Gao's Thoughts: Teresa Giudice Is Going To Jail?

Let me begin by saying I know I'm very late on this story, but I still wanted to throw in my two cents. I honestly can't believe this is real. This isn't some publicity stunt for everyone to watch Bravo. Teresa Giudice, one of the most recognizable "Bravolebrities" is going to jail. For a while. Damn.

Marina And The Diamonds Release New Track

It's been a while, Marina. I was first introduced to this fine lady way back when a group of bloggers headed by Vertigo Shtick, and it was he who pointed out to me that she was back. Sometimes things come full circle, right? Well anyway, Marina and the Diamonds has made their return with the new track "Froot".

I have to say that this track is so very catchy. "Froot" feels to be much more lighthearted than her initial releases such as "How To Be A Heartbreaker". Sure it has it's dark tinges, it wouldn't be a Marina track without that vibe, but she's not talking about systematically destroying people's relationships and lives via sexual conquest, so I have to say this is a nice turn of direction.

Along those lines, I would have to say it's so nice to hear from her again. And I mean that literally, too. Once you have heard a track or two from this act, you'll be able to spot one of their tracks from a mile away. Whether it's Marina's deep, melodic voice, or the dark-yet-airy back track, it's easy to tell this is a Marina and the Diamonds song. If I really had to pick anything to complain about, all I could come up with is that it's five and a half minutes. Maybe it should have been shaved down to four minutes, as the end drags on when we hear the chorus for the five hundredth time.

It's unclear yet if this is a full revitalization of the project. The only iTunes action we've had recently was a remix package that landed in 2013. Just because this is up on SoundCloud doesn't mean it's her new single. She spent some time last year releasing a few songs on this medium, including a song with Charli XCX that never made it as an official single. I for one hope this one gets the video treatment and some real promotion behind it. We could really have another hit on our hands if it did.

Circuit21 Returns With "Calling All Angels"

It's been a while since we've heard from Circuit21. In case you didn't know, this is the solo effort of Robert Brown, better known for his stint with the viral YouTube sensation BearForce1. Now he's wanting to be taken much more seriously, and his music really speaks volumes for that effort. Let's check out his latest single and video "Calling All Angels".

Watch the video here.

It's nice to see that Robert is back in the force. This is the first time we've seen him since his last single back in mid 2013. For this effort, he keeps his harmonious voice steady, and makes sure to belt it out when needed. I love how European this song feels, straying from what you would hear on the radio in the US, and thankfully he's not shy about putting out his music stateside. There's just a vibe that comes off from Euro acts that is hard to describe, but he certainly captures it and sells it quite nicely.

The video has me caught off guard, frankly. I was expecting something, well, gay coming form him. Instead we have a hetro couple (not that there's anything wrong with heterosexuals -- it's how we all got here) trying to work things out. From the looks of it, the guy takes out all his aggression from fights with his lady in the boxing ring in what looks like illegal fights. Thankfully we have Robert to give a little fashion and sass to this video, as he acts as the ref in an eye patch while singing along to his track.

Can I also say that I've never seen someone have such a piercing gaze with only one eye?

Using black and white was a great way to go with the video, and the resulting "Wizard of Oz" blast into color at the end made it all the more stunning (again, those eyes!). I really hope this single blows up for the Circuit21 project. There was clearly a lot of effort put into this release. My one hope is that he defies today's indie music norm and releases a full EP or album instead of single after single. I need more of this man!

For now you can pre-order the EP for "Calling All Angels" on iTunes which comes with the original version of the song, as well as three remixes and an acoustic version.

New JPop Group Color-Code Will Make You Like Dat

It's no secret that I love Jpop. I fell in love with Utada Hikaru as a child, and I became obsessed with Koda Kumi as a teen. From Malice Mizer to Psycho le Cemu and from Ayumi to Megumu Hayashibara, I've been hooked on a genre of music that is based around a language I don't understand much of. Anyway, a new group has rushed onto the scene, and they are threatening to take over. Let's meet Color-Code.




Maybe I just like this video because she's got a Manila Luzon wig on?

Anyway, this group was the result of a huge open call audition. They apparently narrowed things down from over 2000 girls to just three. We have Tsujikawa Nanami (Pink), Yusakawa Marisa (Blue), and Moriyasu Mako (Green). It is the brainchild of Nicola Formichetti, a fashion designer best known for hooking up with Lady Gaga.

The video is very flashy, and the song is very accessible and fun. It feels like they are trying to imitate the current state of American pop music. Hopefully this means that they will be branching out to the United States. So few Jpop acts try and reach over, especially since the few that have failed miserably. I've been holding out hope that since Korean acts such as Girls Generation and Psy have become hits in the US that Japanese artists will give it another shot.

