecktones, various other artists, and as a solo artist. He also currently leads six to eight camps at Wooten Woods each year (which he takes part in all day every day). With all of this going on, it would seem like Victor Wooten would have no time for anything else, but that is not the case.

Taking matters completely into his own hands, Wooten has recently formed his own record label. Vix Records, Wooten's self-proclaimed "Label of Love", entered the scene in 2011 with a re-mastered version of his pioneering debut solo CD. The new version, A Show of Hands 15, contains three bonus tracks and is also released on vinyl.

"If the world were to follow you today, where would you lead them?"

Continuing to grow and always willing to share his gifts with all who desire to learn, it seems that Victor Wooten has no plans of slowing down.

I'm currently writing the sequel to The Music Lesson, and have at least three more books planned after that. I feel like we're just getting started with the camps and Wooten Woods. Now that we are officially recognized as a not-for-profit organization (501c3), the door is wide open. Vix Records has already released multiple products and we're not even a year old yet. Writing music for movies and television is the next logical step, and with the amazing team I have helping me, including my manager Danette Albetta, my assistant Dave Welsch, and my wife Holly, I'm sure we'l accomplish all of our dreams and more. You know, my kids are actually starting to play gigs on their own now. Who knows, I may be able to retire soon and become their manager. I'm just happy that people like what I do and that I have a lot of support. You can't beat that.

Keep checking in at VictorWooten.com to stay current with everything Victor Lemonte Wooten has his hands and heart wrapped around. He's moving quickly, so you'll have to try hard to keep up. One thing is for sure; you won't want to miss any of it

 

07/12/2022

Ally Fabes is a saxophone artist originally from New York City.  A graduate of the University of Kansas, Ally trained under saxophonists Vince Gnojek and Allen Won. While in college Ally had started her band, Glass Bandit and involved herself in as many opportunities around the Kansas City area. Ally is also a recent graduate of the University of Miami where she received her Masters in Live Entertainment Management. Ally has performed with many artists including Southside Johnny and Kevin Gastonguay (Cory Wong). She has also opened for artists such as the Wailers, Louis York, and Juice. 

07/05/2022

Dorian Holley’s one of a kind voice has graced audiences worldwide.
He was Vocal Director for the late Michael Jackson’s “This Is It” tour and
for 27 years performed as a vocalist on every one of Jackson’s solo tours. He has
toured with
Rod Stewart, Queen Latifah, Don Henley, Lionel Richie, Linda
Ronstadt, and Jimmy Vaughn. In 2019 and ‘20 he toured with James Taylor and
Coldplay.
Dorian has given Master Classes in Moscow, Russia, Geneva, Mexico City and
Paris and created vocal performance classes at Los Angeles College of Music.
He was a featured soloist for Dave Grusin’s big band presentation of Westside
Story at Disney Hall, singing “Maria”.
The Dorian Holley Band is fresh off 19 burning, sold out performances of A Love
Letter To Marvin Gaye, which Dorian created and produced; a 2 hour

retrospective of The Prince Of Motown’s canon. The shows feature a 16 piece all-
star band including a live string ensemble and brass. They also took the show to

The National Black Theatre Festival in Charlotte, North Carolina last summer for
4 house rocking shows.
Dorian was vocal coach on American Idol 11 of its glory years.
He was lead singer in The Rickey Minor Band on Jay Leno’s
The Tonight Show. He was also in the Black History Museum special at the White
House that won an Emmy. He is in the band for the Aretha Franklin Grammy
Special. He was vocal coach for the pilot Million Dollar Singer and was part of
the Emmy winning Kennedy Center Honors 2020. He has coached on The
Masked Singer and is the first black contractor, assembling and conducting 2
massive choirs for the Oscars.

Dorian has backed up Stevie Wonder, Sting, Adele, Jason Derulo, Smokey
Robinson, The Dave Matthews Band, Usher, Tori Kelly, Erykah Badu, Seal,
Christina Aguilera, Fifth Harmony and countless others. He is the voice of
Grosberger in Stir Crazy and the voice of Choir Boy in The Five Heartbeats. He
sang in the new Coming To America, the Jungle Book, Star Wars, Creed II, How
The Grinch Stole Christmas; tons of movies and TV.
His solo CD is called “Independent Film.
Dorian is married to Uber lawyer Shawn Holley, and has 3 beautiful daughters,
Nayanna, Sasha and Olivia.
#officaldorianholley www.thedorianholleyband.com

June 2022

06/28/2022

Mauricio Ignacio Ibáñez Guzmán (born in 1984 in Valparaíso) is a musician, songwriter, guitar player, music producer and solo artist currently based in Santiago, Chile. A rock guitarist at heart, he explores different genres of rock, metal and much more. His favorite genres are progressive rock/metal, art rock, alternative/space rock, melancholic pop rock, ambient, new-age and certain sub-genres of electronic music. A Bachelor of Music and Sound at UNIACC (Universidad de Artes, Ciencias y Comunicación) and alumni of LACM (Los Angeles College of Music), he first picked up the electric guitar at age 16 in 2000 and started writing and producing his own material in 2005. Heavily influenced by progressive metal in his early twenties by bands like Dream Theater and Opeth, he would later incorporate the essence of Porcupine Tree, Steven Wilson, Anathema and others into his songwriting a few years later. In 2016 he started his main career as a musical artist with his first solo album. In 2019 he started a parallel career as Vocaloid producer Vocalord-P. He works mostly with Rin and Len Kagamine. Mauricio owns a fully equipped recording studio with a control room and an instruments room called "The Music Lair Studios" where he has recorded and produced the entirety of his catalog. Mauricio wIll be releasing his 9th solo album "Blue Stardust" in August, 2022 on all the digital platforms.

06/21/2022

"Gregg Wright is in the top echelons of the world's great guitarists!" according to the international publication Blues Matters. Inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in 2013 and receiving the "Living Legend" Blues Award in 2019, Wright is an electrifying guitarist, singer, songwriter and live performer  who leaves audiences breathless! “Gregg Wright has an extra gear most guitarists don't have!" raves fellow Bluesman Zac Harmon. With years of touring with Michael Jackson, Mick Fleetwood and a host of top tier music artists under his belt, Wright has developed a confident and engaging stage presence. He initially comes off as "Mr. Smooth" but can go for your jugular in an instant, without warning.

Gregg Wright, began his professional career on the U.S. Southern circuit in the mid-1970's. He honed his craft with years of playing  one-nighters across the Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Texas, often opening shows for the big national touring acts of the day. “I was privileged to work and learn around greatness!” says Gregg. “I opened several times for Albert King and Freddie King, and learned a great deal from watching them up close. Their words of encouragement really energized me. I owe them a huge debt of gratitude!"

An '80's move from Louisiana to Los Angeles saw Wright become a session man and "hired gun" touring guitarist. His reputation grew over the next decade doing albums and tours with Mick Fleetwood, Michael Jackson, the Gap Band, Berlin and Spencer Davis.

Wright's incredibly precise, high energy live performances have brought many a crowd to its feet and screaming for more. Total audience satisfaction is guaranteed with Gregg Wright . . . "King of the Rockin' Blues!"

https://greggwright.com

06/14/2022

Asaf Rodeh is a Los Angeles based Music Director, Producer and Guitar Player

Born and raised in Israel, Asaf moved to Los Angeles in 2007 to pursue a music career and quickly found his way into the local scene. 
His musical diversity brought him to work with a wide range of artists such as: Lil Nas X, King Princess, Ariana Grande, Charlie Puth, Weezer, AJ McLean, Ava Max, David Archuleta, Madison Beer, Arizona Zervas, Skip Marley, Rita Ora, to name a few.

06/07/2022

Nick Field: 

Nicholas Field grew up in Detroit, Michigan where he began mastering his skills in the entertainment industry. Committed to his dance and modeling training, Nick began traveling the country to various competitions. After 2 years of studying business in Chicago, Nick moved to Los Angeles to apprentice with some of the most influential photographers in the industry. Photography became a passion of Nick’s and would soon lead him into a successful career with his own photography company, The Field Gallery. Nick has since been perfecting his craft in photography allowing him to foster many business and personal relationships throughout the country.

After creating and hosting successful art shows in New York Nick knew creating an environment for artist to showcase their talents was his passion.

Drive, determination and hard work combined with his innate creativity have lead him to a successful career in both the entertainment and photography industry.

 

Sam J Garfield:

Sam J Garfield is a music producer & sound engineer based in East Los Angeles. Authenticity and the ability to think “outside the box” is key when it comes to Sam's Music. 

With already more than 50 published tracks in the past year, Sam’s signature sound has caught the eye of many powerhouses in the entertainment world, working on projects for HBO’s ‘We’re Here’, the star studded cast & winners of RuPaul’s Drag Race, Celebrity choreographer & Singer Bobby Newberry, Beauty Icon GiGi Gorgeous and International Music Sensation Courtney Act. 

Currently music directing AHF’s National Tour of West Side Story, and composing his first feature film, both set to arrive in 2022, Sam’s multifaceted career continues to be one on the rise.

May 2022

05/31/2022

Pat O'Brien is a Pittsburgh native who began his musical career at the age of eleven. He began immersing himself in the works of Elmore James and Albert King. In his early twenties he was billed with such blues legends as Willie Dixon and Howlin' Wolf. After which, he became a veteran of numerous recording sessions throughout the United States and Japan.

One of Pat's more celebrated efforts, "Dog Party" with noted jazz guitarist Scott Henderson, won Guitar Player Magazine Readers Poll Winner for Best Blues Album of the Year (beating out B.B. King's, "Blues Summit" and Eric Clapton's, "From the Cradle" in the process). Pat's searing harp solo on "Milk Bone" simply must be heard to be believed!

While most musicians would be content with half of Pat's ability to lay down scorching runs on the blues harp, his passionate vocals and uncanny ability to interpret the works of Albert Collins and Stevie Ray Vaughan have turned the little night club in Arcadia, California where he works his magic into a cash cow for the owners, packing the place every Friday and Saturday night.

Throwing his head back, ripping of scalding runs on the blues progressions and sliding the neck of his '66 Strat down the mike stand, Pat is a frantic combination of Keith Richards, Buddy Guy and Jimi Hendrix, with a little Brian Setzer thrown in for good measure!

https://www.priestsoflove.com/

05/24/2022

Phillip A. Peterson is a composer, orchestrator and a creative catalyst with work spanning from symphonic commissions, orchestrations for hip hop/pop to intricately composed film scores. His original compositions have been premiered by the Seattle symphony and have been featured in numerous films, commercials, and digital media. Peterson's unmatched talents and creativity have led to frequent collaborations including; orchestrating for Lorde and Ed Sheeran, producing & contributing to albums by Portugal. The Man, arranging & recording strings for Maroon 5, and appearing on records with Cashmere Cat and Kehlani.

Peterson has worked on many Grammy nominated records, contributed to Telly award-winning advertising campaigns, and has more than 10 Platinum and Gold Records to his credits. His discography below shows an abbreviated list of albums he has contributed to with arranging, orchestrating, producing, performing, recording, and/or composing. Commercial clients include PBS, Amazon, Microsoft, Verizon, ClipCard, The NewBlank, Seattle Symphony.

Phillip has a penchant for creating just the right feel for any project. Whether composing for a 50 piece orchestra or solo cello, his skills are unmatched in the art of musical interpretation of the visual world, with each note reflecting a color, a moment, or an emotional entanglement.

"With all my work, I strive to create suspension of disbelief. The goal being to create a pure, lucid moment where all practicality, responsibilities, and even time & space are vanquished, leaving behind an ethereal, transcendent moment where you can truly feel and be with the music."

Peterson is a Seattle native, born into a musical Family. He started playing the cello at the age of 3 on a viola fitted up with an endpin. His family founded a youth symphony, started a music school and toured the country playing classical works adapted and orchestrated by his mother. By the age of 17, Peterson was touring in Europe as a principal cellist, while writing and composing his own pieces, from rock ballads to string quartets. His skill as a composer has been honed by many travels, performances, and collaborations with other creatives and gifted musicians. Peterson has been commissioned several times to compose and arrange for the Seattle Symphony, and wrote over two hundred works for his Experimental Orchestra, conducting his and other works several times in Benaroya Hall, Seattle.

https://www.phillip-peterson.com/

05/10/2022

A Southern California born and raised native, Mark began his life in music at a very young age.  Growing up with Peruvian immigrant parents, Mark was exposed to all styles of music at a young age.  From American Pop, R&B, Rock to Jazz, Big Band, Salsa, Cumbia and Classical, Mark grew up in a very musical home.  His Mom song on Peruvian radio as a young teen and she sang in there home everyday.  

 

He began playing the saxophone at 7 ½ years old and sturdily formally with private teachers until the age of 14.  When he was just 9 years old, he also began singing career in Church choirs, continuing to perform into his early teens and eventually joining the L.A. music scene in the 80’s performing with various original and cover bands.

 

Mark also has an extensive background in law, having worked nearly 19 years in law firms in different capacities, beginning as a legal assistant and ultimately becoming a Paralegal, all the while working as a musician 3-4 nights a week as a sideman, doing sessions and writing original music.  His vast experience ranges from transactional law to music and contract litigation.

Mark is also an independent Singer/Songwriter, playing various instruments, and released his first solo effort entitled SHADES OF 8 in August 2006, and he has continued to write, record and produce his original music making it available on all streaming services.  His most recent Spotify release:  https://open.spotify.com/album/0SUoLVjzpAbD2Lw8bY7AaE?si=pPsiHq3FT4-ETYY1dSpszA

As a Solo Artist, he (along with his Band) has opened for dozens of multi-platinum artists including Paul Rodgers (Bad Company), Paul Stanley (KISS), Lou Gramm (Foreigner), Richard Marx, Edwin McCain, Rik Emmett (Triumph), Tal Bachman, Little River Band, to name a few.   Mark also had the honor of sharing the stage and working in the studio with such artists as Kenny Rogers, The Killers, Sheila-E, Bret Michaels (POISON), ZEDD and David Cook (American Idol). 

In the late 2000’s Mark began working as an independent Songwriter and Producer, working with several up and coming young local female artists, while still writing, recording and composing music for Film & TV placement.  His song WAITING FOR YOU (from his first CD) was featured in the Gold Circle Film “My Sassy Girl”.

Website:

www.markcastrillon.com

Instagram:

https://instagram.com/markcastrillon?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Facebook:

https://m.facebook.com/643245696/

05/03/2022

Uri Gelman is a talented music producer and songwriter with over 20 years of experience in the industry and song placements in several independent films. Born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Uri developed a passion for music at a young age, starting out as a guitarist playing in local bands. He later decided to pursue his musical ambitions by moving to Los Angeles, where he attended Musicians Institute and graduated with honors. Today, Uri operates his own recording studio, VooDoo Doll Productions. Located in the grounds of the Groove Tubes® factory in San Fernando, CA, this is a unique recording studio built and designed by Aspen Pittman, founder of GT. This state-of-the-art facility houses an impressive and unique collection of vintage gear, amps, mics, and instruments that are used by independent musicians and artists from around the world. The live room is huge and ideal for making your drums sound bigger than life while also allowing you to record live to capture the right vibe for your songs. The spacious vocal booth is meticulously treated to ensure clear vocals every time, and the cozy control room is the ideal location to fine-tune your mix with accuracy. Uri Gelman is passionate about working with independent artists, utilizing his extensive experience and expertise in the recording studio to help them create high-quality, competitive recordings and radio ready mixes.

https://voodoodollproductions.com/

https://www.instagram.com/urigelman

https://www.facebook.com/uri.gelman

https://aspenpittmandesigns.com/

April 2022

04/26/2022

Pat O'Brien is a Pittsburgh native who began his musical career at the age of eleven. He began immersing himself in the works of Elmore James and Albert King. In his early twenties he was billed with such blues legends as Willie Dixon and Howlin' Wolf. After which, he became a veteran of numerous recording sessions throughout the United States and Japan.

One of Pat's more celebrated efforts, "Dog Party" with noted jazz guitarist Scott Henderson, won Guitar Player Magazine Readers Poll Winner for Best Blues Album of the Year (beating out B.B. King's, "Blues Summit" and Eric Clapton's, "From the Cradle" in the process). Pat's searing harp solo on "Milk Bone" simply must be heard to be believed!

While most musicians would be content with half of Pat's ability to lay down scorching runs on the blues harp, his passionate vocals and uncanny ability to interpret the works of Albert Collins and Stevie Ray Vaughan have turned the little night club in Arcadia, California where he works his magic into a cash cow for the owners, packing the place every Friday and Saturday night.

Throwing his head back, ripping of scalding runs on the blues progressions and sliding the neck of his '66 Strat down the mike stand, Pat is a frantic combination of Keith Richards, Buddy Guy and Jimi Hendrix, with a little Brian Setzer thrown in for good measure!

https://www.priestsoflove.com/

04/19/2022

DANIEL COREY

 

L.A.-based singer/songwriter/guitarist Daniel Corey is a well-rounded artist who has tried his hand at many different artistic disciplines, all of which have led to the upcoming release of his premiere single, “Nearsighted.”

For years, Daniel has operated under the name of his alter ego, DangerKatt, writing comic series that have been published by powerhouse publisher Image Comics, screenplays that have netted 35 first-place awards from festivals all over the world, and an award-winning conceptual photo series, “Map of the World.” In addition to these pursuits, Daniel has been recognized as an innovator who created some of the earliest explorations of Augmented Reality in comics, and was ranked #2 on Onalytica’s Top 100 VR Influencer list for his role in collaborating with Transmedia Entertainment to produce one of the first VR comic books. In the midst of all of this, Daniel has spent years honing his craft as a musician.

Growing up in the South, Daniel received a solid grounding in church music, and would go on to study classical piano, modern voice, and rock guitar. In addition to his love of gospel artists like Russ Taff and Phil Keaggy, Daniel found his sort of “sonic home” by listening to artists like U2, Sting, Peter Gabriel, REM, Daniel Lanois, Paul Simon, Seal, Dave Matthews, and Elbow. Finding himself particularly fascinated by the finger-style and dynamics of Daniel Lanois’ guitar playing, Daniel developed his own unique acoustic style that seamlessly combines finger-picking, tapping, and strumming that uses an economy of movement to create a large wave of sound.

“Nearsighted” is a unique song that brings a retro-70s Americana vibe akin to Paul Simon, while delivering a contemporary message about the nature of disappointment and heartbreak in a post-pandemic world. “Personally, for myself, I have always wanted to create art in many different media, but music has always been the core thing in my life,” Daniel says. “I initially created DangerKatt as an umbrella for all of my artistic pursuits. Every artist wants to have a singular voice, after all. It really all came together when I started with ‘Map of the World,’ which explores human eyes and motivation in extreme close-up. ‘Nearsighted’ is a song about vision and direction in life. The futuristic visuals combined with the retro vibe of the music make a sort of ‘Cyber-Americana’ that has been driving my output for the past several years.”

Daniel credits much of the success of the “Nearsighted” to his producers, Alexx Calise and Dennis Morehouse, who themselves comprise the internationally successful modern rock duo, Batfarm. Daniel says: “Alexx and Den are very gifted as musicians, songwriters and producers, and I particularly love that they also have a streak of retro sensibility that merges with their own specific take on futurism. They express themselves on stage, in the studio, as well as through satirical visuals and videos that feed their brand and communicate their message. Working with them was a no-brainer, and an excellent fit. I am blessed to know them.”

“Nearsighted” is now on all streaming platforms, as well as iTunes. Expect more music from Daniel soon, and be on the lookout for his upcoming “Map of the World” photo book, which will be available later this year.

Learn more about Daniel Corey via:

https://DangerKatt.com/

https://www.facebook.com/dangerkattworld

https://www.instagram.com/thedangerkatt/

https://www.youtube.com/user/danielcorey1

https://twitter.com/dangerkatt

 

For inquiries, contact publicist Alexx Calise:

alexxcalise@yahoo.com

AlexxCalise.net

YouTube.com/AlexxCaliseMusic

04/12/2022

Comprised of Alexx Calise, an introspective lyricist and “harmony machine”, and Morehouse, a masterful arranger and sound manipulator, Batfarm is a two-piece alternative rock band whose sound can be best described as “darkedelic”. The multi-instrumentalists keep it small not only for efficiency’s sake, but also to keep creating the music they want without added personalities. Combining Alexx’s grunge and blues influences with rich, choral soundscapes and Dennis’s love of industrial, funk, and psychedelic music, Batfarm creates a sound that is like everything and nothing at once.

While the music itself is serious, they don’t take themselves too seriously, and it is their hope that the darkness of some of their own personal experiences will help others to find their own light.

 

batfarmband.com, Facebook.com/batfarmband, instagram.com/batfarmband 

04/05/2022

Rerun:

Mark Sutherland Bio: Mark has spent the last 30 years hosting major market & network radio shows in over 50 US markets, as well as England and Japan. He also directed and produced numerous network and cable TV shows, shot thousands of stills, conceived, founded and programed Static Beach Networks from a showcase studio in Hermosa Beach, and is now in post-production as Producer/Director of a feature documentary film. Mark has over twenty years of broadcast experience, hosting everything from modern rock to kids radio. Along the way he picked up Billboard magazine's "Top Modern Rock Radio Personality" award, and was tapped by The Walt Disney Corporation and ABC to be the marquis personality, “Just Plain Mark,” for their new and ambitious "Radio Disney," a nationally broadcast network for families… a risky undertaking which Mark helped develop into a viable and lucrative format by conceiving and hosting one of the most popular shows in the history of kid’s radio. Mark left radio for network television, then conceived and co-exec produced the original NBC pilot Be Careful What You Wish For. He also found time to produce and direct the wildly successful Save Disney Campaign for former Disney CEO, billionaire & Walt Disney’s nephew, Roy E. Disney. Following that, Mark island-hopped the Caribbean for Discovery Networks, Travel Channel, while writing, directing and producing Beach Week…Clearly a tough gig if there ever was one. In the nine years that followed, as founder/CEO of Static Beach Networks, Mark filled his days and nights perfecting and growing a privately owned, 21st century multi-media/radio network, which, at its peak, proudly boasted an audience of 4 million unique monthly visitors and 219 million ad impressions. Always busy with something, Mark also piloted Everywhere Sessions, an original TV series where talented artists perform original songs in unique places. He’s currently in post-production with a heartwarming feature doc film, staring his 16-year-old Whippet, Abby. Abby’s List, A Dogumentary, coming to Cable TV, DOD, and select theaters in 2022

March 2022

03/29/2022

Auriel and Carlos Jimenez

There are many fascinating stories in the World of film production, and the journey of filmmaking duo Auriel and Carlos Jimenez is another unique journey.

Meeting during their stint in the Marines, the talented pair have brought their measured and disciplined training to their current place in the film industry.

Carlos, a well-regarded cinematographer in his own right, was brought to the feature film project BURN, after working with Director/Writer/Star Patrick Lazzara on another film. Once reviewing the script with partner Auriel, the ambitious twosome set out to bring Mr. Lazzara's passion project to fruition.

Applying skills learned in the military has been a key component to achieving success in completing BURN.

Carlos says, “I didn't realize it when I got into it, you know, how helpful the Marine Corps was. It helped me to problem solve, cause the thing is with the Marine Corps is  you always are forced to do a lot with a little.”

And those skills also assisted Auriel in her own administrative components in the production work,
“ The Marines let me understand a lot of stuff that people would normally stress out about, everything became like water off a duck's back.”

All the hard work paid off, and after an extended creative process spanning nearly a decade, BURN, an evocative, fiery crime thriller would be born, with its Release slated for April 1st across major VOD platforms.

03/22/2022

SCOTT LITTLE

Four guys on a stage. Instruments and equipment. That’s all it takes to put together a band these days. But – you never know what you’re going to get. Not so with The Scott Little Band – these four guys and their instruments have mastered the art of blending their styles to create one of the best alternative country bands now playing in the southeast.

Having played with national acts such as Radney Foster, Wet Willie, Little Texas and The Indigo Girls, as well as regional successes The Zac Brown Band and Corey Smith, they’ve gained the reputation of being the right guys for the job. Spending two months at the top of the chart at RadioFreeTexas.org with their hit “Little Bit of Rain”, the band gained national exposure and countless new fans. Their seemingly endless catalog of standards and current songs coupled with quality originals will entertain to the very end, and leave you wanting more.

From heart-wrenching ballads to rocking guitars, the Scott Little Band will capture your spirit and run with it. Going along for the ride just gives you the best seat in the house.

Website:

www.scottlittle.com

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Scott-Little-Band/100062419696649/

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/scottlittlemusic/

 

03/08/2022

GREG LEON

Gregory Jay Leon is a Los Angeles hard rock guitarist notable for his stints in Quiet Riot and Dokken. He was also in a band called Suite 19 with Gary Holland, who was later replaced by Tommy Lee.

Greg Leon is considered an influential and important musical personality in the Hollywood Hard Rock/Heavy Metal scene of the late 1970s and early 1980s, playing an integral part in the successive fortunes of the acts he was associated with.

BACKGROUND
Greg Leon was born in 1958 and grew up in Glendale, California, a foothills community of Los Angeles, and immediately made an impact on the blossoming live hard rock scene of Hollywood's Sunset Strip in the late 1970s. Primarily playing guitar and handling vocals, the acts that he fronted were Suite 19, with future Great White/Dokken drummer Gary Holland and then future Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee, and the Greg Leon Invasion, with

bassist Joey Vera (later of Armored Saint, Fate's Warning and Anthrax) and drummer Carl Elizondo (later of Jag Wire, and playing under the stage name Carl James). The Invasion would release the "Every Time" b/w "Stay With Me Tonite" 7" single with Vera on bass who was fired when it was discovered by Greg Leon that he had been moonlighting with Armored Saint. Vera's replacement, Chuck Stevenson and Elizondo played with Greg on the Greg Leon Invasion picture disc released by Azra/R2R in 1983. He took the place of Randy Rhoads in Quiet Riot, and as the pre-George Lynch guitarist in Dokken (Don Dokken has since made the group's first EP, which graces Greg on the cover). During this period Greg also had a considerable local reputation as a guitar teacher, working at Rhoads' mother's guitar studio in Burbank.

 

SUBSEQUENT CAREER
Greg Leon had several incarnations of the Invasion and played with various L.A. acts after his exciting early days. He also had a brief time with Greenworld Records' Midwestern act Vyper, while at the same time gathering a name for himself as a guitar amp modifying specialist. In the late 1990s, Greg fronted a band called Wishing Well which also featured Survivor drummer Marc Droubay and English-born bassist Stuart Brooks (ex-Black Cat Bones, Leaf Hound, The Pretty Things). The trio released their eponymous debut album in 1997. However, by 2003 Greg Leon was once again playing the LA club scene under the name The Greg Leon Invasion, featuring Boston-born bassist George Roelke and Ohio-born drummer Greg Stevens, taking the group for a European festival tour in 2005 on the strength of new recordings, coupled with the myth related to his name. The line-up also performed July 13, 2007 at the annual 1980s-era hard rock music festival Rocklahoma. In 2008 former White Lion drummer Greg D'Angelo replaced Stevens in the band.
Greg is married with Canadian singer Suza Wood and in 2005 he produced her first album titled Sweet Freedom.

03/01/2022

Stephen L Sullivan, or "Sully", is an actor based in Los Angeles, CA.  He is known for portraying the iconic "John Lennon" in the HBO's series, "Vinyl", in episode 8, "E.A.B.". Stephen is also well known for his role as "Clay" in AMC's "Mad Men" for his encounter with Roger Sterling at the hippie commune in the episode entitled, "The Monolith". He was seen as "Dennis Wilson", on Lifetime's, "Manson's Lost Girls" and as a church missionary in season 2 of "Criminal Minds:Beyond Borders".  He has been found on the short end of a rope as cattle wrangler, "Cooper James" in "Longmire". As the fratricidal "Liam Finnegan" of the Channel Street Boys in "Rizzoli & Isles". And as the itchy trigger fingered "Sean Rourke" in the short lived series, "Ironside". He was also the renowned "Serge" on the long running "General Hospital".

February 2022

02/22/2022

Auriel and Carlos Jimenez

There are many fascinating stories in the World of film production, and the journey of filmmaking duo Auriel and Carlos Jimenez is another unique journey.

Meeting during their stint in the Marines, the talented pair have brought their measured and disciplined training to their current place in the film industry.

Carlos, a well-regarded cinematographer in his own right, was brought to the feature film project BURN, after working with Director/Writer/Star Patrick Lazzara on another film. Once reviewing the script with partner Auriel, the ambitious twosome set out to bring Mr. Lazzara's passion project to fruition.

Applying skills learned in the military has been a key component to achieving success in completing BURN.

Carlos says, “I didn't realize it when I got into it, you know, how helpful the Marine Corps was. It helped me to problem solve, cause the thing is with the Marine Corps is  you always are forced to do a lot with a little.”

And those skills also assisted Auriel in her own administrative components in the production work,
“ The Marines let me understand a lot of stuff that people would normally stress out about, everything became like water off a duck's back.”

All the hard work paid off, and after an extended creative process spanning nearly a decade, BURN, an evocative, fiery crime thriller would be born, with its Release slated for April 1st across major VOD platforms.

02/15/2022

Neel Upadhye is an Indian-born filmmaker and the Creative Director of Narrative at Electronic Arts, helming projects for blockbuster franchises such as Star WarsBattlefield, and Apex Legends.  He most recently wrote and directed ILM’s Star Wars short film, “Disorder”, with his first Star Wars short film, "Hunted" winning the Silver Pencil in 2021. He endeavors to tell gripping narratives in a variety of genres for both film and video games.

02/08/2022

Jules lives on the west coast, and has dabbled in just about every art form, making a living out of just enough of them that she considers her occupation Artist.  As a photographer, model, and drone pilot, Jules has built a career around cameras.  These days, she freelances in photo and video, and is working on starting her own show about casual lifestyle nudity.  You can also find her several days a week streaming on Twitch as a variety streamer, often playing music, cooking/baking, dancing, or just chilling out by the pool to entertain her viewers.   Jules is currently starting work on her upcoming album, an original instrumental compilation that will combine her talents on ukulele, trumpet, guitar, piano, mandolin, and soon to come, bass.   Follow her on Instagram or Twitch to catch her live show.  Twitch.tv/HelloJewels and instagram.com/HelloJewels.ig

02/01/2022

Mark Sutherland Bio: Mark has spent the last 30 years hosting major market & network radio shows in over 50 US markets, as well as England and Japan. He also directed and produced numerous network and cable TV shows, shot thousands of stills, conceived, founded and programed Static Beach Networks from a showcase studio in Hermosa Beach, and is now in post-production as Producer/Director of a feature documentary film. Mark has over twenty years of broadcast experience, hosting everything from modern rock to kids radio. Along the way he picked up Billboard magazine's "Top Modern Rock Radio Personality" award, and was tapped by The Walt Disney Corporation and ABC to be the marquis personality, “Just Plain Mark,” for their new and ambitious "Radio Disney," a nationally broadcast network for families… a risky undertaking which Mark helped develop into a viable and lucrative format by conceiving and hosting one of the most popular shows in the history of kid’s radio. Mark left radio for network television, then conceived and co-exec produced the original NBC pilot Be Careful What You Wish For. He also found time to produce and direct the wildly successful Save Disney Campaign for former Disney CEO, billionaire & Walt Disney’s nephew, Roy E. Disney. Following that, Mark island-hopped the Caribbean for Discovery Networks, Travel Channel, while writing, directing and producing Beach Week…Clearly a tough gig if there ever was one. In the nine years that followed, as founder/CEO of Static Beach Networks, Mark filled his days and nights perfecting and growing a privately owned, 21st century multi-media/radio network, which, at its peak, proudly boasted an audience of 4 million unique monthly visitors and 219 million ad impressions. Always busy with something, Mark also piloted Everywhere Sessions, an original TV series where talented artists perform original songs in unique places. He’s currently in post-production with a heartwarming feature doc film, staring his 16-year-old Whippet, Abby. Abby’s List, A Dogumentary, coming to Cable TV, DOD, and select theaters in 2022

January 2022

01/25/2022

Dripping in old Hollywood glam and garnished with a rockstar twist, Fia Nyxx, embraces a theatrical approach with her music while also paying homage to her hometown heart and southern jazz influences. Nyxx’s music embodies a brilliantly experimental clash of genres, transcending her once, ‘pop-artist’ image, and unleashing a masterful vision for storytelling and larger-than-life performances.  

A veteran in the industry, Fia Nyxx has toured the United States and Asia, as part of the girl group ‘SHE’ and released her first solo record in March 2018. The EP entitled Everything Girl was recorded at FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, AL. under the musical direction of Will McFarlane (Etta James, Bonnie Raitt, Bobby "Blue" Bland), Emmy-winning producer Lance Bendiksen, multi-platinum producer and mixer Brian Malouf (Michael Jackson, Queen, Madonna) and features players from the iconic Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, 'The Swampers.' 

Having worked with some of the industry's finest, Fia Nyxx is now tackling the independent release of her second album, Red Umbrella, out March 2022. Thanks to Fia’s release promo framework (the five must-have tricks all independent artists need to know for a successful release) Red Umbrella has already been 1000% more successful than her first album and has exploded with press/media attention and bookings across the country … and it hasn’t even been released yet.

She has been featured on the back cover of Billboard Magazine, Stitched Sound, Buzz Music, Sinusoidal Music, Music and Fashion Blog, WeWriteAboutMusicIndie Top 39, Top 40 Charts (T4C), Elicit Magazine, and Wire Image. Her music video  “Maybe Just Love Me,” won a Telly Award and was in consideration for the Cannes Short Film Festival and the Hollywood Music in Media Awards.  Nyxx is proud to release her final single before the album, “AEIOU,” releasing on Feb. 11, 2021. 

Keep up with Fia Nyxx: 

Spotify

Instagram - @fianyxxmusix

Website

Facebook

Youtube

Twitter

01/18/2022

At just 18 years of age, Andrew A has already released on some of the most reputable international record labels, including: NCS, Lost Frequencies' Found Frequencies, Laidback Luke's Mixmash Bold, and TIËSTO'S Musical Freedom, an imprint of Warner Brother's Spinnin' Records.

Andrew A has also received support from an extensive list of industry titans, including: David Guetta, Don Diablo, Hardwell, Nicky Romero, KSHMR, Steve Aoki, Dannic, and Mike Williams.

With consistent releases locked in and tours on the horizon, the sky is the limit for Andrew A.

01/11/2022

Toby Lee Marshall is a Minneapolis/St. Paul based organist. For the past 20+ years, Toby has
been an in-demand Hammond player. At the age of 19, Toby was touring with Chicago
Bluesman, Lonnie Brooks and his son Ronnie Baker Brooks. After returning to the Twin Cities,
Toby continued to play and record with many local Twin Cities artists, including Joe Juliano,
Mary Cutrufello, Big John Dickerson & Blue Chamber, and Paul Mayasich & The Benderheads
to name a few.
 
In 2010, Toby teamed up with Bernard Allison – son of legendary Blues guitarist, Luther
Allison. As part of Allison’s dynamic rhythm section, Toby toured Europe extensively and was
featured on Allison’s 2010 release, “Live at the Jazzhaus”. Toby took a hiatus from music in
2012 to refocus his energy on his growing, young family.

In 2017, Toby Lee Marshall made his return to music – joining forces with famed guitarist, Greg
Koch and his son, Dylan Koch to form the Koch-Marshall Trio. The Trio’s first album release,
“Toby Arrives,”  was released in September of 2017.  In addition to the new trio, Toby was
invited to become an official Hammond artist.  He was the first person to play a Hammond SKX
on stage, about an hour after it was unveiled by Hammond-Suzuki at the 2018 NAMM Show.
He is featured in numerous videos, demonstrating the SKX, and Hammond XK-5.

Through the pandemic era, Toby has continued to perform with the Koch-Marshall trio via live
streaming. Toby continues to participate in many recording sessions, mostly remotely from his
studio, outside of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

01/04/2022

KENNY LEE LEWIS is nn accomplished studio guitarist and bassist for over 30 years, a few of Kenny's other credits include Bonnie Raitt, Eddie Money, Dave Mason, Billy Preston, Peter Frampton, Boz Scaggs, Brian Wilson, and Steve Stills.

Kenny's wide range of vocal stylings range from romantic ballads, blues, hard rock, reggae, and Latin. When not touring or recording, Kenny enjoys taking mature musical excursions when doing album projects, Movie and Television composing, or performing with his friends.

Kenny Lee has just released his new comtemporary jazz instrumental guitar CD "New Vintage" on the New Folk/Allegro record label. Taking a break from playing such mega-hits like "Fly Like an Eagle" and "The Joker" for thousands on tour each summer, Kenny Lee has brought together some of the finest celebrity musicians in the business to offer this celebration of classic groove-jazz. Returning back to his early influences while playing in college jazz bands, Kenny Lee borrows sounds and techniques from Wes Montgomery, George Benson, and Howard Roberts.

Featuring such notable players as Ricky Peterson, keyboardist and musical director for David Sanborn and currently with Bonnie Raitt. Billy Peterson, former bassist and arranger for the Steve Miller Band, and co-owner of The Artist Quarter jazz club in St. Paul, MN. Paul Peterson, bassist for Kenny Loggins, George Benson, and Oleta Adams. Danny Pelfrey, saxophonist/composer who's credits include Diana Ross and Carole King. Gordy Knutson, drummer for The Steve Miller Band and professor of percussion at the McNally-Smith College of Music in Minneapolis, MN. Jason DeLaire, saxophonist formerly with Michael Bolton. Dianne Steinberg, recording artist and actress who portrayed "Lucy" in the Robert Stigwood production of "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" and many other talented session players.

"New Vintage" has recently had rave reviews in Guitar Player Magazine, Vintage Guitar Magazine, and Wine and Jazz Magazine.

www.kennyleelewis.com

December 2021

12/28/2021

Joe Bozzi

Joe Bozzi began his mastering career in 1993, apprenticing under his mentor, Multi-Grammy Award Winning Mastering Engineer, Bernie Grundman. Joe has been around creating music since birth. His parents were both professional musicians. As well, His Father an FM Radio Program Director & Marketing Director at A&M records. Joe also has talents as a musician and has been involved with every stage of the process. The sum of these parts gives him a unique perspective when working with clients as he can easily see things from the artist’s perspective and intuitively apply his skills to achieve their vision.

Over his more than 24 years at Bernie Grundman Mastering, Joe has mastered in almost every genre that exists , perhaps some that do not even exist anymore. Joe has mastered or assisted on many multi-platinum and Grammy award winning albums including U2’s “How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb” , Outkast’s “Speakerboxxx”, Fleetwood Mac’s “Say You Will”, and countless previous Grammy winners.

Joe has also had the pleasure of mastering songs and albums from artists such as Will.I.Am, Britney Spears, The Afghan Whigs, Miley Cyrus, Van Halen, Gwen Stefani, Imagine Dragons, Selena Gomez, Faith Hill, Ellie Goulding, BØRNS, Carly Rae Jepsen, and X-Ambassadors to name a few. Joe takes great pleasure in every aspect of his work and looks forward to future projects at Bernie Grundman Mastering.

https://www.berniegrundmanmastering.com/joe-bozzi.html

Instagram: @masteredbyjoe

12/21/2021

Homer H. Hickam, Jr. was born on February 19, 1943, the second son of Homer and Elsie Hickam, and was raised in Coalwood, West Virginia. He graduated from Big Creek High School in 1960 and from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute (Virginia Tech) in 1964 with a BS degree in Industrial Engineering. A U.S. Army veteran, Mr. Hickam served as a First Lieutenant in the Fourth Infantry Division in Vietnam in 1967-1968 where he won the Army Commendation and Bronze Star medals. He served six years on active duty, leaving the service with the rank of Captain.

Hickam has been a writer since 1969 after his return from Vietnam. At first, he mostly wrote about his scuba diving adventures for a variety of different magazines. Then, after diving on many of the wrecks involved, he branched off into writing about the battle against the U-boats along the American east coast during World War II. This resulted in his first book, Torpedo Junction (1989), a military history best-seller published in 1989 by the Naval Institute Press.

In 1998, Delacorte Press published Hickam’s second book, Rocket Boys: A Memoir, the story of his life in the little town of Coalwood, West Virginia. It became an instant classic. Rocket Boys has since been translated into eight languages and also released as an abridged audio book and electronic book. Among it’s many honors, it was selected by the New York Times as one of its “Great Books of 1998” and was an alternate “Book-of-the-Month” selection for both the Literary Guild and Doubleday book clubs. Rocket Boys was also nominated by the National Book Critics Circle as Best Biography of 1998. In February, 1999, Universal Studios released its critically-acclaimed film October Sky, based on Rocket Boys (The title October Sky is an anagram of Rocket Boys). Delacorte subsequently released a mass market paperback of Rocket Boys, re-titled October SkyOctober Sky reached the New York Times # 1 position on their best-seller list.

Mr. Hickam’s first fiction novel was Back to the Moon (1999) that was also simultaneously released as a hardcover, audio book, and eBook. It has also been translated into Chinese.

The Coalwood Way (2000), a memoir of Mr. Hickam’s hometown he calls “not a sequel but an equal,” was published by Delacorte Press and is available in abridged audio, eBook, large print and Japanese. It was an alternate “Book-of-the-Month” selection for Doubleday book club. His third Coalwood memoir, a true sequel, was published in October 2001. It is titled Sky of Stone (2001).  An associated book about Coalwood was published in 2002, a self help/inspirational tome titled We Are Not Afraid: Strength and Courage from the Town That Inspired the #1 Bestseller and Award-Winning Movie October Sky.

Mr. Hickam is also the author of a popular series of novels that feature Josh Thurlow, a Coast Guard officer during World War II. The series began with The Keeper’s Son (2003), and then continued with The Ambassador’s Son (2005) and The Far Reaches (2007). To meet the requests from publishers for a Young Adult series, Homer also wrote his Helium-3 novels titled Crater, Crescent, and Crater Trueblood and the Lunar Rescue Company. These two series have been heavily praised by critics and readers as have Homer’s novel about a coal miner’s wife in Red Helmet, and a thriller set in modern-day Montana titled The Dinosaur Hunter.

In 2017 the critically acclaimed “nearly true family legend” Carrying Albert Home: The Somewhat True Story of a Man, his Wife, and her Alligator was published as the 5th book settled in Coalwood.

While working on his writing career, Mr. Hickam was employed as an engineer for the U.S. Army Missile Command from 1971 to 1981 assigned to Huntsville, Alabama, and Germany. He began employment with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration at Marshall Space Flight Center in 1981 as an aerospace engineer. During his NASA career, Mr. Hickam worked in spacecraft design and crew training. His specialties at NASA included training astronauts on science payloads, and extravehicular activities (EVA). He also trained astronaut crews for many Spacelab and Space Shuttle missions, including the Hubble Space Telescope deployment mission, the first two Hubble repair missions, Spacelab-J (the first Japanese astronauts), and the Solar Max repair mission. Prior to his retirement in 1998, Mr. Hickam was the Payload Training Manager for the International Space Station Program.

In 1984, Mr. Hickam was presented with Alabama’s Distinguished Service Award for heroism shown during a rescue effort of the crew and passengers of a sunken paddleboat in the Tennessee River. Because of this award, Mr. Hickam was honored in 1996 by the United States Olympic Committee to carry the Olympic Torch through Huntsville, Alabama, on its way to Atlanta.

Mr. Hickam has received many awards and honors. Among them are the prestigious University of Alabama’s Clarence Cason Award and the Appalachian Heritage Writer’s Award for his memoirs and fiction. He also received an honorary Doctorate of Literature from Marshall University.

Mr. Hickam is married to Linda Terry Hickam, an artist and his first editor and assistant. They love their cats and share their time between homes in Alabama and the Virgin Islands.

https://homerhickam.com

12/14/2021

Gina Lombardi is a celebrated personal trainer, media personality, inspirational speaker, author, TV show host and podcaster.  With over 60,000 hours of one-on-one, personal coaching, including many high-profile celebrities and entertainment executives, and nearly 30 years of media coverage, Gina is one of the most sought-after wellness experts around the globe.  She is known for her integrity, heart and unique ability to present the truth about health and fitness and offer realistic and attainable solutions.   

Gina is the creator/host of Fit Nation, the only investigative reporting show on Discovery Health.  A frequent health expert and contributor to many entertainment/talk shows, she has been featured on The Talk and EXTRA! as a “lifechanger,” sharing her results-driven exercise tips for shaping the body.  She also served as a TV spokesperson for both “Health” and “Shape” magazines and was the main fitness expert for the Weight Watcher’s “Start Getting Healthy” DVD series.  Gina co-hosted the popular Weekend Workout Radio Show and was an expert judge for The Miss America Organization Pageant.  She is currently co-creator/co-host of the podcast Health Interrupted, with former Miss America Laura Kaeppeler.

An accomplished author, Gina wrote the books “How to be Successful as a Personal Trainer,” “The Stability Ball Quick Series” and “Deadline Fitness,” which reveals her signature health and diet programs used with celebrity clients when time is of the essence.  She was also a contributing editor for msnbc.com’s Celebrity Fit List.

Above all, Gina is known for being the “wellness detective” in the health industry.  Her integrity, honesty and knack for “getting to the truth” and offering the most sound, realistic and health-centered information has made her trusted among Hollywood’s elite.  She has had the privilege to work with countless actors, musicians and entertainment executives, including Tom Cruise (Collateral, Mission Impossible 2, The Last Samurai), Nicole Kidman, Andy Garcia, Kevin James (The King Of Queens), Leah Remini (The King Of Queens, Old School), Justin Willman (Magic for Humans on Netflix), Catherine Bell (JAG, Army Wives), Grammy Winner Isaac Hayes, Carrie Ann Ross (Matrix, Mission Impossible), Clancy Brown (Billions, Spongebob Squarepants, The Mandalorian), Nancy Cartwright (Bart Simpson),  Kirstie Alley,  Laura Kaeppeler (Miss America 2012), Sally Pressman (Army Wives), Comedian John Mendoza, Clementine Ford, Writer Robert Towne (Chinatown, Mission Impossible), Grammy Winner Beck, Grammy Winner Chick Corea, Producer/Writer Beth Sullivan (Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman),  Actress/Producer Colleen Camp (Police Academy) and many others.

Gina has held many brand ambassadorships for such companies as Kiwaii True Natural Spring Water, Schick Quattro Razors for Women, Fuze Beverage, Nasonex, Hawaiimana Whey SuperFood, Dunkin Brand’s Yogurt Smoothie, Purple Beverage, Skins Athletic Clothing and The Healthy Pantry. 

 She has been the recipient of many special awards and honors.  Gina was invited to take part in a special development team at the National Strength and Conditioning Association to create a nationally accredited certified personal trainer program.  She has served on the NSCA’s Examination Development Committee, chaired the Personal Trainer Committee for five years, received an award from the NSCA for her contribution and work devoted to the Personal Trainer Program and contributed as column editor for The Journal of Strength and Conditioning’s “One-On-One” section for personal trainers.  Gina was named 2003 “Personal Trainer of the Year” by the NSCA for her proven expertise and experience in weight training, advanced program design, nutrition, weight management and current fitness trends.  Her cherished work with the U.S. Navy Seal Teams in their Family Resiliency program earned Gina their most prestigious certificate of “exceptional service and unsurpassed dedication achievement” from the Seal Team Four Command Master Chief.  Bravo Zulu!

 

Heralded as a “dynamic and relatable speaker who gets down to the grit of the matter,” Gina has presented to audiences in the U.S. and across the globe, including Japan, Australia and Europe.  She has captivated audiences of 100 to 100,000, with her honest and life-changing presentations on weight loss, fat loss, exercise and nutrition. 

An honors graduate from the University of Pennsylvania in Dental Hygiene/Health Science, Gina holds certifications in personal training from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), the University of Southern California at Los Angeles and has achieved certificates in Post-Rehabilitation Conditioning and Weight Management. 

She is also an accomplished stunt woman and is proficient in kickboxing, boxing, weight lifting, rock climbing, mountain biking and many other sports. However, her most important role is wife to Actor/Producer Kevin Sizemore and extremely proud mother of their 16 year-old son, Gunnar.

https://healthinterruptedpodcast.com/gina-lombardi/

 

 

Miss America 2012 + Inspirational Speaker + Brand Ambassador + Media Personality + Podcast Host + Singer/Performer + At-Risk Youth Advocate

Laura Kaeppeler is a former Miss America and nationally known performer, inspirational speaker, proud Midwesterner and tireless advocate for at-risk youth.

In 2012, Laura became the 86th woman to be named Miss America and the second from the state of Wisconsin. In this role, Laura proudly traveled the nation as the Goodwill Ambassador for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and worked with The United States Military and the USO.

One of Laura’s passions is her work with organizations that advocate for children of incarcerated parents such as The American Correctional Association, Brothers Big Sisters, The Boys and Girls Club of America, Camp Bob, Kon-necting Services, Operation Open Arms, Prison Fellowship Ministries, Project Avery, The Seedling Foundation and the U.S. Dream Academy, to name a few.

For her advocacy work, Laura has been honored by several prestigious organizations. She was the recipient of the Courage Award from The CarePlus Foundation, an organization that supports the innovative and life-changing programs and services for in-need adults, and the Thomas Mott Osborne Medal from The Osbourne Association, a group that creates opportunities for people affected by the criminal justice system.

Laura has been featured on many talk shows and in countless publications, making her an expert media personality. She is currently co-host of the podcast Health Interrupted, with wellness and fitness expert Gina Lombardi.

An acclaimed classical vocalist, Laura has been a featured soloist with orchestras across the country and has performed the National Anthem at numerous sold-out venues, including Angel Stadium, Lambeau Field, Miller Park, Wrigley Field and Yankee Stadium. In addition, she has experience as a recording artist.

She has served as the brand ambassador for high-profile companies and organizations such as Amway, Express, Joseph Ribkoff, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, WEN Hair Care, and the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

Laura holds a bachelor’s degree in Music and Vocal Performance from Wisconsin’s Carthage College. She continues to perform across the country and travel as a speaker and spokesperson for mentoring programs that advocate for at-risk youth.

She is a devoted wife and her greatest role is mother to her two young sons, Ben and George.

https://healthinterruptedpodcast.com/laura-kaeppeler/

12/07/2021

Landau Eugene Murphy Jr.

Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. first burst onto the national conscience as the Sinatra-and-Soul singing season six winner of NBC TV’s “America’s Got Talent with his incredible voice, undeniable charisma and unparalleled showmanship.  And a decade later, he’s still going strong.

Seeing Landau in concert is a revelation; backed by the dynamic Landau Big Band, you’ll always hear swinging arrangements of Great American Songbook classics from Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Nat ‘King’ Cole and many more, along with a dusting of that special Motown Magic that is sure to move your feet and make you sing along.

And after the show, every show, you’ll always have the opportunity to meet Landau one-on-one for photos and have the chance to talk with him about his incredible rags-to-riches story.  “It’s my favorite part of the night; it’s something we always do. Sometimes I’m the last one at the venue, talking to fans and friends. The janitor is waiting on me to lock up!”

Landau was born into extreme poverty in the Appalachian coalfields of southern West Virginia. His parents split while he was in elementary school, and Landau was shipped off to Detroit in the middle of the night. He woke up in the Motor Cities notoriously gang and drug-riddled “7 Mile” neighborhood. Landau likes to say that he went from Almost Heaven to Little Baghdad overnight!

After a series of dead-end jobs, run-ins with the police and a too-soon failed marriage, Landau eventually found himself homeless and sleeping in his car. Then, his voice became his calling card.

“I loved to play basketball in Detroit, and these guys were good. Some of them went onto the NBA. But we were in the hood; it wasn’t anything to see guns drawn on the court after the game, so to keep people cool and laughing, when I’d dunk on someone, I’d sing a Frank Sinatra song like “Fly Me To The Moon” and everyone would laugh and put their guns away.”

Eventually, that one-of-a-kind voice would lead him back to West Virginia to perform for local charities and nursing homes. Landau says, “I was singing for charities, when most of the time, I had less than the people receiving the charity proceeds did, but that was OK because I was singing.”

At the end of his rope, Landau tied a knot and pulled himself back up by auditioning for NBC TV’s “America’s Got Talent” with thousands of others. After months of competition, Landau emerged the winner, scoring a million dollars, a recording contract, and America’s hearts, and he’s never looked back.

Landau’s Columbia Records debut album “That’s Life” reached number one on the Billboard Jazz Charts and was followed by “Christmas Made For Two”, “Landau” and his latest “Landau Live In Las Vegas” recorded during a performance at the legendary Caesar’s Palace.  Landau has made dozens of TV appearances including “The Today Show”, “The View”, CNN, “Fox and Friends”, “The Talk”, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and the Hollywood Christmas Parade.

He’s performed all over the world, from China to New York City, Los Angeles to Europe where he had the honor to perform for U.S. servicemen and their families stationed there. He’s sung the national anthem prior to games by the Los Angeles Lakers, Washington Wizards, New York Rangers, Baltimore Orioles, Oklahoma City Thunder, Washington Nationals, and his beloved West Virginia University Mountaineers during a nationally televised homecoming game.

He’s helped raise millions of dollars for charities, many in his home state of West Virginia where he serves on the Board of Directors for the Children’s Home Society of West Virginia and was named “West Virginian of the Year” by the Governor’s office and the state’s largest newspaper.

Landau’s book “From Washing Cars to Hollywood Stars” featuring his amazing story reached #1 on Amazon, his “Live in Washington DC at Bethesda Blues and Jazz” concert DVD was a best-seller and he had his first movie cameo in 2017 in the Ron James biopic “Choices”.

In 2021 Landau proudly released LANDAU LIVE IN LAS VEGAS a pre-pandemic recording at Caesars Palace that includes several never-before-released tracks. Enjoy Landau’s unique take on the Great American Songbook as well as classic R&B, all backed by his long-time stellar musicians in LANDAU’S LITTLE BIG BAND, with guest background vocals by former Temptations and Four Tops lead singer Theo Peoples!

A decade in, Landau remains humble especially during those post-show meet-n-greets. “I identify with those people who stick around to talk with me. These are down-to-earth, salt-of-the-earth folks who work hard, take care of their families and give back to their communities. They’re what the best of America is all about, and I wouldn’t be here without them.”

But, Landau is there, because of them…with a smile on his face and a song in his heart.

November 2021

11/30/2021

Joe Bozzi

Joe Bozzi began his mastering career in 1993, apprenticing under his mentor, Multi-Grammy Award Winning Mastering Engineer, Bernie Grundman. Joe has been around creating music since birth. His parents were both professional musicians. As well, His Father an FM Radio Program Director & Marketing Director at A&M records. Joe also has talents as a musician and has been involved with every stage of the process. The sum of these parts gives him a unique perspective when working with clients as he can easily see things from the artist’s perspective and intuitively apply his skills to achieve their vision.

Over his more than 24 years at Bernie Grundman Mastering, Joe has mastered in almost every genre that exists , perhaps some that do not even exist anymore. Joe has mastered or assisted on many multi-platinum and Grammy award winning albums including U2’s “How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb” , Outkast’s “Speakerboxxx”, Fleetwood Mac’s “Say You Will”, and countless previous Grammy winners.

Joe has also had the pleasure of mastering songs and albums from artists such as Will.I.Am, Britney Spears, The Afghan Whigs, Miley Cyrus, Van Halen, Gwen Stefani, Imagine Dragons, Selena Gomez, Faith Hill, Ellie Goulding, BØRNS, Carly Rae Jepsen, and X-Ambassadors to name a few. Joe takes great pleasure in every aspect of his work and looks forward to future projects at Bernie Grundman Mastering.

https://www.berniegrundmanmastering.com/joe-bozzi.html

Instagram: @masteredbyjoe

11/23/2021

LUDOVIC LOUIS

Long before traveling the most beautiful stages in the world alongside international artists, Ludovic Louis began his career as a trumpeter in the heart of a family passionate about music. After being rocked by a grandfather a violinist in his spare time and a dad awakening him to various musical colors, the child from Le Havre enrolled in Jazz studies. First at JUPO alongside Alain Loisel then at his hometown music school with Sylvain Maillard, where he graduated in classical trumpet in 2000. By moving to Paris in 2003, Ludovic began to collaborate with artists such as Orishas, Jimmy Cliff, Florent Pagny, or even more recently Sli- mane or Christophe Maé. But it was in 2009 that he met Lenny Kravitz. From this meeting will result nearly 10 years of collaboration around the world, where the Rock Star will not hesitate to offer his audience the talent of Ludovic through his improvised solo performances.

From the biggest stadiums to the most cutting-edge festivals, such as Rock in Rio, Lollapalooza, the Montreux Jazz Festival, and many others, the trumpet player comes to electrify the crowd even more with his in- credible solos.

In 2012, he was invited to repeat the experience by playing a solo for icons Muhammad Ali and Quincy Jones, in Las Vegas during the «Black and White America Tour».
By moving to Los Angeles in 2013, the French artist continued collabo- rations with, among other renowned artists, Kanye West and his Sunday Service, Camila Cabello, Shawn Mendes, The Blacks Eyed Peas, and The Meters.

In parallel to this and throughout his career, Ludovic participates as a musician in various television programs such as The Grammys, The Voice, American Idol, or Dancing With The Stars
In 2020, a new opportunity presents itself to Ludovic Louis and it is under the direction of Damien Chazelle that he makes his debut as an actor in «The Eddy». Through this Netflix series, the artist embodies the character of Ludo, a jazz club trumpeter. 

REBITH - THE ALBUM

All of Ludovic Louis’ crossings and mu- sical encounters ultimately led him to go solo. It is therefore after several years of work surrounded by his friends that the trumpeter delivers his first album «Rebir- th», bringing together soul, funk and even Caribbean music influences. This 11-track album, recorded between the United States and France, notably takes us on a journey with the opening and closing of the opus “Madinina”, a tribute to the island of Martinique where the trumpeter is native. «Missing You» is addressed directly to Ludovic’s family and tends to express to us the difficulty of estrangement and the resulting sweet melancholy.

As for the song «Nothing But You» written for his wife, its guitar gimmick carries us away on its pop and fresh rhythm. Finally, it is in the festive and James Brown-like title: «Everybody» that we will have the pleasure of hearing Ludovic sing.

Instagram : ludoviclouismusic
Facebook : Ludovic LOUIS

11/16/2021

Troy Christian started his journey in the entertainment industry as a professional musician - playing woodwinds and as a musical director and producer.  Simultaneously, with a lifelong passion for theater and movement,  Troy took his dancing shoes to New York to train at the Joffrey School of Ballet, Broadway Dance Center and Steps - his hard work and proper training leading to a long career dancing and acting on Broadway, on television and in film - one that continues to this day. (Credits including: RENT, Rango, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Muppet Movie, Deadwood, Disjointed and Forrest Gump).  For Troy, the natural progression to choreography and creative direction would follow. From theater to television and film, Troy has created hundreds of theatrical productions, television shows, commercials, music videos, films, and corporate events including: Usher, Ellen, Lily Allen, N.E.R.D., Dolly Parton, Culinary Escapes, Universal Studios, Elvira, Princess Cruises, Paramount Theme Parks, Disney,  Jimmy Kimmel, Harley Davidson, and The Industry Dance Awards. In 2007 Troy received the Choreography Media Honors Award presented at the Directors Guild of America for his work on the feature film Adam & Steve (Craig Chester, Parker Posey, Malcom Getz, Chris Kattan). In 1999, Troy began studying the art (and science) of filmmaking.  Already with a keen understanding of composition and choreography, timing and music, and now cameras, technology and editing, his evolution to film director and editor was destined. Credits include:  A Perfect Vintage (Documentary), Sam Presents (Short), The Evolution of Stem Cell Research (Documentary featuring Leonard Nimoy), Naked Boys Singing (Feature Film of Off Broadway Musical), Nuts and Bolts - the Making of Adam & Steve, The Making of Adrian Zmed in Concert (Documentary) as well as many television commercials and music videos. Troy's path as an artist has afforded him the ability to utilize all of his creative talents congruently. With the ability to conceive, write and design, to speak the language of music, dance, and choreography, as well as the ability to see through the camera lens with the eye of an editor, Troy has literally “stepped" into his life’s work as an incredibly diverse Creative Director.

www.troychristian.com

11/09/2021

Alyssa Grace is a 13-year-old singer-songwriter who pens music about what’s
happening in her life - drawing listeners in with universal themes
about coping with bullying, anxiety, girl empowerment and simply
remembering to breathe. Born in Torrance, California, Alyssa
began singing incessantly at the age of 2. So at the age of 7, her
parents put her in vocal lessons. Before long she was singing the
National Anthem at sporting events, performing in theater
productions and variety shows, entertaining seniors, singing
competitions, and the New York subway. And most recently in
online concerts and even for friends in the driveway. At the age of
10 she began learning guitar from her grandfather and a year later
she began writing her own songs. For Alyssa, it has often been
easier for her to express what she is feeling through her music than
to talk about it - writing about the loss of loved ones (“Out of
Here”), being bullied in school (“Acting Shoes”), having a crush
on a boy (“All That you Need”), female empowerment (“What’s a
Girl to You”) and struggling with ADHD and anxiety (“Breathe”).
When Alyssa isn't singing she's competing in softball, gymnastics
and especially soccer, where she's a leader on every team she plays
for. She also loves to draw, paint and, like every teen, hang out
with friends. In the past several months she has released two
original songs streaming on all DSPs (accumulating 55,000
monthly listeners and over 115K streams on Spotify) as well as
their corresponding music videos on YouTube (“Breathe” - 109k
views and "What’s A Girl To You” - 41k views) and has been
working in the studio with several Grammy award winning
producers on new material - and they agree unanimously that she
is an up and coming artist to keep an eye AND and ear on.

11/02/2021

Leon Silva

Saxophonist, Musician, Artist, Producer
Leon Silva is a versatile musician based in Los Angeles, CA. A saxophonist and
member of the music industry renowned horn section, The Regiment Horns, Leon
has recorded and performed with some of the industry’s top artists including
Justin Timberlake, Coldplay, Ariana Grande, Lady Gaga, Mary J. Bilge, Jennifer
Lopez and even Michael Jackson. With an extensive resume and experience in
many different genres and performance situations, Leon is a true professional
musician and performer.
Leon was born and raised just south of Boston, Massachusetts and is an
alumni of the Berklee College of Music. Upon graduating Leon re-located to Los
Angeles and joined the Regiment Horns with whom he has created magic with for
the better part of more than 12 years. He is an endorsing artist for Cannonball
Musical Instruments/Saxophones, Theo Wanne saxophone mouthpieces and
Lewitt audio and microphones.

Leon Silva’s music is available on all major platforms including:
iTunes, AppleMusic, Spotify, Amazon Music, Tidal and more...
Contact Leon on any of his social media platforms:
FaceBook: Leon Silva
Instagram & Twitter: @LeonSilva_onsax

October 2021

10/26/2021

Kieren van den Blink Bio After graduating early from Columbia University, Kieren debuted on Broadway in The Diary of Anne Frank, opposite Natalie Portman. She then traveled to Oxford University to study Shakespeare. Upon returning to the West Coast, her stage debut inspired NBC to fly her out to Manhattan to test for Saturday Night Live! She then scored the coveted role of Rogue in the popular NickToons animated series, Wolverine & The X-Men. She went on to publish her first children's book, Sniff, which she's developed into an animated series, The Sensational 5! Recently, her newly-minted production company, Mighty Forces Pictures, produced her directorial debut, Fingernail Moon, in one contiguous 18.5 minute shot. She lives between Amsterdam and Los Angeles with her beloved doggie, Gatsby

10/19/2021

As a kid, one memory I recall with a smile is my “comic book business”. I created a whole bunch of comics and sold them for twenty dollars a pop. My dad was obliging enough to print off my comics. Otherwise, I couldn’t have made it past a single sale (to my grandma, of course). Even then, I probably only sold 5-10 copies to friends and family. No surprise that a seven year old’s amalgamations of already-existing characters, sloppily stitched together no less, didn’t rock the world. Creativity is a muscle that needs stretching like everything else.

Still, the fact that other people were reading my work was just so cool to me, and I knew right then what I wanted to do with my life. So, I put pen to paper and worked. I continued comics for awhile, before I realized that I ought to focus on writing more than art if I wanted to get anywhere.

I finished my first novel draft in tenth grade. I spent another two years editing the daylights out of it, and I realized that I had a profound problem. All those stories in my head, with their colorful characters and flashing lights and gravitas, just weren’t making their way to paper. So, I put aside that first novel and worked on another. And another. And another. Inching closer and closer to the worlds that played out in my head.

Years later, I'm excited to introduce the types of stories to the world that I've always wanted to read.

As far as my writing goes, that’s the “how”. I’ve still got to answer the “why”. In college, I recall a writing discussion panel I witnessed. The professors and authors were discussing the effect of writing. Did the written word, particularly works of fiction, really influence people’s opinions? Could they really have a lasting effect on someone?

I know they had an effect on me. Growing up, one of my chief enjoyments was reading Spider-man comics, and I did everything I could to emulate Peter Parker. His persistence, his kindness, his empathy. I know for a fact what I read in those books influenced who I am today.

I don’t dream of having that same impact on another person. Still, I don’t think someone’s life needs to have a one-eighty or some epiphany for what they read to be important. If someone reads a book of mine, spends a couple hours in a world with characters they like, and perhaps is reminded of a value they hold dear, I’ve accomplished every goal I hope for. In a world rife with negativity, some positivity, even if it is small and fleeting, is a worthwhile pursuit.

Thanks for checking out my website, and hopefully soon my work; I appreciate it, with true sincerity.

10/12/2021

KENNY LEE LEWIS is nn accomplished studio guitarist and bassist for over 30 years, a few of Kenny's other credits include Bonnie Raitt, Eddie Money, Dave Mason, Billy Preston, Peter Frampton, Boz Scaggs, Brian Wilson, and Steve Stills.

Kenny's wide range of vocal stylings range from romantic ballads, blues, hard rock, reggae, and Latin. When not touring or recording, Kenny enjoys taking mature musical excursions when doing album projects, Movie and Television composing, or performing with his friends.

Kenny Lee has just released his new comtemporary jazz instrumental guitar CD "New Vintage" on the New Folk/Allegro record label. Taking a break from playing such mega-hits like "Fly Like an Eagle" and "The Joker" for thousands on tour each summer, Kenny Lee has brought together some of the finest celebrity musicians in the business to offer this celebration of classic groove-jazz. Returning back to his early influences while playing in college jazz bands, Kenny Lee borrows sounds and techniques from Wes Montgomery, George Benson, and Howard Roberts.

Featuring such notable players as Ricky Peterson, keyboardist and musical director for David Sanborn and currently with Bonnie Raitt. Billy Peterson, former bassist and arranger for the Steve Miller Band, and co-owner of The Artist Quarter jazz club in St. Paul, MN. Paul Peterson, bassist for Kenny Loggins, George Benson, and Oleta Adams. Danny Pelfrey, saxophonist/composer who's credits include Diana Ross and Carole King. Gordy Knutson, drummer for The Steve Miller Band and professor of percussion at the McNally-Smith College of Music in Minneapolis, MN. Jason DeLaire, saxophonist formerly with Michael Bolton. Dianne Steinberg, recording artist and actress who portrayed "Lucy" in the Robert Stigwood production of "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" and many other talented session players.

"New Vintage" has recently had rave reviews in Guitar Player Magazine, Vintage Guitar Magazine, and Wine and Jazz Magazine.

www.kennyleelewis.com

10/05/2021

The Seoul Food Concept

Seoul Food was born to bring the communal Korean BBQ experience to any party or event. From intimate dinner parties to Weddings and Mitzvahs, our mobile service can provide upper-tier Korean BBQ from centuries old family recipes in any setting or location. All setup, clean up and full waiter service is included. Table and seating for your entire party is available upon request. A one-stop-shop for all your private Korean BBQ dining needs, we hope to entertain you and your party very soon. 

Chef and Founder, John Bach

Seoul Food Chef and Founder John Bach migrated from Seoul, South Korea in 1990. After over 20 successful years as a professional drummer for some of your favorite singers and musicians, Bach applied his passion for creativity from music to the kitchen. After mastering his family’s recipe book with his creative know-how, he has met an unexpected demand for at-home dining with authentic Korean cuisine.

 

https://seoulfoodkbbq.com/

September 2021

09/28/2021

LUDOVIC LOUIS

Long before traveling the most beautiful stages in the world alongside international artists, Ludovic Louis began his career as a trumpeter in the heart of a family passionate about music. After being rocked by a grandfather a violinist in his spare time and a dad awakening him to various musical colors, the child from Le Havre enrolled in Jazz studies. First at JUPO alongside Alain Loisel then at his hometown music school with Sylvain Maillard, where he graduated in classical trumpet in 2000. By moving to Paris in 2003, Ludovic began to collaborate with artists such as Orishas, Jimmy Cliff, Florent Pagny, or even more recently Sli- mane or Christophe Maé. But it was in 2009 that he met Lenny Kravitz. From this meeting will result nearly 10 years of collaboration around the world, where the Rock Star will not hesitate to offer his audience the talent of Ludovic through his improvised solo performances.

From the biggest stadiums to the most cutting-edge festivals, such as Rock in Rio, Lollapalooza, the Montreux Jazz Festival, and many others, the trumpet player comes to electrify the crowd even more with his in- credible solos.

In 2012, he was invited to repeat the experience by playing a solo for icons Muhammad Ali and Quincy Jones, in Las Vegas during the «Black and White America Tour».
By moving to Los Angeles in 2013, the French artist continued collabo- rations with, among other renowned artists, Kanye West and his Sunday Service, Camila Cabello, Shawn Mendes, The Blacks Eyed Peas, and The Meters.

In parallel to this and throughout his career, Ludovic participates as a musician in various television programs such as The Grammys, The Voice, American Idol, or Dancing With The Stars
In 2020, a new opportunity presents itself to Ludovic Louis and it is under the direction of Damien Chazelle that he makes his debut as an actor in «The Eddy». Through this Netflix series, the artist embodies the character of Ludo, a jazz club trumpeter. 

REBITH - THE ALBUM

All of Ludovic Louis’ crossings and mu- sical encounters ultimately led him to go solo. It is therefore after several years of work surrounded by his friends that the trumpeter delivers his first album «Rebir- th», bringing together soul, funk and even Caribbean music influences. This 11-track album, recorded between the United States and France, notably takes us on a journey with the opening and closing of the opus “Madinina”, a tribute to the island of Martinique where the trumpeter is native. «Missing You» is addressed directly to Ludovic’s family and tends to express to us the difficulty of estrangement and the resulting sweet melancholy.

As for the song «Nothing But You» written for his wife, its guitar gimmick carries us away on its pop and fresh rhythm. Finally, it is in the festive and James Brown-like title: «Everybody» that we will have the pleasure of hearing Ludovic sing.

Instagram : ludoviclouismusic
Facebook : Ludovic LOUIS

 

09/21/2021

Dante Fabiero is a Los Angeles-based author/animator and a graduate of the University of Southern California. Over the past ten years, he's worked on productions such as The Simpsons, Family Guy, American Dad, Bless The Harts, Netflix's Disenchantment, and The Cosmos hosted by Neil deGrasse Tyson. Currently, he works as an assistant director on the CBS series, Star Trek: Lower Decks.

