John Mayer Released 2nd "Heartbreak Warfare"

American blues-rock musician John Mayer unveils a second music video on his Facebook page and Vevo for his latest hit single "Heartbreak Warfare" off his 2009 adventurous fourth studio album "Battle Studies," was released and debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 album chart. The song is the opening track on the album, and was released as the second single from the album. The video coverage was captured from one of his eclectic live performances during his tour, which is still underway.
The song "Heartbreak Warfare" marked some changes from the music that Mayer was known for, which was the soft blues influence in his previous albums. Songs like this song from "Battle Studies," along with "Edge of Desire" and "Half of My Heart" went more towards Mayer's more rock-oriented sound, which he showed more on "Battle Studies." About the album, Mayer said, "I approach music like a director doing a period piece. Where 'Continuum' was R&B and Soul, 'Battle Studies' was written with the timelessness of Tom Petty, Fleetwood Mac and Neil Young in mind. The melodies and message are concise and from-the-gut with the efficiency of simplicity."
As an artist and a multi-platinum singer, Mayer has been on the forefront of emerging technologies, embracing the art of blogging and tweeting before it was trendy to do so. However, Mayer has been able to make music and technology history as the first recording artist to release an augmented reality music video last October, which allowing online viewers to become active participants in the 3D experience.
The second new video is laid over a black-and-white treatment of a concert, but it's not a live version of the song and feels a bit false at times. But it's sort of a classic music video. The video for the song, about the war between men and women in affairs of the heart, takes us on the stage with Mayer. The song that many have referred to as the Jennifer Aniston breakup song is rising up the charts. About "Heartbreak Warfare" being attached by media critics to his ex Jennifer Aniston, Mayer told Playboy magazine, "I feel bad because people think "Heartbreak Warfare" is about her. I wanna go on record saying it's not. That woman would never use heartbreak warfare. That woman was the most communicative, sweetest, kindest person." This video was shot at one of the stops on his current tour, which will be running through September.

Laura Bell Bundy Wants You to "Drop on By"

Broadway star and country recording artist Laura Bell Bundy has released her newest music video, for her single "Drop on By" from the Achin' side of her brand new sophomore album, Achin' and Shakin' is Bundy's first mainstream album, out for wide release via Mercury Nashville today!
Bundy slid past the usual "Music Row" approach for country albums. She has created a bold concept album that is essentially two separate albums within one project. Achin' is a collection of slow, sultry country songs; Shakin' is a group of sassy songs that are equal parts humor, confidence and attitude. Achin' presents a modern-day mixture of Loretta Lynn, Minnie Pearl and Sex and the City's Carrie Bradshaw; the other unveils country's answer to Norah Jones.
Bundy's major label debut album Achin' and Shakin', has generated enormous buzz, thanks in part to the success of her first wildly popular Single, "Giddy On Up," has received almost one million streams in a month and has sold over 30,000 digital singles. In "Giddy On Up," Bundy took a sassy approach for her first video. In this new second video for "Drop On By," she slows things down and takes a sexy approach and features a bottle of wine, candles and a bubble-bath. Any guy would be silly not to just drop on by and see Laura! The romantic "Drop On By" oozes sensuality as she beckons a lover to visit. You will get a better idea of the range of music covered by this highly talented, Tony Nominated actress/singer. This ballad new song also really feels like a song ready to soar on the country charts this fall.
Achin' and Shakin' is clearly the work of a really talented artist. It announces the arrival of an important new star for country music. The best thing about Bundy is that she's clearly her own artist, with a vision for the kind of artist she wants to be. She isn't afraid to take chances on this album and her record label Mercury Nashville allowed her to not only take them but to thrive with it. New album does have a few moments that recall Bundy's Broadway past but it's also part of what makes the album so darn charming. Achin' and Shakin' is a record full of spirit, personality and in the end; it's exactly the kind of album that more artists should be willing to record a record that is reflective of the artist itself.

Young Money Artist Drake Debuts Clip For 'Over'

