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Artist To Watch: Chancellor Warhol
When I moved to Nashville last year, there was a stigma: country music was king. But when Chancellor Warhol proclaims “the King is in the building” on the new single, “Elvis”, from his sophomore LP The Silver Factory, I believed him. In Nashville, the hip-hop scene is one of two things. Chancellor Warhol is neither of them. His indie flare keeps him relevant with the city’s tastemakers and trendsetters, while his clever rhymes and strong lyrics give him enough street-cred to go up against hip-hop’s finest. His first solo record, Japanese Lunchbox, was released last year and set the bar for his unique electro-rap style that urges listeners to the dance floor.…
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Artist To Watch, Britney Spears, Fiona Apple, Hole, Review, Taylor Momsen, The Pretty Reckless, Tragic Kingdom, White Stripes
Artist To Watch: The Pretty Reckless
It’s late in the day, Sunday afternoon, and I realize I’m severely behind in introducing you to the latest featured artist in the Tragic Kingdom family. And it’s not that I want to keep you in the dark any longer, but every time I sit down to start typing away, I end up getting lost in awe-inspiring, jaw-dropping video clips and interviews from the latest addition to our growing community. If you had told me I’d be introducing Taylor Momsen to the site a few years ago, when she was just known for her role as the innocent-turned bad girl Jenny Humphrey on The CW’s Gossip Girl, I would have…
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Artist To Watch: The CO
Now that jokes and pranks have subsided, it’s time to introduce you to Tragic Kingdom’s featured artist for April. It’s not often that you stumble upon music that is so compelling and rich in content it moves you to action. However, when I first heard The CO, made up of Collin Brace, Troy Akers, and Nate Fleming, I was reminded of why I love this industry. The trio, who are joined by Will Harrison and Phil Snowden when they hit the stage, are a Nashville based band setting out to break the mold of the city’s stereotypical sound. In January of last year, the band released their debut self-titled album…
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Artist To Watch: Michael Shoup
When it came time to pick Tragic Kingdom’s featured artist for March it was a tough decision. With my latest move to Nashville, country music has become so relevant (as you’ve clearly witnessed by the blog’s recent country takeover), but I wanted to do something special this month. I wanted to prove to the readers that Nashville is more than hillbilly rockers and twangy crooners. Despite the hicktown stereotypes, it wasn’t hard to find a variety of talents spanning all genres, many of whom will be featured in the coming months. When I first moved to town, I stopped by a writer’s round at a local venue near my new…
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Artist To Watch: Thompson Square
If your a follower of music, it’s no surprise why Tragic Kingdom is featuring the husband-and-wife duo, Shawna and Keifer Thompson of Thompson Square. The two singers met at a singing competition, where they had immediate romantic chemistry, after moving to Nashville separately to pursue solo careers. And although the chemistry didn’t initially lead them to share the stage, eventually the pair found it making sense. When a mutual friend – who had once tried to pursuade them against forming a duo – saw the pair perform at local Nashville club, he was blown away be their energy and cutting-edge style. It became obvious that their on-stage chemistry could be just as…
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Artist To Watch, Dave Preston, Featured Artist, justin timberlake, Matt Morris, Review, When Everything Breaks Open
Artist To Watch: Dave Preston
For the past couple of years, I have had the pleasure of seeing this month’s featured artist, Dave Preston, play all over Denver. And while his raw and natural talent has been featured alongside some great artists, including Paula Cole, Trace Bundy, and One Eskimo, it’s his ambient guitar work, from his debut release BE, that has been recognized across the globe. After receiving internationally syndicated radio play, as well as being featured nationally on NPR, the release debuted in September of 2008 on the New Age Reporter Charts at number 91, shooting to number 66 the following month.That same year, Preston was selected to join the band of an…
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Andrea Ball, Artist To Watch, Exclusive, Featured Artist, Flobots, Matt Morris, Review, SXSW, The UMS
Artist To Watch: Andrea Ball
Idol Insider is excited to bring you our new featured artist of the month, Andrea Ball. Ball is a self-described creative individual who “can’t seem to communicate the same way everyone else does”. Instead, she best communicates in beautifully crafted lyrics, telling a story with an arrangement, and expressing emotion with her performance, which is why the stage is where she feels most comfortable. And while she may feel “different from everyone else” at times, this is what makes Andrea Ball one of the music community’s most celebrated new stars. We first discovered Ball in 2008, when her first LP titled Beat Beat Pound made its way to iTunes. A…
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Artist To Watch, Britney Spears, christina aguilera, justin timberlake, Kelly Clarkson, Matt Morris, Reba McEntire, Review, The Fray, When Everything Breaks Open
Artist To Watch: Matt Morris
If you haven’t heard the name Matt Morris, or found yourself jamming out to his tunes, you soon will. Matt, a resident of Denver, Colorado, is prepping the release of his debut album, titled “When Everything Breaks Open”. Coincidence? I think not. The soulful, pop tracks delivered on his first effort indicate that Matt is destined to break wide open. But this won’t be Morris’ first time in the spotlight. He got his start on The New Mickey Mouse Club (and there is plenty of footage to prove it), where he acted, sung, and danced his way into the hearts of many alongside Britney Spears, Keri Russell, Christina Aguilera, and…
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Artist To Watch: Kristinia DeBarge
This 19 year old singer and dancer is making her way to the top with her new single, “Goodbye”, tearing up radio and digital downloads. Her debut album will hit stores on July 28th and then she will be hitting the road, joining Ciara as an opening act on The Circus Starring Britney Spears Tour, when it comes back to North America. Introducing Kristinia DeBarge: The video for her first single, “Goodbye”: