Angela’s interview with Kristinia Debarge

Her musical talent did not surprise me because she’s been in the recording studio since she was 12 years old. However what did take me by surprise was Kristinia Debarge’s down to earth and easy going personality. I was lucky enough to sit down with her amid the busy tour life she is becoming accustomed to and discover more about the interesting singer than just what meets the eye.

How has it been touring with an established artist like Britney Spears?

-Wow (pauses). It’s been really amazing. We’ve just started the third week of the tour and I’ve been having a lot of fun. The food’s really good, which is awesome. I look forward to craft services at every venue (laughs), probably a little too much.

How did you get on “The Circus” tour?

-Thankfully the agency at my record company got me involved. I’m glad everything worked out because it’s an amazing opportunity for a new artist like myself.

How did you originally get discovered?

-Well I started recording when I was 12, and I was discovered for my singing by the age of 14. It wasn’t easy at first, I had to really prove myself to my peers and show them that I was dedicated to a career in music. Once they saw my drive and passion to be a singer they took me seriously.

Growing up you had a passion to be a singer, and you’re dad was in the industry some time ago. Was he hesitant for you to go into such a difficult business or did he give you good advice and let you have at it?

-At first he was hesitant, but when he discovered how serious I was he grew extremely supportive. He saw how much hard work I put into everything, and gave me advice to avoid some of the harder situations he has gone through. Overall he’s been a great help.

Who were your musical influences growing up?

-Aretha Franklin, Mariah Carey, and Whitney Houston had a big effect on me. There was also Led Zeppelin, Bob Dylan, The Cure, Guns N Roses, and a lot more.

On the tour so far, what’s been the most memorable moment?

-The experiences stand out to me more than an actual moment. Like I’ve gotten to spend a lot of time with the dancers and Britney’s opening circus actors, and they’ve been really awesome. We all have each other’s phone numbers and hang out and eat the catered food with each other.

What is the most rewarding thing about being a musician?

-The fact that I get to do what I love. I go out on stage and sing my music. I share it with the world. Oh and the money’s not bad either (laughs).

Priscilla Renea – Hello My Apple
When cruising in the car with your mother, and you hear a little cute song on one of her radio stations and you share that moment where you both can agree on liking the song, well thanks to the talented Priscilla Renea that moment is coming your way. Her sound is much like Colbie Caillat with a Janelle Monae R&B twist. When entering a CD you hope for something different and new with each song, and with Priscilla Renea’s EP ‘Hello My Apple” it is possible. With each song she can connect with copious amounts of generes. She is signed to the well known Capitol Records, and is giving audiences everywhere something unique to look forward to. Out of five stars this young talented musician is four, and girls pop the cd in your car so your mothers can check it out too.

Drive A – Loss Of Desire
The pop-punk scene may no be able to handle another Green Day inspired band, but if it can manage one more, then make way for the Los Angeles, CA’s band Drive A. They are for fans of bands such as: Billy Talent, The Gallows, and Alkaline Trio. Dive A has the same sound as many punk bands these days, but could be right up some other punksters ally. They however will be on tour this fall with: The Almost and The Used. If the tour is coming to a town near you it would not hurt to buy a last minute ticket. Out of five star Drive A gets a two and a half.

Tyler Hilton – Better On Beachwood
Some of you may know Tyler Hilton as Chris Keller from the few episodes he filmed for One Tree Hill, but he is trying to prove that he is a serious musician through his love ballads on his new EP titled “Better On Beachwood.” The minute the first song plays on your computer, I must admit you won’t think it is anything special, but wait for the the second song to play. Your ears will be soothed with a calming love song that will take you away from all your worries for just a few moments, and you can just relax. To have a song give you such an effect is a powerful thing, however, the whole EP seemed to lack his full potential that we saw with that one song “Don’t Forget All Your Clothes.” This EP gets a two and a half stars out a five stars, but I don’t get me wrong it is not a complete flop, but just not as great as you know it could be.

Black Gold – Rush
If your into indie music that no on has ever heard of, Black Gold might just be the band for you to add to your iTunes library. Their sound is so original I can’t pinpoint a genre it would exactly fit into, and this is not a bad thing, but rather refreshing. Black Gold is for fans of Death Cab For Cutie if I had to gear it in some direction. Their CD “Rush” bring soft mellow tunes as well as soul filled rock ballads, and is something that we rarely get to see ith bands these day. The sound is versatile and could really be the next big thing, and if not I would deffinatly expect one of their songs to be featured on an Episode of MTV’s The City. Out of five stars Black Gold’s CD Rush gets a four and half.

Artist: Black Gold
Album: Rush
Red Bull Records

Black Gold’s album “Rush” is almost like a cross between MGMT and Phoenix’s new album “Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix,” yet has that new “Indie” music vibe to it. I myself really, really enjoyed this. If you like that genre of music, and basically anything that YouTube phenom Mitchell Davis (LIVELAVALIVE) puts in his artsy videos then you’ll love this.

Artist: Lisa Hannigan
Album: Sea Sew
ATO Records

Lisa Hannigan went from performing her songs in a little pub in Dublin, Ireland, to singing her single “I Don’t Know” to millions of television viewers on the Colbert Report, bumping her to a number 12 spot on the iTunes chart. Although I’m not into acoustic, folksy solo artists, I can see why Stephen Colbert loves her music so much: she’s definitely got some talent and catchy lyrics. If A Fine Frenzy and Vanessa Carlton morphed together, Lisa Hannigan would be the result. I suggest listening to this song on one of “those days” where nothing goes right, its pouring rain outside and you could really use a pick-me-up song. Or if you never have days like that, and you’re life is full of sunshine and happy days, you can listen to it too. 🙂

Artist: Neil Nathan
Album: Songsmiths
Pirate Vinyl

There’s nothing I love more than a band covering a song completely outside their genre. Doesn’t matter whether it’s an acoustic version or full of synthesizers and electric guitars; if it’s good, then I love it. But there are those few artists out there that just, well, fail at covering a song. There is nothing more disappointing then hearing a really good song is butchered by someone else. This is sadly the case with Neil Nathan’s cover of Electric Light Orchestra’s “Do Ya.” Electric Light Orchestra is a successful, well-known 1970’s band responsible for the album “Xanadu,” which became a feature film and a Broadway play. Nathan’s cover was hardly anything worth calling “good.” It was weak and hardly lived up to ELO’s original composition what so ever. The second song on this album (“Do Ya” cover being the first) also had a guitar cover of Beethoven’s “Fur Elise” throughout the whole song. It was equally as disappointing. I’ve heard some classical compositions preformed on the guitar, like the infamous Canon in D, written by Pachelbel, cover that’s all over YouTube, and to ruin Electric Light Orchestra AND Beethoven is too much for me.

Artist: Pop Evil
Album: Lipstick on the Mirror
Universal Republic Records

I’m definitely not a traditional alternative rock kind of girl, that would be my mother, but I can say that I do have a great appreciation for the genre. Pop Evil, who definitely give off that “I hate Pop/Rock (Pop Evil?) Music, so screw you” feel, sound like they should be playing at Buzz Bake Sale and be on my mother’s iPod. They do have a ways to go in the industry, and I have heard better things then this, but have so much potential. Every band can start of their album with a hardcore scream and thrashing guitars (as did Pop Evil…), but how many actually have a few buzz ballads? And by a few, I mean around four. And each one is worth the listen. I really enjoyed this album, and if you like bands like Disturbed, then you’ll like Pop Evil too.