Outside of animation, Fabiero is the creator of Slothilda, an ongoing web-comic that follows the humorous antics of a sleepy, yet ambitious little sloth named Slothilda and her pet corgi, Peanut. 

 

After going viral in 2018 Fabiero landed his first book publishing deal, writing and illustrating an anthology of all new comics titled, Slothilda: Living The Sloth Life - a humor book that chronicles the various day-to-day challenges Slothilda encounters as she aspires for self-improvement in her work, home, and personal life - all the while dealing with the paradoxical and ever present temptation to sloth.

When he’s not working, Fabiero is an active swimmer, snowboarder, and a member of Toastmasters International. To receive all the latest comics, news, and updates you can subscribe to Fabiero's e-mail newsletter at www.slothilda.com

Link to his instagram: https://www.instagram.com/slothilda/

Link to his Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/slothilda.sloth

Link to his Twitter: https://twitter.com/slothilda

Link to his IMDB here.

Dante is repped by Trident Media Group.

For any inquiries please contact TMG agent Mark Gottlieb.

mgottlieb@tridentmediagroup.com
(212) 333-1506
https://www.tridentmediagroup.com/

09/14/2021

Troy Christian started his journey in the entertainment industry as a professional musician - playing woodwinds and as a musical director and producer.  Simultaneously, with a lifelong passion for theater and movement,  Troy took his dancing shoes to New York to train at the Joffrey School of Ballet, Broadway Dance Center and Steps - his hard work and proper training leading to a long career dancing and acting on Broadway, on television and in film - one that continues to this day. (Credits including: RENT, Rango, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Muppet Movie, Deadwood, Disjointed and Forrest Gump).  For Troy, the natural progression to choreography and creative direction would follow. From theater to television and film, Troy has created hundreds of theatrical productions, television shows, commercials, music videos, films, and corporate events including: Usher, Ellen, Lily Allen, N.E.R.D., Dolly Parton, Culinary Escapes, Universal Studios, Elvira, Princess Cruises, Paramount Theme Parks, Disney,  Jimmy Kimmel, Harley Davidson, and The Industry Dance Awards. In 2007 Troy received the Choreography Media Honors Award presented at the Directors Guild of America for his work on the feature film Adam & Steve (Craig Chester, Parker Posey, Malcom Getz, Chris Kattan). In 1999, Troy began studying the art (and science) of filmmaking.  Already with a keen understanding of composition and choreography, timing and music, and now cameras, technology and editing, his evolution to film director and editor was destined. Credits include:  A Perfect Vintage (Documentary), Sam Presents (Short), The Evolution of Stem Cell Research (Documentary featuring Leonard Nimoy), Naked Boys Singing (Feature Film of Off Broadway Musical), Nuts and Bolts - the Making of Adam & Steve, The Making of Adrian Zmed in Concert (Documentary) as well as many television commercials and music videos. Troy's path as an artist has afforded him the ability to utilize all of his creative talents congruently. With the ability to conceive, write and design, to speak the language of music, dance, and choreography, as well as the ability to see through the camera lens with the eye of an editor, Troy has literally “stepped" into his life’s work as an incredibly diverse Creative Director.

 

www.troychristian.com

09/07/2021

"Ian McCartor is a singer/songwriter who also has worked as an RN in hospice to develop a service called "Legacy Songwriting". He sits specifically with people facing terminal illness, as well as others who have lost loved ones, to create symbols of meaning and purpose in the form of an original song. He currently works through private commissions as well as partnerships with AV Supportive Care and Hospice in Palmdale and the Department of Veterans Affairs in San Diego. In this way, songwriting is applied to support those dealing with the greatest difficulties of their lives and allows for the songwriter to become a true vessel of healing and creativity. He also releases these songs and interviews on music streaming platforms. If you want to learn more about legacy songs, you can find more information and contact Ian through his website IanMcCartor.com."

August 2021

08/31/2021

Jesse Davidson Bio: I have been a musician since my early teens and I have been a working professional in the music business since 2012 in Southern California. I began on a DIY level in my hometown of Lancaster, California. This consisted of booking/promoting shows, working for local promoters and running sound for touring and local bands. My gigs include the Lancaster Performing Arts Center as an audio engineer, working/teching for Lita Ford, Last In Line, Venice and the Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp, and touring as an independent musician with Rogue!

Press:

http://voyagela.com/interview/check-jesse-davidsons-artwork/

Socials/Links: 

https://www.instagram.com/thebassabides/

https://linktr.ee/thebassabides

 

Davey Sipes Bio: I hail from three generations of working musicians and my odyssey began at age 6 when I started sneaking onto my dad’s drumkit during set breaks!  Born and raised in LA, I escaped to the Antelope Valley at age 12 and got into its hardcore punk scene, which led to my role as bassist for the local legends Bubonic Nate and Dead Rats.  After the band’s demise, I earned my B.A. in Music Performance from CSU Dominguez Hills where I studied with Scott Morris and Matthew Greif of L.A. Guitar Quartet.  I also began writing original songs and jamming with friends which eventually led to Sonic City Council, a music podcast produced and created by Jesse and me.  It also led to my original band, Disaster Cabinet! Our first EP, The Myth of Origin was released in May 2021, steaming everywhere NOW.

Socials/Links: 

https://linktr.ee/DisasterCabinet

https://www.instagram.com/devilish_lefty_007/

08/24/2021

Sarah Rose Reynolds is an actor, comedian, and musician from Los Angeles. Her bubbly face has appeared in numerous TV commericals. She’s performed stand-up at the world-famous Comedy Store and the famed Hollywood Improv, sung and played music for intimate crowds at the Hotel Cafe, and entertained audiences with her award-winning one-woman show “SQUIRREL!!!” She is currently producing an album of her favorite 80's/90's pop songs, creating completely new musical arrangements for them.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrchTyLDXAbfsCKs5EtveTA

IG: @SarahRoseReynolds

FB: @Sarah Reynolds 

08/17/2021

Ryan Hiller is a highly skilled entertainer who delivers memorable performances that are full of passion, energy and truly great music. He is a highly accomplished, technically-proficient, guitar professional & singer who can bring a crowd to their feet with his own songs or by perfectly rendering a cover in his own unique style. Full of Funk, Soul and whole lot of rock n’ roll, Ryan Hiller is a highly sought-after musician and the only sound of his kind in San Diego, CA. After receiving his degree in music from the University of New Orleans, the birthplace of jazz, Ryan moved to America’s Finest City, where he has since established himself as a regularly featured artist both in private and public settings.

Ryan has honed his craft through years of writing, recording, and performance. He has opened up for and performed at VIP parties for the following: Van Morrison, The Steve Miller Band, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Dead and Company featuring John Mayer, Guns N Roses, Elton John, Neil Diamond, The Doobie Brothers, The Struts, Foreigner, Styx, The Brian Setzer Orchestra, Chicago, Lyle Lovett, John Scofield, Chris Isaak, The Black Eyed Peas, John Scofield, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Rob Thomas, and Don Felder of the Eagles. He has performed at Qualcomm Stadium, Petco Park, The Belly Up, The House Of Blues, among countless others, both in San Diego and nationally.

Ryan’s expertise has also garnered him sponsorship from Fender, Taylor Guitars, Sennheiser Microphones, Gator Cases and LR Baggs Pickups, some of the biggest names in the industry.

Some of Ryan's corporate clients have included TPG, Qualcomm, Intuit, Western Bankers, BumbleBee, Staples, ACI, Hakasaan, FS Investors, PlanitOmaha, The Chargers, The Padres, among many others. 

Folks are always looking for new, fresh, great music and the next great entertainer to stir them and move them. Without-a-doubt, Ryan Hiller is that person.

www.ryanhillermusic.com

08/10/2021

   Mike Zigon is a musician based in long island New York 

Over the last decade Mike has played countless gigs. But by far his favorites are the ones he plays with his sister and brother in there band aptly named The Zigons. Also mike has recently released a full length album with his new Project Saucy Valentine titles Lawst In It. Which you can find on all streaming platforms. 

@thezigons 

@saucyvalentine 

@mzigon  

08/03/2021

Alexandria Lee is a multi-disciplinary artist, producer and actor. In every medium she hopes to relate and explore the concepts of Freedom, Nation, Information and Identity in modern day America through humanism and symbolism.

Alexandria is a professional award winning painter, exhibiting her paintings in many galleries and was voted best in show by L.A.'s top art critic Shana Nys Dambrot.

She performed the role of the first character ever added to the Blue Man Group Show, “Showbot”. Recently she starred opposite some of China's most famous actors, as the lead antagonist in the hit television show Seven Days Alive (2019). 

She began producing at the age of 18 when she ran away to Paris to create her first film. Currently she has an award-winning short, In Time, available to watch now on Amazon Prime. She also performs as a dancer and has placed in national swing dance competitions.

Alexandria received her B.A. in Fine Arts with a concentration in painting from University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 2009. She has studied acting under notable studios  for the past 15 years. She is inspired by all forms of expression and story-telling.

https://www.worksbyalexandria.net/

July 2021

07/27/2021

MARCUS EATON’S EP INVISIBLE LINES DUE MAY 22 CONSIDERS
HUMANITY, THE ENVIRONMENT, AND HOW WE CAN ALL BE CLOSER

American Songwriter premiered the new single “Closer”

Los Angeles, Calif. — In challenging times music can be a healing force, and Marcus Eaton’s new collection of
songs comes at a crucial moment when listening is one of the most comforting things we can do. Invisible Lines,
due for release digitally and on limited edition vinyl on May 22, contains songs of contemplation and exploring ways
to unite rather than divide, with the new single “Closer,” out today, prescient in its message.
“You can be right next to someone and feel a thousand miles away, or you can be a thousand miles away and feel
like you are right next to someone,” Eaton says.
His songs are masterful and gorgeously melodic, weaving exquisite guitar arrangements with mellifluous vocals,
while his themes deal with intimacy and separation as well as the innate value of nature and a heartfelt entreaty for
the environment. Demonstrating how music can calm and inspire, Invisible Lines is just the aural tonic for a world that
has been forced to close in on itself and reconsider a way forward.
While he could not have foreseen world events on such a scale, Eaton’s cerebral approach to his music was
inevitably going to touch a nerve with music audiences globally. With a long-time following in Europe and a busy
schedule in Los Angeles where he spent a number of years as guitarist and co-writer with two-time Rock and Roll
Hall of Fame Inductee David Crosby, Eaton’s music has found its moment.
“The ‘Invisible Lines’ refer to the physical and geographical boundaries that divide us, which have now been erased
by technology,” says Eaton of the whole EP. “The world is more connected than ever before, yet we are still looking
for connection. Will we grow further apart or use our connectedness to find common ground and improve the world?”
Eaton has self-produced Invisible Lines, perfectly balanced with three acoustic and three full band tracks that he
feels represent his best music to date. Which is saying a lot given Eaton’s career has so far has encompassed the
release of six albums; performing on bills with the likes of Dave Matthews Band, Jason Mraz and Rodrigo Y Gabriela;
sharing the stage with icons such as the Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea and vocalist Seal; collaborating with
Crosby; and composing his first soundtrack for the film, David Crosby: Remember My Name, which is available now
on digital platforms.
According to Crosby, Eaton is “one of the best young singer-songwriters in America – maybe even in the world. And
he plays guitar like God on a good day.”

Marcus Eaton. Photo by Andrew Macpherson.
Hi-res images available here

“Closer” is the second single off Invisible Lines. The first single, “Handed Down” dealt even more directly with a world
that seems broken and how the job of the human race is to take care of it and improve it. “We are all connected to
the health and vitality of this planet we call home, and a threat to the environment is a threat to all life,” says Eaton.
The title track, “Invisible Lines,” was inspired by the protests at Standing Rock that captivated and connected
empathetic people around the world, with violin played by Lizzie Ball (Jeff Beck). “Step Aside” expands the theme of
empathy through the lens of current politics and asks, “Would you rather see somebody take a fall than finally make
a stand and rise above it all?”
“Shadow of a Bird” highlights Eaton’s environmental focus, particularly his love of birds of prey. “I used to be a
falconer, and I rehabilitated injured raptors,” he says. And as an homage to Sting, an artist he feels connected to
musically and as an environmental warrior, Eaton closes the EP with a haunting cover of “Fragile” from Sting’s album
Nothing Like The Sun. “It was one of the first albums that had a huge impact on me. When I was ten I saw a TV
special where Sting played ‘Fragile’ on a nylon string guitar and I was completely captivated by it. I learned the song
and we performed it in my very first band,” says Eaton. “The sentiment is just as valid now as when it was written.”
His environmental bent comes from being born and raised in the wilds of Idaho. The son of songwriter Steve Eaton
(whose songs were recorded by The Carpenters and Art Garfunkel, among others) and the grandson of professional
opera singers, Eaton began performing professionally in local bars and clubs long before he was legally old enough
to patronize them. After two self-released solo albums, his first band, The Lobby, was signed to MCA/Universal and
in 2003 released The Day the World Awoke, reviewed by the Weekly Album Review radio program as “one of the
best examples of intelligent acoustic rock in a long time.”
Eaton then re-focused on a solo career, gaining acclaim for his unique guitar virtuosity, incorporating elements of
eclectic world music into his own alt-rock style. The albums Story of Now (2006) and As If You Had Wings (2010)
saw him dive into political and social criticism, environmental concerns and guitar playing brilliance that led to
invitations to open for Dave Matthews’ guitarist Tim Reynolds. Discovered by Crosby and his son, James Raymond,
Eaton was enlisted to play on tracks that became the foundations of the highly acclaimed 2014 album Croz.
“During that two-year recording process, a kindred musical collaboration evolved between the three of us,” recalls
Eaton, who wrote several songs with Crosby and Raymond, and became a featured musician in Crosby’s ensemble,
playing guitar and singing harmonies in sold-out venues across the US, on television on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,
and on Sirius XM’s Classic Vinyl channel, among other appearances.
Eaton’s next solo album, Versions of the Truth (2016), featured Crosby singing harmony and players including
bassists Leland Sklar and Jon Evans and drummer Erik Eldinius. After an extensive European and UK tour with his
own band, Eaton returned to the US and went to work on the soundtrack for the documentary his brother A.J. Eaton
was directing about Crosby. David Crosby: Remember My Name premiered at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival, was
hailed by Rolling Stone as “one of the best rock docs of all time,” and was nominated for a Grammy. Eaton’s
soundtrack, with music also composed by jazz composer Bill Laurance, was released in February 2020.

Eaton has deals with several guitar and equipment companies including McAlister Guitar, which created a signature
C-model acoustic Marcus Eaton Guitar, and Italian leather fashion brand Benheart. For Invisible Lines, Eaton has
partnered with Crosley to release the special edition EP on 12" vinyl.
Influenced by and often compared to artists including John Mayer and Ed Sheeran as well as Sting, Eaton has won
praise from fellow musicians and the media. Sting’s guitarist, Dominic Miller, says, “Marcus is one of the greatest
guitarists I have ever heard – and I mean it!” Tim Reynolds says, "Marcus Eaton weaves a tapestry rich in musical
depth and soulful feeling. Flurries of guitar wizardry enter a phat groove frequency peppered with mad effects,
looping and layering at the service of each song. Sweet impassioned spot on singing round out this total package of
dynamite."
Premiere Guitar wrote: "Marcus Eaton plays the acoustic, but not like you might expect. He rapidly shifts between
frantic fingerpicking and strumming, clean acoustic sounds and swirling, looped effects. His music fits firmly in the
post-modern musical relativism that has become the norm among a new generation of musicians – viewing genre
distinctions not as absolutes but as starting points."
And some final words from David Crosby: “He writes about love like a man who has loved. He writes about the world
he sees like a man who has seen quite a bit of the world... He sings and plays guitar extremely well but he starts with
the real stuff – well crafted songs that are actually about something.”

Marcus Eaton with David Crosby. Photo by Anjali Ram.

 

www.marcuseaton.com

07/20/2021

MATT VON RODERICK 

Imagine a singular, one-of-a-kind trumpet virtuosity paired with a dreamy vocal crooning style, deep jazz roots and modern soundscapes, and you’re just beginning to conjure internationally acclaimed, award-winning Los Angeles-based jazz artist MATT VON RODERICK. Inhabiting a joyously uncategorizable and rarified air of adventurous, innovative instrumentalist and classic, heartfelt crooner, Matt has been hailed as “a post-millennial Chet Baker” by the New York Times, and has performed with some of the most respected names in music today, including Brad Mehldau, Mike Posner, Chris Potter, Nneena Freelon, Dionne Warwick, The SNL Band and Antonio Sanchez.

As a soloist, Matt’s poignant sound heals, activates and inspires, and has been a featured at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and The Bonaroo Arts Festival, as well as events with best-selling author/spiritual activist Marianne Williamson.  Matt has appeared on Saturday Night Live and The Ellen Show, and was named the 1st place winner of The Independent Music Awards Jazz Category as judged by progressive Rock icon Lou Reed. Matt was also a finalist in the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition and a recipient of the Vilar Global Fellowship in the Performing Arts, dubbed the "Rhodes Scholarship" of the performing arts by The New York Times. 

Matt often combines his atmospheric tone with a dash of loops, electronic textures and spoken word to create what the International Trumpet Guild calls “exquisite”. JazzTimes Magazine calls Matt "a top-drawer trumpeter who also sings like an angel obscured by a storm cloud", while Exclusive Magazine calls Matt’s sound "musical greatness" and Downbeat Magazine describes his musical approach as “Zen-like…” 

Matt genuinely loves his audiences -- it is his greatest joy to bring you joy.

Visit Matt's website http://MATTVONRODERICK.com for more information. Follow Matt on Instagram @vonrockstar http://instagram.com/vonrockstar

07/13/2021

SEXTHIRSTYLOVEHUNGER - ONE of MUSIC’S BEST-KEPT SECRETS EMERGES ANEW

 

 Cory Phillips definitely has something to prove.  The now Lawrence, Kansas-based singer/songwriter and his group, the Band of Light, are currently delivering his second studio album, SEXTHIRSTYLOVEHUNGER, released end of May 2021.  The entire collection is brimming with summer party gold.  It’s been over 10 fast years since he released anything larger than a single, and this long-awaited follow up to Phillips’ self-titled 2009 debut is meant to make up for lost time.

 

When asked why it’s been so long, Phillips laughs it off, “No one was ready for this yet.  I think people now are dying to groove,  and connect, and get sexual again.”

 

Phillips and his bands have played coast to coast for a decade, amassing fans drawn to his erotic singing and bedroom funk.  Yet only the time that Covid-sequestering afforded him allowed for the definitive recording of his decade’s better work. 

 

The new album is an effort in innovation.  In the midst of the health crisis, new freedoms and limitations developed for the musician with a secret life pursuing his PhD in climatology at the University of Kansas.  Gigs cancelled, tours off, Phillips converted part of his house into a recording studio and brought in his Lawrence/Kansas City-based ‘Band of Light’ along with wizard engineer Robert Rebeck (Tech N9ne) to complete the 14-song hitlist of retro-tinged solid gold. 

 

Each song on the quasi-concept album is a testament to love and sex based on hard-lived experiences in Phillips’ own life:  loves gained and lost, the joys and costs of being a habitual pleasure-seeker, longing and courtship, even carnal moments in real time.  The content always exudes refined wisdom and sensitivity but dips into the dark waters of illicit love equally.  The dirty bouquet of groove, funk, soul, and classic pop Phillips & the Band of Light developed is a horny blend of vintage spice.  On this album the mature music man has learned how to communicate more information in his poems, and this book of songs is a tantalizing read at the turntable.

 

The album's first single, "Fit You", is a foray into their musical boudoir (dudeoir?).  Evoking Sade and Michael Jackson, Phillips pits Feminism against Machismo as he tries to make sense of a friend/lover.  Ultimately we discover which role wins, instinctively, as the song concludes with commanding sexuality.  You can suspect "Fit You" will be on playlists party-to-party in 2021 as vaccinated hedonists start to socialize again.

 

Guitarist Michael Hamm (Play Dead, the Band That Saved the World), keyboardist Nate Holt (Asterales, Approach), bassist Mario Vlasic, and long-time colleague and drummer Chel Rich (Half Tiger Half Bear, Red On Yellow, Stone Cutters Union) are the Band of Light, along with harmonists Chelsy Larson and Lauren Mayhew, capable of reaching every sensual dynamic in the catalog with masterful precision and bite. The group spans from southern rock to classic soul and disco to jazz in the same movement, mirroring Phillips’ fire dance with their own seasoned acrobatics.  Their seductive live shows are consistently epic funk and disco parties, the excitement and prowl of which were miraculously captured on this new studio album.  With SEXTHIRSTYLOVEHUNGER, Cory Phillips & the Band of Light take us to their party, get us naked, and remind us that there is something perfectly spiritual in our appetite for hedonism.

 

 

LINKS/SOCIAL MEDIA

 

Website: www.sexthirstylovehunger.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/coryphillipsmusic

Instagram: www.instagram/sexthirstylovehunger

Twitter: www.twitter.com/thecoryphillips

07/06/2021

At 15 years old, Kaatii—born Anna Katherine—calls the shots. While most young teens spend their free time at the mall, playing video games or watching movies, Kaatii is busy making music that’s featured on the CW33, KXT 91.7 FM, Wish 107.5 LA and a variety of music industry tastemaker publications such as Flaunt Magazine, PopMatters, VENTS, Dallas Observer, and Music Connection Magazine. She’s consistently in the studio, writing with artists twice her age, and working on her craft. As collaborator, award-nominated singer-songwriter, Kara Connolly, puts it, “She’s playing the guitar, providing a playlist of reference tracks, selecting sounds, sending mix notes and confirming revisions...Kaatii is the real deal. She’s driving the ship.” When you think of a 14-year-old singer, what typically comes to mind is the Disney Channel—Hannah Montana—not the introspective, fearless, alt-rock, indie-pop artist that she is.

https://www.kaatii.com

June 2021

06/29/2021

Michelle Grey is a multifaceted model, actress, songwriter and mezzo-soprano. She’s been published in numerous National and International magazines, online campaigns, graced runways, fashion weeks and has a growing list of clients as a beauty and wellness brand influencer.

She’s a member of SAG/AFTRA and has had a passion for music, acting, fashion and the arts since childhood. She began performing at age 5 and see’s herself as an eternal student. With a strong education in acting from the USC School of Theatre, classical vocal training, performance in musical theatre and independent films such as “A Love in Progress”; she’s found her home in entertainment.

May of 2017 she was awarded the prestigious “Kiss the Monkeys Evolutionist Award” for her dedication to create outstanding experiences bringing like- minded entertainment professionals together. Voted Trendy Lime “Super Model of the Year” 2014 by her peers, she was a former “Miss Sonoma County” prelim to Miss America, and a favorite honored title; “Cloverdale Citrus Fair Queen”.

She’s a sought after mistress of ceremonies, red carpet host, and spokesmodel - launching beauty lines by Kaplan MD and Air Stockings. She has a bright entrepreneurial spirit, and when not shooting, you can often find her event coordinating or producing and art directing fashion photoshoots.

As an active philanthropist leading with kindness and venerability she has a burning desire to promote social change. Through volunteering she’s helped raise funds and created awareness for these wonderful causes and others.

SmileTrain.org

Leukemia Lymphoma Society - Greater Bay Area

WomenEnough.com

House for Humanity

Food for the Hungry - Child Sponsorship

San Francisco Aids Foundation

IG: MIchelle Grey (@michellegrey.model) • Instagram photos and videos

FB: facebook.com/michellegreymodel

Ch: clubhouse.com/@michellegrey_sf

06/22/2021

KENNY LEE LEWIS is nn accomplished studio guitarist and bassist for over 30 years, a few of Kenny's other credits include Bonnie Raitt, Eddie Money, Dave Mason, Billy Preston, Peter Frampton, Boz Scaggs, Brian Wilson, and Steve Stills.

Kenny's wide range of vocal stylings range from romantic ballads, blues, hard rock, reggae, and Latin. When not touring or recording, Kenny enjoys taking mature musical excursions when doing album projects, Movie and Television composing, or performing with his friends.

Kenny Lee has just released his new comtemporary jazz instrumental guitar CD "New Vintage" on the New Folk/Allegro record label. Taking a break from playing such mega-hits like "Fly Like an Eagle" and "The Joker" for thousands on tour each summer, Kenny Lee has brought together some of the finest celebrity musicians in the business to offer this celebration of classic groove-jazz. Returning back to his early influences while playing in college jazz bands, Kenny Lee borrows sounds and techniques from Wes Montgomery, George Benson, and Howard Roberts.

Featuring such notable players as Ricky Peterson, keyboardist and musical director for David Sanborn and currently with Bonnie Raitt. Billy Peterson, former bassist and arranger for the Steve Miller Band, and co-owner of The Artist Quarter jazz club in St. Paul, MN. Paul Peterson, bassist for Kenny Loggins, George Benson, and Oleta Adams. Danny Pelfrey, saxophonist/composer who's credits include Diana Ross and Carole King. Gordy Knutson, drummer for The Steve Miller Band and professor of percussion at the McNally-Smith College of Music in Minneapolis, MN. Jason DeLaire, saxophonist formerly with Michael Bolton. Dianne Steinberg, recording artist and actress who portrayed "Lucy" in the Robert Stigwood production of "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" and many other talented session players.

"New Vintage" has recently had rave reviews in Guitar Player Magazine, Vintage Guitar Magazine, and Wine and Jazz Magazine.

www.kennyleelewis.com

 

06/15/2021

Sabina Chantouria is one of the new rising stars in Swedish music. Her sound is as eclectic as her Georgian-Swedish roots. With her velvet voice and rhythmic guitar, she’ll take you on a journey that evokes emotion and leaves you breathless.
In 2011, Sabina was selected for the World Championship of Performing Arts in Hollywood and was a 2017 Georgian National finalist for Eurovision.
Her music has been put in rotation on international radio and she has performed at numerous internatinal festivals and concerts.
Sabina has also performed live on television and radio, working with music producers worldwide. She was also the winner in the category "Debut of The Year" on Caucasus Music Awards 2019.

Fire and Flame is her most recent single (2019), shot at the film studio "Studio 60" in L.A (where artists like Lana del Rey and The Weekend have shot their videos). 

Spiderweb (2014) and Cry For Me (2016). Fun fact: The actor Ryan Francis (young Peter Pan in Steven Spielberg's film Hook from 1991) acted together with Sabina in music videos for Spiderweb and Cry For Me.

Facebook-page: @sabinachantouria
Twitter: @SChantouria
Instagram: @sabinachantouria

06/08/2021

From the best of Wake Up Hollywood: Move over Nashville and make room for California’s own Rosy Nolan. Nolan is part of the current California Gold rush of female Singer-Songwriters that bring old-time music to new audiences with fresh tales. Her music follows the touchstones of Alison Krauss, Emmylou Harris, and Dolly Parton. Rosy delivers hymns, ballads, and folk melodies with a mesmerizing rawness that sweeps up her audiences. Landing a performance at the renowned Stagecoach Festival in 2020 solidifies her legitimate place in Country Folk music but it did not happen overnight. For years Nolan has dug deep into honing her craft by frequenting many old-time music jams, banjo twangs, and partnering in a traditional bluegrass duo called Old Time Machine. In addition, Nolan is a veteran of touring nationally and internationally grabbing new fans from quite different landscapes like London, New York, and Northern California. Her 2019 release, Footprints and Broken Branches is her best work yet. It delivers a signature sound that is all things Rosy Nolan.        
rosynolan.com
Instagram

06/01/2021

From the best of "Wake Up Hollywood": Born in a small Minnesota town straight out of a David Lynch film, Chad Ferrin spent his formative years on a farm. The brutal winters, social isolation and exposure to violent animal slaughters influenced the predatory and survivalist themes he would later explore cinematically. In 1988, Ferrin sold his home in Minnesota to finance his first film, UNSPEAKABLE. Lloyd Kaufman, president of notorious genre production house Troma Entertainment, took a personal interest and distributed the film. After a multi-year relationship producing, writing and directing for Troma, Ferrin sold his 1968 1/2 Ford Mustang to finance his independent hit, THE GHOULS. Called “Haskell Wexler’s MEDIUM COOL revisited”, hailed by Variety and a winner of numerous international festival awards, THE GHOULS was an underground commercial and critical success. Ferrin immediately followed up with EASTER BUNNY, KILL! KILL!, a film teeming with dark humor and social commentary in the vein of Russ Meyer and Dario Argento. In 2009, SOMEONE’S KNOCKING AT THE DOOR took the festival circuit by storm with tried-and-true psychedelic grind-house style. In 2015 Ferrin was hired to bring the acclaimed graphic novel THE CHAIR to the screen. The success of that collaboration with producer Robert Rhine was followed up on the Fantasia Festival hit PARASITES and the gonzo, horror comedy EXORCISM AT 60,000 FEET.

His latest feature "The Deep Ones" will be opening on April 23rd at the Laemmle NOHO 7.
Watch the trailer here: vimeo.com/519644453

May 2021

05/25/2021

San Francisco-born and Los Angeles based songstress, Anna Dellaria, uses her flaws to start a fire. Translating lyrical catharsis through bold and powerful vocal delivery, she doesn’t back down from darkness; rather, she turns it into light… That approach has unassumingly drawn the spotlight to her after a lifetime dedicated to the craft. 

Her recent single, “Cut You Loose” debuted on Spotify’s acclaimed New Music Friday US, Denmark and Fresh Finds.  The infectious release also premiered on Dr. Dre's Beats of the Week on Apple Music - with National Radio Support from Sirius XM and Pat Monahan from Train. 

Dellaria’s recent singles have premiered on EARMILK to critical acclaim.  Her music has racked up over 1.5 million digital streams, and been featured across 9 editorial Playlists including several New Music Fridays and top 10 on Amazon Music's "Girl Power" Playlist. 

Her recording success is coupled with her captivating and dynamic stage prowess.  Dellaria's live performances have most recently gained recognition as a selected artist for BMGpm's 2020 SXSW Showcase, and tour support for Clark Beckham's Summer Tour 2021.  Expect new music from this buzzing artist next year, with a series of singles to welcome her debut EP. The new music is driven by a desire to create a fresh & authentic sound rooted in turning imperfection into power: darkness into light."

05/18/2021

BOB MALONE has amassed a loyal international fan-base through twenty-five years of relentless touring and nine critically acclaimed album releases. He has also played keyboards for John Fogerty since joining his band in 2011. He’s been a session player for Ringo Starr and Avril Lavigne, and his recording of  “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch” was the theme in the 2018 Illumination/Universal movie trailers for The Grinch.

Bob’s 2016 Mojo Deluxe album went to #1 on the IBBA UK radio chart and was one of the top 100 most played CDs on the Roots Music Report radio charts. His latest, Good People, was released in May 2021 and singles from it are already being played on WFUV NYC, KCSN L.A., and SiriusXM The Loft. His songs and his playing have been heard on NCSI New Orleans, Entertainment Tonight, Lucifer, and The Hallmark Channel.

05/11/2021

From the best of "Wake Up Hollywood": Nicholas Woods is the writer/director of Echoes of Violence, a crime/drama/thriller film about an immigrant traveling from Sedona,AZ to Los Angeles looking for revenge upon the immigration lawyer who ruined her life.
The film is premiering at Cinequest Film Festival, tickets available now.

The film can be seen here at Cinequest Film Festival: creatics.org/cinejoy/moviepage/140436#!#pills-all
IG: @nicholaswoods.co

05/04/2021

Jason Rodgers is a tap dancer, choreographer, actor, and musician. His credits include The Academy Awards, the North American tour of the Broadway musical “Bring In Da Noise, Bring In Da Funk", Dancing With The Stars, So You Think You Can Dance, Disney’s The Coppertop Flop Show, and the YouTube dance series DS2DIO from Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians).

Most recently, Jason choreographed and performed for ABC’s Station 19, Verizon, Dodge,Rose.Rabbit.Lie at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas, and the Closing Ceremony of the 1st European Games in Baku, Azerbaijan.  He’s also performed with Tim Robbins, Jerry Lewis, Debbie Allen, Donald O'Connor, Fayard Nicholas, Eddie Brown, & George C. Wolfe.

Jason Rodgers Entertainment is his Los Angeles based company that creates live interactive shows involving song, dance, and music. His work throughout the U.S., Europe, Asia, South America, & Africa has included Madison Square Garden, The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, The Montpellier SwingJammerz Festival, and the world renowned Stockholm Tap Festival in Sweden. Jason is currently the Director of Dance for Oasis Center International—a non-profit organization that provides art programs for children in Orange County and Los Angeles schools.

IG: @jasonjrodgers
jasonjrodgers.com

April 2021

04/27/2021

Doug Silton, professional dancer, choreographer, performer, and instructor, has been dancing since 1988 and has been teaching, competing, and performing internationally since 1998. He travels the globe sharing his love of social dancing, technique, as well as judging on the WSDC and NASDE circuits and competing in the Showcase and Sophisticated dance divisions.

Originally from Los Angeles suburbia, Doug traveled to Maine for his undergraduate degree in Art History from Bowdoin College (class of 2000), lived abroad in Florence (1998-1999) where he started teaching swing dancing, and after graduation moved back to Los Angeles to dance and teach full time. In January of 2015, he moved to Gresham, Oregon where he now and forever resides.

Doug is the founder of a Domestic Non-Profit Foundation, The Silton Foundation, which gives dance scholarships annually to dancers in financial need. Doug is also the founder of several dance teams: Oregon Reigns, The NorthWesties, the Just In Time Jitterbugs, and Diesel Doug and the Long Haul Swingers.

Doug is a top competitor (Showcase Division) and judge on the NASDE West Coast Swing tour, a 3-time American Lindy Hop and Blues Champion, and a 2-Time World Swing Dance Champion. Doug is the only competitor to ever be a finalist in Lindy Hop, West Coast Swing, and Carolina Shag in the same year at the US Open Swing Dance Championships. Doug has partnered with the following brilliant dancers: Nicki Silton (d. 2017), Ben Morris, Tess Minnick, Angel Griffin, Brittany Espinoza, Amber Ripley, Sarah Hettervik, Kristin Sorci, Mary Ann Nuñez, Karla Catana, and Carolina Cerisola.

In the street Latin world, Doug is a World Swing Dance Championships Salsa Champion and Reno Dance Sensation Salsa Champion (with Liz Rojas – Salsamania) . In May of 2008, he made it to the final round at the Mayan Pro Salsa Competition (with Espie Hernandez), the second largest street Salsa competition in the world, placing 8th.

In the commercial dance industry,  Doug is represented by GTA (Go 2 Talent Agency). His credits include being featured in movies, on TV shows, and in commercials and music videos. Doug has choreographed for Bette Midler and Toni Basil and performed numerous times at Carnival: The Choreographer’s Ball in Hollywood, CA (partner dancing with Angel Jenkins, Melina Ramirez, Kristin Sorci, Nick Williams, and solo with a Contact Juggling performance); this is the venue for top choreographers from all over the world. You can see him in the movie Poseidon, Jason Derulo’s music video “Hit The Lights” and  at his favorite dance and live music venue of all time: The Floor Improv Night in Los Angeles, CA. Doug works regularly with featured dancers and choreographers on So You Think You Can Dance, Dancing With The Stars, and Live To Dance.

A highlight of Doug’s dance career was being inducted into the California Swing Dance Hall of Fame (2015).

www.dougsilton.com

 

04/20/2021

Days Between Stations, a prog-rock band founded in 2003 by guitarist Sepand Samzadeh and keyboardist Oscar Fuentes. The duo named themselves after the cult novel by Steve Erickson and have devoted themselves to, as they say, Art Rock and Post Prog – music that reflects their varied influences, as well as shared disregard for stylistic boundaries.

Days Between Stations (DBS) released their 3rd album titled “GIANTS” which features guest appearances by legendary XTC member Colin Moulding, Billy Sherwood of YES and backing vocalist for Pink Floyd Durga McBroom on September 2020.

daysbetweenstations.com

04/13/2021

Move over Nashville and make room for California’s own Rosy Nolan. Nolan is part of the current California Gold rush of female Singer-Songwriters that bring old-time music to new audiences with fresh tales. Her music follows the touchstones of Alison Krauss, Emmylou Harris, and Dolly Parton. Rosy delivers hymns, ballads, and folk melodies with a mesmerizing rawness that sweeps up her audiences. Landing a performance at the renowned Stagecoach Festival in 2020 solidifies her legitimate place in Country Folk music but it did not happen overnight. For years Nolan has dug deep into honing her craft by frequenting many old-time music jams, banjo twangs, and partnering in a traditional bluegrass duo called Old Time Machine. In addition, Nolan is a veteran of touring nationally and internationally grabbing new fans from quite different landscapes like London, New York, and Northern California. Her 2019 release, Footprints and Broken Branches is her best work yet. It delivers a signature sound that is all things Rosy Nolan.        
rosynolan.com
Instagram

04/06/2021

Born in a small Minnesota town straight out of a David Lynch film, Chad Ferrin spent his formative years on a farm. The brutal winters, social isolation and exposure to violent animal slaughters influenced the predatory and survivalist themes he would later explore cinematically. In 1988, Ferrin sold his home in Minnesota to finance his first film, UNSPEAKABLE. Lloyd Kaufman, president of notorious genre production house Troma Entertainment, took a personal interest and distributed the film. After a multi-year relationship producing, writing and directing for Troma, Ferrin sold his 1968 1/2 Ford Mustang to finance his independent hit, THE GHOULS. Called “Haskell Wexler’s MEDIUM COOL revisited”, hailed by Variety and a winner of numerous international festival awards, THE GHOULS was an underground commercial and critical success. Ferrin immediately followed up with EASTER BUNNY, KILL! KILL!, a film teeming with dark humor and social commentary in the vein of Russ Meyer and Dario Argento. In 2009, SOMEONE’S KNOCKING AT THE DOOR took the festival circuit by storm with tried-and-true psychedelic grind-house style. In 2015 Ferrin was hired to bring the acclaimed graphic novel THE CHAIR to the screen. The success of that collaboration with producer Robert Rhine was followed up on the Fantasia Festival hit PARASITES and the gonzo, horror comedy EXORCISM AT 60,000 FEET.

His latest feature "The Deep Ones" will be opening on April 23rd at the Laemmle NOHO 7.
Watch the trailer here: vimeo.com/519644453

March 2021

03/30/2021

D'Lemor is a music artist, poet and a creative visionary. As a child she played the violin and was vocally trained by her father who plays the piano and the accordion. During this time singing became more than an act of music, it became her first love.

In 2019 D’Lemor made the decision to pursue music full time. Her need to inspire the world with LOVE was a passion she could no longer deny. She released “Shine” on 9.18.2020 as the first single off her upcoming debut album “Your Lens of Love” in collaboration with seven time Grammy Award Winner / Producer / Mixer Brian Vibberts and Glen Gabriel a Swedish composer of films and commercials who has been nominated for three Hollywood Music in Media Awards.

Her songs are based on her poetry which beautifully translates through her hypnotic, angelic and otherworldly voice. Her goal for this album is to inspire the world to see all through a lens of love. D’Lemor’s creations run a wide array of genres, exposing listeners to their own emotions and touching them at the depth of their core.
Her second single "A KISS" was released on 2.14.2021.

dlemor.com

03/23/2021

Nicholas Woods is the writer/director of Echoes of Violence, a crime/drama/thriller film about an immigrant traveling from Sedona,AZ to Los Angeles looking for revenge upon the immigration lawyer who ruined her life.
The film is premiering at Cinequest Film Festival, tickets available now.

The film can be seen here at Cinequest Film Festival: creatics.org/cinejoy/moviepage/140436#!#pills-all
IG: @nicholaswoods.co

03/16/2021

From the best of "Wake Up Hollywood": Nikhil introduces more songs from the new Nikhil Korula Band album: Revolutions.

nkband.com
Listen on Spotify: open.spotify.com/artist/67p4x7iw2lzjzYmeRBtgBl

03/09/2021

From the best of "Wake Up Hollywood": Classically trained in voice from the age of 5, Nikhil Korula first lent his dulcet tones to sing with the likes of opera giants such as Placido Domingo, pop stars, Barry Manilow and the late Luther Vandross. As a boy soprano, Korula performed at Carnegie Hall by the age of 10 and also sang for one of Danny Elfman’s first film scores. In 1990, Nikhil Korula performed at the 32nd Annual Grammy® Awards with Mike and the Mechanics, sharing the stage on that fateful night with legends, Ray Charles, Miles Davis & Don Henley. However, after graduating from the USC Thornton School of Music with a Bachelor’s Degree in Operatic Vocal Performance, his creative talents drew him to the intense world of songwriting, jazz and improvisation which led to his playing many acoustic sets throughout Los Angeles. This experience, in turn, helped him to collaborate with some of the city’s finest jazz musicians to form the Nikhil Korula Band (NK Band).

Due to its ever-increasing fan following, this vibrant musical act has traveled all over the globe playing festivals such as BONNAROO (2008 & 2009), PLAYBOY JAZZ FESTIVAL (2011), THE SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL (2013-2019) & SUMMERFEST (2007-2019), gathering worldwide attention one fan at a time. Blending the sounds of calypso, rock, reggae, African and Latin grooves, this unique sextet infuses extraordinary musicianship with irresistible dance jams, a combination that has led the NIKHL KORULA BAND to open for such esteemed artists as Dave Matthews Band, Jason Mraz, John Mayer, The Roots, Erykah Badu, Ben Harper, Ray Lamontagne, Gavin Degraw, Gary Clark Jr, Thievery Corporation, Sublime with Rome, The Fray and countless others while also headlining venues like the House of Blues and performing at the Apollo Theater. 

In 2013, Nikhil Korula had the pleasure of recording 5 new songs for a new EP called SOLO SESSIONS with musical heroes of his, Butch Taylor and Jeff Coffin, from the Dave Matthews Band. One of the songs from the EP, "Fade Away," charted, debuting at #106 and moving all the way to #10 on the Hot AC charts. Singer-songwriter, Nikhil Korula also wrote the opening track, "Start It Up," for Ziggy Marley's new self titled album which recently won the Grammy for BEST REGGAE ALBUM, giving Korula his first Grammy® certificate as a songwriter. In 2017, Korula and his band would open for Ziggy Marley at Summerfest 2017 and also perform at Arroyo Seco, a new music festival put on by the creators of Coachella at the Rose Bowl alongside Tom Petty, Mumford & Sons, Weezer and The Meters, to name a few. Korula and his eclectic band opened for Robert Randolph at Summerfest 2019 in front of thousands last summer so look for the NK Band to make their return to Summerfest 2021 next summer. Currently, Nikhil Korula and the band are in the studio recording and mixing their 8th album, REVOLUTIONS, which will be released on January 29, 2021! With dedicated fans, exceptional live shows, and consistently strong songwriting, the Nikhil Korula Band continues to have a remarkable effect and amazing impact on audiences globally. Please visit nkband.com for more information!

Listen on Spotify: open.spotify.com/artist/67p4x7iw2lzjzYmeRBtgBl

 

nkband.com

facebook.com/nikhilkorulaband

instagram.com/thenikhilkorulaband/

03/02/2021

Allie Taylor Rios is the third generation in a musical family. The grand daughter of professional musicians, Allie followed in their footsteps and chose to pursue a career in music.
Allie’s music journey started in elementary school when she did percussion in her schools orchestra in 2nd grade. That lead to a further interest in trumpet and choir  in 5th grade. Allie gives credit to her Elementary school music teacher, and later on colleague, Lisa Pimentel for giving her the confidence early on to follow her dreams in music.

Allie is now the Co-founder of the music school AMPED (Academy of Music Performance and Education) in Lancaster CA, and is their head vocal teacher. She is a songwriter and multi instrumentalist, and teaches songwriting, vocal performance, guitar, piano, bass, ukulele, trumpet, and drums. One of her favorite and “most rewarding” things she has done in her life is being able to write songs with her students. It gives her students an honest platform to express their true feeling that they might not have the option to in their day to day lives.

When Allie is not doing music, you will find her behind the camera running her photography business, Cherished Moments Photography

February 2021

02/23/2021

Originally from Virginia, Eddie Pence now resides in Los Angeles. Don't worry Eddie will make no jokes about how he hates writing about himself in the 3rd person in his Bio, just understand that he does, I mean I do.

The Hollywood Reporter named Eddie Pence one of the Top New Faces of the Montreal Comedy Festival in 2004, he was also invited back to perform there again in 2006. In 2007 Eddie performed at the HBO Aspen Comedy Arts Festival as well as HBO's The Comedy Festival in Las Vegas. In 2010 Eddie was a finalist in the Seattle International Comedy Competition. A favorite of the World Famous Improv, Eddie can be seen at clubs and colleges across the country.

His credits include Comedy Centrals "Live at Gotham" and "Crossballs", "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson", Red Eye w/ Greg Gutfield on Fox News, History of the Joke and Surviving The Holidays w/ Lewis Black on The History Channel. HE's recently appeared on "Gotham LIVE" on AXS TV and "comics Unleashed with byron allen". Eddie was recently cast in "How to be a grown up" on TRU TV...

Eddie is done writing about himself.
youtu.be/FF7KCyiwDPg
eddiepence.com

02/16/2021

Daniel Weidlein is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, producer, and composer based in Los Angeles and originally hailing from Boulder, Colorado. His distinct compositional and production style stems from a background in jazz and world music blended with a love for popular song form. Daniel has appeared as a performer on NBC’s The Sing Off, Fox’s Glee, and in the Academy Award-winning film Whiplash. As a songwriter an producer, Daniel has worked with Blake McGrath (including the album Innervention which reached #2 on the iTunes CCM charts and #20 on the Billboard CCM charts), Jin, Stan Taylor, Kenton Chen, Ryan Amador, M-Pact, and many more.

 

Daniel has released two original jazz albums, Fire In The Sky and A Winter's Lullaby.

danielweidlein.com
Instagram: @danielweidlein

02/09/2021

From the best of "Wake Up Hollywood": Chris Ward is an architectural designer with 14 years experience in historic preservation and high-end residential architecture, currently working for Landry Design Group in west Los Angeles. For the past 30 years he has also performed as a classical singer, including 4 years in the Los Angeles Children's Chorus and 17 years with the Angeles Chorale. In his architectural career he has worked on historically significant homes such as the Gamble House by Greene and Greene, the Japanese House at the Huntington Gardens, Frank Gehry's house, and Case Study houses, as well as many projects for celebrities and successful business people in the Los Angeles area. As a singer Chris has performed in some of the biggest venues in LA, including the Hollywood Bowl, Kodak/Dolby Theater, Microsoft Theater, and the Shrine Auditorium, as well as several performances at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Chris spends his free time writing, painting, running, and hoping for a COVID-19 vaccine.

January 2021

01/26/2021

Nikhil introduces the last 3 songs from the new Nikhil Korula Band album: Revolutions.

nkband.com
Listen on Spotify: open.spotify.com/artist/67p4x7iw2lzjzYmeRBtgBl

01/20/2021

Nikhil introduces more songs from the new Nikhil Korula Band album: Revolutions.

nkband.com
Listen on Spotify: open.spotify.com/artist/67p4x7iw2lzjzYmeRBtgBl

01/12/2021

Classically trained in voice from the age of 5, Nikhil Korula first lent his dulcet tones to sing with the likes of opera giants such as Placido Domingo, pop stars, Barry Manilow and the late Luther Vandross. As a boy soprano, Korula performed at Carnegie Hall by the age of 10 and also sang for one of Danny Elfman’s first film scores. In 1990, Nikhil Korula performed at the 32nd Annual Grammy® Awards with Mike and the Mechanics, sharing the stage on that fateful night with legends, Ray Charles, Miles Davis & Don Henley. However, after graduating from the USC Thornton School of Music with a Bachelor’s Degree in Operatic Vocal Performance, his creative talents drew him to the intense world of songwriting, jazz and improvisation which led to his playing many acoustic sets throughout Los Angeles. This experience, in turn, helped him to collaborate with some of the city’s finest jazz musicians to form the Nikhil Korula Band (NK Band).

Due to its ever-increasing fan following, this vibrant musical act has traveled all over the globe playing festivals such as BONNAROO (2008 & 2009), PLAYBOY JAZZ FESTIVAL (2011), THE SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL (2013-2019) & SUMMERFEST (2007-2019), gathering worldwide attention one fan at a time. Blending the sounds of calypso, rock, reggae, African and Latin grooves, this unique sextet infuses extraordinary musicianship with irresistible dance jams, a combination that has led the NIKHL KORULA BAND to open for such esteemed artists as Dave Matthews Band, Jason Mraz, John Mayer, The Roots, Erykah Badu, Ben Harper, Ray Lamontagne, Gavin Degraw, Gary Clark Jr, Thievery Corporation, Sublime with Rome, The Fray and countless others while also headlining venues like the House of Blues and performing at the Apollo Theater. 

In 2013, Nikhil Korula had the pleasure of recording 5 new songs for a new EP called SOLO SESSIONS with musical heroes of his, Butch Taylor and Jeff Coffin, from the Dave Matthews Band. One of the songs from the EP, "Fade Away," charted, debuting at #106 and moving all the way to #10 on the Hot AC charts. Singer-songwriter, Nikhil Korula also wrote the opening track, "Start It Up," for Ziggy Marley's new self titled album which recently won the Grammy for BEST REGGAE ALBUM, giving Korula his first Grammy® certificate as a songwriter. In 2017, Korula and his band would open for Ziggy Marley at Summerfest 2017 and also perform at Arroyo Seco, a new music festival put on by the creators of Coachella at the Rose Bowl alongside Tom Petty, Mumford & Sons, Weezer and The Meters, to name a few. Korula and his eclectic band opened for Robert Randolph at Summerfest 2019 in front of thousands last summer so look for the NK Band to make their return to Summerfest 2021 next summer. Currently, Nikhil Korula and the band are in the studio recording and mixing their 8th album, REVOLUTIONS, which will be released on January 29, 2021! With dedicated fans, exceptional live shows, and consistently strong songwriting, the Nikhil Korula Band continues to have a remarkable effect and amazing impact on audiences globally. Please visit nkband.com for more information!

Listen on Spotify: open.spotify.com/artist/67p4x7iw2lzjzYmeRBtgBl

 

nkband.com

facebook.com/nikhilkorulaband

instagram.com/thenikhilkorulaband/

01/05/2021

Damion Poitier has a unique and expansive career: he's a writer, producer, actor, stuntman, prosthetic/creature suit performer, motion capture actor, voice over artist, Loop Group performer--well you get it.

As a consumer and participant in film-making and other forms of media, Damion Poitier has experience in many aspects of the processes: From walking neighborhood haunts and watching fan films on his phone to full VR immersion experiences and experiencing them in 4D IMAX theaters, from co-designing and co-directing a live Haunt that is in it's 13th yearly run to bringing the most infamous villian in the worlds most successful film series to life.

His point of view with all it encompasses provides both a film enthusiast and a film professional's point of view. With a fanboy's enthusiasm, a professionals insight, he is a great facet to have in any film and entertainment medium.

Social Media Links: @DamionPoitier

December 2020

12/29/2020

For guitarist and singer-songwriter Jackson Stokes, great musicians make great neighbors. Even as a youth weaned on classic rock- his first concert was Lynyrd Skynyrd- Stokes was unaware that living across the street from his St. Louis home was guitarist and singer-songwriter Devon Allman. Allman’s family tree is impressive as the son of Gregg Allman and nephew of Duane Allman of Allman Brothers Band fame. Yet, Stokes knew little of the legendary group. Encouraged by his father, and holding his guitar, the 11-year-old Stokes knocked on Allman’s door.

Allman, two decades his elder, heard something special in the young Stokes and encouraged him to continue learning and growing as a musician. Stokes dutifully attended Allman’s Honeytribe rehearsals, sitting quietly in the corner while the group worked up its repertoire. At 14, Stokes had developed into a prodigious firebrand with a passion for the blues, teaming with another area wunderkind, Marquise Knox, and performing his first professional gigs.

By 18, his experience playing in high school garage bands, and with an All-State school jazz band, expanded his rock-and-roll palette. He attended Drury University in Springfield, earning a degree in music therapy, while maintaining a friendship with Allman, who encouraged Stokes to further sharpen his songwriting skill. In Memphis in 2012, Allman produced a five-song EP, Witness, from the Stokes-led band, Delta Sol Revival.

DSR toured regionally until 2016 when Stokes and Allman began discussing recording his solo debut. The pair returned to Memphis for the initial sessions, as Allman invited Stokes to join the Devon Allman Band for 2017, and subsequently the Devon Allman Project for a world tour in 2018. On days-off from the road, Stokes continued work on his album, organically building the full-length.

In May of 2019, Stokes put the finishing touches on a striking inaugural effort. Produced by Allman, it is a lean and focused set of rock-and-soul, including an ambitious Talking Heads cover, and a depth of original material ranging in style and subjects. From the Memphis stroll of the opening “Can’t Getcha Out,” through the reflective acoustic closer, “Take Me Home,” the debut encompasses Stokes’ wide swath of influences and tastes. There’s the ‘60s R&B update that morphs into modern rock on “Slave,” the staggering punches of overdriven guitar on “Time is Now,” and the midnight seduction of “Contents Under Pressure.” A flourish of pleading guitars finishes the slowly climbing blues-rock centerpiece, “You and Your Partner,” while David Byrne meets Southern funky on “Life in Wartime.” As well, Stokes welcomes the sunny-days slide guitar of The Allman Betts Band’s Johnny Stachela to brighten the Southern sway of “Sins Are Forgiven,” complementing that with the chunky Saturday night blues of “Whiskey.”

Naturally, the nine-song record offers plenty of the fiery guitar that has been the calling card of Stokes’ career for this first decade, showcasing the stellar reputation he’s earned sharing the stage with such icons as Robert Cray, The Wailers, and Robert Randolph, as well as Warren Haynes, Lukas Nelson, and Marcus King. Yet, it’s a conspicuous emphasis on Stokes’ escalating songcraft that also shines as brightly on this initial release.

Website: jacksonstokes.com
Facebook: facebook.com/tylerjacksonstokes
Instagram: instagram.com/jacksonstokesmusic

12/22/2020

Braden Call was born and raised in Utah. Braden started playing music at the age of 13, the drums in the middle school band. Founding member of Limelight our high school band with Dave Jenson and Matthew Bellows. Part time free lance photographer and full time software Product manager, Braden loves spending time outdoors camping in his Jeep Gladiator and photographing his adventures. He was recently married and loves spending time with his wife and 4 kids doing random s**t :)

Instagram: @bradencallphotography and @bisongladiator
Photography Portfolio: 500px.com/bradencall

12/15/2020

Nicole Samra - Actress, Musician and newest endeavor: writing. Nicole was raised in Riverside, California where she began her love of the stage through singing, bass guitar, and acting in local theater productions. In 2015, she decided to pursue her passion, and moved to Hollywood. She has appeared in Music videos such as Awolnation’s “Woman Woman'' (2016), and starred as Agent Gina Anderson in Hawaiian Sovereignty (2017) on Amazon Prime. When Nicole is not performing, she owns and operates her own marketing company that specializes in assisting content creators (Artists, Coaches & Professionals) share their knowledge with the global market. One of her most notable projects thus far has been the revealing documentation of her first year of sobriety, featured in her self published blog GirlVersusWorld.com. Nicole’s recent writing endeavor is a compelling tell-all biography which is slated to be released in 2021, and involves diving into her past as a trauma survivor who tried to find solutions in drugs, alcohol, sexuality, polyamory, bdsm, and codependent relationships - only to find out that she had to almost lose her life in order to save it.

nicolesamra.com

girlversusworld.com

"Pacific Breeze" Teaser trailer: youtu.be/mGMRfZksMtw

12/08/2020

Chris Ward is an architectural designer with 14 years experience in historic preservation and high-end residential architecture, currently working for Landry Design Group in west Los Angeles. For the past 30 years he has also performed as a classical singer, including 4 years in the Los Angeles Children's Chorus and 17 years with the Angeles Chorale. In his architectural career he has worked on historically significant homes such as the Gamble House by Greene and Greene, the Japanese House at the Huntington Gardens, Frank Gehry's house, and Case Study houses, as well as many projects for celebrities and successful business people in the Los Angeles area. As a singer Chris has performed in some of the biggest venues in LA, including the Hollywood Bowl, Kodak/Dolby Theater, Microsoft Theater, and the Shrine Auditorium, as well as several performances at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Chris spends his free time writing, painting, running, and hoping for a COVID-19 vaccine.

November 2020

11/24/2020

In his stage appearances John DiCrosta is “electric” as one Las Vegas reviewer has said. Dozens of voices, off beat impressions, topical humor, sight gags, a few props, and sometimes even ventriloquism are among the tricks this comedian has up his sleeve. His sharp wit and knack for playfully causing trouble with practical jokes, has helped to spread his name across the US, Canada, & the World.
John DiCrosta has lived in Los Angeles the last 20 years and has been one of the more popular “Audience Warm-up” comics in Hollywood! He has kept the crowds in hysterics and great spirits on such shows as Politically Incorrect & Real Time with Bill Maher, Late Late Show, America’s Funniest Home Videos, American Idol, & Dancing with the Stars, & America’s Got Talent just to name a few. In the last 10 years he has also been one of Carnival Cruise Lines top comedians performing 500+ cruises to date! That’s over 2500 shows!
DiCrosta has also become one of the most sought after voice over actors in LA, providing his vocal talents for dozens of video games and various animated series on Nickelodeon, and most notably as a Decepticon in Transformers Revenge of the Fallen for Paramount Pictures.
This is one act not to be missed. He has been called on many occasions, one of the funniest “Audio-Visual” comedians working today.

Instagram: @johnnyd163
Twitter: @johndicrosta
johndicrosta.com

11/17/2020

Born in Michigan, but raised on the east coast until his mother moved the family to the west coast, Derrick Smith found himself jammed in the middle of the late 90's during the east vs. west beef. Because of his sister, he started playing guitar while recovering from a jaw injury. “She had been gifted one and I thought it looked cool so I asked her if I could play the Am chord and fell in love.
"I write most of my songs in G major key which naturally has an Am conveniently one whole step away.

Derrick started to listen to bands for the first time once he became a guitarist in training which opened up a whole new world for him since he listened to only hip hop and R&B throughout high school and college.
Deep down, though, he wanted to learn how popular guitar players play the instrument. He soon fell in love with the music of Dev Hynes, especially his live recorded performances, and decided soon after that he wanted to be a musician and started gigging out in his early-mid 20's. Inspired by his love of music, LOVE, the creator GOD and nature, Derrick Smith aka Studded Leather, an artist name he branded himself with, is still on the path of writing his life out in musical stories that show all the sides of his life experience so keep your eyes and ears open for his songs and music that will paint your life with goodness.
soundcloud.com/damn-de
IG @studdedleathermusic

11/10/2020

Galit McCord; LA based singer songwriter
A wise man once said, “There are two great days in a person’s life—the day we are born and the day we discover why”. I was born in Israel, served in the Army, and graduated college there with a degree in psychology.  Never dreaming then, that in a few short years, I would be living in Berlin producing Hollywood films including one with Tom Cruise, starring Colin Farrell and Selma Hayek, called “Ask The Dust”. I thought I had found the “Why” of my birth. But, as another wise man once said, “Men make plans, and God laughs.”

I got married – pregnant – and had children. FOUR! My children became the greatest production of my life, but it wasn't long before I realized that rearing children was a kind of production that didn’t leave time for any other.

My early years of motherhood left little time for traveling the world making films. However, to keep my creativity going I continued to indulge myself in my life-long habit of writing poetry. Little could I have guessed that my passion was actually my avocation, on the way to becoming my vocation.

In the beginning, I started to convert my poems to a radio songs format, and write many new songs as well as perform them. As a result my songs have become an extension of my creation. As it was when I gave birth to a child, so it came to be when I gave birth to a song.

And that is how I discovered the authentic “Why” of my birth – write, perform, and share my creations with the world. Songs that tell stories – and reflect upon the human condition -- in the best of times, and the worst of times -- always offering a light at the end of the tunnel, through self-empowerment.

My dream is to break the stereotype of a woman and a mother, that at above a certain age can never make it in the music industry. “If you’re over 30 you’re dead”. The role of your womb may be over for this lifetime but your ability to create is there for the rest of your life.
So yes I’m dying to say, “ I did it and so can you”.

11/03/2020

From the best of "Wake Up Hollywood": Alexei Dmitriew is an Emmy Award-winning 706 Journeyman makeup artist, tattoo designer and the founder of HookUp Tattoos, Inc. HookUp Tattoos is a professional temporary tattoo designer and manufacturer whose designs can be seen on shows such as, Barry, Hawaii 5.0, L.A’s Finest and Good Girls.

His current makeup and special effects work can be seen on Star Trek Picard as the Co-Key special effects makeup artist and The Mandalorian as Co-Department Head. 

Alexei started his work in 1999 as a runner at Captive Audience studios. There he had the privilege of working on such movies as The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Hannibal, Van Helsing, Passion of the Christ, and many other blockbuster movies. There he started to hone his skills as a professional artist. In 2006 while working on the nonunion show Black. White. it became union and he became a 706 member. 

In 2008 he won a prime time Emmy for his work on MadTv.  He went onto department head many Comedy Central shows including seven seasons of the show Workaholics.

Wanting to get back to movies and special effects makeup he joined the amazing team at Legacy Effects and had the pleasure of working on 2 X-Men movies, Guardians of the Galaxy 2, Avengers Infinity War and Endgame. 

In 2019 he was nominated for a Makeup Artist Guild award for his work as Key Special effects Makeup artist on Captain Marvel. 

Follow him on instagram @hookuptattoos. 

Hookuptattoos.com

October 2020

10/27/2020

From the best of "Wake Up Hollywood": Anish Korula graduated from the University of San Francisco with a B.A. in Politics in 1997.  After spending a year in the business field, he embarked on a political career, spending time on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. interning with Senator Bob Graham and Vice President Al Gore's Correspondence Office and a paid position with Senator Barbara Boxer.  After a few years, he moved to New York and worked on political campaigns: two congressional races in Long Island before returning home, receiving a Masters Degree in Public Administration from USC, and one final U.S. Senate campaign in California in 2004, with Senator Barbara Boxer's successful re-election. Anish spent 8 years in public administration at Metro and now focuses on management consulting, freelance work and writing for his blog on current events, book, restaurant and film reviews.

heroofthe7galaxies.blogspot.com

10/20/2020

Matt Fink (born February 2, 1958), better known as Dr. Fink from Prince and the Revolution, is a keyboardist, producer, and songwriter. He has worked with artists, songwriters and producers, including The Time, Lipps Inc., The Jets, Vanity 6, David Z. Bobby Z. P. Diddy, The Rembrandts, Phil Solem, PC Munoz, 7 Aurelius, Steve Nathan, Shock G, Kris Vanderheyden and Marc Mozart. Fink has won 3 Grammys and 2 American Music Awards for his work.

Fink joined Prince’s band in 1978, which later became The Revolution. His work with The Revolution includes the 1984 album Purple Rain, which has sold over 25 million copies worldwide.

His work with Prince includes co-writing credits on the songs "Dirty Mind", "Computer Blue", "17 Days", "America" and "It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night," as well as performing credits on the albums Dirty Mind, Controversy, 1999, Purple Rain, Around the World in a Day, Parade, Sign "O" the Times, Lovesexy, The Black Album, and Graffiti Bridge.

In 1987 Fink opened his own studio facility in Minneapolis, now called “The Operating Room”, where he works on other projects such as his Sony Acid Loop Libraries titled Dr. Fink’s Funk Factory and Matt Fink’s StarView Session Keys which is also part of the quartet of the Artist Integrated Sample Libraries.

After his tenure with Prince, he was hired as staff producer/engineer for Minneapolis based record label K-Tel/Dominion Entertainment, from 1991-1996. In 2001 he released the solo album Ultrasound. Other credits include video game soundtracks for Headgames/Activision, work with King Show Games on both voiceover and music for various casino game machines, and various PBS documentaries. Fink has also written and produced various advertising spots.

In 2007, Fink signed an exclusive management deal with the German based management and production company, Mozart & Friends, where he worked on various projects for Universal Music Group, Warner Bros. and Sony Entertainment.

Fink is currently[needs update] performing with The Revolution, who will have a song featured in the upcoming Netflix feature,[needs update] Wine Country starring Amy Pohler, Maya Rudolph, Rachel Dratch, Ana Gasteyer, and Tina Fey. He is also the Director of Artist Relations for the music streaming service MyMyMusic, and has recently[when?] joined River Rock Studios as a staff Producer/Engineer.

10/13/2020

Sean P. Jones is a Los Angeles based Mixing Engineer & Producer working for many of the industries top musicians & artists. He has mixed for Julia Michaels, St. Vincent, Miguel, Wyclef Jean, Nick Merico, Taio Cruz, Gary Clark Jr., Alx Veliz, Bridget Mindler, Eagles of Death Metal, Johnny Orlando, Zella Day and many more...

seanpjones.net
IG: @seanpjones

10/06/2020

From the best of "Wake Up Hollywood": Buck Snow is a 7x Grammy award winning mixer. He got his start in one of the world’s top recording and mixing facilities where he worked on all types of audio production and mixing music for every genre including Pop, Rock, Metal, Hip Hop, Rap, Jazz, Swing, Folk, Orchestral and Film Music. He’s also done post production mixing for movies, TV and advertising, as well as live-to-air broadcast mixing.
Some notable artists that he has had the pleasure to work with are Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, Beck, The Fray, Metallica, Juliette Lewis, and Mark Isham.
bucksnowmixing.com

September 2020

09/29/2020

Anish Korula graduated from the University of San Francisco with a B.A. in Politics in 1997.  After spending a year in the business field, he embarked on a political career, spending time on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. interning with Senator Bob Graham and Vice President Al Gore's Correspondence Office and a paid position with Senator Barbara Boxer.  After a few years, he moved to New York and worked on political campaigns: two congressional races in Long Island before returning home, receiving a Masters Degree in Public Administration from USC, and one final U.S. Senate campaign in California in 2004, with Senator Barbara Boxer's successful re-election. Anish spent 8 years in public administration at Metro and now focuses on management consulting, freelance work and writing for his blog on current events, book, restaurant and film reviews.

heroofthe7galaxies.blogspot.com

09/22/2020

From the best of "Wake Up Hollywood": Ramsey Denison grew up in a small town in Florida where he spent most of his childhood playing with firecrackers, watching Saved by the Bell, and making terrible movies with his friends at the television station where he worked as a teenager.
A member of the editor's guild, Ram has cut over 30 television programs and worked on hit shows like Naked and Afraid, Catfish, and Criss Angel Mindfreak.

His debut documentary What Happened In Vegas went to #1 on iTunes documentary chart in June 2018 and drew positive reviews from Village Voice, Los Angeles Times, and The Hollywood Reporter. His second documentary, Money Machine, got a perfect 10 out of 10 review from Film Threat and is slated for theatrical release in July, 2020.

MONEY MACHINE MOVIE Synopsis:
Los Angeles CA- In his first acclaimed feature WHAT HAPPENED IN VEGAS, director Ramsey Denison exposed violence, murder and corruption within the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Denison's first documentary became a surprise hit that went to #1 on the iTunes documentary chart in June 2018 and in his searing new film MONEY MACHINE, he shines a light on the cover-up and police corruption around the 1 October Vegas mass shooting that killed 58 people during the Route 91 country music festival near the Mandalay Bay Resort.

Featuring an exclusive interview with killer Stephen Paddock’s brother Eric, this riveting new documentary feature exposes information MGM Resorts International and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department would prefer to keep secret about what drove mild mannered millionaire gambler Stephen Paddock to open fire on a crowd of over 20,000 people at the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival.

MONEY MACHINE also features harrowing, never before seen footage of the deadliest mass shooting in US history and examines what really happened to the millions of dollars raised for victims through the #VegasStrong campaign.  Called “heartbreakingly intense” by Film Threat in their perfect 10 review, MONEY MACHINE digs into layers of police corruption and collusion between the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and casino owners.

On October 1, 2017, Stephen Paddock opened fire on a crowd of over 20,000 concertgoers from his hotel room at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. In a matter of minutes, Paddock killed 58 people and wounded more than 400. It was the largest mass shooting in the history of the United States. Yet, just a couple of years later, Vegas seems to have forgotten about it completely. Needless to say, mass shootings are not good for business, and it didn’t take long for the Vegas money machine to get to work making this one disappear. In the aftermath of remarketing Las Vegas as a safe destination for tourists, many questionable practices were put into place—one of the most shocking being filing a lawsuit against the victims of this devastating tragedy. On top of that, despite the popular #VegasStrong movement and nationwide fundraising, there’s still a huge question of where all that money went. An enthralling documentary about the dark side of the Las Vegas economy, MONEY MACHINE exposes Sin City’s darkest secrets… including its culpability in this country’s deadliest shooting. - Courtesy Cleveland International Film Festival

MONEY MACHINE will be released July 3rd via the innovative “Theatrical-At-Home” platform and will screen at select cinema screens across North America in association with Ryan Bruce Levey Film Distribution and PR.

Virtual ticket sales link Pre-order link:
theatricalathome.com/products/money-machine

MONEY MACHINE trailer

09/15/2020

The Thrills Band is a Southern California-based top 40 cover band providing fun, high-energy, dance-heavy music. A dynamic 4-piece group led by powerhouse vocalist Ginny Smith and the solid power-trio rhythm section of Angel Leal, Dennis Nilsson, and Phil Fitzwater (all experienced musicians from the Cali cover band scene), The Thrills brings new life to your favorite songs, both new and old.
thethrillsband.com

While paying homage to select top hits from the 80’s and 90’s, a sample setlist always includes heavy representation of post-2000 chart toppers. This infusion of current hits, pulled straight from today's charts, not only sets the band apart from others on the scene, but has also become one of its key strengths and most beloved trademarks. Whatever the venue, whatever the crowd, The Thrills Band always serves up a refreshing, authentic, and entertaining musical experience.

09/08/2020

From the best of "Wake Up Hollywood": Joanna Duff is a singer-songwriter based out of Los Angeles. California born and Southern bred, she is known for her unique tone, relaxing vocals and emotion-filled lyrics that blend together with acoustic guitar, strings and keys. She started writing her own music and playing open mic nights while attending the University of Georgia in Athens, GA. Her debut album "We Are the Lucky Ones," produced by Sean McPherson, was released in 2015 and has gained her fans from around the globe. The album is dedicated to her late father.

Duff is passionate in using her musical talents to support philanthropy. She is an avid supporter of the Songs for Kids Foundation and animal rescue organizations. She has performed in the Songs for Kids “500 Songs for Kids” fundraiser since 2009 and is a regular volunteer at LA-based dog adoption center, Wags & Walks.

For her latest single, "Other Than You," Duff teamed up with LA-based producer Kyle Burke to evolve her sound into a richer, dreamier, moodier feel while remaining true to her folk roots. Proceeds from the song’s release and video will benefit Wags & Walks.

