Marina & the Diamonds faces death on 'Immortal'

Marina And The Diamonds unveiled the arty music video for her spiritual song "Immortal," the final track from the Welsh singer-songwriter's upcoming third LP, "Froot," which is a contemplative stunner focused on the undying power of love, due out worldwide on April 6. Searching for a slinky pop track to start 2015 on the right foot? Marina And The Diamonds have you covered with "Immortal," which darkens the fizzy electro-pop of the 29-year-old's previous two albums.
The 5-minute long track "Immortal," which Marina described as "arguably the darkest thing" she's ever written, is another delicate, stripped-back ballad that finds her contemplating the transitory nature of life. "I wanna be immortal/ Like a god in the sky,” sings Marina about that impossible but would-be-damn-cool dream of becoming a deity and enjoying all of their powers. It's definitely dark, slow-tempo with a few synth elements and a recurring theme in the diva's occasionally morbid oeuvre, but she always manages to examine the topic from an original perspective.
But while the subject matter might be depressing (death is inevitable, after all), there is an underlying sense of hope. The simple-but-stylish video that reverberates heavy Lana Del Rey vibes over its five-minute-plus running time, finds the quirky songstress performing the song while swaying in front of projected nostalgic home videos and reaching out to the memories that reflects on the circle of life. There are happy childhood scenes, a wedding and ultimately footage of old folks. She takes us through the circle of life without being overly sentimental.

Bonnie McKee heats up with "California Winter"

Dreaming of palm trees tonight? You're not alone. Singer-songwriter-pop star extraordinaire Bonnie McKee is getting us in the sunny, sparkly Christmas spirit with her new cheerful holiday song "California Winter," and McKee's got a hot holiday tip for you as she belts across the chorus of the lovey-dovey wintry ode that is all about cozying up to your love - the only thing that can make you feel like a "California Winter," despite the snow and chilly weather.
"California Winter," is a future holiday classic with bright, catchy, and full of hooks. It's just like one of McKee's pop hits - only with a festive holiday twist. The talented "American Girl" pop penner, who looks like a gorgeous Christmas pin-up dream on the song's cover artwork, provides cheerful horns and wintry jingling bells on her cheery new tune. The super bubbly, upbeat track bops like a squeaky-clean '50s tune with McKee letting the world know that California still basks in the sun during winter. "It's always summer with you," she sings to her lover - the only thing that can make you feel like a "California Winter," despite the snow and chilly weather.
Reflecting the warm weather on the west coast, she wears various pin-up-inspired looks in the festive clip. McKee admitted that this was also a last minute project that came together with a lot of D.I.Y. work from the singer and her friends. Their labor of love is just as charming as the romantic, feel-good track itself. "This one-shot video was duct-taped, stapled, and glued together with chewing gum by my loving, wonderful, talented friends," says McKee of them making of this video.

Indiana swimming in a pool for "Only the Lonely"

British singer-songwriter Lauren Henson, professionally known as Indiana, is finally back with brand new music video for "Only the Lonely," the final track to be released before her debut LP "No Romeo" drops on January 19. We like Indiana a hell of a lot. Her upcoming album might be a mixed bag, but what she's released this year has A-grade pop written all over it. "Only The Lonely" adds to that impressive resume, and maintains the dark, swirling vibe that has become quite the specialism for the Nottingham girl.
The synthpop songstress has cut the ribbon on "Only The Lonely," a diverse synth-pop anthem with a deep and mournful synth verses and a proud, rousing chorus. The vocals of this latest track tread the perfect line between pop catchyness and a soulful tenderness, creating  a gentle but singalong effect. From what we've heard of it thus far, it looks set to make a mockery of her ingenuous questioning, "Why can't anybody hear me?" midway through "Only the Lonely." Because on the evidence of this stirring, and strangely insecure latest track, shortly, only the reprehensibly aloof will be left unaware of this slightly off-centre starlet.
The single is a champagne-sparkle cut, Indiana's vocals bubbling through a misty onslaught of synths. It's sodden with emotive fragments, but the rousing chorus is sure to banish any woes. It's an uplifting, festival fist-pump belter with the potential to ignite enormous lighter-waving singalongs. Once again, Indiana's vocals make the track something special and likely fodder for future tropical, trap, futuristic, bass-heavy remixes. The accompanying video, directed by De La Muerte, sees the British star covered in glitter while swimming around a pool, keeping in line with the water-themed artwork for her album.

