Go behind the scenes with Def Jam’s latest sensation Kristinia DeBarge as she gets fun & flirty during her album photoshoot!
Straight outta Charlottesville, Virginia, in the shade of the Blue Ridge Mountains, comes Parachute on Mercury Records. Their debut album, ‘Losing Sleep’, is set to drop in May! Scroll down to read Parachute’s full official bio.
Listen to “She Is Love”
Mixing full-throttle rock with dollops of blue-eyed soul, vintage R&B and melodic pop radio anthems in-the-making, Parachute has arrived.
The band’s debut Mercury/Island Def Jam Music Group album takes off from the individual members’ shared histories, from “She Is Love,” the ballad torch song and first single, with its Van Morrison-like scatting by lead singer/songwriter/guitarist and piano player Will Anderson, to Nate McFarland’s chiming, The Edge-styled chunks of guitar laced through “Back Again,” “Under Control,” “Ghost,” “Words Meet Heartbeats” and “All That I Am”.
Will has been playing with drummer Johnny Stubblefield, bassist Alex Hargrave and saxophone/keyboardist Kit French since they were high school classmates in Charlottesville almost five years ago. Will met Nate while attending University of Virginia together, and the guitarist joined the band two years ago.
“I remember seeing them at Starr Hill, which is the big venue in town, and they came on to the ‘Mortal Kombat’ theme,” he remembers. “I never would’ve imagined myself playing with them, let alone becoming a member of the band.”
“It’s really gone downhill since then,” teases Will.
With a diverse selection of influences ranging from old-school legends like Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Paul Simon and Journey to newer acts like U2, Coldplay, Weezer, Ben Folds, Maroon 5, John Mayer, Jay-Z, Kanye West, The Fray and the Arcade Fire, the group began to attract a rabid local following under the name Sparky’s Flaw.
“It’s a cool music scene,” says Will about Charlottesville. “There are so many different types of bands. There’s just such an incredibly eclectic group of people there.”
“While we were still in high school, we used to see a lot of different groups at local venues that inspired us to want to play,” adds Johnny.
That range is reflected in the songs on the band’s debut album, largely produced by Grammy winner John Shanks (Bon Jovi, Liz Phair, Sheryl Crow, Jane’s Addiction, Stevie Nicks). With songs like “Back Again,” one of several tracks fueled by Anderson’s chill-inducing falsetto, and the revved-up “The New Year,” interspersed with more introspective numbers like the single “She Is Love” which was used as part of a national TV advertising campaign for Nivea.
With an eye towards creating music for the radio, Parachute is unapologetic about aiming for popular appeal.
“If no one’s going to listen, why even play?” asks Will. “For us, melody is king.”
Anderson’s songs are unabashedly emotional affairs that try to work out the difference between romantic ideals and the frustration of reality (“Words Meet Heartbeats”), dealing with love lost (“For Liz (She)”), longing (“Under Control”), regret (“Mess I Made”), guilt (“Blame It on Me”) and obsession (the creepy “Every Breath You Take” stalking of “Ghost”), questioning what went wrong (“All That I Am”) and trying to put the pieces together for the future (“The New Year”).
“I tend to write about things I know, that are happening to me,” says Will. “If it’s not really true to us, it doesn’t make sense. We try to make music that people can relate to, that they’re going to want to hear. We question things, try to get to the bottom of it all.”
“Will’s always been good at writing radio-friendly pop songs,” adds Johnny, a self-proclaimed “pocket drummer” who adds his own industrial solo to “All That I Am,” citing DMB’s Carter Beauford, the Police’s Stewart Copeland, The Roots’ ?uestlove and session veteran Matt Chamberlain as his personal favorites.
“We want to create music people like” nods guitarist Nate, who counts U2’s The Edge and Coldplay’s Jonny Buckland among his own influences. “I’m a very compositional guitarist. I try to make every note count in the service of the song, with a bunch of suspendeds and seventh notes to give it a little edge. We call it Tele-rock because I play the Telecaster a lot.”
For those who question the group’s motives in licensing a song for commercial use, Will comments, “It’s simply a new paradigm,” he insists. “Everybody’s doing what they can to get their music out there. We considered it an opportunity. We’re not going to give our songs to just anybody. Nivea approached us with the spot, showed it to us, and we felt it was tasteful.”
As part of the campaign, the band played before more than one million people New Year’s Eve at Times Square in bone-chilling sub-zero temperatures at the Nivea Countdown Stage on 46th Street.
