While hanging out in Melbourne, Victoria Australia, lucky guy Steve Powell captured Darth Vader shredding the bass licks of the Rage Against the Machine song Killing In the Name, because, of course.
Postmodern Jukebox’s Scott Bradlee Releases New Book “Outside the Jukebox: How I Turned My Vintage Music Obsession into My Dream Gig”
With student loan debt piling up and no lucrative gigs around the corner, Scott Bradlee found himself in a situation all too familiar to struggling musicians and creative professionals, unsure whether he should use the little income he had to pay the rent on his basement apartment on the fringes of New York City or to avoid defaulting on his loans.
It was under these desperate circumstances that Bradlee began experimenting, applying his passion for jazz, ragtime, and doo wop styles to contemporary hits by singers like Macklemore and Miley Cyrus–and suddenly an idea was born. The bands Bradlee went on to launch–from A Motown Tribute to Nickelback to Postmodern Jukebox, the rotating supergroup devoted to period covers of pop songs for which he is best known–borrowed from and refined the initial idea he had arrived at to bring genres now sometimes considered arcane to wide audiences. Today, the success he has had is astonishing, with Postmodern Jukebox collecting upwards of three million subscribers on YouTube, selling out major venues around the world, and developing previously unknown talent into superstar singers.
“They paired me with this amazing singer named Miche Braden who was actually a Motown legend. She grew up in Motown she studied with the Funk Brothers and they told me that she would be singing one of my arrangements. At this point I had never really teamed up with a singer before I didn’t even really like singers …so we got into the studio and Miche Braden just to let loose with this amazing kind of Bessie Smith blues voice …Hearing this amazing singers sing to one of my arrangements and I just thought, well maybe I’m not just a pianist maybe I have a chance of being a producer. Maybe you know, maybe arranging, maybe that’s something I like to do.”
Taking readers through the false starts, absurd failures, and unexpected breakthroughs of Bradlee’s journey from a lost musician to a musical kingmaker headlining Radio City Music Hall–and presenting all the insights he learned along the way to becoming an entrepreneur like no other–OUTSIDE THE JUKEBOX is an inspiring memoir about how one musician found his rhythm and launched a movement that would forever change how people make, distribute, and enjoy their favorite songs.
Pre-order it here.
Alec Benjamin Unveils Video For “let Me Down Slowly”
Rising singer-songwriter Alec Benjamin has unveiled the emotionally stirring video, directed by Matt Swinsky, for his recently released single “Let Me Down Slowly”. The single, which debuted last Friday and has already accumulated over two million global streams in its first week, heralds a new chapter for the extraordinary storyteller. Balancing relatable yet mature lyrical content with vitalizing production, he pleads, “Now, I’m slipping through the cracks of your cold embrace, oh please, please, could you find a way to let me down slowly?” atop a sentimental yet powerful drum-guitar ensemble.
“I’ve always felt awkward in front of the camera so I decided that in my music videos I would play the role of the narrator,” says Alec Benjamin of the “Let Me Down Slowly” video. “Most of my songs are based on a specific narrative so I figured why not just tell the story as it is and have some great actors bring the story to life.”
Upon release, “Let Me Down Slowly” garnered immediate support from digital streaming platforms including global placement on numerous Spotify “New Music Friday” playlists as well as an interview on Beats 1 A-List Pop (watch here). The single is climbing Spotify’s Global & US Viral charts, hitting the top 10 within a week of release. In addition to an outpour of praise from industry fans including Julia Michaels, the song’s accompanying lyric video has amassed nearly 250K views on YouTube in just over a week.
Alec Benjamin simply refers to himself as a “narrator.” Inspired by Eminem, Paul Simon, and Citizen Cope, the Phoenix-born, Los Angeles-based songwriter fashioned a cinematic, lo-fi sound that stirred up a buzz online right out of the gate, landing him a major label deal by the age of 18. A day after he turned in his first album, he was dropped by the label he thought would take his artist project to the moon. However, it was going to take a lot more to stop him. Alec immediately hit the road for a self-booked European tour in May 2016. He performed “parking lot shows” for fans outside of Shawn Mendes and Troye Sivan concerts, handing out business cards to leave a tangible keepsake for those listening and building his brand from the ground up.
Shortly after the tour, he jumped in the studio with Jon Bellion and ended up earning a co-write on the pop star’s debut album, “New York Soul (Part II). This session would also open the door for Alec to join Bellion on tour directly after. With an insatiable urge to rise to the top, the tenacious prodigy found himself back performing in parking when he wasn’t on-stage opening for Bellion. Knowing that some of those fans would search for him after the performances, Alec made it his mission to consistently uploaded one new song every two weeks to his YouTube channel and build a catalog his fans could listen to. Within the span of six months, he logged over 165 shows and amassed 150K YouTube subscribers simply through perseverance and a D.I.Y. attitude. Alec managed to hit even bigger strides in 2017 when his viral hit “I Built A Friend” ignited online, clocking nearly four million Spotify streams in under a year and earning airplay for millions of Americans on the national TV show, America’s Got Talent. While his story is certainly one of a kind, Alec’s narrative is only just beginning.
