Curious what happens to an artistic mind when they start writing music, get a pad in Hollywood and living the life of a touring musician?
Learn more than you ever wanted to about trueAnthem Alternative/Industrial/Rock artist Nick Black. Apparently, he paints his toenails, flushes with his feet, and eats penis-shaped food.
This is only the beginning. He also experiences (cold) hot tubs, RV adventures, tornadoesin Arizona...and things we probably shouldn't discuss in this blog (should we censor the 50c super-studded condom machine video clip for certain red states?).
Anyhow, Nick brings goes through the touring life right in front of your eyes, completely candid style--how we know you YouTube addicts and reality TV people like it.
"Being an entertainer...is a lot of pressure..." we learn from Nick. We have a feeling this is only the beginning of randomness we will experience from the all new "Nick Black TV," brought to you by Playboy.
Don't miss the sixth free download--Nick's official and mighty sexy/slightly disturbing rock music video for "Sorry." (Based on the NBTV pilot webisodes, we have a feeling this is how he likes it.)
Once downloaded, make sure to enjoy these videos everywhere you can...on your iPhone or mobile device...anywhere you feel like it! We know a good dose of NBTV at a stressful moment in your day will help you chill out and remember life is too short to NOT be ridiculous. I mean--check out those skinny cows! (Does that last sentence remind anyone other than us of Balky? "...Don't be ridiculous!!!")
CELLDWELLER adds to our New Music Wednesday madness Halloween all-star week with the release of his brand new album Through The Gates: Soundtrack for the Voices in my Head.
On these monster tracks, piano and electric riffs lead into epic beats and huge arrangements, with bass that is locking it DOWN and psyching you up for whatever challenge you might be about to face. Forget Eye of the Tiger--this song is for the new generation of rabble-rousers.
Warning: this is the kind of music that will keep you up WAY past midnight. Mesmorizing, constantly moving, passionate...
Releasing alongside Mary Magdalan, we're definitely bringing you some serious RELEASE music this week...but we have only good intentions. If you have to finish that problem set or PowerPoint for example, Celldweller's Pursuit of the Hunted will most definitely power you through till a most successful, and highly climatic finish.
Now...
Grab. Rage. Share! Alllllll free, as always...thanks to Tomb Raider Underworld.
FiXT trueWidget, the brainchild of Klayton (Celldweller), FixT is a high energy, high quality compilation ushered together by Klayton's desire to encourage artistic collaboration on a global scale. He builds sync placements opportunities for electronic artists, designs creative remix competitions, and finds new ways to empower independent artists to "break away from the traditional archaic record-deal scenario."
Now, THIS is something we at trueAnthem are all over..it's sort of our exact mission statement. :) Brought to you by our super sponsors and most essential gear suppliers: Guitar Center!
This week, we're not holding back...ANYTHING. We're giving you new music, we're giving it to you free, and we're giving you MARY MAGDALEN.
This girl does not hold back. Total lyrical honesty, confessional whispering over verses, and screaming rock metal choruses. It's not often that we find a hardcore chick that we can truly stand behind...that breaks us out of our shells and makes us want to tear shit up, scream as loud as we can in the middle of an office building elevator, or at the very least, have a good old fashioned HEAD BANG.
Damn straight. This woman is a marketer's dream: raging tracks matched with total sex appeal, unforced and genuine. Mary packs lips that rival Angelina Jolie's, hyper color long locks, and a tight rocker body that a porn star would give her right ass cheek for. It's no mistake that she's clocked well over 6 MILLION MySpace plays, without the help of any major label promotional machine. As she proudly lists, she remains "UNFUCKINGSIGNED." And man, are we oh so glad. This chicks got a blazing smart business head on her sexy shoulders too.
We all have some inner demons and rage...even our beloved parental units that might have lived in the suburbs for the last 40 years.
All we can suggest is: Grab Mary Magdalen's widget...and hold on as hard as you can.
After you've cooled off and detoxed a bit from Mary Magdalan, check out our new alt/rock band The Speaks. Guitar Center wanted to get behind these guys, who are best described as a "balls-out, unapologetic ROCK & ROLL band." We love any band that goes balls-out! So they are already on our good side, we hope you like them too.
The five-piece hails from DC and have built a huge MySpace following thanks to their radio play on DCs major station, DC101 and hard work touring in the US and Asia. After signing a deal with Warner Music Asia in 2005, The Speaks' singles have received massive airplay around the world, charting on radio and video charts in target market the Phillipines and beyond. No stranger to stadium sized crowds, The Speaks have shared the stage with acts like Switchfoot, Jimmy Eat World, the Roots, Live, and Blues Traveler.
The Speaks love performing and promoting on a global scale. Music they believe, is the "one true universal language." Help these guys feel the viral power of their new trueWidget!
Plaid-clad, Connecticut born singer-songwriter Mike Falzone's “Fun with honesty” hits right where we need it about now, bringing us a much needed does of humor during transitional times.