Joanna performed regularly at Atlanta’s Smith’s Olde Bar in Midtown with ‘The Lucky Ones’ band Ann Moceyunas (cello), Sanjay Kothari (lead guitar and background vocals) and Jennifer Tullar (background vocals).

09/01/2020

Alexei Dmitriew is an Emmy Award-winning 706 Journeyman makeup artist, tattoo designer and the founder of HookUp Tattoos, Inc. HookUp Tattoos is a professional temporary tattoo designer and manufacturer whose designs can be seen on shows such as, Barry, Hawaii 5.0, L.A’s Finest and Good Girls.

His current makeup and special effects work can be seen on Star Trek Picard as the Co-Key special effects makeup artist and The Mandalorian as Co-Department Head. 

Alexei started his work in 1999 as a runner at Captive Audience studios. There he had the privilege of working on such movies as The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Hannibal, Van Helsing, Passion of the Christ, and many other blockbuster movies. There he started to hone his skills as a professional artist. In 2006 while working on the nonunion show Black. White. it became union and he became a 706 member. 

In 2008 he won a prime time Emmy for his work on MadTv.  He went onto department head many Comedy Central shows including seven seasons of the show Workaholics.

Wanting to get back to movies and special effects makeup he joined the amazing team at Legacy Effects and had the pleasure of working on 2 X-Men movies, Guardians of the Galaxy 2, Avengers Infinity War and Endgame. 

In 2019 he was nominated for a Makeup Artist Guild award for his work as Key Special effects Makeup artist on Captain Marvel. 

Follow him on instagram @hookuptattoos. 

Hookuptattoos.com

August 2020

08/25/2020

Josh Feinberg began his musical training at 4 years old with western classical and jazz on piano and bass in New York City, studying with some of the most accomplished musicians on the scene including Dave Holland, Kenny Wheeler, Ben Monder, Paul Bley, Drew Gress, Bob Bowen, Dan Weiss, and Jacob Sacks among others. He was hailed as a prodigy performing in jazz venues and concert halls across the New York area including Lincoln Center, Alice Tully Hall, and many others. In his teens, Josh fell in love with the music of Ustad Ali Akbar Khan and Pandit Nikhil Banerjee, and shifted his focus to sitar and Hindustani music while pursuing his Bachelors degree from New England Conservatory.

Josh is a student of the Maihar Gharana (school of playing) and has earned the love and respect of connoisseurs of Hindustani music, as well art-music communities around the world. One of the first non-Indian musicians to be accepted as a leading performer, he has learned with Ustad Ali Akbar Khan as well as Ust. Aashish Khan, Sri Alam Khan, Pt. Tejendra Majumdar, Dr. Peter Row, Dr. George Ruckert, Sri James Pomerantz, Sri Warren Senders and Smt. Vijaya Sundaram. Josh has also learned tabla and attended workshops with Pt. Anindo Chatterjee.

Josh maintains a private teaching schedule both in person and online to students around the world. He also serves as the executive director for Jalsaghar, a 501c3 non-profit he established in 2017 to promote South Asian classical music. When not touring, Josh is home in Portland, Oregon with his poet-wife Jessica Pierce and their two kids Sophia and Noah.

Joshsitar.Com 

08/18/2020

From the best of "Wake Up Hollywood": THE 11TH GREEN
A respected journalist uncovers the truth behind the mythology of President Eisenhower’s long-alleged involvement in extraterrestrial events.

When his 85-year-old father drops dead of a heart attack, Jeremy Rudd (CAMPBELL SCOTT) is summoned to the exclusive California golf resort where he lived. Though estranged from his father for two decades (Jeremy’s muckraking Washington reporting flew in the face of his father’s career in classified aerospace programs), he is now forced to become acquainted first-hand with his secretive legacy.

Guests: Actor Campbell Scott (Singles, Royal Pains), Leith M. Burke (plays The President in THE 11TH GREEN and is nominated for an Emmy for his role on Eastsiders), and director/writer Christopher Munch

 

 

 

08/11/2020

Buck Snow is a 7x Grammy award winning mixer. He got his start in one of the world’s top recording and mixing facilities where he worked on all types of audio production and mixing music for every genre including Pop, Rock, Metal, Hip Hop, Rap, Jazz, Swing, Folk, Orchestral and Film Music. He’s also done post production mixing for movies, TV and advertising, as well as live-to-air broadcast mixing.
Some notable artists that he has had the pleasure to work with are Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, Beck, The Fray, Metallica, Juliette Lewis, and Mark Isham.
bucksnowmixing.com

08/04/2020

McNally Waters is Larry John McNally and Harry Waters.
Larry John McNally's songs have been recorded by some of the greatest artists of all time, including The Eagles, Aaron Neville, Bonnie Raitt, Mavis Staples, Rod Stewart and more. His lyrics are literary yet conversational and his guitar playing has been described as "folk-Hendrix."

Growing up in London, Harry Waters played the songs of Led Zeppelin, The Grateful Dead and The Allman Brothers Band and has performed with Marianne Faithful, Ozric Tentacles, Tom Jones, Nick Cave and Dean Ween, as well as fronting and recording an album of jazz as The Harry Waters Band. His piano style is influenced by the New Orleans greats Dr John and Professor Longhair.
He has toured in his father's band, Roger Waters, for the last 15 years, for The Wall and The Dark Side of the Moon tours, and most recently Desert Trip alongside The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and Neil Young.
Both McNally and Waters currently reside in Los Angeles.

youtube.com/channel/UCPmIPp6gCvA72ImtTtw08AQ/videos

facebook.com/McNallyWaters

instagram.com/mcnallywatersband/

July 2020

07/28/2020

Mauricio Ignacio Ibáñez Guzmán is a musician, songwriter, guitar player, music producer and solo artist currently based in Santiago, Chile. A rock guitarist at heart, he explores different genres of rock, metal and much more. His favorite genres are progressive rock/metal, art rock, alternative/space rock, melancholic pop rock, ambient, new-age and certain sub-genres of electronic music. A Bachelor of Music and Sound at UNIACC (Universidad de Artes, Ciencias y Comunicación) and alumni of LACM (Los Angeles College of Music), he first picked up the electric guitar at age 16 in 2000 and started writing and producing his own material in 2005. Heavily influenced by progressive metal in his early twenties by bands like Dream Theater and Opeth, he would later incorporate the essence of Porcupine Tree, Steven Wilson, Anathema and others into his songwriting a few years later. In 2016 he started his main career as a musical artist with his first solo album. In 2019 he started a parallel career as Vocaloid producer Sir Vocalord. He works mostly with Rin and Len Kagamine. Mauricio owns a fully equipped recording studio with a control room and an instruments room called "The Music Lair Studios" where he has recorded and produced the entirety of his catalog.

07/21/2020

Christine Olsen is a Canadian born, Los Angeles based singer, songwriter, session vocalist and actor. Specializing in rock, pop and adult contemporary genres, her voice has appeared in many national and international recordings.

As a competitive contemporary singer, Christine was a finalist on Canadian Idol Season 5, placing #11 in the female category. Along with live performance, She is an active session vocalist/collaborator and actor. Her passion for her craft and her love for entertaining really shines through in her performance. Christine has studied Improv at The Second City in Hollywood, CA.

Currently Christine is the lead Mezzo Soprano in an Andrews Sisters Tribute Trio called The Swing Tonettes. She is also busy writing comedy based songs for her character ESTELLE which we will be talking about in the interview.

christineolsenmusic.com

 

Sara Lynn is a Colombian-Lebanese actress from Hartford, CT. She has done regional commercials in Maine, Michigan, and Connecticut and has worked in short films and webseries. She performed with AspenDream Productions, New England's longest running Mob Murder Mystery and Comedy Wedding Shows, as The Bride in several live performances. When not acting, Sara choreographs routines for her Zumba Fitness classes and practices the exotic art of belly-dance.

 

They are promoting their webcast talk show called “Fangin’ Out!” in which they will be playing as a part of MACABRE MANSION, broadcasting live from TIMES SQUARE on the largest screen The Godzilla onMonday, July 27, 2020 via ZOOM.

Tickets are available to purchase on eventbrite.com/e/shockfest-macabre-mansion-tickets-107154586252

07/14/2020

From the best of "Wake Up Hollywood": Stars of the indie movie, PHOENIX, OREGON
phoenixoregonmovie.com

JAMES LE GROS (BOBBY) Thanks in large part to the independent film movement of the late '80s, the boyishly handsome James LeGros went from being an underrated bit player to a well-respected character actor. A Minnesota native, LeGros found steady work when he migrated to Los Angeles after college in the early '80s, but his real break was being cast by Gus Van Sant as Matt Dillon’s drug-addicted cohort in DRUGSTORE COWBOY. Since then James Le Gros’ has established himself as a versatile actor with a diverse body of on-screen work, including numerous Independent Spirit Award-nominated films in which he has starred such as: Nicole Holofcener’s LOVELY AND AMAZING opposite Emily Mortimer, Todd Haynes’ SAFE opposite Julianne Moore, Alan Rudolph’s MRS. PARKER AND THE VICIOUS CIRCLE opposite Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Stacy Cochran’s MY NEW GUN opposite Drew Barrymore. For his portrayal of the dim-witted, rising-A-list movie star “Chad Palomino,” opposite Steve Buscemi and Catherine Keener in Tom DiCillo’s LIVING IN OBLIVION, he was personally nominated for an Independent Spirit Award. Le Gros’s other film credits include David Fincher’s ZODIAC, Tony Scott’s ENEMY OF THE STATE, Oliver Stone’s BORN ON THE 4TH OF JULY, Cameron Crowe’s SINGLES and Kathryn Bigelow’s POINT BREAK.
His television credits include David E. Kelley’s Emmy Award-winning ALLY MCBEAL and Showtime’s Emmy-nominated SLEEPER CELL. He co-starred in HBO’s MILDRED PIERCE opposite Kate Winslet, and more recently recurred Jordan Peele’s HUNTERS, HBO’s GIRLS, FX’s JUSTIFIED, and Showtime’s BILLIONS.

JESSE BORREGO (CARLOS) Raised in San Antonio, Texas by professional musician father and dancer mother, young Jesse Borrego would enter dance competitions with his sister, and belonged to an experimental theatre company while in college. He landed a recurring role on the hit television series FAME only a year after transferring to the California Institute of the Arts.
Borrego was recently seen in a guest star arc on AMC’s FEAR THE WALKING DEAD. Other television credits include recurring arcs on ABC’s AMERICAN CRIME and El Rey’s television adaptation of FROM DUSK TILL DAWN. He has also guest starred on GOOD BEHAVIOR on TBS and recurred as the serial killer “The Skinner” on the Showtime series DEXTER. Other guest star roles include BURN NOTICE, C.S.I. and C.S.I.: MIAMI and a recurring role on FOX’s smash series 24. He appeared in the Showtime feature THE MALDONADO MIRACLE directed by Salma Hayek, the NBC series E.R. and the PBS series AMERICAN FAMILY.
Borrego was recently seen in the feature films LA MISSION, opposite Benjamin Bratt, COLOMBIANA with Zoe Saldana and John Sayles’ GO FOR SISTERS. His other credits include BLODD IN, BLOOD OUT and BOUND BY HONOR both directed by Taylor Hackford, John Sayles’ LONE STAR, THE NEW WORLD, directed by Terrance Malick; the Jerry Bruckheimer-produced CON AIR, Darnell Martin’s I LIKE IT LIKE THAT, the title role in TNT’s TECUMSEH; Allison Anders’ MI VIDA LOCA; the anthology film NEW YORK STORIES and the independent feature FOLLOW ME HOME with Benjamin Bratt and Alfre Woodard.

DIEDRICH BADER (KYLE) is an American actor, voice actor, and comedian. Many know him for his roles as “Oswald Lee Harvey” on THE DREW CAREY SHOW, and “Lawrence” from the film OFFICE SPACE. Bader has had roles in animated features such as ICE AGE, SURF’S UP, THE SIMPSONS, and voicing the role of “Batman” in the animated television series BATMAN: THE BRAVE AND BOLD. More recently, Diedrich played in the comedies BALLS OF FURY, MEET THE SPARTANS, and VAMPIRES SUCK.
Diedrich was also the series lead on the NBC comedy OUTSOURCED. Diedrich also guest starred on USA’s PSYCH, TV Land’s THE EXES, Netflix’s ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT, and Fox’s BONES. Diedrich can next be seen in the spoof film THE STARVING GAMES. Most recently, Diedrich can be seen on HBO’s VEEP guest star opposite Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
Diedrich is currently starring in ABC’s AMERICAN HOUSEWIFE opposite Katy Mixon.

07/07/2020

Joanna Duff is a singer-songwriter based out of Los Angeles. California born and Southern bred, she is known for her unique tone, relaxing vocals and emotion-filled lyrics that blend together with acoustic guitar, strings and keys. She started writing her own music and playing open mic nights while attending the University of Georgia in Athens, GA. Her debut album "We Are the Lucky Ones," produced by Sean McPherson, was released in 2015 and has gained her fans from around the globe. The album is dedicated to her late father.

Duff is passionate in using her musical talents to support philanthropy. She is an avid supporter of the Songs for Kids Foundation and animal rescue organizations. She has performed in the Songs for Kids “500 Songs for Kids” fundraiser since 2009 and is a regular volunteer at LA-based dog adoption center, Wags & Walks.

For her latest single, "Other Than You," Duff teamed up with LA-based producer Kyle Burke to evolve her sound into a richer, dreamier, moodier feel while remaining true to her folk roots. Proceeds from the song’s release and video will benefit Wags & Walks.

Joanna performed regularly at Atlanta’s Smith’s Olde Bar in Midtown with ‘The Lucky Ones’ band Ann Moceyunas (cello), Sanjay Kothari (lead guitar and background vocals) and Jennifer Tullar (background vocals).

June 2020

06/30/2020

From the best of "Wake Up Hollywood": Nathan’s Kingdom is a dark fantasy, coming-of-age drama about a young autistic man (Nathan) struggling to survive life’s hardships with his teenage opiate-addicted sister (Laura). When Social Services threatens to upend their lives, Nathan flees and takes his sister on a dangerous, other-worldly journey fraught with monsters, mythical wars and underground civilizations — in the hopes of finding a kingdom with the potential to transform both their lives forever.
nathanskingdom.com

Olicer Muñoz- - A proud bilingual (Spanish) and Orange County (CA) native, Olicer Muñoz earned his M.F.A. in directing from the prestigious American Film Institute (AFI) in Los Angeles. With 15 years professional Filmmaking experience and through his recent narrative feature film – Nathan’s Kingdom, Olicer is empowering diverse audiences around the world. Currently, Olicer is developing and directing high-concept, unlikely hero, Sci-Fi / Fantasy storylines, and is integrating cutting edge CGI. 

Emily Beach- - Known for her films, Between the Miles, The Strangeness You Feel and The Bus Ride, Emily Beach has been making movies since 2006.  She received a B.A. in Communication Studies from CSU Long Beach. Thereafter, she immersed herself into the local indie film community and interned at Filmmakers Alliance. It became the formative foundation of her career as a filmmaker. She went on to produce several award-winning films that have screened at film festivals all over the world. Emily’s entrepreneurial frame of mind and collaborative attitude led her to be a successful independent film producer dedicated to making authentically original cinema.

Madison Ford- - Madison Ford is a storyteller. As a professional actor and writer, she has mastered page and screen in an effort to learn more about humanity.  Ford was raised in a small town on the outskirts of the Dallas/Fort-Worth airport. Her first book was entitled "Kitty's First Trip", published by her 4th grade class. It follows an inexperienced flyer of the feline variety as she navigates travel during the holiday season. She still thinks it could use a few edits. During her acting career, Ford has trained with Terry Schreiber, Cathryn Sullivan, and at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, among other esteemed studios. Her performance history includes work in film, television, radio, theater, voice-over, and stand-up comedy. Her most recent film project, "Nathan's Kingdom," received "The Heart of the Festival" award at the Sedona International Film Festival. She is represented by Red Letter Entertainment.

Jacob Lince- - Jacob was diagnosed with high-functioning autism when he was 3 years old and with the help of a lot of people, including the Culver City school system, he graduated from high school and is currently attending WLA College while pursuing his acting career. Jacob joined the Performing Arts Studio West (PASW) in Inglewood, which provides an environment where adults with developmental disabilities participate in a performing arts curriculum. It was here that he was discovered by Olicer Muñoz, the writer/director of Nathan’s Kingdom.

06/23/2020

THE 11TH GREEN
A respected journalist uncovers the truth behind the mythology of President Eisenhower’s long-alleged involvement in extraterrestrial events.

When his 85-year-old father drops dead of a heart attack, Jeremy Rudd (CAMPBELL SCOTT) is summoned to the exclusive California golf resort where he lived. Though estranged from his father for two decades (Jeremy’s muckraking Washington reporting flew in the face of his father’s career in classified aerospace programs), he is now forced to become acquainted first-hand with his secretive legacy.

Guests: Actor Campbell Scott (Singles, Royal Pains), Leith M. Burke (plays The President in THE 11TH GREEN and is nominated for an Emmy for his role on Eastsiders), and director/writer Christopher Munch

 

 

 

06/16/2020

Ramsey Denison grew up in a small town in Florida where he spent most of his childhood playing with firecrackers, watching Saved by the Bell, and making terrible movies with his friends at the television station where he worked as a teenager.
A member of the editor's guild, Ram has cut over 30 television programs and worked on hit shows like Naked and Afraid, Catfish, and Criss Angel Mindfreak.

His debut documentary What Happened In Vegas went to #1 on iTunes documentary chart in June 2018 and drew positive reviews from Village Voice, Los Angeles Times, and The Hollywood Reporter. His second documentary, Money Machine, got a perfect 10 out of 10 review from Film Threat and is slated for theatrical release in July, 2020.

MONEY MACHINE MOVIE Synopsis:
Los Angeles CA- In his first acclaimed feature WHAT HAPPENED IN VEGAS, director Ramsey Denison exposed violence, murder and corruption within the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Denison's first documentary became a surprise hit that went to #1 on the iTunes documentary chart in June 2018 and in his searing new film MONEY MACHINE, he shines a light on the cover-up and police corruption around the 1 October Vegas mass shooting that killed 58 people during the Route 91 country music festival near the Mandalay Bay Resort.

Featuring an exclusive interview with killer Stephen Paddock’s brother Eric, this riveting new documentary feature exposes information MGM Resorts International and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department would prefer to keep secret about what drove mild mannered millionaire gambler Stephen Paddock to open fire on a crowd of over 20,000 people at the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival.

MONEY MACHINE also features harrowing, never before seen footage of the deadliest mass shooting in US history and examines what really happened to the millions of dollars raised for victims through the #VegasStrong campaign.  Called “heartbreakingly intense” by Film Threat in their perfect 10 review, MONEY MACHINE digs into layers of police corruption and collusion between the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and casino owners.

On October 1, 2017, Stephen Paddock opened fire on a crowd of over 20,000 concertgoers from his hotel room at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. In a matter of minutes, Paddock killed 58 people and wounded more than 400. It was the largest mass shooting in the history of the United States. Yet, just a couple of years later, Vegas seems to have forgotten about it completely. Needless to say, mass shootings are not good for business, and it didn’t take long for the Vegas money machine to get to work making this one disappear. In the aftermath of remarketing Las Vegas as a safe destination for tourists, many questionable practices were put into place—one of the most shocking being filing a lawsuit against the victims of this devastating tragedy. On top of that, despite the popular #VegasStrong movement and nationwide fundraising, there’s still a huge question of where all that money went. An enthralling documentary about the dark side of the Las Vegas economy, MONEY MACHINE exposes Sin City’s darkest secrets… including its culpability in this country’s deadliest shooting. - Courtesy Cleveland International Film Festival

MONEY MACHINE will be released July 3rd via the innovative “Theatrical-At-Home” platform and will screen at select cinema screens across North America in association with Ryan Bruce Levey Film Distribution and PR.

Virtual ticket sales link Pre-order link:
theatricalathome.com/products/money-machine

MONEY MACHINE trailer

06/09/2020

Abby Posner has been a working musician in Los Angeles for the past 16 years.  She is best known for her ability to play nearly any instrument that she can lay her hands on, twisting genres, and pushing the boundaries of folk and roots music. If you have seen Abby perform live, you know she can play a mean lead-blues guitar solo, or throw down a complex Earl Scruggs banjo riff. You also may have spotted her playing drums, mandolin, or bass while using her looping pedal. In addition to her versatility, she puts passion and soul into everything she plays.

This CalArts music graduate has composed music for commercials/TV, films, and radio shows all over the globe (including Old Fashioned, The Fosters, This American Life, The Art of More, and Last Tango in Halifax just to name a few). She also has music placed in commercials and TV shows all over China, Sweden, The UK, and Australia. Posner appeared in two episodes of GLEE on season four playing banjo and guitar, and the Freeform show Famous In Love playing banjo.  In 2015 Posner performed live on KCAL 9 news and Good Day LA playing original songs.

Posner has scored three films (Across Land Across Sea, Through Their Eyes, and award winning short Animation Elizabeth Sees) while playing and touring with her indie folk band Abby and The Myth.  In 2019 Posner will be a principal role in a Bank Of America commercial for the Ken Burn’s PBS Country Music Documentary.

Posner formed her project ‘Abby and The Myth’ in 2015 and they have taken LA by storm with their catchy indie folk songs. The band released their EP Ghosts and Frames April - 2015 and have been touring nationally.  They have had several residencies at the famous Hotel Cafe in Hollywood, and in 2017 released a new full length record titled When You Dig A Well.  After signing with Gary Calamar’s licensing company, Laurel Canon, Abby and The Myth have gained recognition in the LA music scene.
abbyposner.com

06/02/2020

From the best of "Wake Up Hollywood": Sara Fletcher is a multi-media actress spanning several platforms, including TV, Film and Web.  Fletcher's TV career started on Comedy Central's Secret Girlfriend in the starring role; she also was the lead in the Josh Schwartz and Matt Miller's CBS pilot Hitched and was a series regular on One Love on Bounce TV. Some of her past guest starring and recurring roles on TV include: Perfect Couples, Friends with Benefits, The Glades, Family Guy, Grimm, Days of Our Lives, NCIS: LA and NCIS. Fletcher also started in the feature Minutes to Midnight along side William Baldwin, Richard Greico and Bill Moseley. And she played the lead role LMN's hit MOW House of Darkness which took home their LMNies Best Feature Award. Most recently she finished filming the Sony/Lifetime film: Escaping the NXVIM Cult, playing the real life Allison Mack, which is set to premiere on Sept 21st on Lifetime.

facebook.com/SaraERFletcher

instagram.com/saraerfletcher

twitter.com/sarafletcher

 

About the Film:

"In Escaping the NXIVM Cult, Raniere (Peter Facinelli of Twilight fame) and his second-in-command, Smallville actress Allison Mack (Sara Fletcherdoing an eerily good impression), make a compelling pitch to convince India (Jasper Polish) and other women to join the organization."

(refinery29.com/amp/en-us/2019/08/241402/nxivm-cult-movie-allison-mack-keith-raniere-sara-fletcher-peter-facinelli-lifetime-trailer)

 

“Lifetime has unveiled the first look at its chilling original movie on the NXIVM sex cult. The trailer for Escaping the NXIVM Cult: A Mother’s Fight to Save Her Daughter shows seduction, anguish, and actress Sara Fletcher looking eerily similar to convicted NXIVM member and Smallville alum, Allison Mack.

(deadline.com/video/lifetimes-trailer-for-escaping-the-nxivm-cult-shows-seduction-and-anguish/)

 

Sara Fletcher, meanwhile, will play Mack and, as the trailer demonstrates, the resemblance is striking.”

(news.avclub.com/lifetime-drops-a-breathless-trailer-for-its-movie-about-1837520668)

 

"He just wants what's best for all of us," says Allison, who is played by Sara Fletcher, the actress bearing an uncanny resemblance to the real-life Mack. "Are you ready for your NXIVM transformation?”

(etonline.com/lifetime-movie-about-nxivm-cult-debuts-creepy-trailer-with-an-allison-mack-lookalike-exclusive)

May 2020

05/25/2020

Texas born & California raised, in Alameda, Patrick Baker aka “The Dark Sea” lives in Los Angeles. Patrick grew up between two musical worlds: his parents record collection from the pop/rock of 60’s and rock/hiphop of the 90’s.

Patrick used to bring his guitar with him to high school every day and spent 6 hours a day playing guitar. While studying jazz at SF State and songwriting at The Songwriting School of Los Angeles, he played guitar in bands in the Bay Area before moving to LA to learn music production from Cre8 Academy in Hollywood. He’s spent the last few years songwriting and producing for local artists around town.

“The Dark Sea” writes emotionally honest lyrics dealing with his struggles with depression, loneliness, interpersonal relationships, and social issues. The sound has been described as Pavement fronting the Foo Fighters. He borrows the dynamics and a lot of the clean/distorted heaviness from the early-mid 90’s era.  

“I never intended to be a singer. I was always frustrated with writing songs for others to sing so I decided to learn how to sing a few years back. One of other my goals is to inspire people to play guitar as well.”

Patrick grew up listening to some of the best guitar riff music: Nirvana, Led Zeppelin, Guns N’ Roses, and Metallica mostly because he wasn’t sure there’s anything sexier than a great riff.

Currently influenced by Red hot Chili Peppers, The Beatles and Smashing Pumpkins, his next project will have a more urban flavor with lots of guitars because he is on a 90’s alt rock kick right now.

Recently, he released his 1st release as the Dark Sea “My Brother’s Keeper” and a Leonard Cohen cover and under his producer handle Pbutter, you can take a listen to “You Want It Darker”. Look for his upcoming alt rock EP in the next few months. 

Website thedarkseamusic.com

Instagram or Facebook @thedarkseamusic

05/19/2020

From the best of "Wake Up Hollywood": Anna Wyckoff – seeks to find the intersection where her passions overlap by creating portraits in multiple disciplines. As a painter, she explores the role of physiognomy as an expression of the individual in oil. Her latest project Invisible Cities, uses a series of large scale portraits set in Venice, Italy as emblematic of contemporary environmental decadence. As the Communications Director for the Costume Designers Guild, she serves as editor in chief of The Costume Designer Magazine and produces the Legacy Video Series. This allows her to explore the psychological manifestation of personality in costume design. Anna also creates olfactory portraits in scent on commission.

IG - @astoryitellmyself

05/12/2020

Joe Laurean started playing guitar in 1988 one fall afternoon after discovering Guns 'N Roses. He was about 13 then and never looked back at life without having a guitar ever again. Since then, it's been his breakfast, lunch, and dinner. As a teen, Joe would skip most parties to try and make his fingers fret chords and practice, practice, practice. Fast forward to 2002, Joe was home one day in Pasadena in his living room, staring at his two guitars. Bam!! The idea came to him and his head said to swap out those two necks. At the time, he was a small guitar repair enthusiast and so decided to set up a business with a friend and so they worked out of an old mansion on Lake Ave. Back in 2002, Joe had been customizing old guitars, building them from parts to satisfy the guitars he wished he could have when he first started out playing. Joe is a strat guy so that's what he started out mostly customizing, but he built a few single cut LP styles and even a few basses. In 2018, Joe got to take things a little further and joined Guild USA in Oxnard, CA. Joe Laurean is part of building some of the most iconic acoustic guitars now. The Guild USA famed dreadnoughts, our parlor sized M20s, and of course our jumbo acoustics are off the charts. Although the pandemic has slowed them down a bit, Joe knows to always follow his heart and frequently reminds himself to feel blessed to have found so many of the most amazing fellow musicians along his musical journey.

05/05/2020

Stars of the indie movie, PHOENIX, OREGON
phoenixoregonmovie.com

JAMES LE GROS (BOBBY) Thanks in large part to the independent film movement of the late '80s, the boyishly handsome James LeGros went from being an underrated bit player to a well-respected character actor. A Minnesota native, LeGros found steady work when he migrated to Los Angeles after college in the early '80s, but his real break was being cast by Gus Van Sant as Matt Dillon’s drug-addicted cohort in DRUGSTORE COWBOY. Since then James Le Gros’ has established himself as a versatile actor with a diverse body of on-screen work, including numerous Independent Spirit Award-nominated films in which he has starred such as: Nicole Holofcener’s LOVELY AND AMAZING opposite Emily Mortimer, Todd Haynes’ SAFE opposite Julianne Moore, Alan Rudolph’s MRS. PARKER AND THE VICIOUS CIRCLE opposite Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Stacy Cochran’s MY NEW GUN opposite Drew Barrymore. For his portrayal of the dim-witted, rising-A-list movie star “Chad Palomino,” opposite Steve Buscemi and Catherine Keener in Tom DiCillo’s LIVING IN OBLIVION, he was personally nominated for an Independent Spirit Award. Le Gros’s other film credits include David Fincher’s ZODIAC, Tony Scott’s ENEMY OF THE STATE, Oliver Stone’s BORN ON THE 4TH OF JULY, Cameron Crowe’s SINGLES and Kathryn Bigelow’s POINT BREAK.
His television credits include David E. Kelley’s Emmy Award-winning ALLY MCBEAL and Showtime’s Emmy-nominated SLEEPER CELL. He co-starred in HBO’s MILDRED PIERCE opposite Kate Winslet, and more recently recurred Jordan Peele’s HUNTERS, HBO’s GIRLS, FX’s JUSTIFIED, and Showtime’s BILLIONS.

JESSE BORREGO (CARLOS) Raised in San Antonio, Texas by professional musician father and dancer mother, young Jesse Borrego would enter dance competitions with his sister, and belonged to an experimental theatre company while in college. He landed a recurring role on the hit television series FAME only a year after transferring to the California Institute of the Arts.
Borrego was recently seen in a guest star arc on AMC’s FEAR THE WALKING DEAD. Other television credits include recurring arcs on ABC’s AMERICAN CRIME and El Rey’s television adaptation of FROM DUSK TILL DAWN. He has also guest starred on GOOD BEHAVIOR on TBS and recurred as the serial killer “The Skinner” on the Showtime series DEXTER. Other guest star roles include BURN NOTICE, C.S.I. and C.S.I.: MIAMI and a recurring role on FOX’s smash series 24. He appeared in the Showtime feature THE MALDONADO MIRACLE directed by Salma Hayek, the NBC series E.R. and the PBS series AMERICAN FAMILY.
Borrego was recently seen in the feature films LA MISSION, opposite Benjamin Bratt, COLOMBIANA with Zoe Saldana and John Sayles’ GO FOR SISTERS. His other credits include BLODD IN, BLOOD OUT and BOUND BY HONOR both directed by Taylor Hackford, John Sayles’ LONE STAR, THE NEW WORLD, directed by Terrance Malick; the Jerry Bruckheimer-produced CON AIR, Darnell Martin’s I LIKE IT LIKE THAT, the title role in TNT’s TECUMSEH; Allison Anders’ MI VIDA LOCA; the anthology film NEW YORK STORIES and the independent feature FOLLOW ME HOME with Benjamin Bratt and Alfre Woodard.

DIEDRICH BADER (KYLE) is an American actor, voice actor, and comedian. Many know him for his roles as “Oswald Lee Harvey” on THE DREW CAREY SHOW, and “Lawrence” from the film OFFICE SPACE. Bader has had roles in animated features such as ICE AGE, SURF’S UP, THE SIMPSONS, and voicing the role of “Batman” in the animated television series BATMAN: THE BRAVE AND BOLD. More recently, Diedrich played in the comedies BALLS OF FURY, MEET THE SPARTANS, and VAMPIRES SUCK.
Diedrich was also the series lead on the NBC comedy OUTSOURCED. Diedrich also guest starred on USA’s PSYCH, TV Land’s THE EXES, Netflix’s ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT, and Fox’s BONES. Diedrich can next be seen in the spoof film THE STARVING GAMES. Most recently, Diedrich can be seen on HBO’s VEEP guest star opposite Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
Diedrich is currently starring in ABC’s AMERICAN HOUSEWIFE opposite Katy Mixon.

April 2020

04/28/2020

Vocalist, Thought Leader, Songwriter, Theatre/Film Producer, and Innovator in Music Education. Alena Bernardi grew up in the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan in a grey brick house that stood on a dirt road with 3 acres of land. In the evenings, as a child, Alena would listen to her mother stumble through and eventually master traditional piano classics from Beethoven to Debussy, while her father would read science fiction novels to her and her brother in the bedroom across the house. At seven, Alena finally had begged her mom and dad enough for lessons that they signed her up. It was around then that the Phantom of the Opera was in the midst of touring around the states, and, at a request to her mother to accompany her in the 2nd grade talent show singing Andrew Lloyd Webber’s classic, Angel of Music, Alena was off to developing an addiction to the style that perfectly blends musical theatre and classical music.

Alena co-founded Unicorn Music Academy in January 2020 to open up the young people’s hearts and minds to the music around them and give them the tools they ned to organize their ideas and create freely.

Credits include: Fiordiligi in Cosi Fan Tutte, Musetta in La Boheme, Barbarina in The Marriage of Figaro, Lily Garland in On The Twentieth Century, and Rapunzel in Into the Woods.

04/21/2020

Since moving to AZ from MA,in 1996 Shawn Johnson has played McDowell Music Festival, Apache Lake Music Festival, The Marquee, Crescent Ballroom, Circus Mexicus,Tempe Arts Festival, Hayden Square and numerous other music venues.
You can catch Shawn performing solo, as The Johnson Twins or as Shawn Johnson & The Foundation.

Musical influences: Ben Howard, Ani Difranco, Barenaked Ladies, Blues Traveler, Ben Harper, Dave Matthews, Counting Crows,Ray Lamontagne

Discography
Sunshine For Someone 2018
Songs For Scenes 2010
IV 2008 
Dangling Live 2005
Strength 2002 
Heart Strong 1999
Ego vs Soul 1998

shawnjohnsonmusic.com

04/14/2020

The Milkman & Sons is a Brooklyn based band that plays Traditional Blues and Prohibition Jazz. They are known for their ability to take audiences in a musical time machine by playing the music of such varied notables as Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Django Reinhardt, Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Fats Waller, Hoagy Carmichael and Little Walter as well as original music written in a similar style. While the band is always fronted by singer, harmonica player and guitarist, Marcus Milius it usually features violinist, Karl Meyer and bassist, Luc Decker. As a trio they have earned a reputation for artfully creating an intimate ambiance and still being able to bring a room to life with contagious energy. They developed this craft playing up to six nights a week at local bars, restaurants and events.
themilkmanandsons.com

04/07/2020

Nathan’s Kingdom is a dark fantasy, coming-of-age drama about a young autistic man (Nathan) struggling to survive life’s hardships with his teenage opiate-addicted sister (Laura). When Social Services threatens to upend their lives, Nathan flees and takes his sister on a dangerous, other-worldly journey fraught with monsters, mythical wars and underground civilizations — in the hopes of finding a kingdom with the potential to transform both their lives forever.
nathanskingdom.com

Olicer Muñoz- - A proud bilingual (Spanish) and Orange County (CA) native, Olicer Muñoz earned his M.F.A. in directing from the prestigious American Film Institute (AFI) in Los Angeles. With 15 years professional Filmmaking experience and through his recent narrative feature film – Nathan’s Kingdom, Olicer is empowering diverse audiences around the world. Currently, Olicer is developing and directing high-concept, unlikely hero, Sci-Fi / Fantasy storylines, and is integrating cutting edge CGI. 

Emily Beach- - Known for her films, Between the Miles, The Strangeness You Feel and The Bus Ride, Emily Beach has been making movies since 2006.  She received a B.A. in Communication Studies from CSU Long Beach. Thereafter, she immersed herself into the local indie film community and interned at Filmmakers Alliance. It became the formative foundation of her career as a filmmaker. She went on to produce several award-winning films that have screened at film festivals all over the world. Emily’s entrepreneurial frame of mind and collaborative attitude led her to be a successful independent film producer dedicated to making authentically original cinema.

Madison Ford- - Madison Ford is a storyteller. As a professional actor and writer, she has mastered page and screen in an effort to learn more about humanity.  Ford was raised in a small town on the outskirts of the Dallas/Fort-Worth airport. Her first book was entitled "Kitty's First Trip", published by her 4th grade class. It follows an inexperienced flyer of the feline variety as she navigates travel during the holiday season. She still thinks it could use a few edits. During her acting career, Ford has trained with Terry Schreiber, Cathryn Sullivan, and at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, among other esteemed studios. Her performance history includes work in film, television, radio, theater, voice-over, and stand-up comedy. Her most recent film project, "Nathan's Kingdom," received "The Heart of the Festival" award at the Sedona International Film Festival. She is represented by Red Letter Entertainment.

Jacob Lince- - Jacob was diagnosed with high-functioning autism when he was 3 years old and with the help of a lot of people, including the Culver City school system, he graduated from high school and is currently attending WLA College while pursuing his acting career. Jacob joined the Performing Arts Studio West (PASW) in Inglewood, which provides an environment where adults with developmental disabilities participate in a performing arts curriculum. It was here that he was discovered by Olicer Muñoz, the writer/director of Nathan’s Kingdom.

March 2020

03/31/2020

From the best of "Wake Up Hollywood": Alexander Carver is an author, screenwriter, and playwright, originally from Radnor, Pennsylvania. His stories have been published in such literary magazines as: ZYZZYVA, Foliate Oak, The Southern Pacific Review, The Satirist, Dark Matter, and The Writing Disorder. Razor Literary Magazine selected his story "Uber Trouble" as a prize winner in it's annual short story contest.  His first feature film is set for production next Fall and O Jackie! is his debut novel. Today, Alexander lives in Santa Monica, California with his beloved wife, Elise, and his nemesis, her pet rabbit, Lucy.

O JACKIE! is a story about the internal and external chaos created when an artist with both a superman and an inferiority complex chooses to be the self he wishes he was, instead of the self he truly is.

IG: @ kennedy_projec
alexandercarverwriter.com

03/24/2020

From the best of "Wake Up Hollywood": A native of Mississippi, a state known as the birthplace of the Gospel and the Blues, Maurice Smith has been one of Los Angeles’ most sought after vocalist for the past few years. He has graced the stage with some of the finest artists the music industry has to offer such as Beyonce, Kanye West, Seal, LeAnn Rimes, The Mary Jane Girls, Sy Smith (Who was nominated for “Song of the Year” by SoulTracks.com in 2010), Jessy J (Billboard Jazz charts #1 album, Hot Sauce, in 2011), and DeWayne Wiggins (founding member, writer, and producer for Tony Toni Tone) just to name a few. Maurice Smith has garnered praise from these artists and fans alike. Smith featured with Jessy J at the 2012 Gardena Jazz Festival and quickly became the talk of the festival with a lineup that included, DW3, Kori Withers, and Eric Darius. Along with these performances, Smith was personally asked by DeVon Franklin, Studio Executive at Sony Pictures Entertainment, to perform at his wedding reception following his marriage to actress, Meagan Good, after Franklin caught one of Smith’s highly acclaimed performances.

On any given day you can find him serenading audiences throughout the world. Maurice just wrapped up a solo tour of Italy and has released several projects from which he has received high praise. SoulTracks.com compares his EP, Delta Soul to works by Curtis Mayfield. An old soul, Maurice is clearly influenced by the greats. He counts among his influences, Marvin Gaye, Bill Withers, and Al Green and is often compared to the celebrated tenors of our time such as Stokeley, Raphael Saadiq, El DeBarge, and the greatest of them all Stevie Wonder. His debut EP, Private Use Only; Vol. 1 was released to high praises due to it's sensual nature. And while having a gift for romance, Smith has also released several dance tracks to keep you moving. Smith features with Grammy award winning DJ Terry Hunter on Juan Hoerni’s Soul House track, Love Rewind.

03/17/2020

From the best of "Wake Up Hollywood": LAMONT MAGEE has penned or had a hand in penning well over a dozen screenplays with two films, “THE SPEAK” (2011) and “A BEAUTIFUL SOUL” (2012) receiving theatrical releases. Magee also partnered with Enderby Entertainment (About Cherry, Combat Hospital) to create “GET WYLDE” (2011) a teen, web series written by Magee and created by Magee and Brett Donowho (The Music Within, A Haunting at Silver Falls.

At the close of 2014, Magee was staffed on the BET/CENTRIC drama “SINGLE LADIES”, produced by Queen Latifah and Shakim Compere and starring LisaRaye McCoy, Letoya Luckett and Travis Winfrey among others.

2015 has already proven to be a banner year for Magee. Arclight Films and Huace Media Group has acquired the rights to “LIGHTS OUT”, a thriller co-written by Magee and Jeff Byrd (Jasper Texas) and produced by Mike Gabrawy (Resident Evil, Reclaim). Currently the production is finalizing a deal with a "legendary" director to take the reign with casting to begin shortly afterward. Arclight Films and Huace Media (a China based company) also signed Magee and Byrd to a feature deal to develop films for the company in the 20M-60M range.

Magee currently has been writing on the CW's BLACK LIGHTNING and has several projects, both film and television, at various stages of development at production companies around town and should have more exciting news to share in the coming months. 

03/10/2020

Over the past two decades Mark de Sousa has contributed to almost 2 dozen films as an artist and computer graphics supervisor while working on multiple award- winning films including the Oscar VFX winning Titanic and Spider-Man 2.

He started off his career at VIFX in Los Angeles, then transitioned to Sony Pictures Imageworks. During his 15-year tenure at Sony, he helped to create and oversee the Character FX department as well serving as a department supervisor on various shows for both live action and animated features. Mark has also authored an instructional DVD for The Gnomon Workshop and contributed a chapter for a Sybex publication on Autodesk’s Maya software.

Mark now represents Anibrain in North America including Canada and other locations globally. He manages development from concept to release and ensures delivery of high quality VFX attaining financial and schedule goals on time.
He is instrumental in coordinating with multiple cross-functional groups and vendors.
Additionally, Mark also uses his experience on the front lines to improve production and organizational processes.

imdb.com/name/nm0002805/
anibrain.com
linkedin.com/company/anibrain
facebook.com/Anibrain
twitter.com/anibrainvfx
Anibrain's school

03/03/2020

Anna Wyckoff – seeks to find the intersection where her passions overlap by creating portraits in multiple disciplines. As a painter, she explores the role of physiognomy as an expression of the individual in oil. Her latest project Invisible Cities, uses a series of large scale portraits set in Venice, Italy as emblematic of contemporary environmental decadence. As the Communications Director for the Costume Designers Guild, she serves as editor in chief of The Costume Designer Magazine and produces the Legacy Video Series. This allows her to explore the psychological manifestation of personality in costume design. Anna also creates olfactory portraits in scent on commission.

IG - @astoryitellmyself

February 2020

02/25/2020

Chacko Vadaketh is a lawyer turned actor, host, voiceover artist, creative consultant, producer and corporate trainer. Born in India and raised in Malaysia, he has a degree in Law and Archaeology & Anthropology from Cambridge University (1983-86), is qualified as a Barrister at Law of Lincoln's Inn, London (1987), and is an Advocate and Solicitor of the High Court of Malaya (1988). He is a former ASTRO (Asia Broadcast Centre)’s Arts Ambassador and a judge for the Theatre Category of the Kakiseni Boh Cameronian Arts Awards - Malaysia’s Tonys. He studied Acting and Directing at The New School in New York (1997) and at Carter Thor Studios in Los Angeles (2010-2014). He has been Vice-President of the Voice Guild of Malaysia and is the host for the 2019 & 2020 Counsel of the Year Awards for the Association of Media & Entertainment Counsel in Manhattan Beach, California. He is a member of SAG.

02/18/2020

Ailie MacK (pronounced Ay-Lee) is Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter who engages her listeners with soulful vocals and thought-provoking lyrics. No matter what style she is inspired by - pop, alternative, rock, jazz, and blues - she aims to deliver lyrics and vocals that do the story justice, musical hooks that convey the emotion of the storyteller, and, hopefully, a spark of some kind - a connection, an inspiration, a laugh, an emotion, or a new perspective - to the listener.

Ailie is extremely grateful for the training she has received as a vocalist and songwriter, with a Bachelors of Music degree from the University of Southern California and a few world-class, Grammy-nominated music teachers, mentors, and collaborators to attribute to it, but she is even more grateful to have learned that, ultimately, music comes from the heart and soul, not the head.

02/11/2020

A native of Mississippi, a state known as the birthplace of the Gospel and the Blues, Maurice Smith has been one of Los Angeles’ most sought after vocalist for the past few years. He has graced the stage with some of the finest artists the music industry has to offer such as Beyonce, Kanye West, Seal, LeAnn Rimes, The Mary Jane Girls, Sy Smith (Who was nominated for “Song of the Year” by SoulTracks.com in 2010), Jessy J (Billboard Jazz charts #1 album, Hot Sauce, in 2011), and DeWayne Wiggins (founding member, writer, and producer for Tony Toni Tone) just to name a few. Maurice Smith has garnered praise from these artists and fans alike. Smith featured with Jessy J at the 2012 Gardena Jazz Festival and quickly became the talk of the festival with a lineup that included, DW3, Kori Withers, and Eric Darius. Along with these performances, Smith was personally asked by DeVon Franklin, Studio Executive at Sony Pictures Entertainment, to perform at his wedding reception following his marriage to actress, Meagan Good, after Franklin caught one of Smith’s highly acclaimed performances.

On any given day you can find him serenading audiences throughout the world. Maurice just wrapped up a solo tour of Italy and has released several projects from which he has received high praise. SoulTracks.com compares his EP, Delta Soul to works by Curtis Mayfield. An old soul, Maurice is clearly influenced by the greats. He counts among his influences, Marvin Gaye, Bill Withers, and Al Green and is often compared to the celebrated tenors of our time such as Stokeley, Raphael Saadiq, El DeBarge, and the greatest of them all Stevie Wonder. His debut EP, Private Use Only; Vol. 1 was released to high praises due to it's sensual nature. And while having a gift for romance, Smith has also released several dance tracks to keep you moving. Smith features with Grammy award winning DJ Terry Hunter on Juan Hoerni’s Soul House track, Love Rewind.

02/04/2020

Kinna is an actor, singer, improvisor, voice talent, YouTuber and teacher. She has over 20 years professional experience in the business and is a life-long student of her craft. Some of her credits include: Office Space, Where The Heart Is, CSI, Criminal Minds and Hawaii Five-0. Currently you can see Kinna in a national Folgers commercial and on the 2nd episode of the Mad About You reboot on Spectrum Streaming. You may recognize Kinna’s voice from Parcast’s True Crime podcasts, she was also the voice host of over 100 Kick It Naturally podcasts and the voice of the YouTube channel Squirrel Monkey. Last year she and her husband received Youtube’s Silver Creator Award for their channel Squirrel Monkey. She is the host of the streaming show The Ultimate Feel Good Show from the people who brought you America’s Funniest Videos at What The Family. She also performs monthly with the non-profit Turbine, founded and directed by Rob Watzke. It’s a completely improvised show called Shplotz in which she has improvised along side Helen Hunt, Jason Alexander, Helen Slater, James Corden, Jeff Garlin and many other notable actors. Kinna is happy to be on the show tonight.

January 2020

01/28/2020

From the best of "Wake Up Hollywood": Greg Leon was born on May 19, 1958 and grew up in Glendale, CA, a foothills community of Los Angeles, and immediately made an impact on the blossoming live hard rock scene of Hollywood's Sunset Strip in the late 1970s. Primarily playing guitar and handling vocals, the acts that he fronted were Suite 19, with future Great White/Dokken drummer Gary Holland and then future Motley Crue drummer, Tommy Lee and the Greg Leon Invasion, with bassist Joey Vera (later of Armored Saint, Fate's Warning and Anthrax) and drummer Carl Elizondo (later of Jag Wire, and playing under the stage name Carl James). The Invasion would release the "Every Time" b/w "Stay With Me Tonite" 7" single with Vera on bass who was fired when it was discovered by Leon that he had been moonlighting with Armored Saint. Vera's replacement, Chuck Stevenson and Elizondo played with Leon on the Greg Leon Invasion picture disc released by Azra/R2R in 1983. He took the place of Randy Rhoads in Quiet Riot, and as the pre-George Lynch guitarist in Dokken. (Don Dokken has since made the group's first EP, which graces Leon on the cover, available for download to the public). During this period Leon also had a considerable local reputation as a guitar teacher, working at Rhoads' mother's guitar studio in Burbank.

Leon had several incarnations of the Invasion and played with various LA acts after his exciting early days. Leon also had a brief time with Greenworld Records' Midwestern act Vyper, while at the same time gathering a name for himself as a guitar amp modifying specialist. In the late 1990s, Leon fronted a band called Wishing Well which also featured Survivor drummer Marc Droubay and English-born bassist Stuart Brooks (ex-Black Cat Bones, Leaf Hound, The Pretty Things). The trio released their eponymous debut album in 1997. By 2003 Leon was back on the LA club scene under the name The Greg Leon Invasion, featuring Boston-born bassist George Roelke and Ohio-born drummer Greg Stevens, taking the group for a European festival tour in 2005 on the strength of new recordings, coupled with the myth related to his name. The line-up also performed July 13, 2007 at the annual 1980s-era hard rock music festival, Rocklahoma. In 2008 former White Lion drummer Greg D'Angelo replaced Stevens in the band.

Leon is married with Canadian singer Suza Wood and in 2005 he produced her first album titled Sweet Freedom.

01/21/2020

LAMONT MAGEE has penned or had a hand in penning well over a dozen screenplays with two films, “THE SPEAK” (2011) and “A BEAUTIFUL SOUL” (2012) receiving theatrical releases. Magee also partnered with Enderby Entertainment (About Cherry, Combat Hospital) to create “GET WYLDE” (2011) a teen, web series written by Magee and created by Magee and Brett Donowho (The Music Within, A Haunting at Silver Falls.

At the close of 2014, Magee was staffed on the BET/CENTRIC drama “SINGLE LADIES”, produced by Queen Latifah and Shakim Compere and starring LisaRaye McCoy, Letoya Luckett and Travis Winfrey among others.

2015 has already proven to be a banner year for Magee. Arclight Films and Huace Media Group has acquired the rights to “LIGHTS OUT”, a thriller co-written by Magee and Jeff Byrd (Jasper Texas) and produced by Mike Gabrawy (Resident Evil, Reclaim). Currently the production is finalizing a deal with a "legendary" director to take the reign with casting to begin shortly afterward. Arclight Films and Huace Media (a China based company) also signed Magee and Byrd to a feature deal to develop films for the company in the 20M-60M range.

Magee currently has been writing on the CW's BLACK LIGHTNING and has several projects, both film and television, at various stages of development at production companies around town and should have more exciting news to share in the coming months. 

01/14/2020

Cat Ivy is on the prowl, following her heart to discover life's core truths. Driven by the need to understand what makes us human and why humans react the way they do, Cat combines modern-day pop music with sounds of folk to help us arrive to simple and refreshing truths. Influenced by musicians such as Sara Bareilles, John Mayer, the Beatles, and Ingrid Michaelson, Cat reminds us that our hearts know the truth about ourselves and her enchanting melodies provide a map to help us arrive at the truth we've been searching for.

After releasing her first EP at 16, Cat left for college, trading pop music for Classical and Jazz. Studying intensively at the George Washington University in Washington, DC, Cat found herself aching to get back in the studio and have the freedom to create her own music. On her 21st birthday, Cat realized that she couldn’t picture herself doing anything other than creating music and decided that night she would move back to Los Angeles and pursue a career as a pop artist.

Upon moving back to Los Angeles, Cat became involved at the Songwriting School of Los Angeles where she diligently focused on creating music both on her own and with other members of the community. Currently recording her second EP, Cat plays with themes of self-empowerment, self-discovery, and freedom. Cat hopes others will connect to her journey and be inspired to live their lives full of hope, wonder, and love.

Let's Connect:
Website: cativymusic.com
Facebook: facebook.com/cativymusic
Instagram: @cativymusic
Twitter @cativymusic
YouTube: YouTube.com/user/cativymusic

01/07/2020

From the best of "Wake Up Hollywood": Ken Caillat is best known for producing and engineering the Fleetwood Mac albums Rumours, Tusk, Mirage, Live, and The Chain Box Set, along with his daughter, Colbie Caillat's albums: Coco (2007), Breakthrough (2009), All of You (2011), and Christmas in the Sand (2012). He also worked on albums for Billy Idol, Frank Sinatra, Pat Benatar, Wilson Phillips, the Beach Boys, Herbie Hancock, David Becker and Alice Cooper, as well as with Christine McVie on her solo album.Ken's recordings have sold over 50 million copies. His record production and engineering efforts earned him numerous Grammy nominations, including an Album of the Year Grammy and Best Engineered Album.

​In 2012 Ken founded Sleeping Giant Records, so he could help other talented kids like Colbie to make a career in music. In 2013 Ken founded Sleeping Giant Entertainment to create new music for film, TV and radio, and partnered with Alcon Entertainment and ArtistMax to discover and develop new artists. In 2018 Ken Sold Sleeping Giant Entertainment to focus on ArtistMax, both a non-profit and for profit company.
gettusked.com

December 2019

12/31/2019

From the best of "Wake Up Hollywood": Doug Messenger was born in New York on Long Island on March 9, 1942. After his dad got a new job opportunity, his family decided to made a big move to Mexico City, Mexico where he spent most of his younger years from the age of 4 to 17. Doug's passion for learning landed him back in the United States where he studied at Princeton in New Jersey, earning a Bachelor of Science in Engineering. While traveling back to visit family in Mexico in the summer of 1962, Doug met the love of his life, Jeanne Thompson. Doug and Jeanne soon married after he graduated from Princeton and he worked at Bethlehem Steel's Export Office in New York City. Doug knew he was destined for more so he quit his job and decided to move to Boston, Massachusetts to enroll in the esteemed Berklee College of Music. Unfortunately, Doug's wife, Jeanne became very sick so he was only able to attend the music school for 2 years, but he knew he wanted to play music so played in R&B bands all over Boston, one of which was the best band in town with Roger Pace, considered to be the white James Brown.

As a side musician, Doug had the thrill of backing up some of the best soul and R&B legends of our time including Al Green (1965), Chuck Berry (1966 & 1971),Etta James (1967), Dee Clark (1966) and a 415lb singer called Lotsa Poppa (1966). In 1968, Doug also played guitar for Darrell Banks for the song,"Open The Door To Your Heart" and Dyke & The Blazers, "Shotgun Slim," in 1970.

One of the biggest songwriters Doug worked with was Van Morrison from 1971-1973, where he played guitar and arranged songs for Van's album, St Dominic's Preview and got the chance to collaborate with piano legend, Vince Geraldi. After one of his house band shows, as fate would have it, Doug ended up playing Monopoly with Jimi Hendrix (Doug is still bitter that Jimi landed on Boardwalk his first time around the board), known at the time as Jimi James. They would meet again in 70s, a few months before Hendrix passed away.

Over the years, Doug played in over 20 house bands from 1965-1975 and was hired for sessions for Warner Brothers, MGM, ABC, Original Sound and a few for Motown in 1971 & 1972. Doug also played with songwriter/composer, Jackie De Shannon and also played in a band called Mudd with Willie Weeks on bass and also backed up Carly Simon on "Speak Out To Me," but now Doug wanted to start his own band.

Ironically called The Police, Doug's first band came to a halt when his lead singer died of a heroin overdose. It took him 5 years to find the next 3 members of his next band, The Pickles, who were making waves on the LA scene and just as they were about to get signed, one of his lead singers died in a car accident.

Doug knew he had enough of playing in a band so he turned his rehearsal space into a recording studio in 1984. By the time he acquired enough gear in 1988, Doug officially opened Hard Drive Analog & Digital Studios in 1990. He got his Stephens tape machine that Pink Floyd THE WALL & Steely Dan’s AJA was recorded on and Fleetwood Mac “Rumors” was mixed on in 1987. 

Since 1990, some of the incredible music talents who have come through to record at Hard Drive Analog & Digitial Recording include Joe Pass, Jimmie Eat World, Joe Bonamassa, Cindy Blackman, The Plain White Ts, At the Drive In, Mars Volta, Neon Trees, New Found Glory, Nikhil Korula Band, Robben Ford and Beck's first single, "Loser" was also recorded here. Doug has also recorded the background music for the American Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards and Country Music Awards. Over the years, Doug has also recorded 7 albums with the blues label, Delta Groove Records, one of which won the WC Handy Foundation Blues Album of the Year.

Currently, Doug Messenger is working with Paul Denman, Sade’s producer and Daniel Ash from Bauhaus and will be recording the 8th album of the Nikhil Korula Band in January 2020.

For more information, contact Hard Drive Analog & Digital Recording:
(818) 588-1817
4814 Vineland Ave
North Hollywood
yelp.com/biz/harddrive-analog-and-digital-recording-north-hollywood?osq=hard+drive+analog

12/24/2019

From the best of "Wake Up Hollywood": Noel Elgrably grew up in the nation's capital but left his day-job selling insurance to pursue his calling as a stand-up comedian in.The son of a French-Moroccan father and Moroccan-Israeli mother, he offers an original comedic perspective on growing up as a child of immigrants below the. Noel's irreverent and ornery style of comedy reminds us that even though we think we’re different we're all the same when we’re laughing at ourselves.

Noel can be seen performing regularly at area comedy clubs such as The World Famous Comedy Store, The Laugh Factory, The Improv, and The Icehouse. He is an alumni of the New York City Arab-American Comedy Festival,the Axis of Evil Comedy Tour, is a regular cast member of The Sultans of Satire: Middle East Comic Relief Show, and has appeared on Showtime and Fox TV. He has trained as a dramatic actor and was featured in the indie feature films “Bad Space", "Body High" and "Clean" and the comedy short films "Please God Someone Normal" and "Gone Too Far".

12/17/2019

Horrible Haikus is the creation of 575 Games, with both the game and the company being created by David Mickler and Brad Fletcher. Horrible Haikus was originally launched through a Kickstarter campaign in 2018 where it smashed its funding goals and gave birth to the greatest game humanity has ever known (according to that one drunk guy in the second test group).

In addition to the Horrible Haikus game, a book of poetry was also released featuring some of the haikus as they were originally written before being deconstructed for the game. These books have brought joy to many, but shame to our families.

575 Games plans to launch expansion packs for the current version of the game as well as a more family friendly version in the not too distant future. We are also currently developing several new games for both adults and families. We look forward to rolling out these games into the 575 Games universe soon.

horriblehaikusgame.com
facebook.com/horriblehaikus
Instagram: @horriblehaikus_
Twitter: @horriblehaikus_

12/10/2019

Joy Graysen is an LA based recording artist, performance coach and activist whose mission is to help people learn to trust love and find their true voices. Born Joy Holly Stimmel, in New York to Sam and Honi, Joy was a child of music. She began singing before she could walk or talk and, as a result, feels that music was her first true language. By the age of three, Joy could sing in three part harmony and play three instruments by ear. She felt more fluent with music than any other form of communication from the beginning of her life. 

Joy realized that when she was singing, she felt an enormous sense of love and belonging and wholeness; but when she wasn’t singing, she felt a deep loneliness. She longed to feel the level of love she experienced while singing in all the other areas of her life. Joy began a journey to discover how to connect the freedom of music to everything else in her  life. What she discovered became the foundation she uses as an artist and a performance coach to free herself and others into their own lives by freeing their true voices.

Inspired by artists like Sting, Joy writes and creates music from a cinematic point of view, to showcase the magic that happens when we surrender to love and let go of the need to withhold it. Her lyrics reflect her journey to find the most authentic truth. Simultaneously working on her next release, Joy is also writing her book called, “Finding Joy, The Great Experiment,” to capture and share all of the discoveries and realizations she has had about what it means to truly live, to love, and to be who we authentically are.

Joy Graysen
The Joy Graysen Vocal Studio
(818) 421-3131
joygraysen.com
Instagram @freeyourvoicewithjoy
facebook.com/thejoygraysenvocalstudio
facebook.com/joygraysen
Twitter and Instagram @joygraysen

12/03/2019

Ken Caillat is best known for producing and engineering the Fleetwood Mac albums Rumours, Tusk, Mirage, Live, and The Chain Box Set, along with his daughter, Colbie Caillat's albums: Coco (2007), Breakthrough (2009), All of You (2011), and Christmas in the Sand (2012). He also worked on albums for Billy Idol, Frank Sinatra, Pat Benatar, Wilson Phillips, the Beach Boys, Herbie Hancock, David Becker and Alice Cooper, as well as with Christine McVie on her solo album.Ken's recordings have sold over 50 million copies. His record production and engineering efforts earned him numerous Grammy nominations, including an Album of the Year Grammy and Best Engineered Album.

​In 2012 Ken founded Sleeping Giant Records, so he could help other talented kids like Colbie to make a career in music. In 2013 Ken founded Sleeping Giant Entertainment to create new music for film, TV and radio, and partnered with Alcon Entertainment and ArtistMax to discover and develop new artists. In 2018 Ken Sold Sleeping Giant Entertainment to focus on ArtistMax, both a non-profit and for profit company.
gettusked.com

November 2019

11/26/2019

Leah McKendrick is a filmmaker/actress originally from San Francisco. In 2014 she formed Villainess Productions, aimed at creating content featuring women in diverse and compelling roles. Her feature film debut as a writer/producer/actress- the vigilante thriller MFA- was nominated for the Grand Jury Award at SXSW 2017 and dubbed "the first horror movie to speak to the #MeToo era" by the New York Times. Leah's romcom script Voicemails for Isabelle was preempted by Sony Pictures and will star Hailee Steinfeld, and her first TV show, What the Fuck, Glenn? is in the works at HBO Max. Acting credits include Bad Moms, Misconduct starring Al Pacino and Anthony Hopkins and Lionsgate’s Thanksgiving comedy, The Turkey Bowl - out now.
MFA is streaming free on Amazon Prime and you can follow Leah on instagram: @leahmckendrick

Trailers:
MFA
Turkey Bowl

11/19/2019

Doug Messenger was born in New York on Long Island on March 9, 1942. After his dad got a new job opportunity, his family decided to made a big move to Mexico City, Mexico where he spent most of his younger years from the age of 4 to 17. Doug's passion for learning landed him back in the United States where he studied at Princeton in New Jersey, earning a Bachelor of Science in Engineering. While traveling back to visit family in Mexico in the summer of 1962, Doug met the love of his life, Jeanne Thompson. Doug and Jeanne soon married after he graduated from Princeton and he worked at Bethlehem Steel's Export Office in New York City. Doug knew he was destined for more so he quit his job and decided to move to Boston, Massachusetts to enroll in the esteemed Berklee College of Music. Unfortunately, Doug's wife, Jeanne became very sick so he was only able to attend the music school for 2 years, but he knew he wanted to play music so played in R&B bands all over Boston, one of which was the best band in town with Roger Pace, considered to be the white James Brown.

As a side musician, Doug had the thrill of backing up some of the best soul and R&B legends of our time including Al Green (1965), Chuck Berry (1966 & 1971),Etta James (1967), Dee Clark (1966) and a 415lb singer called Lotsa Poppa (1966). In 1968, Doug also played guitar for Darrell Banks for the song,"Open The Door To Your Heart" and Dyke & The Blazers, "Shotgun Slim," in 1970.

One of the biggest songwriters Doug worked with was Van Morrison from 1971-1973, where he played guitar and arranged songs for Van's album, St Dominic's Preview and got the chance to collaborate with piano legend, Vince Geraldi. After one of his house band shows, as fate would have it, Doug ended up playing Monopoly with Jimi Hendrix (Doug is still bitter that Jimi landed on Boardwalk his first time around the board), known at the time as Jimi James. They would meet again in 70s, a few months before Hendrix passed away.

Over the years, Doug played in over 20 house bands from 1965-1975 and was hired for sessions for Warner Brothers, MGM, ABC, Original Sound and a few for Motown in 1971 & 1972. Doug also played with songwriter/composer, Jackie De Shannon and also played in a band called Mudd with Willie Weeks on bass and also backed up Carly Simon on "Speak Out To Me," but now Doug wanted to start his own band.

Ironically called The Police, Doug's first band came to a halt when his lead singer died of a heroin overdose. It took him 5 years to find the next 3 members of his next band, The Pickles, who were making waves on the LA scene and just as they were about to get signed, one of his lead singers died in a car accident.

Doug knew he had enough of playing in a band so he turned his rehearsal space into a recording studio in 1984. By the time he acquired enough gear in 1988, Doug officially opened Hard Drive Analog & Digital Studios in 1990. He got his Stephens tape machine that Pink Floyd THE WALL & Steely Dan’s AJA was recorded on and Fleetwood Mac “Rumors” was mixed on in 1987. 

Since 1990, some of the incredible music talents who have come through to record at Hard Drive Analog & Digitial Recording include Joe Pass, Jimmie Eat World, Joe Bonamassa, Cindy Blackman, The Plain White Ts, At the Drive In, Mars Volta, Neon Trees, New Found Glory, Nikhil Korula Band, Robben Ford and Beck's first single, "Loser" was also recorded here. Doug has also recorded the background music for the American Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards and Country Music Awards. Over the years, Doug has also recorded 7 albums with the blues label, Delta Groove Records, one of which won the WC Handy Foundation Blues Album of the Year.

Currently, Doug Messenger is working with Paul Denman, Sade’s producer and Daniel Ash from Bauhaus and will be recording the 8th album of the Nikhil Korula Band in January 2020.

For more information, contact Hard Drive Analog & Digital Recording:
(818) 588-1817
4814 Vineland Ave
North Hollywood
yelp.com/biz/harddrive-analog-and-digital-recording-north-hollywood?osq=hard+drive+analog

11/12/2019

From the best of "Wake Up Hollywood" : Brent Paschke is a guitarist, producer, songwriter, and educator based in Los Angeles, California. He is best known as Pharrell Williams’ guitarist, having worked with the singer/songwriter/producer since 2001. Paschke accompanies Williams in the studio and on tour, and his guitar performances appear on such Pharrell projects as G I R L (2015 Grammy winner for Best Urban Contemporary Album) and Hidden Figures: The Album (2017 Golden Globe nominee for Best Original Score). Brent has also worked with Katy Perry, Britney Spears, Chris Brown, New Kids on the Block, Kelly Clarkson, and many other artists.

Brent also co-founded Tuniversity, a company dedicated to reinvigorating music education using multimedia technology and the excitement of today’s pop music. Tuniversity’s development partners include Apple and Pharrell Williams.

11/05/2019

Alexander Carver is an author, screenwriter, and playwright, originally from Radnor, Pennsylvania. His stories have been published in such literary magazines as: ZYZZYVA, Foliate Oak, The Southern Pacific Review, The Satirist, Dark Matter, and The Writing Disorder. Razor Literary Magazine selected his story "Uber Trouble" as a prize winner in it's annual short story contest.  His first feature film is set for production next Fall and O Jackie! is his debut novel. Today, Alexander lives in Santa Monica, California with his beloved wife, Elise, and his nemesis, her pet rabbit, Lucy.

O JACKIE! is a story about the internal and external chaos created when an artist with both a superman and an inferiority complex chooses to be the self he wishes he was, instead of the self he truly is.

IG: @ kennedy_projec
alexandercarverwriter.com

October 2019

10/29/2019

The Crummies are a cartoon band project started by Jody Hill in 1995 in Memphis Tn. After years of playing in metal, punk rock and classic rock cover bands Jody decided he’d like to start writing his own material but couldn’t decide on a style/genre to write in having been influenced by so many different styles of rock/pop music. After attending an Infinity Record Convention he rediscovered his love for The Archies and all things Bubblegum. So, after buying a Fostex DMT8, one of the first stand alone hard disk recorders, he decided to start writing and recording his own material using as many different influences and different musicians as possible to begin learning the craft of songwriting and recording.

The Crummies project gave him complete freedom to try anything in order to learn these skills. The Crummies recorded 4 cd’s worth of music , 1 Everything’s Crummy, 2 Mingle Mangle 3 Guitar Face, and 4 Hits, Smashes and Blockbusters. After the 4th cd Jody moved to NYC and continued collaborating with other musicians, writing songs and performing with his new project 76 and a Cramps tribute band called Flamejob. Jody moved to LA in 2016 and is guitar teching at McCabe’s Guitar Shop and still writing/recording new music.

10/22/2019

Tap That Production, created and choreographed by Tellina Lee Zink, is an innovative celebration of tap dancing that combines funky fresh footwork with cheeky femininity and spunk.
This invigorating and highly entertaining act features the talents of five experienced professionals, some of tap dancing's finest.

The Tap That team are visionaries. They create unique productions that captivate new audiences and broaden the image of contemporary female tap dancers. They are content creators, known for their dazzling live performances and high quality concept videos. Tap That is on a mission to push the boundaries of dance media and make a difference with tap shoes on!

tapthatproduction.com
instagram.com/tapthatproduction
youtube.com/tapthatproduction

10/15/2019

Greg Leon was born on May 19, 1958 and grew up in Glendale, CA, a foothills community of Los Angeles, and immediately made an impact on the blossoming live hard rock scene of Hollywood's Sunset Strip in the late 1970s. Primarily playing guitar and handling vocals, the acts that he fronted were Suite 19, with future Great White/Dokken drummer Gary Holland and then future Motley Crue drummer, Tommy Lee and the Greg Leon Invasion, with bassist Joey Vera (later of Armored Saint, Fate's Warning and Anthrax) and drummer Carl Elizondo (later of Jag Wire, and playing under the stage name Carl James). The Invasion would release the "Every Time" b/w "Stay With Me Tonite" 7" single with Vera on bass who was fired when it was discovered by Leon that he had been moonlighting with Armored Saint. Vera's replacement, Chuck Stevenson and Elizondo played with Leon on the Greg Leon Invasion picture disc released by Azra/R2R in 1983. He took the place of Randy Rhoads in Quiet Riot, and as the pre-George Lynch guitarist in Dokken. (Don Dokken has since made the group's first EP, which graces Leon on the cover, available for download to the public). During this period Leon also had a considerable local reputation as a guitar teacher, working at Rhoads' mother's guitar studio in Burbank.

Leon had several incarnations of the Invasion and played with various LA acts after his exciting early days. Leon also had a brief time with Greenworld Records' Midwestern act Vyper, while at the same time gathering a name for himself as a guitar amp modifying specialist. In the late 1990s, Leon fronted a band called Wishing Well which also featured Survivor drummer Marc Droubay and English-born bassist Stuart Brooks (ex-Black Cat Bones, Leaf Hound, The Pretty Things). The trio released their eponymous debut album in 1997. By 2003 Leon was back on the LA club scene under the name The Greg Leon Invasion, featuring Boston-born bassist George Roelke and Ohio-born drummer Greg Stevens, taking the group for a European festival tour in 2005 on the strength of new recordings, coupled with the myth related to his name. The line-up also performed July 13, 2007 at the annual 1980s-era hard rock music festival, Rocklahoma. In 2008 former White Lion drummer Greg D'Angelo replaced Stevens in the band.

Leon is married with Canadian singer Suza Wood and in 2005 he produced her first album titled Sweet Freedom.

