Never Too Late: Listen to this Magnificence Before 2015 Ends

Before 2015, were greeted fearfully with Justin Bieber’s Purpose and Adele’s 25, and we gladly rode the wave that these two artists created.

Yes, we have proven once again that the last quarter of each year happens to be the most exciting when it comes to listening to new tunes, comeback artists and album shockers.

Nevertheless, music enthusiasts have awaited patiently every year for new bombs to be dropped and their ears being satisfied after the long wait.

We’ve turned out to be ‘Beliebers’ once again after a hiatus that we all thought would never ever end, and we’ve come to embrace Adele again as if she never left the music arena.

But aside from these albums, there are ‘unsung’ artists who have taken us into euphoria within the boundaries of 2015.

They might not have climbed the charts and have never been a hit in the mainstream, but the artists and albums listed below would be worth the time if we’d all just listen to them intently. The hype is surely not on their side, and we would definitely regret not giving them the attention their music deserves.

Well, 2015 hasn’t ended yet, and we can still say sorry, like how Justin Bieber so succinctly put it. Behold as these albums might actually be included in your playlists right before 2016 starts, and little did we know that respected music charts and bankable music critics have adored these songs, unlike the oblivion we’ve felt when these albums were released.

Black Messiah – This ‘comeback’ album is from one of R&B’s biggest names during the 1990s, a man named D’ Angelo. After fifteen years of not being able to produce any albums, Black Messiah is D’ Angelo’s way of saying that his absence would be overwritten with the catchy tracks and tunes included in this album.

Older people would definitely remember D’ Angelo as one frisky artist, and this album, as what most critics said, established and sealed the singer’s talent just within 56 minutes. Get tangled and never be mangled with how playful the lyrics are, and getting Black Messiah would tune out the seemingly lost R&B alter ego in you.

Vulnicura – So okay, Bjork might come-off as a little bit weird for everyone’s taste, but we cannot shun the fact that she’s one heck of an artist. Her growls, her frigid voice, the accompanying music video and her album treatments have gotten very far from the conventional, but nevertheless are still admirable works of art.

After the glowing success of Biophilia in 2011, Bjork’s Vulnicura is another milestone for the artist as she weirdly talked about break-ups almost entirely throughout the album.

Comprised of just nine tracks, Bjork has once again established herself as a unique artist together with electronic beats, the dark history of each track and the usual way she rendered her voice as an instrument to touch not just the heart, but also the listener’s soul.

Wilder Mind – Mumford and Sons has long withstood the test of time through bracing mightily over the decades, and their 2015 album entitled Wilder Mind has pretty much attested to that.

Though they have made huge leaps of faith through folk songs this year, there’s still an itching rock gene that cannot be contained and is struggling to burst through the singers’ mouth.

Mumford and Sons, amidst sticking to rock for this album, still offered their intensity through its lyrics. The balance of love and life has been well discussed, which is pretty much a trademark that they have thrived on over the years.

The passion and talent is somewhat brewing over the top and Mumford and Sons would want you to revisit your record bars and grab a copy of Wilder Mind before the year-ends.

http://laurenceourac.com/never-too-late-listen-to-this-magnificence-before-2015-ends/

Submerge Thy Ears in French House

France has made a huge impact in the music industry in general. We have all been blessed to know some talented artists, singers and composers who have strutted the world and shared their gifts and skills with us.

French people are born music lovers, which is quite understandable since it has been coined that France is the ‘Country of Love’. Many artists have put in most of their talents in songs and lyrics, with quite an impressive result that shook the world.

Right now, it is imperative to know that on every corner of the music planet, one French influence would surely be standing above anything else, like for example, the so-called genre, French House.

House music has been a rave since the late 1980s, stretching its influence up until the contemporary times. Many people craved for it, with some even turning into full-pledged fans of the said genre.

The magnetic beats combined with specific skills used on musical instruments, the seemingly dizzying voices behind metaphoric and usually short lyrics, house music are definitely one genre that is known to transcend time.

French artists, being the innovative lot that they are, have ensured that they will have a slice of this addicting house music, hence, the birth of the illustrious French House genre.

Hailing from the bumpy clubs of European disco on the start of 1990s and early 2000s, French House has made it big because of an elite group of levelheaded French musicians. Over the years, French House has also been coined as French Touch, Filter House and TekFunk while it careened over the European dance music scene at the time of its inception.

