INTERVIEW: H*Wood

This interview was originally posted through my blog, MelismaticBlog.com, and is being cross-posted here to Pop+Nation. Keep an eye out for a few more exclusive interviews to be shared with my family here at P+N in the next few days! :)

-Mel

Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins is certainly bringing his A-Game with the artists he is signing to his Darkchild Records. I've already stated my excitement regarding Purple Reign, so now let me introduce to you Darkchild's first protege -- and first signee to the new label -- H*Wood.

H*Wood is a young singer/songwriter by way of Colorado, in between being a rapper and a melodic singer. Think Akon mixed with Kevin Rudolph combined in a blender Tiesto and David Guetta in terms of sound and drunk through a urban-twinged RedOne straw (OK, that metaphor got way out of hand). His debut single, "Could It Be You (Punk Rock Chick)" is gunning for radio adds as we speak, and is heavy on the synth without compromising the typical club sound. Like Purple Reign, H*Wood is preparing a mixtape  dubbed "52/80" very shortly, prior to his actual debut album, release date undetermined. The single is available for purchase on iTunes, and has already been dubbed a "Song of the Summer" for 2010 by Ryan Seacrest himself. You can preview the song yourself at H*Wood's official website.

Like his label mates, H*Wood is still in the early stages, and "Could It Be You" is beginning a promising ascent into the Rhythmic radio market. The single only began truly impacting in early May -- so its still in its infancy in terms of arc, and certainly has a great summer time feel. While I enjoy the song,  it doesn't really show off all that he can do. I'm more interested by H*Wood's potential as an artist -- and am definitely look forward to more material in the coming months. 

This past week, I got the chance to ask H*Wood himself a few questions about himself, his relation to the legend that is Darkchild, his sound and his future plans. Many many thanks to H*Wood and to Nathan and everyone at Baby G Music/Darkchild Records! I'm proud to be one of the first bloggers to write about H*Wood, and there will definitely be more coming. With that said...click the cut to read more.

You're so young! How long have you been writing and pursuing music?
Honestly, iStarted writing/pursuing music at age 18 with my little brother Kidd Vegas in our group "The Deaux Boyz" after iGave up my dreams as an NFL player and decided to leave college. At 20, iLeft Colorado to pursue a solo career in the city of dreams Los Angeles...

You're the first artist signed to Darkchild's new label imprint. How did you get involved with him?
How Rodney and I met is still the biggest moment of my life. I had just finished recording my EP with Mark Jackson Productions and we just started sending my music out to record labels and with God's direction my music landed in Rodney's Hands. iWoke up for work the next day to a text from my producer Mark saying, "Rodney Jerkins wants to meet you today at 4pm....He wants to sign you!!!" The rest was history.... 

[Mel's Note: It should be noted that "Could It Be You (Punk Rock Chick)" was produced by Mark Jackson.] 

How involved is Rodney in your album's production process? Is he producing the entire album?

iActually just had my first meeting about the album with Rodney discussing the direction we want to go. Rodney is very involved with my project but he is also open to the ideas iHave for my debut release. He will be doing a lot of the production but I'm also bringing in some producers with influences from specific genres that iThink will mesh with the vision Rodney and I have for the album. I'm SO Excited!!!!  

How would you describe your musical style?

Hmm...My musical style is all about having a good time. As we all know our economy is not the greatest which puts a lot of people in a depressive state of mind. iWant my music to distract people from all the stresses of daily life even if its just for the 4 minutes my song plays. iWant to re-surge people with energy because like the last Black Eyes Peas album The Energy Never Dies.....

You're first single, "Could It Be You (Punk Rock Chick)" is available now and namechecks a lot of famous artists on the scene right now like Rihanna and Lady Gaga. Are you big fans of these artists? If you could cover a song by either of them and give it your own personal flair, what would it be?
iAm a HUGE fan of both Lady Gaga and Rihanna, iLove them as vocalists, performers, business women, and they are both SUPER SEXY with their own style. If iCould remix a record from each of them it would be "Please Don't Stop the Music" by Rihanna because the beat is crazy and she samples my idol Michael Jackson! iWould also remix "Paparazzi" by Lady Gaga because for some reason every time iHear that record iCan literally picture the Paparazzi all around me lol....iLove that record.  

