In The Spotlight: Pop/Rock Musician Vander

Another spotlight for y’all..today, we have pop/rock musician Vander!

Growing up on an industrial estate forty minutes outside of Sydney, Australia, Vander (born William Vandermade) revealed that he didn’t grow up with a lot of money. However, from his childhood, he learned to be grateful for what he did have and to have a positive outlook on life. “I wear that proudly on my sleeve today. And I think it in turn influenced the music that I connected with - music that was inspired by the working class,” Vander said. “U2, Bruce Springsteen, artists who started from nowhere but had the dream to be the biggest and the greatest acts in the world. I feel I connected to their roots and was also inspired by their ambition. I felt that with them, anything was possible.” 

In The Spotlight: Rock Group Bakers Eddy

Another great spotlight! Truly honored to feature all of these amazing rising stars!

Right now, we have rock group Bakers Eddy! Formed in Wellington, New Zealand back in 2009, the group consists of Ciarann Babbington (guitar/vocals), Jamie Gordon (drums/backing vocals), and twin brothers Ian and Alex Spagnolo (bass/backing vocals, guitar/backing vocals). They got their start together during their high school years, putting in hard work to create the sound and chemistry they have today, and saw themselves continuing to create music even after graduation. "Finishing high school we were kind of expected to do the university thing or get a proper job," the group said in a statement. "But the thought of doing something most people said was unachievable excited us and still does. So we asked ourselves if we should give it a crack, and the balls been rolling ever since."

In The Spotlight: Rock Group Tom Devil and The Wizard

Another new feature for you all!

Our latest artist spotlight features Dallas rock group, Tom Devil and The Wizard, which is led by lead guitarist and vocalist Matt Nestor. I caught up with Matt to discuss the group's inspirations and plans the group has for the second half of 2016!

In The Spotlight: Rock/Pop Group Young-Borra

Love featuring a diverse group of artists, designers, and on The Spotlight! That's the best part of the job! As always, if you or your client would like to be featured on the blog, please visit our Features/Submissions page for more information. 

Today, we have rock/pop group Young-Borra! The group, comprised of Jonas Young-Borra (lead vocalist/lyricist), Garrett DeTemple (vocals/bass/lyricist), and  Michael Curley (production), definitely has a unique sound that resonates with listeners. Jonas first met and began playing music with Garrett during their time at Purchase College in New York.

EP REVIEW: Your Little Trick-Travis Caudle

Last summer, we had the chance to feature Australian pop/rock artist Travis Caudle, and it was great to share his story. Well today (May 27), Travis has released his latest EP, Your Little Trick, globally!

The EP is really upbeat and great to groove to, which is perfect since summer is right around the corner! In addition to just great overall music, Travis offers awesome lyrics that listeners will definitely connect with as they hear the project.

Check out my review below!

In The Spotlight: Jay Wud

I'm telling you, the coolest part of what I do are these spotlights! To be able to feature artists literally from all over the world is incredible to me, and something I dare not take for granted. As always, if you are or represent an upcoming artist, designer, producer, writer, etc., please visit our Features/Submissions page for guidelines on being featured on the blog.

My last spotlight of the day (check back throughout the week for more!) is Lebanese singer/songwriter Jay Wud! Inspired by artists like Prince, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Nivana, and more, his rock music is definitely amazing to listen to. Jay picked up his first guitar at the age of 13, after receiving one as a Christmas parents from his parents. It was at that moment that he knew that music was something that he wanted to delve into. "I began performing around Lebanon at the age of 16 with different bands," he said. "The first big show I did outside of Lebanon was with a band I played with at the time and was supporting Robert Plant in Tunisia." Being from Lebanon, Jay admitted, though, that the life there is rough, especially for a musician like himself. "I took everything I could from the good, the bad, and the ugly side of it," he stated. "I consumed it all and it made me who I am today."

In The Spotlight: Manfred Kidd

I really am grateful for the opportunities to interview the up and coming! I got an email from a reader last week saying how he appreciates my features, and how he’s found some great artists because of the spotlights I do, which made my day. Doing what I love and having people connect with that is the greatest feeling!

Just to let y’all know, I have some great events and interviews to finish out 2014, so definitely be on the lookout! Celebrity news has been pushed to the backburner a lot, I know, which I’m trying to get back on track with. Pray that I find a balance come 2015!

Ok, enough personal stuff. I have another spotlight for you all today. Check out Swedish alternative pop-rock duo Manfred Kidd! The duo, composed of members Victor Crusner and Fredrik Folkestad, first met in elementary school but then went their separate ways for a while. They randomly bumped into each other on a tram in Göteborg, and discovered that they both had turned to music, which inspired them to work together. “The music we made became something neither of us could do on our own,” they said in a statement. “Finding that out was probably the moment we knew we wanted to do this.”