While they fall somewhere between "normal" acts like Ayu or Koda and "weird" acts like Kyary (Pamyuwhatever), they seem to have found a nice medium. Their EP/Maxi single is up for grabs on US iTunes. The second track, "Break My Heart" continues with their more American feel while third song "The Soul's Refrain" comes in more like something you'd hear from a Jpop group, leaving it a bit unclear where their next single will take them.

I'm excited to see where they go from here. It's been a while since a new act has caught my attention from overseas, but as long as they keep releasing music state-side, I'll keep giving them a shot. For now, pick up their debut single on iTunes and prove to Japan that we need Koda Kumi's stuff available here. I mean honestly!

Sheena Rose Has Got Dirty Cash (And A Lot Of It)

Sheena Rose is a drag performer out of San Francisco that I've had the pleasure of encountering form time to time. Not only is she a wonderful soul, but she's also delved into the realm of music. Her latest single, "Dirty Cash" released last spring, but that doesn't mean things are said and done. In true Sheena Rose fashion she's got a remix, or two... or sixteen. Actually there are so many she released a full album of it. Check it out.
 

I have to say this is probably my favorite track from Sheena to date. The song plays around with the cliche that money can buy you anything. "Money talks" as they say, and she definitely went with it. The original track features an awesome saxophone line that would rival "Edge of Glory" by Gaga -- I'd say it also rivals "In The Dark" by Dev's Sax line, too, but I don't think anyone would get the reference. Now she's compiled a list of ten artists to do sixteen remixes for this track. That's right. Sixteen.

There is a lot of fun stuff going on with this release. We see a lot of familiar faces to the drag remix scene, such as Naked Highway (who have just worked with Willam Belli) and Jared Jones (who works with Manila Luzon regularly). There are also a few names in which it is my first experience hearing from them, but don't let that turn you off. Mixes like the one from Edwin Reyes really sold me on the whole project. That's definitely a name I'll keep an eye out for in the future.

That's what I really like about remixes. It can take a song that has been out for a while, and may be off your iTunes playlist rotation, and give it new life. It can either sound like a bouncier version of the song you already know and love, or it can be chopped up and crafted into something almost completely unrecognizable. Luckily for everyone, both types of mixes exist on this collection.

You can check out "Dirty Cash The Remixes" on iTunes. Preview them all and pick your faves or just buy the whole thing.

Hatsune Miku Makes Her Live US TV Debut

So I totally thought this was a joke to begin with. The official Hatsune Miku page has been hyping up this Letterman Late Show performance for weeks. In case you didn't know, Hatsune Miku is not a real person. How can they have a live performance with someone who isn't real? Lasers. Or something, I don't know, but it's pretty cool. Check out Ms. Miku performing "Sharing The World" by BIGHEAD.




Ok, so first of all this song is actually in English. This is my first complaint about this. English is a pretty complex language to read. What it feels like is they just plopped a bunch of syllables into a computer generator without tweeking it. A lot of the emphasis comes off weird, and it's often times hard to understand what she's saying. And honestly, I know they are promoting her US Expo dates in NYC and LA, but couldn't they have chosen a song from one of the games that are out for PS3 and PSVita? That was a huge cross promotion they missed out on, in my opinion.

Other than that, I feel like this broke a lot of ground. Japanese acts have never been popular in the US regardless of what language they sing in (just as Utada Hikaru and her two great but failed North American English albums). To have a Japanese artist of any caliber come over and debut on network television is a huge step in the right direction for us. Perhaps we will see acts like Koda Kumi step up to the plate -- and we'll understand just as much of her English as we did Miku's.

The effects were pretty cool, especially that exit. The whole Miku experience doesn't show up well on camera, and I'm told that seeing it in person is mind blowing. Letterman didn't have much to say about the act, as it was used at a time filler at the end of the show. That didn't stop the internet from going insane about it. It was trending on both Twitter and Facebook, with news stories exploding all over about it.

Not that that's why I wrote mine. I just happen to like Hatsune Miku.

And Kagamine Len.

Exclusive Interview: XELLE (Again!) [#TheReturn Finale]

They're back! XELLE is a New York based girl group that does crazy dance-pop like no other. I had already interviewed them once before (as a trio, actually), but they were invited to be a part of my event #TheReturn and they not only accepted, but were totally pumped for it! Let's take a moment and catch up with the beautiful ladies Ronny and JC that make up one of the shining stars of indie-pop, XELLE.