I know it's been awhile, but here are some artists that you may not have heard about:
1) Jonny Lang
The blues prodigy himself was born in Fargo, North Dakota. As one would infer, there were not many blues singers or bands in Fargo. However, at the age of twelve, Lang (real name: Jon Gordon Langseth, Jr.) began learning to play the guitar and his father took him to see the Bad Medicine Blues Band. Soon after, Jon was taking guitar lessons with the band's guitar player, Ted Larson. Not long after, he joined the band, which was renamed Kid Jonny Lang & The Big Bang. At 15, he independently released his first record, Smokin', and later signed to A&M records. On the label, he released Lie to Me (1997), the Grammy-nominated Wander This World (1998), Long Time Coming (2003) and the Grammy-winning, gospel-influenced Turn Around (2006). His guitar solos and unique bluesy voice has garnered him much attention and he has been able to tour with the Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, Buddy Guy, B.B. King, Blues Traveller, Jeff Beck and Sting. Recently, he collaborated with the Jonas Brothers on their song "Hey Baby." (I know I had to mention it.)
Lie to Me
634-5789 w/ Eddie Floyd and Wilson Pickett
Red Light
Official Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SMr86leGzY
If We Try
Get What You Give
Give Me Up Again
2) Janelle Monae
The Kansas native originally wanted to pursue a career on Broadway, but fortunately changed her mind because of her belief that music could change the world. After moving to Atlanta, she met Big Boi from Outkast and formed the Wondaland Arts Society. She made two appearances on Outkast's Idlewild, which were the songs "Call the Law" and "In Your Dreams." Monae was set to released her concept album, Metropolis in 2007, but signing with P.Diddy's Bad Boy Record sort of changed her plants to make it into a movie. Still, she received a Grammy-nomination for her song "Many Moons" and is touring with No Doubt. What makes Janelle Monae special is her special mix of R&B, Soul, Funk, Rock and even Tin Pan Alley music (listen to "Cindi"). Janelle is set to release her upcoming albums, Metropolis, Suites II & III, sometime this year.
Many Moons
Metropolis
You
Cloud 9
My Favorite Nothing
Cindi
3) Amanda Diva
When Hip-hop fans think of a female rapper, Lil' Kim and Rah Digga usually come to mind. But this rapper is bringing back the style of the old school female rappers like Lauryn Hill, Queen Latifah and Yo-yo. After attending SUNY-Purchase for theatre, Amanda Seales started writing her own spoken word book when a friend suggested it. In 2002, she appeared on Def Poetry Jam reciting her poem "Hot Shit." In 2004, Diva released her mixtape, It's Bigger Than Hip Hop, Vol 1, got a gig on MTV2 and began hosting her own radio show on SIRIUS called Hip Hop Nation Show. Amanda has acomplished even more -- she joined the DJ Drama/Don Cannon/DJ Sense-helmed Aphilliates crew, published a book of poetry, got a degree in African-American studies at Columbia and replaced Natalie Stewart form Floetry. After, she released two albums, Life Experience and Love Experience.
40 Mc's ft. Q-tip
Rebels
Man Woman Boogie w/ Q-tip
Neon
Supa-woman
4) Phoenix
Phoenix is one of the hottest French bands out there right now, alongside Air and Daft Punk, mainly because of their combination of Rock, Funk, Punk and Electronic music. They started with Thomas Mars, Deck D'Arcy, Christian Mazzalai and Laurent Brancowitz in the affluent suburb of Versailles in the late 90s. Laurent Brancowitz joined the group after he was in the short-lived group Darlin' with Daft Punk duo, Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo. Starting as a backing band for the Air's remix song "Kelly Watch the Stars," they released thier first record, United (2000). Since then, Phoenix has recorded Alphebetical (2004), which pushed them into the mainstream, It's Never Been Like That (2006) and Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (2009). "1901," their first single on Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix was released as a free download.
1901
Everything is Everything
Rally
Official Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cE4gc7Pdfys
Consolation Prizes
Official Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9xWBle5s9s
Long Distance Call
Official Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKkkGjnt3-Q
5) Parachute
Have you heard the song "She is Love" on the Nivea commercial? Originally Sparky's Flaw, the Virginia indie band recently graduated from college and are now promoting their first album, Losing Sleep. They have toured with O.A.R., Switchfoot, Duffy, Matt Nathanson and Jon McLaughlin and will tour this summer with 3 Doors Down, Secondhand Serenade and The Script. "Under Control" will be their second single, which I heard on their demo a few months ago.
She is Love
Under Control
All That I Am
New Year
Back Again
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