“I could barely hold on to my drumsticks,” laughs Johnny. “The guys were struggling with their fingertips, but it was so worth it.”
“By the end, I looked down and had three strings left on my guitar,” says Will. “My fingers were bloody, but I was happy as happy can be. That night, we realized exactly why we do this in the first place.”
“We’re doing a lot of new things we’ve never done before,” enthuses Kit, the band’s sax player and keyboardist. “Every day we’re checking new boxes. Yesterday, we did this amazing photo shoot, with a production so elaborate I had to keep pinching myself.”
In fact, the band prides itself on its live show, having toured with the likes of Jon McLaughlin, O.A.R., Switchfoot, Duffy and Matt Nathanson. Parachute’s fan base is starting to swell on their Facebook and MySpace pages, while the distance they’ve traveled, how far they’ve come and still have to go, is beginning to register.
“I feel really blessed being around these guys,” says bassist Alex. “It all started out loading our equipment in the back of two pick-up trucks, playing to family and friends. This has definitely been a very surreal and humbling experience for all of us. We’ve had a lot of help along the way, and we appreciate everyone for what they’ve done for us.”
“We have our goals and they’re pretty lofty,” chimes in Will. “We’re an ambitious bunch. It’s a lot of fun to get to do this full-time now, but we’re always fighting to get to the next rung, grab the golden ring on the merry-go-round. When we were in high school, we just wanted to play better venues. Attending college, we tried to attract label interest. And now, we’re at the next step, building a national fan base. The joy for us is in winning people over with our music by getting in front of them any way possible. And have them spread the word to their friends.”
In fact, the only down note has been their old friend Sparky’s disappointment, when the band decided it needed a more mature name to reflect their own growth as musicians.
“Unfortunately, he used to pick up girls by telling them he had a band named after him,” reveals Will. “I had to break the news to him when we decided to change it to Parachute.”
“The name just clicked,” says Will. “I think it fits our style of music. It’s like my only hope is sitting right there on my back.”
Make no mistake about it. Parachute is headed for a happy landing.
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/parachuteva
Joe Budden’s self-titled debut album went gold in 2003, earning him a Grammy nomination for best male rap solo performance (”Pump It Up”). Despite his successful debut, Budden’s sophomore album sat on the shelves at Def Jam for nearly four years; a setback that most artists would not have survived; but most artists are not Joe Budden.
Despite numerous setbacks, Jump Off Joe Budden kept very busy during those years, besides years of legal wrangling and politicking very loudly for his release from Def Jam (which resulted in a very public feud with Def Jam’s then president Jay-Z) Joe was forced to rely on a then new unproven method (Internet) to release music to his very loyal fan base and did so by releasing the critically acclaimed and highly buzzed about “Mood Muzik” mixtape series collaborating with artists such as Fabolous, Clinton Sparks and Joell Ortiz; and in the process engaging in highly publicized feuds with The Game, Prodigy and Ransom.
After finally gaining his release from Def Jam in 2007, Budden immediately became an A-List free agent and was courted by a slew of major labels. Always one to go against the grain, Joe circumvented traditional thinking and used his forward thinking mentality to sign with the rising new media outfit Amalgam Digital; a booming independent label responsible for launching hip-hop’s first genre-specific digital retail store. The move initially raised some eyebrows with the Hip-Hop populous, but Joe’s foresight was the guiding force behind the move; as Joe’s proactive use of the Internet and the response his Mood Muzik mixtapes received online (going from Nahright.com to your neighborhood in a single click), foretold a massive shift in the commercial landscape (coupled with the dramatic decrease of physical CD sales) and Joe was ahead of the curve in realizing that the Internet would not only be the guiding force where the masses would listen and decide upon what music and artists they liked, but also would eventually support and purchase. Fast forward to 2008 and Joe’s move seems even more revolutionary, as there has been a dramatic decrease of physical CD sales and Joe’s recent “digital only” precursor (Halfway House which was only available on Amalgamdigital.com and was the first digital-only Hip-Hop release employing both traditional marketing methods—radio, video, commercial radio, advertising campaigns, etc) to Padded Room debuted on the “Hot 200″ sales chart—as only a strictly digital release. Halfway House also featured a track from Joe’s super-group, Slaughterhouse, (which also includes Joell Ortiz, Royce 5′9 and Crooked I). Further, Amalgam Digital is now a rapidly ascending record label with established stars such as Joe Budden, Max B and Peedi Crakk on its rapidly expanding roster and the labels shirts are quickly becoming a fashion statement.