French House has brought inspiration to other musical genres such as Euro Disco, US Disco, Chicago House and deep house with the primary use of instruments in the likes of samplers, drum machines, synthesizers and sequencers.

What sets French House apart from other types of house music is the strong reliance of its sound on filters and phasers, which are used in the American and European disco tracks in the 1970s. French House is known to have thicker harmonic foundations with a steady beat of 4/4 and a range of 110-130 beats per minute for its tempo.

French House has been well publicized when MTV UK in 1999 presented it to the public, even coining a French House explosion phenomenon after an interview with then house purveyors Bob Sinclair, Air and Cassius. Word of mouth and sharing of musical experiences brought French House to mainstream music, owing its success to nearby countries patronizing what this genre has to offer.

Some of the many artists who have thrived well within the French House genre include Alan Braxe, Breakbot, Yuksek, Cherokee, Russ Chimes, Dave Armstrong, Louis La Roche, Modjo, Motorbass, Sebastian Leger, Stardust, The Phantom’s Revenge, Together, Uppermost and Thomas Bangalter.

Nowadays, you might be surprised to know that worldwide prodigies the likes of Daft Punk, Cassius, The Superman Lovers and Justice have been known agents to scatter French House pollen all over the music industry.

French House is known to be a gargantuan genre as several music outfit moguls have specifically worked towards making it as grand as before, with inspirations such as Bromance, Kitsune, Ed Banger Records, So French Records, Vertigo and Waves.

http://laurenceourac.com/submerge-thy-ears-in-french-house/

Reminiscing C. David’s discography and jumpy beats

The music industry is a pool of talented artists, old and new, with all the bragging virtues of superstardom, star quality, indispensable talent and overall charisma. Staying in the spotlight of fame had been an arduous task and those who have made it will surely relay some ghostly stories of just sticking in there.

Some artists have had the best times of their career within a week, a month, a year, some leaned on risky comebacks and some just hit that plateau wherein attempts are proven futile. But even after their shine dimmed, some stars are still worthy to remember.

Amidst their absence on the popular music scene, the indelible mark on our memories would be enough to enjoy them again. Take Craig David as a perfect example.

Craig David had been an influential R&B singer almost a decade and a half year ago. After his first album release in August 2000, Craig David’s rocking our radio and televisions as if he’s been the singer that we’ve all been waiting for.

With his first hit Fill Me In, Craig David had captured the hearts and ears of millions of listeners worldwide and the beat that has been supplying had been continued up to his last album.

The sad song had immediately topped the UK Hit Charts and is the first string of Top 10s that David had accumulated on his Born To Do It album. Selling for a whopping 8 million copies worldwide, his debut album is so huge that popularity had never been a slippery sap for David. Suitably enough, Born To Do It had ranked second to Michael Jackson’s Thriller as the Greatest Album of All Time on an MTV Poll in April of 2009.

Two years after the enormous success of his first album, Slicker Than Your Average is an appropriate and timely follow-up. Four singles from the album had gone straight as Number 1 Hits on UK Music Charts. This second venture in solidifying his career includes music such as What’s Your Flava? And Rise and Fall which received a considerable amount of airplay and had been patronized globally.

After signing up with music mogul Warner Music, Craig never stopped from being prolific on his craft by turning in his third album, The Story Goes in 2005. A relationship-inclined song such as Don’t Love You No More and 7 Days had yet again dominated the charts and had been his longest running singles to stay on top of the music chain. A ballad is included in this album entitled Unbelievable, which is so mushy, and different of the usual upbeat Craig David hits formerly popularized.

His fourth studio album entitled Trust Me had received mixed reviews from the audience being dubbed as his weakest album of his entire career. While some of the tracks like Hot Stuff and 6 of 1 Thing had ended up as chart toppers, the whole vibe of this album in general is straying from what Craig David is known for—the groove and the megalomania for sensuality.

The last two known albums of Craig David before he went on lie-low are Greatest Hits (2008) and Signed Sealed Delivered (2010). Currently, Craig David is under a huge music conglomerate, Universal Music Publishing Group and fans from all over the world that have been infected by the Craig David potion is waiting for another venture through a come-back album.

http://laurenceourac.com/reminiscing-c-davids-discography-and-jumpy-beats/

EDM Should Prepare for Robin Schulz

With the advent of DJs finding their way to worldwide success, it is not surprising to find more and more people being attracted to instrumental tracks devoid of lyrics.

