Six Great Artists I Started Listening To in 2015

What I love about having started this blog, second to featuring the up and coming, is checking out new music from different genres. Before I began working on Spotlight, I was pretty selective about the music that I listened to, focusing on R&B, hip-hop, gospel, and pop. With the widely different music submissions that we get, I was kind of forced to step outside my comfort zone and check out new music from other genres. I branched out into a lot of alternative, folk, blues, and electronic music surprisingly, and even some rock and country!

That being said, I definitely started regularly listening to some great artists this year, one of whom is actually nominated for three Grammys on his debut project! Definitely wanted to share them with you guys. I hope that you like them!

Check them out below!

MUSIC VIDEO: "Lady Sings The Blues"-Florieme

London-based singer/songwriter Florieme has released her video for her song, "Lady Sings The Blues!"

This music video is different than many would expect, with a touching story behind it. "I have suffered from alopecia (hair loss) for the past 2 years," the singer admitted. "After reaching the end of my tether with it, [I] decided to not only shave my hair off, but be filmed doing so for my first music video." In the video, Florieme emotionally sings as she shaves her entire head, bravely sharing that vulnerable moment with viewers. "My hope is that the video will no only raise awareness of the autoimmune disease but inspire men and women with body image issues," she added.

Check out the emotional video below!

In The Spotlight: Singer/Musician Timothy J. Wilson

Happy Friday y’all! We have another great spotlight for you today! As always, if you are or represent an upcoming artist, designer, producer, etc., and are interested in a feature on the blog, please visit our 
Features/Submissions page for more information. 

Today we have the multi-talented artist and musician Timothy J. Wilson! This star on the rise grew up in White Plains, NY, about 20 minutes from Manhattan. A pastor’s kid, Timothy started playing instruments as a child at church. “As a pastor’s child, you’re pretty much there all the time, [so] they’re putting you on instruments” the singer joked. In addition to the singing chops he inherited from his father and grandmother, Timothy began playing the drums, and then learned other instruments including the piano, guitar, and bass. His talent was being developed extensively as a kid for his journey as an artist. Even at a young age, Timothy knew that music would be his life’s path!

EVENT: Kollaboration DC's 6th Annual Showcase & Competition (8.8.2015)

I was honored to be able to cover Kollaboration DC's 6th Annual Showcase & Competition this past weekend!

Kollaboration DC is one of many chapters of the non-profit organization Kollaboration, which seeks to empower Asian Americans pursuing artistic paths. A fellow Loyola alum, Shanika Jayakody, serves as Associate Director of the organization and invited me to come out to check out the showcase. I love music of all genres, so I really enjoyed myself!

Held at the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre in Rockville, MD on Saturday, August 8, the showcase featured upcoming artists from the DMV competing for a chance to advance to the Kollaboration STAR event in Los Angeles. The event was hosted by Adriel Luis, with guest performances from him, Sam Ock, and last year's competition winner Paradise. After scouting and audition artists in the area, it came down to six finalists: pianist Nan, music duo Santa Jaca, singer/pianist Abby Rose, singer/songwriter Alicia Rae, singer Audrey,  and singing duo 2Parkz. The winner, announced that same night, will compete in LA against champions from other chapters across the country for a $10,000 grand prize! With this group of great talent, the judges, Tim Ma, Joe Kim, and Tanner Chung, definitely had a hard decision to make in determining this year's winner!

Check out a video recap of the competition below!

In The Spotlight: Von Dupree

Happy Friday yall! We have another feature for you all today! As always, if you are or represent an upcoming artist, designer, model, etc., and are interested in a spotlight on the blog, please visit our Features/Submissions page for more information!

Today, we have hip hop artist Von Dupree! The artist began playing the piano around 12 or 13 years old, participating in various recitals and competitions, and also playing and singing in church. "When I was 18, when I went to North Carolina Central [University], that's when I actually started rapping, when I made my first song," Von Dupree said. "From there, it just kind of took off." The rapper listened to and was inspired by several artists including OutKast, T.I., Slick Rick, and especially Tupac Shakur. "Some people may fall in love with Tupac's thug life, the hard part of his music," Von Dupree said of the late rapper. "[For me,] it was more so the way he talked, the poetic parts. Even when he had his interviews, he was talking about things that people never ever said." He also draws inspirations from other genres like rock, country and pop, determined to never limit himself.

