It was right after she first began posting demos on her MySpace–songs like 2007′s spacey “Surveillance” (which remains as next level today as it did the day she unleashed it upon the world), that I first took notice of Wynter Gordon, the 23-year-old underdog with a superstar’s worth of potential waiting to be unleashed each time she lays a pen to paper.

Just a few years after graduating from LaGuardia’s High School for the Performing Arts (alma mater of such notable acts as Kelis and Nicki Minaj), the young songstress had already notched herself a major writing credit with “Gonna Breakthrough,” a song from Mary J. Blige‘s Grammy Award-winning seventh studio album, The Breakthrough.

Ever since then, the co-writes and features (and unfortunately, the myriad leaks) only kept flowing for Wynter securing a spot on Danity Kane‘s 2008 sophomore record, Welcome To The Dollhouse (“2 Of You”), penning the impossibly catchy chorus of Flo-Rida‘s chart-topping 2009 radio smash “Sugar” and David Guetta‘s “Toyfriend,” joining The Freemasons on their essential 2010 summer jam “Believer” and, most recently, scribing three tracks off of Jennifer Lopez‘s stellar 2011 comeback record LOVE? including title track, “(What Is) Love?”

But despite all of her success as a writer, the song that truly launched Wynter as an artist in her own right was 2010′s “Dirty Talk,” a filthy-mouthed foray into kinky taunts and raunchy references to S&M above a dark disco beat that debuted nearly a year before Rihanna ever started crooning about her enthusiasm for chains and whips.

The song not only notched the singer’s first-ever #1 on the Billboard Hot Dance/Club Play stateside, but kept her straddling Australia’s ARIA Chart at #1 for three weeks in January (and the duration of Australia’s summer season).

Now, nearly four years since she first started making ripples across the blogosphere and beyond, the Queens-born singer/songwriter has finally released her long-awaited, much delayed debut: The fabulously titled With The Music I Die.

Read more…

A new O’Day has come!

Ever since Diddy unceremoniously ditched the Danity Kane divas nearly three years ago (one of the world’s greater pop injustices of all time), former member Aubrey O’Day has made it clear that she would not be deterred from her pop star dreams.

O’Day, the group’s most outspoken and audicious (Aubreycious?) member, decided to remain true to her Making The Band roots, signing on to film a Oxygen Channel reality series in 2010 called All About Aubrey. The series premiered early last month, tracking O’Day’s journey from the fall of Danity Kane to her first performance as a solo artist.

Following the show’s series finale this week, O’Day unleashed her official debut as a solo artist to iTunes today: “Automatic,” a scorching, synthesizer filled dance-pop number. The song plays just as one might expect Danity Kane to sound in a post-Gaga musical landscape; that is, something like a more dance floor ready version of Welcome To The Dollhouse album tracks, including “Pretty Boy” and “Bad Girl.”

“Look at my body, it’s so official / Every time they see me, they shoot over like a missile,” O’Day brags. While the beat is nothing revolutionary, the song is probably the wisest next step in sound for O’Day, likely to appeal to former supporters while still snagging dozens of new fans in the process.

And judging by the song’s success–currently sitting at #36 on the iTunes Song Chart after less than 24 hours on sale (and just 6 spots below her former employer, Diddy) it looks like it’s going to be O’Day who has the last laugh after all.

“Automatic” was released on iTunes on April 12. (iTunes)

REJOICE, ONE AND ALL: IT’S A BRAND NEW O’DAY!

Aubrey O’Day is finally releasing new music!

“Automatic,” which first leaked as a demo months ago, will act as the debut single from O’Day’s forthcoming solo studio album, which is expected to be released later this year on SRC/Universal Motown Records.

From Billboard:

” ‘Automatic’ is the right fit for where music is headed now,” O’Day explains. “It’s a pop-dance track, but I wanted to go in the club and write a song about not having to put on all the glamour and the glitz. So many dance songs are about putting on Louis Vuitton, getting dressed up and everything, and I wanted to do a song about walking in the room and getting automatically noticed and stealing everyone’s attention without trying to.”

The song will be released on Tuesday, April 12 on iTunes.

As a proud, card-carrying member of the Danity Kane stan club (RIP), I’ve waited three long years for this one. I know she’s not going to disappoint!