The general market that music caters to gets younger and younger as we move along, and if the youth comprises the music population, it is quite expected that the type of sounds being aired lean towards the experimental and unconventional.

We have all heard Steve Aoki, Skrillex, Calvin Harris and David Guetta, some of the most famous disk jockeys who collaborated with numerous mainstream artists to walk the music industry, and the results are spectacular.

Normally, DJs are viewed to be a cool and hip lot, with the latest tools to craft remixes, the talent to hear better than others and the angst they carry with them once they play on stage; all of these are traits that we have adored. Now, if you want to experience a new kind of house music, and then read on to know Robin Schulz and his impeccable skill in creating new sounds.

Robin Schulz’s music inclination started as early as his 17th year of age. Drawing inspiration from widely known DJs like Armand Van Helden, Tiesto, Sven Vath and Richie Hawtin, Schulz in now focusing on deep and tropical house music since he started his career last 2007.

Now at 28, the Osnabruck, Germany-spawned music prodigy is now famous due to fact that he signed a coveted contract with Warner Music.

Before producing music of his own and patronized in the mainstream, Schulz has been saturated with club music because he has owned a bar since he was 20 years old.

Similar to how rising stars have done it, he experimented well in establishing his own style and uploaded his crafted masterpieces in YouTube, earning him millions of views.

It was in 2014 when Robin Schulz found the courage to make his talent known by releasing the remix Waves originally sung and recorded by hip hop artist Mr Probz.

This song got him a nomination in the coveted Grammy Awards for Non-Classical Best Remixed Recording and placed him on the board as one of the DJ artists to watch out for.

Electronic music has been Robin Schulz’s focus and he associated his talent with current EDM stars such as the Epic Sax Guy, Roger Sanchez and Todd Terry. Currently, Robin Schulz managed to release two studio albums entitled Prayer (2014) and Sugar (2015), which is now cementing the artist’s name as one of the most respectable EDM superstars. Prayer received good reception putting it at the 3rd spot of the US Billboard Charts for Dance and ended with a Gold status in the BVMI. Robin Schulz’s follow-up track to Waves entitled Prayer in C has topped numerous dance charts and even garnered a Platinum mark by ARIA and IFPI in Sweden. Making rounds on the radio and online streaming sites, Robin Schulz can also be heard and experienced via remixes like Headlights (with Ilsey), Sugar (with Francesco Yates), Willst Du (with Alligatoah) and Sun Goes Down (with Jasmine Thompson).

http://laurenceourac.com/edm-should-prepare-for-robin-schulz/

Neck Deep set for an Asian tour early 2016

Finally, one of the most promising bands that’s making noise in the pop punk scene will set foot in South East Asia after the announcement of their tour scheduled in January of 2016.

After making favorable uproar in both the record and concert domains since they went mainstream in 2014, Ben Barlow, Matt West, Fil Thorpe-Evans and Dani Washington – or Neck Deep as what they collectively call themselves – will usher South East Asian fans with their feel good music that clearly suggests good times and endless summers.

The Welsh band is very excited about their upcoming gigs that will span three countries.

Expect fun and nothing less than musical pleasure brought by the combination of beats and heavy guitar strumming that blend well with the realtive lyrics of their captivating songs.

The gigs are as follows:

January 26th – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, KL Venue
January 27th – Singapore, Scape Ground Theatre
January 28th – Manila, Philippines, Sky Dome

“Oh man, are we in for a good time. We’re going to some places we’ve never been before, and not only will there be awesome shows, but awesome times and good vibes.” Commented the band’s vocalist, Ben Barlow. “I can’t wait, and hopefully neither can you!” He added.

The now four-piece band started out their career in 2012 with no intention of launching a serious music profession.

The history of Neck Deep started when Barlow and the former guitarist collaborated on a song that was posted online. After gaining attention, the duo grew into a trio. The band quickly kicked off their careers after that.

The success of their first LP named Wishful Thinking back in 2014 made the band realize that the music they are making and the career they are heading to is considerably serious.

After the debut album’s release, Thorpe-Evans, West and Roberts decided to leave their jobs, while Washington refused a spot at the Academy of Contemporary Music.