Throughout his trails and tribulations with Def Jam and sparring with Hip-Hop’s heavyweights, Joe Budden has largely reinvented himself without losing what endeared himself to fans; his deep thinking lyrical brilliance (can anyone forget Joe’s brilliant “Who” trilogy?). In fact, with his “Joe Budden TV” videos going viral and becoming a staple on blogs worldwide, Joe has to a large extent become Hip-Hop’s “peoples champion” as Joe’s personality and “every man” personality transcends and fans can undeniably relate to his daily life (could a reality series be far behind?).
Joe’s relentless grind culminates on 2-24-09 with the release of his official sophomore LP Padded Room (which has already received rave reviews from XXL, Spin and Smooth Magazines) and the LP’s lead-single “The Future” featuring former adversary The Game is already burning up the Internet and the duo will also be filming a video for the track shortly.
In addition, AmalgamDigital.com also plans to re-launch the website store with a new design, enhanced functionality and new features in unison with the same date of Padded Room’s release. To celebrate the release of Padded Room and the site’s re-launch, Joe budden his record label, Amalgam Digital are offering fans exclusive hidden bonus tracks when the Padded Room album is purchased in digital format direct from www.AmalgamDigital.com
“The Padded Room album is crazy. Go out and get it” – Joe Budden
Tracklisting and credits for Joe Budden’s Padded Room:
01. Now I Lay (produced by Blastah Beatz)
02. The Future f/ The Game (produced by Fyu-chur)
03. If I Gotta Go (produced by the Klasixs)
04. Don’t Make Me (produced by Blastah Beatz)
05. Blood On The Wall (produced by Moss)
06. In My Sleep (produced by Blastah Beatz)
07. Exxxes (produced by the Klasixs)
08. I Couldn’t Help It (produced by the Klasixs)
09. Adrenaline (produced by Dub B)
10. Happy Holidays (produced by Quan)
11. Do Tell (produced by Blastah Beatz)
12. Angel In My Life (produced by Blastah Beatz)
13. Pray For Me (produced by Versatile & Dilemma)
www.myspace.com/AmalgamDigital
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Check out Def Jam’s newest R&B group Brutha covering the Sam Cooke tune ‘Jesus Gave Me Water’.
Tune into BruthaTV on YouTube each week for a new acapella video leading up to the premiere of their BET reality show ‘Brothers to Brutha’ on Nov. 18! www.youtube.com/user/BruthaTV
LL Cool J’s ‘Exit 13′ hit stores this week.
Nearly 25 years since he first burst onto the scene, LL Cool J continues his vibrant, trailblazing career with the release of EXIT 13, his appropriately titled 13th album for the only label he has called home - Def Jam Recordings.
‘Exit 13′ feaures collaborators as diverse as 50 Cent, Wyclef Jean, Richie Sambora and The Dream, and producers such as Suits, DJ Scratch, Ilfonics and Raw Uncut
What the good folks are saying about EXIT 13
“LL Cool J is back and smashing the game”
“PEOPLE NEED TO GIVE LL COOL J THE RESPECT BECAUSE HES MADE DEF JAM WHAT IT IS.”
“He’s hip hop. LL cool J, along with other pioneers are over looked this album propels him back into the spotlight.”
Check out the first video/single:
Hot off the heels of her 18th # 1 song comes the brand new Mariah Carey single “Bye Bye” which is available for download at iTunes NOW! Fans can watch Mariah’s live performance of “Bye Bye” TODAY, April 14th on The Oprah Winfrey Show, and again on American Idol this Wednesday, April 16th. And don’t forget to watch MTV all week for Mariah skits and performances!
“Bye Bye” was written by Mariah Carey and So So Def/Island Records recording artist Johnta Austin, and produced by Mariah and the Norwegian hit-making duo Stargate.
Mariah’s new album E=MC 2 is in stores everywhere TUESDAY, APRIL 15! Download a copy of “Bye Bye” the most beautiful ballad of the year from the most anticipated album of the year E=MC 2 at iTunes TODAY!
