• Entertainment

    Taylor Swift Pops on ‘1989’

    When Taylor Swift hinted at a departure from her country beginnings earlier this year, it was no real surprise to most of her die hard fans or critics. Especially following the wide reaching ‘Red‘ album, which premiered on Tragic Kingdom two years ago and featured a wider range of musical influences than her previous sugar coated country chart-toppers. In true Swift form though, she took her 80’s dance pop inspiration to the limits – and perhaps even beyond – on her fifth and most recent effort ‘1989‘. The synth driven beats and pounding drums provided by pop-music masters like Max Martin and Ryan Tedder mixed with Swift’s new take on vocal production make for the singer’s most mature…

  • Five Knives Savages
    Entertainment

    Five Knives’ Sugary New Sound

    In 2012, the Nashville based electronic punk rockers Five Knives won me over with their unique and fresh sound in a blossoming EDM (electronic dance music) market. It wasn’t long after their Nashville debut that the band, led by fiery frontwoman Anna M’Queen and includes Nathan Barlowe, Zach Hall and Shane Wise, landed a deal with Red Bull Records and hit the road with their debut EP ‘The Rising‘. After a slew of catchy singles, video premieres and a stint on the Vans Warped Tour, the band got started on their highly anticipated debut full length record, due in February. On Tuesday, M’Queen and her male bandmates released the new single “Sugar,”…

  • Entertainment,  People

    Take 5: Cassadee Pope

    As part of the newly launched YouTube channel, some of my favorite features from my music blog Tragic Kingdom are coming to life. Take 5 has been one of the most shared and commented on posts from Tragic Kingdom, so when I launched ‘Listen! It’s Vetrano’, I knew it had to carry over. And with the addition of the new channel, I decided to put your favorite stars in the Take 5 hot seat. Up first? Pop-rocker turned country sweetheart turned V for Vetrano BFF, Cassadee Pope. Cassadee is widely known for her time in the punk-rock band Hey Monday and the hit NBC series The Voice, in which Pope took first place. Since the show, her album…

  • Entertainment,  Fashion

    Episode 2: Amanda Valentine

    It’s here! The second episode of Listen! It’s Vetrano has arrived and it’s all about Project Runway designer and Nashville celebrity stylist Amanda Valentine. Amanda is the creator and designer of Valentine Valentine, a Nashville based fashion brand that is about to get a global launch with the exposure from the Lifetime series. She is one of the most beautiful, talented and raddest chicks I’ve ever known. Oh, and she looks like a way cooler (yes, it’s possible) version of a 90’s Cindy Crawford. In the episode, Amanda and I  dish on behind-the-scenes dirt from the hit fashion series, talk about growing up with her famous brother (Maroon 5‘s James Valentine) and pick Celebrity…

  • Entertainment,  People

    Episode 1: Cassadee Pope

    Today is a big day for the Tragic Kingdom brand. Not only am I launching the new site design (how does it look? does it make my ass look fat?), but today officially marks the launch of my new YouTube channel. As a music lover since I was just a little baby fetus, I sometimes cannot believe that I’m living my dreams in Music City. Many of you now know – from my parade of Instagram photos and/or Twitter feed – that I do a lot of different things in Nashville and have a lot of really cool friends. I often get requests to ask my friends and colleagues questions…

  • Blog,  Entertainment

    Josiah Leming Stages Big Announcement

    Indie artist Josiah Leming – who many remember from his short but effective stint on American Idol – is preparing a big announcement for his fans. The singer teased the news on his Twitter profile last week and announced that he’d be making the announcement and performing for fans on the online platform StageIt. Off the heels of his 70-date North American Listen Close tour, his fans have been chattering all over the interwebs with predictions of the singer’s announcement. You can catch Josiah perform and reveal his news via StageIt on Thursday evening, when Leming will take the “stage” at StageIt‘s headquarters in Los Angeles. Tickets to the online event are only $2.50…

  • Entertainment

    Elise Davis Makes The Kill With New Video

    It was clear when I first heard Elise Davis play her undeniable single “Make The Kill” in a Nashville venue that this girl was destined for bigger things. Her talent for songwriting landed her the title in American Songwriter‘s “The Pub Contest” earlier this year. While the standout track “Make The Kill” paints a picture of Davis “high on the living room floor of this old party,” the song was always missing one thing: a video. Watch the premiere of Elise Davis’ “Make The Kill” below and find out more about the Nashville based singer-songwriter here.

  • Entertainment

    Video Premiere: Britney Spears "Ooh La La"

    Britney Spears‘ latest Smurf-inspired single “Ooh La La” is already burning up radio waves, but now – with help from her sons Sean Preston and Jayden James – Spears has a new movie-inspired video to accompany the soundtrack’s first single. It’s Britney, but without the bitch. The single, which will premiere in the sequel to the new blue children’s film shows a softer side of the Princess of Pop. And it looks like the mini-Spears might be following in Mama Smurf’s footsteps, who are naturals in front of the camera. Watch the premiere of “Ooh La La” below and pick up the single on iTunes now.

  • Entertainment

    Video Premiere: Britney Spears "Ooh La La"

    Britney Spears‘ latest Smurf-inspired single “Ooh La La” is already burning up radio waves, but now – with help from her sons Sean Preston and Jayden James – Spears has a new movie-inspired video to accompany the soundtrack’s first single. It’s Britney, but without the bitch. The single, which will premiere in the sequel to the new blue children’s film shows a softer side of the Princess of Pop. And it looks like the mini-Spears might be following in Mama Smurf’s footsteps, who are naturals in front of the camera. Watch the premiere of “Ooh La La” below and pick up the single on iTunes now.

  • Blog,  Entertainment

    Are You The Next ‘Idol’?

    American Idol is gearing up for the 13th Season and on the hunt for their next ‘idol’. Think you’ve got what it takes to audition? This could be your year! With a new panel of judges and a slew of ways to get involved, the opportunities to shine this year are endless. Auditions kick off today in Salt Lake City and are coming at you fast, so pick a song and get yourself ready. Here are the full details… what are you waiting for?? Audition Dates / Cities San Francisco, CA – AT&T Park || July 16 (registration July 15) Detroit, MI – Ford Field || July 21 (registration July 20) Atlanta, GA…

  • Entertainment

    Take 5: Marié Digby

    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 so serious all the time? Take 5 is Tragic Kingdom’s regular feature that sheds some light on the questions that you really want to know, but might never ask. Up next, international darling Marié Digby. Earlier this year, Chris sat down to get to know more about Digby and her music. Now, let’s have some fun and Take 5 with Marié Digby.  Take 5 w/ Marié Digby 1. If you were stranded on a deserted island without food or electricity and could only…