10/08/2019

Brent Paschke is a guitarist, producer, songwriter, and educator based in Los Angeles, California. He is best known as Pharrell Williams’ guitarist, having worked with the singer/songwriter/producer since 2001. Paschke accompanies Williams in the studio and on tour, and his guitar performances appear on such Pharrell projects as G I R L (2015 Grammy winner for Best Urban Contemporary Album) and Hidden Figures: The Album (2017 Golden Globe nominee for Best Original Score). Brent has also worked with Katy Perry, Britney Spears, Chris Brown, New Kids on the Block, Kelly Clarkson, and many other artists.

Brent also co-founded Tuniversity, a company dedicated to reinvigorating music education using multimedia technology and the excitement of today’s pop music. Tuniversity’s development partners include Apple and Pharrell Williams.

10/01/2019

"Turning pain into beauty"
Sabrina Chaco is a singer-songwriter, born on the Pacific island of Guam, raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, and is currently living in Los Angeles. She fell in love with performing and developed a strong passion for R&B / Neo-Soul while studying Vocal Music at the Oakland School for the Arts.

As a proud Filipina and Chamorrita island girl, she brings the culture she’s experienced to her songs.

Sabrina channels her liveliness, sense of truth, and emotional insight from inspirations such as Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, and India Arie.

She has performed shows for President Obama, Governor Jerry Brown and more with her school’s elite choir. As a background vocalist for Disney Star Recording Artist, Zendaya Coleman, she traveled across the country and Canada on an international tour. She has appeared on Ellen and Extra,  Radio Disney commercials and in Bop/Tigerbeat Magazines.

Now anticipating the release of her original music, Sabrina wants to turn the moments of pain in life into beauty. She hopes for her music to have an uplifting energy, to ignite self-love in others, especially at the times we need it most. Look for Sabrina’s EP “The Impact” to ignite the love in all of us in 2020.
sabrinachaco.com

September 2019

09/24/2019

Noel Elgrably grew up in the nation's capital but left his day-job selling insurance to pursue his calling as a stand-up comedian in.The son of a French-Moroccan father and Moroccan-Israeli mother, he offers an original comedic perspective on growing up as a child of immigrants below the. Noel's irreverent and ornery style of comedy reminds us that even though we think we’re different we're all the same when we’re laughing at ourselves.

Noel can be seen performing regularly at area comedy clubs such as The World Famous Comedy Store, The Laugh Factory, The Improv, and The Icehouse. He is an alumni of the New York City Arab-American Comedy Festival,the Axis of Evil Comedy Tour, is a regular cast member of The Sultans of Satire: Middle East Comic Relief Show, and has appeared on Showtime and Fox TV. He has trained as a dramatic actor and was featured in the indie feature films “Bad Space", "Body High" and "Clean" and the comedy short films "Please God Someone Normal" and "Gone Too Far".

09/17/2019

HopkinSound Founder and CEO Pete Hopkins is an accomplished vocalist, professional songwriter, producer, and musician. He writes and performs pop, rock, EDM, R&B, funk, jazz, country, and many other genres. As a modern programmer, he enjoys making massive beats and synth sounds.

Pete developed his musical passion early in life surrounded by a family of performing musicians. He became fascinated with guitars and performance from a very young age and, while taking violin lessons, learned that he possessed the rare ability of perfect pitch. Perfect pitch allows Pete to identify the note of an exact tone simply by hearing it, adding to his value in vocal production as well as songwriting. With Pete, you can guarantee perfection.

Pete has worked in Los Angeles for 15 years and knows what producers and labels expect from artists. He has an inside track and he is well-connected with music industry professionals, giving him an advantage in presenting your work to a record label for a potential contract. In addition to his work in California and other parts of the United States, Pete has worked on projects with artists in Canada, the United Kingdom, the Irish Republic, Norway, Germany, Italy, Australia, and Asia.

When you want a quality song, you need a great writer. When you want a quality singer, you need someone with great vocal abilities. When you want quality studio work, you need a great producer. Pete Hopkins and HopkinSound will provide all three services for you.

Hopkinsound.com

09/10/2019

Sara Fletcher is a multi-media actress spanning several platforms, including TV, Film and Web.  Fletcher's TV career started on Comedy Central's Secret Girlfriend in the starring role; she also was the lead in the Josh Schwartz and Matt Miller's CBS pilot Hitched and was a series regular on One Love on Bounce TV. Some of her past guest starring and recurring roles on TV include: Perfect Couples, Friends with Benefits, The Glades, Family Guy, Grimm, Days of Our Lives, NCIS: LA and NCIS. Fletcher also started in the feature Minutes to Midnight along side William Baldwin, Richard Greico and Bill Moseley. And she played the lead role LMN's hit MOW House of Darkness which took home their LMNies Best Feature Award. Most recently she finished filming the Sony/Lifetime film: Escaping the NXVIM Cult, playing the real life Allison Mack, which is set to premiere on Sept 21st on Lifetime.

facebook.com/SaraERFletcher

instagram.com/saraerfletcher

twitter.com/sarafletcher

 

About the Film:

"In Escaping the NXIVM Cult, Raniere (Peter Facinelli of Twilight fame) and his second-in-command, Smallville actress Allison Mack (Sara Fletcherdoing an eerily good impression), make a compelling pitch to convince India (Jasper Polish) and other women to join the organization."

(refinery29.com/amp/en-us/2019/08/241402/nxivm-cult-movie-allison-mack-keith-raniere-sara-fletcher-peter-facinelli-lifetime-trailer)

 

“Lifetime has unveiled the first look at its chilling original movie on the NXIVM sex cult. The trailer for Escaping the NXIVM Cult: A Mother’s Fight to Save Her Daughter shows seduction, anguish, and actress Sara Fletcher looking eerily similar to convicted NXIVM member and Smallville alum, Allison Mack.

(deadline.com/video/lifetimes-trailer-for-escaping-the-nxivm-cult-shows-seduction-and-anguish/)

 

Sara Fletcher, meanwhile, will play Mack and, as the trailer demonstrates, the resemblance is striking.”

(news.avclub.com/lifetime-drops-a-breathless-trailer-for-its-movie-about-1837520668)

 

"He just wants what's best for all of us," says Allison, who is played by Sara Fletcher, the actress bearing an uncanny resemblance to the real-life Mack. "Are you ready for your NXIVM transformation?”

(etonline.com/lifetime-movie-about-nxivm-cult-debuts-creepy-trailer-with-an-allison-mack-lookalike-exclusive)

09/03/2019

From the best of "Wake Up Hollywood": Eliza James has been a successful, working professional musician in Los Angeles since the age of 18. She performs regularly with artists such as Burt Bacharach, Paul Anka, Shakira, Nicki Minaj, John Legend, Pink, Daft Punk, Kanye West, P. Diddy, Yoshiki, Taylor Hicks, Cowboy Troy, Marco Antonio Solis, Googoosh, Roberta Flack, Mario Biondi, Gloria Gaynor, Anita Ward, Evelyn Champagne-King, Willie Chambers (The Chambers Brothers), Harry Connick Jr, David Gates/Bread, Bernadette Peters,Randy Travis, Billy Idol, Los Tri-o, Javuni, Rahzel, 3 Doors Down, Andrea Bocelli, Trulio Disgracias, Norwood Fisher (Fishbone), VTA - Vincenzo Thomas Amato, Casey veggies, Candyman 187, Jordy Towers, JMSN, Jimmy Haslip, Oscar Seaton, Alejandro Sanz, Chris Botti, The Harlem Renaissance Jazz Orchestra, Oscar Peterson, Warren Hill, Diana Krall, Renee Olstead, Dave Schulz(Berlin), Cody Carpenter, Ben Dukes, Larry Bagby and The Calling.

elizajamesmusic.com
quartet405.com
theshowerofhope.org
theartofelysium.org

August 2019

08/27/2019

KOPPS tell a tale of society's ongoing need and want to constantly acquire more and more things, while bringing up the question on whether anything will ever be enough? Their new single " OH DANG DANG " (produced by Daniel Armbruster of Joywave), which premiered everywhere yesterday via Nakid Magazine, is KOPPS' satirical way of voicing concern of our nation's collective sanity around worshipping "stuff".

“OH DANG DANG” is a car crash of a song combining elements of pop, alt, and even a little nu-metal," Front-woman , Patricia, states. To me, this song represents the agenda of never being able to get enough. Objects and fads come and go, but the desire to accumulate for the average North American remains."

08/20/2019

From the best of "Wake Up Hollywood": Wes Smith is an in-demand musician who has performed with world famous personalities including Stevie Wonder, Justin Timberlake, Robin Thicke, Aloe Blacc, Booker T Jones and Jazz Legend Poncho Sanchez, among others.

Smith’s saxophones can be heard most recently within the ‘Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge’ Disney Land Theme Park and on Jennifer Lopez’ ‘All I Have’ show in Las Vegas, NV. He can be heard on the big screen on titles like ‘Dirty Grandpa’ (2016) and ‘The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2’ (2012) as well as numerous TV spots.

In 2014, Wes Smith was featured in the finale of the oscar-nominated film 'Whiplash' and in 2013, Smith was blessed with the once in a life-time opportunity to perform with Soul music legend Mr. Booker T Jones at the White House with then President Obama and the First Lady in attendance.

Smith holds his Master's Degree in Jazz studies from the University of Southern California as well as his Bachelor's Degree in Music from the prestigious Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY.

08/13/2019

SJ Lighting, a design firm based in Southern California, specializes in theatrically based design for nightclubs and festival environments. Formed in 2001 by industry veteran Stephen Lieberman, SJ Lighting has established themselves as leaders in creating immersive design environments, at the forefront of entertainment technologies.  Stephen has been involved in the nightclub industry since his childhood.  His first job in a nightclub dates back to 1987, and he has yet to slow down in his pursuits to understand and perpetuate the ever evolving nightlife industry.

With a constant workflow of nightclubs, festivals and stage designs in the US and abroad, SJ Lighting has built up a clientele that encompasses some of the most successful properties and events around the world.  

SJ Lighting has become the “goto” brand for technology design in the “EDM” world.  Their philosophy and approach to design is unique on every occasion.  With a complex understanding of human interaction within hospitality environments, SJ Lighting is continually trail-blazing into the future, to expand the perspective of every person who  experiences their work.

08/06/2019

With millions of viral views from his time on America’s Got Talent, Broadway credentials, and chart-topping singles, the singer-songwriter and entertainer Brian Justin Crum knew he was destined for stardom from a very early age. He first fell in love with performing after his mom, a single mother, put her kids into an after-school theatre program so she could work. At 7 years old was already telling his mother he was going to be a star. 

Fast forward years later and barely out of high school, Brian was cast in the Broadway musical “Wicked.” It was his first taste of Broadway. Soon he was living in New York City and landing roles in the musicals “Altar Boyz,” “Grease” and “Next to Normal. “ 

But it was the role as Galileo Figaro in Queen’s rock theatrical “We Will Rock You” that got him closer to that lofty promise he made to his mom at 7 years old. The reviews celebrated his performance as a “triumph,” and earned him a handful of awards for Best Actor. He was well on his way to being a star.

Brian continued that trajectory when he was cast in America’s Got Talent Season 11. As one of the most talked about performers, Brian earned a 4th place finish with renditions of Queen's "Somebody to Love", Radiohead's "Creep", Phil Collins' In the Air Tonight and Michael Jackson's "Man in the Mirror.”

His performances from the show turned even larger viral sensations online, garnering millions of views on YouTube, some of the highest online statistics seen by the show’s emerging talent in its now twelve successful seasons. 

With a growing fan base invested in both his music and his roles in anti-bullying and LGBT efforts, Brian’s star continues to rise. Between dropping covers like Robyn’s “Show Me Love” which soared to #2 on the Billboard Dance Charts, touring the country, and competing against 50 top talents on “America’s Got Talent: Champions;” Brian’s next move may be his biggest yet: his debut EP.

July 2019

07/30/2019

At age seven, Mariel Austin began learning many musical styles and genres through the San Francisco Girls Chorus. After starting trombone lessons at age thirteen, she wrote pieces for her jazz combo at Berkeley High School, where she graduated from in 2007. Thereafter, she studied Jazz Performance at California State University, Northridge, where she composed for the school’s Jazz “A” Band and earned her Bachelor’s Degree in 2011. In 2015, Mariel graduated from New England Conservatory with a Master’s Degree in Jazz Composition. In that same year she was selected by the New York Youth Symphony to compose a commissioned piece, which was premiered at Jazz at Lincoln Center in March of 2016. Mariel is the most recent recipient of the Phoebe Jacobs Award, presented by the ASCAP Foundation. She has premiered her songs and compositions at venues around the country and has appeared on live television shows, including American Idol, The Voice, NBC’s Hollywood Game Night and EstrellaTV’s Noches Con Platanito. In 2016 Mariel recorded her first album, “Runner in the Rain,” featuring her big band compositions and arrangements. It was released in 2018.

07/23/2019

Kara Connolly has it all - charisma, a commanding stage presence, an emotive voice, and that rare gift for writing songs that are simultaneously heartfelt, sincere and undeniably infectious upon first listen. Given her ability to connect with an audience, it’s no surprise that Kara sold- out the iconic Hotel Cafe in Hollywood, the very venue that Katy Perry and Sara Bareilles got their start, before ever having released a single song. And now with her full-length album, Life in Rear View, released, Kara is beginning to reach an audience as universal as her songs themselves.

Connolly’s debut music video for the title track has garnered over 200K views thus far and her record, a unique, genre-bending blend of storytelling, percussive instrumentation, and pop hooks, has received high praise in a variety of tastemaker publications such as The Line of Best Fit, Hollywood Life, Popdust, and Parade Magazine. Considered a journey from breakdown to breakthrough, Life in Rear View begins with heartbreak and ends in triumph as Kara reminds us, through personal experience, the importance of friendship, vulnerability, acknowledging our self-worth, and never settling for less than the love and respect we deserve.

As an artist, she’s, most recently, packed The Peppermint Club in West Hollywood and performed on KUSI News Good Morning San Diego. As a songwriter, she's written songs that have topped Spotify Fresh Finds lists and Kara's supporters (or Karakeets as they have so proudly claimed their fandom) continue to connect with Kara for her empowering originals and sincere, engaging personality.

Kara’s upbeat and colorful take on modern feminism, produced by Bill Lefler (Ingrid Michaelson) and mastered at the legendary Capitol Records, is out now.

karaconnolly.com
instagram.com/karaconnolly
facebook.com/mskaraconnolly
twitter.com/mskaraconnolly
youtube.com/karaconnolly

07/16/2019

Omer Avni is an American producer, songwriter and musician, living and working in Los Angeles.

"Having lunch with my dad growing up there was always 70's American rock music playing in the background, either that or "The Boss" was jamming really loud through the living room stereo."

At 17, Omer received a full scholarship to attend Berklee school of music, and the reward for outstanding musicianship. Soon after, Omer traveled through the U.S and Canada on a guitar clinic tour.

Omer went on to become an internationally acclaimed producer, session guitarist, songwriter and artist.

omeravni.com
facebook.com/omeravniproducer (Facebook)
@omermetal (Instagram)

07/09/2019

A true force of musical nature whose freewheeling whirlwind of passion, energy and soul-deep artistic vision transcends genre limitations and the trends of the moment, Christine Gordon has done and been it all. She’s studied opera, sung jazz at NYC’s Blue Note and R&B at the Apollo, launched her songwriting career co-writing with legendary producer Nile Rodgers and held court for over a decade on in the French West Indies as the “StBarthRockStar.” She’s headlined festivals all over the Caribbean and France/Europe, opening for greats like Akon, Shaggy and Kool and the Gang.

The multi-talented singer-songwriter, dubbed “The Lioness” for the feral way she dominates the stage, has long defined her self-styled genre as “Classical Pop Rock Neo-Classic Soul Jazz.” Now back in L.A, she’s gearing up to conquer the dance floor with the drop of “Tidal Wave,” an infectious, crazy powerful track that’s primed to become a premier inspirational anthem of our time, helping lift our spirits above the endless din of division and negativity.

Set for release on the first day of Summer, Volume One features ten tracks with powerful productions and remixes from Steve Smooth/DirtyWerk (Ariana Grande, Janet Jackson, DJ Kue) Stonebridge (RobynS), Grammy Award Winning Dave Aude (Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Selena Gomez) and Liam Keegan (Sia, Usher, Enrique Iglesias, Usher, Carly Rae Jepsen). as well as the Original version along with a stunning acoustic rework.

TIDALWAVE bursts forth with the high octane force its name implies, its intense musical pulse underscoring metaphor-rich lyrics of hope, survival and thriving against the constant undertow.

The singer wrote the original version of “Tidal Wave” with “SupaDupa” Patou and Alex “Cobra” Piper, both founding members of the legendary St. Maarten based Afro-Caribbean band Youth Waves.

07/02/2019

From the best of "Wake Up Hollywood" : Meagan Nugent, Choreographer on “The Four”, Ventures into Artist Development and Creative Direction

Meagan’s work with Diddy, French Montana, Nikki Minaj culminates in the launch of a new entertainment firm

Los Angeles, CA, April 2019 - Celebrity choreographer Meagan Nugent has launched NU Entertainment and will lead the company as CEO and Executive Creative Director. Fresh off her work on the Fox Network’s reality show, “The Four” (starring Diddy and Fergie), Meagan is parlaying her rapidly rising notoriety into a business entity that will help artists navigate their own way through the often turbulent entertainment industry.

Meagan holds a Bachelors of Fine Arts from California Institute of the Arts, and she has worked closely with artists such as French Montana, Carly Rae Jepson, Nicki Minaj, Rae Sremmurd and Puff Daddy aka Diddy. She’s also choreographed for ZenArts, A Cirque Du Soleil Sister Company.

“I’ve always dreamed of running my own business, but was never really prepared to do so," said Meagan. “Now that I’m in a place where I’m positioned to help artists hone their craft while also assisting them in making savvy business decisions, the timing is finally right to launch my company”.

Two of the first artists on Meagan’s roster of clients includes Jack Samson, 20 year old singer songwriter rising star from Los Angeles and Arcade Jackson, vocalist extraordinaire. 

Follow NU Entertainment on Instagram at @MyNu_Ent and follow Meagan at @MeaganNugent1 

Meagan Nugent Choreo Reel 2018

meaganmoves.com

instagram.com/meagannugent1 

twitter.com/mnugent_25

June 2019

06/25/2019

From the best of "Wake Up Hollywood" : Basem Wasef is a veteran automotive journalist, author, and director with a passion for all things mechanical. Born in Cairo and raised in London and Southern California, Basem’s vehicular fascination can be traced back to his early childhood when he sang “Happy Birthday” to his Matchbox cars. He has since written three books, the most recent of which is Speed Read: Supercars.Basem is a regular contributor to magazines including AutomobileMen’s Journaland Robb Report. Though he travels the world to pilot exotic cars and motorcycles, Basem enjoys calling Los Angeles home.

instagram.com/basemwasef

06/18/2019

Wes Smith is an in-demand musician who has performed with world famous personalities including Stevie Wonder, Justin Timberlake, Robin Thicke, Aloe Blacc, Booker T Jones and Jazz Legend Poncho Sanchez, among others.

Smith’s saxophones can be heard most recently within the ‘Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge’ Disney Land Theme Park and on Jennifer Lopez’ ‘All I Have’ show in Las Vegas, NV. He can be heard on the big screen on titles like ‘Dirty Grandpa’ (2016) and ‘The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2’ (2012) as well as numerous TV spots.

In 2014, Wes Smith was featured in the finale of the oscar-nominated film 'Whiplash' and in 2013, Smith was blessed with the once in a life-time opportunity to perform with Soul music legend Mr. Booker T Jones at the White House with then President Obama and the First Lady in attendance.

Smith holds his Master's Degree in Jazz studies from the University of Southern California as well as his Bachelor's Degree in Music from the prestigious Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY.

06/11/2019

Born and raised in Ontario, Ben Wilkins moved to Montreal, Quebec, at the age of eighteen to study music at McGill University. He majored in Classical Trumpet and soaked up whatever he could regarding composition, arranging, singing, theory and jazz harmony – spending countless nights sneaking into the piano studios afterhours to write songs. 

Upon graduation, Wilkins received a scholarship to study Mandarin in China, and spent the better part of a year at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music and the Beijing Language and Culture University. In 2008, he returned to Montreal to perform locally and at colleges and clubs in the north-eastern U.S. 

Shortly after, he was approached by Pascal Shefteshy, an acclaimed engineer and producer working for famous producer Pierre Marchand (Sarah McLachlan, Rufus Wainwright) to record an album. They got to work, and then just as their limited budget was running out, Marchand announced that he was going to India for three months, leaving the door to his studio open and Wilkins and Shefteshy in the position to record an album without compromise. 

Wilkins' first independent release "Back Of My Head EP", was featured on NPR's All Things Considered and prominently featured on the NPR music website as “Piano Pop, Beautifully Arranged”. 

The single reached a top 50 position after only a few weeks of tracking on commercial radio and stayed in the charts for more than twenty weeks. His second single, “Through To You" was launched to radio stations across Quebec with impressive results, hitting top 10 adult contemporary, reaching 6th position for 5 consecutive weeks. 

Ben Wilkins debut self-titled album, signed to Milagro Records, was released in stores across Canada on October 18th, 2011. The album has since received rave reviews from Le Journal de Montreal, Le Soleil, Le Devoir, and was featured as a favorite by both Archambault, Renaud-Bray and HMV – and was in the top ten albums of 2012 according to Icon Fetch, and 98.5 FM - Montreal's most listened to radio station. 

Wilkins was scouted by S.L. Feldman & Associates and toured through Quebec and Ontario – headlining theaters and opening for artists such as David Usher, Eric Lapointe, Cowboy Junkie, Matthew Good, and Kim Mitchell. He was named in the top 5 favorite arts in the Chicoutimi Jazz and Blues Festival and his various live formats, be it a band of seven, a trio or solo, have been very well received by audiences and critics alike. 

Wilkins collaborated with James Di Salvio on The Garden, Bran Van 3000’s fourth album writing string and brass arrangements and singing lead on the track entitled “This Day”. He wrote vocal and string arrangements on 2010 Juno nominee Misstress Barbara's upcoming album, and has been writing arrangements, co-songwriting and producing for local Montreal artists consistently since 2010. 

Ben Wilkins was awarded the Emerging Artist Sound Recording Grant from FACTOR (The Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent on Recording) for production and marketing of his sophomore album. He also received the Sound Production grant from Cirque du Soleil. He also received Canada Council of the Arts grant to individuals to study songwriting at the Songwriting School of Los Angeles where he studied under Rob Seals, Ryan Toby, and Phil Cody.

His sophomore album entitled All From Hello, was well received by the press and radio in Canada and online media sources. Shortly after its release he was given a residency at The Hotel Cafe in Hollywood. He released three music videos in support of the album with the help of FACTOR (The Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent on Recording) and had an album feature and video cameo by Bonnie Pointer of the Pointer Sisters.

Ben Wilkins is currently based in Los Angeles and has produced music for Sophie Ann, Sofia Zorian, Brigitte Bertrand, Jupiter Deluxe Tube, Alan Roy Scott, Alicyn Packard, Chloe Agnew, Siena Pinney, Alex Thériault, among others. He has just released a collection of solo piano compositions in 2019 and is working on his third solo studio album.

06/04/2019

Karuna Tanahashi is a multidisciplinary performer and creator. She graduated  from Smith College with a BA in theatre, moved to Los Angeles 10 years ago to be an actress, and since then has acquired many titles - including singer, songwriter, photographer, filmmaker, fire dancer, and chocolatier. She loves talking about the creative process and mixing and matching various disciplines to create her own unique brand of art. Over the years, Karuna has acted on stage and screen; filmed and photographed lots of live music; directed several music videos; wrote, produced and starred in a narrative short; and performed around LA as a lead singer as well as a background vocalist. She is currently recording her debut album, "Undercover Diva", which combines pop, Broadway, and classic rock with a few sprinkles of country pop. She is beyond excited to be working with an all-star cast of session musicians, including Danny Seraphine (Chicago), Rich  Redmond (Jason Aldean), and Russ Irwin (Aerosmith/Joe Bonamasa). When she's not on social media making a capella videos with costumes and cheesy dance moves, you can find her making dark chocolate or playing fetch with her little toy poodle,Teddy. Keep an eye out for her first single and music video - a country song called "Bang Bang". Coming soon!

May 2019

05/28/2019

BEHIND THE CURTAIN....
Guns. Drugs. Booze. Broads. Cheaters. Liars. Broken bones. Broken dreams. Dead thugs in black Caddy car trunks.  Fistfights on the corner. Prejudice. Bigotry. Misogyny. 

Oh, just a typical day in my hometown - Providence, RI - where working-class heroes STILL hi-five to Mob rule, the Catholic church and a good Italian meatball.  

Who rescued me from the fate many friends met at the end of a bullet, a bottle, a pill?  Aretha, Sly, Tina, Teddy, Barbra, Stevie, Frank, Ray, Isaac, Bassey, The Isleys, Cream, Led Zeppelin, Rod Stewart, Neil Young, Hendrix, Joplin, Sarah,  Ella, James, Tower of Power, Earth Wind & Fire - their lives, their songs - my own personal Life Soundtrack! My secret I.V. tube, dripping  knowledge no adult could provide, pearls of wisdom that guided & calmed me, fired my imagination, & helped me rise above and get the hell out in one piece.  

Out, from the fire to the frying pan. Pounding the gritty NYC streets, I fought TOOTH & NAIL for every gig, crumb and credit, while singing songs - theirs and mine - on sidewalks and in dark clubs. One VOICE of thousands, in the shadows, searching for meaning, truth, my sound, MY unique version of love & redemption. 

Then, a life flipper: a job slinging cocktails at NYC's Blue Note Jazz Club - an education no money could buy. Face to face with living legends - jazz icons who rose up through decades of social injustice to create JAZZ. More creative marination, incubation, trials by fire.

Onwards from NYC to Canada. England. L.A.  I persevered. I pursued.  I forged 'The Dream' ...which led me to:

NOW.  HERE.  WITH YOU.

And about NOW??

Well, birds fly. Presidents LIE. Bells RING, & SINGERS SING. 

No one hears life the way I do.  That 's the way I sing it.

I wake up with songs in my head. I am a human compilation disk, an amalgam of all styles of music I soaked up as a kid - pop/jazz/funk/soul - plus years of survival on Mother Earth. I NEED TO RECORD the MUSIC.

SONGS & MUSIC saved ME. Maybe I can do the same for some lost someone?  

In the here & now, I tilt forward, through the deluge, the onslaught, the competition, and in doing so, create MY OWN UNIQUE NICHE in an ever changing world!  

Flanked by an amazing ensemble of stellar soldier musicians who vibe with my equal parts DRIVE, EMOTION, OBSESSION & PASSION, I stand on the shoulders of giants, ready to take it to the next level.  

I JUST NEED TO RECORD THE MUSIC.  ONCE FINISHED, WE TOUR JAPAN!!!

dyankanemusic.com

05/21/2019

From the best of "Wake Up Hollywood" : San Francisco born producer, engineer, mixer, musician, and songwriter Eric Robinson's first job in the music business was given to him by legendary Grammy-winning producer Steve Lillywhite. He never anticipated a short email to his hero would find him recording Trey Anastasio of Phish and watching Lillywhite mix U2 at the age of 19.

Following his summer in Vermont and New York, Eric landed an internship at Royaltone Studios in LA. This quickly turned into a position as a runner, and not long after Eric was assisting on sessions for Barenaked Ladies, Ricky Martin, and Lifehouse with producers Ron Aniello, Mario Caldato and more. After 3 years at Royaltone, Eric left in 2005 to go freelance.

In addition to recording, Eric was also getting busy as a sideman in 2006, playing guitar and keys for notable acts in the burgeoning Hotel Cafe scene such as Cary Brothers, Sara Bareilles, Joshua Radin and Jessie Baylin. This lead to international touring, television appearances and a live concert film with Sara Bareilles.

On the studio side, Eric simultaneously struck up a working relationship with producer/songwriter Marshall Altman and the two had immediate success. The first album they worked on together was Kate Voegele’s debut for Interscope/MySpace Records.  Eric played all the keyboards, most of the guitars, mandolin, accordion, and banjo on the record, as well as recording and mixing it.  Kate’s record sold 250,000 copies in the US and the songs were licensed extensively on TV.

Next up came Matt Nathanson’s album Some Mad Hope, which Eric recorded with Altman.  The album spawned the double-platinum single, “Come On Get Higher.” Then came albums with Natasha Bedingfield, Trevor Hall, William Fitzsimmons, Walker Hayes, Rosi Golan, Bethany Dillon and Adema, spanning genres from pop to folk to country and metal.

After establishing Marlay Studios in North Hollywood in 2010, Eric worked with artists such as Taylor Swift, Sia, Michelle Branch, Natasha Bedingfield, The Milk Carton Kids, Carney, Aqualung, Dan Wilson, P!nk, Rachael Yamagata, Brooke Fraser, Switchfoot, and Boyd Tinsley from Dave Matthews Band.  Along the way, Eric gained valuable experience working alongside hit producers such as Ryan Tedder, John Alagia, Dan Wilson and Charlie Peacock. In 2014, Eric was nominated for a Grammy for Album of the Year for his engineering work on Taylor Swift’s “Red” album.

Eric focuses on mixing music and film score in stereo and 5.1 surround and producing/co-writing with artists. Recent projects include OneRepublic’s Netflix “Once in a Lifetime” in 5.1 surround, indie band The Lighting, the main title to the Netflix show, “The Haunting of Hill House”, country artist Nora Collins and pop band Castro. Eric works out of his own studio in Los Angeles, Marlay Music.

eric-robinson.com

05/14/2019

Musical Director, Drummer, Producer, and aspiring media personality, Adam Gust, comes to Wake Up Hollywood three years since his last guest visit with a tale to tell. Nikhil Korula is the perfect person to host as he has played a prominent character in Adam's story of recovery and reinvention since then. Music, gender roles, education, a six month sabbatical on a cruise ship, and the course of Adam's current projects set the tone for his unique take on the pitfalls and positives of being creative in the modern world.
GigantorStudiosMusic.com

----------

Los Angeles-based recording artist and co-founder of The Empire Experience, An Interactive Theatrical Production Combining the Excitement of a Live Concert & the Magic of the Theater, Fia NyXX adds a unique R&B flair to pop music paying tribute to the soulful sounds of the Motown era. With a masterful vision for storytelling, Fia channels influences Christina Aguilera and Demi Lovato while entertaining crowds with larger-than-life performances and emotionally-rich lyrics.

A veteran in the industry, Fia NyXX has toured the United States and Asia, as part of the girl group 'SHE' and released her first solo record in March 2018. The EP entitled 'Everything Girl' was recorded at FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, AL. under the musical direction of multi-platinum producer and mixer Brian Malouf (Michael Jackson, Queen, Madonna), Will McFarlane (Etta James, Bonnie Raitt, Bobby "Blue" Bland), Lance Bendiksen (Sarah McLachlan, The Fray) and features players from the iconic Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, 'The Swampers.'

Fia NyXX has performed at The Avalon Hollywood, White Party, Matinee Vegas, San Jose Pride, New York Fashion Week and 122 shows throughout Asia (as SHE), for crowds of up to 15,000. She has been featured by Billboard Magazine, Getty Images and placed on the iTunes U.S. Top 100 chart on Spotify. She is also a 2018 Telly Award winner for her music video, "Maybe Just Love Me."
For more information, visit fianyxx.com.

05/07/2019

Forget being politically correct—she’s here, she’s pissed off, and she calls herself Bugsy. Spitting bars and belting hooks on stilettos in the name of females everywhere, Bugsy’s music has the unique effect of making people dance and simultaneously burn the patriarchy to the ground. 

From the fun-loving bounce of her debut single “Fuckboy” to the foot-stomping politically charged “Boss Woman” (coming out in March), Bugsy combines silky R&B vocals with raunchy rap to give feminism the foul-mouthed voice it deserves. Complete with backup dancers, room-shaking 808’s and a packed audience each time, her shows are more of a rally than a musical experience. Beyond the shadow of a doubt, future is female, and—middle fingers in the air—Bugsy is at the front of the pack, leading the charge.

FUCKBOY MUSIC VIDEO YOUTUBE

April 2019

04/30/2019

Eliza James has been a successful, working professional musician in Los Angeles since the age of 18. She performs regularly with artists such as Burt Bacharach, Paul Anka, Shakira, Nicki Minaj, John Legend, Pink, Daft Punk, Kanye West, P. Diddy, Yoshiki, Taylor Hicks, Cowboy Troy, Marco Antonio Solis, Googoosh, Roberta Flack, Mario Biondi, Gloria Gaynor, Anita Ward, Evelyn Champagne-King, Willie Chambers (The Chambers Brothers), Harry Connick Jr, David Gates/Bread, Bernadette Peters,Randy Travis, Billy Idol, Los Tri-o, Javuni, Rahzel, 3 Doors Down, Andrea Bocelli, Trulio Disgracias, Norwood Fisher (Fishbone), VTA - Vincenzo Thomas Amato, Casey veggies, Candyman 187, Jordy Towers, JMSN, Jimmy Haslip, Oscar Seaton, Alejandro Sanz, Chris Botti, The Harlem Renaissance Jazz Orchestra, Oscar Peterson, Warren Hill, Diana Krall, Renee Olstead, Dave Schulz(Berlin), Cody Carpenter, Ben Dukes, Larry Bagby and The Calling.

elizajamesmusic.com
quartet405.com
theshowerofhope.org
theartofelysium.org

04/23/2019

From the best of "Wake Up Hollywood" : Sarah Reich (Performer, Choreographer, Instructor, Composer) has emerged as one of the new leaders in the Art Form of Tap Dance. Sarah has been sought after to perform, choreograph, and teach in over 40 countries. "I want to continue to bring tap into mass media with great respect and quality," she says, focusing on "reprogramming the minds of the general public on their perception of tap dance."

Sarah has become one of the art form's pop culture ambassadors, thanks to her appearances in videos with Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox. Her videos with them (A Star Wars–themed tribute, "The Tap Awakens," & “Thriller”, a Michael Jackson cover featuring Wayne Brady) have garnered millions of views on YouTube, all receiving rave reviews. She has toured the world with Postmodern Jukebox playing prestigious venues such as Radio City Music Hall, Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Sydney Opera House as well as a televised PBS special filmed in Las Vegas.

With her Tap Music Project intensives in various cities, Reich teaches tap dancers how to dance with more musicality, communicate with musicians and write music. Using a live band in class, she instructs students on how to "scat" rhythms or transcribe choreography with rhythm notation, among other skills.

Sarah is developing new, and exciting works with her company Tap Music Productions, with her debut Tap Jazz Album entitled “New Change”. This album is originally produced, composed from percussive tap rhythms, and performed by a great selection of musicians to create a unique sound. She hopes this is just the beginning: "I want to be the first tap dancer to win a Grammy Award".

Sarahreich.com

YOUTUBE PREMIERE NEW VIDEO: THE GROOVE

drops 1/28/19 7:30pm

Baked Bean Blues

Gemini Vibe

My Baby Just Cares For Me

For Chance

04/16/2019

Travis Lee Stephenson was born and raised in Houston, TX by a good momma and daddy who put a guitar in his hands and made him listen to rock n’ roll.  His early influences were classic rock and 90’s grunge, but as time passed he expanded his musical horizons into blues, country, soul, progressive rock, fusion jazz, slide, pop and finger-style acoustic.  While in Houston, Travis wrote and recorded with several original projects (Standing Souls and The Delta Flyers) who played locally and toured the southeastern United States.  He became a versatile and sought after session player contributing to many projects in an array of musical styles.  Travis is a two-time regional winner of the International Blues Challenge with The Delta Flyers (2008 and 2009).  In 2010 he moved to Hollywood, CA to attend the Musician’s Institute where he was awarded the D’Addario scholarship for stylistically diverse guitarists.  While at M.I. he started his current rock project Electric Soul Parade.  In 2011 Travis graduated M.I. with honors and Electric Soul Parade was chosen to perform at the graduation ceremony held at The Wiltern Theater.  He currently lives in Los Angeles where he writes, records, and performs with his original project, Electric Soul Parade.

04/09/2019

Brian Nittayo grew up in Arcadia, California, a suburb 5 miles east of Pasadena. After graduating from Arcadia High School in 1996, he decided to study Hotel Management at Cal Poly Pomona to get a foothold on a budding interest. While in school, Brian was first drawn to the food business, working at an Outback Steakhouse for 5 years, but yearned for something more. Once he graduated from Cal Poly Pomona, Brian worked at one of the finest hotels in the country, the Ritz Carlton in Pasadena, California. The world would change tremendously, however, with the tragic events of 9/11 so Brian knew having a business of his own would someday be his greatest adventure. Brian's father, who was in retirement at the time, wanted to start a new business with Brian so the 2 of them opened a Cold Stone Creamery from 2002-2009, hoping that being a part of a well established franchise would teach them more about the food business. Brian's dad and he chose the location because they saw that it was in a busy strip mall with a lot of foot traffic. People working nearby and families frequented the area often for ice cream, but Brian's real passion was in pizza. 
 

He decided it was time to learn the craft from one of the best in the business so he traveled to San Francisco to study the art of Napolitano Pizza from 13 time world pizza champion, Tony Gemignani. Once he came back to his hometown, Brian knew it was time for him to open up his own pizza restaurant that was conceptually designed around New York's "pizza by the slice" dynamic. Thus, Rose City Pizza was born and opened in July of 2009, around the corner from their old ice cream shop and in the same shopping plaza. Brian saw an opportunity to open a pizza shop with slices as the focal point, but as a result, it has evolved a lot since then. They still offer slices but just for lunch these days because Rose City Pizza has become known for their whole pizza creations. Their Mexican fusion pizzas such as the Elote and Al Pastor have become some of the most popular pies on the menu. Brian decided to make unique pizza creations because he was tired of Rose City Pizza being compared to other local pizzerias that offered similar pies. Creating their signature menu has been a lot of fun and is always ever changing. Check out their latest dish, a Grilled Cheese Lasagna, along with Dog Friendly Pizzas as well as Game of Thrones inspired pizzas and wings. At Rose City Pizza, all of your pizza dreams can now become a reality! 
 

rosecitypizza.com 
 

 facebook.com/RoseCityPizza
 

instagram.com/rosecitypizza 

04/02/2019

Meagan Nugent, Choreographer on “The Four”, Ventures into Artist Development and Creative Direction

Meagan’s work with Diddy, French Montana, Nikki Minaj culminates in the launch of a new entertainment firm

Los Angeles, CA, April 2019 - Celebrity choreographer Meagan Nugent has launched NU Entertainment and will lead the company as CEO and Executive Creative Director. Fresh off her work on the Fox Network’s reality show, “The Four” (starring Diddy and Fergie), Meagan is parlaying her rapidly rising notoriety into a business entity that will help artists navigate their own way through the often turbulent entertainment industry.

Meagan holds a Bachelors of Fine Arts from California Institute of the Arts, and she has worked closely with artists such as French Montana, Carly Rae Jepson, Nicki Minaj, Rae Sremmurd and Puff Daddy aka Diddy. She’s also choreographed for ZenArts, A Cirque Du Soleil Sister Company.

“I’ve always dreamed of running my own business, but was never really prepared to do so," said Meagan. “Now that I’m in a place where I’m positioned to help artists hone their craft while also assisting them in making savvy business decisions, the timing is finally right to launch my company”.

Two of the first artists on Meagan’s roster of clients includes Jack Samson, 20 year old singer songwriter rising star from Los Angeles and Arcade Jackson, vocalist extraordinaire. 

Follow NU Entertainment on Instagram at @MyNu_Ent and follow Meagan at @MeaganNugent1 

Meagan Nugent Choreo Reel 2018

meaganmoves.com

instagram.com/meagannugent1 

twitter.com/mnugent_25

March 2019

03/26/2019

Basem Wasef is a veteran automotive journalist, author, and director with a passion for all things mechanical. Born in Cairo and raised in London and Southern California, Basem’s vehicular fascination can be traced back to his early childhood when he sang “Happy Birthday” to his Matchbox cars. He has since written three books, the most recent of which is Speed Read: Supercars.Basem is a regular contributor to magazines including AutomobileMen’s Journaland Robb Report. Though he travels the world to pilot exotic cars and motorcycles, Basem enjoys calling Los Angeles home.

instagram.com/basemwasef

03/19/2019

From the best of "Wake Up Hollywood" : Shay Godwin is a Los Angeles-based drummer, originally from a small town called Trumansburg, NY. A graduate of Ithaca College School of Music, Shay studied orchestral percussion under Gordon Stout and the late Ted Rounds. Shay also played in jazz ensembles, and was very much under jazz director Steve Brown’s tutelage.

Since his long-ago move to Los Angeles, Shay has done recording sessions for songwriters, television commercials, and movies. Shay has also worked with touring acts, corporate event bands, theater pit bands, house bands at clubs, and has had many students.

From 2007 to 2012, Shay ran a drum track service called eDrumSessions.com. As one of the first online session sites on the web, eDrumSessions was a pioneer. Hundreds of sessions were booked through the site, with clients all around the globe.

Shay is a long-time member of LA band The Dirty Diamond. An independent band, they have had local radio airplay, played at The Greek Theater Los Angeles, and garnered some “elite” fans. An album is set to be released this summer.

instagram.com/shaygodwindrums/

03/12/2019

From the best of "Wake Up Holywood" : Todd Felderstein is an award-winning director/writer/producer with credits across media from screen to stage. He currently has two films in the festival circuit: TZEVA ADOM (From Hebrew "Red Color") achieved “Emerging Filmmaker Program” recognition at the Cannes Film Festival’s American Pavilion, semifinalist at the NBCU Shortfest and “Official Selection” status on more than two dozen festivals across the globe. RESERVATIONS stars Dale Raoul of HBO's TRUE BLOOD and in the month of November will be screening in its ninth film festival. Todd recently directed the multi-Emmy award actress Barbara Bain in a stage reading at the WGAw while concurrently directing multiple theatre pieces at the Lee Strasberg and for the legendary Actors Studio West where he is a member of their Directors Unit. Todd directed/produced MAGICS, a documentary feature made in Israel and was a writer on the television series SPIDER-MAN which starred Neil Patrick Harris in the title role. A random accolade is his recognition by the Guinness Book of World Records for being a member of the directing team that brought the feature film THE OWNER to the screen. Todd has a history in music videos and music nonfiction having worked with a good handful of Grammy winners including Bobby Watson (Rufus) and Burt Bacharach. He remains an active photographer, teaches boutique photography classes at the Los Angeles Center of Photography and is the former executive director of the nonprofit The Story Project whose mission brings multi-media storytelling into the classroom in challenged communities throughout Los Angeles.

toddfelderstein.com

colorredmovie.com

reservationsmovie.com

lacphoto.org/people/todd-felderstein

03/05/2019

Jason Burns - Actor | Writer | Voice Over Talent

Originally from St. Petersburg, Florida, Jason Burns is the voice and engineer of the John Tesh Radio Show and Intelligence For Your Health with Connie Sellecca. With over 20 years in radio broadcasting, he's been a Top 40 program director, on-air personality, and award-winning commercial writer and producer. He has been recognized multiple times by Benztown Branding as one of the top 50 radio imaging voices in the US & Canada. Jason also does on-camera commercial work, and he's repped by Avalon Artists Group in Los Angeles.

Benztown Top 50 Radio Voices in the US and Canada
jasonburns.la

February 2019

02/26/2019

Mister CoRey; A Mystical Musical Miracle-Melody Making MatheMagical Master of Mystery.

CoRey J. Ferrugia not only has proven himself as a reputable player and expert within the Media (Music/Film) and Entertainment industries as a prolific Recording Artist, Performer, Composer, Writer, and Executive Producer, but, additionally has worked in parallel to maintain his deep roots, convictions, and rich experience to earn respect from leaders within Education, Learning Science, and Social Entrepreneurship spaces just as well. Corey specializes in Guided Learning Methods, Arts Integration Solutions, and is an expert at facilitating ‘CoCreate and Produce’ project-based works in both individual and group learning settings. He was a keynote speaker for TEDx and is a published blogger for 'this very blog' you are reading this Mystical Musical Miracle Melody Making Methodical MatheMagical Mystery Message. Corey is a rare and dynamic talent who brings unparalleled value to any education or entertainment environment as a Creative Consultant, Artist Developer, Process Engineer, and a Master in Guided Learning Science "Actualized Intelligence" Technology.

huffpost.com/author/corey-ferrugia

youtube.com/coreyferrugia

02/19/2019

From the best of "Wake Up Hollywood" : Michael Matteo Rossi is a professional award-winning working director/producer/writer for over 10 years now. His first solo directed feature film 'Misogynist' got worldwide distribution on DVD and VOD and my 2nd feature "Sable" was released in late April 2017 and latest feature 'Chase' just is in it's final cut and has some great names including Damien Puckler, Aries Spears, Richard Riehle, and Simeon Panda. My IMDb and updated writer/director/producer demo reel are below for you to look at. He has won multiple awards in recognized film festivals as well and was put on a poll a few years back with Lena Dunham and Ryan Coogler of "Top directors under 30 to watch"

twitter.com/michaelmatteoro

facebook.com/michaelmatteorossi

02/12/2019

From the best of "Wake Up Hollywood" : Anthony Malzone is an LA based multimedia artist, working as a Creative Director in music, fashion and film. Born in the Bay Area, he moved to LA in 1999 to pursue a degree in Studio Arts Multimedia at Loyola Marymount University. In 2007 he moved to London to work in theatrical marketing, and in 2009 began working with the legendary musician, Prince. His work ranges from online interactive design for Hollywood blockbusters, to creative direction and design for musicians and entertainment brands. He is currently developing his own TV series.

02/05/2019

San Francisco born producer, engineer, mixer, musician, and songwriter Eric Robinson's first job in the music business was given to him by legendary Grammy-winning producer Steve Lillywhite. He never anticipated a short email to his hero would find him recording Trey Anastasio of Phish and watching Lillywhite mix U2 at the age of 19.

Following his summer in Vermont and New York, Eric landed an internship at Royaltone Studios in LA. This quickly turned into a position as a runner, and not long after Eric was assisting on sessions for Barenaked Ladies, Ricky Martin, and Lifehouse with producers Ron Aniello, Mario Caldato and more. After 3 years at Royaltone, Eric left in 2005 to go freelance.

In addition to recording, Eric was also getting busy as a sideman in 2006, playing guitar and keys for notable acts in the burgeoning Hotel Cafe scene such as Cary Brothers, Sara Bareilles, Joshua Radin and Jessie Baylin. This lead to international touring, television appearances and a live concert film with Sara Bareilles.

On the studio side, Eric simultaneously struck up a working relationship with producer/songwriter Marshall Altman and the two had immediate success. The first album they worked on together was Kate Voegele’s debut for Interscope/MySpace Records.  Eric played all the keyboards, most of the guitars, mandolin, accordion, and banjo on the record, as well as recording and mixing it.  Kate’s record sold 250,000 copies in the US and the songs were licensed extensively on TV.

Next up came Matt Nathanson’s album Some Mad Hope, which Eric recorded with Altman.  The album spawned the double-platinum single, “Come On Get Higher.” Then came albums with Natasha Bedingfield, Trevor Hall, William Fitzsimmons, Walker Hayes, Rosi Golan, Bethany Dillon and Adema, spanning genres from pop to folk to country and metal.

After establishing Marlay Studios in North Hollywood in 2010, Eric worked with artists such as Taylor Swift, Sia, Michelle Branch, Natasha Bedingfield, The Milk Carton Kids, Carney, Aqualung, Dan Wilson, P!nk, Rachael Yamagata, Brooke Fraser, Switchfoot, and Boyd Tinsley from Dave Matthews Band.  Along the way, Eric gained valuable experience working alongside hit producers such as Ryan Tedder, John Alagia, Dan Wilson and Charlie Peacock. In 2014, Eric was nominated for a Grammy for Album of the Year for his engineering work on Taylor Swift’s “Red” album.

Eric focuses on mixing music and film score in stereo and 5.1 surround and producing/co-writing with artists. Recent projects include OneRepublic’s Netflix “Once in a Lifetime” in 5.1 surround, indie band The Lighting, the main title to the Netflix show, “The Haunting of Hill House”, country artist Nora Collins and pop band Castro. Eric works out of his own studio in Los Angeles, Marlay Music.

eric-robinson.com

January 2019

01/29/2019

Mercury nominated, British-born SJae (also known as Sammy Jay) was the UK’s first female music producer who has been hailed in the US as ‘the best in the business’ by many of her peers including some of the world’s biggest music stars and producers.

Living and working in Los Angeles, the producer, writer and singer, has over two decades of experience in the industry and has worked with the likes of Raphael Saadiq, The Roots, Ricki-Lee, Booty Luv, Terri Walker, Mis-teeq, Mark Morisson, Pussycat Dolls, EXO and Rod Stewart to name a few.

Originally from a small town in South Wales, SJae was a graduate of London’s famous Brit School which bred world stars including Adele, Amy Winehouse, Ellie Goulding, Leona Lewis and Jessie J amongst others.

Def Jam gave SJae her first professional production gig on Terri Walker’s ‘Untitled’ album, and it was from that SJae’s career was born and she became one of the most sought-after producers in the business where she went onto produce albums for world-wide stars and rose to the top of her game which led to her move to LA after much European success.

SJAE has composed music for various tv shows including MTVs Ridiculousness, Lethal Weapon and has placed songs on many tv shows / films including Fox’s EMPIRE, CBS Flashpoint, STEP UP Miami Heat, Step up Up High Water. Most recently, SJAE worked with Raphael Saadiq on scoring the Netflix Movie ‘After Party’, starring KYLE and French Montana.

Not only has SJae worked on some of the world’s best-selling albums, but she’s also produced logo music for top radio stations, RTL, Bayern 3, and The Wave and her music can be heard in promo slots for FOX Sports, The NBA, Reelz Tv.

SJAE is currently Executive Producer for Howling Music, Nashville working on the music for global advertising campaigns such as Hyundai and Ford.

SJae’s work has been championed across the world and she has risen to the top of her game whilst paving the way for women producers in the industry by making her mark as one of the brightest stars in the business.

Watch this space for brand new EP coming soon..

01/22/2019

Sarah Reich (Performer, Choreographer, Instructor, Composer) has emerged as one of the new leaders in the Art Form of Tap Dance. Sarah has been sought after to perform, choreograph, and teach in over 40 countries. "I want to continue to bring tap into mass media with great respect and quality," she says, focusing on "reprogramming the minds of the general public on their perception of tap dance."

Sarah has become one of the art form's pop culture ambassadors, thanks to her appearances in videos with Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox. Her videos with them (A Star Wars–themed tribute, "The Tap Awakens," & “Thriller”, a Michael Jackson cover featuring Wayne Brady) have garnered millions of views on YouTube, all receiving rave reviews. She has toured the world with Postmodern Jukebox playing prestigious venues such as Radio City Music Hall, Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Sydney Opera House as well as a televised PBS special filmed in Las Vegas.

With her Tap Music Project intensives in various cities, Reich teaches tap dancers how to dance with more musicality, communicate with musicians and write music. Using a live band in class, she instructs students on how to "scat" rhythms or transcribe choreography with rhythm notation, among other skills.

Sarah is developing new, and exciting works with her company Tap Music Productions, with her debut Tap Jazz Album entitled “New Change”. This album is originally produced, composed from percussive tap rhythms, and performed by a great selection of musicians to create a unique sound. She hopes this is just the beginning: "I want to be the first tap dancer to win a Grammy Award".

Sarahreich.com

YOUTUBE PREMIERE NEW VIDEO: THE GROOVE

drops 1/28/19 7:30pm

Baked Bean Blues

Gemini Vibe

My Baby Just Cares For Me

For Chance

01/15/2019

From the best of "Wake Up Hollywood" : With more than five years since their last release, The Lao Tizer Band has taken the time to grow in every aspect. An updated larger band is exploring some new methods on their upcoming CD/DVD combo, Songs From The Swinghouse: recorded live in just three days at Conway Studios in Hollywood, the band explores three cover tunes with vocalist, a first for the group, alongside original instrumental tracks, bringing them to new heights of excellence and exuberance.

Hailing from Boulder, CO, with a career that now spans nine albums over nearly a quarter of a century -- he was a teenage prodigy -- Tizer is the son of hippies with a Russian-Jewish background, and the mix of that ethnic family heritage, parental new age influence and growing up with the sights and sounds of '80s and '90s pop culture (alongside the music of the '60s and '70s he heard from his parents) have brought him to a place in his artistic life where he was ready to embrace a wider range of influences and stretch himself and his players to pull off such an ambitious project.

The evolution of the Lao Tizer Band is revealed joyously in Songs From The Swinghouse. Now incorporating a vocalist into the recording and touring band, the road ahead is enthralling to the group's founder. "I spent my whole life writing instrumental music, and now I'm working on original material for the group including vocals." Ultimately, Lao Tizer eschews being formulaic. "I try and just stay true to my muse and to use every bit of my facility to create great music that hopefully has its own voice and continues to evolve as I continue to evolve as a person. It's very reflective of me, it's all I've done all my life."

laotizer.com

01/08/2019

Christopher Hawley makes people feel good through music. The Venice, CA-based artist combines inspiring lyrics, transcendent guitar, and danceable grooves. He identifies with and is influenced by some of the lesser known and perhaps under promoted heroes of music from the last century like Brian Jones, Grant Green, Syd Barrett, Lowell George, and J.J. Cale.

Christopher has played shows everywhere from LA’s Greek Theatre to the dive in your hometown. He’s a regular around LA and tours throughout the US, Europe, Brazil, Costa Rica, and Mexico. His music has been in a national commercial, in several documentaries, TV shows, on the NFL Network, and in Starbucks nationwide.

instagram.com/christopherhawleyrollers
youtube.com/christopherhawley
christopherhawley.com
facebook.com/CHRollers

December 2018

12/25/2018

From the best of "Wake Up Hollywood" : Eliza James has been a successful, working professional Violinist and musician in Los Angeles since the age of 18.
She performs regularly with artists such as Burt Bacharach, Paul Anka, Shakira, Nicki Minaj, John Legend, Pink, Daft Punk, Kanye West, P. Diddy, Yoshiki, Taylor Hicks, Cowboy Troy, Marco Antonio Solis, Googoosh, Roberta Flack, Mario Biondi, Gloria Gaynor, Anita Ward, Evelyn Champagne-King, Willie Chambers (The Chambers Brothers), Harry Connick Jr, David Gates/Bread, Bernadette Peters,Randy Travis, Billy Idol, Los Tri-o, Javuni, Rahzel, 3 Doors Down, Andrea Bocelli, Trulio Disgracias, Norwood Fisher (Fishbone), VTA - Vincenzo Thomas Amato, Casey veggies, Candyman 187, Jordy Towers, JMSN, Jimmy Haslip, Oscar Seaton, Alejandro Sanz, Chris Botti, The Harlem Renaissance Jazz Orchestra, Oscar Peterson, Warren Hill, Diana Krall, Renee Olstead, Dave Schulz(Berlin), Cody Carpenter, Ben Dukes, Larry Bagby and The Calling.
 
She has performed on multiple occasions at the Grammys, the American Music Awards, the Academy Awards, the Women in Film Awards, the BET Awards, American Idol, the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Hollywood Christmas Celebration At the Grove, the JC Penney Jam and the Sundance Film Festival.
 
Eliza is the featured solo violinist in Burt Bacharach and Paul Anka’s touring bands and has played the Wrightgaarden Langesund Summer Festival (Norway), the Milano Jazz Festival, the North Sea Jazz Festivals (Rotterdam Holland and Curacao), the Tokyo Jazz Festival, the Montreal Pop Festival, the Umbria Jazz Festival (Perugia Italy) and the Playboy Jazz Festival (Hollywood CA).
 
She has toured the world performing in magnificent concert venues in Italy, Sicily, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Holland, Belgium, Japan, Singapore, Australia, England, Scotland, Canada, Mexico,Brazil, Spain, Curacao and Israel.
Eliza is well-versed in many styles of music including classical, pop, country, hiphop, blues, rock and Persian/middle-eastern. Residing in Hollywood California, she performs on major motion picture soundtracks/scores some of which include March of the Penguins, Talladega Nights, The Conjuring, "The Devil's Carnival (directed by Darren Bousman)", A Lot Like Love, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, and Unaccompanied Minors. Eliza also arranged/recorded all of the strings for Natalie Cole’s hit “Love Brought Me Back” now available in stores.
 
Eliza has worked with many producers & composers including Burt Bacharach, David Foster, Ted Pearlman, Marti Frederiksen, Bruce Robb, Skip Saylor, Joe Barresi, Don Cromwell (Air Supply), Justin Gariano, DJ Lethal, Bob Horn, Curt Piar, Mitch Marine, Marc Jordan, Mark Needham, Richie Stites, Lee Miles, Joe Bishara, Corey Wallace, Jamison Trotter and Nigel Starr.
 
Eliza’s extensive early classical training with teachers such as Brian Lewis, Maurice Sklar and Dorothy DeLay has given her a deep appreciation for music education and she continues to be an active member of the teaching community, encouraging other young artists to pursue their goals and musical aspirations.

elizajamesmusic.com

12/18/2018

Rob Seals is a songwriter, producer, and educator based in Los Angeles.  The son of an architect father and a social worker mother, he grew up in Chattanooga, TN in a household that championed creativity and modeled service. Songs he has written or produced have appeared on tv shows like Pretty Little Liars, Ghost Whisperer, Men In Trees, Brothers and Sisters, The Hills, Keeping up with the Kardashians, Dreamland, MTV's The Real World, Road Rules, Fox Sports, and many others; in feature and documentary films; and on KCRW. He is the proud father of two young daughters, and with his talented wife, Ashley, founded The Songwriting School of Los Angeles in 2009.

The Songwriting School is the only full-time non-degree school of its kind devoted to the artistry and industry of songwriting. Instructors and distinguished guest lecturers include #1 writers, Grammy Winners and Nominees, Rock & Roll and Songwriters Hall of Fame Inductees, and inspiring industry thought leaders. Students have ranged from those writing their first songs to multiple Grammy-Nominated Songwriters, from those playing their first open mics to multiple Grammy-Winning Artists, from Billboard charting artists to those writing the first songs they truly believed in.

The Songwriting School seeks to inspire, instruct, and empower people of all ages to create work that matters. "We feel honored to help passionate people discover what they’re capable of," Seals observes, "because we know that their good work will help others do the same.”

In 2019 The School celebrates its 10th Anniversary at its Burbank location and offers a professional recording studio, as well as classes, lessons, and workshops year-round, on-campus and online: thesongwritingschool.com.

12/11/2018

Michael Matteo Rossi is a professional award-winning working director/producer/writer for over 10 years now. His first solo directed feature film 'Misogynist' got worldwide distribution on DVD and VOD and my 2nd feature "Sable" was released in late April 2017 and latest feature 'Chase' just is in it's final cut and has some great names including Damien Puckler, Aries Spears, Richard Riehle, and Simeon Panda. My IMDb and updated writer/director/producer demo reel are below for you to look at. He has won multiple awards in recognized film festivals as well and was put on a poll a few years back with Lena Dunham and Ryan Coogler of "Top directors under 30 to watch"

twitter.com/michaelmatteoro

facebook.com/michaelmatteorossi

12/04/2018

Stephanie Koenig is an actress and writer, known for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), Into the Storm (2014) and Highland Park (2013).

Paramount Television and Anonymous Content have acquired rights to Stupid Idiots, a comedy web series written, directed by and starring Stephanie Koenig, to develop as a TV series. Koenig (PopTV’s Swedish Dicks) is set to write the adaptation and star in the potential TV series, described as a (trying-to-get-out-of-the-) workplace comedy about two underachievers who consistently fail upwards. Koenig and Brian Jordan Alvarez star in the web version, which launched earlier this year.

IMDB.com

Grandmother's Gold

STUPID IDIOTS

November 2018

11/27/2018

From the best of "Wake Up Hollywood" : Classic, soulful melodies slide effortlessly alongside hip-hop rhythms and smooth percussions, as Trevor Wesley brings a refreshing sense of artistry and true talent to the music scene.  

Born and raised in Los Angeles, this Southern California native first began his musical journey at the age of five: sitting at the piano trying to match the sounds of the black and white keys to the pitch of his mother’s vacuum.

The son of one of Hollywood’s top camera operators, Trevor’s early aspirations where that of a young actor, however the natural pull of music proved too strong to fight.

Growing up in a family that listened to the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Eric Clapton, The Beatles and more, TREVOR was already familiar with timeless creativity.   For him, it was a case of blending these legacies into a more modern sound that reflected his true artistic talent and unique personality.  

In 2011, Trevor delivered his first musical statement - the self-produced Only Live Once EP. It was hailed by critics and record executives as sonically pure, filled with impeccable R&B and jazz influences. Skits, beautifully written songs, and even a cameo appearance in his promo video by the original gangster, Al Pacino, made TREVOR WESLEY stand apart from the crowd. In the words of the great Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds “This kid is the truth!”

In the past few years, Trevor has written, produced, and performed with the likes of NE-YO, Stevie Wonder, Joe Jonas, Wale, 98 Degrees, Patti LaBelle, and Dion Warwick. His music has also been featured in The Best Man Holiday and the BET show, Being Mary Jane.

In releasing his 1st full-length album, the LP’s lead single and title track, Chivalry Is Dead, has been streamed over 50 million times online and has provided a great platform to introduce his brand and artistry to the world.

From his gorgeous vocals to the tipped Fedora, TREVOR WESLEY is new-school cool meets old-school classic.  Refreshingly unadulterated, his smooth tones combined with fresh synths and a contagious smile defines the brand that is Trevor Wesley.

YouTube:TrevorWesleyMusic

Twitter/Instagram: @trevorwesley

TrevorWesley.com

 

11/20/2018

Johnnie Hobbs III is a tap dancer, film director, teacher, performer and coloring book collector. He’s worked with such theatre companies as The New Freedom Theatre, Adren Theatre Company, Interact Theatre and Matrix Theatre. A 2004 graduate of Philadelphia’s The University of the Arts, Johnnie moved to L.A. to follow his passion for film and television. His talent of tap dancing was showcased on “Showtime at The Apollo”, the Inauguration Events in Washington D.C for President Barack Obama and The Guatemala Dance Challenge in Guatemala. He’s first directorial effort was in 2012 with a tap dancing short film drama called “NOSTALGIA” starring Dule Hill (The West Wing, Psych) and tap dancers Sarah Reich, Jason Samuels Smith and Chloe Arnold. The film went on to be accepted to film festivals around the country. He’s directed four other short films since then. Johnnie’s been a guest speaker at University of Colorado, Temple University, Santa Monica College, and Art Institute to name a few. Relativity School, a new college in Downtown Los Angeles, has recently named him Adjunct Professor of tap dance for the Commercial Dance Department. He has worked on segments TV shows “ America Now,” “The Amazing Race,” and was an acting coach on a Showtime TV pilot while also assisting film producer Edward Saxon (Philadelphia, Silence of The Lambs). Johnnie really likes chocolate milkshakes.

Link:

vimeo.com/200775897

youtu.be/sB4K2ulX1Xw

11/13/2018

Mercury nominated, British-born SJae (also known as Sammy Jay) was the UK’s first female music producer who has been hailed in the US as ‘the best in the business’ by many of her peers including some of the world’s biggest music stars and producers.
Living and working in Los Angeles, the producer, writer and singer, has over two decades of experience in the industry and has worked with the likes of Raphael Saadiq, The Roots, Ricki-Lee, Booty Luv, Terri Walker, Mis-teeq, Mark Morisson, Pussycat Dolls, EXO and Rod Stewart to name a few.
Originally from a small town in South Wales, SJae was a graduate of London’s famous Brit School which bred world stars including Adele, Amy Winehouse, Ellie Goulding, Leona Lewis and Jessie J amongst others.
Def Jam gave SJae her first professional production gig on Terri Walker’s ‘Untitled’ album, and it was from that SJae’s career was born and she became one of the most sought-after producers in the business where she went onto produce albums for world-wide stars and rose to the top of her game which led to her move to LA after much European success.
SJAE has composed music for various tv shows including MTVs Ridiculousness, Lethal Weapon and has placed songs on many tv shows / films including Fox’s EMPIRE, CBS Flashpoint, STEP UP Miami Heat, Step up Up High Water. Most recently, SJAE worked with Raphael Saadiq on scoring the Netflix Movie ‘After Party’, starring KYLE and French Montana.
Not only has SJae worked on some of the world’s best-selling albums, but she’s also produced logo music for top radio stations, RTL, Bayern 3, and The Wave and her music can be heard in promo slots for FOX Sports, The NBA, Reelz Tv.
SJAE is currently Executive Producer for Howling Music, Nashville working on the music for global advertising campaigns such as Hyundai and Ford.
SJae’s work has been championed across the world and she has risen to the top of her game whilst paving the way for women producers in the industry by making her mark as one of the brightest stars in the business.
Watch this space for brand new EP coming soon..

11/06/2018

Todd Felderstein is an award-winning director/writer/producer with credits across media from screen to stage. He currently has two films in the festival circuit: TZEVA ADOM (From Hebrew "Red Color") achieved “Emerging Filmmaker Program” recognition at the Cannes Film Festival’s American Pavilion, semifinalist at the NBCU Shortfest and “Official Selection” status on more than two dozen festivals across the globe. RESERVATIONS stars Dale Raoul of HBO's TRUE BLOOD and in the month of November will be screening in its ninth film festival. Todd recently directed the multi-Emmy award actress Barbara Bain in a stage reading at the WGAw while concurrently directing multiple theatre pieces at the Lee Strasberg and for the legendary Actors Studio West where he is a member of their Directors Unit. Todd directed/produced MAGICS, a documentary feature made in Israel and was a writer on the television series SPIDER-MAN which starred Neil Patrick Harris in the title role. A random accolade is his recognition by the Guinness Book of World Records for being a member of the directing team that brought the feature film THE OWNER to the screen. Todd has a history in music videos and music nonfiction having worked with a good handful of Grammy winners including Bobby Watson (Rufus) and Burt Bacharach. He remains an active photographer, teaches boutique photography classes at the Los Angeles Center of Photography and is the former executive director of the nonprofit The Story Project whose mission brings multi-media storytelling into the classroom in challenged communities throughout Los Angeles.
toddfelderstein.com
colorredmovie.com
reservationsmovie.com
lacphoto.org/people/todd-felderstein

October 2018

10/30/2018

Following a very public fall from grace, country music star Faith Winters seeks refuge in her rural Texas hometown, where she rediscovers feelings for her high school sweetheart, the local pastor. But the homecoming is bittersweet.
Cast Bios:
Janelle Arthur
Deana Carter
The Team

10/23/2018

WolfeHound is a songwriting / production duo composed of Eric Wolfe and Mickey Madden, founded in Venice, CA in 2016. Wolfe and Madden are multi-instrumentalists / composers that cover all styles of music. Their team is heavy on songwriting and collaboration with friends to create a unique musical vision. WolfeHound is currently recording their first record, showcasing their wide range of musical styles.
Contact: mickeymaddenmusic@gmail.com

10/16/2018

With more than five years since their last release, The Lao Tizer Band has taken the time to grow in every aspect. An updated larger band is exploring some new methods on their upcoming CD/DVD combo, Songs From The Swinghouse: recorded live in just three days at Conway Studios in Hollywood, the band explores three cover tunes with vocalist, a first for the group, alongside original instrumental tracks, bringing them to new heights of excellence and exuberance.
Hailing from Boulder, CO, with a career that now spans nine albums over nearly a quarter of a century -- he was a teenage prodigy -- Tizer is the son of hippies with a Russian-Jewish background, and the mix of that ethnic family heritage, parental new age influence and growing up with the sights and sounds of '80s and '90s pop culture (alongside the music of the '60s and '70s he heard from his parents) have brought him to a place in his artistic life where he was ready to embrace a wider range of influences and stretch himself and his players to pull off such an ambitious project.
The evolution of the Lao Tizer Band is revealed joyously in Songs From The Swinghouse. Now incorporating a vocalist into the recording and touring band, the road ahead is enthralling to the group's founder. "I spent my whole life writing instrumental music, and now I'm working on original material for the group including vocals." Ultimately, Lao Tizer eschews being formulaic. "I try and just stay true to my muse and to use every bit of my facility to create great music that hopefully has its own voice and continues to evolve as I continue to evolve as a person. It's very reflective of me, it's all I've done all my life."
laotizer.com

10/09/2018

Alicyn Packard embodies one of the most uniquely versatile female voices lighting up screens across the globe. As an actor, writer, producer and musician Alicyn seamlessly moves between genres, lending her face and voice to a myriad of projects for television, radio, film, web & stage. Nominated for three Voice Arts Awards for excellence in voiceover, she can be heard daily bringing to life over a dozen popular animated characters and breathing fresh authenticity into commercials and on-air television promotions.
Alicyn Packard combines lush vocals and poetic lyrics in her debut EP, “Heartbeat of the Universe”. The album examines her journey toward self acceptance, the birth of her first child, and the connection between nature and humanity. Alicyn’s acoustic stylings are like herself — playful, thoughtful, and homegrown. “Heartbeat of the Universe” is Alicyn’s most raw and personal creative endeavor and the accompanying five self-produced music videos serve as an affirmation of life.
Throughout her career, Alicyn has been no stranger to the recording process. She has lended her voice to many characters, including: Toodles - Tom & Jerry, Jibanyan - Yo-Kai Watch, Robyn - Space Racers, Alma - Poppy Cat, Firewall - The Emoji Movie, Female Blood Elf - World of Warcraft, Ms. Sunshine, Naughty, and Whoops - The Mr. Men Show, Narration - Snapped: She Made Me Do It, Promo Voice - Ovation Network, and Mistress of Death - Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite.
alicyn.net
Facebook: facebook.com/alicynpackardartist

INSTAGRAM: @alicyn 
Twitter: twitter.com/Alicyn

10/02/2018

From the best of "Wake Up Hollywood" : Mike Dorsey is a television producer and documentary filmmaker. He co-produced 2018’s USA Network series Unsolved: The Murders of Tupac and The Notorious B.I.G., starring Josh Duhamel, Jimmi Simpson, and Bokeem Woodbine. He also co-produced and edited the 2018 paranormal documentary Demon House, starring Zak Bagans from Ghost Adventures, which spent 10 weeks as Google Play’s #1 documentary. His latest documentary as a filmmaker is Murder Rap: Inside the Biggie and Tupac Murders, about the Biggie and Tupac murder investigations.
Previously, Mike made the Manson Family documentary The Six Degrees of Helter Skelter, the WWII documentary Lost Airmen of Buchenwald , and The Oyler House: Richard Neutra's Desert Retreat. He recently released his second WWII documentary, titled Happy, which was awarded Best Documentary Short at the 2017 Phoenix Film Festival. Mike is currently a producer and editor at Discovery. He was formerly the Senior Director of Programming for the Outdoor Channel. He has a Marketing degree from Arizona State University.
MarauderWorks.com
Murder Rap - Trailer

Murder Rap - Tupac Murder Confession

Unsolved (for USA Network) - Trailer

September 2018

09/25/2018

From the best of "Wake Up Hollywood" : Maiya Sykes is a classically trained vocalist, producer, vocal arranger and entrepreneur. She studied independently with Nina Simone and Betty Carter. After graduating from Yale University, she went on to further her musical education at The Musicians’ Institute.

