Beyoncé will be featured on the cover of March 2011 issue of French fashion magazine, L’Officiel.
The magazine, which is currently celebrating it’s 90th anniversary of publication, just uploaded a behind-the-scenes clip of the shoot featuring the leggy legend in African-inspired haute couture.
The photo shoot is likely the first of many promotional appearances to come before the follow-up to 2008′s I Am…Sasha Fierce, which is reportedly nearly complete.
In an interview with MTV Australia last week, Sia revealed that she’d just submitted a track for consideration on the record, although the album is already almost done: “Well, there’s only one song left for this album, so I probably won’t get on this album, but hopefully the next one. That’s my dream, that’s my goal.”
Sia is just one of the many writers and producers tapped to work on the next record, including indie noise-rock group Sleigh Bells, Ne-Yo, Jim Jonsin and Diplo. As Sleigh Bells guitarist Derek Miller told NME: “Beyoncé works with whoever she wants to work with, probably 30 or 40 producers.” As of right now, none of the producers are officially attached to the project.
But with the recently confirmed headlining set at the Glastonbury Festival in June (the first female headliner in the festival’s history–about time!), it’s a near guarantee that we’ll be hearing something new from Miss Beysus very shortly.
BEST YEAR OF POP EVARRRR.
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.
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!
Photo courtesy of MTV.com.
First of all: “Russian Roulette,” the lead single off of Rihanna‘s upcoming album, Rated R, is not a single.
I’m not sure what her record company was thinking in positioning this as the “comeback” track: It’s either her most brilliant, understated move as an artist or a terrible flop move by a singer known for her catchy, uptempo dancefloor anthems.
However, the song is a performance piece in the making. Moody and minimal, “Roulette” is deliciously murderous in its calculated simplicity as its lyrics suggest.
I’m eager to see the finished video for this production, and judging by the single cover, the official website, and the behind-the-scenes paparazzi shots from the video, it looks like we’re in for a rather fierce, noir affair.
You want to be the black Madonna, RiRi? Well, now’s your chance: Make your moment with this.
And now I present,
Reasons To Love Craig David‘s “Insomnia.”
· It is Ne-Yo‘s “Closer,” but probably better.
· It is sung by Craig David, and who doesn’t love a comeback?
· The repetitive bits.
· The chorus.
· The subject matter, which is the act of not sleeping. An act that has not been so well explored since Dannii Minogue‘s fateful “I Can’t Sleep At Night.”
· It’s very 2002 Pop, with a 2008 beat.
Thank you.
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