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to get Aubrey’s new logo tattooed onto my forehead.

While Nicki The Ninja Lewinsky Harajuku Barbie Minaj may be getting all the glory as Young Money‘s reigning first lady, there’s another woman in the crew slowly preparing to have her turn at bat: Meet Shanell.

+ Shanell is a singer/songwriter under Young Money, and quite a good and versatile one at that.

+ She is the sister of former Danity Kane member D. Woods, high school friend of Bangladesh, and former back-up dancer for Real Housewives of Atlanta‘s Kandi Burruss. There is so much amazing in that sentence that I don’t even know where to begin. (SOURCE)

+ Her upcoming single (which I assume to be her official debut) is called “Substitute Lover,” off of her debut mixtape, Shut Up & Listen. She recently shot a video for the song.

+ “Substitute Lover” is an INCREDIBLE ’80′s-tinged dance-rock jam filled with spacey synthesizers and electro-deliciousness. While the bridge is already fantastic (“I guess I was his part time, some time / Meantime, in between time”), the chorus is an A-MAZING moment of shout-y brilliance that basically makes you want to jump and flail dance ALL OVER THE GODDAMN PLACE. I actually cannot get enough of this cut. (LISTEN)

+ She has written songs for many a pop act cherished ’round these parts, including Danity Kane (“Key To My Heart”) and 3LW (“Throwback”). She is also responsible for the irresponsibly good “Aww Shit” off of Kelis‘ 2006 record, Kelis Was Here.

+ Shanell is currently preparing her second mixtape in the studio, entitled Nobody’s Bitch. She’s also working on a debut album and is in final negotiations for a Spring 2011 tour with “a marquee pop artist.” Hmm.

+ The singer also goes by the nickname of “SnL,” which I imagine will prove entirely confusing if/when she ever does perform on the stage of Saturday Night Live (SNL). Not sure how I feel about it.

+ Aside from singing songs, Shanell also enjoys attaching metal things betwixt her nose and her ear in her spare time. This hasn’t been confirmed in a press release or anything–I’m merely making an assessment based on photographs and videos alone.

+ Here is a full song from her for your streaming/downloading enjoyment, entitled “Other Side.” The song features Lil’ Wayne and Ne-Yo, and is produced by one of the top pop producers of 2010, David Guetta.

As you can hear, “Other Side” is a throbbing, melodic dance floor haunt. I approve.

In conclusion: Shanell is chock full of potential, and I’m very excited to hear something from her in the upcoming year. In the meantime, I’ll be loving up her first mixtape. (LISTEN)

For more on Shanell (SNL), check out her official website or send her a tweet or two.

I love(d) Danity Kane.

No, seriously: I watched the entirety of Making The Band. I stanned for those bitches hard. And to this day, I listen to their 2007 self-titled debut and 2008′s Welcome To The Dollhouse like the albums were released yesterday.

As one of the five breakout members of Diddy‘s mismanaged exercise in excellence, Aubrey O’Day consistently stood out as one of the more outspoken, outrageous personalities in the group–so much so that their eventual break-up was rumored to be caused by her obsession with the spotlight.

Since then, each Danity has since gone on to work on other projects.

After many, many reports of a solo album in the works for O’Day, it seems that–at long last–it’s actually coming true.

On November 6, Aubrey performed a solo showcase at Cherry Pop in West Hollywood. As far as I can tell, it was amazing. (WATCH)

Starting off with a dash of one of Danity’s final smashes, “Damaged,” O’Day quickly worked her way into two new solo tracks: “Hitchhiker” and “Automatic.” The new tracks are more in the realm of modern electro-pop a la La Gaga as opposed to the R&B-flared offerings from her girl group roots, but the slight switch-up in style seems to suit her quite nicely. They sound so good!

For a small stage performance, O’Day really nails it: Tight choreography, live vocals, and an undeniably confident stage presence. Lest we forget, she clawed her way to the top after a grueling elimination process to make it into the group. That strong-willed determination is clearly still with the girl.

According to reports, O’Day’s debut album will be released in 2011, along with an upcoming reality show on Oxygen which tracks her return to the spotlight.

I, for one, am ecstatic.