This invention translates dance moves into music, making two things I can do at the same time I’m bad at
Yamaha Corporation is excited to announce that Yamaha artificial intelligence (AI) technology enabled a world-renowned dancer Kaiji Moriyama to control a piano by his movements. The concert, held in Tokyo on November 22, 2017, was entitled “Mai Hi Ten Yu”‘ and was sponsored by Tokyo University of the Arts and Tokyo University of the Arts COI. Yamaha provided an original system, which can translate human movements into musical expression by using AI technology, as technical cooperation for the concert.
Drawing on the system provided by Yamaha, Moriyama gave a brilliant performance with synchronized beautiful piano sound. Moreover, the performance was accompanied by other leading players, the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra Scharoun Ensemble.
The concert performed by the talented players with Yamaha technology showed “a form of expression that fuses body movements and music.”
Yamaha believes this performance represents steady progress in the pursuit of new forms of artistic expression and will continue to develop this technology to further expand the possibilities for human expression.
BECK + U2 = “Love Is Bigger Than Anything In Its Way (Beck Remix)”
Beck has reunited with U2 to remix another track from the band’s international #1 album, Songs of Experience (Interscope). This time, current single “Love Is Bigger Than Anything In Its Way” gets the Beck remix treatment, as the GRAMMY Album of the Year winning musician pulls from his palette of sonic colors to emphasize the organic foundations underpinning its soaring harmonies.
“Love Is Bigger Than Anything In Its Way” comes from the critically acclaimed, Songs Of Experience, called “Their best album in years” by USA Today and “a remarkable accomplishment for a band in its fifth decade of existence” by Variety.
Beck previously collaborated with U2 on an exclusive remix of “Lights of Home (Free Yourself/Beck Remix),” released to mark Record Store Day earlier this year. Prior to the release of his critically acclaimed Colors (Capitol), Beck supported U2 on the final U.S. leg of last year’s #1 grossing tour, The Joshua Tree Tour 2017.
U2 is currently in the midst of the groundbreaking eXPERIENCE + iNNOCENCE Tour, whose May 2nd debut in Tulsa, OK moved Rolling Stone to rave “after this incredible opening night almost anything feels possible.” During the tour’s swing through Nashville, U2 became the first act in the history of Jack White’s Third Man Records to record a single directly to acetate: a stripped-down acoustic version of “Love Is Bigger Than Anything in Its Way,” to be released by Third Man Records on limited edition vinyl. Details to be announced soon.
The eXPERIENCE + iNNOCENCE Tour 2018:
June 5 – Montreal, QC – Bell Centre
June 6 – Montreal, QC – Bell Centre
June 9 – Uniondale, NY – NYCB Live, Home of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
June 13 – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center
June 14 – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center
June 17 – Washington, DC – Capital One Arena
June 18 – Washington, DC – Capital One Arena
June 21 – Boston, MA – TD Garden
June 22 – Boston, MA – TD Garden
June 25 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
June 26 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
June 29 – Newark, NJ – Prudential Center
July 1 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
July 3 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun
August 31 – Berlin, DE – Mercedes-Benz Arena
September 1 – Berlin, DE – Mercedes-Benz Arena
September 4 – Cologne, DE – Lanxess Arena
September 5 – Cologne, DE – Lanxess Arena
September 8 – Paris, FR – AccorHotels Arena
September 9 – Paris, FR – AccorHotels Arena
September 12 – Paris, FR – AccorHotels Arena
September 13 – Paris, FR – AccorHotels Arena
September 16 – Lisbon, PT – Altice Arena
September 17 – Lisbon, PT – Altice Arena
September 20 – Madrid, ES – WiZink Arena
September 21 – Madrid, ES – WiZink Arena
September 29 – Copenhagen, DK – Royal Arena
September 30 – Copenhagen, DK – Royal Arena
October 3 – Hamburg, DE – Barclaycard Arena
October 4 – Hamburg, DE – Barclaycard Arena
October 7 – Amsterdam, NL – Ziggo Dome
October 8 – Amsterdam, NL – Ziggo Dome
October 11 – Milan, IT – Mediolanum Forum
October 12 – Milan, IT – Mediolanum Forum
October 15 – Milan, IT – Mediolanum Forum
October 16 – Milan, IT – Mediolanum Forum
October 19 – Manchester, UK – Manchester Arena
October 20 – Manchester, UK – Manchester Arena
October 23 – London, UK – The O2
October 24 – London, UK – The O2
October 27 – Belfast, GB – SSE Arena
October 28 – Belfast, GB – SSE Arena
November 5 – Dublin, IE – 3Arena
November 6 – Dublin, IE – 3Arena
November 9 – Dublin, IE – 3Arena
November 10 – Dublin, IE – 3Arena
This Guy Took 4,000 Photos Of Himself To Make This Awesome Music Video
“NigaHiga” took on a challenge to dance without moving, taking over 4,000 still photos over the course of a week to create this incredible stop-motion dance video.
