His new album Something Else IN STORES SEPTEMBER 9…
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WatchMojo NewsletterAll summer long, Jon McLaughlin has been rocking out and throwing down on an extensive National tour, promoting his upcoming album ‘OK NOW’! Get a glimpse into his life on the road:
Plus, check out this breath-taking rendition of Jon’s smash hit single, “Beating My Heart”, Live from Rock The District 2008:
JON McLAUGHLIN BIO
A great deal has happened to Jon McLaughlin between the release of his debut Island Records album INDIANA last year, and his new, sophomore effort, OK NOW.
When we last saw him, the 25-year-old singer/songwriter was giving a show-stopping performance of the Oscar-nominated “So Close,” the song he sang in the hit Disney movie Enchanted, on the worldwide telecast of the 80th Annual Academy Awards ceremony.
The appearance re-ignited INDIANA, spurring a 1,514% overnight sales increase at Amazon, sending it to the #1 spot on its Movers & Shakers chart, and creating solid momentum for his latest release. The single from INDIANA, “Beautiful Disaster” attracted over 420,000 digital fans when featured as Download of The Week.
And after getting major touring slots with Sara Bareilles, Paolo Nutini and Kelly Clarkson, along with dates with Colbie Caillat, Duffy and One Republic under his belt, Jon McLaughlin hit his stride on the road.
Flushed with that success, McLaughlin entered an L.A. recording studio last year intent on undergoing both a musical and stylistic transformation. The heartland piano player expanded his palette by working with new producer John Fields (Rooney, Jonas Brothers, Lifehouse, Switchfoot), co-writing with the likes of Jason Reeves (Colbie Callait’s “Bubbly”) as well as writer/producers Tricky and The-Dream (Rihanna’s “Umbrella”), Troy Verges (Kenny Chesney’s “You Save Me”) and Brett James (Carrie Underwood’s “Jesus, Take The Wheel”).
McLaughlin admits the experience of appearing in Enchanted and performing on the Oscar telecast was a career-defining moment.
“The whole thing has taken on a life of its own,” he says. “I wasn’t even supposed to be in the movie. I love Disney ballads, but I didn’t necessarily connect it to what I do as an artist. But that image of an old-school crooner inspired me. I was able to see myself as something different, which helped me open up to try new things on this album. I wasn’t afraid to try on some new looks, either.”
Jon describes himself as a “child of the ‘80s” in talking about the musical direction of OK NOW, with the very first single “Beating My Heart” the perfect example, an introspective, existential tune about nothing less than the meaning of life, with an elaborate pop-rock production that evokes Coldplay, thanks to soaring synths and a crackling backbeat.
With producer Fields playing bass, drums, slide guitar and a variety of other instruments, McLaughlin also enlisted the talents of ace players such as guitarists Tim Pierce and David Ryan Harris, as well as drummer Dorian Crozier in the studio.
“Smack Into You,” written and produced by Grammy winners Tricky and The-Dream, is about falling head over heels in love, a combination of the Police’s “Every Breath You Take” and U2’s “With Or Without You,” melding acoustic guitar and McLaughlin’s piano to create a passionate undertow. “This song has such a great groove and is so fun to play live,” says Jon. “It creates such a special moment in the room.”
Jon describes “You Can Never Go Back,” which he co-wrote with acclaimed L.A. singer/songwriter Bleu, as his attempt to write a “late-‘70s, early-‘80s Billy Joel song,” an admonition to not dwell on the past that evokes the blue-eyed soul of the Bee Gees crossed with Hall and Oates, buttressed by Fields’ George Harrison-like slide guitar riffs.
McLaughlin’s soul/R&B croon also characterizes “Things That You Say,” a bittersweet song about “loneliness, the isolation you feel when you’re trying to connect with anybody, but end up with these shallow, going-through-the-motions relationships instead.”
Synthesizers introduce “You Are the One I Love,” a song Jon co-wrote with Jason Reeves, inspired by the tabloid reports about Amy Winehouse’s stormy relationship with her husband Blake that shows an empathy to the beleaguered pair. The multi-layered production is driven home by Peter Gabriel-like tribal drum rhythms.
“I feel for them,” McLaughlin admits. “Who’s to say any of our relationships are any less dysfunctional? I think it’s cool that they’re so madly in love.”
“The Middle” is about being able to take the Hoosier kid out of Indiana, but not being able to take Indiana out of the Hoosier. The youngster who grew up in a conservative Midwestern household admits home is where his heart still remains: “Let me tell you now where I went wrong/Hollywood is just another place/I don’t belong.”