There were five things that immediately drew me to HerStory:

1.) Their name, which is ridiculous.
2.) The following line from the press release: “From the Supremes to Destiny’s Child, the R&B girl group has solidified its place in music. It’s time to welcome the future.”
3.) The fact that one of them (Miriah) is wearing a Grace Jones tee in their promo pictures.
4.) Their brief-but-amazing cover of Alicia Keys‘ “Un-Thinkable (I’m Ready).”
5.) A promising first single.

And now, a proper introduction. CUE THE PRESS RELEASE:

Meet the girls of HerStory: Marissa, Miriah and Asia – three young women from Los Angeles with a story to tell, and the voices to carry out their tale.

In 2008 their paths merged when Marissa, 19, Miriah, 18, and Asia, 19, met during a private audition in Los Angeles. Though coming from diverse backgrounds, including musical theatre and professional dance, the girls developed a close bond through the audition process, resulting in a stunning musical partnership

Alright, enough of that.

“Mack’n” is the debut single off of the group’s upcoming debut EP, Every Girl Has A Story. The song, which samples a line from Notorious B.I.G.‘s classic “Big Poppa,” is a delicious slow-sliding slice of modern R&B. I’m utterly obsessed with the chorus, and cannot wait to butcher the soaring “I just wanna let you know / You can try all you want” bit while belting this one out alone in my car.

Ciara, Brandy, DC3 and Danity Kane and everything else in between? Yep–I’m hearing all sorts of comparable sounds.

They’ve all got beautiful voices individually (check their YouTube account to see each member sing solo songs), but it’s the group’s harmonization–a skill that’s taken a backseat for most modern girl bands–that truly sets them apart as a quality act in my eyes/ears.

Aside from the silly name, I’m loving this group so far. Ready for more, please!

It’s recently come to my attention that far too little attention is paid to my R&B songstresses as of late–it’s time to change that.

“Rhythm & Muuse” is a 15-track collection of just a taste of the finest R&B-laced cuts I’ve come to love over the past few years, from Cassie to Amerie to Ciara and K. Rowland, with loads of amazing artists fit snugly in between.

This was an impossible MuuCast to create–mostly because I started out with 45 potential tracks. As a result, it’s clear that there will be many more installments of “Rhythm & Muuse” to come. Consider this an introductory piece.

The goal was to include one song per artist, but–let’s face it. Ciara delivers too much fire to handle.

This mix is ready for both the dance floor and the bedroom floor, so prepare yourselves accordingly.

Now please: Turn your swag on like X Factor‘s Cher, won’t you?

DL: MuuCast Episode Six: Rhythm & Muuse

Cassie – Me & You (iTunes)
Amerie – Heard ‘Em All (iTunes)
Kelly Rowland – Can’t Nobody (iTunes)
Ciara – Get Up (feat. Chamillionaire) (iTunes)
Nicole Scherzinger – Whatever U Like (iTunes)
Danity Kane – Touching My Body (iTunes)
Michelle Williams – Till The End Of The World (iTunes)
Kelis – Blindfold Me (iTunes)
Cassie – Call U Out (iTunes)
Keri Hilson – Alienated (iTunes)
Pussycat Dolls – Elevator (iTunes)
Utada – This One (Crying Like A Child) (iTunes)
Ciara – I Proceed (iTunes)
JoJo – (He Only Knows Me) In The Dark (Free Mixtape)
Electrik Red – 9 To 5 (iTunes)

People steal your music and post it online after working for days to record and write a song. It sucks.

As anyone who’s been reading MuuMuse knows by now, Wynter Gordon is one of the most anticipated artists on the brink of breaking out onto the music scene.

As a songwriter, she’s already worked to pen tracks for artists like Jennifer Lopez (“What is Love?”), Mary J. Blige (“Gonna Breakthrough”), and Danity Kane (“Two of You”). As an artist, she’s been featured on David Guetta‘s sensational “Toyfriend” and Flo Rida‘s summer smash of 2009, “Sugar.”

Currently however, the singer is preparing the release of her own debut album, which will (hopefully) see the light of day later this year. Her debut single from the collection, “Dirty Talk,” is a filthy, speaker-throbbing affair that’s already won the hearts of plenty of muusers here at MuuMuse.

Last week, I got the opportunity to chat with the rising star a few days ago. Check out what she had to say below!

Read the interview.