HOLLYWOOD RECORDS SIGNS STEFANO LANGONE AMERICAN IDOL SEASON 10 FINALIST

Hollywood Records has announced the signing of American Idol Season 10 finalist Stefano Langone.

Stefano began singing and playing piano during childhood in his hometown of Kent, Washington. His talent was such that Bellevue College granted him a full-ride scholarship.  In 2009, Stefano’s life was nearly cut short after being hit by a drunk driver. The accident left him with two broken arms, a fractured pelvis and other life-threatening injuries. With a murky prognosis, Stefano was wheelchair-bound for months. The accident only made Stefano stronger and more determined to fulfill his dreams of walking and playing piano again, and, ultimately, to become a recording artist.  Fast-forward to Season 10 of American Idol, and Stefano was well on his way.

While on American Idol, Stefano was a clear favorite of new judge Jennifer Lopez as her “wild-card” pick, and his performance of Stevie Wonder’s “Lately” brought her to tears.

This past summer, Stefano was on the American Idol tour and once the tour finished his management at 19 Entertainment team set out to secure Stefano a record deal and found their home with Hollywood Records. Stefano has nothing but high praise and excitement about working with Hollywood Records. “I feel blessed to have gotten this opportunity with Hollywood Records,” he said. “I think it is a great fit for me and I’m so excited and hungry for what’s to come”.

If you are not an American Idol fan then watch Stefano perform Grenade by Bruno Mars below to see what all the fuss is about.

 

 

The Next Runaways? Listen to Cherri Bomb, the Rockin’ All Girl Band

Cherri Bomb, an L.A. valley based band, has already shared the stage with such bands as Filter, the supergroup Camp Freddy and toured with the Smashing Pumpkins. Managed by drummer Samantha Maloney (Hole, Motley Crue, Eagles Of Death Metal, Peaches) and signed to Hollywood Records, Cherri Bomb has been taking the LA music scene by storm, already being called one of the hottest up-and-coming bands in LA. Watch their video for the first single, “The Pretender” above.

Plain White T’s Put Finishing Touches On New Album

photo credit: Piper Ferguson

“It’s all about pushing the boundaries of our creativity and musical  imagination combined with a dose of nostalgia,” notes Plain White T’s frontman Tom Higgenson of the Chicago band’s forthcoming Hollywood Records release, Wonders of the Younger, due out this October.  Higgenson calls the disc, now in the finishing stages of recording and produced by Ian Kirkpatrick, a collection of songs designed to evoke the feeling of awe and the yearning for adventure remembered from youth.

Higgenson says of the album, “It’s still very much a Plain White T’s album.  The songs are sincere and melodic, no matter what the subject matter.  We want to create an experience that takes our fans to an unexpected place while still giving them songs to sing along to.”

As Higgenson points out, the band is in a different place than the one that prompted hits like the twice Grammy nominated “Hey There Delilah” and “1-2-3-4”– and though there’s still plenty of room in their world for romantic pop, among them is the album’s summery first single, “Rhythm of Love” penned by guitarist Tim Lopez (the brightly melodic tune was inspired by a bittersweet romance) they’re also branching into some adventurous new territory. It was during a performance of Cirque du Soleil’s “O” he caught during a Vegas visit that the idea for the new set first took shape. “It just woke something up in me – this wonder,” the singer/guitarist/songwriter recalls. “It was dark yet nostalgic.  I thought, I want to make an album that gives people this feeling.”

Fast becoming the band’s next big hit, the T’s will perform “Rhythm of Love” on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno August 5 followed by a performance on Good Morning America August 19. The video clip for “Rhythm of Love,” directed by the band’s long time videographer Mike Venezia (1,2,3,4) was shot on the beach in Ventura, CA and will premiere exclusively on VH1.com August 10 and will make its television premiere on VH1 August 14.  The single will be available digitally everywhere August 10.

MUSIC REVIEW: Grace Potter and the Nocturnals – Self-Titled

Grace Potter & the Nocturnals
Self-Titled
Hollywood Records
By: Nevra Azerkan
Rating:

 

If you have not heard of Grace Potter and the Nocturnals by now then I am more than happy to enlighten you. Named one of the “Best New Bands of 2010” by Rolling Stone, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals are making a name for themselves.

Rolling Stone Names Grace Potter & The Nocturnals Best New Band of 2010 + Album Comes Out June 8th

Anticipation surrounding the upcoming album from GRACE POTTER & THE NOCTURNALS is running high following a trio of electrifying performances at SXSW and a spotlight in the April 1st issue of Rolling Stone, in which the magazine names the quintet one of the “Best New Bands of 2010.” The self-titled disc will be released through Hollywood Records/Ragged Company June 8th.

The album was recorded with producer Mark Batson (Dave Matthews Band), Rolling Stone wrote, “Grace Potter & The Nocturnals finds a sweet spot between rowdy, blues-driven live sound and tight, classic-rock songcraft.” They also praised Potter for having “earthy, powerful vocals that recall Janis Joplin and Bonnie Raitt.”