I don’t want to tempt fate, but if that’s not a number one, I’ll eat my sofa.

As the man responsible for such songs as Diana Vickers‘ “The Boy Who Murdered Love,” The Saturdays‘ “Chasing Lights,” and Will Young‘s “Anything is Possible,” as well as some of the upcoming material from Pixie Lott and JLS, pop songwriter and producer Chris Braide has seen his fair share of glory in the UK Top 40 recently.

Two weeks ago, I had the great pleasure of speaking with the busy producer from his studio in London (which is about to be packed away and carted stateside!)

I’m quite proud of this interview–we touched upon all sorts of artists and ended up having a really in-depth discussion about the very nature of pop itself.

Read on to hear all the gossip from behind Braide’s soundboard–loads of pop nerd chatter ahead!

Click “Read More…” to view the entire interview.

Read more »

MuuMuse Approved Tracks for the Week of August 22, 2010

5. Jade Ewen – My Man
Even if she’s currently operating as one third of one of the UK’s greatest girl groups of all time, Ewen’s short-lived solo effort still finds its way onto my playlists constantly. A sassy, shouty chorus and grinding synthesizers make this electro-sizzler an instant (and deeply underrated) smash. Now that the Sugababes have taken a serious nosedive, I can’t help but wonder if the vocalist shouldn’t slap together a “My Man” re-release and give it another go as a solo contender in her own right.

4. Heidi Montag – Body Language
Blame it on the recent sex tape rumor swirlings, but I’ve launched straight back into Heidiwood this past week. Montag’s brand of so-bad-it’s-good robot pop shines brightly in her 2009 flop single, a track that might have actually found some chart justice if recorded by a more seasoned chanteuse.

3. Sky Ferreira – Obsession
Pop’s most intriguing ingenue of the moment goes Gary Glitter for her debut US release. She doesn’t just want you to love her.

2. Katy Perry – Peacock
It’s a song about cocks. ‘Nuff said.

1. Armin van Buuren – Not Giving Up On Love (feat. Sophie Ellis-Bextor)
The Bex monster unleashes her strongest single since–well, since the last one. Lush vocals; chilled disco delivery. Who needs anything else? Perfection, as per usual. Check for the utterly haunting Dash Berlin 4AM Mix for a guaranteed late-night sob session that’s arguably even better than the original.

As originally reported by The Prophet, ex-Pussycat Dolls member Kimberly Wyatt is making her first moves as a solo artist–in the form of a duo.

Her Majesty & The Wolves is the singer’s side-project with producer Spencer Nezey. Their music together is said to be inspired by “electro and dance.” Very good influences, indeed.

On August 27, Her Majesty & The Wolves will unleash their first track, “Glaciers,” as a free download on their official website. A video for the track is also forthcoming.

For now, you can download a pretty schweet mixtape on the site, which includes songs from artists including Ladyhawke, Marina & The Diamonds, and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

Above is our first taste of “Glaciers,” which certainly contains shades of all of the above acts. Very La Rouxvian as well, no?

If this is really the musical direction she’s heading toward, I expect some major, major surprises.

Ian Masterson, one of my favorite writers and producers (and frequent Dannii Minogue collaborator), confirmed in a tweet to me today that he’s been listening to “some new songs…” from Dannii Minogue.

After quickly pestered him for details on a release, he replied simply: “erm, can’t really say sorry!” It was worth a shot.

Masterson is responsible for some of my favorite songs of all time (of all time!), including Dannii’s “Disremembrance,” “I Begin To Wonder,” “Nervous,” and “Goodbye Song.” He was also behind the senstational remix troupe Trouser Enthusiasts and currently operates as one-half of production duo, Thriller Jill along with fellow writing/production mastermind, Terry Ronald.

I’m kind of a massive Masterson fan.

I don’t know when/if we’ll ever hear the music, but it warms my heart to know that it merely exists.

Britney just TwitPic’ed a photo from her upcoming appearance on Glee. It’s an ode to “Me Against The Music,” featuring one of the show’s characters, Brittany.

JFIO#(*H@(HinAoifowmcDJq839.

*HEAD EXPLODES.*

It’s been a long time coming, but it’s finally here!

Head over to Sky Ferreira‘s MySpace NOW to hear her debut American single, the Ryan Tedder-produced “Obsession.”

As promised in her interview with MuuMuse, the song leads with a bold, stomping beat a la Gary Glitter‘s “Rock & Roll,” and roars on relentlessly thereafter. With “Obsession,” Ferreira takes a break from her weirder, disjointed warbling (“17,” “Almost Lover”) and gives into a radio friendly electro-pop crunch.

Although the track could fit snugly into the tracklistings of her cele-buddy’s latest offerings (Katy Perry‘s Teenage Dream; Ke$ha‘s Animal), “Obsession” has a bit more grit and a dash more personality than your standard electro-pop affair storming the charts at the moment. It also happens to be instantly, insanely catchy.

With any luck, this’ll be climbing up there along with the best of ‘em.

She’s got a confession: She wants to be your obsession. So give it a taste, won’t you?

Full disclosure: From what I’ve seen, I don’t care much for Katy Perry as a human being. In every moment in which I’ve seen her speak (or roll her eyes sarcastically from the seats of an awards show), she’s always come off as a complete and utter bitch. And not in the fierce-and-fabulous way.

THAT BEING SAID, her new tunes lately are proving–dare I say it–quite good.

So much so that I am going to give a proper listening to Teenage Dream, her upcoming sophomore studio effort due for release on August 24. The ban has effectively been lifted! (Unless, of course, it sucks.)

To celebrate, I’m giving away ONE PAIR of tickets to see Katy Perry performing a special “Live on Letterman” concert that will air LIVE at 8 p.m. EST on Tuesday.

You must be 18 years old or over and capable of getting yourself to the Ed Sullivan Theatre in New York City on Tuesday evening between 6:30 and 7:30 p.m.

To enter to win, send me an e-mail with the subject line “KATY.” A winner will be randomly selected and notified this Saturday (August 21).

Katy Perry’s sophomore studio album, Teenage Dream, will be released on August 24. The album will be streamed in full beginning on Sunday, August 22 at 9 p.m. PST on Katy’s Facebook page.

GOOD LUCK!

Let the record show: I love Keri Hilson. I think she has an excellent knack for songcraft, a lovely voice, and keen insight into the music industry.

Well, not so much the latter right now.

Hours ago, Hilson premiered “Breaking Point” on Atlanta radio station V-103, the debut Timbaland-produced single from her upcoming sophomore studio effort. You can now hear it at The Fader.

Spoiler alert: It sucks.

No, really: There’s no melody. No hooks. It’s completely and utterly tuneless. There’s literally nothing redeeming, exciting or memorable about this song.

Church organs and soulful crooning enter at random on top of an uninspired Timba beat, desperately attempting to come together as a kind of female empowerment anthem. Instead, the song falls flat on its erratic face.

I just don’t understand how the writer responsible for such a strong debut record (“Alienated,” “Energy”), as well as such smashes as Britney‘s “Gimme More,” “Break The Ice,” and the massively underrated bonus track, “Outta This World,” could produce something like this as a comeback of sorts. It’s not strong enough to be considered as an album track- let alone a single!

I gave it a second, and then a third listen thinking that perhaps “Breaking Point” would be a grower for me. It’s not–just the reverse effect, actually.

Step your game up, Miss Keri Baby. You can do so, so much better.