Billy Idol
Billy Idol, born William Michael Albert Broad, is a renowned English musician, singer, songwriter, and actor. With a career spanning several decades, Billy Idol has left an indelible mark on the music industry with his unique blend of rock, punk, and pop influences. His distinctive voice, charismatic stage presence, and rebellious persona have earned him a dedicated fan base worldwide. From his early days as a member of the punk rock band Generation X to his solo career, Billy Idol has produced hit songs that have become anthems of rebellion and self-expression.
Known for his iconic platinum blonde hair, leather-clad image, and energetic live performances, Billy Idol continues to captivate audiences with his timeless music and electrifying live shows. With chart-topping hits like ‘Rebel Yell,’ ‘White Wedding,’ and ‘Dancing with Myself,’ Billy Idol has solidified his status as a music legend. His music transcends generations, appealing to both long-time fans and new listeners alike. Through his music, Billy Idol conveys raw emotion, passion, and a fearless attitude that resonates with audiences of all ages.
Des’ree
Des’ree, the British R&B artist, captivated audiences in the ’90s with her fusion of reggae, calypso, rap, and British pop in albums like I Ain’t Movin’ and Supernatural. Her international breakthrough came with the empowering hit “You Gotta Be,” propelling her to stardom. Born as Deseree Annette Weekes in South London, she pursued her musical ambitions from a young age, securing a record deal in 1991. The success of her debut LP Mind Adventures and the chart-topping single “You Gotta Be” cemented her position in the music industry, leading to a platinum-selling album. Despite subsequent releases like Supernatural and Dream Soldier in the early 2000s, Des’ree chose to take a hiatus to focus on her family and nutritionist career, making sporadic returns to music. Her remarkable comeback in 2019 with the release of fifth album A Love Story marked her enduring impact on the music scene, showcasing her talent and resilience.
Des’ree’s journey from humble beginnings in South London to global recognition as a versatile artist is a testament to her dedication and passion for music. Collaborating with artists like Terence Trent D’Arby and embarking on successful tours, Des’ree carved a niche for herself in the music world with her soulful vocals and touching lyrics.{
The Cardigans
The Cardigans, one of the most delightful pop groups from the alternative music scene, gained fame for their sugary tunes that showcased exceptional musicianship and inventive arrangements. In their breakthrough album ‘Life’ released in 1995, the band epitomized their sweet sound, with the cheerful vocals of Nina Persson playing a significant role, earning them a spot in the space age pop revivalist movement as praised by critics. However, the Cardigans proved to be more diverse than originally perceived.
Originally formed in October 1992 in Jonkoping, Sweden, the band’s origins were quite unexpected, with two former heavy metal enthusiasts deciding to shift to pop music. Guitarist Peter Svensson and bassist Magnus Sveningsson, who met in a hardcore group, joined forces with vocalist Nina Persson, an art-school friend with no professional singing experience, along with keyboardist Lars-Olof Johansson and drummer Bengt Lagerberg. Their underground success led to the release of ‘Emmerdale’ in 1994, followed by the globally acclaimed album ‘Life’ in 1995, which skyrocketed their fame beyond Sweden.
With a successful transition to international markets, the Cardigans signed with Minty Fresh for the US release of ‘Life,’ leading to sold-out shows across America. Subsequent albums like ‘First Band on the Moon’ and ‘Gran Turismo’ further showcased the band’s evolution, with hits like ‘Lovefool’ dominating the airwaves. Despite a brief hiatus, the Cardigans returned with ‘Long Gone Before Daylight’ in 2003, marking a shift towards introspective songwriting. The band’s legacy continued with albums like ‘Super Extra Gravity’ in 2005, solidifying their status as pop music icons with a distinct artistic identity.