Listen to “Bye Bye” HERE
The official E=MC² Contest: http://www.mariahcarey.com/news/news.php?uid=2149
E=MC² Album Tracklist:
1. Migrate feat. T-Pain
2. Touch My Body
3. Cruise Control feat. Damian Marley
4. I Stay In Love
5. Side Effects feat. Young Jeezy
6. I’m That Chick
7. Love Story
8. I’ll Be Lovin’ U Long Time
9. Last Kiss
10. Thanx 4 Nothin’
11. O.O.C.
12. For The Record
13. Bye Bye
13. I Wish You Well
Even before 16-year-old Karina Pasian signed to Def Jam records, the stellar singer was already making a name for herself. From her winning performance on Star Search in 2003 to singing at the White House last June during Black Music Month, this New York City chanteuse has been paying her professional dues since she was a toddler.
“I’ve been singing and playing piano since I was three,” says Karina. “My babysitter had a piano, and she started teaching me how to play. It wasn’t until a year later that I began getting professional lessons.” While some have been quick to compare Karina Pasian to other performers including Aaliyah, Alicia Keys and Mariah Carey, one listen to her self-assured debut disc is evidence enough that she is destined for success.
Karina remembers the first time she sang in front of an audience. “I sang Céline Dion’s ‘My Heart Will Go On’ at a talent show. I was kind of nervous, but the audience loved it.”
From that point, there was no denying that music would be her life. A few years later, after using the Prince-penned ballad “How Come U Don’t Call” for an audition, Karina Pasian was cast on a revamped version of Star Search. “That was such a wonderful experience,” says Karina, who won the first round of the competition with a rousing version of the Jackson Five classic “I’ll Be There.”
Working with an array of songwriters, producers and artists that include The Dream, Tricky Stewart, Gordon Chambers, Chris Brown, Carlos McKinnney, Lil Mama and others, Karina proves to be a breath of fresh soul. “I’ve recorded over 70 songs in the last two years,” Karina says. “It was a period of real growth for me as I learned to focus and stay consistent.”
Karina Pasian’s godfather, famed producer and businessman Quincy Jones, has also been a guardian angel for the young singer. In addition to giving her advice, the maestro included her in the “We Are the Future” charity concert in 2006. Considering the talents Jones has worked with, from Frank Sinatra and Sarah Vaughan to Michael Jackson and Tamia, she is in good company. “I know I’m blessed to have someone like Quincy in my corner,” she says.
A fan who embraces all forms of music, from the stylish Black pop of Brandy to old school jazz greats, Karina performed the standard “Misty” when she was at the White House last year. “Emilio Estefan, who has been a friend of my family for years, helped to put the show together, and invited me to be a part of it,” says Karina. “Later, my brother told me that I was the first Dominican to play at the White House, and that made me very proud.”
Karina Pasian - Sixteen At War
http://www6.islanddefjam.com
Studying music and voice at High School for the Professional Performing Arts, the Washington Heights native was more than prepared for any challenges that arose in the studio. “I was blessed to have some pretty amazing teachers who prepared me well,” she says sweetly. Refusing to fall into any cliché, Karina Pasian has recorded an album that is a reflection of her age and independent point of view.
Karina Pasian’s song “Sixteen” is a song of independence and admiration. “Ain’t no daddy’s where I’m from, its just mad mothers…why am I disrespected by someone I should call brother,” she sings in a pristine voice. “I wanted to do a song about what teenager girls go through in urban areas. It’s not cool that boys think they’re being cute when they say nasty stuff to us on the street.” Written and produced by The Dream and Tricky Stewart, best known for their work with Rihanna’s “Umbrella” and Madonna’s “Me Against the Music,” the song “Sixteen” reminds one of vintage Brill Building girls like the Crystals or Little Eva with an electro-groove.
Another The Dream and Tricky Stewart track that will leave fans breathless is “Baby Baby,” an uptempo song that is destined to be a dancefloor scorcher. “Though this is a fun song, it’s not just a party song,” says Karina “It’s about guys who simply see young women as sex objects, but I refuse to be that girl.” Indeed, like Aretha Franklin, she simply wants some respect. Sharing the mic with rapper Lil Mama (“Lip Gloss” & “Shawty Get Loose”), the two young stars connected in the studio. “Lil Mama was so cool, but it was her confidence in the booth that was really exciting.”
Produced and written by Carlos McKinney, the sing-songy “Can’t Find the Words” embraces elements of jazz and pop while simultaneously creating a whimsical track that sounds like nothing else of the radio. Additionally, Karina’s favorite song “Winner,” which highlights her elegant piano (her light touch on the keyboard reminds one of Erroll Garner) playing, is laidback and uplifting.