NEW MUSIC: "Divine Energy"-Ridock King

Last month, I had the opportunity to interview a great upcoming artist Ridock King. He has released a new song called "Divine Energy," which I want you all to check out! "Divine Energy is that energy that you cannot necessarily explain but you like how it feels," Ridock said of the track. The uptempo track is really fun and great to dance to! Ridock himself is a positive artist that seeks to create good music for himself and listeners, and encourages everyone to enjoy life on the song.

Check out the track below!

In The Spotlight: Ridock King

Another spotlight for you all...and more on the way! I tweeted earlier today that doing spotlights is probably my favorite part of blogging. I get the chance to be able to connect with other people and share their work and stories, and that's really special to me. As always, if you are or represent an upcoming artist, producer, designer, etc., please refer to our Features/Submissions page for more info!

Today, on The Spotlight, we have hip hop artist Ridock King! Ridock began writing music at the age of 9, inspired by artists like LL Cool J and Tupac. “They created music that reached your soul and could also stimulate your mind to help you think more critically about life in general,” he explained. Growing up in Philadelphia, he admitted “many of the ‘street horror’ stories were not unusual to see.” However, he also began to educate himself and connect with other scholars and professionals, which he says gave him great balance. Ridock effortlessly uses a great blend of all of his experiences to create his current sound and lyrics.

NEW MUSIC: "Cocaine"-Jhyve

New music to check out! Toronto's own Jhyve has released a new track, "Cocaine," and no, it's not about the powder. The singer uses the drug as a metaphor to describe addiction to love, and has come up with an emotional track that I think you guys will really love.

 Check out the beautiful ballad below!

You can learn more about Jhyve on his official website, hear more from him on SoundCloud and YouTube, and connect with him on Twitter and Instagram.

Let me know what you thought of the track below! And, of course, if you would like to feature your music on The Spotlight, email me BrittanyShawnte@gmail.com.

EVENTS: Made in the DMV Conference (Washington, D.C.)

I consistently find myself hearing about or getting invited to a bunch of different industry events, and now I'm starting to actually go check some of them out. As I've stated before, it is my goal to get out there and learn and network with people, all in the hopes of growing professionally and personally, and having a good time too!

Today was the first annual Made in the DMV Conference, which featured music and media professionals in various workshops and panel discussions, giving their advice to mainly upcoming music artists but also bloggers as well. Some of the panelists included Tony Lewis, Jr. (DCorNothing), DJ Heat (WPGC 95.5), DJ Money (WKYS 93.9), Zechariah Wise (Depth Charge), Angela Byrd (IGotIt4Free), DJ Marauder (The Fader), Kayenecha Daughterty (Grammys DC Chapter), Rob Markman (MTV), and so many more! Topics included monetizing your movement, branding, submitting your music to media, and a ton of other great material that was absolutely FREE! The best way to really make it in this industry is to learn how it works and then take that information and hustle. It was great to see so many people out, and it wasn't just artists. I saw fashion designers, graphic designers, bloggers, and a bunch of others all there to learn, discuss, network, and grow. It was amazing.

There was also a concert/showcase for handpicked upcoming artists tonight as well, though I wasn't able to make that. I'm sure it was amazing though! Check out some of my pictures from the Made In The DMV conference below!

In The Spotlight: Cooper Phillip

Happy Friday everybody! I have a spotlight to start the weekend. As always, if you or someone you know is a talented artist, designer, producer, etc. looking to be featured on The Spotlight, please email me at BrittanyShawnte@gmail.com (please see my Contact/Disclaimer page for requirements)!

Today, we have Russian-born/LA-based soul singer Cooper Phillip! I featured Cooper’s great song “Silence” on the blog last week, and had to have an interview with her to find out more about this great talent! Cooper was born into a family of musicians, so she has literally been around music all of her life. “I grew up going to the theater where my mother performed on the violin with the orchestra,” Cooper reminisced. “She put me on stage when I was two as part of Tchaikovsky's opera.” Even at that young an age, Cooper’s excitement and interest in being a performer began. She started out as a classical pianist, but didn’t believe it to be her purpose, and ultimately moved on to singing. “I realized this was my passion and where I wanted to grow,” the singer said. She won her first international singing competition at 11 years old, and immediately realized that singing was her destiny. “I felt such energy and recognition from the crowd [and] I knew this was the right path for me,” Cooper said.  