The same happened to Barlow as he decided to drop out of college to focus on their budding career, just like what his other mates did. Show after show, the band that just started online became the front act of several tours of various artists like Blink 185.

The South East Asian tour is in support of the band’s second album, Life’s Not Out to Get You.

http://laurenceourac.com/neck-deep-set-for-an-asian-tour-early-2016/

Continuously Adore The Supermen Lovers Like The First Time

It can be said that one of the most celebrated French musicians to have ever walked the planet is The Supermen Lovers.

You might be thinking that The Supermen Lovers is a group or a band, which glorifies the famed superhero, all completely clad in their mighty red and blue outfits.

But just to burst your bubble, The Superman Lovers is actually a solo artist who managed to captivate hordes of music-crazed fans into his fresh approach on the French house, tech house and funky house genres.

Born Guillaume Atlan, The Supermen Lovers is Atlan’s way of entering the music industry with a bang using his shrewdness to claim more attention.

Raised in the musically inclined city of Paris, The Supermen Lovers became inspired as young as 8 years old, when he enrolled to the Francis Poulenc Conservatory and mastered solfège and piano.

From then on, Atlan never let go of his passion and continued to build up a skill that is incomparable to the rest of his colleagues.

It was in 1999 when he put his musical ingenuity to good use by releasing his first ever-electronic album entitled School under the illustrious UK music mogul, Cyclo.

As if producing music under a respectable outfit is not enough, The Supermen Lovers tried venturing out in putting up a label of his own, which was realized via Lafesse Records. W Here, he continuously produced house music under the incognito Stan de Mareuil.

A year after, Atlan as an artist found a dead end under his pseudonym. a He then decided to jump onto a more rigorous task of stretching his musical audience by entering the mainstream. This was when The Supermen Lovers was born as a tribute to a track of the same title by French artist Johnny Guitar Watson.

The year 2000 can be considered as The Supermen Lovers’ ultimate opportunity in rising to worldwide fame upon the release of a very iconic track entitled Starlight.

This song pretty much established The Supermen Lovers’ capacity to craft music that will be adored by many, especially because it was influenced by Mani Hoffman as a co-writer and Onili doing the back-up vocals.

Bigger music labels have come to realize the gem inside The Supermen Lovers’ being, and BMG signed Atlan up for his first major contract in 2001. Media exposure was harnessed for The Superman Lovers, until everything became ripe for a much-awaited album entitled The Player, released in 2001.

The song Starlight has never ceased to appear on countless music charts and ranked very well as the number 2 single in France and the UK at that time.

Not surprisingly, this track also recounted The Supermen Lovers as a promising, budding artist in countries like Italy, Spain, Germany, Australia and Belgium.

The Player, as an album, contained tracks that are extremely popular in the general music scene such as Hard Stuff, Family Business, Dance With You and Diamonds For Her.

These paved the way for French House to be respected as a musical genre during those times.

In general, The Supermen Lovers was able to produce several LP records and mixtapes, which evolved into four studio albums. The latest of which was Alterations, released last 2014.

Some other singles that are listed under The Supermen Lovers’ belt include Bus Stop (2005), Take a Chance (2010), We Got That Booty (2012) and Moments (2013).

The Supermen Lovers also ventured into collaborating with a plethora of artists by giving their respective singles a remix that no one else can carry out aside from Atlan himself.

http://laurenceourac.com/continuously-adore-the-supermen-lovers-like-the-first-time/

Beyonce Cliff-Dived into Movies and it’s Masterful

Okay, so we do know some Hollywood artists who have crossed the bridge of skills and talents to become musicians too. There are multi-talented people like Jamie Fox, Scarlett Johansson, Kevin Bacon and Ryan Gosling, who have tried the waters of singing and somehow managed to get a few applauds here and there.

People are born to have talents that can be ambivalent at times, and it is no surprise that more and more full-pledged singers have jumped on having some acting stints, too, which delivered quite an impressive result.

We all can remember Whitney Houston as she starred in the 90s movie The Bodyguard alongside Kevin Costner, or Jennifer Hudson as Effie White in the hit musical The Dream Girls, but are we going to ever forget how superstar pop diva Beyonce tipped her toes to the cinematic world so many times and came-off as unbelievably great? Below are some of the many ways we can love Beyonce singing, dancing and acting at the same time.