A beautiful young woman with more musical moxy than most sixteen year olds, Karina Pasian has constructed one of the finest debut discs in years. Melancholic and truthful, funky and real, blissful and bold, Karina’s album is the sound of a better tomorrow.
“FLY LIKE ME” FEATURING AMERIE IS FIRST NEW SINGLE,
Ludacris heads list of album guest stars – also including Rick Ross, Anthony Hamilton, Ice Cube, Bobby Valentino, producers L.T. Moe, Cool & Dre, and more!
(New York, NY) The spirit of St. Louis lands at Disturbing Tha Peace/Def Jam Recordings with the return of double platinum-selling rapper Chingy, who rejoins the label where it all began for him in the summer of 2003. HATE IT OR LOVE IT, Chingy’s fourth album in as many years, will arrive in stores on December 18th.
The hypnotic debut single from HATE IT OR LOVE IT is “Fly Like Me,” featuring platinum R&B singer (and VIBE ‘Club Banger of the Year’) Amerie. “Many of my fans are women,” Chingy says of “Fly Like Me,” “so I wanted to create a track that spoke directly to them.” The single, co-written by Disturbing Tha Peace CEO and fellow DTP/Def Jam artist Ludacris and producer L.T. Moe, was released November 13th. The video, directed by Jessy Terrero, made its debut last week on BET.
In addition to the album intro and “Fly Like Me,” L.T. Moe also produced “How We Feel” featuring Anthony Hamilton with additional vocals from Ice Cube; “Trickin’ Off Skit” with additional vocals by Diamond of Crime Mob; and “2 Kool 2 Dance.” Among the guest producers credited on HATE IT OR LOVE IT are Full Scale (“Gimme Dat” featuring Ludacris and DTP’s Bobby Valentino), Cool & Dre (“Roll On ‘Em” featuring Rick Ross), Bei Maejor (“Spend Some $” featuring Trey Songz), and Calvo Da Gr8 (“All Aboard (Ride It)” featuring Steph Jones).
Other producers include The Co-Stars (“Hate It Or Love It”), Michael Davis (“Check My Swag”), Jared Gosselin (“Kick Drum”), Kevin ‘Khao’ Cates (“Lovely Ladies”), and The Ghost Writers (“Blockstar”). Recording sessions for HATE IT OR LOVE IT took place in Chingy’s adopted new hometown of Atlanta, and Miami, Los Angeles, London, and Texas.
Chingy began rapping as a kid in his native St. Louis, citing Run-DMC and Ice Cube as early heroes. “I also listen to my share of old school music,” he says, “so I know as much about Luther Vandross as I do about NWA.” He blew into Atlanta in his early 20s and got scooped up by DTP, who scored with a trifecta of Top 3 pop/R&B/Rap crossover hits – “Right Thurr,” the RIAA gold “Holidae In” (featuring Ludacris and Snoop Dogg), and RIAA gold “One Call Away.” They collectively sent his 2003 debut album Jackpot to double-platinum, and turned the laid-back rapper into a household name, teen dream sex symbol and fly-boy lyricist.
In 2006, Chingy began his own label, Slot-A-Lot Records (via Capitol) which bowed in 2006 with his third album, the RIAA gold Hoodstar. The first single, “Pullin’ Me Back” featuring Tyrese (and produced by Jermaine Dupri) was a solid worldwide smash – #1 Rap/#1 R&B and Top 10 on the Hot 100 at home, and Top 40 in the UK, Australia, New Zealand and so on. The follow-up single and video, “Dem Jeans” featured and was produced by Dupri.
Since 2003, Chingy has maintained a high-profile on tv, with appearances ranging from NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Late Night with Conan O’Brien, ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live, CBS’s The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, The Tyra Banks Show, the syndicated Ellen, and Mad TV – to episodes of My Wife and Kids, One On One, The George Lopez Show, Tinseltown TV, Cribs, Punk’d, Sex TV, and more. Chingy also appeared as himself in last year’s Scary Movie 4.
Chingy’s reunion with the DTP crew reveals a newly grounded artist, whose growth and maturity have taken aim at pop critics who verbally slam hip-hop culture. “Those who are attacking rap need to take a closer look at the communities that produce this music,” he says. “They are ignoring the real problems like poverty and poor school systems, then they blame the very people who are the victims. Rappers aren’t creating these problems, we’re just telling the world about the dramas we see.”
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