Ryan Seacrest has dubbed your single as one of the Summer Anthems of 2010. How do you feel about that?
Ryan Seacrest has a huge influence on Pop Culture so for him to say that about "Could it Be You"... Speechless.....Ryan has been showing so much love to my music and iAppreciate it a lot...iHope that one day iCan be as huge as an influence on another new artist's career as he has mine. THANKS MR.SEACREST!!!!

Rather than putting out an album first, you're working on a mixtape project? Can you tell us more about it?

Yes, Rodney and I felt that we should further introduce myself and my music to the world so "52/80", the mixtape, was born. I'm really excited about this project because iPersonally feel no mixtape has ever been done like this. "52/80" is also the first project I've ever co-produced on along with Mark Jackson Productions so I'm being introduced as a producer too which is huge! "52/80" is hosted by Rodney Jerkins and The Los Angeles Leakers of Power 106, it's set to be a digital release for free download this month on my website www.HwoodWorld.com and LosAngelesLeakers.BlogSpot.com. Stay Tuned on my Twitter (@OfficialHwood) for more details!!  

If you could collaborate with anybody in the pop realm right now, who would it be?

iLove this question because iHope she reads this lol....iWant to do a song right now with Katy Perry!! Katy is another female artist that iHave a tremendous amount of respect for. She is extremely talented and iDon't even need to bring up how hot she is lol....iThink her and I on a record has #1 written all over it!  Hi KATY!!!! LOL

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Ten years from now I'll be 32 so iSee myself still making hit music as an artist, introducing new artists to the world as a writer/producer, and being the best Dad to my son.

Do you have any touring plans?

Touring plans are being worked on as we speak. I've already been doing some traveling for shows all over the west coast but I'm ready to start traveling all over and leaving the country for the first time!! With the way everything has been going with my music this early I'm sure you'll be seeing me on a stage in a city near you very soon!!

Message for the fans?
To all my fans old and new...THANK YOU SO MUCH for supporting my music with all the kind messages, YouTube videos, pictures,etc. iLove you all and I'm working my ass of to continue making incredible music for ya'll!! Stay in touch with me on twitter(@OfficialHwood), I've been doing pretty good at getting back to everyone so far so Holla at me!! All my Punk Rock Chicks and Go-Go Girls iFreakin Love you!! iStill havent found that ONE yet though so Baby Could it Be You?? 303

Interview: Lee Ryan

I am very proud to present you this interview with Lee Ryan, the guy who made many teenage hearts –including mine- go wild back in the Blue days, but he is all grown up now and ready to conquer the music world all by himself with his second solo album “Confessions”

Today is also the day the his new single “I Am Who I Am / Secret Love” gets released so be sure you get your copy.

"Confessions" is coming this October, what is your favourite song of the album? Does the album differ a lot from your debut album?
I’m really looking forward to it coming out, can’t wait. There are lots of songs on the album that mean a lot to me in different ways and I hope that people can relate to many of the songs because I think it’s quite truthful and honest.

Back in 2007, there were rumours about an album to be released, as second album but eventually cancelled. Were any of the tracks "recycled" to be on the new album "Confessions"?
I understand what you’re saying there, there was an album that I did which was just part of the process of me getting to this album really. The album that you’re talking about I named bunazoot which was kind of a crazy name for an album. A lot of the fans loved a lot of the songs on that album but unfortunately none of the songs made this album.

What would be your favourite genre of film to direct and why?
If I was going to direct a film I’d like to do maybe a Victorian piece, that would be cool. I just love the style of the clothes. Like an Oliver Twist type film. I love the mood of that era, it was so harsh, there were no antibiotics. If you had a bad tooth you just drank some whiskey and yanked it out yourself. The average age of living was about 50 year old and that’s so young in comparison to these days so I think that would be a great era to explore with directing, with a great script of course!

How is Blue's reunion coming along? When can we expect a new album?
It’s going great. We’re moving forward but as you know in this industry things move slowly. It’s going to happen but I’m just concentrating on my solo stuff right now and the other boys are doing their projects and then hopefully soon we’ll be coming back together.

If you wouldn't have become a singer, what would you have become?
Do you know what I would have been, to be honest with you I really don’t know maybe an actor, I love acting and always wanted to be an actor.