Charli XCX gets back at her man in "Breaking Up"

Charli XCX is red hot while holding a hunk hostage in a brand new music video for her 90's-inspired pop/rock track, "Breaking Up," off her upcoming punk rock-inspired sophomore album "Sucker," is expected to be released on December 16. When discussing the album Charli states that while the album is still pop, "it's a very shouty, girl power, girl gang, sort of feel." The cartoony video definitely fits that description with Charli's bad chick attitude in it.
This slice of brat-pop finds Charli bashing her former lover. "That song is really brutal - every time I sing it I feel bad for everyone of my ex-boyfriends," she explained. "I feel like I'm making all the guys I ever dated cry," Charli added. "Which I kind of like." Obviously, the 22-year-old English singer likes to destroy them really bad with a hammer! Well, only if you're her boyfriend and you mistreat her.
The ultra-colorful BRTHR-directed video opens with vintage Charli listening to her boyfriend prattle on to his parents about how every girl in school wants to be with him. After tossing her drink onto the ground and shattering it, she lowers her cat eye sunglasses and says "we had a good run, Patrick" with an infinitely bored expression on her face. After she breaks up with her football star boyfriend, she hops into limo with her girlfriends and begins her girl power and feistiest breakup anthem.
The rest of the video takes place at a bowling alley and entails generous hair flipping while Charli belts out the lyrics and playing bowling with close gal pals and enjoying sweets. Throughout the chorus of the song she proclaims "you say you love me, I say what?" These simple yet sassy lyrics affirm the fact that this song is letting the world that she doesn't need to be on the arm of a guy to be confident. The style of the video is dripping with the 90s revival aesthetic that millennials are begging for these days and Charli makes it look ridiculously fun that gives off all of the ultra-cool dark pop vibes that the song does.

Marina and the Diamonds sparkles in "Froot"

Marina And The Diamonds channels her inner Old Hollywood starlet in the glamorous, highly stylized video for her latest track "Froot," the lead single and title track from Welsh singer-songwriter's upcoming third studio album. The 29-year-old songstress looks absolutely flawless while wearing a Marilyn Monroe-inspired slinky dress and striking fierce poses in a hotel room.
Marina And The Diamonds has flouted spelling conventions once again with this offering, but doesn't stop her tongue in cheek wordplay at the title. "Froot" is laced with stinging metaphors and devilishly clever double entendres. This synth-pop disco anthem is an '80s video game-inspired electro-pop track with a shining beacon of pop loveliness. As a sovereign of thoughtful pop music, Diamonds tells a delightfully ambiguous yet amusing tale in "Froot." At face level she is clearly conveying a story of love but is perhaps also alluding to the overall cycle of life's ups and downs, or even just speaking of sex at a more carnal level.
Throughout the song Diamonds is "living la dolce vita" comparing herself to a luscious fruit on a branch waiting to be picked and "juiced" before she's left to rot for the "birds and worms." Graphic, colorful and full of imagination, Diamonds never fails to paint a perfect picture for her audience. A dance floor ready track, it is big and bold, full of retro-inspired sounds and Diamonds' deep, sultry voice. Over some breezy 8-bit production, she sings that "good things come to those who wait," although she "ain't in a patient phase." Diamonds is sick of "hanging around like a fruit on a tree," and she demands that someone cut her from the vine, turn her into wine and fill [their] cup up.
"Froot" is full of surprise fruit imagery, but the retro video contains less fruit in favor of sultry lighting and glittering gowns. Helmed by St. Vincent's "Digital Witness" director Chino Moya, the shadowy and ultra-glamorous video stuffed with old school Hollywood outfits, shimmering dresses, and furtive glances as we see the singer slinks around a regal house and even recruits some dancers clad in matching gold lamé to back her up, which go along perfectly with the song's quirky electro-pop vibe and it calls to mind Madonna's Vogue, casting the singing vixen as a sort of fruit femme fatale.

Calvin Harris, Ellie Goulding battle exes 'Outside'

Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding are at it again. Following the success of their previously collaborated on "I Need Your Love" from his 2012 album, "18 Months," the dynamic duo have collaborated once more for the new pop anthem, "Outside." Goulding flaunts her toned midriff area and her favorite brand of underwear as she's feeling the same pain and regret as Rita Ora and every other girl who has ever loved and lost Scottish DJ in their new video for "Outside," the latest single from Harris' fourth studio album, "Motion," released last month.
It's about decaying relationships. The EDM song acts as a darker sequel to their previous collaboration. Whilst "I Need Your Love" found Goulding singing about being enamored with her guy, this finds her breaking up with him as she wondering if breaking up with her ex was the best choice. "I'll show you what it feels like," sings the UK songstress in the hook, "now I'm on the outside," a mirror in front of her shatters and stops time as she temporarily reconnects and comes face to face with her ex.
So that's the plot the director used for the "Outside" video, takes this to the extreme. Opening to a trailer park, of all places, the colorful clip shows a casually clad Goulding on her knees and is lamenting the broken relationship on the ground in the middle of a street in broad daylight. Although it seems like an odd intro, there's more to the story than meets the eye. As it turns out, both musicians are stuck in troubled relationships that are rapidly imploding: there's fighting, screaming, hair-tearing, and crockery throwing, and both are itching for a way out.
The "Burn" singer has a new boyfriend who appears to be an alcoholic with a nasty temper, and Harris has moved on as well to someone with a similar penchant for arguing and throwing dishes. Both "exes" mediating whether splitting was an intelligent move. Hints of real-life troubles in paradise are sprinkled into the nearly four-minute video which works out fine with the original message of the song - two lovebirds thinking about the past. Outside seems like the safe place to be.