“Four Years” is another Billy Joel-style, tongue-in-cheek take on a ‘50s rocker about high school peer pressure that advises freshmen not to worry about the dictates of fashion.
“You just spend so much time worrying about stupid stuff that just doesn’t matter,” says McLaughlin, who insists his own high school years were pretty good. “I wish I could get back all the money I spent on Abercrombie and Fitch back then. If I heard this song when I was still in high school, I still don’t think it would change anything. You can’t change high school kids’ minds about these things…but I’m still going to try.”
“We All Need Saving,” a song about the importance of friendship, starts with a stack of Beach Boys-styled street corner doo-wop oooh-oooh harmonies McLaughlin recorded late one night on Garageband.com, which gives the song its sacred feel, while “Throw My Love Around” counsels that, with only one life left to live, it’s preferable to take risks then end up having regrets.
That same spirit of taking chances informed the making of OK NOW.
“My philosophy has changed,” nods McLaughlin. “Now I believe you should get crazy in the studio, explore different sounds, and I love the challenge of recreating the songs in the live setting –that’s the best part.”
OK NOW is OK to go.
August 7th, 2008 – New York, NY – Simple Plan has teamed up with Ultimate-Guitar and World Music Supply to bring you the ‘The Metal Version: Your Love Is A Lie’ contest this month in support of the bands single, ‘Your Love Is A Lie’.
The contest, hosted by Ultimate-Guitar.com, asks fans and musicians alike to record and submit their own metal version of Simple Plan’s song “Your Love Is A Lie”. The winning entry will win the ultimate Simple Plan prize pack: a Washburn WV40 Electric Guitar, Randall RX75G2 guitar amplifier, guitar strings and drumsticks (all thanks to WorldMusicSupply.com).The contest just launched on Ultimate-Guitar, with entries being accepted until August 28th. The winner will be picked by Simple Plan themselves and announced on Aug. 29th.
Simple Plan recently released their self-titled third album and it has already surpassed Platinum and Gold certifications in several countries.
Simple Plan Official Website – www.SimplePlan.com
Simple Plan MySpace – www.myspace.com/SimplePlan
‘The Metal Version: Your Love Is A Lie’ contest – http://www.ultimate-guitar.
The Original version of “Your Love is a Lie”:
Push Play is an edgy pop rock band coming to the scene first on Long Island and reaching as far as the Midwest in cities such as Menomonee Falls, WI, and Chicago, Illinois and as far as Boston, MA. Comprised of 4 young men, this talented group was named Best Band on Long Island by the Long Island Press. Their debut album “Deserted”, released last December, represents all of their own material. Through MySpace, their music has reached over 44,000 fans across the globe. The “Deserted” iTunes release stayed on the top 100 for the first2 weeks, which is unheard of by any unsigned band that had not begun touring outside the tri-state area.
Listen to Push Play – “Situation”
Listen to Push Play – “Time To Shine”
Formed in 2001, this rock quartet consists of CJ Baran, lead singer, rhythm guitarist and keyboards, Steve Scarola, lead guitarist and key boards, Nick Deturris, bass, and Derek Ries, drummer.
They sold out the renowned Fillmore Irving Plaza in Manhattan last December, leaving four city blocks of fans unable to get into the packed house. And this past Aprils, Push Play was the sole performance at Manhattan’s Nokia Theatre, nearly selling out the venue, which is double the capacity of the Irving Plaza and the first time in the history of Nokia Theatre that an unsigned band performed. In addition, Push Play was the only unsigned band to land the coveted spot at this year’s Z100’s Zootopia’s pre-show in May and their phenomenal performance earned them a huge ovation from the crowd.
Push Play – “Here Without You”
What sets them apart from the rest is quite simple: PURPOSE! Their Push Play for Purpose campaign has received national recognition as they made their way to the other states donating their performances to helping those in need. Their philanthropic efforts through this “Purpose” tour have enabled them to raise over $97,000 for a multitude of charities.
They were just announced as the BEST MALE NEWCOMER by Pop Star Magazine’s August 2008 issue and have frequently been covered in many other pop magazines including J-14, Twist, M Magazine, Astro Girl, Quiz Fest, and Tiger Beat, to name a few. They landed the on the page in the New York Times’ Long Island addition on March 30, 2008 and dubbed Long Island’s Fab Four on the cover of Newday on April 15Th .