Beyonce has starred on a major role when she landed a lead on the hit franchise Austin Powers. While the Queen B has taken off the shadow light from Mike Myers comedic relief, we can all nod in agreement that the pop diva have come to embrace her cinematic alter-ego in this movie, all with the golden polyester outfit and larger-than-life afro.

Fans and haters alike have witnessed how Beyonce can transform into a musical phenomenon to this quirky, sultry sidekick that is just fitting to how she acted on the flick.

Another memorable Beyonce stint in the movies is when she took everything seriously on the movie Cadillac Records in 2009. No one can seem to fit the Etta James’ persona than the high-hitting and belting Beyonce, all with her tanned glory and diva pizzazz.

Aside from her on fleek singing prowess portrayed within a great length in the film, people also have come to realize that Beyonce can really pass as a respectable actress through a copious of serious and heavy drama parts.

If you want to see Beyonce as not what she is as an applauded singer, then go watch Obsessed which was also released the same year as Cadillac Records. In the movie, Beyonce have gone greater heights into proving that her acting can work without the involvement of her singing.

With all the commotions going inside the film, her character Glinda has shadowed any Beyonce matter living in her body and has given the audience a believable stint that surely is memorable to movie buffs and Beyonce fans alike.

It was in 2006 when we get to know Beyonce as a die-hard lover of musicals as she yet again landed a lead role as Deena Jones. The Dreamgirls have been one of the best movies of 2006, which wounded up several awards and nominations for the movies’ actors such as Jennifer Hudson’s success and Beyonce’s first Golden Globe nomination.

As usual, Beyonce sang a couple of times in this film but there’s no denying that her scenes are truly heartfelt more than pleasing to the ears. Beyonce as Deana Jones has been feisty and ambitious all throughout, and the powerful pop diva has given justice to the lead role, with all her no-acting acting ability classily showcased.

http://laurenceourac.com/beyonce-cliff-dived-into-movies-and-its-masterful/

CL’s new single gives a dose of KPOP to international audience

There is no denying that KPOP is jump-starting its claim to the era of the golden age as artists surface in the international scene one after the other. Motivated by the history breaking hit of Psy, the world has come to know the beauty and vibrance of KPOP, as exhibited by both fashion and music trends.

The rise of the new platform where Koreans are taking scene is well received by fans from different continents aside from its roots – Asia. The look is fresh and trendy. The captivating music paired with attractive artists who can both sing and dance are the main reasons why more and more people are being drawn to this fad.

And now, another Korean superstar is on the verge of taking a larger slice of the KPOP industry. CL – or Chaerin Lee of the popular girl group 2NE1 recently released her first solo single Hello Bitches, showing a distinct flavor of Korean musical culture while incorporating a Western hint to cater to audiences from all regions.

With an upcoming solo album set to release in the US, KPOP fans will see their idol on a bigger stage alongside talented managers rallying behind her. Under the tutelage of Scott Braun, who happens to be the same person managing the stellar careers of the famous Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande and Carly Rae Jepsen, we can expect that the launch of this Asian songstress’ career is up for a good and prosperous ride.

The video exemplifies girl power where CL exhibits her exceptional dancing moves together with her equally alluring back up dancers all dressed in black.

True to its title, the video connotes all-out fun and suggests partying that is fit for carefree and independent contemporary women.

In lieu of being purely KPOP, the single is a mix of English and Korean languages that breaks language barriers worldwide.

With CL’s career blossoming long after being part of yet another successful KPOP group, fans are watching while at the edge of their seats expecting the next performance from this talented girl who is taking the music by storm.

http://laurenceourac.com/cls-new-single-gives-a-dose-of-kpop-to-international-audience/

The BBC Music Awards 2015

The music world will reunite again to this upcoming music award, the BBC Music Awards 2015. Many celebrity performers have confirmed their appearance and performance for the said event. 

BBC Music Award started last year, held at Earls Court in London. Last year’s event performers were One Direction, Ed Sheeran, Paloma Faith, Ella Henderson and a lot more.

The BBC Music Award last year had four award categories which are the British Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, International Artist of The Year and BBC Introducing Act of the Year. But this year they added one more category which is the “Best live performance” awarding artist who had an outstanding live performance for the whole year. I’m sure everyone is excited about this upcoming event.