Ariana Grande Rolls Around In "Love Me Harder"

Ariana Grande puts her "petite" beauty on display in a well fancy music video for the straight-up sex song, "Love Me Harder," a Max Martin-produced R&B cut featuring Toronto R&B singer The Weeknd, serves as the third single from Grande's recent  sophomore studio album, "My Everything." As one of the most popular music-artists of 2014, the pint-sized starlet already knew how to please her fans, but her new video, her most serious yet, shows off a sexier version of the pop-princess.
"Love Me Harder" is a darker R&B jam than anyone probably expected from a 21-year-old singer once known for her endless supply of pastel princess dresses. The Max Martin-produced song explored adult themes and is filled with double entendres about rough sex; that one also has a single entendre, delivered by her reliably creepy duet partner, The Weeknd, about feeling the pressure between your hips. This song finds Grande pairing up with The Weeknd as they trade verses about keeping the girl happy by loving her harder.

Grande kept things simple in "Love Me Harder," as opposed to the intergalactic extravaganza that was "Break Free." Here, the sole focus was Grande, as she struck a number of sexy poses throughout the sexyvideo, which was shot in mid-October by Hannah Lux Davis, who explained: "Our visuals are really about this tug of war of just loving harder and the compromise of giving in and needing more and wanting more." The clip opens with dramatic lightning in a sky boiling over with orange clouds. Things get very steamy very quickly and very intense.
Throughout the clip, Grande and The Weeknd, born Abel Tesfaye, withstand earth, wind and water, symbolizing what one would do for love. Most of the video is Grande writhes around on a sandy floor, while singing for her video-love to lover her harder in order to keep her affection. The Weeknd walks nonchalantly through an indoor rain storm, and eventually, Grande and the Canadian singer will get together to sing back-to-back, ultimately illustrating what the song is about - being unable to face the wants and needs of a relationship. Their voices meshed together beautifully and their chemistry was simply off the charts!

Electric Youth escaping from reality in 'runaway'

After becoming a leader in the flood of dreamy 80s-inspired synth acts to arise since the movie "Drive," Canadian boy/girl electronic/synthpop duo, composed of middle-school sweethearts Austin Garrick and Bronwyn Griffin, Electric Youth is finally getting ready to released their fantastic debut full length, "Innerworld," on Tuesday. Still, their music practically begs for visual accompaniment, so they've returned with a gorgeous new cinematic video for their new song, "Runaway," the second track off the album.
Electric Youth have a knack for flawlessly melding sugary vocals and an aura of synths into pop masterpieces filled with youth, melancholy, and nostalgia. "Runaway" is a great dreampop gem from the very first listen and it's awash in eighties nostalgia and synthetic listlessness and the single's cover art was inspired by Polish movie posters from the 1970s. "Maybe we could just runaway/ Maybe we could just runaway for good/ Cos we're both misunderstood," purrs Electric Youth's frontwoman Griffin. Nothing like being in love and on the outskirts of it all.
"Runaway," is a fantastic slab of synthpop, all throbbing beats, fuzzed up synths, and Griffin's airy, cosmic vocals beamed down from Planet Cool. And the accompanying now-classic clip for "Runaway," directed by Noel Paul, is a beautifully shot mini-saga set in Beirut, Lebanon. The viewer follows a young, lovelorn couple heavy with some kind of unspoken emotional turmoil and a nothing-left-to-lose, loose cannon vibe with the desperation of wandering away from home.
As they tear through the day, making out while escaping from reality together around on a moped, stealing smooches on a scooter, drinking in the streets and longingly gazing at one another, navigating the challenges of life on the outskirts of the city, and speeding faster towards inevitability. It really fits nicely with the romantic synth-pop song's subject matter. Everyone has scars, they're just not always visible. The video celebrates imperfections in love and humans in a really beautiful way and will make you want to make out and drive recklessly.