Maiya has provided back-up vocals for for The Black Eyed Peas, Macy Gray, Fantasia, Joss Stone, Michael Buble, Leona Lewis and Rita Ora. She was a featured backup singer for Macy Gray in her live show for more than five years. She recently provided backgrounds and was featured in the Oscar award winning film La La Land.

As a recording artist, Maiya released a dance single with DJ Manny Lehman, “Body Rock”, recorded under the pseudonym Oceana, which reached number 1 on the Billboard Dance Charts in 2009. Shortly after her for chair turning debut on season 7 of The Voice, Maiya began working with YouTube sensation Postmodern Juxebox. Her featured videos with Postmodern Juxebox have received over 3 million views and have been mentioned in Time Magazine and the Huffington Post.

 Currently, Maiya has been busy as the lead singer of The Endangered. The band’s second release, produced by legendary producer Steven Miller (Dave Mathews Band, Chaka Kahn), was released in early March 2012 to critical acclaim. The band’s next release is slated for early 2019. She is also working on her own projects. The first is an album of all original music and the second will be a big band tribute to Nancy Wilson and Cannonball Adderley. Both are slated for release in 2018.

Social Media: Instagram: maiyasykes Twitter:@maiyasykes1 Facebook: MaiyaSykesEntertainment

09/18/2018

BIFROST: Into the Aurora
Heins Kim- Creator and Executive Producer
Born in Southern California to Korean-immigrant parents from Germany. Heins Kim has shown and curated shows in Los Angeles and New York. He studied Painting at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. While based in New York City for the past 14 years, Kim has also lived and worked throughout Europe, Hong Kong and the island of Macau. Kim’s multi-media work address’s cultural issues through Drawing, Sculpture and Installation. His diverse background and experiences informs much of his work. By intercepting and distinguishing the suppressed cultural ideals that are frequently lost to the shortening memory of our media-obsessed global society. Eastern and Western conceptions are called into question. Globalization is one contributory factor in blurring traditions as cultural origins become increasingly diverse. Regardless of medium Heins Kim’s work explores color, form and composition through a formal aesthetic. Since 2012, he has been working with his creative partner, Eric Adamsons on a multifaceted project to see beyond the two dimensional realm. For the past 4 years, Bifröst has partnered with numerous institutions, educators and researchers, in association with NASA, in order to launch our imaging payload into the Aurora Borealis.
Matt Cullen- Executive Producer, Finisher and Fixer
Los Angeles native, Matt studied social sciences with a double major in Sociology with emphasis on deviant behavior and Photography. After college, Matt spent a few years pursuing the outdoor lifestyle that he grew up with by working in various US ski resorts, and traveled the United states on adventurous expeditions. As a science enthusiast, Matt explored theory and experimentation throughout his travels which activated his interest in the family business of metal finishing, where he currently serves as the VP and COO at Valley Plating. An avid patron of the Arts, Matt has been backing works of Heins Kim since they graduated from high school and is currently a major sponsor of Bifrost, Into the Aurora.

bifrostaurora.org

09/11/2018

Travis Lee Stephenson was born and raised in Houston, TX by a good momma and daddy who put a guitar in his hands and made him listen to rock n’ roll. His early influences were classic rock and 90’s grunge, but as time passed he expanded his musical horizons into blues, country, soul, progressive rock, fusion jazz, slide, pop and finger-style acoustic. While in Houston, Travis wrote and recorded with several original projects (Standing Souls and The Delta Flyers) who played locally and toured the south- eastern United States. He became a versatile and sought after session player contributing to many projects in an array of musical styles. Travis is a two-time regional winner of the International Blues Challenge with The Delta Flyers (2008 and 2009). In 2010 he moved to Hollywood, CA to attend the Musician’s Institute where he was awarded the D’Addario scholarship for stylistically diverse guitarists. While at M.I. he started his current rock project Electric Soul Parade. In 2011 Travis graduated M.I. with honors and Electric Soul Parade was chosen to perform at the graduation ceremony held at The Wiltern Theater. He currently lives in Los Angeles where he writes, records, and performs with his original projects (Aerial Visions and Electric Soul Parade) as well as a number of various artists including but not limited to Locke, Luna Achiary, and K.O.

09/04/2018

From the best of "Wake Up Hollywood" : Neal Preston is one of the most highly respected photographers in the history of the music business. His career in photography,which started in high school and continues to the present, has spanned well over 4 decades. Through his body of work Preston has made a significant contribution to the pop culture historys of multiple generations. His archive stands as one of the music industry’s single most elite (and extensive) photographic collections.

For years, his photographs have appeared in every conceivable media outlet: on the covers and pages of hundreds of world-class magazines, newspapers, and books, on television shows, in feature films and documentaries, in Broadway show programs and billboards, in print and electronic advertisements, and on innumerable vinyl and CD/DVD packages. Additionally, he was the key contributor to VH-1’s acclaimed “Behind the Music” documentary series, providing over one thousand still photos used in over 50 episodes.

Although Preston is best known in rock circles as Led Zeppelin’s U.S. tour photographer in the mid-1970’s, his rock-and-roll travels have taken him around the world many times. He has visited Russia with Billy Joel, Japan with Bruce Springsteen, Madonna, and Michael Jackson, China with Wham! , South Africa with Whitney Houston, Canada with Heart, Japan with Duran Duran, and Mexico and South America with Queen in both 1981 and 2015.

In 1985, Preston was chosen as one of the official photographers for the Bob Geldof’s “Live Aid” concert at London’s Wembley Stadium. In 1988 his association with Bruce Springsteen helped land him the job as official tour photographer for Amnesty International’s legendary “Conspiracy of Hope” tour, a 5 week world trek with Sting, Peter Gabriel, and Tracy Chapman appearing along with Springsteen.

An accomplished photojournalist, Preston has shot stories and covers – not only on musicians- for a multitude of world-class magazines including Newsweek, Time, and Rolling Stone. In 1980 he began a 30 year-long relationship with People Magazine and to this day remains the most-assigned photographer in the history of the magazine, with almost 700 shoot days to his credit.

A true sports fanatic, Preston has worked at six Olympic Games, from the 1984 Winter Games in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia to the 2006 Winter Games in Turin, Italy. Preston has also photographed many other major sporting events including heavyweight title fights, the World Series, NBA and NFL playoff games, the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, and World Cup soccer matches. His sports photos have been published worldwide in such magazines as TV Guide, ESPN Magazine, Paris Match, and Sports Illustrated.

After joining the International Cinematographers Guild in 1999 , Preston served as both the “unit” and “special” photographer for the feature films “Almost Famous”, “Vanilla Sky”, “Elizabethtown” , “We Bought a Zoo”, and “Aloha” , and recently completed work on season 1 of the Showtime television series “Roadies” (all directed by Cameron Crowe). Besides creating the key art for those projects, Preston also provided photos used in the feature films “ *61”, “Singles”, “Laurel Canyon” and “Pick of Destiny” among others.

In 2006 he began publicly exhibiting his music photography with a one-man show at the Morrison Hotel Gallery’s Los Angeles location. The show was highlighted by an opening night VIP fundraiser benefiting the Stevie Nicks Soldier’s Angel Foundation. That gala (with Ms. Nicks co-hosting) raised over $25,000 from print sales in one evening. His subsequent exhibition at Morrison’s New York City site was the most successful show in the gallery’s history.

In June of 2010 Preston cemented a relationship with the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, becoming the first photographer to mount a one-man exhibition of his work on the premises. His work is part of the Hard Rock’s permanent memorabilia collection and Preston’s limited-edition exhibition prints are offered for sale to the public through the Hard Rock retail store. In 2014 Preston began a relationship with the German lighting company Lightpower GmbH and helped create the Lightpower Collection, which has held major exhibitions in Frankfurt, Las Vegas, Zurich and Stockholm.

Preston’s work has been displayed at such elite institutions as the Smithsonian in Washington D.C., the National Gallery in London, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio . His iconic photograph of Freddie Mercury is part of the permanent photo exhibit at the new Wembley Stadium in London. His work is included in the permanent collection of the new Yankee Stadium in New York, and close to 100 of Preston’s photographs adorn the walls of the newly renovated Forum in Inglewood, California.

https://www.prestonpictures.com

August 2018

08/28/2018

Laura Jane is an artist, vocalist, songwriter, performer, producer and vocal coach residing in Los Angeles.  Her resume spans the likes of Joe Cocker, Enrique Iglesias, The Black Eyed Peas, Kelly Clarkson, Teena Marie, Billy Ray Cyrus, and Nicole Sherzinger to name a few.  She has been heard on numerous commercials, tv and movie soundtracks, and has released two of her own albums INDEPENDENTLY called TO MY PLANET BOO and Everything Changes, where both met critical acclaim and gained radio play internationally.  She has performed her solo shows in London, Los Angeles, New York, Monaco, Kyoto, Jakarta and Washington DC.  Laura Jane is an artist turned producer, now executive producing her own musical projects, doing Vocal Masterclasses worldwide and currently working a couple of new movie projects.
laurajanemusic.net

08/21/2018

From the best of "Wake Up Hollywood" : Flaviyake is a Pop artist, songwriter and music producer known for reinventing herself in music videos.
Her name is a hybrid of her Latin name Flavia (meaning ‘golden, blonde’) and Japanese fashion designer Issey Miyake.
Flaviyake was born during an earthquake in Chișinău, the largest city and capital of Moldova. Flaviyake started her musical career by studying the flute and piano at the Sergey Rachmaninov School of Music in Chișinău at the age of six and she wrote her first song for vocal and piano at the age of ten.
She started performing her original Rap songs in clubs at the age of 16. Later she had over 100 live shows in London and her song “Because I’m a Doll” played on BBC6 Music Radio after making it though their weekly contest.
In 2017, Flaviyake released her debut album "Bad in Bed" that hit #1 on Indie Chart, NewshineFM radio, with the album opening song "So Hard to Say". The album was covered on HaffingtonPost and HypeMachine. The first 7 songs on the album were produced by Flavia.
In 2018, Flaviyake took a new direction in her career and started performing with machines.

08/14/2018

From the best of "Wake Up Hollywood" : John Alagia was born in Louisville, KY and played in rock bands from an early age. He slowly transitioned into the studio with his buddy, and band mate, Doug Derryberry after graduating from Georgetown University. Doug and John began producing acts out of their basement studio in Northern Virginia and ultimately extended their scope throughout the mid Atlantic.
Notables in the early days were Dave Matthews Band, Ben Folds Five, Vertical Horizon and Edwin McCain just to name a few. After several years playing with Doug Derryberry, John decided to focus on studio production instead of performing live. He converted a house on the eastern shore of Maryland to a recording studio. That era in the early 2000s bred the debut albums for John Mayer, Jason Mraz, Rachael Yamagata, Josh Kelly, and hosted the likes of Lifehouse, Dave Matthews, Mandy Moore, and many others.
In 2005, John left to work on a project with Liz Phair out at the Village studios in LA while maintaining his place in Maryland. Bouncing between LA, MD and NYC, he had the opportunity to work with Paul Simon, Herbie Hancock, Brett Dennen, and Lukas Nelson among others. He considers the Village his home these days.

instagram.com/johnalagia/

08/07/2018

Nathalie Bonin is a multi-faceted artist who lives through music and art and thus has explored many expression forms from live performance, recording, composing, conducting and
even aerial acrobatics. She splits her time between Los Angeles, New York and Montreal for her numerous ongoing projects.
As an award-winning composer, Nathalie has cumulated numerous credits for Canadian network national and international television series as well as composed and produced soundtracks for the Best-Selling show “Messmer: Intemporel” which has been touring since 2012 in Quebec and all over Europe. She was one of the 10 selected composers for the Los Angeles Live Score Film Festival 2018 during which her score was performed live to picture by the Helix Collective. She is working on numerous feature projects as composer and performer for Music Package (France), CrimeSonics and MPATH Music Library (Los Angeles) the latter being curated by Michael A. Levine with whom she completed an Internship in 2016. She was Finalist in the Oticons International Film Music Competition 2014 and won Best Sound Design and Audience Award during 24Hour Film Race 2014. Nathalie is an alumni of ASCAP NYU Hollywood Filmscoring Worshop, SCL NY Composers Mentorship Program, BMI Filmscoring Mentorship (New York), BMI/NYU Television Scoring and Adds Workshops, and a Fellow of the Filmscoring Conducting Intensive program in 2017 at Warner Bros Studios in Burbank, CA.
Nathalie is also a professional feature violinist both on the local and international scene and has been guest soloist with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, a member of the New York based Jazz quintet: Ted Nash and ODEON, guest soloist of the Société de Musique Contemporaine du Québec (SMCQ) directed by Walter Boudreau, Concertmaster for the Ensemble Contemporain de Montréal for their West Canada Tour in 2007, and plays regularly as section violinist in the Orchestre Métropolitain and l’Opéra de Montréal.
Asides from her numerous contributions as soloist in contemporary, jazz, tango and world music ensembles, Nathalie has also performed or recorded with: Stevie Wonder, YES, Bran Van 3000, Moist, DeadMau5, Alan Parson, Chance The Rapper, Peter Cetera, Luciano Pavarotti, Charles Aznavour, Gino Vannelli, Salvatore Adamo, Gage, Henri Salvador, Nanette Workman, Cirque du Soleil and Cirque Éloize as well as recorded on numerous movie and television soundtracks. She is Concertmaster of La Voix (The Voice) in Montreal where she has performed on most prime-time network television variety shows as lead or feature violinist.
Nathalie is also a daredevil and has been performing her gravity-defying Aerial Violin act that she created 10 years ago for world class events including: NHL All-Star Game, NHL Oiler’s Opening Season Ceremony, Loréal, Toyota World Conference, SNC-Lavalin, Genivar, Desjardins Financial Security, COOP Desjardins, Air Medic and numerous television shows including: La Vie est un Cirque (TV5Monde), L’Heure de Gloire (SRC) and Star Academy Finals (SRC). Nathalie thanks the Canada Arts Council, the Conseil des Arts et des Lettres du Québec, SOCAN Foundation and YAMAHA Canada for their support.
kinemuse.com
imdb.me/nathaliebonin
soundcloud.com/nathalie-bonin-1

July 2018

07/31/2018

Joe Dante
My Mom and Dad use to always put on very soulful music growing up. They loved putting on the Righteous brother and Jackie Wilson over the weekends. We use to take big family trips to Wisconsin and I would always sing along to whatever my dad would play in the car. It didn’t matter if it was the Beegees or Nsync, I was jamming to it.
My parents were always super supportive of my music interest as a child. I took guitar lessons early from my uncle Dave who married into my family. He was a professional guitar player in the Chicago Land area. And projected my career into what it is today.
After getting into that I wanted more. I always did want more. So naturally singing came next. I joined a mens chorus freshman year of Highschool and got obsessed. During parents teacher conference my teacher Mr. Estberg sat my mother down and said “your son can really sing” and my mother replied “oh, thats just an Italian thing, we can all sing”. But he was like “ no but really”.
I never took school or learning super serious, until music came into my life. I just didn’t have a passion for anything else. I was lost. I never had the best grades, but I knew I wanted to have fun. But my teacher Mr Estberg saw something in me.
We had some auditions for a musical and he asked me to do it. I respectfully declined, I just didn’t see myself doing a musical. I thought, it just wasn’t me. But one day he took me out of class and took me in. He said “joe just sing this for me, no pressures”. Perplexed I did. The next day I found out he just cast me in his musical. At the time I was super confused but sorta happy. He knew I wanted it but was shy at the time. He was one of the first people in my life that got me serious about singing.
From there I went to Columbia college Chicago and focused on vocal performance. I was in an elite group 3cvje. A. Vocal jazz ensemble that eventually went to new orleans and played at some festivals.
During that time I worked at my dads restaurant “the Greek Islands”. I know, Being an Italian with a greek restaurant. My dad had partners that are greek and honestly being Sicilian is basically being greek. But I did that to make money while I was in Chicago to save up money to go to los Angeles to do what I do now and teach and perform.
During college I joined some groups in Chicago that helped my “sound”.
I always had a very high voice and found it to be a strength. People always wanted to hear that rocker Led zeplin sound but I always had that soulful sound that brings me back to the day I was singing in the car going to Wisconsin with my family. I had to marry the two into what is my new album “do ya hear me”

07/24/2018

Gabrielle Evans Fields is the founder of Silver Lining Pictures and Gabrielle Evans Fields Casting in Los Angeles, California. Silver Lining Pictures is a motion picture company that produces family friendly films aimed at the international market with the support of various domestic partners. Silver Lining Pictures notes that these partnerships bring a new dimension to the way the company reaches out to its audience. 
imdb.com/name/nm1715901
IMDb page for her newest film, Runnin' from my Roots: imdb.com/title/tt4883336
"Following a very public fall from grace, country music star Faith Winters seeks refuge in her rural Texas hometown, where she rediscovers feelings for her high school sweetheart, the local pastor. But the homecoming is bittersweet."

07/17/2018

Neal Preston is one of the most highly respected photographers in the history of the music business. His career in photography,which started in high school and continues to the present, has spanned well over 4 decades. Through his body of work Preston has made a significant contribution to the pop culture historys of multiple generations. His archive stands as one of the music industry’s single most elite (and extensive) photographic collections.

For years, his photographs have appeared in every conceivable media outlet: on the covers and pages of hundreds of world-class magazines, newspapers, and books, on television shows, in feature films and documentaries, in Broadway show programs and billboards, in print and electronic advertisements, and on innumerable vinyl and CD/DVD packages. Additionally, he was the key contributor to VH-1’s acclaimed “Behind the Music” documentary series, providing over one thousand still photos used in over 50 episodes.

Although Preston is best known in rock circles as Led Zeppelin’s U.S. tour photographer in the mid-1970’s, his rock-and-roll travels have taken him around the world many times. He has visited Russia with Billy Joel, Japan with Bruce Springsteen, Madonna, and Michael Jackson, China with Wham! , South Africa with Whitney Houston, Canada with Heart, Japan with Duran Duran, and Mexico and South America with Queen in both 1981 and 2015.

In 1985, Preston was chosen as one of the official photographers for the Bob Geldof’s “Live Aid” concert at London’s Wembley Stadium. In 1988 his association with Bruce Springsteen helped land him the job as official tour photographer for Amnesty International’s legendary “Conspiracy of Hope” tour, a 5 week world trek with Sting, Peter Gabriel, and Tracy Chapman appearing along with Springsteen.

An accomplished photojournalist, Preston has shot stories and covers – not only on musicians- for a multitude of world-class magazines including Newsweek, Time, and Rolling Stone. In 1980 he began a 30 year-long relationship with People Magazine and to this day remains the most-assigned photographer in the history of the magazine, with almost 700 shoot days to his credit.

A true sports fanatic, Preston has worked at six Olympic Games, from the 1984 Winter Games in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia to the 2006 Winter Games in Turin, Italy. Preston has also photographed many other major sporting events including heavyweight title fights, the World Series, NBA and NFL playoff games, the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, and World Cup soccer matches. His sports photos have been published worldwide in such magazines as TV Guide, ESPN Magazine, Paris Match, and Sports Illustrated.

After joining the International Cinematographers Guild in 1999 , Preston served as both the “unit” and “special” photographer for the feature films “Almost Famous”, “Vanilla Sky”, “Elizabethtown” , “We Bought a Zoo”, and “Aloha” , and recently completed work on season 1 of the Showtime television series “Roadies” (all directed by Cameron Crowe). Besides creating the key art for those projects, Preston also provided photos used in the feature films “ *61”, “Singles”, “Laurel Canyon” and “Pick of Destiny” among others.

In 2006 he began publicly exhibiting his music photography with a one-man show at the Morrison Hotel Gallery’s Los Angeles location. The show was highlighted by an opening night VIP fundraiser benefiting the Stevie Nicks Soldier’s Angel Foundation. That gala (with Ms. Nicks co-hosting) raised over $25,000 from print sales in one evening. His subsequent exhibition at Morrison’s New York City site was the most successful show in the gallery’s history.

In June of 2010 Preston cemented a relationship with the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, becoming the first photographer to mount a one-man exhibition of his work on the premises. His work is part of the Hard Rock’s permanent memorabilia collection and Preston’s limited-edition exhibition prints are offered for sale to the public through the Hard Rock retail store. In 2014 Preston began a relationship with the German lighting company Lightpower GmbH and helped create the Lightpower Collection, which has held major exhibitions in Frankfurt, Las Vegas, Zurich and Stockholm.

Preston’s work has been displayed at such elite institutions as the Smithsonian in Washington D.C., the National Gallery in London, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio . His iconic photograph of Freddie Mercury is part of the permanent photo exhibit at the new Wembley Stadium in London. His work is included in the permanent collection of the new Yankee Stadium in New York, and close to 100 of Preston’s photographs adorn the walls of the newly renovated Forum in Inglewood, California.

https://www.prestonpictures.com

07/10/2018

Demian Lichtenstein is an international best selling author of Discover the Gift, a prodigious producer, director and writer with over 250 major media and music videos to his credit such as Sting, Eric Clapton, and Queen Latifah as well as feature films such as 3000 Miles To Graceland starring Kevin Costner and Kurt Russell. Demian is also a writer, producer, and director in the Video Game industry, with #1 hits such as the successful PAYDAY 1 & 2 video game franchise / Net TV series. Demian has built and sold five media, VR and gaming companies. During his tenure as US Studio Head for Starbreeze, Demian oversaw Production on the John Wick Chronicles VR Video Game, the Walking Dead VR Experience as well as Producing and Directing the PAYDAY Live Action 360 VR Experience. Currently Demian is building his new venture, Futurism: Where Technology and Entertainment meet.

 

Susie Ran Kim is A Hollywood native born to Korean immigrants, Susie Kim is the Co-founder and Artistic Director of NewFilmmakers Los Angeles (NFMLA), and wrapping up her position as Director of Programming after 11 years. She has build career over the past 30 years as a creative producer working with recognized institutions in the Arts, Cinema, Architecture and Design, and Non- Profit.

A world traveler, Susie shares her discoveries of by producing innovative projects and experiences for the public. On her current documentary project, 'Into the Aurora', Susie is working with NASA, the Reykjavik University and the University of Puerto Rico around the cultural and scientific understandings of the aurora borealis.

 

07/03/2018

Armond Kinard, born in Los Angeles, is an actor, writer and poet. He has been steadily working his way to artistic success since 2007, although his passion for creativity goes back to childhood.
 

His first passion was acting, but that was immediately followed by writing during the first 12 years of his life. By 1996, at age 20, another interest spawned - his love of poetry. Hip hop and/or Rap music heavily influenced this new passion. While attending Los Angeles Trade Technical Community College, he began writing poetry. It was during this time that he wrote notes for many of his present film ideas. He'll always claim 1996 as the best year of his adult life due to all of this creativity firing up.
 

In 1999, Armond's stride experienced a detour, after being hired at Power 106.FM, a popular hip hop radio station in Los Angeles. It was this radio station that triggered his love of the music, especially in the 90's. He worked in the promotions department until January of 2007.
 

After leaving Power 106, he did some stand up comedy at the World Famous Comedy Store in Hollywood (his poem "Homeless Intellectuals" was created from those routines). He also co-starred in a film titled "Color of the Cross part 2 : The Resurrection", where he played "Simon" (his first speaking role).
 

By June of 2009, Armond created a YouTube account and started using it to generate attention to his poetry and voiceover talents, with very little success. Then, thanks to motivation from his cousin Jonathan Picos and a colleague, Mike Sonksen, Armond began performing his poetry on stage for the first time (November 2010). In 2011, his poetry started to catch on in Los Angeles with performances in Hollywood, Watts, Santa Monica, Downtown L.A. and Boyle Heights. People were taking notice and enjoying his performances.
 

In January of 2012, he performed in a major Los Angeles poetry event, "Occupy This", which led to him being cast in a theatre production, "Occupy the Heart", produced by Miguel Garcia and Josefina Lopez. He also co-wrote a short film, "And Let God Do the Rest", which finished production in March of that year. Armond was also featured in a web series titled, "Failing Upwards", produced by Matt Crabtree and Michelle Bonilla. He later created a sensual poetry series titled, "The Book of Sultry".
 

In 2014, he would join a writers group, which would connect him to new film director, Armin Siljkovic. Together they would work on three projects from 2015 to 2017, with one of them earning Armond his first best actor nomination for a short film titled, "Hard Money". Today, he continues to work with Armin on short films and features. He plans to focus more on film writing and acting, while still maintaining his love of writing or performing poetry. His sensual poetry series "The Book of Sultry" is developing a growing international fan base on Vimeo.
 

Links:

imdb.com/name/nm2918887/
 
youtube.com/channel/UCIGPdDLkIDYeXujrTCtRvEw

June 2018

06/26/2018

From the best of "Wake Up Hollywood" : MARK  DENNIS AND BEN FOSTER of PAD THAI PICTURES
"Time Trap" is  the second feature for University of Texas graduates Mark Dennis and Ben Foster. Their first film, Strings,  garnered 13 awards at 18 film festivals across the country, including 3 Audience Awards, 2 Best Director Awards, Best Thriller, and a Special Jury Prize from Honolulu Film Festival. It also played to sold out audiences and critical acclaim at the Hollywood  and Austin Film Festival. In 2015, Foster and Dennis re-teamed to shoot Time Trap, which celebrated its World Premiere at the 2017 Seattle International Film Festival, screened to critical acclaim at the Woodstock and Austin Film Festivals, and won the 2017 Jury Prize for Most Innovative Film from the 20th Annual Hollywood Film Festival. Time Trap will next have its Houston premiere at the WorldFest International Film Festival  on Saturday, April 21st 2018, at 7 p.m. at the Cinemark Memorial City in Houston.
TIME TRAP plot: A group of students venture into the deep caves of remote Texas to locate a favorite archaeology professor who inexplicably has gone missing while searching for the Fountain of Youth. In the course of their pursuit, the group unwittingly rappels into a break in the space-time continuum, where time passes much slower than on the surface. With no hope for rescue, they descend further into the cave and uncover the most coveted urban legend in history and find themselves in the crossfire for its control.

facebook.com/timetrapthemovie/
Time Trap Trailer

Time Trap IMDb

06/19/2018

John Alagia was born in Louisville, KY and played in rock bands from an early age. He slowly transitioned into the studio with his buddy, and band mate, Doug Derryberry after graduating from Georgetown University. Doug and John began producing acts out of their basement studio in Northern Virginia and ultimately extended their scope throughout the mid Atlantic.
Notables in the early days were Dave Matthews Band, Ben Folds Five, Vertical Horizon and Edwin McCain just to name a few. After several years playing with Doug Derryberry, John decided to focus on studio production instead of performing live. He converted a house on the eastern shore of Maryland to a recording studio. That era in the early 2000s bred the debut albums for John Mayer, Jason Mraz, Rachael Yamagata, Josh Kelly, and hosted the likes of Lifehouse, Dave Matthews, Mandy Moore, and many others.
In 2005, John left to work on a project with Liz Phair out at the Village studios in LA while maintaining his place in Maryland. Bouncing between LA, MD and NYC, he had the opportunity to work with Paul Simon, Herbie Hancock, Brett Dennen, and Lukas Nelson among others. He considers the Village his home these days.

instagram.com/johnalagia/

06/12/2018

Mike Dorsey is a television producer and documentary filmmaker. He co-produced 2018’s USA Network series Unsolved: The Murders of Tupac and The Notorious B.I.G., starring Josh Duhamel, Jimmi Simpson, and Bokeem Woodbine. He also co-produced and edited the 2018 paranormal documentary Demon House, starring Zak Bagans from Ghost Adventures, which spent 10 weeks as Google Play’s #1 documentary. His latest documentary as a filmmaker is Murder Rap: Inside the Biggie and Tupac Murders, about the Biggie and Tupac murder investigations.

Previously, Mike made the Manson Family documentary The Six Degrees of Helter Skelter, the WWII documentary Lost Airmen of Buchenwald , and The Oyler House: Richard Neutra's Desert Retreat. He recently released his second WWII documentary, titled Happy, which was awarded Best Documentary Short at the 2017 Phoenix Film Festival. Mike is currently a producer and editor at Discovery. He was formerly the Senior Director of Programming for the Outdoor Channel. He has a Marketing degree from Arizona State University.
 
MarauderWorks.com
Murder Rap - Trailer

Murder Rap - Tupac Murder Confession

Unsolved (for USA Network) - Trailer

06/05/2018

Guitarist, singer, songwriter, producer, and educator Ray Bergstrom has a busy and varied career in music. As a guitarist and singer, he performs regularly with gypsy jazz trio the Icy Hot Club, world rock group the Nikhil Korula Band, folk-pop singer-songwriter Katie McGhie, and thrash metal band Clash of the Titans. As a songwriter, he leads his own band, Red Wind Temblor, and received a 2016 Grammy Certificate for his contribution to Ziggy Marley’s Grammy-winning album Ziggy Marley. As a producer, he works with clients from around the world to turn their musical ideas into polished recordings. As an educator, he runs an online guitar academy with legendary studio guitarist Carl Verheyen, does consulting work for Fender Play, and has taught Physics of Music classes at Los Angeles Pierce College and Woodbury University.

May 2018

05/29/2018

Eliza James has been a successful, working professional Violinist and musician in Los Angeles since the age of 18.
She performs regularly with artists such as Burt Bacharach, Paul Anka, Shakira, Nicki Minaj, John Legend, Pink, Daft Punk, Kanye West, P. Diddy, Yoshiki, Taylor Hicks, Cowboy Troy, Marco Antonio Solis, Googoosh, Roberta Flack, Mario Biondi, Gloria Gaynor, Anita Ward, Evelyn Champagne-King, Willie Chambers (The Chambers Brothers), Harry Connick Jr, David Gates/Bread, Bernadette Peters,Randy Travis, Billy Idol, Los Tri-o, Javuni, Rahzel, 3 Doors Down, Andrea Bocelli, Trulio Disgracias, Norwood Fisher (Fishbone), VTA - Vincenzo Thomas Amato, Casey veggies, Candyman 187, Jordy Towers, JMSN, Jimmy Haslip, Oscar Seaton, Alejandro Sanz, Chris Botti, The Harlem Renaissance Jazz Orchestra, Oscar Peterson, Warren Hill, Diana Krall, Renee Olstead, Dave Schulz(Berlin), Cody Carpenter, Ben Dukes, Larry Bagby and The Calling.
 
She has performed on multiple occasions at the Grammys, the American Music Awards, the Academy Awards, the Women in Film Awards, the BET Awards, American Idol, the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Hollywood Christmas Celebration At the Grove, the JC Penney Jam and the Sundance Film Festival.
 
Eliza is the featured solo violinist in Burt Bacharach and Paul Anka’s touring bands and has played the Wrightgaarden Langesund Summer Festival (Norway), the Milano Jazz Festival, the North Sea Jazz Festivals (Rotterdam Holland and Curacao), the Tokyo Jazz Festival, the Montreal Pop Festival, the Umbria Jazz Festival (Perugia Italy) and the Playboy Jazz Festival (Hollywood CA).
 
She has toured the world performing in magnificent concert venues in Italy, Sicily, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Holland, Belgium, Japan, Singapore, Australia, England, Scotland, Canada, Mexico,Brazil, Spain, Curacao and Israel.
Eliza is well-versed in many styles of music including classical, pop, country, hiphop, blues, rock and Persian/middle-eastern. Residing in Hollywood California, she performs on major motion picture soundtracks/scores some of which include March of the Penguins, Talladega Nights, The Conjuring, "The Devil's Carnival (directed by Darren Bousman)", A Lot Like Love, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, and Unaccompanied Minors. Eliza also arranged/recorded all of the strings for Natalie Cole’s hit “Love Brought Me Back” now available in stores.
 
Eliza has worked with many producers & composers including Burt Bacharach, David Foster, Ted Pearlman, Marti Frederiksen, Bruce Robb, Skip Saylor, Joe Barresi, Don Cromwell (Air Supply), Justin Gariano, DJ Lethal, Bob Horn, Curt Piar, Mitch Marine, Marc Jordan, Mark Needham, Richie Stites, Lee Miles, Joe Bishara, Corey Wallace, Jamison Trotter and Nigel Starr.
 
Eliza’s extensive early classical training with teachers such as Brian Lewis, Maurice Sklar and Dorothy DeLay has given her a deep appreciation for music education and she continues to be an active member of the teaching community, encouraging other young artists to pursue their goals and musical aspirations.

http://elizajamesmusic.com

05/22/2018

Anthony Malzone is an LA based multimedia artist, working as a Creative Director in music, fashion and film. Born in the Bay Area, he moved to LA in 1999 to pursue a degree in Studio Arts Multimedia at Loyola Marymount University. In 2007 he moved to London to work in theatrical marketing, and in 2009 began working with the legendary musician, Prince. His work ranges from online interactive design for Hollywood blockbusters, to creative direction and design for musicians and entertainment brands. He is currently developing his own TV series.

05/15/2018

From the best of "Wake Up Hollywood" : For the past 20 years, Founder and CEO of BYGMusic Krish Sharma (Producer, Mixer, Engineer) has worked with world renowned artists such as The Rolling Stones, Brian Wilson, Al Greene, Liz Phair, The Cult, and Perry Farrell. In 2010 Krish won a Grammy for his mixing on Ziggy Marley’s “Family Time”, and has been recognized by the Cleo’s, MTV and others. With a background in business and economics as well as music, Krish has lectured around the world on a variety of music topics. He saw a lack of support system for artists as bands struggle to progress and BYGMusic was born. Krish has recently won a Grammy with the Rolling Stones for Best Traditional Blues Album.
BYGMusic.com

05/08/2018

Maiya Sykes is a classically trained vocalist, producer, vocal arranger and entrepreneur. She studied independently with Nina Simone and Betty Carter. After graduating from Yale University, she went on to further her musical education at The Musicians’ Institute.

Maiya has provided back-up vocals for for The Black Eyed Peas, Macy Gray, Fantasia, Joss Stone, Michael Buble, Leona Lewis and Rita Ora. She was a featured backup singer for Macy Gray in her live show for more than five years. She recently provided backgrounds and was featured in the Oscar award winning film La La Land.

As a recording artist, Maiya released a dance single with DJ Manny Lehman, “Body Rock”, recorded under the pseudonym Oceana, which reached number 1 on the Billboard Dance Charts in 2009. Shortly after her for chair turning debut on season 7 of The Voice, Maiya began working with YouTube sensation Postmodern Juxebox. Her featured videos with Postmodern Juxebox have received over 3 million views and have been mentioned in Time Magazine and the Huffington Post.

 Currently, Maiya has been busy as the lead singer of The Endangered. The band’s second release, produced by legendary producer Steven Miller (Dave Mathews Band, Chaka Kahn), was released in early March 2012 to critical acclaim. The band’s next release is slated for early 2019. She is also working on her own projects. The first is an album of all original music and the second will be a big band tribute to Nancy Wilson and Cannonball Adderley. Both are slated for release in 2018.

Social Media: Instagram: maiyasykes Twitter:@maiyasykes1 Facebook: MaiyaSykesEntertainment

05/01/2018

Flaviyake is a Pop artist, songwriter and music producer known for reinventing herself in music videos.
Her name is a hybrid of her Latin name Flavia (meaning ‘golden, blonde’) and Japanese fashion designer Issey Miyake.
Flaviyake was born during an earthquake in Chișinău, the largest city and capital of Moldova. Flaviyake started her musical career by studying the flute and piano at the Sergey Rachmaninov School of Music in Chișinău at the age of six and she wrote her first song for vocal and piano at the age of ten.
She started performing her original Rap songs in clubs at the age of 16. Later she had over 100 live shows in London and her song “Because I’m a Doll” played on BBC6 Music Radio after making it though their weekly contest.
In 2017, Flaviyake released her debut album "Bad in Bed" that hit #1 on Indie Chart, NewshineFM radio, with the album opening song "So Hard to Say". The album was covered on HaffingtonPost and HypeMachine. The first 7 songs on the album were produced by Flavia.
In 2018, Flaviyake took a new direction in her career and started performing with machines.

April 2018

04/24/2018

Born, bred, and based in Los Angeles, Hotwork is 27 year old singer/songwriter/producer Chase Rossner. His love of hip-hop and the LA beat scene matched with his classical training and years of playing guitar, provides a real genre-bridging musical experience. In June of 2017, he released an official remix for Spencer Ludwig’s infectious song “Diggy” on Warner Brothers Records. He has since released multiple other singles including a cover of Kendrick Lamar’s “LOVE.” He is currently putting the finishing touches on an EP that’s set to come out over summer.

SOCIAL MEDIA:
instagram.com/hotworkmusic
facebook.com/hotworkmusic
soundcloud.com/hotworkmusic
hotworkmusic@gmail.com

04/17/2018

Siegfried Tieber is a Los Angeles-based performer and sleight-of-hand magician. Born and raised in Ecuador, his first international appearance was in 2011 in Bogotá, Colombia. In 2015, Tieber headlined at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the largest arts festival in the world, where his performance was highly praised by critics and media outlets.

His work has been featured in publications such as the Huffington Post, Los Angeles Times and Forbes Magazine. Most recently he was invited to be part of Penn & Teller: Fool Us, a television series featuring the legendary performance duo (yes, he did fool them).

Although Tieber has appeared in venues large and small around the world, his heart is in performing close-up magic for intimate audiences—always with his sleeves rolled up.

Unlike any other performance you’ve seen.” (Los Angeles Times)

"Tieber has a way of charming even the shyest wallflower." (Forbes)

"There’s a sense of infectious joy that comes from watching Siegfried Tieber do magic." (LA Weekly)
 
siegfriedtieber.com
facebook.com/SiegfriedTieberMagic

04/10/2018

Andrew Goldenhersh ranks among today’s elite masters of magic, drawing thunderous acclaim around the globe.
 
His skill and style have mesmerized audiences from Hollywood to the Far East, and all points in between. A perennial honoree at the legendary Magic Castle, Andrew has received accolades from the prestigious Academy of Magical Arts. Having been voted the Academy's "Parlour Magician of the Year" in 2009 & 2010, Andrew is the only magician to have been nominated for both Close-up Magician of the Year and Parlour Magician of the Year for twelve years in a row.
 
Andrew is held in high esteem by his peers in entertainment, including Las Vegas superstar Lance Burton (who calls him a "genius") and the world renowned David Copperfield (who licensed and performs one of Andrew's signature routines). The celebrity list of whom Andrew has entertained includes Johnny Depp, Ringo Starr, P!nk, Sheryl Crow, Rod Stewart, Dustin Hoffman, Nicolas Cage, Jason Alexander, Demi Moore, Teri Hatcher, Tony Shalhoub, Steve Carell, Jane Fonda, Robin Leach, Michael Ovitz, and many more.
 
goldenhands.com

04/03/2018

MARK  DENNIS AND BEN FOSTER of PAD THAI PICTURES
"Time Trap" is  the second feature for University of Texas graduates Mark Dennis and Ben Foster. Their first film, Strings,  garnered 13 awards at 18 film festivals across the country, including 3 Audience Awards, 2 Best Director Awards, Best Thriller, and a Special Jury Prize from Honolulu Film Festival. It also played to sold out audiences and critical acclaim at the Hollywood  and Austin Film Festival. In 2015, Foster and Dennis re-teamed to shoot Time Trap, which celebrated its World Premiere at the 2017 Seattle International Film Festival, screened to critical acclaim at the Woodstock and Austin Film Festivals, and won the 2017 Jury Prize for Most Innovative Film from the 20th Annual Hollywood Film Festival. Time Trap will next have its Houston premiere at the WorldFest International Film Festival  on Saturday, April 21st 2018, at 7 p.m. at the Cinemark Memorial City in Houston.
TIME TRAP plot: A group of students venture into the deep caves of remote Texas to locate a favorite archaeology professor who inexplicably has gone missing while searching for the Fountain of Youth. In the course of their pursuit, the group unwittingly rappels into a break in the space-time continuum, where time passes much slower than on the surface. With no hope for rescue, they descend further into the cave and uncover the most coveted urban legend in history and find themselves in the crossfire for its control.

facebook.com/timetrapthemovie/
Time Trap Trailer

Time Trap IMDb

March 2018

03/27/2018

Shay Godwin is a Los Angeles-based drummer, originally from a small town called Trumansburg, NY. A graduate of Ithaca College School of Music, Shay studied orchestral percussion under Gordon Stout and the late Ted Rounds. Shay also played in jazz ensembles, and was very much under jazz director Steve Brown’s tutelage.
Since his long-ago move to Los Angeles, Shay has done recording sessions for songwriters, television commercials, and movies. Shay has also worked with touring acts, corporate event bands, theater pit bands, house bands at clubs, and has had many students.
From 2007 to 2012, Shay ran a drum track service called eDrumSessions.com. As one of the first online session sites on the web, eDrumSessions was a pioneer. Hundreds of sessions were booked through the site, with clients all around the globe.
Shay is a long-time member of LA band The Dirty Diamond. An independent band, they have had local radio airplay, played at The Greek Theater Los Angeles, and garnered some “elite” fans. An album is set to be released this summer.
instagram.com/shaygodwindrums/

03/20/2018

Classic, soulful melodies slide effortlessly alongside hip-hop rhythms and smooth percussions, as Trevor Wesley brings a refreshing sense of artistry and true talent to the music scene.  

Born and raised in Los Angeles, this Southern California native first began his musical journey at the age of five: sitting at the piano trying to match the sounds of the black and white keys to the pitch of his mother’s vacuum.

The son of one of Hollywood’s top camera operators, Trevor’s early aspirations where that of a young actor, however the natural pull of music proved too strong to fight.

Growing up in a family that listened to the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Eric Clapton, The Beatles and more, TREVOR was already familiar with timeless creativity.   For him, it was a case of blending these legacies into a more modern sound that reflected his true artistic talent and unique personality.  

In 2011, Trevor delivered his first musical statement - the self-produced Only Live Once EP. It was hailed by critics and record executives as sonically pure, filled with impeccable R&B and jazz influences. Skits, beautifully written songs, and even a cameo appearance in his promo video by the original gangster, Al Pacino, made TREVOR WESLEY stand apart from the crowd. In the words of the great Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds “This kid is the truth!”

In the past few years, Trevor has written, produced, and performed with the likes of NE-YO, Stevie Wonder, Joe Jonas, Wale, 98 Degrees, Patti LaBelle, and Dion Warwick. His music has also been featured in The Best Man Holiday and the BET show, Being Mary Jane.

In releasing his 1st full-length album, the LP’s lead single and title track, Chivalry Is Dead, has been streamed over 50 million times online and has provided a great platform to introduce his brand and artistry to the world.

From his gorgeous vocals to the tipped Fedora, TREVOR WESLEY is new-school cool meets old-school classic.  Refreshingly unadulterated, his smooth tones combined with fresh synths and a contagious smile defines the brand that is Trevor Wesley.

YouTube:TrevorWesleyMusic

Twitter/Instagram: @trevorwesley

TrevorWesley.com

 

03/13/2018

Adam Rose writes and teaches in Los Angeles. He has had short stories published in various literary journals such as Gravel Magazine and Four Ties Literary Review. His All Ages graphic novel, Playground: Attack of the Gurgle Bots has been published by Markosia Entertainment. He is currently wrapping up work on a novel and excitedly waiting for finished illustrated pages to another upcoming graphic novel. He has recently started to conduct workshops for students on creating character/story for comics at various schools and libraries.
websites:
markosia.com/books/worlds-of-wonder/playground
thepullbox.com/2018/03/paotg/
twitter: @adamrose74
email: adamsupermallman@gmail.com

03/06/2018

Lang Parker, headed out west from Wisconsin 15 years ago and continues her acting career in film, television and performing in commercials. Lang's impressive comedic timing, instant likability on and off camera and impressive writing skills gained her national attention on the Emmy-nominated NBC show Last Comic Standing. She floored judges when she came out in her overhauls and asked, “Have you ever been mistaken for a lesbian?”
 
Lang regularly tours clubs and cities all over the United States as well as numerous tours overseas to entertain the US armed forces in Afghanistan and bases in Eastern Asia.
 
Lang’s credits include: Beverly Hills 90210,The Ellen Degeneres Show, a pilot for a major US network, 40+ national and international commercials as well as dozens of movie & television roles. Lang has won California’s Funniest Female Contest and is described as Jane Lynch, consistently drawing parallels with the Rosanne star Laurie Metcalf. Lang also contributes to Shea Magazine.
 
Lang also shot a starring role in the new comedy film “Izzy Lion: The Unspun Truth” due to be released in 2018.
 
Lang ran her own comedy show in Los Angeles, "West Of The 405", attracted some of the biggest names in comedy and had been voted Top 8 Must-Attend Shows on the westside in beautiful Santa Monica, California.
 
She continues to perform and create worldwide.

February 2018

02/27/2018

Jack Jung-Kai Yang (simplified Chinese: 杨荣凯 traditional Chinese: 楊榮凱 pinyin: Yáng Róngkǎi) (born 1974) is an American/Canadian actor of Taiwanese ethnicity. He was born in Toronto, Canada and currently resides in Los Angeles, California.
 
The Yellow Truth as Jack (2003), Shadow Chaser (2003), Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Ricky Yao (2004), Skin Trade (short film) as The Designer (2004), The Seat Filler as Page (2004), CSI: Miami as Shawn Kimsey (2005), All of Us as Harry (2005), Grey's Anatomy as Walter (2005-2007), Nip/Tuck as Chiyo (2006), The Evidence as Ha Huang (2006), Scrubs as Patient (2006), ER as Bevan Wong (2007), Seven Pounds as Apogee Engineer (2008), Need for Speed: Undercover as Chau Wu (2008), Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 (video game) as Commander Kenji Tenzai (2008), Samurai Girl as Hiko (2008), The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor as "voice" General Yang (2008), Cashmere Mafia as Jason Chung (2008), Knight Rider as Cross (2008), Chuck as Jason Wang (2009), Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 – Uprising (video game) as Commander Kenji Tenzai (2009), Point Of Entry Season 4 as Glenn Chua (2013), A Leading Man as GQ (2013), American Ultra as Gangster (2015), Star as Elliot (2017).
 
IMDB
Wikipedia

02/20/2018

For the past 20 years, Founder and CEO of BYGMusic Krish Sharma (Producer, Mixer, Engineer) has worked with world renowned artists such as The Rolling Stones, Brian Wilson, Al Greene, Liz Phair, The Cult, and Perry Farrell. In 2010 Krish won a Grammy for his mixing on Ziggy Marley’s “Family Time”, and has been recognized by the Cleo’s, MTV and others. With a background in business and economics as well as music, Krish has lectured around the world on a variety of music topics. He saw a lack of support system for artists as bands struggle to progress and BYGMusic was born. Krish has recently won a Grammy with the Rolling Stones for Best Traditional Blues Album.
BYGMusic.com

02/13/2018

Kristina Johnsen declared her love for music at a young age. Raised in a family of musicians, she began singing as soon as she could talk. Her insatiable curiosity in music led her to play the violin as soon as she could hold one without dropping it. Over the years, she has continued performing in choirs, musicals, bands, and as a soloist. Kristina’s early experience in orchestras helped her bridge the nuances between influences as vast as Tchaikovsky and We Are Scientists.
Graduating with a BFA from the prestigious School of the Art Institute of Chicago, visual elements form the core of her approach to musical aesthetics. She draws sonic and conceptual inspiration from the mystery of mountains and snowboard culture. Lyrically, her songs serve as windows into her world. The world can be a dark place, and music can be the bright light that helps everything from the difficult to the mundane make more sense. No matter where she goes, she aims to bring the joy of music along with her, already performing across three continents. Recently, her passion for music led her to pack up her guitars and make the move from her hometown of Lansing, Michigan, to the wild west in Los Angeles, California.

02/06/2018

Bryan Erwin is a Los Angeles based comedian/writer/producer/director with eighteen years of experience in film, television and commercials. Bryan's projects in film include the feature comedy FIXED (writer/producer) and the drama Deuces (producer). In television, Bryan co-wrote and produced the comedy pilots Sales Guys and The Fives for Louie Anderson and Barry Katz, created and starred in DADS on Disney Jr. and wrote for the hit Disney show Code 9. On the web, Bryan created the critically acclaimed "Sordahon's Journey" campaign for the video game Two Worlds Two and the Youtube sensation Policeman vs Fireman.

A former radio DJ and band manager from Wisconsin, Bryan moved to Los Angeles to be a stand up comedian and creator. He got married, had kids, a vasectomy and is a two term PTA President. He still does stand up and was known in a very small industry circle as the guy who ran the most popular filming location in Hollywood, The Herald Examiner Building. Bryan has worked on over 800 productions and is considered to be the most "Unknown Known" person in Los Angeles. Bryan can also be heard bi-weekly with comedian Jon Huck on the podcast Hollywood Anonymous, a show celebrating the less celebrated in Hollywood.

January 2018

01/30/2018

Alex Platt began playing the drums at the age of 10, began gigging professionally at the age of 13, and along with his prodigious younger brother Adam Platt (piano), started his career early in life opening jazz festival shows for international jazz stars like Ahmad Jamal, Diana Krall, Giacomo Gates, Lew Soloff, Mose Allison, Danny Gottlieb,, and many others. He went on to study with drum legends Joe LaBarbara, Mike Clark, Tootie Heath, Rick Latham, Dave Elitch, Jeff Hamilton, and received his performance degree in Jazz and African-American Music from the California Institute of the Arts in 2001. He has performed and/or recorded with jazz artists such Jack Walrath, Oranyon Coltrane and other members of the Coltrane Family, as well as country artist Stephanie Quayle, soul/funk impresario Big Joe Hurt, Persian legends Bahram Bajelan and Mehrdad Arabi, Jake Faulkner and Zac Sokolow of The Americans, and many others.
alexplattmusic.com

01/23/2018

John Torres is an American songwriter and recording artist from Los Angeles, California. His music has been featured in MTV's "The Real World: From D.C., with Love," "Alias," "Felicity" and many other popular television shows and movies.
He has performed with well known artists such as Shawn Colvin and Sara Bareilles, and has received numerous honors including a John Lennon Songwriting Award, and a nomination by the American Independent Music Awards.
John’s music draws influence from a wide variety of different genres including Folk, Pop and even Opera. His music catalogue includes four official studio albums including numerous singles and music videos.

01/16/2018

“Abby & the Myth are the kind of band that music fans always hope to stumble upon at a bar, but seldom ever do. With a presence big enough to fill an arena, it is hopefully just a matter of time before they get there”
-Music Connection

Born in the mountains of Evergreen, Colorado, Abby Posner began studying music and performance at age six. A gifted pint sized pianist, she quickly picked up guitar, drums, bass, banjo, and mandolin, and continues to master new instruments throughout her career. Posner moved to Los Angeles in 2002 to advance her musical training at California Institute of the Arts, where she concentrated on both world percussion and composition for songwriting.
Fans compare Abby and The Myth to Mumford and Sons, The Lumineers, and Of Monsters and Men. Their catchy harmonies, feel-agood rhythms and sing-along choruses make for a lively, kinetic show that invariably has audiences up on their feet and dancing. Cara Batema, on accordion, adds tasty melodic ornamentation and winsome drones to thicken the chorus breakdowns, Donovan Bullen plays energetic upright bass lines with heart-tugging harmonies, and David Celia’s nuanced and virtuosic drumming adds a range of styles and flavors to the mix. As an ensemble, Abby and The Myth is going to take the nation by storm.
abbyposner.com
Abby Posner brings a lively contribution to the folk/americana genre with her insightful lyrics and catchy melodies. There is a brilliant contemporary freshness to her work. -Chris Wilson KPFK Radio, Los Angeles

01/09/2018

Singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Chris Pierce has released seven independent albums worldwide. In addition to headlining tours, he has either performed on stage with or opened worldwide tours for Seal, B.B. King, Al Green, Cold War Kids, Toots and the Maytals, Aaron Neville, Colbie Caillat, Beth Hart, Raul Midon, Sonia Dada, Dr. John, Jamie Cullum and many others. His voice & music have been heard in films and T.V shows including This is Us, Rosewood, Soul Men, Crash, True Blood, Brothers & Sisters, Single Ladies, Eli Stone, In Plain Sight, Dawson's Creek, Army Wives, Crash and a Banana Republic ad campaign.

In 2017, Chris co/wrote the hit song “We Can Always Come Back to This” which was prominently featured on the #1 US Primetime TV show This Is Us and the song charted at #1 on the Billboard Blues Chart as well as top 20 on both the Billboard Rock and R&B charts. Chris has also been recently very well received by the TED community with a TED talk on "The Healing Powers of Music”. Chris Pierce continues to build his repertoire and versatility as a writer and performer in his involvement with several music projects including both Reverend Tall Tree and also War & Pierce. Chris is also a performing featured guest with several orchestras around the U.S and abroad and he has recently received the high honor of working on a recording project in Muscle Shoals, AL with The Swampers, Muscle Shoals Horns & Shoals Sisters as the lead vocalist on a new highly anticipated album “You’ve Got To Feel It!” released in the fall of 2017.
chrispierce.com

01/02/2018

Marina V is an award-winning Russian-American recording pop artist, singer and songwriter with a "hauntingly beautiful" voice (LA TIMES) and "melodic and passionate" music (The Washington Post). A self-described "musical lovechild of The Beatles, Tori Amos and Tchaikovsky", Marina grew up in Moscow and has been singing and writing songs since a very young age.
Based in Los Angeles, Marina is always creating: whether recording for her 2 SONGS A MONTH CLUB, writing or painting. 
Please visit MarinaV.com for latest news

December 2017

12/26/2017

Ethan Carlson is a Los Angeles based music producer/engineer. After graduating from the University of Miami's Music Engineering program, he worked with Barry Gibb for the next four years on Miami Beach. In 2009, after relocating to Los Angeles, Ethan branched out beyond just studio work, and began touring as a live sound engineer and also began doing more commercial writing. He's traveled around the world with acts including, Tears for Fears, Devo, Taio Cruz, R5, and Julia Michaels. In Los Angeles, he has worked out of numerous recording studios, including his home studio, where he does most of his mixing and writing. His commercial placements includes music for Carhartt, Toyota, Vogue and most recently Walgreens.

12/19/2017

From the best of "Wake Up Follywood": WAYNE JOBSON “Native Wayne” was born and growe up in Jamaica, studied law at Kings College in London and received a Master of Laws in Entertainment Law.

As both writer and producer of his first movie “STEPPING RAZOR-RED X”, which follows the life story of Reggae legend, Peter Tosh, Wayne was awarded with a nomination for a Canadian Academy Award,  a ‘Genie'.

He produced two “Behind the Music” episodes for Viacom’s VH1.  “Behind the Music” is one of the most successful music television shows in history.  Jobson produced both an episode on Peter Tosh and also on the life of Bob Marley which made history by being the first show to air for 90 minutes versus the standard one hour.

Wayne helped put together the music for the most successful Jamaican film of all time, Disney’s “COOL RUNNINGS” which was made for $14 million and grossed over $200 million,  with its soundtrack going gold.

Wayne helped Adam Sandler put together the reggae soundtrack for his '50 First Dates' movie which went gold and was #1 on Billboard soundtrack charts.

As a Producer of  NO DOUBT's multiplatinum album 'ROCK STEADY', Wayne’s singles 'HEY BABY' and 'UNDERNEATH IT ALL' both went to #1 in America and won him two Grammys, Wayne had the opportunity to work with a band who has sold 25 million albums worldwide.
 

12/12/2017

Raised in San Jose, California, Conroe Brooks’ dreams always involved the arts. At the age of 18, he sang in the R&B group Special Generation (the brainchild of MC Hammer). And at the age of 21, he relocated to Los Angeles where his first audition landed him the role of Sam Cooke in “Little Richard,” whose director Robert Townsend said to him: “I hired you because you had the spark in your eye.” From there, Conroe went on working with the legendary director Garry Marshall in developing “Happy Days” the musical and ultimately landing roles in numerous TV shows such as 24, Son's of Anarchy, Ray Donovan and Jane the Virgin. Conroe is about to head out on a year long tour which is a secret at the moment.

12/05/2017

Brian L. Patton (a.k.a. The Sexy Vegan) came to internet semi-fame in the early days of YouTube with his funny, irreverent, off-beat vegan cooking videos. He has since penned cookbooks, contributed to and been featured on major media outlets such as nytimes.com and huffingtonpost.com, and is a regular recipe columnist for VegNews Magazine. Patton is also an executive chef, popular social media personality, and founder of 99 Publishing, makers of expertly crafted, single-recipe cookbooks.
Website: thesexyvegan.com
Instagram: instagram.com/thesexyvegan
Facebook: facebook.com/thesexyvegan
Twitter: twitter.com/thesexyvegan

November 2017

11/28/2017

We The Dreamers is an intelligent pop music songwriting and production duo. Comprised of vocalist/writer/producer Cassius (Myke Wilken) and guitarist/writer/producer Ethan Rose, We The Dreamers has been busy creating and collaborating with other artists around its home base in Los Angeles, California. The pair is now preparing to take a new EP called We All Need Time to the international music festival circuit and beyond. The sound is hyper-melodic dream pop done perfectly.
Cassius and Rose first connected in a Facebook group for LA musicians and met for the first time over hot apple cider not long after. Wilken is from Chico, CA and is also an actor seen in many commercials, including a Skechers spot featuring Ringo Starr. Rose is originally from Albany, NY and landed in California after a stint in Chicago and has played music since he first touched a keyboard at age five. The pair quickly noticed the chemistry and ideals they shared and got down to work.
The result of that work is the new seven-song EP We All Need Time . The record is full of gentle pop genius and positive vibrations that are seductive and atmospheric. Tracks like “Parasol,” “Wiser,” and “Time” display a mature pop sensibility and a high degree of songcraft, which is already making listeners eager for the next record. We The Dreamers share music and a desire for positive change and send the blend out into the world and are already receiving back the best possible echoes. Lovers of lush and melodic pop music will want to pick up on this pair early on.

11/21/2017

WAYNE JOBSON “Native Wayne” was born and growe up in Jamaica, studied law at Kings College in London and received a Master of Laws in Entertainment Law.

As both writer and producer of his first movie “STEPPING RAZOR-RED X”, which follows the life story of Reggae legend, Peter Tosh, Wayne was awarded with a nomination for a Canadian Academy Award,  a ‘Genie'.

He produced two “Behind the Music” episodes for Viacom’s VH1.  “Behind the Music” is one of the most successful music television shows in history.  Jobson produced both an episode on Peter Tosh and also on the life of Bob Marley which made history by being the first show to air for 90 minutes versus the standard one hour.

Wayne helped put together the music for the most successful Jamaican film of all time, Disney’s “COOL RUNNINGS” which was made for $14 million and grossed over $200 million,  with its soundtrack going gold.

Wayne helped Adam Sandler put together the reggae soundtrack for his '50 First Dates' movie which went gold and was #1 on Billboard soundtrack charts.

As a Producer of  NO DOUBT's multiplatinum album 'ROCK STEADY', Wayne’s singles 'HEY BABY' and 'UNDERNEATH IT ALL' both went to #1 in America and won him two Grammys, Wayne had the opportunity to work with a band who has sold 25 million albums worldwide.
 

11/14/2017

THESE VIOLENT DELIGHTS: A Novel by Victoria Namkung
Victoria Namkung’s journalism and essays have appeared in The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, NBC News, and VICE, among other publications. She is the author of the romantic thriller, The Things We Tell Ourselves, and a contributor to the anthology, Asian American Youth: Culture, Identity, and Ethnicity. Victoria has taught courses at UCLA, UCSB, and 826LA, and resides in Los Angeles.
These Violent Delights is a literary examination of illicit student and teacher relationships and their lasting effects on even the most compliant victims.

At Windemere School for Girls, one of America’s elite private schools, Dr. Gregory Copeland is the beloved chair of the English Department. A married father with a penchant for romantic poetry—and impressionable teenage girls—he operates in plain sight for years, until one of his former students goes public with allegations of inappropriate conduct. With the help of an investigative journalist, and two additional Windemere alumnae who had relationships with Copeland as students, the unlikely quartet unites to take him down.

Set in modern-day Los Angeles, These Violent Delights is a literary exploration of the unyielding pressures and vulnerabilities that so many women and girls experience, and analyzes the ways in which our institutions and families fail to protect or defend us. A suspenseful and nuanced story told from multiple points of view, the novel examines themes of sexuality, trauma, revenge, and the American myth of liberty and justice for all.
These Violent Delights is smart, suspenseful, unsettling, and only too relevant. I promise you won’t be able to put it down. Just don’t forget to breathe.” —Kim Askew, co-author of the Twisted Lit novels from Simon & Schuster

11/07/2017

SuVi is an Indian Singer Songwriter and DJ based out of Los Angeles. She has over 13 years of experience spanning over 1000 concerts. Due to her extremely diverse approach towards music she has had the opportunity to perform in front of crowds in India, Sri Lanka, UAE, UK, Singapore, Malaysia, Dominican Republic, USA and Canada. SuVi, born and raised in India, moved to California in 2011 to pursue a career in music bringing with it a blend of Hip Hop and Bollywood.

Even though she loves nothing more than writing music and lyrics she has rendered her voice for over a 100 Indian movie songs as a Playback Singer including, for the musical genius A.R. Rahman (Slumdog Millionaire). She wrote and recorded her original mixtape Delirium in 2014 which was a blend of South Asian beats with Hip Hop and Urban songwriting with producers from Los Angeles. She has a working relationship with Swagga Bob who has worked along side other South Asian artists including Jay Sean (Thinking About You). Her unique writing and vocal abilities also caught the attention of renowned Songwriter Greg Prestopino (Christina Aguilera, Matisyahu, Puff Daddy, Celine Dion), who invited her to join his writing crew. Being able to sing western and Indian style music along with her unique rapping abilities help put her on a different dimension of artistry. She recently opened for yet another talented Indian Artist Rajakumari who is also on the come up. Earlier this year she also opened for the well known Indian DJ Nuclei for his first ever Los Angeles concert. SuVi is an artist who can elevate music to a whole different level of fun and frolic due to her stage presence and dynamic personality. Her dream is to be someone that paves the way for more South Asian talents to shine on the international stage like MIA and Jay Sean by being uniquely multifaceted. After the hype her mixtape on Soundcloud created, she is back in the studio with Swagga Bob working on new songs.

Social Media Handle : @SuViMusic

October 2017

10/31/2017

From the best of "Wake Up Hollywood" : Fuzzbee Morse is a multi-instrumentalist, producer, composer & singer who's played with a mind-bending collection of musical trailblazers, inc: Lou Reed, Frank Zappa, Jaco Pastorius, Peter Gabriel, Bono, Aaron Neville, the Chambers Brothers, Ric Ocasek, Karla Bonoff, Richie Havens, Julian Lennon, Rufus Wainwright, Jean-Luc Ponty, Stevie Wonder, Dave Grohl, Daniel Lanois, Donovan, Nick Mason, Paul Allen, Axl Rose, Freebo & Derek Trucks, to name a few gifted characters.
He recently released his first album, Dreams and Other Living Things, featuring Tony Levin, Jerry Marotta & David Sancious. Of this debut release, American Songwriter senior editor Paul Zollo said, "It’s a lesson in remarkable songwriting," "An absolute masterpiece, and one which I hope others will invite into their lives" and "An album for the ages."
Lonesome Highway from Ireland said in their review, "The ten tracks are self-produced and jump out of the speakers with lots of quality and rich arrangements. This is one for the real connoisseurs and all songs are written by Fuzzbee with the exception of Voodoo Child (Slight Return) which only Fuzzbee could have the nerve to tackle and turn into his own impressive show stopper. Smooth and full of soul, serious chops and superb musicianship."
He has written the score and songs for numerous films, TV shows and commercials, both dramatic & comedic, and plays lots of instruments, including guitar, keyboards, flute, bass, soprano sax, mandolin, vibes and many others.
Wearing a slightly different hat, Fuzzbee has performed live comedy & musical improv for many years with The Flying Fannoli Brothers, Off The Wall, Top Tune, Rick Overton, Dan Aykroyd and lots of other funny people, making up lyrics and music in the spur of the moment on audience suggestions.
Fuzzbee is now writing and arranging the songs for his next album and hopes life on earth will last long enough to have the release party. He plays regularly around Los Angeles.
For more info: fuzzbee.com

10/24/2017

A direct descendant of Henry E. Steinway, the founder of Steinway & Sons, Kate Steinway’s earliest musical memories are of her grandfather playing his original compositions on their family's 1946 Steinway piano. Formerly the youngest member of the Los Angeles Children’s Choir and a student of famed opera singer, Suzanna Guzmán, Steinway has been studying voice since she could speak.
In 2015, Steinway, a lifetime learner and lover of music, became involved with The Songwriting School of Los Angeles. It is there that she met her future singing and touring partners, Chloë Agnew (of Celtic Woman fame), Mary Bee and Danielle Carter. In May 2015, Steinway packed up her ukulele and embarked on an eight month backpacking tour of South America and Southeast Asia where she experienced world music firsthand.
In the Summer of 2016, along with Bee and Carter, Steinway co-headlined the “Blueprints” Tour: a seventeen show tour of New England. Steinway and Bee closed the tour with a sold out concert featuring Chloë Agnew.
In 2017, Steinway, along with Bee, kicked off the year with two performances at the famed Sundance Film Festival. She then embarked on a 50+ show tour of California’s wine country. In August she released her first single, “Hurricane,” and will release her debut EP in October. Steinway will spend September touring Hawaii with Bee & Carter and she is cooking up something truly special for the holiday season.
In 2018, Steinway will return to the Sundance Film Festival and expand her True North Tour.
katesteinway.com/tour
facebook.com/katesteinway
instagram.com/katesteinwaymusic
Purchase "True North"

10/17/2017

Los Angeles based singer/songwriter Matt Westerman writes upbeat acoustic pop songs with a positive, compassionate message meant to uplift and inspire listeners everywhere. His debut record, “Life Out Loud” (due out this fall), is a musical manifestation of the phrase “carpe diem,” that shines with all the inherent bravery needed to live life to the fullest. The EP showcases Matt’s ability to write powerful melodies, catchy hooks, and thoughtful lyrics. This, combined with his distinctively smooth vocal delivery and stand out rhythm guitar playing, makes “Life Out Loud” the perfect introduction to the world of Matt Westerman.

The EP is inspired by Matt’s unique background in music, education, and psychology. He’s spent the last few years working as a self-employed tutor which informed and impacted his songwriting. In addition, Matt’s degree in psychology has had an impact on his songwriting and lyrical subject matter with a focus on encouraging a clear and positive state of mind. Matt also applies this courageous message to himself, which has given him the strength to overcome his own challenges and set his sights on a career in music. In the last few years Westerman has been carving out his dreams on stage, with gigs all over the Southern California area – from clubs, to bars, to busking on the Santa Monica pier.

 

With “Life Out Loud” slated for a Fall release, Matt Westerman is taking the chance of a lifetime, a chance that he hopes will inspire others to take a leap, reach for a dream, and actualize their own potential.

10/10/2017

Every once in a blue moon an album comes along that feels as if it fell from the sky that opened and dropped it on a thirsty blue planet as an offering of love and hope. Singer – Songwriter Phillip Brandon The Story Begins is that gift.
Springing forth following eight years of tours as “Narrator” with platinum selling rock band Trans Siberian Orchestra to a feature role in the life story of Gospel legend BeBe Winans, Born For This:The Musical,” singer-songwriter Phillip Brandon is making good on the promise of his purposed and abundant gifts to share songs of love and optimism all his own via his powerful debut album, The Story Begins - a warm wraparound throwback of soul-stirring Contemporary Jazz, R&B and Pop (release date - October 20th).
The ten songs produced by prolific songwriter Preston Glass (Natalie Cole, Aretha Franklin, George Benson, Kenny G) as well as DrFord dynamically range from originals such as Phillip’s epic wedding song “ The Promise” (inspired by many of his friends getting married coupled with his parents’ marriage of 37 years), the uplifting “Chocolate Child” (channeling Sammy Davis, Jr. and Gregory Porter) and the luscious piano ballad “A Funny Thing Happened (On the Way to Goodbye)” to the tender Tropicana of the Stevie Wonder-esque “Looking For You (In Somebody Else’s Eyes)” and an emotional cover of the late, great Luther Vandross’ “Wait For Love.” The album also includes the beautiful jazz piece “Stay in the Moment” that features Phillip’s mother Brenda Davis, a one-time backing singer for the immortal Ray Charles as a ‘Raelette.’
Preston praises tenor/baritone Phillip thusly: “What sets him apart from others who possess similar richness (Will Downing) is his theatrical experience which he draws from liberally in his interpretation of a lyric.”
Los Angeles native and Venice High School / Morehouse College graduate Phillip states, “I create songs from the heart and a spiritual space of hope.
Reflecting that all-inclusive melting pot, Phillip will tour in support of The Story Begins with his international band of drummer Victor Á. Carracedo from Spain, guitarist Eugene Gorskiy from Ukraine, keyboardist Stan Loken from America, and bassist Carlitos Cuba from Cuba. Prepare for scintillating experiences all when you surrender to the spells of Phillip Brandon> on record and in concert!

10/03/2017

MICHELLE LEWIS
SINGER/SONGWRITER/ADVOCATE
Michelle Lewis is a fierce New Yorker now based in LA, where she is a singer, songwriter, composer, and music creators’ rights advocate. From her early career as a recording artist signed to Irving Azoff’s Giant Records, to her first radio hit, Cher’s “A Different Kind of Love Song” in 2002, to the 2014 worldwide #1 single “Wings” by the British girl group, Little Mix, Ms. Lewis brings authenticity, grit, and heart to a diverse array of music projects.
For the last decade, Ms. Lewis has branched out into the world of songwriting for TV and film projects, most notably as a Peabody Award-winning composer of all original music for Disney Jr’s hit show, “Doc McStuffins,“ now beginning production of its 5th season.  She also received her first Emmy nomination in 2016 for her work as a composer on the Nickelodeon show, “Bubble Guppies,” and has composed the theme songs to many other beloved animated series.
In 2014, Ms. Lewis co-founded the non-profit advocacy organization, Songwriters Of North America (SONA). As Executive Director of SONA, she is deeply connected to the music creator community and is committed to growing the number of informed songwriters and composers able to advocate on their own behalves.  She regularly communicates with leaders from Silicon Valley to Washington DC, fighting for the protection of songwriters and the value of musical works in the digital age.  She is not afraid of taking action - SONA is the songwriter organization that sued the Department of Justice over its 100% licensing ruling last fall: billboard.com/articles/business/7510259/songwriters-group-sona-dept-justice-op-ed-consent-decrees.
Ms. Lewis lives in Los Angeles with her husband, music producer Dan Petty and their 9 year-old son, Jackson.
 