Last year’s event winners was Pharrell Williams for the two awards which are Best international Artist and Song of the year, while Ed Sheeran got the award for the British artist of the year and Catfish and the Bottlemen got the BBC Introducing Act of the year.

This year’s BBC Music Awards will feature the following celebrities to perform for the said event; One direction (their second year), Mumford and Sons, Ellie Goulding, Little Mix. OMI, Jess Glynne and Hozier will be performing with their sets in the event. BBC Concert Orchestra will share their talent by backing up most of the performance in the said event.

If you are planning to go to this event, more than 10,000 tickets will be available for the public and for avid fans out there, don’t forget to grab your tickets. This event will be held at Birmingham’s Genting Arena, Fearne Cotton and Chris Evans will be hosting the music awards. The BBC Music Award will happen this December.

So who’s excited to know this year’s awardees? Everyone is! So what are you waiting for, grab your tickets now and plan your trip to the BBC Music Awards 2015.

http://laurenceourac.com/the-bbc-music-awards-2015/

Fall in love with reggae music of the lively Gentleman’s Dub Club

Listening to reggae brings you to that vacation place where the sun is shining bright and palm trees are seen left and right. You may even picture your self-having that glass of Pina Colada while enjoying the relaxing yet groovy rhythm that happens to be the core identity of the said genre.

Having nine men in one band can seem crowded and heavy on the eyes – not with this band though. Gentleman’s Dub Club is like your one stop group when it comes to delivering a superb performance that will drive any audience into chaos in a harmless way.

Known to provide an all-out fun on every stint they do, it is no wonder that the band has earned a reputation and gained followers from different parts of the globe.

Hey, they sure have a style to tap for. While we are accustomed to see reggae bands wearing loose, beach inspired wardrobes, this band right here makes sure to convey a message that they are courteous to the crowd watching over them by being dressed neatly.

We may blame this put-together fashion to the fact that they came from the country of the royals, England.

The band’s success was because of the energy being pulled together by its members, namely: Jonathan Scratchley (vocals), Toby Davies (bass guitar, keyboards,vocals), Kola Bello (keyboards, vocals), Matt Roberts (trumpet), Kieren Gallager (alto sax), Nick Tyson (guitar), Niall Lavell (percussion, samples), Tommy Evans (drums) and Harry Devenish (engineer). As seen in different large-crowded festivals like Glastonbury, Ostrada Reggae Festival and Outlook Festival of Croatia, the band proved that their style can turn the platform of where they are performing at to a big dance floor.

The band started in 2006 and has continued luring reggae fans since then. As a matter of fact, majority of the singles they release turns into mainstay of Reggae Top 40.

Some of the famous songs include High Grade, London Sunshine and Open your Eyes. The band continues to provide superb performance as gigs were scheduled until May 2016 in the setting of Great Britain.

http://laurenceourac.com/fall-in-love-with-reggae-music-of-the-lively-gentlemans-dub-club/

A Quick History of How Reggaeton Climb Up the Music Ladder

Even though Reggaeton just found its voice in early 2004, the influence and joy that it behold spread like wildfire all throughout the world. Hailing from the festive countries of Puerto Rico and Panama, Reggaeton have proven its worth to be a genre that everyone must listen to.

Said to be a mix of Latin and Caribbean music, this music genre is actually a sound that originated and deduced from different sorts of concepts such as dancehall, Soca, toasting and hip hop. Right now, people from all over the planet have found another set of tunes that can make them swoon, dance and sing at the same time, and it is imperative for everyone who have encountered reggaeton to adore it due to its fun and artsy nature.

Technically speaking, Reggaeton means ‘Big Reggae’, which is just suitable to what it has done for the last couple of years. The megalomania beats, the not discreet use of several instruments and the playful lyrics that captured the hearts of music lovers from different parts of the planet.

It was Michael Ellis, a Panamanian producer who coined the term in the late 1980s, and all the while, Reggaeton have been conserved and conceited until its boom in certain parts of North and Latin America.

It has been considered an underground music style that is the same as alternative music started. The content of the pioneer tracks and songs depicts drugs, poverty, violence, love, sex and friendship.

Reggaeton is the soundtrack of inner city lives, which never planned on exposing the hidden truth until it caught up on commercial music stores in 1990s. After a while, it have been patronized by the middle class and the youth, thanks to its relatable lyrics, reggaeton targeted an audience that brought it well and proud to the world.