Betty Who stays joyful in "Somebody Loves You"

Betty Who has a new colorful music video out for her anthem "Somebody Loves You," and no, you don't just have a major case of déjà vu. The 22-year-old Australian singer-songwriter, born Jessica Anne Newham, has simply remade the clip for "Somebody Loves You," which originally got a less-polished video treatment back in 2013. If you're one of the 10 million people who have watched the Home Depot surprise gay marriage proposal on YouTube, then you're already familiar with her breakout song.
"'Somebody Loves You' was originally a breakup song for me. I had written it initially about this guy I was dating, and he didn’t care about me as much as I did. I was writing the song to him like, 'Wait, I love you so much and you're not listening to me.' When we went back to record it, it was way more joyous and fun. Once I figured out what I was doing in my relationship, it all kind of opened up," Betty explained. "The message is either 'you hurt me' or 'let's get down in the club.' I wanted to write a song that would make people feel happy and that's where 'Somebody Loves You' comes from."
Betty's known for earworm hooks, cardio-friendly production, and her stadium-filling voice. Now makes New York her home base as she prepares to conquer the world with her own special brand of fun breezy bubblegum pop. "'Somebody Loves You' has been in my life for so long that I wanted to start fresh in some way and make it new and exciting for myself and everyone who's been a fan of the song since it came out," Betty said via email. "I wanted to make a video that captures the energy of the message of the song, which is about having fun, being joyful, and loving yourself, as well as falling in and out of love with other people."
The newly unveiled take is an even brighter, bolder and bubblier journey, stays faithful to the infectious fun (not to mention retro styling) of the original but amps up the dance-party factor by, like, a buh-jillion, as Betty and her faithful crew sport a bunch of fierce lewks and bounce along to the sound of her euphoric jam on the sidewalk. If people in the '80s had social media and YouTube, this is probably what a mall aerobics class-organized flash mob would've looked like. Like her upcoming tour BFF Katy Perry's "This Is How We Do," it's an über-colorful, purely joyous trip.

La Roux encourage phone sex in "Kiss & Not Tell"

La Roux paid homage to one of history's most durable industries and channels an '80s sex infomercial in the music video for her fun retro-disco song "Kiss And Not Tell," from British electro-pop sensation's chart-topping sophomore album, "Trouble in Paradise." The phone sex hotline has seen its share of ups and downs over the decades, but it remains an impact player in the pay-for-pleasure circuit after all these years. The sound of a human voice will never go out of style.

In keeping with her own brand of neon cool, La Roux focuses on the kitschy phones of the '80s for the video, which featuring every kind of telephone you can imagine, an impressive cadre of vintage phones in the shape of keyboard synthesizers, quirky hamburgers, miniature piano phone, and Full House–esque big red lips make appearances as a variety of anonymous heavy breathers steam up on the line with Elly Jackson of La Roux's phone operator. Both playful and upbeat, the video complements La Roux's vintage synth-driven sound and is a treat for fans of '80s infomercials.

Singing in a lower register and with more controlled tones than on La Roux's debut record, Jackson sounds like a different person on this song. "I wasn't just an angry young girl when I made the first album, I was f---ing FURIOUS," she laughed to Q magazine, "That's why I sang in a register only dogs could hear." So what changed? "I'm not in pain any more," Jackson replied. "The first album was all, 'Ohhh, you don't love me.' I would drive to Ben's studio in tears every day. It's different this time because I didn't have that ache to write - I'm not writing songs to say, 'Yeah, that's what I f---ing feel about you!' I'm writing about characters instead."

The Alexander Brown-directed colorful clip is impeccably styled, hitting all the right aesthetics as we see striking red-haired singer is the face of an erotic hotline as she plays the role as a late night television host, inviting viewers to call in to do some kissing without any telling. The number onscreen have the option to listen to the song, or leave a "cheeky" message in order to interact with other people and have a little "pleasure" of their own (phone sex). After some thinking about, people are convinced by La Roux, and shows us a male and a female reaching "ecstasy."

Indiana stuck with bad boys with "Heart on Fire"

Although it's only been a year or so since we first introduced Nottingham-born songstress Indiana (aka Lauren Henson) on the blog, it seems like we've been waiting years for the 27-year-old British rising pop starlet's full length debut, "No Romeo," which was scheduled to be released on September 1st, but has been pushed back to October 13. The album ranges from twinkling Scandinavian dance-pop to brooding lullabies and that futuristic alt-R&B that's been all the rage lately.
The follow-up to the Nottingham native's breakthrough "Solo Dancing," Indiana premiered her second scintillating new track, "Heart On Fire," which finds the Nottingham singer turning away from the icy vocals of her breakthrough hit, demonstrating the versatility of her singing. "I've been experimenting with my voice, and there are songs on the album where I sing in such a way that I've never sounded like before," she told Billboard magazine. "I'm learning so much about my lower register. Everything has evolved."
"Breathe my heart on fire/ Read between the lines/ Breathe my heart on fire/ That's not me to cry." Indiana softly sings with a dazzling, soulful frailty amidst the track's dance beats. Opening with an exotically futuristic sonic build before emerging into a feat of majestically glittering state of the art dancefloor pop with echoes of classic Robyn or Kylie Minogue, "Heart On Fire" sets an extraordinarily addictive and enticing tone in anticipation of Indiana's debut full length and reinforces her as one of the UK's most hotly tipped new artists.
Shot in California, the Tim Mattia-directed clip, is one for girls and boys who like motorbikes, leather, guns, men with beards and swimming pools. It's another love story, only to be stuck with another bad boy. It's clear that won't be a happy ending to this tale of a love triangle between Indiana and two drug-dealing motorcycle dudes. But, it's highly unlikely you'll be able to guess the twist. After going undercover for a good amount of time, DEA Agents raid the hotel room of a known drug dealer. The task is breaking their heart because of the good times they all had together, but their task has to completed. The risk vs. the reward.