 

September 2017

09/26/2017

400 YEARS AFTER THE EXTINCTION OF THE HUMAN RACE, a small group of humans are revived by an alien civilization. The aliens claim they want to restore the human species, but the “reborn” humans uncover new dangers, hidden agendas and powerful secrets that challenge that claim and threaten to annihilate the human race all over again.
Welcome to Extinct, a new, original, sci-fi series written exclusively for BYUtv by Ender’s Game author and science-fiction legend Orson Scott Card and The New York Times bestselling author Aaron Johnston. Premiering on BYUtv on October 1, 2017, the series is about second chances, everlasting love, family, and commitment to doing the right thing even under difficult and life-threatening conditions.
In Extinct, a colony of revived humans, the Reborns, attempt to understand and trust a group of mysterious, peaceful and highly advanced aliens known as the Originators who brought them back to life following the extinction of humankind by evil aliens called The Kariks. The Reborns are guided by Drones who are the face and voice of The Originators and help to guide and protect the Reborns throughout their fight against both the Kariks and the parasitic Skin Riders who take control of a “host” or person’s cognitive abilities, to restore the human race and end the alien threat that drove mankind to extinction.
This 10-episode, action-packed series stars Chad Michael Collins (Sniper: Reloaded, Legacy and Ghost Shooter), Victoria Atkins (Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate), Yorke Fryer (How to Get Away with Murder), Matthew Bellows (Grimm, Fuller House), Jack DePew (Mad Men, The Fosters), Jaclyn Hales (Unicorn City), and Jake Stormoen (Mythica: The Godslayer, The Iron Crown, The Necromancer, The Dark Spore and A Quest for Heroes).
Extinct is a co-production between Taleswapper, Go Films, and BYUtv. The series is directed by Ryan Little (Saints and Soldiers, Outlaw Trail) and produced by Adam Abel (Forever Strong, Freetown).

extinct.tv

09/19/2017

Rachel Oto's Saloon Rock style defiantly toes the line between sweet sensuality and determined ferocity. Her raw, edgy vocals, no-nonsense, balls-to-the-wall, acoustic rock style, and sophisticated, visual storytelling make her the type of Americana artist rock music has only dreamed of.

racheloto.bandcamp.com

09/12/2017

Paul Zollo is an author, journalist, songwriter and photographer. Presently he is the Senior Editor of American Songwriter magazine, and Chief Editor and Photographer for Bluerailroad.

A native of Chicago, he’s the author of several books, including  Songwriters On Songwriting, Expanded Edition (which has been called “the songwriter’s bible” and features in-depth interviews with more than sixty of the world’s greatest songwriters, including Frank Zappa, Pete Seeger, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Neil Young, Townes Van Zandt, Laura Nyro, Randy Newman), its sequel, More Songwriters On Songwriting, as well as Conversations with Tom Petty (featuring a full year of discussions between Petty & Zollo), The Schirmer Rhyming Dictionary, Hollywood Remembered (an oral and narrative history of Hollywood), The Beginning Songwriter’s Answer Book (a manual on the art and craft of songwriting), and Sunset & Cahuenga, a novel. He’s currently working on books with Matisyahu, and the legendary photographer Henry Diltz.

The recipient of the NAS John Bettis Fellowship Award for service in the songwriting community, Zollo is former editor of SongTalk magazine, and Managing Editor of Performing Songwriter. He has written for numerous publications, including Variety, Billboard, Oxford American, Sing Out!, Grammy Magazine, Playback, Boulevard, Acoustic Guitar and others.

The lead singer-songwriter for the LA band The Ghosters for many years, he released one self-titled album with the band, and two solo albums: Orange Avenue (2000), (which features his famous duet with Art Garfunkel on the song “Being In This World”) and Universal Cure (2014), which has a duet with Terre Roche of the Roches called “Maggie.”

As a songwriter he’s collaborated with many great writers, including the late Steve Allen, as well as Dan Bern, Severin Browne, Bob Malone, James Coberly Smith and others. With Darryl Purpose, he’s written many songs, including all included on Darryl’s most recent album, Still The Birds.

As a photographer, Zollo has photographed many musicians and performers,  such as Aimee Mann, Peter Case and Leiber & Stoller, and his photos have been displayed in galleries in L.A. and published in American Songwriter and elsewhere. He is presently at work completing his first book of photos, Angeleno.

He produced and hosted events for the Aspen Writer’s Foundation’s Lyrically Speaking Program, and hosts many songwriter tributes such as the annual Bobfest in L.A. a tribute to Bob Dylan. He produced NAS’ Salute To Songwriters for many years, has contributed to NARAS’ Living Histories video project, and for the past 16 years has written about the Best Song nominees for the annual Grammy program book.
He also hosts the live web-series “Songwriters On Songwriting Live,” which is filmed and webcast every month from The Songwriting School of Los Angeles, where his guests have included Neil Sedaka, Stephen Bishop, Mike Love, Rumer, Dave Stewart and more.

09/05/2017

There was a moment in 2016 when singer/songwriter Chuck Murphy realized people were listening. After spending three weeks in the hospital with a stomach ailment, Murphy returned home to find he had three million SoundCloud listens to his song “Falling Star.” 

When Murphy’s album, Peace Be With You, hit No.3 on Billboard’s Folk Americana chart in the Fall of 2016, it was proof the artist was coming into his own. 

From his earliest days in Minnesota as a 10-year-old with the electric guitar and amp his father received in barter, Murphy found that music was his way to express himself.  “The neighbor kids and I would go from house to house carrying our stuff,” Murphy recalls. “I think that was my first tour.” 

As the youngest of four children, music helped him navigate his turbulent home life where his father ruled with an iron hand. As the youngest, he was often the brunt of his father’s aggression and songwriting became therapeutic, giving Murphy a means of expression. 

 

 

 

Murphy formed Big Coyote in 2010 to perform and record his vision. At the same time, he began One West Media to support the band through visual media and One West Records for his projects. 

The artist doesn’t just talk the talk; he walks the walk! He believes in giving back. He has formed a nonprofit, Music and Kids, to organize his efforts to help young people learn about the music industry, develop their talents, and pursue careers in music. Through Music and Kids, Murphy and other artists and industry professionals will visit schools to educate students about the music industry and how to develop as an artist. Music and Kids will also identify gifted young people and assist their efforts with scholarships to various artist development programs designed to develop their talents and help them pursue a career in music. In the first year of giving back, Murphy and Music and Kids have sponsored kids, other nonprofits for kids, and nonprofit events with over $150,000 in support. 

 

Murphy’s objective is to use his platform to help change his environment, his community, and whatever portion of the world he can reach to make a difference. 

For years, Murphy has performed at the Almond Blossom Festival in Quartz Hill, CA. This year after dinner break, Murphy returned thinking he was going to participate in giving out an award. Instead, he was awarded Person of the Year from the Chamber of Commerce. 

“Every day I wake up and ask for the strength to be the best I can be -- the strength, the wisdom and courage to deal with today the best I can.

 

chuckmurphy.net

soundcloud.com/chuck-murphy-3/free-to-be-free

 

August 2017

08/29/2017

ADAM C. STONE
President of Entertainment / Phenomenon 
A fourteen year veteran of the entertainment industry, Adam Stone joined Phenomenon in November of 2015 as the President of Entertainment. Phenomenon has a First Look Overhead Deal at Warner Brothers for both Film and Television. The film and television production company was designed to capitalize on Phenomenon’s research, analytics and cultural insights generated by the parent company, an innovations agency. 
Prior to joining Phenomenon, Stone spent several years as President of Production for Vertigo Entertainment, a premier film and television production company also with a First Look Overhead Deal at Warner Brothers. 
During Stone’s time with Vertigo they were one of the most active production companies in Los Angeles– releasing five pictures (OLD BOY, RUN ALL NIGHT, THE LEGO MOVIE, POLTERGEIST, and THE VOICES) and taking “Bates Motel” through the first three seasons. During this period Vertigo also put the next two franchise installments of International, animated event film, THE LEGO MOVIE into production, made THE BOY with Lakeshore and STX, SLEEPLESS NIGHT starring Jamie Foxx and Michelle Monaghan, which Stone produced, BLAIR WITCH expansion THE WOODS directed by Adam Wingard, THE RING 3 for Paramount. and secured a greenlight for subversive YA mega property, DEATH NOTE, for Netflix. 
In addition to the aforementioned productions, Vertigo sold twenty three feature film projects and five television shows during Stone’s tenure. 
Stone is currently in production on the animated film NIMONA at Fox Animation, directed by the Oscar winning filmmaker, Patrick Osbourne and written by the Oscar nominated writer Marc Haimes. NIMONA is based on Noelle Stevenson’s National Book Award Candidate, NYT Bestselling, critically acclaimed graphic novel of the same title.

08/22/2017

L.A. Music Powerhouse, Fernando Perdomo, releases “The Golden Hour”,
the perfect culmination of an amazing musical journey, evoking the past and inspiring the future.
FOR RELEASE July 18, 2017
LOS ANGELES, CA - One of the most accomplished musicians on the LA scene, Fernando Perdomo has created an album that echoes the sound and feel of classic 70s singer-songwriter records. Recorded at Ardent Studios with Big Star archivist and engineer Adam Hill, “The Golden Hour” has captured the atmosphere, energy and melancholy mood of the classic Big Star albums recorded within those walls. The sound of "The Golden Hour" features the instruments and gear heard on classic albums by the iconic power pop group. The main electric guitar employed on the album is a vintage Gibson ES-330 that was owned by late Big Star founding member, Chris Bell. Perdomo also was afforded access to the original Mellotron used by Big Star, which is heard on every song on the record.
From the opening piano-instrumental, "Sunset" to the inspirational closer, "Gold," vast emotional ground is covered on “The Golden Hour.” Many of the songs on the record clock in at less than 3 minutes long, wielding a measured sonic economy in a world full of overcooked pop. 
Only 36, Perdomo is a veteran sideman having backed up a who’s who of musical talent numbering Todd Rundgren, Jakob Dylan, Fiona Apple, Beck, Emitt Rhodes, Linda Perhacs, Cristian Castro, and more. Tallying years of experience has honed his consummate ability and robust creativity on a variety of instruments. In fact, Perdomo is a virtual one-man band on “The Golden Hour” providing all the vocals and instrumentation. Lyrically, Perdomo’s exquisitely crafted songs are infused with a finely nuanced mix of honesty and vulnerability. On "I Feel (Therefore I Am)", Perdomo sings "I've made mistakes; it can be great" which is quite the admission from a musician who sounds like a true perfectionist. On "Love Loss Repeat," he intones, "Nothing lasts forever…especially love”. 
Perdomo wrote every song on the record independently, save for "Look At The Moon," which is a co-write between Perdomo and Jordan Zevon, son of Warren Zevon, who was inspired to write the instrumental for a bridge while watching Perdomo play his original version of the song on Facebook Live. While in Memphis, Perdomo wrote the lyrics for the bridge resulting in the final version of “Look At The Moon”, an honest love song about venturing out with the one you love on a moonlit night.
Laying down the foundation of the record at Ardent Studios, Perdomo put the finishing touches on the record at his own Reseda Ranch Studios. The album was mixed and mastered by Grammy-award-winning engineer, Zach Ziskin.
“The Golden Hour” features a gorgeous album cover image by Derek Cintron. Shot before the first note of the album was recorded, the evocative cover inspired the tone for the music that followed, and the visuals truly have captured the feel of the record.
The Golden Hour is here…Perfect Light, Perfect Love…Enjoy!

08/15/2017

Jessica Byrd is a singer/songwriter born and raised in Long Beach, California. With influences like Sara Bareilles, The Civil Wars, Phil Wickham, and Colbie Caillat, her original music has developed into a pop sound with occasional country undertones. She released her debut EP "California Kid” in 2013, and the January 2014 issue of Music Connection Magazine said, "Byrd's buoyant original tunes, like 'California Kid' are the audio equivalent of sunshine, and she has the kind of appealing vocal tonality (including sweet harmonic blends) to carry it home." In 2016, her YouTube cover of MercyMe’s “I Can Only Imagine” won her first place in 95.9 radio's Starfish competition. She then performed on the main stage at The Irvine Meadows Amphitheater for the Christian music festival Fishfest in June of 2016. Currently, she is managing and singing for the corporate jazz band Martini Five-0, leading worship, teaching music, and working on the release of her next single.

08/08/2017

Rajiv Satyal is a Los Angeles-based comedian/host.  His TV-clean act has made him one of the most versatile comedians working today.  He began his career in his hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio.
Rajiv had an unusual entry into standup, doing his act for then-World No. 1 tennis player Pete Sampras in a locker room.  Satyal has some interesting claims to fame:  he opened for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in front of 17,000 people.  He made the massively viral I AM INDIAN video, which was shared by Bollywood stars and used to introduce the Indian Prime Minister in Shanghai and Dubai.  He has opened for Russell Peters more than any other Indian comedian.  Rajiv even hosted Dave Chappelle’s very first show after his much-publicized African hiatus.
Satyal performs weekly at the Laugh Factory in Hollywood.  He has garnered 50 million+ online views and been featured on/in NBC, NPR, Nickelodeon, Fx, Netflix, Bob & Tom, Times Now, Zee TV, Pandora, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Variety, Advertising Age, The Times of India, The Huffington Post, and The LA Times.
Rajiv has performed on three continents.  He co-created the world-touring Make Chai Not War, a Hindu/Muslim stand-up show.  The U.S. State Dept. sponsored it, sending it to seven cities in India.  The show became part of the Congressional Record after being mentioned on Capitol Hill to Secretaries of State Hillary Clinton and John Kerry.
This University of Cincinnati engineer and former P&G marketer has done stand-up at more than 100 colleges.  He named his alma mater’s online radio station “Bearcast,” launched/managed a Miss India America’s career, and has spoken to audiences from Fortune 500 companies to NFL players on innovation, diversity, and personal branding.  His corporate clients include P&G (10 times), GE (7 times), Google, General Mills, Quaker, Toyota, Cisco and more.  He runs a consulting business called the Standpoint Agency, which helps marketers generate insights for their brands.  He gave a TEDx Talk, “The Jester Is King,” in March 2016.
Satyal has acted in national commercials and in TV shows.  He has recorded 130 episodes of his podcast, The TanGent Show, and has interviewed everyone from Deepak Chopra to Seth Godin to Preity Zinta.  In his spare time, Rajiv writes TV ads, performs improv, and produces sketches for Culture Machine’s #BeingIndian channel.
Rajiv wrote No Man’s Land, a 100-minute one-person show about his dating life that sold out all performances from LA to NY to San Francisco to Cincinnati.  This show actually led to Satyal’s marriage, which itself had a comedic arc:  Rajiv proposed to his girlfriend while opening for Kevin Nealon, and at his wedding, Russell Peters finally opened for him.

08/01/2017

Jacob Patrick is an award winning film maker. Jacob has worked in every area of the entertainment industry; Feature Films, TV, Commercials, Cinematics, Rides, VR, Games, & Shorts. Some of the many titles he's worked on include: Supergirl, The Flash, Arrow, Oz the Great & Powerful, Men in Black 3, God of War, Horton hears a who, Jimmy Neutron, Coca-Cola Commercial, Starwars commercial, & A Gentlemen's Duel. He has taught at multiple universities with rave reviews as well as presented at conferences around the globe. Jacob Patrick is a creative mind that is always pushing the boundaries of the film industry.
YouTube
indiegogo.com/projects/the-blood-crystal-a-star-wars-story-film

Social Media:
facebook.com/JacobPatrick
twitter.com/jacobpatrick
instagram.com/scrnwtr
imdb.com/name/nm2219647
linkedin.com/in/jacobpatrick
tumblr.com/blog/jacobpatrick
pinterest.com/JacobDPatrick

Contact: Jacobpatrick@gmail.com

July 2017

07/25/2017

From the best of "Wake up Hollywood" : Portland-born Justin Hopkins is the quintessential LA story. A road more musicians are familiar with than not.
Hopkins began playing multiple instruments at a young age, self-taught on guitar while simultaneously taking piano and bass lessons from NW Jazz greats Randy Porter and Phil Baker.  After a brief stint playing college athletics in California, Hopkins graduated from University Oregon. Soon after, he and his band decided to pick up roots and move to the beach cities of Los Angeles, where he became a regular on an early, and emerging Hotel Cafe scene that would spawn Platinum selling careers for his peers like Sara Barielles and Mat Kearney.  All at the same time Hopkins was a focused and dedicated behind the scenes songwriter/producer, behind the helm on albums for Country artists like Brett Young, and in the same evening going to write songs for R&B legend Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds.

After several years and a long list of collaborations, Hopkins set out for Solo success, releasing the self-funded "Vol 1: Here Goes Nothing."  The expansive, 14  track album took over 18 months to record, but received a heap of critical praise, and set Hopkins off on over 3 years of touring to support the album.  He signed with Universal/Pama Records in 2007, releasing "You are where you come from." In contrast, YAWYCF was recorded in 1 week in a parish church house, in a remote village in Sweden, with Hopkins playing nearly every instrument but drums, the album solidified Hopkins' reputation in Europe as the ultimate  showman and songsmith.  The first single "Why would god come to LA" landed in the top 20, peaking at #10, and it would be several months till Hopkins returned to the US.

Upon his return Hopkins focused on what he knew best, being a sideman and supporting other artists.  He landed a gig playing with his dear friend Joe Firstman as a regular guitarist in the house band for Last call with Carson Daly. He would later get a personal call from Carson to be on his latest venture, NBC's hit show The Voice, where he landed a spot on Ceelo's team in season 2.

Since then, Hopkins has kept busy touring, producing, while also being a serial Entrepreneur. Since 2009 he helped found Showkicker, a crowdbooking™ platform for live bands, developed a software called Sun Number™, that is used by Zillow to determine solar viability for homes in California and the east coast. He is currently a majority partner in an up and coming on demand Photo service called Commish™, as well as a consultant for several major emerging Cannabis companies in both Oregon and California.

Most recently he has began making music on a regular basis, collaborating with grammy winners like Krish Sharma (Rolling Stones), Jeff Trott (Sheryl Crow), and many more.  With a wildly large catalogue of songs ranging from Country to Dance, it's clear Hopkins moves  to the pulse of whatever moves him. He currently lives in Redondo Beach with his wife of 8 years and their young daughter.

facebook.com/Justinhopkinsofficial

twitter.com/jhopsmusicbox
 

07/18/2017

Evan Blum is a singer, songwriter, rapper, & producer based in Los Angeles California. His music can be anything from upbeat and quirky to mellow and heart-felt. His work has been featured on billboard.com , Huffington Post, Refinery29and Teen Vouge. He recently has had a viral success after a song he wrote about pop star Camila Cabello got retweeted and written about by the singer herself on her own personal twitter account. With such prolific and high quality content, Evan has collectively gained millions of views between his Youtube Channel and Facebook fan page. Evan continues to create, constantly writing new material for himself as an artist along with great pop material for other artists.
youtube.com/blume6546
facebook.com/blumevan 
instagram.com/Evanblummusic
 
 

07/11/2017

As Head Commercial Agent at Avalon Artists Group, Stephany Burns represents some of the most talented actors in Hollywood today. Her clients have recently booked numerous Network commercials with companies like Coca Cola, Snickers, Pepsi, Ford, BMW, Kay Jewelers, Allstate, Apple, Samsung, Verizon, AT & T, UPS, Progressive, Wendy's, State Farm, Applebee's, Toyota, Clorox, Ameriprise, Go Daddy, Acura, Hyundai, Target, Dodge, Nationwide, Best Buy, McDonald's and many more. Born and raised in Los Angeles, and a former child commercial actor herself, Stephany has seen every side of the business. Previously working at a few of the top commercial casting agencies in Los Angeles, she found that her ability to understand the needs of actors made her a natural fit to be their biggest champion. She prides herself on her dedication to her clients and her determination to advance their career. She has developed strong relationships with some of the biggest names in commercial casting, who have all come to trust her and her talented roster.

June 2017

06/27/2017

ROBERT M. BILES is an ENGINEER,PRODUCER, MIXER, & STUDIO CONSULTANT with 7 years experience in all phases of audio engineering, music production, studio design and equipment installation. Special expertise in recording and mixing live groups for album projects, television music and orchestral film scores, with an affinity for acoustic music. Fluent in most DAWs, consoles, automation systems, microphones and outboard gear, including all digital and analog formats. 12 Years experience as Front of House Mixer for large and small venues, Road Manager, and Tour Driver. Specialist in Remote Recording for “Live Albums” or DVD.

Some of the artists Robert worked with:
Kevin Eubanks • Smokey Robinson • Brian McKnight • Earth, Wind and Fire
Alan Holdsworth • Frank Gambale • Keiko Matsui • Tom Coster (Santana) • Bobby Caldwell • Freddie Ravel • Joe Sample (The Jazz Crusaders) • Steve Smith (Journey, Vital Information, GHS, Buddy’s Buddies, Jazz Legacy) • Anne McCue • Patti Labelle • The Boyz • Tiffany • Kina Cosper • Deborah Gibson • Larry Coryell • The Commodores • Mark Portmann • Stu Hamm • Tony McAlpine • Kevin Russell & 707 • Vinnie Moore • GHS 2 & 3 (Gambale, Hamm, Smith) • Frank Vignola • Levert • Freebo • Marty Walsh • Lisa Haley • Brian McKnight • Jeff Richman • Café R & B • Jazz at the Movies Band • Terri Lynn Carrington

06/20/2017

CRUZ MARTINEZ (BATTLESHIP)
ABOUT ME:
I am a 29-year-old DJ from Ogden, Utah who is open for bookings including, but not limited to; concerts, weddings, corporate events and private parties.
EXPERIENCE AND TESTIMONIALS:
Residency at Rock & Reilly’s in Park City, Utah
12 years of experience as a vinyl DJ
Open format DJ – Scratch DJ – Remix DJ – Turntablist – Battle DJ
“Super talented scratch DJ with awesome track selections! Battleship can rock all types of sets but a man with his skill set belongs on a big stage where he can showcase his talents.” –DJ Matty Mo
“When I first met Cruz aka Battleship, I fell in love with his style. He’ll be playing an old hip-hop tune, mix in some funk & then some country—then bam! Into rock and back to hip-hop, all while scratching the vinyl. I have never met anyone with the style & class in music that Cruz has to offer.” -DJ Pookie
“He’s good all-around. He does the mashup thing, the beat juggling… he’s dope with scratching. He’s definitely one of the best DJs in the state.” –Street Jesus (DJ)
STRENGTHS:
Music selection
Crowd control
Mixing
Scratching
AWARDS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
Played shows with R.A. the Rugged Man, Schoolboy Q, Bone Thugs, Atmosphere, Aesop Rock & others…
Nominated best DJ in Utah by City Weekly 4 years in a row from 2012-2016.
Took first place at the Utah Life Elevated DJ Battle in 2010.
Email: battleshipcruzer@gmail.com Phone: 801.648.6099 Facebook: facebook.com/DJElectronicBattleship/

 

06/13/2017

From the best of "Wake Up Hollywood" : Portland-born Justin Hopkins is the quintessential LA story. A road more musicians are familiar with than not.
Hopkins began playing multiple instruments at a young age, self-taught on guitar while simultaneously taking piano and bass lessons from NW Jazz greats Randy Porter and Phil Baker.  After a brief stint playing college athletics in California, Hopkins graduated from University Oregon. Soon after, he and his band decided to pick up roots and move to the beach cities of Los Angeles, where he became a regular on an early, and emerging Hotel Cafe scene that would spawn Platinum selling careers for his peers like Sara Barielles and Mat Kearney.  All at the same time Hopkins was a focused and dedicated behind the scenes songwriter/producer, behind the helm on albums for Country artists like Brett Young, and in the same evening going to write songs for R&B legend Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds.

After several years and a long list of collaborations, Hopkins set out for Solo success, releasing the self-funded "Vol 1: Here Goes Nothing."  The expansive, 14  track album took over 18 months to record, but received a heap of critical praise, and set Hopkins off on over 3 years of touring to support the album.  He signed with Universal/Pama Records in 2007, releasing "You are where you come from." In contrast, YAWYCF was recorded in 1 week in a parish church house, in a remote village in Sweden, with Hopkins playing nearly every instrument but drums, the album solidified Hopkins' reputation in Europe as the ultimate  showman and songsmith.  The first single "Why would god come to LA" landed in the top 20, peaking at #10, and it would be several months till Hopkins returned to the US.

Upon his return Hopkins focused on what he knew best, being a sideman and supporting other artists.  He landed a gig playing with his dear friend Joe Firstman as a regular guitarist in the house band for Last call with Carson Daly. He would later get a personal call from Carson to be on his latest venture, NBC's hit show The Voice, where he landed a spot on Ceelo's team in season 2.

Since then, Hopkins has kept busy touring, producing, while also being a serial Entrepreneur. Since 2009 he helped found Showkicker, a crowdbooking™ platform for live bands, developed a software called Sun Number™, that is used by Zillow to determine solar viability for homes in California and the east coast. He is currently a majority partner in an up and coming on demand Photo service called Commish™, as well as a consultant for several major emerging Cannabis companies in both Oregon and California.

Most recently he has began making music on a regular basis, collaborating with grammy winners like Krish Sharma (Rolling Stones), Jeff Trott (Sheryl Crow), and many more.  With a wildly large catalogue of songs ranging from Country to Dance, it's clear Hopkins moves  to the pulse of whatever moves him. He currently lives in Redondo Beach with his wife of 8 years and their young daughter.

facebook.com/Justinhopkinsofficial

twitter.com/jhopsmusicbox
 

06/06/2017

Los Angeles-based guitarist and bandleader Andrew Doolittle has performed with a broad palette of artists representing a wide variety of styles, including Rita Wilson, Idina Menzel, Joy Williams (The Civil Wars), David Tao (髯カ・ス・ス), A-Mei (髦ソ螯ケ), Carmen Rasmusen, Patti Page, the Pasadena Pops and the Houston Symphony. He has performed on TV shows including the The Today Show, Ellen, The Tonight Show and Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Andrew was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  After six years of studying jazz at The Oberlin Conservatory of Music and The New England Conservatory of Music he hit the road with Geffen artist Rich Price (currently of The Sweet Remains) and eventually landed in Los Angeles.  Soon thereafter, he began playing with Bird York, who in 2006 was nominated for an Oscar for her song in the movie Crash.  Since then, he has kept up an extensive live performance schedule, and his guitar work can often be heard in film trailers, video games and TV shows.

May 2017

05/30/2017

Andrew Goldenhersh ranks among today’s elite masters of magic, drawing thunderous acclaim around the globe.
 

His skill and style have mesmerized audiences from Hollywood to the Far East, and all points in between. A perennial honoree at the legendary Magic Castle, Andrew has received accolades from the prestigious Academy of Magical Arts. Having been voted the Academy's "Parlour Magician of the Year" in 2009 & 2010, Andrew is the only magician to have been nominated for both Close-up Magician of the Year and Parlour Magician of the Year for twelve years in a row.
 

Andrew is held in high esteem by his peers in entertainment, including Las Vegas superstar Lance Burton (who calls him a "genius") and the world renowned David Copperfield (who licensed and performs one of Andrew's signature routines). The celebrity list of whom Andrew has entertained includes Johnny Depp, Ringo Starr, P!nk, Sheryl Crow, Rod Stewart, Dustin Hoffman, Nicolas Cage, Jason Alexander, Demi Moore, Teri Hatcher, Tony Shalhoub, Steve Carell, Jane Fonda, Robin Leach, Michael Ovitz, and many more.
 
goldenhands.com

05/23/2017

Lang Parker, headed out west from Wisconsin 15 years ago and continues her acting career in film, television and performing in commercials. Lang's impressive comedic timing, instant likability on and off camera and impressive writing skills gained her national attention on the Emmy-nominated NBC show Last Comic Standing. She floored judges when she came out in her overhauls and asked, “Have you ever been mistaken for a lesbian?”
 
Lang regularly tours clubs and cities all over the United States as well as overseas to entertain the US armed forces in Afghanistan and bases in Eastern Asia.
 
Lang’s credits include: Beverly Hills 90210,The Ellen Degeneres Show, a pilot for a major US network, 40+ national and international commercials as well as dozens of movie & television roles. Lang has won California’s Funniest Female Contest and is described as Jane Lynch, consistently drawing parallels with the Rosanne star Laurie Metcalf. Lang also contributes to Shea Magazine. 
 
Lang's own comedy show that she runs in Los Angeles, "West Of The 405" has a cult following, attracts some of the biggest names in comedy and has recently voted Top 8 Must-Attend Shows on the westside in beautiful Santa Monica, California. 
 
She continues to perform and create worldwide.
 
langcomedy.com

 

05/16/2017

ALAN ROY SCOTT
As a professional songwriter for over 35 years, his songs have been recorded by Celine Dion, Luther Vandross, Notorious B.I.G., Gloria Estefan, Cyndi Lauper, Patti LaBelle, Neville Bros. Roberta Flack, Cher, El DeBarge, Tiffany, Patti Austin, The Spinners, Rick Springfield, Oak Ridge Boys, Ricky Martin, Anne Murray, Johnny Mathis, Pointer Sisters, Sheena Easton, and Ray Charles among many. His work also has been featured in Films and TV shows such as “Top Gun,” “First Wives Club,” “Coming To America,” “Redline,” “Karate Kid III,” “Summer School,” “Fame,” “Fame/LA,” “Sons of Anarchy,” “Oprah’s Next Chapter,” “Santa Barbara,” “Guiding Light,” “Melrose Place,” & “Beverly Hills 90210” among others.
He was an exclusive staff writer with EMI Music and Jobete Music (Motown) for a combined 11 years, having his own independent Kyushu Boy Music Publishing since 1990.
Alan attended the prestigious Boston Conservatory of Music majoring in Music Composition. He has won top prizes in the John Lennon Song Contest, The American Song Festival, and numerous awards in International Music Festivals around the world, competing as composer and/or artist, representing the USA in such diverse locales as Kazakhstan, Turkey, Romania, FYR Macedonia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Egypt, Finland, Holland, Ireland, Czech Republic, & Indonesia among others.
He has been a private songwriting coach for more than 10 years, and has taught classes and has led workshops and seminars domestically through UCLA Extension, The Songwriting School of Los Angeles, Musician's Institute, Songu.com, ASCAP, as well as the “Grammy-In-The-Schools” program for the Los Angeles Chapter of NARAS. Internationally, he has taught songwriting and music workshops in Australia (through APRA), Ireland (through IMRO), and Denmark (through KODA) among others.
Additionally, as the founder of “Music Bridges”, he has created many renowned songwriting collaboration events around the world, most notably “Music Speaks Louder Than Words” (USSR/1998), “Country & Eastern” (Romania/1994), “Pacific Harmony” (Indonesia/1995), “Celtic Harmony” (Ireland/1997), the controversial “Music Bridges...Over Troubled Waters” (Havana,Cuba/1999), and “Music Bridges/Expo 2000 as part of Expo 2000 (Hannover, Germany). Future “Music Bridges” events are planned for The Middle East, China, India , Peru, Jamaica, & South Africa. In conjunction with his “Music Bridges” projects, Scott also created and organized “Unisong International Song Contest,” as an annual search for budding songwriting talent.
With his extensive music industry resources and solid reputation as a special music events organizer and hands-on creative participant in these projects, Alan secured the participation of more than 200 headlining artists and songwriters such as: Bonnie Raitt, Burt Bacharach, Diane Warren, Mick Fleetwood, Jimmy Buffet, Lamont Dozier, Gladys Knight, Don Was, The Chieftans, Hot House Flowers, Mi’shell Ngedeocello, Cher, Michael Bolton, Rodney Crowell, Desmond Child, Cyndi Lauper, Brenda Russell, Dave Koz, Stewart Copeland, & Andy Summers, Paul Williams, Indigo Girls, Kelly/Steinberg, Barry Mann, Albert Hammond, Mike Stoller,Woody Harrelson, Joan Osborne, Tommy Shaw (Styx), Gunnar & Matthew Nelson, N’Dea Davenport, Montell Jordan, Jack Blades, The Scorpions, Peter Frampton, Steve McClintock, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Gary Burr, Allan Rich, Jeff Lorber, Cathy Dennis, Holly Knight, Franne Golde, & Lee Roy Parnell among many.
He also produced the “Music Bridges” segment for the opening ceremonies of the 1990 Goodwill Games in Seattle, featuring Earth, Wind & Fire, Roberta Flack, Anne Murray, and Emmanuel. As well as being the international consultant and talent coordinator for the TNN series “Somebody Lives There,“ hosted by Gary Morris in Estonia, Latvia, Hungary, and Poland
He also was international consultant and talent coordinator for the TNN series “Somebody Lives There,“ hosted by Gary Morris in Estonia, Latvia, Hungary, and Poland
In conjunction with his “Music Bridges” projects, he also created and organized the “Unisong International Song Contest,” from 1997-2007 as an annual search for budding songwriting talent, becoming one of the leading international song contests alongside such others as the john Lennon contest and ISC.
Alan also served as the creative coordinator for the digital culture projects of Greenstar, a company dedicated to economic development in the 3rd world through innovative projects providing solar power, computer technology, and education to rural villages with the aim of creating self-sufficiency through local crafts and cultural products sold over the Internet utilizing the provided technologies. He coordinated such projects for Greenstar in the Palestinian West Bank, and Jamaica.
He was awarded a prestigious Third Century Award by the US Patent & Copyright Board to honor his achievements in the international arena.. Alan was commissioned in 1999 to co-write “The Gift,” the theme song for the 30th anniversary remembrance in Memphis of the assassination of Martin Luther King, performed by Michael McDonald and The Reverend Al Green. He served as well on the Board of Directors of the National Academy of Songwriters (NAS) in Hollywood for 4 years. and is a 30 year voting member of NARAS, (The Grammy Awards). He is also a long time member of BMI, ASCAP, SAG, and AEA.

05/09/2017

Sergio Michel is an American musician & actor; know for his style of guitar playing & for his character acting & action martial arts roles.

05/02/2017

From the best of "Wake Up Hollywood" - Rebecca Peters is a soul/folk singer-songwriter with over 10 years of experience, known for her passionate delivery, raw lyrical content and intricate melodies. A recent transplant to Los Angeles, Rebecca has been making it her priority to reach as many eardrums as possible. In an effort to do so, she has booked and performed at venues including The Hotel Cafe and The Mint, packing rooms in just 6 short months.

Prior to moving to Los Angeles, Rebecca won several songwriting and talent competitions in Northern California, and in 2015 as well as 2016, Rebecca was nominated in the Singer-Songwriter category in the Sacramento News & Review sponsored SAMMIES awards.

Rebecca fully funded and released her debut EP, "Run," through an Indiegogo campaign in May of this year and immediately relocated to Los Angeles to pursue music full-time. Her experience in LA has already began to shape the music that she is writing and she can't wait to share as her art continues to evolve.

April 2017

04/25/2017

Quincy Jones is a comedian who lives in LA currently but is originally from Seattle, WA.

He has been on Ellen, HBO, Conan, CNN, NPR and popular comedian podcasts such as WTF with Marc Maron and You Made It Weird with Pete Holmes. Quincy taped and recorded his HBO special 'Burning The Light' last year and it aired in June.

He has worked with comics legends Chris Rock, Judd Apatow, Sarah Silverman, Tom Segura Rory Scovel and many others! He is currently working on his new hour, touring and writing a book.
notthatquincyjones.com

04/18/2017

Fuzzbee Morse is a multi-instrumentalist, producer, composer & singer who's played with a mind-bending collection of musical trailblazers, inc: Lou Reed, Frank Zappa, Jaco Pastorius, Peter Gabriel, Bono, Aaron Neville, the Chambers Brothers, Ric Ocasek, Karla Bonoff, Richie Havens, Julian Lennon, Rufus Wainwright, Jean-Luc Ponty, Stevie Wonder, Dave Grohl, Daniel Lanois, Donovan, Nick Mason, Paul Allen, Axl Rose, Freebo & Derek Trucks, to name a few gifted characters.
He recently released his first album, Dreams and Other Living Things, featuring Tony Levin, Jerry Marotta & David Sancious. Of this debut release, American Songwriter senior editor Paul Zollo said, "It’s a lesson in remarkable songwriting," "An absolute masterpiece, and one which I hope others will invite into their lives" and "An album for the ages."
Lonesome Highway from Ireland said in their review, "The ten tracks are self-produced and jump out of the speakers with lots of quality and rich arrangements. This is one for the real connoisseurs and all songs are written by Fuzzbee with the exception of Voodoo Child (Slight Return) which only Fuzzbee could have the nerve to tackle and turn into his own impressive show stopper. Smooth and full of soul, serious chops and superb musicianship."
He has written the score and songs for numerous films, TV shows and commercials, both dramatic & comedic, and plays lots of instruments, including guitar, keyboards, flute, bass, soprano sax, mandolin, vibes and many others.
Wearing a slightly different hat, Fuzzbee has performed live comedy & musical improv for many years with The Flying Fannoli Brothers, Off The Wall, Top Tune, Rick Overton, Dan Aykroyd and lots of other funny people, making up lyrics and music in the spur of the moment on audience suggestions.
Fuzzbee is now writing and arranging the songs for his next album and hopes life on earth will last long enough to have the release party. He plays regularly around Los Angeles.
For more info: fuzzbee.com

04/04/2017

There is nothing like the sound of a Rock Band that has chemistry. It is undeniable that The Dirty Diamond is a band with a bond that can only be described as a brotherhood. This 4-piece band has been getting major buzz in its hometown of Los Angeles and elsewhere with their high-energy live show. They have headlined some of the greatest rock venues including The Troubadour, The House of Blues, The Viper Room, The Roxy, The Whisky A Go Go, and The El Rey Theatre.
Underneath the intense outer layer of the music is a massive amount of heart and soul. This comes from the essence of timeless rock and roll, songwriting.  Front man Sam Babayan is a shaman-like troubadour who always travels with a guitar.  His lyrics touch you in the heart and make you feel alive.  Songs like "From The Stars", "Changes", and "Love And Light" are uplifting anthems of self-realization and hope. Echoes of George Harrison in his voice and slide guitar make for a familiar listening experience.
The rest of the band is made up of some of the finest and most sought after musicians in Los Angeles.  Guitarist Fernando Perdomo is a producer and session multi-instrumentalist who has toured and recorded with Jakob Dylan, Fiona Apple, Todd Rundgren, and many more. Drummer Shay Godwin tours the world with the amazing Andra Day (who happens to be a fan of the band). Bassist Derek Frank currently tours with Australian Legends Air Supply and the ultimate country diva Shania Twain.  These musicians work hard, but The Dirty Diamond is where their talents shine the brightest. The four lads are best friends and the camaraderie is obvious on and off the stage.
To be a Dirty Diamond fan is a passionate thing. You go to a show and you will see their following singing every word with their fists up and smiles beaming white light at the stage. This passion fuels the band to take every performance to another level of explosive energy.
A new album lies ahead with a sound all its own.  The band's live sound is captured as the basic tracks were recorded live in the amazing Bell Sound studios in Los Angeles. Vintage equipment was used on every song giving the band a timeless feel that will attract a wide age range of fans. Passionate performances are all over the 10 songs that will make up "Brand New Vintage"
The Dirty Diamond is ready to shine. Clean it off and stick it in your pocket....it will always be with you...in your heart !

March 2017

03/28/2017

Reem Edan is an Iraqi-American comedian, writer and Sagittarius, who employs comedic storytelling to expose the reality of today’s Muslim millennials. Born half-Sunni/half-Shiite, raised Arab in a white community, and later moving to the Middle East just one week before 9/11, Reem quickly realized that she would always be a societal black sheep. This shaped the quirkily-conflicting perspectives she embodies on stage, with material covering everything from her cross-cultural upbringing, to diversity challenges, to the struggles of leading a semi-halal lifestyle.  She has performed at festivals including: the 1001 Laughs Dearborn Festival and the Funny Women Fest; competitions like MoveOn’s Laughter Trumps Hate; and at comedy shows around Los Angeles & Europe.

reemedan.com

Youtube.com/reemedan

YOUTUBE

New-ish 3 minute set: youtube.com/watch?v=xO1BIYsyQ1I

First stand-up set: youtube.com/watch?v=Y_RgwvP2GBU

SOCIAL

FB: @Reemedancomedy

TW: @Reemedan

IG: @Reemedan

 

03/21/2017

Jon Mullane is an award-winning rock singer-songwriter from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who has gained international acclaim and success with his music. He's had several Canadian top 40, Billboard-charting radio singles, and his song, My New American Girl, broke into the top 40 at #32 on the Hot AC Billboard Chart in the US. His songs have been featured on numerous television shows, commercials and sporting events, including his hit single, Make You Move, on NBC promoting the Beijing Olympics.
Jon is a dynamic performer, whose songs instantly connect with audiences in any concert setting, large and small, and his list of concert and television appearances throughout North America is extensive, including performing at such legendary and iconic venues as The Viper Room and House of Blues in Hollywood, CA, 12th & Porter in Nashville, TN, and the Gibson Stage at NAMM in Anaheim, CA. His touring rock band consists of guitar, bass, keys, and drums. Jon also performs acoustically as a duo with his guitarist, Rob Bonfiglio of Wilson Phillips fame.
Jon’s current single and music video, Born Beautiful, from his album SHINE, has been gaining extensive exposure and recognition since its release. In addition to the song receiving commercial radio airplay and national charting, Jon has formed partnerships through the music video with several mental health organizations, including The Campaign to Change Direction (changedirection.org - US), the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA.ca), and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI.org – US), to help raise awareness and change the culture of mental health. The video for Born Beautiful is the winner of the 2016 LA Music Critics Award for Best Video (Official) Male, the 2016 Hollywood Music in Media Award (HMMA) for Best Independent Music Video and the 2016 International Music and Entertainment Award (IMEA) for Music Video of the Year.
View the music video here: youtu.be/qLNzTlj9Eg4
Jon is the subject of a new documentary, "Jon Mullane - Shine On" by John Rosborough of RPM Productions in Halifax, NS, Canada, which documents Jon's musical career as well as his personal struggles and triumphs. The condensed version of the documentary culminates with the worldwide digital release of Jon's album SHINE on September 16, 2016, and was premiered at Jon’s album release party in Hollywood.
Watch the documentary here: vimeo.com/184704727
Awards are not new for Jon Mullane. His album SHINE picked up an award for Rock Album of the Year at the IMEAs, and the video for his single, Any Other Way, won Best Independent Music Video at the 2014 Hollywood Music in Media Awards.
As his inspiring story continues to unfold, Jon Mullane defines what a real artist is… embracing an unbridled passion for and dedication to his music, combined with an authenticity that connects him with his fans.

03/14/2017

Portland-born Justin Hopkins is the quintessential LA story. A road more musicians are familiar with than not.
Hopkins began playing multiple instruments at a young age, self-taught on guitar while simultaneously taking piano and bass lessons from NW Jazz greats Randy Porter and Phil Baker.  After a brief stint playing college athletics in California, Hopkins graduated from University Oregon. Soon after, he and his band decided to pick up roots and move to the beach cities of Los Angeles, where he became a regular on an early, and emerging Hotel Cafe scene that would spawn Platinum selling careers for his peers like Sara Barielles and Mat Kearney.  All at the same time Hopkins was a focused and dedicated behind the scenes songwriter/producer, behind the helm on albums for Country artists like Brett Young, and in the same evening going to write songs for R&B legend Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds.

After several years and a long list of collaborations, Hopkins set out for Solo success, releasing the self-funded "Vol 1: Here Goes Nothing."  The expansive, 14  track album took over 18 months to record, but received a heap of critical praise, and set Hopkins off on over 3 years of touring to support the album.  He signed with Universal/Pama Records in 2007, releasing "You are where you come from." In contrast, YAWYCF was recorded in 1 week in a parish church house, in a remote village in Sweden, with Hopkins playing nearly every instrument but drums, the album solidified Hopkins' reputation in Europe as the ultimate  showman and songsmith.  The first single "Why would god come to LA" landed in the top 20, peaking at #10, and it would be several months till Hopkins returned to the US.

Upon his return Hopkins focused on what he knew best, being a sideman and supporting other artists.  He landed a gig playing with his dear friend Joe Firstman as a regular guitarist in the house band for Last call with Carson Daly. He would later get a personal call from Carson to be on his latest venture, NBC's hit show The Voice, where he landed a spot on Ceelo's team in season 2.

Since then, Hopkins has kept busy touring, producing, while also being a serial Entrepreneur. Since 2009 he helped found Showkicker, a crowdbooking™ platform for live bands, developed a software called Sun Number™, that is used by Zillow to determine solar viability for homes in California and the east coast. He is currently a majority partner in an up and coming on demand Photo service called Commish™, as well as a consultant for several major emerging Cannabis companies in both Oregon and California.

Most recently he has began making music on a regular basis, collaborating with grammy winners like Krish Sharma (Rolling Stones), Jeff Trott (Sheryl Crow), and many more.  With a wildly large catalogue of songs ranging from Country to Dance, it's clear Hopkins moves  to the pulse of whatever moves him. He currently lives in Redondo Beach with his wife of 8 years and their young daughter.

facebook.com/Justinhopkinsofficial

twitter.com/jhopsmusicbox
 

03/07/2017

From the best of "Wake Up Hollywood" : Andreas Jablonka is German, born and raised, formally based in sunny Los Angeles and now working in Thailand. He studied at the GERMAN FILM SCHOOL for digital production in Berlin, Germany where he received his MA as a Digital Artist .
As a Visual Effects Supervisor, Andreas oversees all aspects of a project from bidding to scheduling to preproduction, on-set supervision to final post production approval. As an artist, he works primarily as a 2D Compositor in Nuke. Andreas Jablonka does have a full 3D background of over 15 years as well in Maya. If you chose to work with him, you will understand why his recommendations comment on his work ethic and spirit so much. Andreas deeply enjoys what he does and welcomes any challenge with open arms.
jabbaworks.com

February 2017

02/28/2017

Stephen Oyoung - Stephen is an actor, pro stuntman, martial artist and fight choreographer. He currently stars as martial arts expert Lau Hu on TNT’s “The Last Ship” and has appeared in films ranging from Independence Day: Resurgence, Legion, The Last Airbender, Thor and Olympus Has Fallen to TV shows including CSI, NCIS, Castle and Scandal. He also helped Adam Driver prepare for his role in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. He recently spoke at this year’s Comic Con in San Diego on a panel called “The Unsung Stuntmen and Women of the Movies.”

imdb.com/name/nm2432430/

02/21/2017

 Living the "Charmed Lifestyle" she always dreamed of in Pasadena, Ca.

Taryn Myers Rothstein is a California girl at heart with the smarts to back up her brand, Pasadena Charm. A social media / city influencer that was naturally created from all her local experiences. After graduating from USC with a Bachelor's in Communication and cheering on The Trojans as a song girl she immediately began pursuing her dreams in La La Land.

Combining fashion, photography, creative directing, choreography, becoming a wife + mother and working with brands like Nike, Madewell, Anthropologie and West Elm opened up a whole new playing field that she could feature on social media. With her quick success on Instagram came an invitation for speaking events and panels at The Apple Store, Pasadena Social Media Groups and MADIA Tech. Currently she is creating classes and guides to teach others how to collaborate with big brands and double their Instagram followings. Her next adventure is bringing movement to the streets of Pasadena through dance, lifestyle and YouTube Videos.

website: pasadenacharm.com
instragram: @pasadenacharm

twitter: @pasadenacharm

snapchap: @pasadenacharm

facebook: @pasadenacharm

inquiries: taryn@pasadenacharm.com

02/14/2017

From the best of Wake Up Hollywood: BOB MALONE has toured the world as a solo artist for two decades and has played keyboards with rock legend John Fogerty since 2011. Classically trained, with a degree in jazz and a lifetime playing rock & roll clubs, theatres, and arenas, Bob’s sound is a one-of-a-kind hybrid of rock, blues, and New Orleans R&B, delivered with high-energy piano virtuosity and a voice all his own.
BOB MALONE has toured the world as a solo artist for two decades and has played keyboards with rock legend John Fogerty since 2011. Classically trained, wiBOB MALONE has toured the world as a solo artist for two decades and has played keyboards with rock legend John Fogerty since 2011. Classically trained, with a degree in jazz and a lifetime playing rock & roll clubs, theatres, and arenas, Bob’s sound is a one-of-a-kind hybrid of rock, blues, and New Orleans R&B, delivered with high-energy piano virtuosity and a voice all his own.
Born and raised in New Jersey, he has lived in New York City, New Orleans and Boston, and is currently based in Los Angeles. As a solo artist, Bob plays around 100 shows a year in the US, UK, EuropeBOB MALONE has toured the world as a solo artist for two decades and has played keyboards with rock legend John Fogerty since 2011. Classically trained, with a degree in jazz and a lifetime playing rock & roll clubs, theatres, and arenas, Bob’s sound is a one-of-a-kind hybrid of rock, blues, and New Orleans R&B, delivered with high-energy piano virtuosity and a voice all his own.
Born and raised in New Jersey, he has lived in New York City, New Orleans and Boston, and is currently based in Los Angeles. As a solo artist, Bob plays around 100 shows a year in the US, UK, Europe and Australia – including sets at Glastonbury Music Festival (UK), Colne Blues Festival (UK), Long Beach Bayou Fest (US), Falcon Ridge Folk Fest (US), Blue Mountains Music Fest (AU), and Narooma Blues Fest (AU). He has been featured twice at WWOZ Piano Night in New Orleans, and has opened for Boz Scaggs, Subdudes, The Neville Brothers, Rev. Al Green, BoDeans, Dr. John, Marcia Ball and many others. As a member of John Fogerty’s band, he has played with Bruce Springsteen, Bob Seger, Jackson Browne, Jimmy Buffett, and Alan Toussaint.
Malone’s 2015 album, Mojo Deluxe, has received a long list of rave reviews, spent months on the Living Blues, Relix/Jambands.com, Roots Music Report and Americana Music Association (AMA) radio charts in the US, and reached #1 on the Independent Blues Broadcasters Association (IBBA) chart in the UK. Videos from Bob’s upcoming Mojo Live DVD have recently been premiered by Relix Magazine and Alternative Root Magazine.
Bob’s music is heard regularly on Dr. Phil, Entertainment Tonight and The Rachel Ray Show, and he has appeared on The Late Show With David Letterman and The View with John Fogerty.
Kurzweil Music Systems chose Bob to make the demo videos for their new Forte digital piano, and he is endorsed by QSC Audio, Hammond Organ and Fishman Acoustic Transducers.
bobmalone.com

02/07/2017

Born and raised in Ontario, Ben Wilkins moved to Montreal, Quebec, at the age of eighteen to study music at McGill University. He majored in Classical Trumpet and soaked up whatever he could regarding composition, arranging, singing, theory and jazz harmony – spending countless nights sneaking into the piano studios afterhours to write songs.

Upon graduation, Wilkins received a scholarship to study Mandarin in China, and spent the better part of a year at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music and the Beijing Language and Culture University. In 2008, he returned to Montreal to perform locally and at colleges and clubs in the north­eastern U.S.

Shortly after, he was approached by Pascal Shefteshy, an acclaimed engineer and producer working for famous producer Pierre Marchand (Sarah McLachlan, Rufus Wainwright) to record an album. They got to work, and then just as their limited budget was running out, Marchand announced that he was going to India for three months, leaving the door to his studio open and Wilkins and Shefteshy in the position to record an album without compromise.
 
Wilkins' first independent release "Back Of My Head EP", was featured on NPR's All Things Considered and prominently featured on the NPR music website as “Piano Pop, Beautifully Arranged”.
 
Shortly after, the single reached a top 50 position after only a few weeks of tracking on commercial radio and stayed in the charts for more than twenty weeks. His second single, “Through To You" was launched to radio stations across Quebec with impressive results, hitting top 10 adult contemporary, reaching 6th position for 5 consecutive weeks.
 
Ben Wilkins debut self­titled album, signed to Milagro Records, was released in stores across Canada on October 18th, 2011. The album has since received rave reviews from Le Journal de Montreal, Le Soleil, Le Devoir, and was featured as a favorite by both Archambault, Renaud­Bray and HMV – and was in the top ten albums of 2012 according to Icon Fetch, and 98.5 FM ­ Montreal's most listened to radio station.
 
Wilkins was scouted by S.L. Feldman & Associates and toured through Quebec and Ontario – headlining theaters and opening for artists such as David Usher, Eric Lapointe, Cowboy Junkie, and Matthew Good. He was named in the top 5 favorite arts in the Chicoutimi Jazz and Blues Festival and his various live formats, be it a band of seven, a trio or solo, have been very well received by audiences and critics alike.
 
Wilkins collaborated with James Di Salvio on The Garden, Bran Van 3000’s fourth album writing string and brass arrangements and singing lead on the track entitled “This Day”. He wrote vocal and string arrangements on 2010 Juno nominee Misstress Barbara's upcoming album, and has been writing arrangements, co-writing songs and producing for local Montreal artists consistently since 2010.
 
Ben Wilkins was awarded the Emerging Artist Sound Recording Grant from FACTOR (The Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent on Recording) for production and marketing of his sophomore album All From Hello. He also received the Sound Production grant from Cirque du Soleil as well as the grant to Individual Artists from the Canada Council of the Arts.  
 
Ben parted ways with Milagro records in 2014 and started his own label called Midnight Train Records. He has since been active in the Los Angeles music scene writing and producing with local artists. All From Hello was released on March 31st 2015.

January 2017

01/31/2017

George Artope, a Chicago, IL native, is a graduate of University of Southern California’s (USC) Cinema-Television program. Upon graduation, he began working in the industry in production, but realized his strong interest and calling in post-production as an editor.  Since then, George has built up a diverse resume of feature films and documentaries, some earning film festival honors and recognition.

01/24/2017

Jorge Valdés-Iga is a Mexican-American filmmaker and photographer. In 2008 Jorge was recognized by American Cinematographer magazine for his short film “Milia”, and shot the documentary “Cocaine Cowboys 2”. In 2009 Jorge was hired to direct the Japanese feature film "Hotel Chelsea", and in 2011 he was hired to co-direct the horror-comedy "You Can't Kill Stephen King". "I Was There” is Jorge’s first film as a writer / director. It will be screening at New York's Firehouse Space, a former Brooklyn firehouse, this Sunday, Jan. 29 at 7 p.m. ET. Proceeds will be donated to the FealGood Foundation. Jorge also produces and directs advertising under his agency VALDESIGA. His work can be seen at valdesiga.com For more information on I Was There, visit iwastherefilm.com.
Recent interview on 'Newsday'
Trailer

01/17/2017

Joe Corcoran is a Toronto-born, Los Angeles-based music creator and producer. His work has been featured on platinum records, number one hits, and screens large and small. In 2016, look for Joe-produced new albums by Wolfie's Just Fine and Emm Gryner. And listen for his music in Real Future, How to Eat and other films and TV shows.
joecorcoranmusic.com

01/10/2017

ROB BONFIGLIO
singer/songwriter, guitarist/multi instrumentalist, producer
 
- Solo artist, producer & multi-instrumentalist with 4 albums to date under his own name.
 
- Touring guitarist and musical director for multi-platinum selling pop group Wilson Phillips - produced their most recent album "DEDICATED" for Sony/Masterworks.
 
- Guitarist/vocalist with Los Angeles based artists
John Pratt, Rosemary Butler, Jeff Alan Ross, Jon Mullane,
Ken Sharp, "The Tribe", & Wild Honey Orchestra.
 
- Guitarist with Badfinger tribute "STRAIGHT UP"
featuring former Badfinger alum Jeff Alan Ross.
 
- Co-founder and long time guitarist for former RCA rock band Wanderlust.
 
- 2017 new full length album TBA.
 
- Numerous song placements in mainstream and independent film and tv including 'Shine' featured in Disney's 2008 release "BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA"
 
www.RobBonfiglio.com
www.soundcloud.com/robbonfiglio
Twitter @Rob_Bonfiglio
Instagram @Rob_Bonfiglio
www.facebook.com/RobBonfiglioMusic

01/03/2017

Rebecca Peters is a soul/folk singer-songwriter with over 10 years of experience, known for her passionate delivery, raw lyrical content and intricate melodies. A recent transplant to Los Angeles, Rebecca has been making it her priority to reach as many eardrums as possible. In an effort to do so, she has booked and performed at venues including The Hotel Cafe and The Mint, packing rooms in just 6 short months.

Prior to moving to Los Angeles, Rebecca won several songwriting and talent competitions in Northern California, and in 2015 as well as 2016, Rebecca was nominated in the Singer-Songwriter category in the Sacramento News & Review sponsored SAMMIES awards.

Rebecca fully funded and released her debut EP, "Run," through an Indiegogo campaign in May of this year and immediately relocated to Los Angeles to pursue music full-time. Her experience in LA has already began to shape the music that she is writing and she can't wait to share as her art continues to evolve.

December 2016

12/27/2016

From the best of Wake Up Hollywood: Ariel Mann’s diverse skills as a composer, arranger, guitarist and producer have been widely sought after throughout his young career. Currently working full time for DISNEY as senior audio producer, Ariel has composed music and created sound design assets for numerous titles including Star Wars: Commander, Marvel:Avengers alliance 2, Disney Crossy Roads, Tron Run/r. As well as composing tracks for many marketing trailers for PIXAR, LUCAS, MARVEL and Disney Infinity, His original compositions have been featured on major network, video games and cable television channels including ABC, ESPN, The Disney Channel, NBC, CBS, CW, VH1, TELEMUNDO, the History Channel and the NHL. As a performer, he has toured extensively and played in Major international festivals as well as many prestigious venues nationally. Since relocating to Los Angeles, Ariel has worked on a huge variety of different projects including: arranging and mixing songs for Platinum selling artist Martina Mcbride, engineering and arranging for Grammy award winner Kitaro, Programming and arranging tracks for Lee Ritenour, arranging and producing a soundtrack for Grammy and Oscar winning composer Dave Grusin Composing Music for music library giants Megatrax and Immediate Music, mixing and tracking with Grammy award winning producer Gerry Brown as well as working with accomplished film composers Michael Levine and Randy Miller.
Ariel Mann’s musical journey began as he started taking piano lessons at the age of eight. Right away, his teachers recognized he possessed perfect pitch and an immaculate sense of rhythm. Growing up surrounded by different styles of music ranging from classical and jazz to rock and pop, Ariel was eager to expand his musical horizons.
Picking up the guitar at the age of 11, Ariel became captivated by the instrument’s boundless range of expression. Practicing countless hours a day, Ariel was already playing his idol’s guitar solos by the time he was 14. Not content to play other people’s music, Ariel turned to jazz and improvisation where he could express himself more freely.
At the age of 15, Ariel was accepted to Israel’s prestigious performing arts high school Thelma-Yellin. During his high school years, Ariel’s musicality got to flourish by playing with talented musicians and taking composition and arranging classes with the best teachers. During his time in Thelma yellin, Ariel was the featured soloist of the Big Band and started to perform regularly in different clubs around Tel Aviv. Upon graduation, he was accepted on a full scholarship to the highly respected Rimon College for Music. During his 2 years in Rimon, Ariel continued to raise the level of his performance on the guitar as well as the piano, and further his studies in orchestral composition. At the same time Ariel was invited to perform on a regular basis with Israel’s best music ensembles including Musica Nova and The 21 st century ensemble.
Ariel’s music started to gain more recognition as he was playing at some of Israel’s most respected clubs and venues including the Hall of Culture, Camelot and many more. While attending Rimon, Ariel became the first person to win both the composition contest and the Jazz performance contest. These awards resulted in him being chosen to represent Israel at the ISAJ convention in Boston, which features the best young jazz musicians from all over the world. Upon returning to Israel, Ariel was granted a scholarship to the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston. While at Berklee, Ariel studied guitar and composition with well known performers and composers such as Wayne Krantz, Mick Goodrick, Joe Lovano and John Bavichi among others. In addition to his academic activities, Ariel continued to perform in the Boston area with world class musicians on a regular basis. During summer breaks, Ariel would return to Israel to record guitar and keyboard with accomplished producers such as Yinon Yahel, Offer Nissim and Yaniv Shulman. Ariel’s affinity to a wide range of musical styles and his ability to relate to them on both the theoretical and the expressive level, led him naturally to choose film scoring as his major at Berklee.
After the completion of his degree, Ariel chose to move to Los Angeles to pursue his musical career. While building his own studio, Ariel was acquainted with Grammy nominated Engineer and producer Gerry Brown, with whom he collaborated in various capacities such as guitar, bass, keyboard player as well as mixing and recording. Some of the artists Ariel and Gerry worked with include Stanley Clark, Leon Ware, Illiyun, Satomi, Tash and Jesicca Cellious among others. After spending the first 6 months mostly working in the studio, Ariel felt it was time to go back to performing on stage.
Some of the artists he has performed with include Australian platinum selling artist Guy Sebastian, grammy nominee world renowned sufi musician Omar Faruk Tekebilek, grammy award winning gospel artist Michelle Williams and many more local and international artists in Los Angeles.

12/20/2016

Andreas Jablonka is German, born and raised, formally based in sunny Los Angeles and now working in Thailand. He studied at the GERMAN FILM SCHOOL for digital production in Berlin, Germany where he received his MA as a Digital Artist .
As a Visual Effects Supervisor, Andreas oversees all aspects of a project from bidding to scheduling to preproduction, on-set supervision to final post production approval. As an artist, he works primarily as a 2D Compositor in Nuke. Andreas Jablonka does have a full 3D background of over 15 years as well in Maya. If you chose to work with him, you will understand why his recommendations comment on his work ethic and spirit so much. Andreas deeply enjoys what he does and welcomes any challenge with open arms.
www.jabbaworks.com

12/13/2016

Jesse Hanson is an award winning singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist hailing from the Greater Boston area. Her sophomore album "Foundations," is a completely self-produced full-length album featuring original songs, compositions and arrangements.

Using several mediums of performance from solo acoustic, live looping and arranging full 7-piece band performances, Jesse Hanson has captivated audiences all over the East Coast as well as all over Western Europe with her indie-rock-meets-sophisticated-folk style. She has been featured as a TEDx performer and as a national award-winning singer-songwriter via Wearelistening.org, and continues to make waves throughout the country as an up-and-coming artist. She now currently resides in Los Angeles.

12/06/2016

Bass player Derek Frank arrived on the Los Angeles music scene years ago with one goal in mind: To create good music with good people. That goal continues to be realized year after year, as he has gotten the opportunity to perform all over the world (to this date 25 countries and 48 states) on tours with various artists/bands. 

     

Currently Derek keeps himself busy occupying the bass position with soft rock hitmakers Air Supply,  country-pop superstar Shania Twain,  LA-based rock band The Dirty Diamond, groove-centric soul/blues band Mindi Abair & The Boneshakers,  the resident band every Wednesday at Lucky Strike Live in Hollywood, amongst many other gigs with LA-based independent artists and bands. 

    

 Past artists he has toured with extensively include: Victoria Justice (2012-2013), Russian artist Roman Arkhipov aka “Troy Harley” (2012), David Pack (2011-2012), Jeff Golub (2011-2012), Mindi  Abair (2010-present), Dancing With the Stars (2007-2009), Aly & AJ (2006-2008), and Brian Auger’s Oblivion Express (2002-present). 

     

One-off performances, including TV shows with: PoeAlan ParsonsSiedah GarrettGregg Rolie BandAlejandra Guzman(Mexico), Siavash Ghomayshi (Iran), Christina AguileraBonnie McKeeRachael YamagataKeb MoPeter WhiteChris StandringLari White, and Jennifer Paige, in addition to many performances with lesser-known but equally talented artists and several independent band projects.

     

Derek also keeps himself busy in the recording studio, laying down bass tracks for many different artists, bands, composers, and producers over the years. Check out the SOUNDS and DISCOGRAPHY pages of this site for more info. Derek also has a website dedicated to his recording studio, where he provides solid bass tracks to clients all over the world via the internet. For more info, please visit BassTracksOnline.com

     

When not on tour, Derek splits his time between his homes in Los Angeles, California and Mammoth Lakes, California, where he lives with his wife, Annette, dog Penny, and cats Ringo and Sherwin.

 

derekfrank.com

November 2016

11/29/2016

Replay of the show from May 10, 2016
 
John Torres is an American Songwriter, Recording Artist and sometimes Actor, from Los Angeles, California. He is best known for his original songs, and performances.
 
His music has been featured in popular films and television shows (Including “My Giant Life” ‘”Alias,” “Felicity”) and has received numerous honors, including a John Lennon Songwriting Award, a nomination for an American Independent Music Award, and a short listing for Best Original Song by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (For his original song “You Don’t Have To Be A Star” in the documentary “Fame High”).
 
He has performed in major venues throughout the country and abroad. Among his favorites were The Disney Concert Hall and Dodger Stadium.
 
As an actor, Torres originated the original lead role of Drew in the first ever production of the now Broadway hit musical and film "Rock of Ages." He also co-starred as Peter in the first major production of the musical "Bare: A Pop Opera" (Nominated for 18 Ovation Awards).
 
To date he has released 4 official studio albums as well as numerous singles and music videos.
 
He lives in Los Angeles, with his wife Joanna and son, Jackson.

For more information, please visit www.johntorres.com or email john@johntorres.com!
 

11/15/2016

MARONZIO VANCE IS A LOS ANGELES BASED WRITER, ACTOR, AND COMEDIAN. HIS BLUNT, SARCASTIC AND WITTY STYLE HAS LANDED HIM APPEARANCES ON WANDA SYKES: WANDA DOES IT, JAMIE FOXX'S LAFFAPOLOOZA, LAST COMIC STANDING, AND THE TONIGHT SHOW. IN 2012 MARONZIO WROTE  ON FOX'S PILOT REMAKE OF IN LIVING COLOR AND SHOT A HALF HOUR SPECIAL FOR COMEDY CENTRAL THAT SAME YEAR. IN 2014 HE WAS A REGULAR ON FOX'S COMEDY SERIES ENLISTED AND HAS APPEARED IN SEVERAL NATIONAL MILLER LITE COMMERCIALS. MARONZIO'S CURMUDGEONLY NATURE PAIRED WITH RAW INTELLIGENCE IS HIGHLIGHTED IN HIS DEBUT COMEDY ALBUM LAUGHMATIC, WHERE HE SEAMLESSLY MOVES FROM DEEP POLITICAL COMMENTARY TO EXTREMELY RELATABLE COMPLAINTS OF THE AVERAGE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE. WITH A COMFORTABLE STAGE PRESENCE, HE CONTINUES TO TELL STORIES AND PERFORM STAND-UP REGULARLY THROUGHOUT LOS ANGELES AND ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY. HIS PASSION FOR HIP-HOP, SPORTS, AND COMICS BECOMES APPARENT THROUGH HIS ENGAGING COMMENTARY ON STAGE. HE WILL NEXT BE SEEN STARRING IN LOPEZ, A NEW TV LAND SERIES STARRING GEORGE LOPEZ, AS A SERIES REGULAR, ESSENTIALLY PLAYING HIMSELF, AS THE CHARACTER MARONZIO.

maronziovanceonline.com

11/08/2016

Who is John DiResta?

 

John DiResta is the real deal. He was raised on the rough and tumble streets of Long Island, where all he did was drink beer, listen to heavy metal and make fun of people. If you got mocked by John DiResta then you were in with the in crowd.

After dropping out of two colleges (New Paltz and Nassau Community) John took the New York City Police Exam. On July 15th, 1986 John was sworn into the worst police department in the history of the world, the New York City Transit Police. For the next 12 years John stood in a puddle of hot human piss in the Coney Island Stillwell Station, alone, with no partner, with a radio that might work if he was lucky. The motto of the Transit Police was 'you ride, we hide.' John had nine arrests in twelve years. His gun was so rusted shut that he would have had to throw it at a perp to take him down. The only thing that made John's job interesting was his homeless friends, with no one else to talk to John became buddies with hundreds of bums in the New York City Subway.

In 1992 John started his comedy career in the bowels of the New York comedy circuit. Five years later his one man show, BEAT: A Subway Cop's Comedy, open to raved reviews. The New York Times called him "UPROARIOUS!" John quickly signed a huge development deal with ABC/Disney. John quit the police department and moved his wife and three kids to the west coast.

In the fall of 1998 John's sitcom, 'DiResta', launched on the UPN Network. John then went on to secure very big rolls in the movies Miss Congeniality and 15 Minutes with Robert De Niro. During that period John made two very memorable appearences on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno and the Howard Stern Show. In the spring of 2004 John's show, Trash to Cash, premiered on the FX Network. John then went on to star in How To Loose a Guy in Ten Days and Miss Congeniality Two. In the fall of 2007 John began work on his next two TV adventures: American Body Shop was on Comedy Central for one year and Hammered lasted two seasons on HGTV/DIY Networks.

John currently lives on both coasts, spending his time in both the San Fernando Valley and in New York City. He travels the world as a killer live stand up and can be seen coming to a town near you. When not on the road John can be found in his North Hollywood Hills shop fabricating his unique rustic furniture and artwork.

John DiResta has been around the block, twice. John DiResta is a true comedic mixed martrial artist of the highest order; on TV, on film or live on stage, John gets it done. John DiResta is the funniest human being that ever lived. John DiResta is your mom.

 

johndiresta.com

11/01/2016

Natalie Hawkins (singer-songwriter) Hailing from the Bay Area, CA, Natalie's vocals have been seasoned via her 20+ year background in live music and theatre performance. She began writing songs in her early teens and caught the ear of Blondie's writing partner and lead guitarist, Chris Stein, who brought Natalie in to write seven songs on the album including the US single "Sugar on the Side." Natalie relocated to Los Angeles in 2013 and immediately began writing and immersing herself in the scene already landing cuts with Chris Lawrence (Mr 305 Pitbull's label), Nicole Millar (Universal Australia), Bobi (Hollywood Records), and Christina Grimmie.

October 2016

10/25/2016

Michael zigon is an LA based musician who blends funk blues and hip hop elements to create a unique style. Michael has lent his talents to Carnival Cruise lines, lineage Dance company,Universal Studios Hollywood and Leonard Nimoy.  Recently Michael teamed up with the United States forest service to release an EP centered around conservation and will be releasing it in late November. More information can be found at zigonmusic.com.