More and more artists want to have a piece of the Reggaeton frenzy have fueled this music genre. Underground systems have flourished and more magnificent arts of work gave the result of a music genre that is being constrained by the Puerto Rican government.

Despite the ceaseless attempts to banish the growing number of people who fell in love with the truth that reggaeton exposed, it still continued to thrive well and good by means of continuous airplay, the expanding number of fans and the inevitability of the concept that when a thing is tagged as evil, all the more that people would want to uncover it.

Some of the first few reggaeton artists who have made it big in the mainstream music are Tego Calderon, Daddy Yankee and Hector and Tito. Reggaeton found its connection to American fans, specifically the youth.

As for the tracks, it can be well remembered that the songs Oye Mi Canto (N.O.R.E.) and Gasolina (Daddy Yankee) have made us all dance to the catchy beats, the seemingly curious lyrics of the song and the rawness of the music itself.

After so many artists following suit, reggaeton mixed up with other genres to make it more appealing to the masses such as Bachata in 2005. A few notable and very talented singers made reggaeton a huge success on the likes of Tony Dize, Nina Sky, Dyland & Lenny, Calle 13, Hector Delgado and Tito El Bambino.

http://laurenceourac.com/a-quick-history-of-how-reggaeton-climb-up-the-music-ladder/

Jamie Foxx and His Respect for Music Ventures Over Time

He got the idea of his musical inclination when he starred in the movie musical Dreamgirls alongside Beyonce and Jennifer Hudson. You might remember him more for his acting appearances on tens of his Hollywood films, but there’s more to Jamie Foxx than we have ever known.

It is true that Jamie Foxx’ interest and passion for the performing arts can be summed up in all of his ventures in the movie industry and shockingly with the music planet. Yes, you have read it correctly, Jamie Foxx, the very talented actor, is also a full-pledged singer with a talent to boot.

If you’re thinking that his musical career is a mere speck of a stint, you’re underestimating his vocal talents and you need to think twice. The comic relief he has shared with his fans is tantamount to the tracks he has released for his music minions.

Surprisingly, Jamie Foxx has worked well under the mainstream music radar and has successfully released five studio albums, all of which are deemed successful in sales and patronage.

He first submerged into making his music career a bit more serious upon his first studio album entitled Peep This, which is quite a fitting title for his then blossoming career as a stand-up comedian.

This album even ranked well on the US Billboard Charts at number 78 and picked the 12th spot on the US R&B Charts. The follow-up album has been definitely well thought of as his next dish on the plate entitled Unpredictable careened smoothly as the number 1 album in 2005 upon its release.

Unpredictable have been Jamie Foxx’ cold douse of water on his critics as this emerged as 2x Platinum selling almost 2 million copies in the United States.

Three years after his triumph with second LP, Intuition came next, which established a whopping 1-million copies mark and have been dubbed as a Platinum album by the RIAA.

He never ceased in fulfilling his music cravings via releasing his fourth studio album Best Night of My Life in December 2010 and as expected, ransacked the music stands, ending up with almost half a million copies purchased just in the United States.

Just recently, Jamie Foxx has shown the world his fifth and definitely not the last studio album entitled Hollywood: A Story of Dozen Roses which immediately topped the US R&B Charts and is under the eponymous RCA Records.

This latest offering is a way for Jamie Foxx to showcase his roots with worthy collaborations via tracks with Chris Brown, Wale, Kid Ink, Pharell and Fabolous. The album is generally supported by four main tracks entitled Ain’t My Fault, You Changed Me, Baby’s In Love and In Love By Now.

As for specific tracks, some of the most memorable songs that are just Jamie Foxx in nature include Party Ain’t A Party, Fall For Your Type (with Drake), Living Better Now (with Rick Ross), Winner (with Justin Timberlake and T.I.), Digital Girl (with Kanye West and The Dream) and DJ Play A Love Song (with Twista).

http://laurenceourac.com/jamie-foxx-and-his-respect-for-music-ventures-over-time/

Leona Lewis in a new album is a beginning without Cowell’s shadows

Simply put, Leona Lewis is making covers. The 2006 X-Factor champ is now all about defining who she really is as an artist by singing and penning songs she has a hand on.