In The Spotlight: The Blue Van

More features on the way over the next few days! Right now, check out blues-rock band The Blue Van! The group’s members include Steffen Westmark (vocals and guitar), Søren Christensen (keyboard, vocals and guitar), Allan Villadsen (bass) and Per Jørgensen (drums and vocals). The quartet grew up in the same area of Northern Jutlan in Denmark, meeting in kindergarten! While other kids in their school were interested in soccer and dance music, the group wanted to do something different, and started playing music together. “We discovered early on after playing local talent shows and youth clubs that this was a dream we wanted to pursue,” they said. Their parents insisted that they finish high school first, but after they did, the guys moved to Copenhagen to focus on their music.

The Blue Van is more inspired by British and American bands, than music from Denmark. “When we first started out we were very much into mid-sixties british invasion bands. Kinks, Small Faces, The Who etc,” they said. “Since then, with all the traveling and touring, we have broadened our horizons immensely.”

In The Spotlight: Buffalo Sunn

Keeping up with my goal of at least one spotlight a week (no matter what day it falls on *smiles*)! Still looking for great writers & bloggers as well to develop more content for the site, so email me at BrittanyShawnte@gmail.com for more information! 

Today, on The Spotlight, we have rock/alternative band Buffalo Sunn! Based in Dublin, Ireland, the group utlilizes retro 60s sounds as well as modern day beats to make up their unique sound. Four of the band’s members are actually brothers (the Paxton brothers--Daniel, who serves as songwriter, guitarist, and lead vocalist, Neil, who plays the keys, guitar and delivers backing vocals, Conor on keys and guitar and Ruairi on bass). The other two members (“honorary members of the Paxton clan) are Donagh O’Brien who plays drums, and Patrick McHugh who sings and plays guitar. The Paxton brothers themselves were sent to learn piano at an early age. “We hated it at the time because we had to go every Friday straight from school,” Daniel, who served as spokesman in this interview, recalled. “So while everyone was off for the weekend playing, we had to go to lessons!” However, after a few years, the brothers got the hang of piano and picked up guitar quite easily as well, becoming true musicians at just 12, 13 years old!

In The Spotlight: Travis Caudle

I absolutely love how many international artists I have had the opportunity to feature on The Spotlight this year! It’s always cool to feature people outside of the U.S. to give you all a little taste of what the outside world really has to offer. It’s also allowed me to talk with a lot of awesome people! Getting back into the swing of things after all of these vacations and whatnot, so I have even more in the works!

Today, we have Australian pop/rock artist Travis Caudle! Travis admitted that he fell in love with music at a really young age. “Dad was always into stereo systems in a big way and buying the latest records and Mum plays piano, so it was always around,” he said, even recalling his first concert experience at the toddler level! “I clearly remember being at a Neil Diamond concert in Perth, Western Australia where I’m from, when I was two or three and wondering why he had red, green and blue hair (the lights!!!). Mum and Dad must not have been able to find a babysitter that night!” he joked.

In The Spotlight: Skylight

I'm excited to give y'all the first spotlight of 2014! (As always, if you are interested in being featured on Spotlight, please email me!)

Today, we have South African band, Skylight, made up of talented musicians Greg Jorden (vocals and rhythm guitar), Wesley Ayliffe (lead guitar), Peter Klien (bass), and Bradley Cumming (drums)! The band was officially established back in the summer of 2009, after Greg, Pete, and Brad performed together at a Christmas Carols event in late 2008. As the trio worked on their first tracks together, Wes, who worked as an engineer in the studio, became a part of the group. “We really connected, and they invited me to a rehearsal,” Wes recalled. “The rest is history.”

Check out more about the group below!

In The Spotlight: The Enemies

So happy to be featuring all of these great artists, authors, and designers on the blog, and there are definitely more to come! As always, feel free to email me if you would like your work to be featured!

Today, the spotlight is on Irish pop/rock band, The Enemies! Founding members Ronan McQuillan (lead vocals/guitar) and actor Colin O’Donoghue (vocals/guitar) started the band back in 2003, adding along members John Boy Berkley (bass), Johnny Crean (guitar), and Dazzy Oglesby (drums) along the way. In 2010, the guys finally buckled down and got serious about their music career, getting in the studio to record together! “You have to have a passion for music to pursue it as a career. Like any career really. Being surrounded by creative and talented people makes it an easy decision. There has to be a belief in what you do to continue through the bad times. And lots of sacrifice,” the band said of their career. That strong passion is definitely clear in their music!

Check out more about The Enemies below!