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Q&A: Bandit Heart
For fans of the CW series Reign, last night’s ending may have struck a chord. A song that set the tone for a pivotal ending, leading the series to its weekly conclusion. The song acting as the backdrop? “Don’t Let Me Go,” new single from Bandit Heart, the latest project from Nashville’s song-maker Troy Akers. No stranger to the music scene, Akers has spent a good portion of the last year working on honing his songwriting talent, which led to a cut on Amy Stroup‘s record called “Dark Runs Out” and the title track of Neulore‘s new album. Most recognizably though, Akers is one-third of the pop act The CO, who delivered their last full length album…
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The Humming Challenge (Feat. Shelly Fairchild)
Today marks the first day Listen! It’s Vetrano is back on YouTube and I’m kicking it off with Nashville, female vocalist Shelly Fairchild in ‘The Humming Challenge’. If you missed my update video earlier this week breaking down where I’ve been, what you’ve missed and what’s to come, you can check that here. An as promised, I’m returning with all new content for the Listen! It’s Vetrano YouTube channel [Have you subscribed yet?]. I was so excited to finally have a chat with one of my favorite ladies in Nashville, the powerhouse vocalist and incredibly talented songwriter, Shelly Fairchild. A long time friend in the music community, Shelly and I have toured together, shared a…
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I’m Baaacckk on YouTube!
If you followed my first music blog Tragic Kingdom, you remember when I launched my YouTube channel (called ‘Listen! It’s Vetrano‘) back in 2013. To kick things off, I interviewed the then winner of The Voice, Cassadee Pope and Amanda Valentine fresh off the runway of Project Runway‘s 11th season. I had intentions to keep the videos a regular feature on the site, but knew they needed an overhaul (just look at the embarrassing production quality of the first one… you can laugh, I do), so I began to looking for my groove. (Where did Stella get hers?) Then I got busy with life, rebranding the website and taking on new projects, and the channel…
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RHONY: The B Is Back
The B is back! Bethenny Frankel makes her return to Bravo’s Real Housewives of New York (RHONY) this season, promising to bring the dramz. Her life –post divorce and failed talk show– will be documented as the Founder of the wildly successful Skinnygirl brand picks up the pieces of her crumbled, and broken, person life. For fans of the show, you’ll remember Frankel as the RHONY’s relatable comic relief delivering her quick-witted one-liners while struggling to build her brand and find love. Following her departure from the series, the Skinnygirl went on to sell her liquor brand for a rumored $100 million, launched a talk show with producer Ellen DeGeneres and released a number of New…
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First Listen: Five Knives “Savages”
If you’re a long time follower of my musical tastes, you’re likely already in-the-know about the electronic pop act Five Knives. I named them the top artist to watch in 2012, and watch I did. I watched as the band, who started as a hardcore punk-rock band with electronic driven beats, toured the U.S. with acts like Smashing Pumpkins, Twenty One Pilots and Icona Pop and I continued to watch when their singles slid up the Billboard Dance charts. And now, I’m watching again as the band prepares for the release of their first full-length album — out June 2nd — with the catchy lead single “Savages.” As a lead single, “Savages” redefines…
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Hashtag Blessed
Hey guys, gals and undecideds! It’s me, V for Vetrano. I can’t believe all that’s happened since my last check in with y’all (I’m so Nashville, right?!). I hope you’ve been enjoying the new content coming atcha regularly on the site. I’ve been a busy worker bee getting the new Listen! It’s Vetrano launched these past few months: new videos, new blogs, new contributing writers and even more fun things in the works (yes, it’s possible) … stay tuned! In our first official month, we’ve already seen more than 10,000 sets of new eyeballs from all over the U.S. stop by to see what’s cooking on the site. I can’t believe it! I’m…
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Introducing: Gary Bradshaw
I was flipping through a local alternative newspaper while waiting to share coffee with a friend in Nashville a couple of months ago. Half-glancing at the pages as I flipped, I stopped on an article about, or what I thought was about, the popular dating app for gay men I’d heard of, Grindr. What I discovered was the recounting of an anonymous writer’s decision to plunge into the online dating scene after failed attempts at meeting people “the old fashioned way.” To keep his identity veiled from the small Nashville community, he’s known in town only as Gary Bradshaw (a clever play on the iconic Sex & the City character). Having briefly tried online…
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Take 5: Shelly Fairchild
We all love to know what inspires our favorite stars and we want to know what – or who– is behind our favorite lyrics. But why is every interview so damn serious all the time? ‘Take 5’ is a regular feature on Listen! It’s Vetrano that gives readers insight into some of the lighter things in your favorite stars’ lives. And next up in the ‘Take 5’ hot seat, Nashville’s resident bad ass and super vocalist Shelly Fairchild. In an interview with Fairchild earlier in the month, we talked about her return to music with the PledgeMusic campaign she launched online (see: Shelly Fairchild Pledges Return to Music here). In no time at all, the campaign…
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Best Burgers: Nashville
When you’re in search of the best burgers in Nashville, V for Vetrano comes to your rescue. As a self-appointed burger aficionado, and after many visits to the best (and worst) dining in Music City, I often get asked about where to eat. A tough question when you’re dealing with picky eaters with tons of dietary or preferential restrictions. But there is one thing that never fails: burger places. So long as the menu offers a vegetarian (typically a black bean) burger option, you can always turn to the American classic. As Nashville grows and new dining options pop up on each block corner, it might be tough to decide which ones are…
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Introducing: Anna M’Queen
As her name may suggest, Anna M’Queen is not your average girl. The Five Knives frontwoman is a force of nature. Dancing and jumping her way across a stage while delivering fiery, infectious hooks with her bandmates, M’Queen is primed to be one of the boldest new names in music. Nashville-based Five Knives debuted their punk rock, electronic sound in 2013 with the release of their EP The Rising. It wasn’t long after I saw my first glimpse –at a secret showcase that ultimately landed them a record deal with Red Bull Records– that I knew I was hooked. The fresh beats and unique take on electronic-punk was inspired. And with Anna at…
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Nashville Notables: Leslie Fram
In Nashville, hit songs fill the streets like water on a rainy day and stars are easy to find in the city’s top establishments, but there’s more to Music City than might initially meet the eye. A leader in America’s professional landscape, Nashville is home to many start-ups, large corporations and crucial industries. And while it’s fun to learn more about our favorite celebrities; those that spend most of their time in front of cameras or behind microphones sharing their voices, it’s the people behind them that are making the difference. In an effort to give readers a well-rounded view of the city I call home, I am launching “Nashville Notables,” an interview series with…