LIGHTS trapped in an elevator in "Up We Go"

It's been three years since the release of LIGHTS' sophomore LP "Siberia," but the synth-leaning Canadian songbird returns and goes on a crazy elevator ride in the one-take new video for her new single "Up We Go," the first offering from the Juno Award winner's upcoming third record, "Little Machines," which due in stores on September 23rd via Warner Brothers Records. "Up We Go" is perhaps her biggest banger to date—sparkling, anthemic, amped up synthpop.
"Up We Go," is a delicious electro-pop filled with up-lifting lyrics, finds LIGHTS moving into slightly more commercial pop territory than she'd perhaps explored before. "It's been a hard year, and I only know/ From down this low It's only up we go, up we go," sings the 27-year-old Canadian electro-pop star in the motivational chorus of "Up We Go." Her current musical style is giving me Ellie Goulding meets Ashlee Simpson vibes. And we love it.
The Canadian electropop pixie had this to say about the tune and the video: "I like to think that 'Up We Go' is an anthem for that feeling of release we experience following a hard spell. It took a lot of moving parts to make this really ambitious one-take video shoot a success. While trying to choreograph the band, all the great extras, the fans we brought in, the set movements, the folks behind the camera, and my performance... there were moments I thought it would be impossible. But everyone absolutely killed it. Everyone was just ready to go."
The Alon Isocianu-directed clip sees LIGHTS stuck in the confines of an elevator while going on a crazy ride, utterly oblivious to everything around her as various other folks get on board. Upon entering the elevator, LIGHTS starts singing along to "Up We Go." The upward ride seems pretty normal until a pair of sparring lucha libre wrestlers walk in, then a couple who explicitly deep into a make-out session, and then a whole LIGHTS' own band. None of them, however, deter her from belting out her brand new song. When LIGHTS reaches the "last" floor, a huge celebration with confetti engages. But in the end we find out the "ride" wasn't that real in the Watch the charming elevator-set romp!

Grimes wander through the circles of hell in "Go"

Canadian producer and electro-pop singer Grimes, known offstage as Claire Boucher, came out swinging in late June with "Go," her first song in two years. The tune signals a departure from the sound she established herself with, mostly, she explained at the time, because she had written it for Rihanna originally, but it was turned down when Rihanna chose not to record it, Grimes and collaborator Vancouver beatsmith Blood Diamonds then decided to reclaim the track for themselves. In her hands, the track features screams and drops and echoes; it's vibing just fine with the rollout for Grimes' highly-anticipated new album.
It's a truly epic bit of pop weirdness, and now her recent summer jam has a pretty wow-worthy video to match. It is a dizzy pileup of images: Black lights! Iron masks! Billowing silks! Big-ass swords! Intense Vapo-Rub dance moves! Sand dunes! Hair flips! It's a whole lot to process like next-level crazy and we mean that in a good way. In the past, Grimes music videos have brought Claire Boucher to a football game, a motocross rally, and deep into the woods. For her brand new "Go" video, she's out in the desert, visiting the Salton Sea, and dancing amongst mimes in a neon chamber. And really, the video was also partially inspired by Korn's "Freak On a Leash." Seriously.

Co-directed by Grimes with her brother Mac under the alias Roco-Prime, the cryptic clip is a sci-fi homage to Dante's Inferno features sweeping desert landscapes and casts Grimes as Dante and Blood Diamonds as Virgil. It even opens with the first lines from "Inferno," spoken over images of dancers moving in a dark. Eventually, her new "Go," the EDM-influenced lead single off her forthcoming LP, kicks in, and the singer wields swords and crosses deserts while wandering through her personal circles of hell. What happens next is a wild visual feast of claustrophobic demonic dance and gorgeous post-apocalyptic imagery in her Korn-inspired take on the epic poem.
"It's our take on Dante's 'Inferno.' The circles of hell reflect more contemporary issues though. In the 'Inferno,' people's actions in life echo eternally," Grimes explains on her Tumblr about the different scenes represent a contemporary take on Dante's infamous "circles of hell." "It's not a traditional hell, it kind of reflects stuff that's going on today. We shot a bunch at the Salton Sea, which is basically an apocalyptic wasteland filled with dead fish because of human carelessness, a hallway of bullet holes à la Korn 'Freak on a Leash.'" If that sounds like a lot, don't fret. "It is also abstract enough to just be a trippy visual accompaniment to the song," the singer concludes.