The parting ways between her and Simon Cowell’s label Syco Music was a buzz for quite some time, but her comeback after three years of rest made it clear that there is no stopping for this gorgeous songstress.

I Am is the title of Leona’s fourth album. Stressing abut redefining her music, the LP along with her originals seek to appeal about her transformation and maturity as an artist. This time, she is freer. “In the past I have been reserved, you have to remember I was catapulted into this fame that I never thought would happen and it was amazing but then the privacy is just not there, so to compensate I would choose my words really carefully because I needed to save a piece of me for me and on top of that I had people saying ‘make sure you don’t say this in interviews’, ‘don’t do that’. You’re a 20-year-old and you just think, ‘Oh God I just have to shut my mouth and not say anything.” – the British diva reminisced. (Cited: http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/leona-lewis-the-singer-on-her-traumatic–but-empowering–split-from-simon-cowells-label-10499019.html)

The title track ‘I Am’ can be linked after her split up phase with Syco. Hearing lines Not saying I was afraid of you / Won’t put the blame on you / But I won’t change for you must have been the singer’s take on the pouring covers she was told to do during the early years of her career.

The song still has the same sound the world has known to admire and love but with a twist. There’s confidence and owning of craft this time. Even her image has changed noticeably.

No more all rolled up Lewis, just comfortable and relaxed artist who has found herself amidst being in the industry that tends to be controlling at times.

http://laurenceourac.com/leona-lewis-in-a-new-album-is-a-beginning-without-cowells-shadows/

John Mayer and his barefaced omnipresence in music

We might have last heard of him as Jen Aniston’s long-time partner and Taylor Swift’s unconfirmed ex-beau but it is still evident that John Mayer is a blessing to the music industry due to his meaningful tracks and irrefutable talent.

With a strong affinity for his guitar, John Mayer took the whole music planet by storm by singing songs that speak of maturity, daily battles in life and being able to overcome it and the obliterating oblivion by exposing yourself to the harms of life in general.

Born John Clayton Mayer in the glorious year of 1977, this American singer slash songwriter slash producer has extended how great music is to him. He worked wonders into flipping different genres such as blues, folk, rock, country, soul and mainstream pop into a John Mayer revamped version.

Started out as an avid fan of artists such as Michael J. Fox, Freddie and Albert King and Lightnin’ Hopkins, John Mayer is known to have played songs with the guidance of his talent in guitar playing.

The gifted artist has continued to pursue and enrich his music ventures by being a student at the Berklee College of Music in Boston of 1997.

Mayer first tried out to be a part of a duo called LoFi Masters with college buddy Clay Cook and escaped the halls of education two semesters after he started studying for a college degree.

As how a budding musician would want to expose himself, LoFi Masters then started doing gigs and performance venues.

From his rise to shine in 1999 up until his last studio album released in 2013, John Mayer have been prolific in making his music known by establishing six strong strings of albums—Room For Squares in 2001, Heavier Things in 2003, Continuum in 2006, Battle Studies in 2009, Born and Raised in 2012 and Paradise Valley just two years ago.

Generally, it is the first two albums that jolted Mayer’s success all continuing with carrier and top notch singles such as No Such Thing, Your Body is a Wonderland, Back To You, Neon, City Love (Room For Squares, 4,484,000 copies sold) and Heavier Things tracks such as Clarity, Bigger than My Body, Daughters and Split Screen Madness.

Heavier Things have generally been an effective follow-up as it has been reviewed to have highlighted the singer’s songwriting and influential music be displayed at its finest.

During his entire career, John Mayer has received well and fair awards and accolades from respected music outfits. It is no wonder why it is just difficult to forget how great and awesome John Mayer is, especially now that uprising singers are being honest about pegging their styles on him.

The Grammy Awards have recognized John Mayer’s musicality by putting 7 wins on his belt for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance in 2003, Song of the Year for Daughters in 2005, Best Pop Vocal Album for Continuum in 2007, Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for the song Say in 2009 and Best Male Rock Vocal Performance for Gravity, same year.

As of current writing, Mayer is signed up with Columbia Records and is rumored to start a tour in October with a group from where he now belonged called Dead & Company. An emotionally charged album is also said to be released over the next months and Mayer fans should await a meaningful comeback.

http://laurenceourac.com/john-mayer-and-his-barefaced-omnipresence-in-music/