A few weeks ago, I introduuced Matisse to MuuMuse, the up-and-coming dance floor vixen (and former member of sister act Brit & Alex) responsible for the summer smash, “Better Than Her.” (LISTEN)
The singer is currently busy cooking up the contents of her debut album due out in Spring 2011, which is expected to include tracks by such production titans as Tricky Stewart, Dallas Austin and Darkchild.
In between her sessions in the studio, Matisse took some time out to answer a rapid-fire set of questions for MuuMuse. Read on to see the full interview!
It was a very personal album. Very different from previous records. The whole thing was a dark dream; a chance for her to express all these things without being specific/literal.
From the jagged, metallic logo to the last seconds of the Last Girl on Earth Tour, Simon Henwood has been the crucial creative force behind one of the most dramatic artistic reinventions in recent pop history: Rihanna‘s Rated R campaign.
Back in the fall of 2009, a gritty, static viral video for “Wait Your Turn” teased its way onto the singer’s official website. The clip showcased the formerly sunny Barbadian pop princess now looking murderously serious in all black; her long hair slicked back beneath a hood and over-sized sunglasses.
With the release of the devastating lead ballad “Russian Roulette” days later, it became clear: Gone was the sun soaked, island-infused energy of Music Of The Sun and A Girl Like Me. Instead, Rated R ushered in a chilly new era of sound, colored (or rather, darkened) by the ominous imagery of sharp metal, broken glass, dismembered mannequins and guns.
To execute this new image, Rihanna worked with Simon Henwood, the creative director responsible for such productions as Kanye West‘s Glow In The Dark Tour and the gorgeous video for the rapper’s “Love Lockdown,” Imogen Heap‘s video for “Headlock,” and the bulk of RóisÃn Murphy‘s visual output over the past decade. (Fitting, especially given that the two recently welcomed a child together.)
Henwood and Rihanna worked together closely throughout the entire Rated R era, evolving and finessing the entertainer’s dramatic change of style into a sophisticated neo-rock ‘n’ roll noir.
Now, that transformation is about to be put on public display with the release of Rihanna, the long delayed photo-book that promises to guide fans through the entire Rated R creative journey from start to finish.
A few days ago, Henwood was kind enough to answer a few lingering questions that remained from Rihanna’s last campaign. The creative director provided a few small glimpses into the process throughout, as well as a better idea of his vision as an artist (plus a brilliantly subtle swipe at Madame Gaga).
For skeptics, casual fans and fellow Rihanna Navy members alike, this one’s a must read.
Click “Read More” to see the interview!
While the name Luciana Caporoso might not immediately strike a chord, chances are you’ve seen the name attached to some of the hottest dance floor scorchers of the past decade.
Luciana is perhaps best known for being the queen of collaboration, responsible for lending her vocal chops and songwriting skills to a slew of the brattiest and bossiest dance anthems of the past few years, including “Yeah Yeah” and “What Planet You On?” with Bodyrox, to “Bigger Than Big” with Super Mai, to her latest club smash along with Static Revenger and Richard Vission, “I Like That.”
A few weeks ago, I got the chance to ask the singer some questions regarding her break into the music industry, her creative work–including visual art and penning tracks for other artists (most recently Kylie Minogue‘s heaven-sent Aphrodite cut, “Cupid Boy”), and her plans to further dominate the dance floor.
As one can probably tell early on into the interview, the sassy spunk that Luciana brings to her music is hardly restricted to the recording studio. She’s a firecracker! Click “Read More…” to see the full interview.
Oh, and just to make this feature even more delicious, I just happened upon this sweet lil’ video shout out above from the singer waiting for me in my inbox. As she would likely declare, it’s utterly fabulous. Thanks for the love, Luciana!
She just couldn’t believe that what we’d ended up completely doing in my bedroom…was going to become what people would say would be the sound of the following year.
If you’ve even been vaguely paying attention to the state of pop music in the U.K. at the moment, chances are you’ve heard of Starsmith.
In just under two year’s time, the 22-year-old producer has gone from crafting homemade remixes in his mother’s house to working on tracks with Diana Vickers and the Princess of Brit-Pop herself, Miss Kylie Minogue.
Starsmith’s brush with musical stardom came shortly after answering a MySpace message from then unknown indie-pop sweetheart Ellie Goulding. After several recording sessions in the producer’s bedroom, Goulding would somehow find herself topping the list of the prime honor for artists on the rise: The BBC’s Sound of 2010 Award.
Needless to say, it was a bit unexpected for the both of them.
Since then, Starsmith has been busy at work crafting tunes for the likes of media darling/ex-Aloud/X-Factor superstar Cheryl Cole, as well as paving the way toward his own solo effort. In fact, Starsmith’s solo venture has just began with the release of his French House-inspired double A-Side debut single, “Give Me A Break / Knuckleduster” on August 29.
With plans to work with both familiar faces (Goulding) and new collaborators (Imogen Heap; Xenomania‘s Miranda Cooper; Alphabeat‘s Stine Bramsen), the young producer’s upcoming debut album (due out in Spring 2011) is gearing up to be a full-on pop smash.
And for once, maybe a boy will get a shot at ruling the pop charts.
Click “Read More!” to see the full MuuMuse interview with Starsmith.
Working with Kylie is like working with every artist I have ever wanted to and continues to be as exciting and fresh every time we do something new.
As promised, here comes part two of my interview with the sensational producer, remixer, songwriter and musical director (amongst other titles!), Mr. Steve Anderson.
Go ahead and read on to learn about Anderson’s unreleased electro-ballad with Britney (“Grow”) and much, much more Kylie gossip (Unreleased tracks! Scrapped setlist ideas!), as well as Anderson’s thoughts on remixing, the music industry today (including a killer list of artists to watch), and his latest project: Launching his latest chanteuse Elouise into the seemingly impenetrable territory that is North America.
Click “Read More…” to read the full second half of the interview.
Missed part one? Or just want to brush up on last week’s installment? Click here to see the first half!
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