Alexandra Stan debuts 'Give Me Your Everything'

Alexandra Stan, original "Lemonade" lover and Co-Queen Of Romania (alongside Inna), is coming for complete global domination once again. (Well, in Japan.) Apparently the positive results obtained in Japan have led the 25-year-old Romanian singer and model to take a fairly drastic choice regarding her new sophomore album "Unlocked," which hits stores exclusively in Japan on August 27th, while the rest of the other countries will have to wait till September.
Leading up to "The Day Of Stan," the diva's been dropping promotional singles for weeks on iTunes, including the horn-heavy uptempo dance-pop "Dance," the experiment J-pop-tastic "Cherry Pop" and her intense tear-jerking power ballad "Thanks For Leaving." This week, the Romanian star unveiled yet another banger called "Give Me Your Everything," the fourth single taken from "Unlocked," a moody Caribbean jam that wouldn't sound at all out of place on Rihanna's "Talk That Talk." Illuminati realness!
Stan isn't exactly a singer you'd expect to push herself in a new, exciting direction, but new single "Give Me Your Everything" reinvents the cutesy, innuendo-loving Europop star into an exotic vixen of global proportions. The midtempo synthpop track which characterized by a style and oriental sounds, "Give Me Your Everything" is a completely different song than the previous singles. In the song, the female narrator takes a stance, where she tells her lover not to be so hard on her, and if he really loves her, he needs to give her his everything. Overall, Stan's vocals are hypnotic and crystalline.
"I can't stop sleep-walking underneath the moonlight, I can't hear you calling reaching for me every night, I'm yours, you're mine, Oh, your kiss brings me back to life," Stan sings. "Don't you be so hard on me! If you love me, give me your everything," the genre-blurring goddess declares above the infectious drum melodies. The song and video speak for themselves. The song's music video was directed by Vlad Fenesan, and features the "Mr. Saxobeat" legend chasing a mysterious man in a dark landscape and more intense than the uplifting dance, but the Romanian star looks stunning in it and it has Middle Eastern melodic flairs, which enhances it sonically.

Charli XCX Gets Rebellious in "Break the Rules"

You already know Charli XCX from her verses on buzzy songs like Iggy Azalea's "Fancy" and Icona Pop's "I Love It," as well as for her "Fault In Our Stars" soundtrack cut "Boom Clap." Now, the British alt-pop singer is setting out for solo stardom with a new prom themed video for her bass-heavy track, "Break the Rules," the lead cut from the 22-year-old British songstress' upcoming sophomore album, "Sucker," due out on October 21st. It's time to go back to school! And Charli is a rebellious yet popular girl at her high school, and we've gotta say: This is one rebel you'll want to watch out for.
The new teenager/F-the system anthem is an anti-pep-rally ode to getting high and getting wrecked, and finds Charli and her misfit crew unenthused about the impending new school year. "I don't want to go to school/ I just want to break the rules." Charli explained: "The song is inspired by a lot of the things I was listening to whilst in Sweden at the end of last year, I spent about a month making a punk record and covering songs by Swedish punk bands like Snuffed By The Yakuza and stuff. This song was written when I came out of the other side of that punk phase and translated it into something more pop," she added. "Obviously, it's about not giving a f**k."
Charli always has fun but stylishly shot videos, whether it's the lo-fi intimacy of "What I Like" or the Amsterdam-based "Boom Clap," and her latest, for "Break The Rules," is another striking visual that doesn't take itself too seriously. Playing off the song's theme of teenage rebellion, the video casts Charli 'as the leader of a high school crew who are breaking the rules and having fun, from hijacking a school bus to hit up a lingerie store and ending up at a very messy prom night, which features a cameo from actress Rose McGowan as a ruler-smacking chaperone. The highlight is the grand finale - a playful twist to a Stephen King horror classic.
In the end, they will all get involuntarily covered in disgusting pink slime, but instead of having it kill their mood, they embrace the moment, and love it. Speaking about the video to Charli told Billboard: "I was inspired by movies like 'Jawbreaker' and 'Carrie' for the 'Break the Rules' video. I never went to prom when I was at school so this was kind of me living out my weird fantasy of what prom would be like in my head. I asked Rose McGowan to be in the video and I never ever thought she would say yes, but she did... so she came to prom too... And she trashed it"