10/18/2016

About Ali Handal

“Ali’s CD, Make Your Move, is a melange of riff-fueled rockers that could stand up to anything broadcast on ‘The Midnight Special’ in the ’70s, dreamy singer/songwriter fare, funk workouts, and ballads spritzed with Beatles essence.”
~ Guitar Player Magazine
“[Ali Handal is] earthy, natural, real and loaded with talent…She’s a singer-songwriter with something to say… a gifted artist who brings insight and intelligence to her art.”
~ Music Connection Magazine

Moved early on by wise and resilient women, singer/songwriter Ali Handal wore out Carole King’s Tapestry album. As a cat-obsessed six-year-old (some things never change), Ali honored her initial musical heroine by naming her very first kitten “Carole.” Over the years, the sweet melodies and lyrics penned by musical sages King, Dylan, Lennon and McCartney captivated her. She had an epiphany when, as a teenager, she heard Led Zeppelin for the first time. Completely mesmerized by Jimmy Page’s seductive guitar riffs, Ali quit her piano lessons to pick up the guitar.
Now based in Los Angeles, Ali unleashes sultry, groove-filled songs upon live audiences, setting the stage ablaze with fiery guitar passages and soulful lyrics delivered by her powerhouse voice. She holds her own among the ranks of fierce female performing songwriters like ani difranco and formidable guitarists such as Jimmy Page. Music Connection magazine describes her as “earthy, natural, real and loaded with talent…a singer/songwriter with something to say… a gifted artist who brings insight and intelligence to her art.” When asked about her music and stage presence, fans simply say “badass.”
Ali’s songs have been featured in numerous films and hit shows like Sex and the City, Dawson’s Creek and iCarly. She’s toured Australia, Japan and beyond, provided backing vocals for Neil Young, and shared the stage with songwriting legend Paul Williams as his featured vocalist. Also a published author, Ali penned Guitar for Girls (Hal Leonard), an exceptional guitar method book & CD brimming with advice for aspiring female musicians, as well as encouraging quotes and remarkable songs from female songwriters in all genres.
Ali is currently writing and recording music for her fourth full-length album, an acoustic collection of songs embodying the strength and sense of humor necessary to thrive as a woman in the 21st century. Cheeky songs like “I Love My Pussy.cat” and “Thank God For Birth Control” tap into her natural sass, while others, including “You Get What You Settle For” and “Better Man,” are chock full of an older sister’s tough love and the wisdom Ali has gained as she’s evolved as an artist and a woman.
alihandal.com

 

10/11/2016

Guerin Lewis is an experienced vocal performer and musician. His infectious personality and unique vocal talent has landed him countless performance opportunities, radio slots and the adoration of his hometown of Steamboat Springs, Colorado. There was no question when Guerin graduated high school and turned 18 that he would be packing up his life and making the move to Los Angeles to pursue his career professionally.
 

Guerin’s musical journey began as a small child. His father, a music teacher, noticed his ear for music and rythmic ability. By third grade Guerin had taught himself to imitate his favorite artists and asked his father to accompany him in his school talent show singing Simple Plan’s “I’m Just a Kid”. After feeling the rush of performing in front of a live audience, he fell in love. Since then Guerin has spent every waking moment singing, playing guitar and picking up any musical instrument that piqued his interest. In sixth grade he started playing guitar to accompany his singing and was soon asked to play with the school’s jazz band. Along with guitar, Guerin can play piano, bass, drums, percussion, ukulele and has over 8 years of experience playing trombone in the school concert band. In high school Guerin auditioned and was accepted to Western Slope’s Colorado Choir Conductors Honor Choir.
 

It wasn’t long before his talent picked up notice from more than his peers at school. Soon Guerin was being paid to play at birthday parties, weddings, fundraisers, charity events, bars and restaurants. After opening at a local concert he was asked to play on Steamboat’s KFMU 104.1 and the Mountain 95.5 several times a month. Guerin went from playing on the street corners to make tips, to being paid to play at local ice cream shops and at the farmer’s market.
 

Although music is his greatest passion, it is not the only venture you will see him pursuing. Since he was a child, Guerin has been identified as the “master of all trades”. His passion for life, determination and willpower to make things happen catch him dreaming big and in return, making big things happen. He is an adventurer, leader and “all or nothing” type of guy who attracts the following of dreamers alike. Whether it is throwing himself off an 85 foot big air jump on his snowboard, placing 1st in nationals for brazilian jiu jitsu, country swing dancing, wrestling and tumbling on his high school cheerleading team, Guerin will truly try anything and accept any challenge.

As Guerin opens the next chapter of his life, these are the qualities that will undoubtedly make him successful at whatever he does.

10/04/2016

Who is RO ?
They say things happen in 3’s.. well that’s the perfect way to explain how Ro DelleGrazie made her way into stand up comedy in 1999. After performing a dramatic monologue about kids dying in a fire and the entire front row laughing, being told by her management team she was a little to “charcter-ey” for them and finally an acting coach advised “You should try stand up comedy cause you’re not afraid to embarrass yourself in public”. Um thanks? So she ventured into the world of comedy and was hooked instantly. 
Originally from New York at the start of her stand up career she was coached by Lisa Lampanelli. Ro went on the road opening up for her and working with her for 6 years. Ro has been featured on the Oxygen Network, Comcast TV and Sirius XM Radio. She also filmed a short movie called Cinderelli’s, the NY version of the fairy tale classic Cinderella. You can also see her in several different original webisodes “Ordinary Girl” and “Buona Sera News”. Ro also co-hosted a radio show with the legendary adult actress Ginger Lynn Allen called “Blame it on Ginger” where she learned things she had no idea she needed to know! 
Ro grew up in Long Island where she got a degree in “ball busting” and every night drama was served for dinner! Ro moved to L.A. in 2005 and started studying at the I.O West where she graduated and was part of an improv group called Tentatively Marty. Ro has performed at the top comedy clubs across the country including Comic Strip Live, Caroline’s on Broadway, The Comedy Store and The Improvs throughout California, Laugh Factory and Flappers Comedy Club just to name a few. As well as International tours for our Troops overseas.
Ro stars in her own webisode every Monday on YouTube called “Ro’s Restau-RANTS!”. She brings you into the world of what servers have to deal with and provides tips on how to behave while you’re dining out.
The best way to describe Ro’s stand up is this….
Ro has been dubbed the “Annoyed Optimist”. She’s New York on the inside and California on the outside. People bother her…a lot. Ro isn’t one to hold back on her opinion of the public, while sharing how life is different with her 6’7 giant husband all while trying to prepare to have a family, because there’s definitely material with kids right?? Take a break from normal people life and check out Ro!

September 2016

09/27/2016

VERONIKA KRAUSAS
 
Of Lithuanian heritage, composer Veronika Krausas was born in Australia, raised in Canada, and lives in Los Angeles. She has directed, composed for, and produced multi-media events that incorporate her works with dance, acrobatics and video. The Globe & Mail (Toronto) writes "her works, whose organic, lyrical sense of storytelling are supported by a rigid formal elegance, give her audiences a sense that nature's frozen objects are springing to life."

Mark Swed of the Los Angeles Times said of her chamber opera The Mortal Thoughts of Lady Macbeth “Something novel this way comes.” Performances 
include Ensemble musikFabrik (at the Darmstadt Music Festival), The Los Angeles Philharmonic, New York City Opera, Fort Worth Opera, Esprit Orchestra, The Vancouver Symphony, San Francisco Choral Artists, Alexander String Quartet, Fort Worth Opera, Motion Music, and the Penderecki String Quartet. Her work was an official selection of the US for the 2012 World Music Days in Belgium and she was the featured composer at the 2013 Céret Music Festival.  She was one of the composers for The Industry’s mobile opera project Hopscotch. The Los Angeles Philharmonic has commissioned a work for 5 basses to be performed in a tent designed by artist Ana Prvacki in the fall of 2016.

Krausas has music composition degrees from 
the University of Toronto, McGill University in Montreal, and a doctorate from the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, where she is currently on faculty.

www.veronikakrausas.com

09/20/2016

David Leach, percussionist, servant to the song and midwife to the muse was born in the shadow of the Manhattan skyline in Plainfield, New Jersey. His love of music was forged in the basement
of his parents’ home while his father and godfather told and re-told stories as the strains of Miles Davis, Theolonious Monk and Stanley Turrnentine played in the background. If jazz wasn’t the
norm for a young kid, David never knew it. The music spoke to him even then.
At 12, David got his first set of drums. He doesn’t remember making a decision about what instrument he would play; rather, the instrument chose him. It was to be the choice that began his
lifetime journey into music. In his teenage years David took the opportunity to see as many concerts as possible and two of them changed the direction of his life. He saw Angela Bofill,
accompanied by percussionist, Sammy Figueroa, and then the legendary band Earth, Wind and Fire. Figueroa mesmerized him with his array of musical toys that colored the music, and the
sheer showmanship of Earth, Wind and Fire convinced him that music was to be a powerful force in his life. Little did he know then, that he would eventually play and record with the venerable
group.
David went to Rutgers University like any nice, middle-class young man, but knew within days that he had to change his major from business to music. During college he spent much of his
free time in New York City, listening to all types of music in all kinds of venues, including the theater. He remembers the magic of discovering how involved musicians were in the success of
most Broadway shows, even though they were rarely seen. It was then that he developed the attitude that it is better to be heard than seen; an attitude that has served him well over the years.
David graduated with a degree and a hunger to make a life that included music. Directly after graduation he moved to Los Angeles, and as they say, the rest is history.
He has circled the globe, playing on six of seven continents, in innumerable countries and with the finest musicians of our time. His joy of music comes out in every note he plays and in every
rhythm he creates. And like his musical hero, Paulinho de Costa, he makes it his mission to play exactly what every song needs. No more, no less.

09/13/2016

ALEJANDRO MILLAN

My music journey inspired me to diversify. Having started as a songwriter, I expanded my abilities to different areas in music with the goal of becoming a well rounded artist, allowing me to do what I am most passionate about and lucky to call my life profession. Nowadays, I can write songs,produce, sing, perform, play keyboards and make arrangements.

It’s always a huge honor when I am asked to contribute in a project, because I am aware of the tremendous amount of work that’s involved in creating an album, and the kind of energy and talent that has to come together to make the magic happen. Every project is an adventure and I get to experience it everyday. Whether I am recording or touring, or sharing knowledge with my students, my two constants are always: dedication and passion.

09/06/2016

BOB MALONE has toured the world as a solo artist for two decades and has played keyboards with rock legend John Fogerty since 2011. Classically trained, with a degree in jazz and a lifetime playing rock & roll clubs, theatres, and arenas, Bob’s sound is a one-of-a-kind hybrid of rock, blues, and New Orleans R&B, delivered with high-energy piano virtuosity and a voice all his own.
BOB MALONE has toured the world as a solo artist for two decades and has played keyboards with rock legend John Fogerty since 2011. Classically trained, wiBOB MALONE has toured the world as a solo artist for two decades and has played keyboards with rock legend John Fogerty since 2011. Classically trained, with a degree in jazz and a lifetime playing rock & roll clubs, theatres, and arenas, Bob’s sound is a one-of-a-kind hybrid of rock, blues, and New Orleans R&B, delivered with high-energy piano virtuosity and a voice all his own.
Born and raised in New Jersey, he has lived in New York City, New Orleans and Boston, and is currently based in Los Angeles. As a solo artist, Bob plays around 100 shows a year in the US, UK, EuropeBOB MALONE has toured the world as a solo artist for two decades and has played keyboards with rock legend John Fogerty since 2011. Classically trained, with a degree in jazz and a lifetime playing rock & roll clubs, theatres, and arenas, Bob’s sound is a one-of-a-kind hybrid of rock, blues, and New Orleans R&B, delivered with high-energy piano virtuosity and a voice all his own.
Born and raised in New Jersey, he has lived in New York City, New Orleans and Boston, and is currently based in Los Angeles. As a solo artist, Bob plays around 100 shows a year in the US, UK, Europe and Australia – including sets at Glastonbury Music Festival (UK), Colne Blues Festival (UK), Long Beach Bayou Fest (US), Falcon Ridge Folk Fest (US), Blue Mountains Music Fest (AU), and Narooma Blues Fest (AU). He has been featured twice at WWOZ Piano Night in New Orleans, and has opened for Boz Scaggs, Subdudes, The Neville Brothers, Rev. Al Green, BoDeans, Dr. John, Marcia Ball and many others. As a member of John Fogerty’s band, he has played with Bruce Springsteen, Bob Seger, Jackson Browne, Jimmy Buffett, and Alan Toussaint.
Malone’s 2015 album, Mojo Deluxe, has received a long list of rave reviews, spent months on the Living Blues, Relix/Jambands.com, Roots Music Report and Americana Music Association (AMA) radio charts in the US, and reached #1 on the Independent Blues Broadcasters Association (IBBA) chart in the UK. Videos from Bob’s upcoming Mojo Live DVD have recently been premiered by Relix Magazine and Alternative Root Magazine.
Bob’s music is heard regularly on Dr. Phil, Entertainment Tonight and The Rachel Ray Show, and he has appeared on The Late Show With David Letterman and The View with John Fogerty.
Kurzweil Music Systems chose Bob to make the demo videos for their new Forte digital piano, and he is endorsed by QSC Audio, Hammond Organ and Fishman Acoustic Transducers.
bobmalone.com

August 2016

08/30/2016

Zuri is a writer from Los Angeles. He spent two years in Kenya as a child and four years in Syracuse as a larger child. He worked in the newsroom at FOX Sports for two years and social media at MLB.com for way shorter than that. Now he makes original content for FOX Sports Digital and does other stuff. He talks a good game but is often nervous. His first book, Fart Sounds, is out now.

08/23/2016

Alex Platt began playing the drums at the age of 10, began gigging professionally at the age of 13, and along with his prodigious younger brother Adam Platt (piano), started his career early in life opening jazz festival shows for international jazz stars like Ahmad Jamal, Diana Krall, Giacomo Gates, Lew Soloff, Mose Allison, Danny Gottlieb,, and many others. He went on to study with drum legends Joe LaBarbara, Mike Clark, Tootie Heath, Rick Latham, Dave Elitch, Jeff Hamilton, and received his performance degree in Jazz and African-American Music from the California Institute of the Arts in 2001. He has performed and/or recorded with jazz artists such Jack Walrath, Oranyon Coltrane and other members of the Coltrane Family, as well as country artist Stephanie Quayle, soul/funk impresario Big Joe Hurt, Persian legends Bahram Bajelan and Mehrdad Arabi, and many others. As an instructor, he has taught independently for 20 years, and has also taught for prestigious music camps such as the Stanford Jazz Workshop. He currently operates a recording/teaching studio in West Los Angeles as a drummer, producer, and educator.

08/16/2016

Replay of the show from February 16, 2016 with Krish Sharma

08/09/2016

Ariel Mann’s diverse skills as a composer, arranger, guitarist and producer have been widely sought after throughout his young career. Currently working full time for DISNEY as senior audio producer, Ariel has composed music and created sound design assets for numerous titles including Star Wars: Commander, Marvel:Avengers alliance 2, Disney Crossy Roads, Tron Run/r. As well as composing tracks for many marketing trailers for PIXAR, LUCAS, MARVEL and Disney Infinity, His original compositions have been featured on major network, video games and cable television channels including ABC, ESPN, The Disney Channel, NBC, CBS, CW, VH1, TELEMUNDO, the History Channel and the NHL. As a performer, he has toured extensively and played in Major international festivals as well as many prestigious venues nationally. Since relocating to Los Angeles, Ariel has worked on a huge variety of different projects including: arranging and mixing songs for Platinum selling artist Martina Mcbride, engineering and arranging for Grammy award winner Kitaro, Programming and arranging tracks for Lee Ritenour, arranging and producing a soundtrack for Grammy and Oscar winning composer Dave Grusin Composing Music for music library giants Megatrax and Immediate Music, mixing and tracking with Grammy award winning producer Gerry Brown as well as working with accomplished film composers Michael Levine and Randy Miller.
Ariel Mann’s musical journey began as he started taking piano lessons at the age of eight. Right away, his teachers recognized he possessed perfect pitch and an immaculate sense of rhythm. Growing up surrounded by different styles of music ranging from classical and jazz to rock and pop, Ariel was eager to expand his musical horizons.
Picking up the guitar at the age of 11, Ariel became captivated by the instrument’s boundless range of expression. Practicing countless hours a day, Ariel was already playing his idol’s guitar solos by the time he was 14. Not content to play other people’s music, Ariel turned to jazz and improvisation where he could express himself more freely.
At the age of 15, Ariel was accepted to Israel’s prestigious performing arts high school Thelma-Yellin. During his high school years, Ariel’s musicality got to flourish by playing with talented musicians and taking composition and arranging classes with the best teachers. During his time in Thelma yellin, Ariel was the featured soloist of the Big Band and started to perform regularly in different clubs around Tel Aviv. Upon graduation, he was accepted on a full scholarship to the highly respected Rimon College for Music. During his 2 years in Rimon, Ariel continued to raise the level of his performance on the guitar as well as the piano, and further his studies in orchestral composition. At the same time Ariel was invited to perform on a regular basis with Israel’s best music ensembles including Musica Nova and The 21 st century ensemble.
Ariel’s music started to gain more recognition as he was playing at some of Israel’s most respected clubs and venues including the Hall of Culture, Camelot and many more. While attending Rimon, Ariel became the first person to win both the composition contest and the Jazz performance contest. These awards resulted in him being chosen to represent Israel at the ISAJ convention in Boston, which features the best young jazz musicians from all over the world. Upon returning to Israel, Ariel was granted a scholarship to the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston. While at Berklee, Ariel studied guitar and composition with well known performers and composers such as Wayne Krantz, Mick Goodrick, Joe Lovano and John Bavichi among others. In addition to his academic activities, Ariel continued to perform in the Boston area with world class musicians on a regular basis. During summer breaks, Ariel would return to Israel to record guitar and keyboard with accomplished producers such as Yinon Yahel, Offer Nissim and Yaniv Shulman. Ariel’s affinity to a wide range of musical styles and his ability to relate to them on both the theoretical and the expressive level, led him naturally to choose film scoring as his major at Berklee.
After the completion of his degree, Ariel chose to move to Los Angeles to pursue his musical career. While building his own studio, Ariel was acquainted with Grammy nominated Engineer and producer Gerry Brown, with whom he collaborated in various capacities such as guitar, bass, keyboard player as well as mixing and recording. Some of the artists Ariel and Gerry worked with include Stanley Clark, Leon Ware, Illiyun, Satomi, Tash and Jesicca Cellious among others. After spending the first 6 months mostly working in the studio, Ariel felt it was time to go back to performing on stage.
Some of the artists he has performed with include Australian platinum selling artist Guy Sebastian, grammy nominee world renowned sufi musician Omar Faruk Tekebilek, grammy award winning gospel artist Michelle Williams and many more local and international artists in Los Angeles.

08/02/2016

As she steps on stage you don’t wonder. You just wait, impatiently, to see what’s behind the sparkly green eyes, broad shoulders, and big smile. Gedina starts to sing and the room hushes, the monstrous song escapes her tiny frame... Raised in Santa Cruz, Gedina brings the warmth and freshness of the California sun into her deep and heavy layers of synths, electrifying guitar riffs, and hard-hitting drums. Her stories of life, love, and loss are sown together by catchy melodies that only the range and power of Adele and Mariah can match. Residing in Los Angeles, Gedina spends her time collaborating with other artists, songwriting, surfing, teaching Krav Maga, and volunteering. She is deep rooted in the blues which defined her voice as a young girl and most recently appeared on “Season 3 of The Voice” which garnered her international exposure. Also, you may have caught her hitting a number one spot on the Most Shazamed Song list with her remake of Robin Beck’s “First Time, First Love” in the UK created for the one-hundred-year anniversary commercial campaign by Coca Cola International. Her talent is raw, her delivery unique, and her energy has an uncanny way of drawing both heads and hearts magnetically to the stage. Watch for her EP coming winter, 2016.

July 2016

07/26/2016

Matt Haze is a rising young talent in the music world, having performed with Lady Gaga, Stanley Clarke, Kimbra, Solange Knowles, Doug E Fresh, Jesse McCartney, SoMo and others. After winning numerous awards in music competitions, Matt attended the University of Southern California  where he studied under jazz great, Joe Diorio. His endeavors as a songwriter, bandleader, and versatility in multiple genres have gained exceptional notoriety.
 
In 2008 Matt began touring with Solange Knowles, the sister of Beyoncè Knowles. In support of Solange he has made numerous television appearances including the Late Show with David Letterman, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Tyra Banks, the Today Show, the Early Show, The View, MTV’s TRL, CBS Fashion Rocks, the World Music Awards, Dick Clark New Year’s Eve Party, the Jools Holland Show, and more.

He appeared in three of Solange’s music videos including the singles “Sandcastle Disco” and “I Decided” (2008 Geffen/Interscope) which reached #1 on the R&B Billboard Charts. In October of 2008 Solange and the Hadley Street Dreams joined Alicia Keys in support of her European tour, and in the Spring of 09 joined Estelle in a U.S. tour.

Matt steadily grew his credits as he backed up Lady Gaga on the Tonight Show and American Idol, showcasing the hits “Just Dance” and "Poker Face". He also  appeared on academy award nominee Terrence Howard’s debut CD, “Shine Through It” (Sony, 2008). Most recently Matt has been touring with Platinum selling Pop/R&B artist, SoMo.

As a band leader (singer and guitarist) Matt has released 3 records as a modern jazz artist and just released his first rock album with his new group- GENERATION MAZE. GM just released a 3 year Music Film project called “Mind Choke Hold” in collaboration with Director/VFX supervisor, Slavik Anishchenko.

“Brilliant musician! He will make it to the top”
-Phil Upchurch (legendary jazz guitarist)

“A killer musician with great instincts”
-Matthew Selby (Music Director/Producer- Disney)

“Funkiest white boy I know!”
-Kim Burse (Creative Music Director- Beyoncè)
 
MattHazeMusic.com  

Facebook.com/MattHazeMusic
Instagram.com/MattHazeMusic
Twitter.com/MattHazeMusic

07/19/2016

Jamie Kaler was born September 14, 1964 in Hooksett, New Hampshire, USA and is an American stand-up comedian/actor who has gained fame by portraying the character Mike Callahan on the TBS comedy "My Boys". Kaler is the current host of "America: Facts vs. Fiction" on American Heroes Channel. He has appeared on such talk shows as the Late Late Show as well as having a role on the sitcom How I Met Your Mother, and had a recurring role on Will and Grace. Kaler also lends his voice to the show Robot Chicken, as the suicidal blooper host. He is a member of the ACME Company, ACME Comedy Theatre's top-level sketch company and has also made guest appearances on Friends, The King of Queens and Monk. His film credits include Spanglish (2004) and The Family Stone (2005).
 
Before beginning his comedic career, Kaler graduated from Boston University. He was then commissioned as a lieutenant in the United States Navy and stationed in San Diego before realizing he wanted to be an actor. After resigning his commission, he started performing in comedy clubs and eventually became involved in the Los Angeles comedy scene.
 
Jamie was the guest on the Adam Carolla Podcast on May 14, 2009. He was also a guest on the Chewin It with Kevin & Steve Podcast on July 23, 2014.
 
jamiekaler.com

07/12/2016

"My life as a drummer is characterized by mature musical abilities fueled by youthful enthusiasm. I have always loved super heroes, and I feel like I become one when I play drums. Decades of dedicated study fueled by childhood drumming dreams have earned me a network of top music industry colleagues. Now I am proudly running the studio that I always knew would be called... GIGANTOR STUDIOS!"

adamgust.com
gigantorstudiosmusic.com
19foot3.com

Facebook: Adam Gust, Gigantor Studios
Instagram: Adam Gust
Twitter: Adam Gust
Youtube: Adam Gust, Gigantor Studios

07/05/2016

Frank Abraham [Bassist]
1982: Born: Los Angeles, California  United States of America
2002-2006: Studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts
2006-2008: Living and playing in New York with various artists including original project J4DA
2009: Presently playing with several up and coming independent artists in Los Angeles including original project, THE ENDANGERED.
2012: Released first EP with THE ENDANGERED, Recorded with Rap Artist, The Game, for his album, “Jesus Piece”
2013: Recorded for Kelly Clarkson’s Christmas Album, “Wrapped In Red”
2014: Joined the Kimbra band on her tour of America, New Zealand and Australia, which included a performance on the David Letterman Show
2015: Played Coachella with Kimbra

 

June 2016

06/28/2016

Deonte' Bolden was born in Washington D.C., but moved to Los Angeles, California to pursue a full time career in acting. Deonte' has appeared in numerous independent films and staged plays. He is also a member of Towne Street Theatre ( LA). As he continues to work, he also continues perfecting his craft while taking acting classes with Tasha Smith Workshop ( TSAW) and other workshops. Deonte' is also a writer and director. He is determined to continue to pursue his passion and grow as an actor, director, and writer.
Facebook: facebook.com/deonte.bolden.7

 "THE PRICE OF FAME" SYNOPSIS
In the world of Hollywood it is a” Dog Eat Dog World.” Six young inspiring entertainers find out quickly when they move to Hollywood to attend the Starlight Academy Of Performing Arts and strive for fame. When it comes to fame, many will lie, cheat, sacrifice their own relationships, and even kill to reach the top. The truth is everyone is hungry for success and want to gain an advantage over everyone else. It is just a matter of time before a hungry dog will eventually turn on and eat another dog. Jealousy just adds fuel to the flame, and each person will pay “The Price Of Fame".
Facebook.com/Thepriceoffamewebseries
Youtube.com/Dbolden89
 

06/21/2016

Todd R. Baker grew up on the North Shore of Chicago and somehow ended up on the shoal of Los Angeles. During Todd’s film industry career, he produced and developed movies for 20th Century Fox, Paramount Pictures, Disney, Miramax, and Universal Pictures, starring Kevin Costner, Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson, Robert Downey, Jr., Adam Sandler, Elijah Wood, Robert Duvall, Anjelica Huston, Whoopi Goldberg, Raul Julia, Daryl Hannah, Chris Farley, Steve Buscemi, Brendan Fraser, Christopher Lloyd, and Kenneth Branagh. He licenses two of his U.S. patents for one of his inventions and is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Stanford University. Todd lives in Playa Vista/Silicon Beach, California.
toddrbaker.com/wp/

06/14/2016

Seattle native, Pete Hopkins, is a Pop/Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Guitarist and Composer who is equally at home in both the acoustic and electronic musical settings. He is also an accomplished Engineer and Music Producer, widely acclaimed on the West Coast and the Pacific Northwest for his song-writing, multi-octave vocals, and guitar playing. 
Pete’s music has been played on numerous programs and podcasts around the world including KISS FM, and BBC Radio (UK), and was a featured artist on 103.7 KMTT “The Mountain Seattle”. Recently, while touring Seattle, Pete was a special guest and featured artist on the Bob Rivers Radio Show (102.5 KZOK) and performed four new songs from his latest recording project. He also performed live on SMI Radio’s ‘Critical Sun Sessions’ with Greg Roth. 
He was the Grand Prize winner of the world-wide competition "CODE BLUE" - Search for the Next Great Artist, sponsored by www.webceleb.com, Immergent Records, and Producer Mikal Blue. Pete recorded with Mikal at Revolver Studios in California, and continues to collaborate with Immergent’s roster of artists. 
Pete Hopkins won the international band search sponsored by the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame "Rock with the Legends". The opportunity of a lifetime, he shared the stage with some of rock's most legendary performers such as Cream, Yes, Tower of Power, and Deep Purple. Pete took full advantage of this opportunity and has developed longstanding relationships with some of rock royalty's most prestigious recording artists. In 2013, he was invited back to the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame to perform with Roger Fisher for Heart’s induction into the Hall of Fame. Pete was a top 5 Finalist on NBC's "Star Tomorrow” with renowned Producer David Foster, and was also a featured artist on the VH1-sponsored promotion "Rock Across America". 
As a Composer and songwriter, Pete has a successful career in both Film/TV and Commercial campaigns. Pete secured a multi-year contract with Viacom, with his original songs and cues placed across many of Viacom’s networks including MTV, Nickelodeon and VH1. Pete’s songs "New Umbrella" and "A Way of Our Own" appeared on MTV’s show “Made” in the U.S. and the United Kingdom, as well as other song placements on various films including the Lionsgate Picture release "Brutal" starring Jeffrey Combes which features his song "Just You Only You" in the end credits. His commercial campaign clients include Heinz, Splenda, Axion and Kelloggs. 
Pete currently lives in Los Angeles, California and is recording his latest projects; an acoustic release titled “Stripped Down”, and an Alt/Electro Pop/Rock album entitled “PROJEKT RENEW”. He continues to compose for TV, and also performs to capacity crowds at venues in Southern California including The Viper Room, Molly Malone’s, and The House of Blues, as well as at venues throughout his hometown of Seattle, WA.
petehopkinsmusic.com
 

06/07/2016

It’s A Disaster: Live
An immersive theatre event taking place at Chloe's (Golden Road Brewery [5410 W San Fernando Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90039]) from June 14-17 and 21-24. This is the world premier of the theatrical adaptation of Todd Berger's 2012 film "It's a Disaster." When a group of thirtysomething friends gather yet again for Open Mic Night at Pete and Emma's bar, the end of the world means that it might just be last call for good! All ages welcome.
TODD BERGER - writer/director of the original film.
GEORGE PORTER - co-producer of the theatrical adaptation.
Ticket site: brownpapertickets.com/event/2551101
Facebook page: facebook.com/ItsADisasterLive
Web: itsadisasterlive.com
Email: info@itsadisasterlive.com
Twitter: twitter.com/IAD_Live
Instagram: IADLive

May 2016

05/31/2016

Brian Vibberts has been a musician since the age of 8. After initially studying astronomy and physics, he transferred to the Berklee School of Music and earned a degree from the music production and engineering program in 1991. Brian has experience with all of the major record labels and was a staff engineer for Sony Entertainment for five years.

 

Brian - known by his admirers as “Dr. Vibb” - has applied his artistic genius and keen understanding of scientific reasoning to the music profession with results that would be impressive for any company and seemingly impossible for a single person. With a renowned music collection of over 9,300 CDs, Brian brings the knowledge of a myriad of music to his productions, fusing sounds and timbres in a manner that only his artistic ability and experience can achieve.

 

Brian is himself a 5-time Grammy Award winner and has been instrumental in the making of albums which have resulted in a total of 266 Grammy Nominations and 75 Grammy Award Winners! He has recorded or mixed many multi-platinum artists in many genres, including Michael Jackson, Aerosmith, The Pussycat Dolls, Bon Jovi, Natasha Bedingfield, Green Day, Trace Adkins, Faith Hill, Toby Keith, Ice Cube, Boyz II Men, Elton John, Eric Clapton, Chick Corea, Brad Paisley, Ringo Starr, Mariah Carey and Tony Bennett, just to name a few.

brianvibberts.com

 

Instagram: @vibbertsmixing

Twitter: @brianvibberts

Facebook: facebook.com/vibbertsmixing

mixit@vibbertsmixing.com

05/24/2016

William F. Artope Jr. As a child prodigy, William began his career at 16 playing with the late Stanley Turrentine in Chicago at a street festival; he was later invited to play at Stanley’s funeral. Artope honed his trumpet style under Chicago jazz greats: Frank Portolese, Bruce Daugherty, Bobby Lewis, and Orbert Davis. At 17, he had the honor of playing in concert with jazz greats Wayne Shorter, Nestor Torres, Onaje Allan Gumbs, and Buster Williams. Shortly after, he was accepted into the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts, where he was honored with several prestigious accolades.
Education: University of Southern California (’05) B.S. in Music Performance/Music Industry
Professional Accomplishments: Artope is a versatile and energetic musician, having shared the stage and recorded with numerous popular artists. He was a member of the Kids Cotton Club, created by Danny Masterson. Other performances with: John Mayer, toured with Teena Marie for 5 years, Stevie Wonder, accompanied Mariah Carey at the 2006 Grammy’s, Ludacris on the Jay Leno Show, India Arie, Nine Inch Nails, Mos Def, Rick Ross, Lloyd, Snoop Dogg, Sinbad & The Stank Nasty Band, Macy Gray, Blu Cantrell, Richard Wright, Roy Hargrove, Earth Wind & Fire, Capital Cities, Prince, Sebastian Bach, Eric Benet, Lupe Fiasco, Dakah Hip Hop Orchestra, and as a regular Guest with NBC’s Late Night with Carson Daly house-band. William has also performed on American Idol and The Voice, as well as various other TV shows.
William is now pursuing his recording career and launching his first regular group to perform here in the US and Internationally. His style of music is Jazz (Traditional & Classic, Contemporary, Blues, Funk, and Big Band) as well as Pop, R&B, Latin, and Hip Hop
wartope@gmail.com

05/17/2016

THE ELEMENT is a Los Angeles based songwriting & production team that spans the globe in experience, talent, musicianship, drive, work ethic and excellence. Made up of esteemed songwriters, musicians and engineers such as Nikhil Korula (frontman for the Nikhil Korula Band), Dimitri Cerny (Tuff Gong World Wide), & Brian Vibberts (recording engineer for Michael Jackson, Eric Clapton, Green Day, Elton John, etc), to name a few, these established artists decided it was time to collaborate to create pop music for the biggest stars in music by writing, recording and creating production recordings of well crafted, accessible, pop songs. Within months of THE ELEMENT’s inception, due to the power and strength of the music as well as the speed of the output, this songwriting team is now managed by Tuff Gong Worldwide. All of this was started by a chance encounter and conversation between Dr Luke (Katie Perry, Miley Cyrus, Kelly Clarkson) & Nikhil Korula, which gave him the idea to put together a songwriting team that could compete with the best because it is made up of the most accomplished musical forces around. THE ELEMENT, named for it’s definition, ‘a cause that contributes to a result,’ is a team collaboration from the inception of a song to the final produced recording that will surely astound any listener with it’s mass appeal, clever arrangements and beautiful melodies & lyrics. With their seasoned amounts of experience in the studio, writing and performing, THE ELEMENT is dedicated to becoming the next big entity in worldwide pop music success. 
theelementsongs.com
Instagram: @theelementsongs
Twitter: @theelementsongs
Facebook: The Element Songs
Management: matt at tuffgongworldwide dot com

05/10/2016

John Torres is an American Songwriter, Recording Artist and sometimes Actor, from Los Angeles, California. He is best known for his original songs, and performances.
 
His music has been featured in popular films and television shows (Including “My Giant Life” ‘”Alias,” “Felicity”) and has received numerous honors, including a John Lennon Songwriting Award, a nomination for an American Independent Music Award, and a short listing for Best Original Song by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (For his original song “You Don’t Have To Be A Star” in the documentary “Fame High”).
 
He has performed in major venues throughout the country and abroad. Among his favorites were The Disney Concert Hall and Dodger Stadium.
 
As an actor, Torres originated the original lead role of Drew in the first ever production of the now Broadway hit musical and film "Rock of Ages." He also co-starred as Peter in the first major production of the musical "Bare: A Pop Opera" (Nominated for 18 Ovation Awards).
 
To date he has released 4 official studio albums as well as numerous singles and music videos.
 
He lives in Los Angeles, with his wife Joanna and son, Jackson.

For more information, please visit www.johntorres.com or email john@johntorres.com!
 

05/03/2016

Lincoln Cleary is a Los Angeles based keyboard player who originally hails from Denver, CO. He attended the world renowned Frost school of music at the University of Miami on a jazz piano scholarship from 1997 to 2001 at which point he graduated with his bachelors degree in studio music and jazz piano performance.

After living and working professionally in Miami until 2007, he decided to move to Los Angeles to pursue better opportunities in the music industry. Since making the move to LA he has held the keyboard chair with Brian McKnight, FloRida, Solange Knowles, Lee DeWyze and Katharine McPhee, and has shared the stage or worked with many more artists including stevie wonder, prince, beyonce, seal, trisha yearwood, daughtry, 50 cent, the game, ne-yo, johnny gill and many more.  Currently he is performing with Anna Nalick and Earl St. Clair.

April 2016

04/26/2016

Finalist in the "International Songwriting Competition" beating over 20,000 people, and awarded "Best Female Dance Artist" & "Best Female World Artist" at the Indie Music Channel Awards , Meli Malavasi is a Costa Rican Singer- Songwriter based in L.A.
 
Her passion for writing great songs have let her to be part of The BMI/Warner- Chappell Songwriting Camp at the Gibson Showroom & getting some major song placements in TV shows like " Bad Girls Club" thanks to Lab Hits.
 
She has performed in places like: Room 5, The Whisky a Go Go, The Viper Room, House of Blues, Kulaks Woodshed, Los Globos and Make Music Pasadena Festival.
 
She's currently working on her next Spanish EP with Musical Director and Keyboardist of the 20x Latin-Grammy Award Winning Band Juanes.
 
more info: www.melimalavasi.com
 

04/19/2016

A graduate of the University of Southern California, Cory Martin has a B.A. in English-Creative Writing, and spent time studying literature at Cambridge University in England. By the age of twenty-five, she had garnered writing credits on the hit television show, "The O.C." and had been asked by Scholastic to pen three young adult novels based on the same T.V. series. She is the author of "Love Sick" a memoir about dating, life in Hollywood and dealing with multiple sclerosis. Her essays have appeared online with XOJane, The Mighty, and Elephant Journal.

As a passionate yogi, Cory Martin is also a 500-hr RYT and a regular instructor at the famed Santa Monica Pier's run and yoga program, ROGA. She teaches at various studios around Los Angeles and is the writer behind the documentary film "Titans of Yoga”. Her book "Yoga for Beginners" was released in August, 2015 by Althea Press. 

To find out more about Cory go to corymartinwrites.com or follow her on Instagram at @corymartinwrites or on facebook at facebook.com/corymartinyoga

04/12/2016

Anthony Starble began studying music at the age of 9 when his mother put him into piano lessons. He became obsessed with the instrument almost instantly, playing hours and hours each day. His mother had to pull him off the bench aggressively when the family was eating dinner, and when other people in the house needed to go to sleep.
 
 Anthony began to excel at a rapid rate. Since the age of 11, he was winning competitions at a statewide level and was later accepted into arts magnet school, Denver School of the Arts as a high school student.
 
While in high school, Anthony began to discover that he had a passion for theater arts and singing. He wrote his first song at the age of 15 and later won the Berklee Songwriting competition for high school students at the age of 16. After winning that competition, Anthony realized that songwriting was his true passion and made up his mind that he was going to move to Los Angeles and become a singer/songwriter. A true Hollywood dreamer.
 
Anthony attended CalArts and received a Bachelor’s degree in music, focusing on composition and songwriting. While at CalArts, Anthony starting working on his first EP ‘Living In Layers’ which was released shortly after he graduated in 2010. Since then, Anthony has collaborated with artists such as Beck, Ben Lee, Kristen Chenoweth, and James both live and in the studio and regularly sings on pop demos and commercials.
 
Anthony is involved in 2 side projects, electronic pop duo ‘Starhook’ and hip indie choir ‘The Silver Lake Chorus’. Both are also set to release albums this year.
 
Anthony’s music has been featured on ABC Family’s ‘Pretty Little Liars’ in 2013 and on ABC Family’s ‘The Fosters’ in 2014.
 
Anthony’s music embodies a sense of realism and honesty. He creates an environment for uncomfortable truths to be heard and pulls listeners inward with his emotional vocal style and dense piano harmonies. He will make you cry, but you just might like it.

04/05/2016

Heidi Heaslet is an actress and comic from the central coast of California. She started out in professional theatre as a child. Now living in Los Angeles Heidi works in commercials, film, and mostly she works on the internet.  She really doesn’t like writing bios, so she wants you to know this is awkward for her. Especially since she just listed the internet as a credit. Heidi has two projects coming out she is very excited about “Big Bear” which is a feature film and a series for Direct TV called “Millennials”. You will have to follow her on the internet to get release dates for the projects. She will be releasing a lot of selfie work in the meantime.

March 2016

03/29/2016

Steve Rose is an accomplished concert photographer who has shot everywhere from the Echo to the Hollywood Bowl. Born and raised in Arcadia, CA, he now lives in Playa del Rey with his girlfriend and their awesome cat. Some notable acts that he’s photographed have included: Dead and Company, Carlos Santana, and Slash with Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators. When he’s not photographing shows, he can be found at home playing guitar or at Staples Center cheering on his beloved LA Kings.

Instagram: instagram.com/steve_rose
Facebook: facebook.com/steverosephotos
Site: steverosephotos.com
Twitter: twitter.com/ramblinrosebud
 

03/22/2016

Kurtis Keber is a professional Bassist who relocated to Los Angeles in 2012. In 2014 alone Kurtis performed as a sideman with 43 artists, as a sideman, in the Los Angeles scene. Since relocating to LA Kurtis has worked and toured with Skylar Stecker, Tyler Ward, Alex G, David Choi, Joseph Vincent, Katrina Parker (Season 2 finalist on The Voice) and Kat Robichaud (Season 5 finalist on The Voice). Kurtis also tours with 14th Annual Latin Grammy Award Winner Lucky Diaz & The Family Jam Band. People Magazine recently named their album ‘a Potluck’ number one among Children’s Music. Kurtis has also appeared on these TV shows: 'The Today Show', ‘Marie’, ‘AXS Live’ and ‘Giuliana and Bill’ with Skylar Stecker, Katrina Parker, Scarlett and Lucky Diaz & The Family Jam Band.

03/15/2016

Alfred Rubin Thompson

Alfred Rubin Thompson is an up and coming triple-threat, specializing in acting, voiceover and producer. A.R.T. trademark deep baritone voice and tall stature grabs his fan’s attention both on and off the screen. A.R.T. Co-Starred in ABC’s Emmy award winning comedy “Modern Family” along with actor Ed O’Neil. Alfred is in a highly anticipated new television comedy “Marry Me” on NBC (2015). A.R.T. plays supporting character “Officer Smith” in feature film called “DESERTED” set to release this summer (2016) Along with a film called CODE 8 starring Sung Kang from (Fast & Furious Franchise) releasing later this year (2016). A.R.T. recurring role as “Tyson” in “Sons of Anarchy” on FX Networks and Co-Star in CBS Network comedy How I Met Your Mother. He made his big screen debut in the HBO movie Hemingway & Gellhorn starring Hollywood heavyweights, Nicole Kidman, Clive Owen, Robert Duvall, Parker Posey, and Tony Shalloub. He plays the character “Skinner” who’s a supporting character in the film. Since Hemingway & Gellhorn release it has gained 16 Emmy Nomination’s. A.R.T. plays a supporting role in the feature film “The Whaley Haunted House” Alfred Rubin Thompson takes on the role in “JUSTIFIED” where he plays the character “Jennings” on FX Networks. Alfred Rubin Thompson plays a supporting role in the feature film “ABSTRACTION”.
Alfred takes on the role as music producer (Oakland Nate) in the drama action feature film “DECISIONS”. This actor delivers a new presence on the screen with his voice and demanding presence as a drama actor. Alfred Rubin Thompson turned his career into a multitalented arena as an actor and voice-over actor. A.R.T. had a comedy role co-starring with Will Ferrell in the NBC Networks hit television show “The Office”. This actor is full of energy that electrifies the scene when acting with a voice some say is similar to the great James Earl Jones. Alfred Rubin Thompson is a unique actor with his diverse make-up of Drama, Comedy, and Thriller suspense acting techniques. The actor’s unique cultural diversity pushes acting to a new level, as actors seek out ways to create a more diversified characters to enhance their talent A.R.T. brings a challenge to the character to bring him more to life for you to understand his personality. A.R.T., whose origins are rooted in Hollis Queens, NY, shares the creative spotlight with other Hollis Queens talents notables such as Russell Simmons a business marketing mogul.
 

03/08/2016

Dustin Jacobs was born in Atlanta, GA and raised in the North Georgia foothills. From a very early age Jacobs knew he wanted to be a filmmaker, often acting out scenes with friends on the playground.

Jacobs' first job was as an usher in the local multiplex, moving up the ranks to eventually becoming a staff leader and projectionist.

While attending Kennesaw State University, Jacobs became the President of the KSU Cinema Society and organized a trip to the 2007 Sundance Film Festival. Upon graduating from Kennesaw State University in 2007, Jacobs turned his attention to his life long dream of becoming a filmmaker.

In 2009, Jacobs moved to Los Angeles, CA to pursue an MFA in film production at the University of Southern California where he studied directing and producing. Among the shorts were his thesis film CONSUMED, a collaboration with fellow KSU alum Charles Thomas, and the Student Academy Award Semi-Finalist PARA ELLOS.

Jacobs recently finished his run as a director on the PBS series JUST SEEN IT, and is developing THE LEGEND OF GEORGE TIREBITER with fellow USC alum Ron Olson Jr.

03/01/2016

Matt Westerman is a singer/songwriter who crafts heartfelt, intimate songs with catchy hooks. Growing up in the Los Angeles area, Matt was inspired by many different artists ranging from Dave Matthews to Sigur Ros to Sufjan Stevens. His sound is a reflection of his interests: folk pop with lush acoustic guitars, sonic ambiance, and soulful vocal performances. In 2015 Matt teamed up with producer Brad Swanson to create his debut EP. The first single, “Don’t Give Up On You” is now available worldwide.
mattwesterman.com
facebook.com/mattwestermanmusic
instagram.com/mattwesterman
soundcloud.com/mattwestermanmusic
twitter.com/matt_westerman

February 2016

02/23/2016

Eric Shantz:
1991, Shantz was at a taping for “Anything But Love”, starring Richard Lewis, when the audience was asked to volunteer and perform a special talent. The grand prize was an “Anything But Love” t-shirt, WOW! So he stood up and did his best impression of Ed Sullivan, beating out the girl who did tongue tricks. Not too bad for a seventeen year old kid... six years later... he started doing tongue tricks.
His big push into comedy came in "97", when he did a comedy cut on the WDVE Morning Show in Pittsburgh. From there Shantz started doing stand up regularly at the FunnyBone in Station Square. A
year and a half later he was opening for Weird Al Yankovic in front of 5,000 people, and then went on to entertain a crowd of 10,000 in downtown Pittsburgh for the St. Patrick’s Day festivities.
Shantz was ready for the road and to the road he went, touring all across the country from New York to Los Angeles he brought comedy to clubs, colleges and casinos. He became a member of the Friars of Beverly Hills, where he met and worked with all of America’s best comedic acts. He has worked behind the scenes for such television shows as, ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live, MTV’s Wild N’ Out, and Comedy Central's Roast of William Shatner.

After a decade of performing comedy in the States, Shantz took his act overseas to Europe. He could be seen at Jongleur’s Comedy Club or the Comedy Store in London, clubs all over Germany and established himself as a regular at the Laughter Lounge, Dublin. While in Ireland, he coordinated shows at the RDS, the largest venue and concert hall in Dublin. And still he managed to fit in appearances at two of the best festivals in the world, Kilkenny Fringe and Edinburgh. It was here that he developed a passion for such festivals and from this small seed of a beginning grew the SLO Comedy Festival, seventeen years of experience in all aspects of comedy helped Shantz put together an astounding four days of entertainment. In its fifth year the SLO Comedy festival is quickly becoming internationally renowned in the world of comedy.

Shantz is a formidable force in the world of standup, taking time out from organising and booking shows to bring to the stage an act that is not for the faint of heart. His delivery is light spirited, pure stand up that is presented as interactive casual conversation. Check out Eric Shantz as sex, drugs and money graphically serenade the audience.

Mark Fry:
Mark Fry has been dazzling audiences with his high energy and quick witted physical comedy since he was old enough to hold a sippy cup. He started his Comedy and Acting journey in Phoenix, Arizona, but quickly moved to the bright lights of Los Angeles, California.
Since moving to LA, he has starred in numerous television shows, movies and national commercials. His most recent credit was a part on the new Nickelodeon show “Marvin Marvin”mixes real life experiences with tons of sarcasm, a boatload of enthusiasm and always a lot of laughs. Mark is fast becoming one of the top comics in the circuit today and is a crowd favorite in clubs, colleges and festivals across North America. He is also proud to be a Producer of the SLO Comedy Festival
You may have seen him on such shows as Last Comic Standing and Conan. Mark Fry’s comedy is for anyone who is ready to get real, not take life too seriously, cut loose and have an awesome time!
slocomedyfestival.com
thecomedyspot.net/show-calendar/?dateInput=20160501
markfrycomedy.com
imdb.me/markfry
 

02/16/2016

Los Angeles native Krish Sharma (Producer, Mixer, Engineer) brings his own unique mix of skills and energy into the studio. in 2010 Krish won a  Grammy award for mixing Ziggy Marley’s "Family Time".  A career highlight for many, the Grammy was a portent for more exciting developments over the past years in Krish' already respected professional career.  He produced and mixed Warner Brothers' Autozamm album that hit #1 in New Zealand.  He was also in the studio with the Rolling Stones engineering the previously uncompleted and never-before-heard bonus tracks on the highly anticipated May, 2010 re-release of "Exile on Main Street (Rarities Edition)" as well as for the subsequent re-release of “Some Girls” that have both charted to much acclaim domestically and globally.  His work on Exile and Some Girl’s Rarities is a natural and deserved followup to his prior engineering and mixing of the Stones' album "A Bigger Bang" (Virgin), which itself has been hailed as "a worthy successor to their masterworks" by Rolling Stone magazine.  A true artist of exceptional scope, Krish' has also collaborated with such innovative musicians as Perry Farrell (appearing as producer and musician on Perry's "Songs Yet to Be Sung" album) and System of a Down's lead singer Serj Tankian, as well as musical legends as diverse and artistically ground-breaking as Al Greene, Johnny Mathis, and Brian Wilson. A further sampling of his credits features work with Kris Kristofferson, The Cult, Poison, Amos Lee, Counting Crows, Supreme Beings of Leisure, Liz Phair, and Hilary Duff, and just further reinforces Krish' unique talents and broad musical range.  Krish's experience also extends to work with many overseas artists such as Italy's Zucchero and extensive work in Japan with Avex Trax and artists such as Hide (X Japan) and the critically acclaimed Oblivion Dust.  Krish has also produced South Korea’s Luna, a critical and digital success and helmed blues up-and-comer Hamish Anderson’s US debut which was released as Hamish toured with the late B. B. King as the opening act.  He produced Blackcowboy’s beautiful “Come On” which featured Gisele Bunchen in it’s extremely popular video. Krish has also branched out as host and judge on Gimme the Gig along with longtime friend and partner Don Was and is currently a producer on the exciting new biopic of Alan Lomax which he is developing along with the producers of last year’s “Get on Up”.  
 

02/09/2016

Tellina Lee was born and raised in Newcastle, Australia, Born with Dance and music in her blood, she started tap dancing at 2, followed by every other style soon there after. As well as dance, Tellina is an accomplished Actress, Singer, Model, Host, V/O Artist, Choreographer and Teacher.Tellina has won many scholarships and championships, as well as receiving awards for the top 5% in Australia for Performing Arts.

She has performed in an abundance of professional Musicals, in both USA and Australia, with some of her many highlights including, Opening with her girl group for Busta Rhymes in Vegas, Performing at the Superbowl, Sydney 2000 Olympics Opening Ceremony -Lead Tapper, writing top 5 song for Bejing Olympics and choreographing Dance groups for International fashion shows and studios.

Tellina is the Creator and Choreographer of "Tap That" and is excited to use her passions and visions to bring Tap to another medium with this spunky group of tappers. ​​

02/02/2016

Kathrin Jakob is a 26 year old singer from Germany, Bavaria, currently living in Los Angeles, CA.
She graduated from the Los Angeles College of Music with an Associate of Arts degree in Vocal Performance and works now as a singer/songwriter and session singer.

Kathrin always liked to sing and wished to do so in front of a crowd. When she started taking Piano lessons at the age of 13 she first got involved with music. Later she joined the local school band as the lead singer and she started taking voice lessons with Klaudia Salcovic-Lang.

After graduating from highschool (Gymnasium) she decided to make music her profession and applied to the "music college" in Regensburg, Germany. Her voice coaches were Lucy Frank, (Zick Sisters), Gunther Conrad and Stefanie Polster. She graduated in July 2012 with the title "Ensemble Leader in the Field of Rock/Pop/Jazz" and an additional pedagogical qualification, with a voice major.
Several students took voice and piano lessons with Kathrin while she lived in Germany. She also was a co-leader of the choir and the vocal ensemble in her school.

In 2012 Kathrin decided to take her career a step further and she moved to Los Angeles to continue her studies at the LA Music Academy, in Pasadena. She worked with teachers such as Kacee Clanton (Janis Joplin Broadway, Joe Cocker), Teresa James, Dorian Holley (Michael Jackson, The Tonight Show), Nikhil Korula, Tierney Sutton and lots of other great and known musicians.

Kathrin now is writing and recording her own music.
Driven by the belief that anything is possible she's pursuing her dream of working as a full-time singer/songwriter and plans to bring out an EP in the near future.

Recently there's also been a hype about Kathrin's yodeling talent, which brought her on several TV shows in Germany and Europe's biggest Sunday newspaper. Her video for "He taught me how to yodel" can be seen on youtube.

Some of her experiences include singing at weddings and church services, studio jobs for film productions, background singing, recording demos and gigs such as acoustic and cover music.

January 2016

01/26/2016

RE-RUN

01/19/2016

As an undergraduate at Barnard College, Columbia University, Kieren van den Blink received a Ford Foundation Grant to write her first book, Mighty Forces Are Gathering On Your Behalf, as well as a poetry award from Ireland's Poet Laureate, Seamus Heaney. She landed her Broadway debut within a year, co-starring with Natalie Portman in the Tony-nominated revival of The Diary of Anne Frank. She then moved to Los Angeles where she landed the role of Rogue in the highly-anticipated animated series, Wolverine & The X-Men. Next she founded her own theater company, The Little Beast, which culminated in NBC flying her to New York City to test for Saturday Night Live! She had a beloved column in The Los Angles Times Magazine called Sounds of the City. Last year, she published SNIFF, the first in a five book series of children's books based on the senses. She's been touring the country reading SNIFF in bookstores, museums, and schools. She is currently preparing to star in her self-scripted movie, MINE, a coming of age story about a woman in her 30's, which was a finalist for the Sundance Screenwriter's Lab. Kieren lives in Los Angeles with her beloved doggie, Gatsby.
 

01/12/2016

Sophie Levine has been singing almost since she could talk. Growing up in Studio City CA, she studied multiple genres, especially musical theatre. In her growth as a musician, Sophie discovered a passion for songwriting and playing piano. She realized and developed her pop/classic rock style after studying at Berklee College of Music. After Berklee, Sophie returned to California to explore her musical aspirations. In attending the Songwriting School of Los Angeles, she found a place where she could truly grow as an artist. Recently, she has written toplines for other artists, done session work as a singer, and collaborated with various songwriters. Her new EP was co-produced by Canadian writer/producer Ben Wilkins. Sophie lives once again in Studio City with her beloved dogs, Marcel and Luigi, who sometimes provide background vocals. She will soon be starting her own YouTube channel and playing original songs around the Los Angeles area.

01/05/2016

Raised a proud Razorback in Little Rock, Arkansas, Matt Besser attended Amherst College where he learned how to collect CDs. After graduating, Matt toured the Midwest doing stand-up, while taking improvisation direction from Del Close at Chicago’s Improv Olympic Theater. In Chicago in 1991, he was a founding member of the sketch group Upright Citizens Brigade, and with them he has performed and written such stage shows as “Saigon Suicide Squad” winner of Best Sketch at 1996 U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen. Besser’s stand up albums include: “May I Help You Dumbass?” , and “Woo Pig Sooie!”, and “The 6 Most Important Sets in the History of Standup”. As an improviser he was a member of Chicago’s “The Family” and is forever a member of “Asssscat” the UCB Theater’s long-running flagship improv show.
In 1996 the UCB moved to NYC and produced their sketch show “Upright Citizens Brigade” for three seasons (’98 – 2000) on Comedy Central. In fall of 2005 the UCB premiered their improv show “Asssscat: Improv” on Bravo.

With the success of their tv shows, the UCB opened their own comedy theater and improv school which operates two theaters in NYC, and starting this summer, two in LA.
After the UCB tv show , Matt teamed up with Method Man & Redman to create and perform in a hidden camera show on MTV called “Stung”. He was creator and star of “Crossballs” which ran 23 episodes on Comedy Central; “This Show Will Get You High” on Comedy Central; and also created and starred in “The Very Funny Show” for TBS.com. Besser has guest starred is such sitcoms as “Parks & Recreation”, “Modern Family”, “New Girl”, “Children’s Hospital”; “Bernie Mac Show”, “Frasier”, “The Millers”; “Drunk History”, “Comedy Bang Bang”, and featured in the movies: “Freak Dance”, “Year One”, “Walk Hard: the Dewey Cox Story”, “Drill Bit Taylor”; “The TV Set”, “Bad Teacher”, “Wild Girls Gone”, Sundance Film Festival favorite “Junebug”; and co-star of zombie western “Wanted: Undead or Alive”.
Along with Ian Roberts and Matt Walsh, he is the author of “The Upright Citizens Brigade Comedy Improvisation Manual”. He wrote & co-directed the film musical “Freak Dance”.
Matt Besser has most recently worked on…

- producing The UCB Show – comedy variety show shot at the UCB Theater in LA debuting on Seeso.com

improv4humans – weekly improvised comedy podcast on Earwolf

Besser Breaks the Record standup special debuting on Seeso.com January 7!!!

•  Twittering at twitter.com/MattBesser
•  posting nude photos at MattBesser.com
 

December 2015

12/29/2015

Cory Phillips is a singer, musician, lyricist, poet, scientist, & souljazzeroticgroovefunk leader from all over the damn place. While falling in love with classic soul, funk, disco, and r/b, he moved to Los Angeles in pursuit of higher tides. His self-titled/self-produced debut came in 2009 followed by extensive performing in Southern California & the Midwest. He & his large band of savvy, funkjazz musicians can be found on the club circuit dishing out the swampy dance grooves more than 100 nights a year. SEXTHIRSTYLOVEHUNGER, his second and most anticipated album documentation of sexual/romantic nature, is due to be released in Summer 2016...
 

12/22/2015

Melissa Rojas is an actor, writer, director, and producer, who is currently in production on her YouTube Channel, JustBoobs Sketch.  Their content has been featured on media outlets such as The TODAY Show, The Meredith Vieira Show, and Funny Or Die.  Melissa is a classically trained actor who studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts Los Angeles and with Tom Todoroff in Santa Monica.  More importantly, she is obsessed with Shakespeare and her favorite mode of transportation is the TARDIS.  Check out her sketches at justboobssketch.com
 

12/15/2015

RE-RUN

12/08/2015

Slavik IA is a Los Angeles based film, commercial and music video director. originally from Odessa, USSR.  Slavik moved to Los Angeles 10 years ago to help create some of the biggest blockbuster films of the past decade. Transformers 3, Tron, GI JOE and Rise of the Apes to Flags of our Fathers, The Mummy 3 and Letter from Iwo Jima are on the list as well as a large list of commercial work.
Slavik wrote and directed a 2010 short film "Synthetic_World" for a Philips/Ridley Scott contest which gathered international attention and gave start to a Directorial career with the latest project "Mind Choke Hold" Music Film for Generation Maze. "This was the most difficult project for me yet, three years of my life, trials, tribulations, mistakes and successes, blood, sweat but never tears are all packed into 5 and a half minutes of conceptual and visual madness..."
His influence includes a wide range of artists, both visual and audial. From the visual works of Jonathan Glazer, Chris Cunningham, Mark Romanek, David Fincher, Michel Gondry, F.F. Coppola , Ridley Scott, Kathryn Bigelow, Stanley Kubrick and Vittorio Storaro to the experimental sounds of Meshuggah, Radiohead, NIN and a variety of DnB and Neurofunk Artists.
"Sometimes people ask me what I would be doing if I wasn't directing and I joke that if I wasn't in film, I would be robbing banks. And I have zero interest in robbing banks"
slavmonster.com
Matt Haze is a rising young talent in the music world, having performed with Lady Gaga, Stanley Clarke, Kimbra, Solange Knowles, Doug E Fresh, Jesse McCartney, SoMo and others. After winning numerous awards in music competitions, Matt attended the University of Southern California  where he studied under jazz great, Joe Diorio. His endeavors as a songwriter, bandleader, and versatility in multiple genres have gained exceptional notoriety.
In 2008 Matt began touring with Solange Knowles, the sister of Beyoncè Knowles. In support of Solange he has made numerous television appearances including the Late Show with David Letterman, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Tyra Banks, the Today Show, the Early Show, The View, MTV’s TRL, CBS Fashion Rocks, the World Music Awards, Dick Clark New Year’s Eve Party, the Jools Holland Show, and more.
He appeared in three of Solange’s music videos including the singles “Sandcastle Disco” and “I Decided” (2008 Geffen/Interscope) which reached #1 on the R&B Billboard Charts. In October of 2008 Solange and the Hadley Street Dreams joined Alicia Keys in support of her European tour, and in the Spring of 09 joined Estelle in a U.S. tour.
Matt steadily grew his credits as he backed up Lady Gaga on the Tonight Show and American Idol, showcasing the hits “Just Dance” and "Poker Face". He also  appeared on academy award nominee Terrence Howard’s debut CD, “Shine Through It” (Sony, 2008). Most recently Matt has been touring with Platinum selling Pop/R&B artist, SoMo.
As a band leader (singer and guitarist) Matt has released 3 records as a modern jazz artist and just released his first rock album with his new group- GENERATION MAZE. GM just released a 3 year Music Film project called “Mind Choke Hold” in collaboration with Director/VFX supervisor, Slavik Anishchenko.
Brilliant musician! He will make it to the top” -Phil Upchurch (legendary jazz guitarist)
A killer musician with great instincts” -Matthew Selby (Music Director/Producer- Disney)
"Funkiest white boy I know!” -Kim Burse (Creative Music Director- Beyoncè)

12/01/2015

Jesse Stern
Music saved my life.
My parents taught me guitar and piano at age 4. As a teenager, I was in trouble a lot, and became self-destructive. In desperate
need of a creative outlet, I got my first bass when I was 13, and that’s when I chose music as my life’s work. The bass has kept me alive and mostly out of trouble ever since.

As an adult, I have been blessed to work with a lot of great artists, including some of my heroes.

Recent Credits (Touring and/or recording):

✴ Jordin Sparks (American Idol winner)
✴ Sly Stone (Grammy winner)
✴ George Clinton (Grammy winner)
✴ Chad Smith (of the Red Hot Chili Peppers)
✴ Kenny Aronoff (#1 touring and session drummer)
✴ Guy Sebastian (4x Platinum Australian Idol winner)
✴ Andy Vargas (of Santana)
✴ Pee Wee Salinas (Latin Grammy winner)
✴ Natalia Lesz (stadium-level EMI Europe pop artist)
✴ Hanson (Grammy nominee)
✴ Jon Abel (Grammy nominated Christian artist)

I have also performed and/or recorded with: Weezer, Airto Moreira, Della Reese, Coolio, Mario Reyes (of the Gipsy Kings), JoJo, Michael Johns, Jovino Santos Neto,
Ricardo Lemvo & Makina Loca, Carlos Malta, and many more.

As a bassist, I play electric and upright, fretted and fretless, four- and five-string basses, as well as synth Keybass and background vocals.

I am also a multi-instrumental songwriter and producer. My writing has appeared in TV, Film and video games around the world.

JesseStern.com
soundcloud.com/jessestern
 

November 2015

11/24/2015

Betsy Salkind is an actress, comedian, writer and former drummer for the PHENOBARBIDOLLS. She was a founding member of the TERRORIST BRIDESMAIDS (4 comediennes determined to get a second use out of those dresses), and alumna of the improv troupe GUILTY CHILDREN and the sketch comedy group THE OTHER WHITE MEAT. She was also a staffwriter for “SATURDAY NIGHT SPECIAL” and “ROSEANNE” (the sitcom), and a jokewriter for Anthony Robbins.

Her stand up career includes an early banning in Boston, where she performed “The Emperor’s Getting Fucked,” a short piece about misogyny, racism, and viciousness in the comedy clubs. Performed only twice, it caused a stir in the comedy community and took her for several years into the world of performance art. Several years later she reemerged in New York and LA comedy clubs and is a regular at NY’s Comic Strip and LA’s Comedy Store, and has appeared on “Girls Night Out,” “Stand-Up, Stand-Up,” “ARLI$$,” “Pet Shop with Andy Kindler,” the “TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO,” and most recently in the SHOWTIME special “Fierce Funny Women.”

She has written and performed 3 one woman shows to date, including “ALL MY LIFE” (the darkest comedy this side of hope), “MASTER OF SCIENCE” (an irreverent look at science and scientists), and most recently “ANNE FRANK SUPERSTAR: THE ETHEL SPILIOTES STORY” (a satire of Anne Franxploitation).

Born in Troy, New York and razed in Connecticut and Virginia, she was not the funny one in her family. As a child she put on plays with her brothers in which she was always cast as the wicked witch or cruel stepsister. She graduated from MIT with a BS and a Master’s degree from the Sloan School of Management. Her master’s thesis was titled: “Can’t You Take A Joke? A Study of Sexual Harassment Among Peers.” Preferring the security of the arts, she left her career as a Federal Reserve Bank Examiner to become a comedian.

She is perhaps best know for her squirrel impression, but refuses to be pigeonholed as a squirrel. She is currently developing an animated series based on Ethel, the lead character from Anne Frank Superstar, as well as a comedic play about depression. She is also producing a feature documentary with Amy Kofman of Jane Doe Films (“Derrida”), and writes for “ETHEL’S LAW”(a blog by a 5th grade activist who has turned her girl scout troop into a revolutionary cell.)

She is the author of “More Than Once Upon A Time” (2006), a short, illustrated children’s-style book that tells the story of a child who is raped by her father and his friends, but manages to overcome it and then ruin his life, as well as the hilarious “Betsy’s Sunday School Bible Classics” (2008).

In her spare time, Betsy lobbies and organizes for the National Association to Protect Children, and was instrumental in changing CA law to offer equal protection to children sexually abused by family members.

Betsy was Andy Kindler’s Tae Kwon Do sparring partner, and hangs her own drywall.

She has 28 teeth.

11/17/2015

RE-RUN

11/10/2015

One of the most versatile exponents of the latest cadre of young jazz musicians to emerge in the post-“Young Lions” era, saxophonist, Ray Zepeda, differentiates himself not only by his diverse musical background but also by his life story – a sojourn that began in the shadows of oil wells and derricks in Taft, California, followed by his formative musical development in the beach cities of Los Angeles’s South Bay which led to a 5-year stint in the Boston area where he greatly broadened his musical perspective and started composing, only to return to the South Bay to establish himself in the Los Angeles jazz scene – a life that has not only encompassed alternating periods of focus on “classical” composition, jazz, and popular music, but also various professional pursuits which have included jobs such s a music educator and a successful project management career in the oil & gas industry. The economics of jazz notwithstanding, rest assured that Ray Zepeda has lived the jazz way, improvising a life, as it were, - exploiting every opening, pulling on every thread no matter how tenuous or impossibly thin, and approaching life with a humility that has allowed others to shine and benefit from his gifts – and, undeterred by numerous vicissitudes, has achieved his highest level of success during this, the most severe economic turndown in memory. This is not as much an artist’s story as it is a uniquely American one.
 
His debut CD, “Step By Step”, features Bill Evans Trio drummer, Joe La Barbera; first-call bassist, Darek Oles; and legendary L.A. pianist/composer, Rich Eames. With eight smoking, thought-provoking tracks beautifully mastered by Bernie Grundman, it was the top seller at the Bakersfield Jazz Festival which featured a lineup of internationally-known artists and enjoyed substantial radio airplay in major markets nationwide and abroad and marked movement on the jazz charts. He recently founded the Bakersfield New Music Collective which will perform two pieces on his second CD, “America”, to be released in 2016.
 
A veteran of the Los Angeles jazz, reggae, punk, pop, and house DJ scene, Zepeda has performed/recorded with Lou Rawls, Russ Ferrante (Yellowjackets), John Patitucci (Chick Corea), Joe La Barbera (Bill Evans Trio), Barbara Morrison, Thelma Jones, Carl Saunders (Stan Kenton/ Bill Holman), Dave Tull (Chuck Mangione/ Michael Buble), Lanny Morgan (Supersax/ Natalie Cole), Johnny Blas (CuBop Records), and many others. Since beginning his professional career playing lead alto in various big bands at the age of 15, his musical palette has expanded to include everything from serious composition to avant-garde jazz to contemporary pop to punk rock. Mr. Zepeda holds the Master of Music in Jazz Studies from the University of Southern California where he studied with saxophonist, Bob Sheppard (Steely Dan, Chick Corea, Mike Stern), and the Bachelor of Science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he studied Composition with Pulitzer Prize and MacArthur Grant-winning composer, John Harbison.

11/03/2015

Jon Huck is an Illinois born actor and comedian whose humor can best be described as honest, observational and self-deprecating. Jon Huck performs stand up all over the country and has appeared on Comedy Central's Live At Gotham, Showtime's Comedy From SXSW, AXS Gotham Comedy Live and This Is Not Happening for CC Studios. Jon Huck co-hosts the Hollywood Anonymous Podcast on the All Things Comedy Network. Jon Huck's first CD Fantasticular Hilaritation (available on iTunes & Amazon.com) was called "raving mad with a tinge of brilliance" by Americascomedy.com. As an actor Jon Huck can be seen in countless commercials along with television shows such as MTV's Punk'd, TBS's Frank TV, NatGeo's Now We Know and CBS's Angel From Hell. Jon Huck has also appeared in the films Bellflower, Garbage & Dumbbells which are currently available at Amazon.com. Most recently Jon Huck can be seen in the comedy And Punching The Clown. In addition to stand up & acting Jon Huck has made an impact as a Producer and Writer as well, working on shows like Proving Ground for the G4 Network, MTV's Punk'd, MTV's Room 401, The Untitled Steve Jones & Jenny McCarthy Pilot and Disney's Code: 9.
jonhuck.me

October 2015

10/27/2015

VERONIKA KRAUSAS
The works of composer VERONIKA KRAUSAS are performed throughout Europe and North America, where she is recognized for her innovative use of dance, acrobatics and video. The Globe & Mail (Toronto) writes "her works, whose organic, lyrical sense of storytelling are supported by a rigid formal elegance, give her audiences a sense that nature's frozen objects are springing to life." Mark Swed of the Los Angeles Times said of her chamber opera "Something novel this way comes."
Since 1998 Krausas has directed, composed for, and produced multi-media events in Los Angeles that incorporate her works with dance, acrobatics and video. Her chamber opera The Mortal Thoughts of Lady Macbeth, based on Shakespeare's Macbeth, was premiered at the New York Opera's VOX 2008 festival. A full production was mounted in Los Angeles in August 2010 to sold out audiences. Other productions were by Goat Hall Productions in San Francisco, Fort Worth Opera's Frontiers Festival, and New Fangled Opera in New Orleans.
Her chamber orchestra work Spirals was premiered at the Darmstadt Music Festival (1996) and had a subsequent performance by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. The Penderecki String Quartet gave the US Premiere of midaregami, her work for string quartet and mezzo-soprano at REDCAT Theater in Los Angeles and was performed by the Opium Quartet at the Céret Music Festival. Language of the Birds, a commission for the 25th Anniversary of the San Francisco Choral Artists and the Alexander String Quartet, using text by the poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti, was premiered in 2011 in San Francisco and released on CD with Foghorn Classics. Analemma for chamber orchestra was an official selection of the US for the 2012 World Music Days in Belgium.
Recent premières have included: her solo piano pieces UN-intermezzi, performed and recorded by pianist Aron Kallay with subsequent performances by Steven Vanhauwaert at the Amigos De Música de São Lourenço in Almancil Portugal, a new work for harpsichord solo l'ombre du luth (shadow of the lute) for Gloria Cheng for Piano Spheres, and a song cycle The Alchemist's Suite for bass-baritone Nicholas Isherwood and Sillages for 4 double basses on the Los Angeles Philharmonic's Chamber Music Series at Disney Hall in Los Angeles, and a Piano Spheres commission for pianist Steven Vanhauwaert at REDCAT in June 2015.
She is one of six composers involved in The Industry's new mobile opera project Hopscotch, the first mobile opera premiering in Los Angeles October 31, 2015.
Of Lithuanian heritage, she was born in Australia and raised in Canada. Krausas has music composition degrees from the University of Toronto, McGill University in Montreal, and a doctorate from the Thornton School of Music at USC. She is currently a Professor in the Composition Department at the Thornton School of Music, on the advisory council of Jacaranda Music and People Inside Electronics, an associate artist with The Industry, and a pre-concert lecturer at the Los Angeles Philharmonic

10/20/2015

Stephanie Koenig is on a Hulu show called The 4 to 9ers. She has guest starred on NCIS, Selfie, About a Boy and Mixology. She co-creates sketches on a successful YouTube channel with her partner Brian Jordan Alvarez.