Bottom line: this guy cracks us UP. Check out his hilarious blog on Jon McCain.
Describing his sound on MySpace, Mike comes up with "Sounds Like: the cookie monster having sex.” We love this.
On his first free download track, Famous, Mike sings, "I’ve been thinking in between breaks from drinking/about the things you said concerning my singing…" Then the chorus hits: "If you told me I could be famous/I’d present you with a list of changes/I could make/We could fake the world out.”
But the best part is, Mike isn’t faking. He’s got some serious songwriting skills, and has packaged those with surprisingly smooth vocals and tight, clean grooves. We hear a little John Mayer and Jason Mraz action going on here.
Check out Mike’s fancy finger work on his live video performance of Famous in the studio on YouTube.
This guys’ definitely got some natural guitar riff writing skills and an instinctive soulful groove…fo sho. And the humor…what a BONUS! Mike plays over 100 shows a year, has opened for national acts like Third Eye Blind, Kate Voegele, and Matt Nathanson, and is showcasing at CMJ in NYC this week. He can also count CD founder Derek Sivers as a super fan!
On with the music...trueAnthem introduces Mike Falzone via a new trueWidget sponsored by GAP.
Grab it.
Grab it like you want it.
Yeah.
Next, we bring you free downloads from Boston's R&B/soul group Ahmir. This foursome's trueWidget opens with a killer video of the guys singing just for YOU. Yep, after two European tours, 800K MySpace plays, multiple features in Billboard and Vibe magazine, Ahmir's career is going strong. We can't even imagine the heights they're about to hit with the release of a trueWidget!
Coming onto the scene in 2006, Ahmir's first single, "Welcome To My Party," peaked at #82 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop charts, becoming the #19 Top Selling R&B Hip Hop single of 2006. The group has also snagged opening slots for major recording artists like John Legend, Busta Rhymes & Boyz II Men. BET's top 106&Park show hosted the guys in February this year after they won the weekly Wild-Out Wednesday competition based on a national audience vote. Sweet!
Finally, New Music Wednesday also brings you free music from NYC’s Velvet Code, brought to you by Sketchers.
On first listen, you might feel like you've heard their hit “Say You Love Me” before. The hook is perfect melodically and lyrically... “Why…why, why’d you have to say you love me?" (We’ve all been there.) Other tracks come with equally punchy titles like "Trust Fund Girl" and "I Never Wanna Feel." The guys have perfected their techno electro 80s production loveliness to a T.
Even Perez Hilton couldn't help but love it. On Velvet Code, he wrote: “Though they're from New York, the lead singer sounds like he's from England. And, though it's 2008, the song is straight-up'80s. Both of those are pluses in our book! Bring on the new NEW romantics!”
Enjoy your free Velvet Code downloads. All we ask in return? Help VC fulfill their musical aim. Give in to your "undeniable thirst to dance...and let it all go.” “We will remove the shackles off your feet!” they write, "We live our lives to the following phrase: "If it's not fun, DONE!”
Now that’s a New Music Wednesday model we can subscribe to.
Katie Reider, a beautiful soul, voice, and performer, passed away July 14, 2008 from cancer. At age 28, just approaching the peak of her music career, the singer-songwriter developed a rare Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumor in her left jaw that progressed into her skull base. Over the course of only a year, the tumor took away her sight in one eye, her voice, and her gift for performance.
For ten years, the Cincinnati-born songstress Katie Reider sang her moving, heartfelt indie folk music for lucky fans. A prolific writer, Katie released four albums with her band: Wonder (1998), No Retakes (2001), I Am Ready (2002) and Simplicity (2004).
Fans remember Katie as the full package: “A great singer and a powerful songwriter, with that presence that no amount of practice is going to give you...she was a star."
As an artist, Katie sought to always be "Real, Transparent and Vulnerable." A genuine spirit, she had a special gift for reaching out to every person in the room during a live show. “She was always in the moment...she would focus in on the person that looked the saddest…her eyes could just pierce people..."
In her remembrance, Katie's friends and loyal fans have set up website 500Kin365.org, with the goal of introducing 500,000 new people to her music and her story over the next year.
trueAnthem is proud to help this moving effort to spread Katie's music and spirit. So, as part of New Music Wednesday we bring you Katie's trueWidget, including five gorgeous tracks and a memorial video. You'll love her velvet vocals and the personal touch she puts on her cover version of Sarah McLachlan’s hit "Building a Mystery."
Knowing her story, original compositions like "Found" take on new meaning:
Never knew her name but here I am Growing older but I'm still young Another place and another name...
I want to say thanks, For giving me life There's no hurting inside...
Just to see your face, you look upon mine I want to say thanks For giving me life There's no hurting inside...
--Found--Katie Reider
http://www.500kin365.org/ Together we can KEEP HER SINGING.