T. Mills is having a good time in "All I Wanna Do"

It's summertime, if you're hankering early for parties, beaches, and pools, and looking for your special summer anthem to get you in the mood, here's a new video that might just do the trick. Southern California-based rapper T. Mills released the music video for the super-catchy "All I Wanna Do," the title track off his EP. As you'll soon realize from the video, the 25-year-old's fun ode to drinking, having a good time and a sunny beach, is the perfect element to get the party started as the temps heat up!
The EP's titular track wastes no times introducing the world to the latest evolution of Travis 'T' Mills. He's come a long way from the days of "Stupid Boy," and this track perfectly showcases the direction he's now headed with high-gloss production and an almost entirely rap-free pair of verses. There is still a smooth flow to everything, but the attitude found on Thrillionaire and everything before it has been replaced with a sound fit for radio play. "All I Wanna Do/ Is just have a good time/ just a have a good time / yea baby," he sings. The depth of Mills' latest effort is equal to that of a puddle on a hot July afternoon, but no one ever said great pop music required an emotional catharsis.
"Go For It All" further reveals the new Mills. His rhyme game is back on the verses, but the overall feel of the track is very much mainstream. Think B.o.B. during his "Airplanes" days, only slightly more directed toward female fans. Mills wants ladies to know he not only loves them, but he believes in them and all their dreams. He wants them to know they can do whatever they put their mind to, and he is going to be there to support them no matter what. It's not necessarily my cup of tea, but it will likely go over like gangbusters with his younger audience. Those looking for someone they can shares their dreams with will no doubt take comfort in Mills' enchanting wordplay.
The rise of Mills has been unlike any other in recent memory, and "All I Wanna Do" is further proof he is destined for big things in the not too distant future. His first releases seem like child's play compared to the quality and anthemic nature of this material, but it's also largely a departure from the sound that helped build his brand. I'm not sure fans will embrace the change as fast as the execs at Sony probably would like, but with the right marketing campaign 2014 could quickly become a very exciting year for Mills and his ever-growing bandwagon of followers. Check out the John Colombo-directed video below.

Bastille unveiled the haunting ballad "Oblivion"

Bastille have premiered a very beautifully haunting music video via MSN.com for their latest track, "Oblivion," the eighth and final single from the British quartet band's debut album "Bad Blood." The indie-rock ballad "Oblivion," is endlessly mysterious and now we have a perfect visual companion, which stars 18-year-old actress Sophie Turner, who plays Sansa Stark in the HBO TV series "Game of Thrones," adapted from George R.R. Martin's novels.
Smith is a storyteller and a magnificent musician, and his music is a thrilling example of what great pop music can achieve. The beautiful part about "Bad Blood" is that it is both entirely predictable yet completely disarming. The exploration of any and all sounds; the delicate use of strings to heighten emotion, the touching piano-based "Oblivion." There are moments, instruments, timings, buried within his experimentation that take you entirely by surprise.
This is never more evident than in "Oblivion," which features little more than a piano and Smith sounding for all the world like he's standing in a desert staring at the night sky as he mournfully proclaims, "When oblivion is calling out your name/ You always take it further than I ever can." Smith and Bastille really deliver, ranging earworm choruses across the album. There's something 80s about the heart-swelling melodies of "Oblivion," but only because they evoke a-ha and Tears for Fears in their determination to be both catchy and muscular.
Beginning with Turner sitting in a room alone listening to "Flaws," a previous "Bad Blood" single, the Austin Peters-direvted clip follows Turner as she enters the middle of an empty rodeo arena. Going up to the microphone in front of an audience, Turner opens her mouth miming the lyrics to "Oblivion" and Smith's voice comes out before getting into her car to race at a very strange competition. It's a very simple video but the simple-ness really makes a good match with the deep ballad. the clip is a very simple and diverts from traditional "storytelling" and focuses more on provoking an emotional reaction, whatever that may be.

Broods keep it in family with "Mother & Father"

Releasing their haunting coming-of-age single, "Mother & Father" in earlier June, New Zealand siblings Georgia and Caleb Nott - also known as Broods - have now offered up the hypnotizing music video. It's a clip that is as spellbinding as the song itself. Shot in black and white, the visual shows flash close-ups of the angelic-faced duo as well as Georgia frivolously dancing to the song's profound melody.
New Zealand may be churning out a lot of pop stars this year (like Lorde!), but Broods has remained relatively low-key and musically different after releasing their self titled EP this past December. The Kiwi duo blissed us out with "Bridges" toward the end of 2013, followed it up with "Never Gonna Change" back in March, and now the brother-sister duo are keeping it in the family with newie familial track, "Mother & Father," the first taste of what's to come from their upcoming full length debut album, "Evergreen," out on August 22nd.
Nothing short of an emotional triumph, the melancholy new track speaks to the importance of family, which is understandable given the brother-sister bind that makes the Broods what it is. It's darkly menacing, but we still love our parents. On "Mother & Father," Broods sounds more comfortable and polished than ever. And it's a percussive, pulsing, electronic one, and a logical next step for the band. This tune will steal your heart with the stunning percussion and sentimental lyrics. This is truly the song to tug on those heart strings and send your mind careening into the warm sunset.
"Mother & Father" truly makes you want to hug singer Georgia. Prepare for a serious case of The Feels because it's strewn lyrically with the What Ifs we all combat in life. A low cry, synth-based beat trails along, creating perfect unison that is reminiscent of the brother-sister bond that created this band. Brother to Georgia and all round gun at musical instruments, Caleb makes sure "Mother & Father" is a robust ode to the synth. Broods keep things simple for their new "Mother & Father" video, but it fits perfectly with the dreamy, nostalgic quality of the single. Check out the video below, and prepare to be mesmerized.