Shattering a Vinyl Record in Super Slow Motion
Gav and Dan take 1 piece of vinyl and spin it so fast it becomes about 50,000 pieces of vinyl. The results are obviously captured by a very high speed camera.
Jodie Foster Answers the Internet’s Most Searched Questions About Her
‘Hotel Artemis’ star Jodie Foster takes the WIRED Autocomplete Interview and answers the internet’s most searched questions about herself. How old was Jodie when she filmed ‘Taxi Driver’? Is she married to Mel Gibson? How many Oscars does she have? Does she have children? An accent? Siblings? Is she vegan? Is she a genius? What’s her IQ? Was she ever on the show ‘Bonanza’? What about “Gunsmoke”? How about “Bad News Bears”? Wasn’t she on “Seinfeld”? What’s her real name?
Canada’s Walk of Fame launches the RBC Emerging Musician Program
Canada’s Walk of Fame announces the launch of its sixth annual RBC Emerging Musician Program (formerly the Emerging Artist Music Mentorship Program, supported by RBC), one of Canada’s most successful programs supporting aspiring Canadian musical artists. Valued at more than $100,000, this program provides musicians with the tools needed to take their careers to the next level including private studio time at the prestigious Metalworks Studios, introductions to renowned artists, access to music industry influencers, exposure to audiences and media, as well as artist development and funding. Submissions will be accepted starting today through to Sunday, July 15, 2018 at 11:59 pm ET.
Since its inception in 2013, the RBC Emerging Musician Program has ignited the careers of its Grand Prize Winners including last year’s recipient, Jaryd Stanley, who spoke of the impact the program has had on his budding career in the last six months. “The money I received from the 2017 Grand Prize has allowed me to record and distribute music at major label quality studios, opportunities to perform live at top venues, and most importantly, time to create new music. All the things I need to take my career to the next level. I will always be thankful for such an amazing program,” Stanley said.
Other past Grand Prize winners include 2015’s Ivory Hours who have embarked on three national tours since their win, and NEFE, who opened for Canadian icon Burton Cummings in 2014 during his Canada’s Walk of Fame Festival performance at Massey Hall and went on to sign a recording contract with Universal Music Canada. The inaugural Grand Prize Winner Taylor Kurta performed for Canadian musical heavyweights such as Bob Ezrin, David Foster, and Carly Rae Jepsen as part of her prizing.
“We’re so proud of the RBC Emerging Musician Program and the impact it’s already had on the Canadian songwriters and musicians who have participated over the last five years,” said Jeffrey Latimer, CEO, Canada’s Walk of Fame. “We’ve seen a steady increase in submissions year-over-year and in 2018 we’re especially excited to open the program up to residents of Quebec for the first time! Canada’s Walk of Fame is undergoing a transformation to build a broader national platform that allows Canadians across the country to benefit from programs such as the RBC Emerging Musician Program.”
The Grand Prize Winner will receive a cash prize of $20,000, private studio recording time, an introduction to at least one established music artist, introductions to music industry executives, a public performance opportunity at a Canada’s Walk of Fame event, album cover artwork design and an invitation to attend the 2018 Canada’s Walk of Fame Gala.
Four additional winners will also be chosen. Their prizes will include a cash prize of $6,000 for the Second Prize Winner, a cash prize of $4,000 each for three additional winners and a public performance opportunity at a Canada’s Walk of Fame event later this year.
All winners will also participate in private music industry career development mentorship sessions with A&R professionals, a music agent, and an established artist.
Visit www.canadaswalkoffame.com for details on eligibility and submission requirements.
The winners will be chosen by a selection committee comprised of music industry experts, and will be announced this summer.
Jordana Talsky Performs Alanis Morissette’s “You Oughta Know”
Canadian jazz/pop singer/songwriter Jordana Talsky rose up the ranks in CBCMusic.ca’s 2018 SEARCHLIGHT competition, and out of 100 artists to make the initial cut, Jordana and her quirky, harmony-propelled a cappella hit “Run” landed in the Top 10, and was one of just five homegrown talents to be hand-picked by CBC’s judges was the only jazz entry remaining.
Watch the video for “Run” on YouTube below, and check out her witty and wry rendition of Alanis Morissette’s “You Oughta Know” in celebration of Alanis’ birthday this weekend.