In The Spotlight: Bow Promise

Though The Spotlight is an overall entertainment blog with celebrity news and reviews, I love to feature the up and coming. I get requests now literally from all over the world, and I want to give these talented people their due shine! As always, if you are or know of an upcoming artist, designer, producer, etc looking for a feature, please email me at BrittanyShawnte@gmail.com! 

Today, we have alternative R&B artist Bow Promise! Hailing from the UK, Bow’s creativity and talent within the arts came out as a child. “My mum got me involved in a lot of activities including ballet, drama, modelling, and more,” the singer said. Bow also loved drawing and writing, eventually transitioning from stories to poems and songs. “My first song was influenced by Omar's 'There's Nothing Like This' and the intro to Mya's 'Fear of Flying' album,” Bow stated.

In The Spotlight: Kenn Retro

Another interview! As always, if you are or know of any upcoming artists, designers, producers, etc., that would like to be featured on The Spotlight, please email me at BrittanyShawnte@gmail.com!

Today, we have hip hop artist Kenn Retro! Hailing from Chicago, Kenn stated that he grew up in a family with a passion for music. “Me and my cousins, when we were young, used to tour the West Side of Chicago performing Jodeci, Shai, Boyz II Men songs,” the rapper said. As he got older, Kenn continue creating music, switching over to a more “Alternative/Urban” sound. He fell in love with hip hop after first hearing A Tribe Called Quest through his uncle. “In 1999, I was inspired to develop my craft of rhyming with the guidance of my uncle, and he has been pushing me ever since,” Kenn said.

In The Spotlight: Bryan Art

Always happy to feature artists and more on The Spotlight! If you are or represent a talented singer, rapper, designer, etc., please email their bio, quality pictures, and copies of their work to BrittanyShawnte@gmail.com (please allow time for response).

Today, we have talented Jamaican artist Bryan Art! Born in St. Ann, Jamaica, Bryan got his start in music at an early age, and learned to play the guitar at the age of eight. His mother actually taught him his first three primary chords that he continue to build upon throughout his life! The songwriter and producer graduated from the Edna Manly College of the Visual and Performing Arts, majoring in guitar (Caribbean, Latin American & Jazz Studies). Bryan spent his time there balancing guitar with photography and graphic art. He also took the time to teach music in Jamaican schools.

In The Spotlight: Constance Renoir

I have a lot of spotlights coming up, and even more submissions to look through soon. I plan to
hopefully have at least one spotlight a week for a bit, while I catch up (*fingers crossed*). As always, if you or your client is an upcoming singer, rapper, actor, designer, etc., please email me at BrittanyShawnte@gmail.com (Please give at least two weeks for response). 

Today on The Spotlight, we have singer/songwriter Constance Renoir! Raised in Brooklyn, NY, Constance got into music at a very young age. “I would say, by 9 years old, I had written my first song, and I knew that I could really sing,” she said. In junior high, the singer had what she called “sort of a life changing experience,” when she was asked by her music teacher, Ms. Christie, to perform in a talent show. “I had never performed before, and so I didn’t know which song to sing, so she recommended to me that I perform Mariah Carey’s ‘Hero,’” Constance recalled. “Once I grabbed that mic, and sang those specific lyrics, I knew that was what I wanted to do.” From there on, she started following Mariah’s music, trying to match both her vocals and songwriting skills.

In The Spotlight: Natalia Damini

Working hard to feature a few different artists this week! As always, if you or someone you know, is an upcoming artist, producer, actor, etc., and are interested in a feature, please email me at BrittanyShawnte@gmail.com!

Today on The Spotlight, we have Brazilian singer Natalia Damini! This upcoming star has had her sights on music since she was only five years old. “I remember when I was singing, imagining a crowd of fans in front of me. That was so fun!” she said. “ I have been dreaming [about] this my whole life.” When she was 17, she met a DJ that was looking for a singer to put on his record. He only had music, and not any lyrics, so Natalia wrote the track, which became her first single “Feelin’ The Love.” “The people liked it and the DJs started sharing the song all over the country and outside, I had a demand for shows and that's how everything started,” the singer said. Natalia eventually left home for Sao Paulo alone, touring around Brazil to pursue her dream.