Jessie Ware returned with soulful "Tough Love"

British techno-chanteuse Jessie Ware caught our attention two years ago as one of the freshest voices in alternative R&B with her elegant vocals and understated sound highlighted on her acclaimed debut album "Devotion." Since then, Ware hasn't done much on the music front, but now she is set to return with her as-yet-untitled sophomore album later this year and has shared the video for the new album's elegantly devastating first single, "Tough Love."
On Ware's earlier songs, she demonstrated a soulful style of downtempo pop. With "Tough Love," produced by BenZel, she experiments with even softer atmospheric textures and plays with the tonality in her voice. It's a warm new-age power ballad, one that's slow to build, but once it does around the three-minute mark, the song explodes into a gorgeous crescendo of buzzing synths against Ware's alluring vocals. "Tough Love" has ethereal, Kate-Bush-esque vocals, a crisp, Prince-ly beat, and enough thick, delicious bass to satisfy the fans who came to her via electronic artists like SBTRKT and Joker.
"Tough Love" is a convincing sign that Ware may actually outdo her first album with her next. Speaking about the track previously, Ware commented: "I had just finished a run of shows in the States and went to NY to work with BenZel for a couple weeks, mainly as a different focus to touring. I didn't have any expectations or pressures with what would come out of those two weeks, and think 'Tough Love' sums this up. It was me experimenting with my voice and having fun with it. It just felt right and kind of dictated the route of the next album, much like 'Devotion' did on my first album." Ware's lyrics were inspired by the trails of maintaining a long-term relationship with her fiancée while touring round the world. "It's not always easy being away from the person that I love so much, but I'm also doing something that I really, really love," she explained. "It's realistic that it's not always real easy."
Directed by BRTHR, the clip plays like a European experimental film from the early '70s. It matches that song's slow-burning aesthetic and seamlessly translates the song's gossamer vibes into visual form, which mainly means lots of shots of roses, lights and sees the London soul singer running through a sunny field and lying among purple flowers. The clip is full of ravishing golden-hour images of the back of Ware's head, film that changes from color to black-and-white, and close-up images of plant life and underwater faces. It's not an attention-grabbing video, or even a particularly notable one, but it's all arranged around the song, which still kills.

Capital Cities Can't Wait For "One Minute More"

Capital Cities are back and get philosophical with a sorrow and joy collided new music video for their track "One Minute More," the first taken from the American indie alt-dance group's recently re-released deluxe edition of debut LP "In A Tidal Wave Of Mystery." The new song features some classic Capital Cities vocals and a piano sample worthy of RAC, himself. "I can't wait one minute more, the sun does shine" is the chant that echoes over sunny synths and tinkling keys. "One Minute More," is another stellar dance-pop tune with an effervescent chorus that rivals breakthrough smash "Safe And Sound."
In an interview thr band said about song: "'One Minute More' is a song that we had written a while back, it was going to end up on the album as well, it was one of the contenders, but we hadn't really completed it exactly to our standards, I guess, so we put out the album. As time passed we kept revisiting the song and we felt like it was a strong song and this felt like a good opportunity to finish it up and include it on a deluxe version of the album alongside some other cool tracks and remixes as well."
The video begins with the quote from Lebanese poet Khalil Gibran, "Joy and Sorrow are inseparable... Together they come and when one sits alone with you... Remember that the other is asleep upon your bed." Don't worry the song is quite the opposite of the visual message. If you've been following the video follies of Capital Cities and director Brewer then you know their collaboration can't possible just be a floating dock performance for the hottest Lake Havasu Spring Breakers ever. And it's not.
The video is something much more figurative. And the imagined party ends as quickly as a crying jag. As our favorite electro-pop duo explaied: "The video is really interesting and juxtaposes this very sad woman who is basically going through the process of a divorce. That sadness is contrasted by this group of twenty-somethings having a party on a lake with a bunch of watercraft. It is kind of a typical Capital Cities video where we try to show the dichotomy of a human existence: the good, the bad and the contract what defines the good and the bad."