For more info, visit the band @ http://www.myspace.com/
TRACK LISTING:
1. Starlight Addiction
2. Plastique
3. Situation
4. Dreamers
5. Do It Deadly
6. Far From Beautiful (FFB)
7. The Life
8. Stop Staring
9. Here Without You
10. Time To Shine
11. There She Goes Again
Pittsburgh based producer, Joe Money, who has worked with the likes of Raheem Devaughn, J-Live and most recently Common and Skillz is readying a new project entitled ‘Flying High.’ The producer driven album will feature Skillz, rising star Homeboy Sandman, BJ Digby as well as newcomers Reach, Yu, and Oddy Gato.
Joe Money is riding a new wave of notoriety off the strength of the Skillz single and video for “So Far, So Good” featuring Common and Talib Kweli off of the “Million Dollar Backpack” album. The long awaited Skillz album has been a breath of fresh air in a somewhat stagnant marketplace. Joe is honored that his track was selected as the lead single.
The video for the remix of “So Far, So Good” has been making the rounds and creating a significant buzz.
The “Flying High” album is also a homecoming and re-opening of sorts. Joe Money and Brooklyn Bodega President Wes Jackson. The two worked on several projects on Jackson’s Seven Heads Entertainment in the late 90’s and early 2000’s. “Joe produced some of our biggest records for J-Live and Unspoken Heard. Records that resonated nationally and globally. I am very excited to be working with him again. Just as we introduced a new sound years ago we are planning to do it again with Homeboy Sandman, Reach and others.”
Jackson went on to say, “I am also happy to be re-introducing the Seven Heads brand along with our latest successful venture, Brooklyn Bodega. We are taking our years of experience and marrying it with the new digital paradigm. We will be stronger, faster, leaner and more effective. This is a great project to launch the new iteration of Brooklyn Bodega, the re-launch of Seven Heads and the debut of Joe Money as a featured artist.”
“Flying High” is scheduled for an October release. Stay tuned for more details.
Montreal trio Land of Talk have announced North American Fall tour plans in support of their debut full-length, Some Are Lakes, set for release October 7 via Saddle Creek in America and self-released through Secret City distribution in Canada. Touring will kick off with a special performance in New York City, September 11 at The Mercury Lounge, before two-weeks of east coast Canadian dates. The band will then commence a three-week run of U.S. dates opening for Broken Social Scene, starting October 8 in Grand Rapids, MI.
Land Of Talk front person, Elizabeth Powell, will join Broken Social Scene each night on the tour as guest vocalist on various songs throughout their set in addition to Land of Talk’s opening performance. Elizabeth can be heard contributing vocals on the acclaimed Broken Social Scene Presents: Brendan Canning Something For All Of Us…. album as well as the soundtrack to the Broken Social Scene scored film The Tracey Fragments, starring Ellen Page.
The soon to be released Some Are Lakes continues to showcase the bands powerful dynamics, raw musical and Powell’s vocal convictions which Time Out NY called, “a voice that flits between come-hither and go-fuck-yourself.”
See for yourself! All tour details are as follows:
8/9/08 – Wolfe Island, ON @ Wolfe Island Festival
9/11/08 – New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge
9/13/08 – Quebec City, PQ @ Envol & Macadam Festival +
9/18/08 – Ottawa, ON @ Zaphod’s
9/19/08 – Montreal, PQ @ La Sala Rosa
9/20/08 – Kingston, ON @ The Grad Club
9/22/08 – Laval, PQ @ CEJEP
9/23/08 – Sherbrooke, PQ @ Telephone Rouge
9/24/08 – Peterborough, ON @ Montreal House
9/25/08 – Guelph, ON @ E Bar
9/26/08 – Hamilton, ON @ Casbah
9/27/08 – Toronto, ON @ Sneaky Dee’s
10/8/08 – Grand Rapids, MI @ Calvin College *
10/11/08 – Madison, WI @ Union Theatre/Univ. of Wisconsin *
10/13/08 – Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue *
10/14/08 – Omaha, NE @ Slowdown *
10/16/08 – Kansas City, MO @ The Beaumont *
10/17/08 – Columbia, MO @ The Blue Note *
10/18/08 – St. Louis, MO @ The Gargoyle *
10/19/08 – Urbana, IL @ Foellinger Auditorium/Univ. of Illinois *
10/21/08 – Richmond, VA @ Toad’s Place *
10/22/08 – Falls Church, VA @ State Theatre *
10/24/08 – Brooklyn, NY @ Masonic Temple *
10/25/08 – Brunswick, ME @ Bowdoin College *
10/26/08 – Boston, MA @ Wilburt Theatre *
+ w/ Islands & Sebastian Grainger
* w/ Broken Social Scene
Here’s a cool tune by Land of Talk called “Speak to me bones”:
PLAY