DJ Snake
A Grammy-nominated producer, France’s DJ Snake is at the forefront of the electronic trap music movement, having taken the genre to the charts with his 2013 single “Turn Down for What” featuring Lil Jon. He scored an additional mainstream hit with 2015’s “Lean On,” a multi-platinum, global chart-topper that featured Major Lazer and vocalist MØ, before topping that song’s success with 2016’s Justin Bieber collaboration “Let Me Love You,” off Snake’s Top Ten Billboard 200-charting debut, Encore. He has remained a chart regular, landing at number one on Billboard’s Dance/Electronic Albums list with 2019’s Carte Blanche. The record also spawned the dance hits “Taki Taki” with Selena Gomez, Cardi B, and Ozuna, and “Fuego” with Sean Paul, Anitta, and Tainy. In 2021, he again joined Gomez for her song “Selfish Love” before reuniting with Ozuna (as well as Megan Thee Stallion and BlackPink’s Lisa) for the Top Ten dance single “SG.” Born William Grigahcine, Snake’s production work on Lady Gaga’s 2011 effort Born This Way earned him a Grammy nod when it was nominated for Album of the Year in 2012. He signed with Diplo’s imprint Mad Decent that year and released the single “Bird Machine” on the label in 2013. The singles “Slow Down” and “Together” also arrived in 2013, along with more work for Gaga on her ARTPOP album. Snake’s big break as a solo artist came late in the year when “Turn Down for What,” featuring Lil Jon, arrived and became the most popular crossover trap hit since Baauer’s “Harlem Shake.” In 2014, he collaborated with Dillon Francis on the single “Get Low,” while 2015 saw him join MØ and Major Lazer on the worldwide hit “Lean On.” In 2016, DJ Snake delivered his debut album, Encore, which appeared at number eight on the Billboard 200 chart. Included on the record were the singles “Middle” featuring guest vocalist Bipolar Sunshine and “Let Me Love You” with Justin Bieber. The latter track topped the charts and was certified multi-platinum across the globe. More singles followed, including 2017’s “A Different Way” featuring vocalist Lauv. The following year, Snake landed hits first with his solo track “Magenta Riddim,” followed by “Taki Taki,” a collaboration with Selena Gomez, Cardi B, and Ozuna that charted across the globe, including a number two placement in France. “Try Me” with Plastic Toy and “SouthSide” with Eptic followed in early 2019. All of these singles were included on Snake’s sophomore full-length, Carte Blanche, which arrived in July 2019 and hit number four on the Billboard Top Dance/Electronic Albums chart. Also featured on the album were appearances by J Balvin, Anitta, Majid Jordan, Bryson Tiller, Zomboy, and others. A stand-alone track, “Trust Nobody,” appeared in June 2020. The following year, he collaborated with Selena Gomez on her song “Selfish Love,” and with Rick Ross and Rich Brian on “Run It.” Another single, “SG” with Ozuna, Megan Thee Stallion, and BlackPink’s Lisa, appeared in 2021 and hit the Top Ten of Billboard’s Dance chart. ~ David Jeffries, Rovi
Read MoreAll-4-One
Anyone who has ever been in love has heard the name All-4-One as well as their timeless songs “I Swear,” “I Can Love You Like That,” “So Much In Love,” “I Turn To You,” “These Arms,” “Beautiful As You,” and more. The Grammy Award and American Music Award Winning R&B group is internationally known for powerful songs which have sold over 22 Million records. All-4-One and their massive hit song, “I Swear” still holds a spot on Billboard’s Biggest Hits of All: The Hot 100’s All-Time Top 100 chart.
All-4-One’s first single, “So Much In Love”, scaled to RIAA Gold Sales and achieved a spot on Pop Charts’ Top 5. The California-based quartet soon established their place in the industry as premier balladeers. Their follow-up single, “I Swear,“ claimed the “Billboard Hot 100” #1 spot for 11 consecutive weeks, and sales skyrocketed the song to #1 selling single status in 1994 — the third most successful single of the rock era. “I Swear” is still on Billboard’s “Hot 100” as one of the most successful singles of all time. It has been named by ASCAP as one of the greatest love songs of the 20th Century. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, “I Swear” is the biggest selling single of 1994.
The group’s second album, And the Music Speaks, was highlighted by Grammy Nominated “I Can Love You Like That,” a mid-tempo which also reached the Top 5 on Billboard’s “Hot 100.” To date, they have released a total of eleven albums and continue to tour the world as the 4 original members.
Smash Mouth
Formed in 1996 in San Jose,CA, Smash Mouth quickly gained recognition by securing radio play on major airwaves and securing a lucrative record deal with a major label. Their breakout single, “Walkin’ On The Sun,” took the airwaves by storm in 1997, paving the way for their chart-topping success with the iconic hit, “All Star,” in 1999. The song’s popularity soared when it was prominently featured in the beloved film SHREK in 2001, propelling it to even greater heights. In a testament to its enduring appeal, the song was prominently highlighted in a Nationwide Progressive Insurance Commercial in 2019-2020. With over 12 million LPs and millions of singles sold, Smash Mouth continues to thrive in the digital age, achieving remarkable success in streaming platforms.
Read MoreJimmy Cliff
James Chambers, OM (born 30 July 1944), known professionally as Jimmy Cliff, is a Jamaican ska, rocksteady, reggae and soul musician, multi-instrumentalist, singer, and actor. He is the only living reggae musician to hold the Order of Merit, the highest honour that can be granted by the Jamaican government for achievements in the arts and sciences. Cliff is best known among mainstream audiences for songs such as “Many Rivers to Cross”, “You Can Get It If You Really Want”, “The Harder They Come”, “Reggae Night”, and “Hakuna Matata”, and his covers of Cat Stevens’s “Wild World” and Johnny Nash’s “I Can See Clearly Now” from the film Cool Runnings. He starred in the film The Harder They Come, which helped popularize reggae around the world, and Club Paradise. Cliff was one of five performers inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010.
Read MoreSnow Patrol
Northern Irish alt-rock outfit Snow Patrol broke into the mainstream with their 2003 major-label debut Final Straw, followed up with the multi-platinum success of 2006’s Eyes Open, which featured the international hit single ‘Chasing Cars,’ and continued with two more multi-platinum records, A Hundred Million Suns (2008) and Fallen Empires (2011). After a six-year hiatus, the band returned with the UK Top Ten album Wildness in 2018.