Brian Jordan Alvarez is an actor and creator. He has a successful YouTube channel and is currently on Jane the Virgin.
Brian Jordan Alvarez on Youtube

10/13/2015

Lyndon Garnett Rochelle - Drums

With a groove that would make anyone get up and dance, the soulful touch of Lyndon Rochelle has been enlisted by many of today's most unique artists. Hailing from Los Angeles, CA, Lyndon started as a young child on the pots and pans. By the age of 5, he was holding down the drum chair at his Grandmother's church every Sunday morning.

Lyndon is an alumnus of the Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. During his time at Berklee, he developed his sound by studying the greats. While in Boston, he met and befriended the 2011 Grammy Award winner for Best New Artist, Esperanza Spalding. As a result, Lyndon has performed all over the world, including at such notable events as the Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony for President Barrack Obama, The opening slot for Prince's Welcome to America Tour and several European tours with Esperanza Spaulding.

Since returning to Los Angeles, Lyndon has lent has talents to such artist as James Torme, The RZA (Hip Hop Pioneer), Andy Allo (Guitar Vocals for Prince), Erick Darrius (#1 on Billboards Contemporary Jazz Charts) and a host of others ranging from the most intricate in jazz to the most passionate in hip-hop.

Lyndon believes in giving back through education. He teaches privately and through his local church. In addition, he was hand picked to teach and mentor at the Swarnabhoomi Academy Of Music in Chennai, India during the spring of 2011.

Lyndon loves the drums!! More importantly - he loves people. His passion for both music and life are on full display every time he sits down to play.

10/06/2015

Film Synopsis for CHEW:
Smug drifter Lisa "Chew" Hoffman (Nora Wyman) reluctantly returns home for her best friend Mina Priest's (Megan Messmer) wedding and soon clashes with the world she left behind. Wrestling with triggered memories and guilt, she suffers a panic attack in a public restroom. Soon after, she meets the ambitious photographer and paraplegic Dan Meyers (Hunter Garner). Inspired by his enthusiasm and love for life, Chew resolves to face her troubled past…

Biography Jessica Franz (writer/director):
Jessica studied at the International Academy of Performing Arts Stuttgart and began her professional career as an actress in Germany with roles in feature films as well as numerous guest appearances on national TV shows. She won the national writing competition SAT.1 Talent Class and worked at the German TV giant Constantin Entertainment as a project manager. In 2012, Jessica founded the production company Triple Threat Pictures, which has produced a comedy web series and award-winning short films. Soon after she began creating for the independent agency MoFilm and won numerous awards for her commercials. Current projects as a writer include the feature film thriller trilogy "Crosscuts", the comedy TV show "Wild Kat", and the feature film version of Chew entitled "KIN."

Biography Alex Lampsos (producer):
Alex Lampsos, a Canadian native, spent the majority of his life immersed in cultural discovery as his eclectic family established bases in various parts of the world. A graduate of the New York Film Academy, Alex launched his career by landing a managerial venture at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival for a vibrant two-festival run. Since his move to LA in 2013, Alex produced a total of ten films resulting in over 15 festival selections and awards, including an ambitious short film based on a Chekhov play, a romantic drama, and his first short film "Thylacine" with over 1.5 million views on YouTube. He has three more films in the pipeline in 2016, ranging from a gay-themed comedy feature to a documentary feature.

September 2015

09/29/2015

Walter Allmon is a bassist, producer, musical director from Richmond Va. Walter was born and raised in Richmond Virginia and his passion for music was displayed at a very young age. During his teenage years he played bass guitar and also showed interest in the drums.

When Walter was in high school, he played electric bass in symphonic band, and the show choir band, and his senior year, started studying upright bass. He also played the drums in the Marching band.

In 2007 Walter moved to Los Angeles California to pursue music full time. Since then, he has toured with some of the biggest names in music and also worked in studio with grammy award winning artists. If you were to ask Walter for one piece of advice in the music business he will tell you to focus on learning you instrument and also learn how to build relationships and keep them. Walter has built a network of musicians, managers, producers and writers, which led him to various performing, recording, producing and writing gigs.

Walter endorses Fender Basses, Gallien Krueger amplifiers and Roland keyboards.

09/22/2015

Dave Yaden is a Grammy award-winning songwriter and performer. He has written and performed with One Republic, Josh Kelley, T Pain, Lady Antebellum, Spin Doctors, Willie Nelson and Mindi Abair. Dubbed the "Jack White" of piano, he is known most recently for his 2015 EP release, MOVE, and his project The Bonnevilles with singer/model Kiara Belen (Macy Gray, America's Next Top Model).

Opened for Boyz II Men, Michelle Branch, Adam Lambert, Styx, The Four Tops, Counting Crows, Jason Mraz, Sheryl Crow, Colbie Callait

Grammy nominated for Mindi Abair's 2014 release, Wild Heart. Cowrote first single, "Haute Sauce", that was number one on the charts for two weeks.
soundcloud.com/daveyaden

09/15/2015

Yioma Chuta is an American singer songwriter. He was born in June 22, 1990 in Houston, Texas. Yioma joined the U.S. Navy after high school and it was there he first picked up guitar. He would often play local blues bars in San Diego, his home port, before he was even able to drink. Upon completion of his service, he attended Los Angeles College of Music. After some time at the school he began to veer from the curriculum due to different philosophies and focused more on his songwriting. He formed a band around him and has been playing shows in Los Angeles ever since. He has played with a number of notable artists and shows no signs of slowing down. He is currently working on releasing his first EP titled "Shelf Life". It's sound is described as smooth soul with a hint of jazz and blues.

instagram: @yiomachuta
facebook: Yioma-Chuta
twitter: @yiomachuta

09/08/2015

Daniel Weidlein is a versatile young musician originally hailing from Boulder, Colorado. A recent graduate from the University of Southern California's Thornton School of Music, Weidlein now resides in Los Angeles and works professionally as a saxophonist, composer, producer, singer, and educator.

As a performer, Weidlein has played with jazz luminaries such as Frank Wess, Bob Mintzer, and Joshua Redman, and has made commercial appearances including on the television show "Glee," in the Academy Award-winning film "Whiplash," and on the third season of NBC's primetime show "The Sing Off." He also works regularly as a studio musician on saxophone, flute, vocals, and keyboards and has recorded on film scores, hip-hop tracks, and world music albums as well as jazz recordings. One such jazz recording entitled "Fourteen Channels" on the Tapestry Records label cracked the top 50 on the US Billboard jazz charts and featured Weidlein's improvisational work as well as his composition "An Ounce of Hope."

Weidlein's own band, The Vintage Modernists, released its debut album "Cityscape" to very positive reviews and can be heard on iTunes, Spotify, or anywhere else the mouse can click. His other pursuits include work as a composer where he has written everything from large group jazz pieces to film scores to a recently completed full length musical called "The Grifters."

Additionally, Weidlein owns The B(e)at Cave recording studio and has produced numerous projects including albums for hip-hop sensation Clive Aden, jazz musicians such as Bob Mintzer and Greg Johnson, singer/songwriter Axel Mansor, Katie Ohh from NBC's The Winner Is, the Transcendence Theater Company, and an award winning A Cappella EP for his collegiate singing group, The Trojan Men.

Daniel is also a highly regarded music educator in both the Los Angeles and Colorado communities. Along with teaching privately, he has taught at the Stanford Jazz Workshop as a Jazz Mentor Fellow, has formerly directed the middle school jazz bands at the Foshay Learning Center in South Central LA and taught group improvisation classes at the C's in the Summer jazz camp in Lafayette, CO.

Save Her
Where Do YOU Fall on the "Spectrum" of Sexuality?
"What's Going On?" (Marvin Gaye Cover)

09/01/2015

Songstress Sarah Daye

Internationally Canadian seasoned songstress Sarah Daye is now based in LA the last 3yrs after a successful independent toured across South East Asia over 6yrs featuring in top music festivals, 5 star hotels, international clubs, opening for major djs like original NYC Studio 54 Dj Bert Bevans, DJ RAVIN producer creator of Buddah bar & Jose Padilla producer of Cafe del mar to name a few. Daye has also opened for celebrity artists and international royalty, major brands local and over dead; As Moët, Hennessy, Tommy Hilfiger and many more. Sarah proudly comes from a musical theater college background, and is a true triple threat artist first starting our as a professional dancer training at age 3.

Most recently Daye performed alongside Armenian superstar Arman at the Nokia theatre to a sold out crowd receiving a standing ovation from over 7,000 at the LA Live Staple center. 

Sarah has also produced and featured across Los Angeles at top A list venues in the last 4yrs producing and performing shows featuring her originals and favorites with famous residences like 'The Beverly Hills hotel' while backed by the best of the best musicians to the stars. She is currently working on a TV show she created and is writing and recording as we speak, with an expected release this fall. With original music ready to go, she is ready to tour and open for many more. And she is only a 'Daye' away! 

SarahDaye.com 
Reverbnation.com/SarahDaye
Facebook.com/SarahDayeMusic
Facebook.com/SarahDayeFanpage
Youtube.com/SarahDaye
@SarahDaye
Soundcloud.com/SarahDaye
Inquiries: Booking@SarahDaye.com

August 2015

08/25/2015

Maronzio Vance is a writer and performer, currently on the FOX reboot of "In Living Color." He has also appeared on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," Wanda Sykes' "Wanda Does It," Jamie Foxx's "Laffapalooza," "Last Comic Standing" and a national Miller Lite commercial. He also has a half-hour Comedy Central special for "The Half Hour." Maronzio has been making people laugh for as long as he can remember. Getting on stage for the first time at the age of fifteen, the North Carolinian-born Vance once waited in a men's bathroom for two and a half hours just for a chance to meet the Kings of Comedy. After his encounter, he decided to follow his passion and move to Los Angeles. He regularly performs stand-up around Los Angeles, New York and has toured the country.

Twitter: @MaronzioVance
IMDB:  imdb.com

08/18/2015

Steven Benaquist is a comedian, playwright and TV writer/producer. He has appeared on Conan and other TV shows, is the voice of Honeybear in Dreamworks' "Fishstick & Honeybear", and a regularly featured guest star on the NPR comedy variety show "American Parlor Songbook". He performs stand up at clubs and festivals around the country and abroad, including the 2014 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Mr. Benaquist is also a practitioner of improv comedy in award-winning groups L. Ron Jeremy and the Liquid Radio Players. He works with some of the best improvisers around, at the Groundlings, UCB, Improv Olympic West, and founded the Institute of Comedy Institute. He also sustains several houseplants in his Los Angeles home.
@stevebenaquist (Twitter)
stevebenaquist.com
YouTube.com/bqf7

08/11/2015

Bryan Erwin
Writer & Producer

Bryan Erwin moved from Wisconsin to Los Angeles to be a comedian. Then, he got married, had kids, a vasectomy and is now a PTA President. He still does stand up and is known in a very small industry circle as the guy who runs the most popular filming location in Hollywood, The Herald Examiner Building. Bryan has worked on over 800 productions and is considered to be the most "Unknown Known" person in L.A.

On a successful note, Bryan created the critically acclaimed "Sordahon's Journey" campaign for the video game Two Worlds Two and the Youtube sensation Policeman vs Fireman. Firemen really like him. The policemen, not so much. Bryan has co-produced and directed two television pilots with comedian Louie Anderson. Bryan is currently producing on the features "The Untitled Jamal Hill Project" for Queen Latifah's company One Unit and "Frozen Peas", the story of one man's vasectomy, minivan and mid-life crisis.

08/04/2015

For more than 15 years, Victoria Namkung has worked as a journalist, essayist, and cultural commentator. Her writing has been published in the Los Angeles Times, Huffington Post, style.comWashington PostUSA TodayInStyle, and Los Angeles magazine, among other publications. She currently appear on episodes of Mike Epps’ AOL Originals series, That’s Racist. After receiving a master’s in Asian American Studies from UCLA, Victoria taught courses on gender, immigration, and writing at UCSB, UCLA, and 826LA, respectively, and contributed to the books Where to Wear Los AngelesFrommer’s Los AngelesA Hedonist’s Guide to Los Angeles, and Asian American Youth. Her debut novel, The Things We Tell Ourselves, examines the damage that one generation can do to the next and the compromises we make between our ideals and life’s realities.

victorianamkung.com
facebook.com/victorianamkung
twitter.com/victorianamkung
instagram.com/victorianamkung

July 2015

07/28/2015

Noel Peterson is an emerging singer-songwriter out of Los Angeles, California with a unique sound catching the ears of many listeners around the world. His music is full of soul and charm, and his song arrangements and chord movements are intricate at the same time. His voice is pure and emotional, and his lyrics are full of many different perspectives. Perspectives of love, life and the world we live in. Each of his songs are filled with passion and immense character, giving listeners real insight to the paths he's seen and the roads he's emerged from.

Born in Chicago and raised in Phoenix, Noel was always surrounded by music. Music of so many kinds, from rock-and-roll to jazz to folk to the blues. Not only was Noel hearing the music, but he was also closely picking it apart. Learning drums and percussion at an early age and eventually teaching himself how to play guitar, Noel was always so amazed and interested in the different compositions of so many artists. Every weekend as a child, his father would take him and his brother to get a new album of their choice. At first it started off as owning every Beatles' record, but eventually Noel's music collection grew to include many different artists around the world and many different genres to inspire from. This array of music would eventually lead Noel to write many songs of his own which can be heard on his recently released debut album entitled "Humility", as well as in the many other songs we hear him play live.

Noel has been influenced by many songwriters in his life, and the ones that really placed the most impact were artists like Van Morrison, Marvin Gaye, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Miles Davis and Dave Matthews. To him, these were the rare artists that took their souls and devoted them to their music, writing songs with deep meanings that would inspire and move so many people in so many ways. Their music alone gave Noel the desire to pick up the guitar and dig deep into creatively write songs that came from his own soul.

Noel is currently in the studio working on his next EP slated for release later this year, so be sure to check out his website and watch for more updates from Noel and his music!

noelpetersonmusic.com
facebook.com/noelmusic
instagram.com/noelpetersonmusic
twitter.com/noelpmusic
itunes/noel-peterson

07/21/2015

Jackie Moore was born and raised in Northern New Jersey. After taking many acting and voice classes she knew that she was going to be an actor.

She decided to pursue her dream and move to New York City. Within two weeks she was signed and working with Images Model Management. After breaking into acting with small roles in the feature films Fugly! (opposite John Leguizamo) and Chlorine (opposite Vincent D'Onofrio), she moved to Los Angeles to continue working in film and TV. During her first year in LA she booked the leads in six feature films (all currently in post production).

Jackie has appeared in many publications including Cosmopolitan, Men's Fitness (interview and spread), Allure, Maxim and FHM. She has also appeared on the Martha Stewart Show, Fox and Friends, The NBC Early Show, Access Hollywood and was interviewed on the Howard Stern Show on January 7th, 2013

Jackie is a trained singer, visual artist and recently co-wrote her first screenplay.

jackie-moore.com
alittlemoorejackie.tumblr.com twitter.com/JacquelineMoore

07/14/2015

R&B/Pop artist Alexa Ferr was born in 1995 and raised in Toronto, Canada. At just the age of 20, she has already made a name for herself, with media outlets globally coining her as the "Rugged Popstar!"

With over 8 years experience in jazz, tap, ballet, hip-hop and contemporary dance, Alexa is also a triple threat. Alexa also acts as well landed an extra role in Disney's Camp Rock 2 alongside The Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato. In 2009, Alexa flew to LA for a talent convention and was scouted by many producers, which lead her to fly back and forth to LA often to record her demo album. She then proceeded to record her first single, FELL, which she released under Universal Music Group/Dauman Music. The single featured Disney star Matthew "Mdot" Finley, who was also featured in Camp Rock 2.

After success with her first single, in 2013, Alexa began working closely with production duo known as The Invaders and later released an EP entitled, LIPSTICK ON THE GLASS in September of that year, which caught the attention of renown celebrity photographer and director Walid Azami, who created Alexa's video for the title EP track. Since then, Alexa has also performed in various famous venues in LA such as The Viper Room and The Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, the Tiki Bar in Newport Beach, CA, and the famed House of Blues in Hollywood.

Now 19-years-old and living in Los Angeles, CA, Alexa has been attending many red carpet events, and networking with some of industries biggest acts. Alexa recently released her first single for her new EP, NO GOOD, alongside songwriting and production duo, The Invaders. Alexa worked alongside director Blair Caldwell who shot the official music video for her single and released it November 20th, 2014! Alexa dropped a new single called "Saved A Boyfriend", which is available for download on her SoundCloud. She is currently working with a variety of producers such as Matthew "Mdot" Finley, Yonni Fairchild, as well as others in the studio and has plans to release more music in 2015, in addition to writing songs for other artists and working with other writers and producers.

07/07/2015

Steve Simeone's unique high energy style of storytelling started around the family dinner table in Suburban Philadelphia, where he competed for laughs on a nightly basis as the middle of three brothers. The stories that happened there form the heart of his comedy today and he shares his memories of childhood with a contagious enthusiasm that makes his audience remember the joy of seeing the world through a child's eyes. Steve's impactful performances have made him a regular performer at Hollywood's most prestigious Comedy Clubs, The Comedy Store, The Improv, and The Laugh Factory. However, performing overseas for our troops is the experience that has made him "the most proud."

Steve's comedy focuses on the simple joys in life: childhood memories of sugar cereal, sibling wrestling matches, and the magic of midnight. His uplifting and relatable stories made him the perfect feature for Honda's recent "Cheerence campaign" designed to spread unexpected cheer among national radio audiences. He has garnered a dedicated following through his podcasts "Good Times with Steve Simone" and "Guilty Movie Pleasures," where fans can tune in to hang out with Steve and his buddies and hear him share his comedic and often heart-warming insights on life.

Steve recently made his Comedy Central debut on Gabriel Inglesias' Stand Up Revolution". And his debut cd "Remember This" reached the top of the charts on both Billboard and ITunes. Steve is known for leaving a lasting impact on his audience, one full of laughs, emotion and moving moments they will remember for years to come.

June 2015

06/30/2015

Most musicians now know Ari Herstand (pronounced Ar*ee Her*stand) as the guy who helped them fly with their instruments. His Carry Your Instrument On The Plane... It's The LAW blog post went viral and has been viewed over 300,000 times with over 40,000 Facebook Likes. In just under three years, Herstand's music business advice blog, Ari's Take, has been nominated by the LA Weekly as the best music blog in Los Angeles and has become a go to resource for DIY (Do It Yourself) musicians. Herstand started the blog to help musicians from his own experiences managing his music career. "Before the blog, I was getting so many questions from other DIY musicians on how to get their bands off the ground. It got to a point where I just didn't have time to respond to everyone anymore, so I started Ari's Take and just started pointing people there," he explains. 

Herstand has played over 600 shows, toured with the Milk Carton Kids and Ron Pope, opened for Ben Folds, Cake, Matt Nathanson, Joshua Radin and Eric Hutchinson, and performed with Thirty Seconds To Mars on the Ellen Degeneres Show. He's had countless songs placed on TV shows and charted in the top ten on iTunes - all as a DIY musician. 

As an actor, he has co-starred in TV shows like Mad Men, 2 Broke Girls, The Fosters, Sam & Cat and Touch. Best known for his live looping shows, Herstand records and layers the acoustic guitar, keys, beat boxing, trumpet and vocals for a full sonic live experience. 

twitter.com/ariherstand
instagram.com/ariherstand
Snapchat: @ariherstand
basically everything online is under Ari Herstand, except the blog which is Ari's Take: aristake.com

06/23/2015

Matthew Bellows is a professional actor of stage and screen. Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, Matthew's journey through the world of acting has taken him to New York, LA, San Diego, New York and back to LA. Matthew has performed in dozens of major, regional theater productions, television and feature films. He has a Masters of Fine Arts in acting from the old Globe/University of San Diego. Accepting less than 1%, only seven students per year are accepted into the program, making it the most exclusive graduate acting program in the country, beating out both yale and NYU. 

Currently, Matt resides in Los Angeles California and performs in the Waterworld Live Action Stunt show at Universal Studios, Hollywood. 
matthewbellows.com

06/16/2015

Myke Wright is a creative, multifaceted artist and future household name. Many know Myke as a dynamic stand-up comedian whose charismatic, thought provoking comedy has led to appearances and performances on NBC STAND UP FOR DIVERSITY, FOX, TRUTV and more. Myke has toured and has performed BROKECHELLA, SACRAMENTO COMEDY and LIMESTONE COMEDY FESTIVALS. Myke's visual art is equally as impressive as his stand up. He has designed for DETROIT PUBLIC LIBRARY, THE CITY OF ATLANTA and has had work featured in the gallery of the DETROIT INSTITUTE OF ARTS. Myke currently lives in Los Angeles where he designs from his studio and where he can also be seen performing stand-up nightly.

06/09/2015

Phillip Brandon was born into a world of music. Inspired by his mother, a Raylette singer who performed with Ray Charles and a music aficionado father who introduced him to soulful legends such as Earth, Wind and Fire, Luther Vandross, Ella Fitzgerald, and the Whispers, Phillip has seamlessly and timelessly mastered the art of engineering musical fusion of jazz, funk and rock. 

From humble beginnings in Inglewood, CA to performing alongside multi-platinum rock group Trans-Siberian Orchestra in sold out arenas across the United States, Phillip Brandon has been described as "the intersection between Luther Vandross and Bruno Mars". His wide range of experience includes features in the Broadway national tour of Oprah Winfrey's 'The Color Purple' as well as the opportunity to share the stage with the likes of Carlos Santana, Herbie Hancock, Patti LaBelle, Take 6, Shirley Caesar and Patrice Rushen. 

Phillip attended an international language magnet high school where he studied Japanese. He furthered his education at the historic institution of Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia where he received his Bachelors degree in marketing; he was afforded the significant experience of embracing all walks of life and diversity. His passion for learning, bringing people together, and bridging cultures is carried through in his music. 

His current self-titled EP is a reflection of his wide range of experience and a projection of his evolutionary musical genius. Phillip is excited to have you joining his journey as he expands his soulful musical dialogue with the world.
phillipbrandon.com

06/02/2015

Ruben Paul is one of the most unique and versatile comedians working today. His quick wit, and vivid story telling takes audiences on a hilarious ride from beginning to end. 

Ruben was Born and raised in Carson, California, which is one of the most diverse cities in the Los Angeles area. "I grew up in an all black neighborhood, went to an all Mexican high school, went to an all "white" church and shopped at a lot of Asian stores," he quips. Being the youngest child of Immigrant Parents from Haiti, but the only one born in America, gives him a very interesting perspective on life. That upbringing is the foundation of Ruben's universal appeal. He has a very uncommon ability to connect with all types of audiences, no matter the age, race, creed, or color. So it's no surprise that Ruben has become an audience favorite not only in the U.S. and Canada, but abroad as well. He has performed for international audiences in Europe, Asia, Australia, South Africa, and The Middle East. The response was so overwhelming that Ruben was brought back to do "back by popular demand" shows, in Johannesburg, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, and Singapore with more countries and cities to be added in 2015. 

Ruben's talents as a writer and performer have garnered him many honors. In 2014, he was invited to perform at one of the biggest comedy festivals in the World, The Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. While there, he received critical acclaim from his performance on one of the festivals prestigious Galas. Ruben's Stand up appearances on Television reinforces his versatility as a Comedian, with performances on Comedy Central,"The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson", "Lopez Tonight", Showtime's Special "Russell Peters Presents", B.E.T's "Comic View", "Comics Unleashed" and HBO's "Def Comedy Jam", to name a few. Ruben has toured extensively and collaborated with some of the biggest names in Comedy and Entertainment, including Jamie Foxx, George Lopez, Cedric The Entertainer, and most recently with Russell Peters on both of his record breaking world tours, "Notorious" and "Almost Famous". Those tours gave him the opportunity to perform live for thousands of fans in sold out arenas around the world, which helped Ruben expand his own audience in the U.S. and Internationally. 

As well as being a gifted Stand Up Comedian, he is also a very accomplished actor that can be seen in such films as "Deliver Us from Eva" with actor/rapper LL Cool J and Gabrielle Union and "Ground Control" with Kiefer Sutherland. Ruben has also had guest starring television roles on "The Jamie Foxx Show", recurring role on "Pensacola Wings of Gold" and a regular cast member on B.E.T.'s hidden camera show "Socially Offensive Behavior" with D.L. Hughley. 

His undeniable charisma, honesty, and spontaneity make him a crowd favorite every where he goes. Ruben is a star on the rise and a great performer, that you definitely don't want to miss.

May 2015

05/26/2015

Peter Chung is a singer songwriter from San Franciso who is following his dream to be a professional musician. Since pursuing music full time in 2012, he has shared the stage with 3x Grammy winner Esperanza Spalding, won 1st place in Diesel Indie Music Contest SF 2013, was a semi-finalist for the 2013 International Songwriter Competition and wrote and performed ridesharing company Lyft's song "The Lyft Song." Through a successful Kickstarter, Peter released his debut album "i write WE sing" in January of 2014.

05/19/2015

Jonny Loquasto is a comedian and host of the Wrestling Compadres Slamcast (@WrestlingBuds) on Afterbuzz TV andPodcastOne. He has recently completed his own film which can be found at TheThumbWrestler.com or atFacebook.com/TheThumbWrestler. All standup dates and nude modeling photos can be found at JLoComedy.com

JLoComedy.com
My film has a website!!
TheThumbWrestler.com
IMDB page
I say things on Twitter

05/12/2015

Los Angeles-based musician Andrew Samples arrives by way of Nashville, TN. He is debuting his first solo record of songs, The Alchemist, which he wrote, produced, and performed all himself. This indie rocker introduces his style of personal revelations in uniquely-crafted song structures. His messages are meaningful and urgent, though sometimes quirky, because these are also pop songs. 

Andrew began his career playing bass for Doghouse Records pop/rock group, Feable Weiner, where he toured all over the U.S. and Europe for over three years. They signed a publishing deal with Universal U.K. and recorded a brand new album before losing traction after label disagreements behind a name change. That record, 2FNHOT, eventually came out under the band name, Mondo Primo. Andrew went on to play bass for Nashville-based piano rock group, Parachute Musical, and continued to tour extensively for almost four more years. They co-wrote and released an e.p., No Comfort, and a full length, Kill It Cut It Down, both completely independent, before Andrew decided to relocate to Los Angeles, where he initially did stand-up comedy. 

Secretly honing his songwriting craft from his bedroom for roughly fifteen years, Andrew says The Alchemist is his dream come true. "This record is the most honest part of me I've ever shared. Taking on this project all by myself has been the hardest thing I've ever done, but it's also the most rewarding." 

Andrew released The Alchemist on 5/15/15 on his label, APS R=CORDS.

05/05/2015

Adam Rose is a writer and TV tag enthusiast living in Los Angeles. He hopes kids read Playground, put down their electronic gizmos, and discover some of his favorite childhood games. If they have any other games they'd like to see Felix Tremendez aka PLAYGROUND use as a super power, give him a shout out on Twitter @adamrose74. He has also had short stories,essays, and short films appear in places such as Atom Films, The CW, The Milo Review, The Casserole, Storychord, Reimagine Magazine and Tell Us a Story. Playground arrives in early 2016.

April 2015

04/28/2015

Nick Ferrara is nationally known on camera and is a live event host whom can frequently be seen at events such as the Superbowl, CES, Kentucky Derby, NBA All Star Game, US Soccer Matches, MLS Cup to name a few. He is present just about anywhere there is a microphone. Nick has hosted several red carpets from premieres to chartity galas and has also announced boxing while touring nationally with the MTV Rockband Live Tour.

04/21/2015

Dire Docks is an Ambient Indie duo group based in Los Angeles, comprised of one LA local, Jesse Rhodes, and one Norwegian viking, Rannie Amundsen. Rannie and Jesse met while working at a recording studio together, and after a couple of writing collaborations, decided to join forces. They recently released their first EP, "In Waves", as well as a music video of their first single, "Georgia Line". Georgia Line was recently featured in Shane Dawson's movie "Not Cool", as the main title. Currently they are working on a full length release in the summer of 2015, and are planning shows in the greater LA area.

04/14/2015

STRUT (with the Mad Soul Horns and the Amazing Groovettes) is Los Angeles' freshest funk group. One of the few, maybe the only, bands in Los Angeles performing alongside choreographed dancers (the Amazing Groovettes) Strut's live performance is another world of funk. Hard grooves, catchy songs, and endless dancing...this band is a party! Strut is releasing their first ep, "Own It" in May and will begin filming a music video for their first single, "(Funkin) In Your Town" coming soon!
strutfunk.com

04/07/2015

Ethan Carlson is a music producer/engineer based in Los Angeles California. He grew up playing the trumpet, and in high school began an interest in recording studios. His interests lead him to study at the University of Miami in the Music Engineering program. After graduating, he was hired to work with Barry Gibb on an album for Barbra Streisand. Their working relationship continued for the next four years while Ethan also worked with other pop and latin artists in the Miami music scene.

In 2009, Ethan headed out to Los Angeles and began working in studios around LA and began touring work as a live sound engineer. He's traveled around the world with bands including Tears for Fears, Devo, Taio Cruz, R5, and Cher Lloyd. In town he has worked primarily out of Stagg Street Studio in Van Nuys as well as his own studio, Studio B, in Studio City as a producer and and mixing engineer.

Ethan has also created a music publishing with business partner Claire Courchene called Stereographic Entertainment. Together they work with a collective of writers and artists to create music for film, television and advertising. Some of their recent projects include music for Carhartt, Toyota and Vogue!

March 2015

03/31/2015

Mariela Arredondo is a Costa Rican Singer/Songwriter determined to make an unprecedented mark on the Soul/R&B world with her band Mariéé. Regularly playing either solo, with her acoustic duo along with Caylen Crawford on guitar, or with a full band setting, Arredondo can be heard in venues all around LA and is getting ready to record her first EP.

Mariela brings her own arrangement to cover songs and touches your soul with her complex yet easy to listen original music. One listen and you will see that Mariela is a seasoned and sophisticated artist whose joyful personality will leave a big smile on your face and bring peacefulness to your heart.
facebook.com/marieemusica
soundcloud.com/marielaarredondo
reverbnation.com/marielaarredondo

03/24/2015

Will Herrington is an L.A. based keyboardist who has toured and/or recorded with artists such as Ariana Grande, Alice Smith, Nick Jonas, Drake Bell, Victoria Justice and many others. Originally from New Orleans, he gained an affinity for blues piano at a young age, citing James Booker and Dr. John as his first musical influences. Will relocated to Los Angeles in 2009, and subsequently developed an interest in synthesizers and electronic music as he started working with more pop artists. He is currently working, primarily, with Hollywood Records artist Zella Day. Will's debut album "Solace" will be released on April 2nd.

03/17/2015

Having gained a seriously considerable following as The Bolts, Island Apollo is off to new and exciting things. After starting The Bolts as teenagers in Irvine, California, they were able to pick up airplay on KROQ, win Orange County's "Best Pop Artist" from the OC Music Awards, open for Capital Cities and Third Eye Blind, and even managed to get a song placed in a commercial with Kate Upton.

After seven years, they've undergone the knife and emerged as Island Apollo, a name derived from the artificial islands off the coast of Long Beach Bay, each of which is named after an Apollo astronaut. The newly monikered indie rock outfit has already established that sweet, danceable type of pop rock that is capable of suiting any mood with perfection. Be it gearing up for a night out, contemplating the loss of something or someone special, or starting a new chapter of your life, Island Apollo will be right there with you.

The band draws on a wide range of influences, citing acts from Arcade Fire, Billy Joel, Foster the People, Michael Jackson, The Killers, The Beach Boys, Weezer, Queen, and so much more. "I think if you want to find success as a band, you can blend in with a genre that is on the rise and have a nice record deal, followers, and radio play for a few years. But if you want to have a career, and real fans, you need to create something that is new. The bands I respect the most, and seem to have survived, are those that have created a sound that was different than the bulk of the music being produced at that time" says lead vocalist and guitarist Ryan Kilpatrick.

They began writing the songs for the new EP at a very crucial time in their lives. They had all graduated college and were fully invested in the real world. They were finally coming to terms with what being an adult meant to each of them. "We believe that every song should flow naturally and that every detail should serve an artistic purpose. We added tempo changes where it made sense and explored varying chord progressions," says guitarist Heath Farmer. Accordingly, the songs lyrically take hold of themes such as coming of age, finding love (not only for a girl, but for life), establishing trust, and fighting through difficult times.

press.planetarygroup.com/islandapollo
islandapollo.com
facebook: islandapollo
twitter: @islandapollo
instagram: @islandapollo

03/10/2015

Rakesh Kumar has taken a unique and fascinating path to filmmaking. Born a sick and frail infant to young couple in East India, Kumar escaped poverty and caste violence at age 11 through a government scholarship to a prestigious boarding school. An achievement made possible by his grandfather's tutelage. Kumar went on to further his academic career in America, first with a law degree, and then an MBA. Kumar credits his grandfather, who died from Alzheimer's years later, with giving him the keys to success.

Emerging filmmaker, Rakesh Kumar, has completed his first feature, "After Ever After". The film's story centers on Nik Patel, a father and an internist, who struggles with the idea and false promise of Happy Ever After while his daughter lies dying of Leukemia, the same disease that claimed his wife several years before. It takes the intermittent memories of Patel's patient- Donnie J, a long-forgotten Jazz legend suffering with Alzheimer's to teach Nik that, while life is not a fairytale, we can all find our moments of everlasting joy.

Filmmaking and entertainment were always Kumar's first love, and he originally began his career in television with an opportunity to join the writing staff of "Vansh," a TV drama produced by RK Films for India. It was the unfortunate loss of two family members to cancer that lead to him practicing law to support his family. Due to a personal aversion to life as a lawyer, Kumar switched gears again, earning his MBA from USC and working for Apple as Global Supply Manager. After a two-decade gap, he "quit his day job and jumped head first into filmmaking.

03/03/2015

Brooklyn born Brian Scolaro is an actor and stand-up comedian. He is most known for his half hour Comedy Central special "COMEDY CENTRAL PRESENTS: BRIAN SCOLARO", as Doug on TBS's "SULLIVAN AND SON", and as Stuart on FOX's "STACKED".

He got his start at the epicenter of stand up comedy in America, The Comedy Cellar in NYC, and was invited to appear at the Just For Laughs Montreal Comedy Festival in 1998. From there, he was cast in an NBC pilot and soon after he was added to the NBC sitcom "THREE SISTERS" as a regular cast member -the bartender "Gordon". Following an ABC pilot, and a CBS holding deal, Brian became a regular cast member on the FOX sitcom "STACKED." Penned by Steve Levitan (Modern Family), Brian worked for two seasons alongside Pamela Anderson and Christopher Lloyd. About his role of Stuart Miller on "Stacked", The LA Times said "Scolaro is terrfic. An actual sitcom find."

Since then, Brian has had recurring roles on "SULLIVAN AND SON", "KROLL SHOW", "LIFE AND TIMES OF TIM" and "WIZARDS OF WAVERLY PLACE." About his role on "Sullivan", Brian Doyle Murray (Caddyshack) stated Scolaro is "one of the best I've ever seen." Brian also has had guest roles on such shows as "DEXTER", "MAD MEN", "GO ON", "GREY'S ANATOMY," "HARRY'S LAW," "MEN OF A CERTAIN AGE", "THE MIDDLE", "GROWING UP FISHER", "THE EXES", and many other programs and films.

He has gone on to share his original style of stand up on "CONAN", "THE LATE LATE SHOW WITH CRAIG FERGUSON", "GOTHAM COMEDY LIVE", "LATE NITE WITH CONAN O'BRIEN", COMEDY CENTRAL'S "LIVE AT GOTHAM", "COMICS UNLEASHED " and finally his very own half hour special "COMEDY CENTRAL PRESENTS: BRIAN SCOLARO" which still airs multiple times a year and is one of their popular downloads on Comedy Central's iTunes page. Comedian Tom Rhodes is quoted saying "He has a hugely inventive style and I go out of my way to see him perform whenever I can." And Marc Maron said on WTF podcast, Brian "might be the funniest fuckin person alive."

February 2015

02/24/2015

Alex Hobbs was born January 16, 1991 in Burbank California. He started his musical journey at 18, writing and performing his solo career around the Los Angeles area. He attended school at Los Angeles Music Academy, receiving his degree in Music Production and Engineering and honing his skills. Alex is primarily known for his presence on YouTube, with over 1,000,000 views on his channel, as well as his appearance on Season 12 of the hit Fox television show, "American Idol."

02/17/2015

Some people still remember Marc Price as Skippy from hugely popular 80's NBC sitcom Family Ties, starring Michael J. Fox.

As a stand up Marc has opened for Jay Leno and Jerry Seinfeld. He's starred in movies, hosted late night talk shows and more recently he's been behind the cameras writing and producing for E! TBS, Disney Channel, Animal Planet, GSN, Showtime and more.

Come on out and see why the Los Angeles Times calls him "refreshingly bright" and the Boston Globe says he's "wickedly funny."

Facebook: marc.price.94

02/10/2015

If there is one word to describe the music of Kelley James, it would be "mash-up." Drawing from rock, pop, and the beachside vibes of his home state of California, James seamlessly combines acoustic guitar melodies with clever lyrics and freestyle vocal riffs to create a signature sound that fans and followers have grown to recognize and love. Most recently, James released his newest full-length album The Pattern Transcending. As the true progression of James' sound, the tracks features the best aspects of both his live shows and his studio prowess. The album debuted in October of 2013 and reached the top 20 on the iTunes Singer/Songwriter charts. With a career spanning five years, three albums, and multiple international tours, he has proven himself as an accomplished artist both in-studio and on-stage.

Eschewing the traditional path of record labels, James has built his career on the road by playing over 1,000 shows in the past five years, including sold-out shows at the Troubadour, the Roxy, Key Club, and most recently, San Francisco's Brick & Mortar. As the creator of "The Sorority and Fraternity Tour" he played at colleges nationwide with the help of sponsors like Oakley and Muscle Milk. James has shared the stage with national acts such as LMFAO, Sara Bareilles, Mike Posner, Joshua Radin and Kate Voegele, and joined O.A.R. for a full-length tour. In between his busy touring schedule, Kelley maintains a monthly residency at the W Scottsdale's Living Room Live in the city's old town buzzing nightlife district.

As an avid surfer with a passion for sports, James has close ties to the athletic community as well. He is a close friend of San Francisco Giants pitcher Barry Zito and the two frequently join forces to raise funds for Zito's charity organization Strikeouts For Troops. Zito is an accomplished musician and has co-written songs with James and they have performed live together. James has also been joined on stage by professional surfer Kelly Slater, PGA golfer Rickie Fowler, and MotoGP champion Nicky Hayden. He is a regular performer at PGA Tour events including the Birds Nest at the WM Phoenix Open, Farmer's Insurance Rock Ball in San Diego, HP Byron Nelson Pavilion After Dark in Dallas, The NetJets Masters party in Augusta and many more.

James has attracted a number of high-profile corporate partners including Corona, DC Shoes, Honda, Muscle Milk, Oakley, Red Bull and Ethika, and has performed at events hosted by Columbia, Ducati, Google, MySpace Music, the Phoenix Suns, the Ryan Sheckler Foundation, Aflac Insurance, SPIN Magazine, Strikeouts For Troops, Ronald McDonald House, and Zumiez.

02/03/2015

A TRIBUTE TO ZANE MUSA (Saxophonist for the Nikhil Korula Band)

R.I.P Zane! Show God how to play the saxophone!

Zane Musa
January 16, 1979 - February 2, 2015

January 2015

01/27/2015

Eric Shantz is a formidable force in the world of standup, taking time out from organising and booking shows to bring to the stage an act that is not for the faint of heart. His delivery is light spirited, pure stand up that is presented as interactive casual conversation. Check out Eric Shantz as sex, drugs and money graphically serenade the audience.

01/20/2015

MASUMI's sultry, sweet contralto voice has a message to tell:
Born in Los Angeles and raised in Japan, singer-songwriter MASUMI was inspired to seize life and follow her ambition of creating music that brings hope after living through the frightening natural disaster that hit Japan in 2011.

In late 2014 MASUMI performed in several venues and radio stations around Tokyo to promote her self-entitled EP. The EP release party, that also took place in Tokyo, had the support and presence of Grammy-nominated artist NATHAN EAST. During 2014 JAPAN tour, MASUMI performed in several venues around Tokyo, including the legendary ASTRO HALL and SHIMOKITAZAWA ERA.

"Bloom" is the result of a partnership with Swedish singer-songwriter Mona Najib. The duo's debut EP was produced and recorded by Dorian Holly (Michael Jackson, The Tonight Show, American Idol) and Grammy award-winning producer and engineer J.J. Blair. The duo MASUMI+MONA toured in Sweden in early 2014 to promote the EP, which was also released on the same year.

MASUMI works with the independent band from Sweden, Melpo Mene, whose music has topped international music charts and has been featured in film and TV.

Listen, Subscribe and Follow MASUMI:
MASUMI-MUSIC.COM
Facebook.com/MASUMI.official
youtube.com/user/MASUMImusic

01/13/2015

Katherine Eva is a singer, songwriter, and performer, living in Los Angeles, California. Originally from Seattle, Washington, Katherine Eva began studying music at age three and grew up singing in numerous vocal styles. She has performed at many venues throughout the Seattle area, as well as in New York City, Japan, Nevada, and Idaho. Her main style is R&B and Pop, however she also has an extensive background in Jazz, Classical, and World Music. Katherine Eva currently performs at various venues in the Los Angeles area, continues to study music and performance at The Song Writing School of Los Angeles, and is working towards recording her first album. Her music aims to connect her own experiences and emotions with people's everyday life and sentiments.

01/06/2015

David Ryan Harris is a Los Angeles-based singer and songwriter.

Born in Illinois and raised in Georgia, Harris' style incorporates elements of rock, rhythm and blues, and folk, paired with a soulful voice, and masterful guitar work.

He has released three albums of his own; David Ryan Harris (1997), Soulstice (2003), and The Bittersweet (2007). His fourth; the highly-anticipated Lightyears will be released in early-2015.

Known and sought after for his abilities as a performer and collaborator, Harris has worked both onstage and behind the scenes with John Mayer, Dave Matthews Band, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Marc Broussard, and Carlos Santana, among others. Additionally, Harris has worked as a writer/producer for artists such as India.Arie, Guy Sebastian, Dionne Farris, Christina Perri, Phillip Phillips and Natasha Bedingfield.

David Ryan Harris can currently be seen with his band and in solo configurations in support of his forthcoming album Lightyears.

davidryanharris.com
twitter.com/drh3
instagram.com/drh3
theeseplusthose.tumblr.com

December 2014

12/30/2014

Encore presentation of installment 10/21/2014
Zane Carney currently plays lead guitar for Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark on Broadway with Los Angeles based Interscope Recording act CARNEY.

Born and half-raised in NYC, Zane moved to Los Angeles as a child and developed an affinity for the guitar in Junior High when he started performing at local blues clubs. After attending Hamilton High School Academy of Music and touring Japan with the Monterey National All-Star Big Band, he began his collegiate studies at University of Southern California's Thornton School of Music majoring in Studio/Jazz Guitar. As a Guitarist and former Oboist, many of his schooling years included performances with Symphony Orchestras and Chamber Groups which lead to an educational background that is equally classical and jazz. This diversity of musical styles and methods helped to form a unique sound that draws just as much from Jazz as it does Delta Blues, Rock and Roll and Impressionism.

Zane has been fortunate to tour the world (Jesse McCartney, Renee Olstead, Armand Sabal-Lecco, etc.), perform regularly on national television (Jay Leno, Jimmy Kimmel, Good Morning America, etc.), and play lead guitar as an onstage musician at Last Call with Carson Daly and CW's Oh Sit. On top of this, he has performed with a diverse group of jazz artists including John Daversa whose Big Band album "Junk Wagon" and Small Group record "Artful Joy" feature Zane's jazz playing.

Outside of session and touring work, Zane is fortunate to have two strong outlets as an artist. One is though his band CARNEY which he shares with brother/lead singer Reeve Carney who is currently playing the title role of Peter Parker in Broadway's Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark. CARNEY has toured the US, Canada and Australia opening for U2, Fergie, The Veronicas, The Black Crowes and Gov't Mule while also playing guitar for John Mayer on the road. The other is as a singer/songwriter creating, recording and performing his own material. In his spare time, Zane teaches music theory and guitar masterclasses at universities in LA and NY.
zanecarney.com
facebook.com/zanecarneyofficial
@zanecarney (Twitter & Instagram)

12/23/2014

Kira Hooks - Hailing from Los Angeles, Kira Hooks is a driven, passionate and charismatic singer songwriter who set out to approach her music with a unique feel. Growing up in different countries around the world, she's an artist with many facets.
Her brand new album, 'Elephant Heart', features a collection of twelve songs that fall somewhere in between the warmth of soul, the melodies of pop and the explosive grooves of Latin/Funk music.
The album is colorful and kaleidoscopic, featuring the performances of an ensemble of proficient and expressive musicians whose sound is a great complement to Kira's vibrant and heartfelt vocals.
This self-proclaimed "old soul" managed to create a sound that defies genre limitations, borrowing inspiration from many different eras and performers the likes of Billie Holiday, The Andrew Sisters, Ray Charles and Cole Porter, just to name a few. Kira is an eclectic performer and talented songwriter who refuses to get stuck in a box, while managing to keep her music accessible and easy to relate to.
kirahooks.com

12/16/2014

Jamaican-born artist, Micha Ciselle is gearing up to release her freshman EP this summer. The EP is called "Lover's Leap" and the four-song compilation celebrates taking chances and Love -- a term the songstress often uses as a metaphor for music. Mixed and Mastered by one of Jamaica's most recognized engineers, Rohan Dwyer, Lover's Leap will be the first official musical statement for this Island beauty.

Half Trinidadian, half Jamaican, the LA-based singer ingeniously fuses the music of her roots with Pop and electronic music. A singer/songwriter at heart, Micha Ciselle wrote the lyrics for this project, as well as the music for two of the four tracks – "Ready for Love," and "Fallin'"-- which Dwyer then brought to life, enlisting the talents of some of Jamaica's finest musicians. Lover's Leap strongly reflects her dual nationality, and listeners can look forward to hearing prominent dancehall and reggae influences, soca references, and a distinct Pop flavor. The EP showcases her soulful vocals and intricate background vocal arrangements – a trademark she has become known for.

The title of the EP was inspired by the singer's personal experience with music. Micha Ciselle took a chance in 2010 and moved to California after being awarded LA College of Music's most prestigious scholarship, where she was mentored by artists such as Dorian Holley (Michael Jackson, American Idol) and Tierney Sutton (multiple Grammy Award nominee). Since taking this leap of faith, Micha Ciselle has embarked on a steady journey, establishing herslef in the music industry. In 2011 she was invited to a private audition for The Voice where she was one of the few to progress in the audition rounds. In 2012 she contributed one of the top performing tracks on the compilation album – Absinthe. Produced by Jamaican outfit, Jus Eazy Productions, who have worked with artists such as Ky-mani Marley and Busy Signal, Absinthe also includes selections from Internationally acclaimed Jamaican group, Voicemail among others. In 2013 she collaborated with the TV/music producer of 3Gfilms, LA to create the single "Beautiful". Micha Ciselle has also graced many stages in LA including The House of Blues, The Mint, Whiskey A Go Go and festivals such as David Arquette's Piece Fest – the first festival of it's kind for the actor.

"Lover's Leap" is a long-anticipated labor of love for Micha Ciselle and is the next logical progression in her musical forays.

12/09/2014

NORM "NOMZEE" MAXWELL (born 1969) is an American Contemoprary Artist living and working in Los Angeles. His work is a commentary on social issues concerning Politics, Religion, Mythology, Popular and Urban Culture. Maxwell's signature style references a broad range of genres, merging traditional techniques with his graffiti-esque aesthetic to create a rich and diverse visual language that is uniquely his own.
EARLY LIFE
Norm Maxwell was born in Philadelphia Pennsylvania in 1969. He was introduced to art by his mother. As a youth Maxwell spent hours drawing, trying to imitate his mother's art school assignments. He became fascinated with a book entitled, "The History of Flight", wherein he discovered the various works of Leonardo da Vinci. As the era of Hip-Hop dawned on the urban landscape, Maxwell was introduced to graffiti in 1979, by his older brother who was a graffiti artist. He was immediately taken by the bright colors and the sense of rebellion, realizing that art was a way to gain local fame and recognition. In 1986 at the age of 16, Maxwell received his first commissioned mural which was painted on the Provident National Bank of Germantown.
INFLUENCES
Maxwell attended the Hussian School of Art, where he studied illustration. He spent weekends exploring galleries of the at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, where he became intrigued with the Baroque paintings of the Renaissance Wing. Infatuated with the Surrealist movement and it's profound mystique, he was particularly drawn to their emphasis on liberating the subconscious mind. His most prominent influence was his painting instructor, Symbolist Painter, Virgil Sova, who introduced him to many seminal works such as " Man and his Symbols" by Carl Jung and Joseph Campbell's "The Power of Myth". Sova encouraged Maxwell to incorporate meditation into his creative process as a tool to express the subconscious. Maxwell combined the process with graffiti and traditional concepts to launch a new aesthetic.
NORM MAXWELL STUDIO GALLERY
Norm Maxwell Studio Gallery, Los Angeles, was established in 2007. The gallery provided creative and exhibition space for collaborative projects with local and international artist. NMSG exhibitions featured artist from Beijing, Addis Abba, Seoul, Korea and Havana, Cuba. NMSG hosted the annual "Colors for Unity" exhibition in partnership with Inner City Educational Foundation since 2008. The show featured the work of over one hundred students from ten Los Angeles Unified Schools. In 2009 NMSG founded the Fairfax Artwalk in an effort to build community through art. Norm Maxwell Studio Gallery became an international destination synonymous with the emerging creative culture of the Fairfax District. NMGS was a featured Exhibitor of the Berliner Liste Art Fair in Berlin, Germany, 2011. NMSG has allowed Maxwell to procure collectors around the globe.
For more information on Norm Maxwell, please visit normmaxwell.com

12/02/2014

Matt Knudsen (Kah-nood-son) was born in Hawaii, raised in the Mid-west and sailed around the world as a merchant marine. After trips to Africa, Europe and The Far East, he eventually put down his sea bag, he picked up a microphone and began performing stand up comedy all across the country.

As an actor, you may have seen Matt share the big screen with Oscar winner Sean Penn in the Warner Brothers feature Gangster Squad or you may also recognize him from his appearances in Emmy winning TV shows like Big Love, Boston Legal or Malcolm in the Middle just to name a few. Matt's also been a part of several high profile commercial campaigns for Volkswagen, Apple and GE; which have aired during the Superbowl and The Olympics.

As a stand up, he's appeared on Conan, The Late Late Show and Last Call as well as several festivals, including The San Francisco Sketchfest, Bridgetown, Laughing Skull, High Plains and the prestigious Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal; where he was named a "Best of the Fest."

His critically acclaimed albums The Comedy Stylings of Matt Knudsen and American are top downloads on iTunes, heard regularly on SiriusXM radio and "Mix droll observation with a dry, almost hypnotic delivery," (The Onion A.V. Club); and with Knudsen's unique style, "The personal feels universal, and the universal feels personal. The only explanation for this phenomenon is that it's all finely crafted comedy from a strong central voice...a great stand up album." (The Huffington Post)

mattknudsen.com
facebook.com/Matt-Knudsen
twitter.com/mattknudsen

November 2014

11/25/2014

Crista Flanagan was born and raised in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. She graduated from Mt. Vernon Township High School and subsequently earned a Bachelor of Science from The University of Evansville and a MFA from The University of California, Irvine.

She made her major television debut when she starred on FOX's late night sketch show MadTv as a series regular for five seasons. Crista then joined the cast of Mad Men for their first three seasons as tractor-riding secretary, Lois Sadler and won two SAG awards for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series.

Other notable television credits include Marry Me, Mom, Workaholics, Hello Ladies, Trophy Wife, 2 Broke Girls, Last Man Standing, and Cougar Town. Crista also appeared on two covers for the August 2010 issue of Playboy Magazine.

For more bio info, pictures and news, visit cristaflanagan.com.

11/18/2014

Growing far beyond his classical roots, Andrew Abaria sets his sights on writing and performing intricate pop songs that are as clever as they are powerful. This Los Angeles based Asian-American singer-songwriter is able to blend his seemingly boundless vocal ability with deceptively understated and heartfelt melodies.

In 2013, Andrew released "We Are the Underdogs," a five-original song EP produced by Mario Marchetti, who is known for producing and writing for Billboard-topping artists, such as Demi Lovato and JoJo. "We Are the Underdogs" is a collection of personal songs reflecting not only on moments of struggle and heartache, but also of hope and triumph. Andrew draws inspiration from his own life: Andrew grew up in a three bedroom house shared by 10 people, and his parents are Filipino immigrants who worked multiple jobs to pay for his schooling and piano lessons. The title track "We Are the Underdogs" serves as an anthem of determination despite life's obstacles.

As 2014 comes to a close, Abaria delivers a mighty new holiday track, "Maybe you'll kiss me this Christmas" produced by David Pramik. In the new year expect Andrew to hit the ground running with a variety of singles and live performances.

andrewabaria.com
facebook.com/andrewabariamusic
twitter.com/andrewabaria
youtube.com/andrewabaria
soundcloud.com/andrew-abaria

11/11/2014

Christopher Wray is an artist, producer, session musician, writer and composer who works across genre's in both film and music. He has worked on films such as The Hunger Games Series, The Way Way Back, Maleficent, The Bourne Legacy, Nightcrawler and The Spectacular now to name a few. He has also worked with and appeared on albums from artists such as Tenacious D, Son Lux, Anthony Hamilton, and Green River Ordinance. For more information please visit his site or follow him on via Instagram or Twitter.

christopherwraymusic.com
Instagram & Twitter: @Cwraymusic

11/04/2014

Darrell Thorp is a Three Time Grammy Award Winning (OutKast, Radiohead, Switchfoot) Producer, Mixer, Engineer with over 16 years experience under his belt and many multi platinum records to his discography. Darrell moved to Los Angles in 1997 after a 4 year service in the U.S. Navy and started interning at smaller studios and eventually worked his way up to an Assistant Engineer at some of L.A.'s prestigious studios such as Track Record, Conway, and finally Ocean Way Recording. It was at Ocean Way recording that Darrell meet famed Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich. Shortly after meeting Godrich, Darrell became his full time engineer and ended up recording Beck "Sea Change", Radiohead "Hail to The Thief", Paul McCartney's "Chaos and Creation In The Back Yard" and many others. Currently Darrell is splitting his time between mixing various records and projects and Producing. Darrell has had the pleasure of producing the critically claimed Kan Wakan "Forever Found" and Preston Lovinggood "Shadow Songs" as well as Kiev's EP "Be Gone Dull Cage. Also Producing and Engineering a new record due out next spring for Shaheed and DJ Supreme on Communicating Vessels and a new 4 Song EP by the LA based band Opus Vitae due out early 2015.

Twitter: @darrellthorp
facebook.com/dfthorp
darrellthorp.com

October 2014

10/28/2014

Ryan Cross is a name that is synonymous with professionalism and musical excellence. Friends, ER, The West Wing, Studio 60, Along Came Polly and Poseidon are just a few of the television and film productions that have benefited from his expertise. Ryan Cross is a rare find in that his administrative skills strongly rival his musical talent.

Ryan's passion for music was birthed at the tender age of 8 when he began to study classical cello. At the age of 16, he discovered the acoustic bass and seized the opportunity to study under Ray Brown, one of the most well-known and prolific bass players of our time. Born and raised in Seattle, Washington, Ryan moved to Los Angeles, California when he received a full scholarship to study under John Clayton at the University of Southern California. He graduated in 1999 with a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies and his career immediately took flight. He has appeared and recorded on over 40 TV shows and movies to date.

Due to his high level of proficiency in all styles of music, Ryan is able to readily adapt his live performance skills to the studio-recording environment on a moment's notice. His reputation has also afforded him the ability to consistently build and maintain a network of highly sought-after musicians who have respect for his leadership and talent. This has helped him become a polished film composer of award winning films. Ryan served as the contractor for Alicia Keys' CD release, "As I Am", on which he contracted twenty-five musicians and personally recorded bass and cello tracks. He has also graced the recording studio and stage with Stevie Wonder, Jill Scott, John Legend, Gladys Knight, Chaka Khan, Macy Gray, Ciara, P-Diddy and Rihanna.

Ryan can be found at such great venues as The Biltmore Hotel Downtown LA, where he has some of the world's top jazz musicians and vocalists sit in weekly with his band. This is an environment that allows him to continually keep his skills sharp and his eyes open for new talent as well as undiscovered seasoned professionals.

Ryan plays a strong advocacy role in the preservation and implementation of music in school. For several years, he has maintained a strong relationship with the Pasadena Jazz Institute and has gone out to many schools in the Los Angeles' Unified School District to spark the interest of children to play classical instruments. Most recently, Ryan founded the Elevation Orchestra, a 17-piece multicultural string orchestra with piano, bass and drums. The orchestra's inaugural performance took place on February 1, 2009 at the California African American Museum. The Elevation Orchestra strives to work closely with children and parents in the urban community to elevate their knowledge of culture, history and art by playing concerts all over the country in schools, churches, museums and symphony halls.

Ryan Cross is a well-rounded musician who has perfected the art of multi-tasking without compromising the quality of his work. He is consistent, reliable and committed to giving nothing less that the best. From the stage to the studio to the community-at-large, Ryan Cross is a gifted individual who leaves an unforgettable mark of musical notes daily.
You can hear them play every Monday night at the Sofitel Hotel.

crossgrooves.com
@RyanCrossmusic
Instagram: @RyanCrossmusic

10/21/2014

Zane Carney currently plays lead guitar for Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark on Broadway with Los Angeles based Interscope Recording act CARNEY.

Born and half-raised in NYC, Zane moved to Los Angeles as a child and developed an affinity for the guitar in Junior High when he started performing at local blues clubs. After attending Hamilton High School Academy of Music and touring Japan with the Monterey National All-Star Big Band, he began his collegiate studies at University of Southern California's Thornton School of Music majoring in Studio/Jazz Guitar. As a Guitarist and former Oboist, many of his schooling years included performances with Symphony Orchestras and Chamber Groups which lead to an educational background that is equally classical and jazz. This diversity of musical styles and methods helped to form a unique sound that draws just as much from Jazz as it does Delta Blues, Rock and Roll and Impressionism.

Zane has been fortunate to tour the world (Jesse McCartney, Renee Olstead, Armand Sabal-Lecco, etc.), perform regularly on national television (Jay Leno, Jimmy Kimmel, Good Morning America, etc.), and play lead guitar as an onstage musician at Last Call with Carson Daly and CW's Oh Sit. On top of this, he has performed with a diverse group of jazz artists including John Daversa whose Big Band album "Junk Wagon" and Small Group record "Artful Joy" feature Zane's jazz playing.

Outside of session and touring work, Zane is fortunate to have two strong outlets as an artist. One is though his band CARNEY which he shares with brother/lead singer Reeve Carney who is currently playing the title role of Peter Parker in Broadway's Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark. CARNEY has toured the US, Canada and Australia opening for U2, Fergie, The Veronicas, The Black Crowes and Gov't Mule while also playing guitar for John Mayer on the road. The other is as a singer/songwriter creating, recording and performing his own material. In his spare time, Zane teaches music theory and guitar masterclasses at universities in LA and NY.
zanecarney.com
facebook.com/zanecarneyofficial
@zanecarney (Twitter & Instagram)

10/14/2014

Joe Nicchi is an actor/ice cream man-child who own's CVT Soft Serve which was just named "Best Food Truck Los Angeles 2014" by LA Weekly. When not slinging cones Joe can be seen on stage monthly with his comedy troupe "A Drinking Game".

CVTSoftServe.com
twitter.com/CVTSoftServe
facbook.com/CVTSoftServe
instagram.com/CVTSoftServe

10/07/2014

Brian L. Patton is executive chef for Vegin' Out, a vegan food delivery service in Los Angeles. As the quintessential "regular dude" vegan chef, he started posting instructional cooking videos on YouTube as his witty, ukulele playing alter-ego "The Sexy Vegan" and quickly gained a large following. Brian offers his popular cooking demonstrations at stores, restaurants, and community centers throughout Southern California and in his travels around the country.

thesexyvegan.com
twitter.com/thesexyvegan
facebook.com/thesexyvegan
iTunes

September 2014

09/30/2014

Sean P. Jones is a Los Angeles based Producer/Musician working in many of Hollywood's top production facilities. Jones has produced, engineered and played on hundreds of Albums, E.P.s and demos from genres including Pop/Rock, R&B, Singer-Songwriter and Jazz.

Hailing from a musical household instilled in artistry, Jones grew up in his parents private music studio 'Foster-Jones Studios' where his mother taught piano and his father taught classical percussion. He casually picked up piano, drums, and bass before focusing on drums in high school.

Educated at the University of North Texas, Jones received his Bachelors of Arts Degree in 2010. While at UNT, Jones played in the Grammy-Nominated One O'clock lab band.

Today, Jones' sensibility as a player and musical background make him a versatile producer, capable of engineering music catering to each artist's unique voice. In 2012 he earned #1 on UK Soul Charts with Tatiana LadyMay Mayfield on the song, "Real" from her debut album, Portrait of Lady May.

"The modern production process has allowed me to concentrate an artists true vision" says Jones. "With current advancements in technology, we can focus on the true goal of translating emotion and affecting the listener."

09/23/2014

Obsidian Silence is a female fronted Hard Rock/Prog band based in Pasadena, CA, with a sound that can best described as a mixture of Evanescence, Megadeth, and Dream Theater, and with members from the U.S., Brazil, Colombia, & Mexico. Their debut EP - Obsidian Silence - is officially out and available on iTunes, Spotify and all the other online retailers and streaming services!!

The band was born in early 2013 when Miguel and Fernanda, fellow international students at the Los Angeles College of Music in Pasadena (formerly known as LAMA), realized they shared many of the same hard rock and heavy metal influences, including bands such as Nightwish, Stratovarius, Epica, Megadeth, Lacuna Coil and Symphony X.

Although they come from very different countries with different languages (Brazil and Colombia) it didn't take long before they started working on some of their own songs and realized how much their musical styles had in common. The project they created was originally a 4 piece band, joined by 2 other fellow LACM students on bass and drums.

Shortly after, Obsidian Silence began performing and gaining notoriety by playing in school events and showcases, including the LACM welcome party in spring 2013 as well as gigs in outside venues such as The Other Door in North Hollywood. After a few lineup changes they were joined by Jose and Aldo. The band kept writing new material and went on to play other venues such as the Witzend in Santa Monica, the Universal Bar and Grill in Studio City and the Boardner's in Hollywood.

Combining aggressive yet beautiful vocals with heavy and progressive instrumental elements allows them to deliver their own brand of hard rock. Obsidian Silence also writes lyrics that are not afraid to explore topics such as human psychology, politics and philosophy, allowing them to stand out in a music scene that is overflowing with rock and metal bands.

obsidiansilence.com
facebook.com/obsidiansilencepage
instagram.com/obsidiansilence
reverbnation.com/obsidiansilence

09/16/2014

Lauded by industry greats as "sexy, cool, awkward," Felicia Andolong is a force to watch out for. A self-described "pop music purist," Andolong marries well-polished vocals with tongue-in-cheek lyrics, to create a sound that is unabashedly pop, yet undeniably musical. Her first single "Make Out in the Bathroom," co-penned with Swedish producer extraordinaire Anton Soder, is a flirty production which features a booming synth baseline and an unapologetic use of autotune. For more information about Felicia, check out feliciaandolong.com or e-mail fandolong@gmail.com
"Felicia Andolong is a name that should be on everyone's list" - Philip Bynoe from the Steve Vai Band

09/09/2014

In his stage appearances John DiCrosta is "electric" as one Las Vegas reviewer has said. Dozens of voices, off beat impressions, topical humor, sight gags, a few props, and sometimes even ventriloquism are among the tricks this comedian has up his sleeve. His sharp wit and knack for playfully causing trouble with practical jokes, has helped to spread his name across the United States and Canada.

John DiCrosta has lived in Los Angeles the last 11 years and has become one of the more popular "Audience Warm-up" comics in Hollywood!

He has kept the crowds in hysterics and great spirits on such shows as Politically Incorrect & Real Time with Bill Maher, Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn, America's Funniest Home Videos, American Idol, & Dancing with the Stars, just to name a few.

DiCrosta has also become one of the most sought after voice over actors in LA, providing his vocal talents for dozens of video games and various animated series on Nickelodeon, and most recently as a Decepticon in Transformers Revenge of the Fallen for Paramount Pictures.

This is one act not to be missed. He has been called on many occasions, one of the funniest "Audio-Visual" comedians working today.
johndicrosta.com
facebook.com/john.dicrosta
twitter.com/johndicrosta

09/02/2014

Quincy jones is an LA based comedian originally from Seattle. His witty off the cuff improvised style of comedy paired with his insightful observations make him a hit with almost any crowd. He offers a unique style of comedy that ensures whatever set you see will always be a special occasion. He's currently gearing up to record and drop his first half hour special in November.

August 2014

08/26/2014

Derek Post is a guitarist/vocalist out of the Bay Area. Throughout his high school years he was front man for an award winning classic rock cover band. He is currently a worship leader in the LA area while also studying at the Los Angeles Music Academy. His most current project, Tiger Yang, is a new direction for him with the band's energetic sixties punk vibe meeting surf music and pop rock. For more of his music, check out, soundcloud.com/derek-post

08/19/2014

Since packing up her '86 Chevette with her beloved ReverbRocket amp and moving to Los Angeles 9 years ago, Elle Lewis has been living her dream. Writing and recording her own material as well as collaborating with her musical family, Elle has toured Europe four times, worked on a few video projects for the album and is a 7 time co-ordinator of Worldfest, a huge solar-powered music festival in LA that is close to her heart. She also plays bass in a punk band called Brezhnev's Medals and composes for film and TV.

Her songs have charted in the top ten in college radio. Through 5 Alarm Music, her last album, Desire Rules the World has had tracks placed on MTV, in TV's "Missing", MTV, "Friday Night Lights", "One Life To Live" and others. She has performed on national TV and We Turn Towards the Light has been played in movie theatres across the US as part of the Regal Theaters Music Radio tour. She has received accolades from American Songwriter, KPCC -California Public Radio, the Atlantic Online and others.

"We Turn Towards the Light" is currently available on iTunes, CDBABY.com and many other outlets.

Elle is planning her 5th European tour as we ll as a tour with Brezhnev's Medals and working on a collaboration with a psychedelic electronica collective and her own lounge/groove audio/visual manifesto.
facebook.com/ElleLewisMusic
youtube.com/user/ellelalala
ellelewis.bandcamp.com
soundcloud.com/ellelewis

08/12/2014

After trying to keep an all-girl, pop rock band together in high school, Rachel Oto decided to pursue a solo career writing and performing songs influenced by medieval ballads, Westerns, '70s rock and her brother's middle school CD collection. Her emotionally-driven performances captivate audiences and her well-crafted lyrics keep the intellectuals amused.

Tracks from her first collection of songs, Outlines and Offerings, can be found on her Soundcloud and can be heard live at coffee shops and dive bars around Los Angeles. Rachel can be contacted via e-mail at roto.sings@gmail.com

08/05/2014

Born and raised in Alabama, Katie Hines is a LA girl with a southern soul, which is what I hope comes through in my music. Pop music, with indie and electronic tones, and just a touch of southern twang to tie it all together. I've always felt I was born to sing and born to express myself. After achieving my degree in Musical Theater, I moved to LA to try out the acting scene and just be somewhere new and inspiring. I soon realized that I couldn't live without music and creating. So, I started creating and naturally found myself in studios, focusing solely on music. Last year, I finished a fully DIY self-titled EP, now on iTunes. Recently, I have been working with different songwriters to expand my horizons in the songwriting world. My dream is to have a top ten song on the radio, be it performed by myself or another artist. I just want to write. I love it and live for it.

July 2014

07/29/2014

THE VELVET TEAPARTY is a Los Angeles, California based rock band. Formed in 2011, the four individual members met up while attending LACM, Los Angeles College of Music located in the heart of Pasadena, California. All four members of the band hail from different regions of the world (US, Brazil, Germany and Ecuador) which has contributed to the band's overall sound and style. Shortly after meeting, they discovered that they shared many similar musical influences and goals alike. Within a few weeks they began writing songs and soon after, booking shows all over. They have since garnered a sizable following on the local LA scene as a result of their high energy shows, thought provoking lyrics and hook filled songs.
The band proceeded to record a series of demos before catching the ear of songwriter/producer Rick Garcia. Garcia, who has an extended list of songwriting/producer credits in the film world heard the bands cover version of the Goo Goo Dolls hit song "Iris." "The band had taken the song and completely made it their own with a unique arrangement and a significant shot of fresh energy" states Garcia. After becoming a fan, Garcia reached out to his longtime friend Mike Malinin, drummer for The Goo Goo Dolls. Together, Garcia and Malinin attended a Velvet Teaparty show and were "blown away" at the bands performance, according to Mike. They approached the band and soon after booked them into Swinghouse Studios to produce a five song EP. The songs were mixed by acclaimed recording/mixing engineer Paul Hager (Katy Perry, The Goo Goo Dolls, Pink, Avril Lavigne, Miley Cyrus). The band's energy is contagious, leaving those that hear them asking for more. With their eclectic approach to rock music they continue captivating more and more people from all walks of life in all parts of the world.

The Velvet Teaparty is:
Vanessa McNiel (Vocals)
Gabriel Maska (Bass/Vocals)
Andres Yepez (Guitar)
Jonas Streffer (Drums)

reverbnation.com/thevelvetteaparty