Described as "the soundtrack to underground dance floor lust and aftermath...a schizophrenic collision of noisy guitars, edgy electronics and sensual vocals,” Detroit’s Blue Stahli has had no trouble attracting attention. This week, Blue Stahli is releasing 19 high energy tracks with trueAnthem, in a new partnership with Guitar Center.
Known for his aggressive arrangements and beats, Blue Stahli first started making music, “literally…to stay alive.” “That hasn’t changed," he writes. Bret has played a range of roles over his rock music career…from playing guitar in a drag queen fronted punk band to DJ-ing for fetish burlesque troupes, his circuit-tattooed arms and pink-dyed hair make him a natural stand out rock star.
Check out this packed trueWidget, and be sure to Grab away and repost after you snag your free downloads!
Guitar Center also brings you three free tracks from New York's metal/rock act Steelborn. European brothers Alex and Mike, aim to deliver quality, old school metal, self-producing and recording their latest creations raw, from their home studio. Fans have loved their recipe so far...the guys have easily amassed over 600K profile views on MySpace. Enjoy!
There’s one thing most of us don’t get enough of every day. And that is real ROCK. Nothing like a band that categorizes itself on MySpace as Rock/Rock/Rock to get you out of your Wednesday slump.
Brought to you by Playboy, the 14 tracks from LA’s The Vacation are one amazing solid rock song after another. The band seems to capture all that 21st century rock should be—wailing electric guitar, big bass, raspy soulful vocals, hooks, and most importantly, ATTITUDE.
How can you not love a band with song titles like Get Used, White Girl, and Shit Talker? And their provocative fliers and promo material (one featuring Tom from MySpace) are just too good to be true.
The big critics are latching on early to The Vacation...Britain’s NME hailed their album as “a menagerie of musical wonder that you could dance, fuck or drink to" and the BBC raved about the LP’s “well-oiled animal magnetism," calling band “stadium-size entertainers.”
Music industry mogul Rick Rubin also saw the potential in this band and scooped them up for his own label, American Recordings, which hosts musical legends like Tom Petty, The Black Crowes, and Johnny Cash.
Originally from Dallas, Los Angeles based S1 has been getting plenty of traction on MTV recently. The guys' blend of R&B and Urban Pop swept the honors on the channel's hit show "Top Pop Group," blowing away celebrity judges from super-groups like The Black Eyed Peas and Destiny's Child.
We like that S1 makes it a mission statement to bring you "feel good music." With the economy goin' crazy, who can say no to this? The guys recommend you check out their three favorite tracks: Hit My Switch, Foolin Around and eXtacy. All available free for you, of course, via S1's brand new trueWidget, brought to you through a partnership with Baby Phat.
Old Navy also got on board this week to bring you three free tunes from Nashville's Red Carpet Rats. This rock/powerpop act brings you four-part harmony, hook-driven rock, and a fantastic sense of humor in their trueAds. Never missing an opportunity to give back, Red Carpet Rats will be joining the Armed Forces Entertainment Group in touring overseas military bases in the coming months. Be sure to grab this RCR trueWidget and re-post to your hearts delight!
London based singer-songwriter Guy Cassidy didn't plan to get into music. It was his videographer career that originally took him from his hometown of Chicago to living abroad in Paris and London. In the midst of all this adventure, the 24 year-old produced and recorded some tunes and put them up on MySpace. In under a year, he's watched these songs garner well over a million plays, thanks to catchy experimental pop/rock songs like Annabelle.
Citing influences like The Beatles and David Bowie, you'll also hear a bit of youthful exuberance a la Davy Jones of The Monkees in Guy's vocals. He's busy recording his debut album, but in the meantime, wanted to get out four tracks for free for your listening enjoyment, including a remix of Annabelle. Brought to you by GAP!
Our brands and artists partnerships have been a smashing success so far--with both parties loving watching us work our trueWidget magic. As always, we have YOU to thank...the music fans and music heads who are grabbing these widgets, re-posting them in every web place you can think of...and downloading away. Here's to another week of free music love.
Check out the ten tracks from huge classic rock artists Jet Boy, brought to you by custom motorcycle company Orange County Choppers. The San Francisco based five-piece is releasing the best of their late 80's and early 90's hits via a trueWidget this week. Watch out...in no time, the guys will have you waking up every morning singing…“I’m a rock n roller! I’m a rock n roller!”
With over a million MySpace plays, LA's rock/gothic band Shaolin Temple of BooM (StoB) has built a global audience and voracious fan base through viral promotion. Enjoy their ten free tracks, brought to you by GAP.
Hailing from the OC, the Go-Sheilas bring energetic pop punk fronted by ballsy lead vocalist Sheila, with Andy Fischer on guitars. Thanks to Guitar Center, we've got 11 free tracks for you to download.
Finally, LA's Matt Toka rounds out our artist roster this week with his infectious, inspirational anthem rock. In addition to his work as an artist, Toka manages to squeeze in time as an activist. He travels nationwide to high schools, speaking to students about suicide prevention, and is the founder of a social network, "Stories of Struggle."