In The Spotlight: Montrey Slayton

I have a great spotlight (and a lot more on the way, slowly but surely!). As always, if you are or know of an upcoming artist, designer, producer, etc, please email me at brittanyshawnte@gmail.com.

Today on The Spotlight, we have upcoming singer Montrey Slayton! Born in Springfield, IL and moving to Marianna, Arkansas for most of his childhood. Montrey grew up in a musical family, so his singing talent was always evident. “We didn’t have a lot growing up but we ALWAYS had music. If our lights was out, we put batteries in the boom box and it’s like all of our problems faded away,” he said. He and his family eventually moved to Milwaukee, WI, in 2004, which Montrey calls a “gem” in terms of music. “We try to be different than other cities like Atlanta or Houston. You could hear in certain people music where they from. But it’s such a mix of originality in Milwaukee that you would always hear something new and unheard of,” the singer said of the city. Once he graduated from high school, Montrey recognized that he had a gift of writing music. That’s when he decided to record his first demo and take his music seriously.

In The Spotlight: Jaybird

Another spotlight for you all today! As always if you are or represent an upcoming artist, designer, producer, etc., and are interested in a feature on the blog, please email me with a request!

Today on The Spotlight, we have hip hop artist Jaybird! Hailing from San Diego, CA, Jaybird got his start in music very early. Growing up in a musical family and influenced by his own father’s R&B group, “The Isles,” the rapper started singing at the age of five. However, all wasn't easy for him. “My parents were divorced, though both stayed in my life,” he said. “My mom always kept me and my big brother in nice neighborhoods, but because of that, money was tight.” Holding on to faith and family, Jaybird acknowledges his upbringing is what made him a stronger artist.

In The Spotlight: JproD

Another spotlight! My goal is to feature as many artists as I possibly can this year (I have a set number but I'm hoping to exceed it!). As always, if you would like your work to be featured on The Spotlight, email me and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.

Today, we have JproD (Jeopardy). Born in New Bedford, MA and raised in Bristol, CT, this bold artist recalls wanting to create music at the age of five! “Most of my childhood memories involve music,” he recalled. “Whether it was driving to my grandparents’ house with my mom, singing Mariah Carey or sitting behind the couch with a yellow Walkman, bumping “Mama Said Knock You Out.” At nine, he remembers writing emails to record labels asking them for a record deal. At that young of an age, J.Prod KNEW that he was going to be involved in the music industry in some way. However, it wasn’t until his senior year of high school that he gathered up enough confidence to pursue his music as a true artist. “There was a new teacher at my school. Never had him as a teacher, just kind of found myself in his classroom,” he recalls. “Long story short, he happened to be a former independent record label owner and he gave me the scoop. He also let me borrow his laptop and keyboard to make beats and record.” From then on, it was all about the music.

In The Spotlight: Gemini Wired

Hey everyone! Another spotlight to start the week! (As always, email me if you are or represent an artist, designer, producer, etc., and would like to feature your work on the blog!) Today on The Spotlight, we have pop singer Gemini Wired!

Raised in Middleboro, Massachusetts, Gemini is the eldest of three children raised by a single mother. Her desire for the spotlight was evident at a young age, and her mom consistenly put her in dance classes and talent shows. At a young age she yearned for the limelight, which led to her mom putting her in dance classes and any upcoming talent shows. Inspired then by the Spice Girls, Aaliyah, and Missy Elliott, Gemini made the decision at the age of 10 to focus on singing rather than
dancing.

In The Spotlight: Eric Zayne

Here's a spotlight for you all this morning! (As always, if you are or represent a musician, producer, designer, etc., and would like to be featured on the blog, please feel free to email me!)

Today on The Spotlight, we have pop-rock artist Eric Zayne! Raised in the city of Montreal, Eric got his start with music around 13 years old, playing in various bands around his hometown. His first big gig was a five year tour across Asia, where he played keyboard, guitar, and sang with a funk band. Huge deal! It was these years that taught him about songwriting, performing, and connecting with audiences, all qualities that a true artist should have.