You've performed in many places of the world, which concert is the one that you remember really well, where fans have gone the craziest?
I think Italy for me. Italy was just a great time for me in Blue and as a solo artist as well and I’d love to get back there as soon as possible.

Do you feel like the music business has gone tougher over the years? Does the internet and the illegal download really affect a lot?
Do you know what it’s probably ruined this industry so much that to be in this industry from ten years ago and seeing what it was like beforehand. Even TV and radio has been affected. It’s affected the whole industry. Music’s been affected, film’s been affected and I think if people could realise that illegal downloading is really stopping people creating music and I think that’s one thing in society that really provides a release so with people stealing music they’re actually stopping one of the few privileges we get as the human race.

You've already accomplished a lot during your years with Blue and your solo career, is there still a dream you have that you want to accomplish?
There is so much I want to accomplish in my life, I’m still only young, 27. I think that there is lots that I want to accomplish and dreams I want to fulfil like to become a film producer one day.

What type of music did you grew up with? Has it helped influence you?
I grew up with a lot of soul music, Motown and I think it has definitely influenced me.

What current artist has really blown you away recently?
I love Kings of Leon. I love their style of music, Lady Gaga has been great but I do think that she’s a carbon copy of Madonna and I think she’s taken it a bit too far, even though in the beginning I thought she was wow. I think she’s not that original.

Is there a song on the radio right now that you've heard, love, and wish you could have recorded?
I think that at the moment as it’s summer there are a lot of up tempo dance tracks out there. I don’t really know, I’d have to listen more to the radio but I love my old school music.

Message to the fans and the POP+Nation readers?
I just want to say thanks for supporting me for so many years. I’m still here and I’m still going and it’s because of you guys that I’m still here so I just want to say thank you and to all the Blue fans out there we’re going to be coming back soon so get ready

Interview: Gabrielle Baty

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NOW PLAYING // Why Is It So Hard

I had the possibility to interview this upcoming young and talented lady. “Why Is It So Hard” is truly an amazing track, so check it out!

First of all, I wanted to congratulate you with your song “Why is it so hard”. It’s amazing. I hope you don’t mind the comparison but it really has the Rihanna vibe. Is she one of your influences? Or do you have other role models you look up to?
Thank you very much.  I think Rihanna is a very talented artist but my biggest influences are Sade, Anita Baker, Whitney Houston and Beyonce.

How would you describe yourself to someone who hasn’t heard of you before?
"r&b chick with a pop twist"

You got discovered through the videos you posted on YouTube, did you ever think that would happen?
Well the hope that something like that would happen is why i started posting my videos on youtube to begin with.  I had hoped that someone would take note of my talent and go from there, i have to say though i was shocked at how quickly it did happen.

In the promo we received it said you were still unsigned, has that changed in the meanwhile?
has not changed...YET but im hopefully it will in the future.

Are there any prospects for a debut album?
i would love that and im thinking there is a good chance that could be very possible.

How old were you when you started singing?
i was 13 years old.

Do you play any instruments, or would you like to learn to play an instrument?
i used to play the flute and i know how to play a little piano.  I would love to learn to play the acoustic and expand my pianist abilities.

What's your favourite song that you've recorded thus far?
i would have to say whys it so hard is def my favourite. i feel this song was more personal and so i was able to connect with it more.

What is MUSIC for you?
music, is my passion, my form of escape, my way of expression.

What is the last album you bought? What kind of music do you like?
last album i bought was actually chris browns graffiti.  im an eclectic so i love all types of music. as long as lyrically i can connect, i'll listen to it.

Besides music, what other things can Gabrielle do?
I love to write.  as a young child i used to write small stories all the time and as i grew older it turned to poetry, its always been so therapeutic to me

Where do you see yourself in five years, both professionally and personally?
professionally, i see myself a signed artist, making good music for the people
personally, i prefer not assess that but rather "go with the flow" time will tell

Any last word for loyal readers at POP+Nation and your future fans?
I just want to say thank you to POPNATION and thank you to all my fans who have supported me it means so much. make sure you check me out on myspace.com/gabriellebaty and follow me on twitter.com/gabriellebaty

INTERVIEW: WonderGirls