Now comprising the trio of Nathan Connolly, Gary Lightbody, and Johnny McDaid, the band have emerged from the process of writing and recording their extraordinary new album, The Forest is the Path (September 13th 2024), perhaps a little battered, but maybe, just maybe, a little wiser and certainly more humble from the experience.
D.H.T.
The artist, nationally recognized for their exceptional talent, has captivated audiences worldwide with their unique style and creative approach to art. From humble beginnings, the artist has risen to prominence through dedication and hard work, honing their craft to perfection. With a diverse portfolio spanning various mediums and techniques, the artist continues to push boundaries and inspire others in the artistic community.
Known for their thought-provoking pieces that evoke deep emotions and thoughtful contemplation, the artist’s work has been featured in prestigious galleries and exhibitions globally. Their passion for art shines through in every brushstroke and detail, reflecting a deep connection to their inner creativity and vision. As a visionary in the art world, the artist’s influence resonates far and wide, leaving a lasting impact on all who experience their masterpieces.
Tiffany
A legendary pop star and boasting over 15 million album sales to date, Tiffany earned two U.S. number one hit singles with ‘I Think We’re Alone Now’ and ‘Could’ve Been’ and set a record as the youngest female artist to top the Billboard charts with her debut album. In 2000, Billboard ranked Tiffany’s album ‘The Color of Silence’ as the “Top Ten Best Albums of the Year.” Tiffany has obtained a long and storied career. She released the 2019 version of “I Think We’re Alone Now” and the music video has more than two million views. In the summer of 2019, she performed 55 shows in 53 cities for more than 600,000 fans on the North American Mixtape Tour with New Kids on the Block, Debbie Gibson, Salt-N-Pepa, and Naughty By Nature. In the fall of 2019, Tiffany kicked off her 40-city, North American Pieces of Me Tour with rave reviews for her new pop/rock sound and live show. Today, her goal is to continue writing songs for herself and others, cementing her status in the industry as a powerhouse hit maker and go-to songwriter. Tiffany has also combined her love of music and food to launch a cooking club, Let’s Food with Tiffany. In 2020, she digitally released her EP Pieces of Me: Unplugged and her first, original Christmas song, “Angels.” This summer, Tiffany headlines the North American Shadows Tour with Johnny Martin and Scot Coogan of L.A. Guns. Her 11th studio album, Shadows, will be released in 2022 in partnership with Deko Entertainment (ADA/Warner Music Group).
Read MoreAlessia Cara
Grammy Award Winning Canadian singer/songwriter and Def Jam Recordings artist Alessia Cara emerged onto the music scene in 2015 with her global anthem “Here.” A five-track EP, Four Pink Walls, soon followed before the release of the full-length certified platinum KNOW –IT-ALL. Alessia lent her voice to “How Far I’ll Go,” the official song for Disney’s animated film Moana, penned by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Her multi-platinum #1 hit single, “Scars to Your Beautiful,” is Cara’s gut-wrenching take on female identity, on body image and on deleterious behaviors in the name of beauty. “Stay” her #1 hit with Zedd has sold over 2 million copies and has been called the “Song of the Summer.” “1-800-273-8255,” her most recent #1 smash with Logic went platinum 5x, contributing to her 6 global smash hits and 8.5 billion streams worldwide. She was one of the most streamed new female artist of 2017.
On top of her 2018 Grammy win, she was also awarded with an MTV EMA for Best World Stage Performance following the release of her released her highly anticipated sophomore album THE PAINS OF GROWING. Alessia spent much of 2019 touring the world alongside fellow Canadian, Shawn Mendes. Between playing sold out stadium shows, Cara flew her producer out on tour to write and recorded 6 new songs inspired by her experiences travelling the world with friends. This Summer EP was released on the final date of the tour, September 6th.
Daniel Powter
Daniel Powter, the Canadian who stormed the European charts in 2005 with his single ‘Bad Day’ (from his 2005 self-titled release), was born and raised in the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia, picking up the violin at the age of four. By the time he was a teenager, however, he had switched to piano and began performing at his high school. He enrolled in Grant MacEwan College in Edmonton, Alberta, where he studied music, dropping out after two years due to difficulties on account of his dyslexia. After his debut release, he toured Europe, performing at the Berlin Live 8 concert in the summer of 2005. His U.S. release of Daniel Powter came out in 2006. The lead single from the album, ‘Bad Day’ became the theme to the fifth season of FOX’s television singing competition American Idol and Powter even performed the song live during the season finale. A colossal hit, ‘Bad Day’ eventually reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, as well as many other charts worldwide.
In 2008, he released his third offering, Under the Radar, which included the single ‘Next Plane Home.’ While garnering relatively positive reviews, the album did not achieve the same level of attention enjoyed by its predecessor. It seemed as if the popularity and ubiquity of ‘Bad Day’ was so great that it threatened to overshadow Powter’s subsequent work and it took the singer a few years to come to terms with his success. During this time, Powter continued to write and perform and even recorded piano parts for Marcy Playground’s 2009 release Leaving Wonderland…in a fit of rage. In 2010, Warner Bros. released the compilation album, Best of Me which included four new songs from Powter.
In 2012, Powter returned with the melodic pop-inflected Turn on the Lights featuring the single ‘Cupid.’