After a nearly yearlong wait for his fans, Canadian rapper Drake has released his highly anticipated video on Vevo today for his first single "Over" off his upcoming debut album "Thank Me Later," to hit stores on June 15. The song "Over" touches on Drake reaction to fame and stardom. Drake has been one of the most talked about rappers for the last couple years, especially since at the time, he was still on the mixtape circuit and had not signed a deal with any label. He became the subject of a bidding war, but eventually signed with rapper Lil' Wayne's Young Money label nearly a year ago and has already worked with some of rap music's vets and heavyweights, including Lil' Wayne, Eminem, Kanye West and Jay-Z.
The Anthony Mandler-directed video was shot on March 12 in Los Angeles. "I'm shooting with somebody I really look up to and respect...Anthony Mandler", the 23-year-old Toronto native told MTV on the set of the video for "Over," "We talked colors, we talked epic, emotion-evoking visuals". "I've shot a lot of videos before", Drake continued, "but this is my first attempt to establish myself as Drake the artist. Shooting the other videos I've done has been great. I really don't care what other people think about them, they were great experiences for me. I've learned a lot from them". About the concept of the video, Drake said: "It's sort of a love story in the video, it has a lot to do with the album. The album is about finding love, feeling 'Have I sold my soul' as far as 'Will I ever be able to gain the trust of a woman? Will I only be able to be around the dark, evil women? Will I ever find that pure love?' Those elements are in the video". The director Mandler, said about the video: "I can tell you that it's not gonna be what you expect. Drake and I were very conscious about trying to push the limits and trying to push things forward. He came to me because he wanted to throw away the conventions of a medium, and take chances and be daring and take certain themes that are relevant to him and try to visualize them in not the obvious way."
The Canadian rapper has a wild vision in this new video, which starts off with Drake, dressed in white, sitting in a room on a bed, reflecting on his life these days. Images of explosions and time-lapsed cityscapes are projected on him and the wall of the room. From there, he launches into a heavy performance. Toward the end of the video, it looks like Drake has to choose between two beautiful women. One, played by Roc Nation singer Rita Ora, appears to be a more wholesome girl, while the other lady looks more dangerous as she dances provocatively in the background. the Young Money franchise player said of the video last week on the opening night of his Away From Home Tour: "The video really reflects that. It's a struggle between the purities of my past life and what this new life has to offer. Even in the video, you see me looking back and forth between the two and deciding. At the end of the video I don't necessarily make a decision, but when you get the album, you'll see what choice I make."

Kate Miller-Heidke's Hit "The Last Day On Earth"

Australian singer Kate Miller-Heidke has premiered a gorgeous new video for her third haunting new single "The Last Day On Earth" from her critically-acclaimed sophomore album "Curiouser," which has released in the US on March 16. Had never heard of Miller-Heidke before hearing a ten second sound bite of the song "The Last Day on Earth" on a TV commercial promoting some upcoming funeral scene or something in "Neighbours" (an Australian soapie show). The song has a poignant melody line and fragile vocals, the kind of thing that works wonders for a tear jerking TV drama finale.
Miller-Heidke is one of the rising stars in the Australian music scene, and has achieved gold status. Although classically trained as an opera singer, Miller-Heidke has followed a career in quirky alternative pop music. She uses her voice to reach high notes the other artists would rely on instruments to convey the same effects. There's still instruments in the songs but her voice is by far the leading one. She has been nominated for five Australian ARIA Awards including Best Female, Best Pop Release, Best Video for "The Last Day On Earth" and Single of The Year at the 2009 ARIA Awards.
"The Last Day on Earth" is Miller-Heidke's first ever Top 5 hit and first platinum-selling single. Although "The Last Day on Earth" was never initially released as an official single, and was used in promo advertisements for television series "Neighbours," but it has since reached No.3 on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart. The song was used for promotions for the block of episodes from the Australian soap opera "Neighbours," which surrounded the death of Bridget Parker in early July 2009. This in turn caused high sales of the song from her "Curiouser" album. Due to the high demand for the song, a physical single was quickly produced, and was released on July 14, 2009. The song ended up becoming her first top ten single.
The best song now has a lovely and heartwrenching video, which starts in a dark house decorated for Christmas. We then see Miller-Heidke in a Peach-coloured dress singing in numerous locations in her house including her living room and a fishtank. The outdoor Christmas decorations light up and Miller-Heidke walks outside and sings toward the camera as the video ends. Miller-Heidke is an absolute delight to watch live. If you find yourself in the US and unable to obtain a copy of the Live at the Chapel video concert, check single's official site, you're truly missing out. By the way, she's currently touring the US throughout the spring.

McLean Released Another Soulful For "My Name"

Modern soul has a new name. Widely tipped as one to watch in 2010, UK singer and new urban kid on the block McLean (aka Digga) has just premiered a brand new video on McLean's YouTube channel for his first electro-pop ballad single "My Name" via Asylum Records, and taken from his upcoming debut album. Once again McLean has impressed with another high quality video. I absolutely love the synths in this track and combined with McLean's amazing voice.
The track is a relaxed dance-pop/R&B record and a great follow-up to his last years magical and soulful debut single "Broken" which has since amassed 5 Million YouTube views and 20 Million views across Myspace. "My Name" showcases this voice, prompting a host of media to predict that McLean will be a major breakthrough act this year. It has been remixed by many other British artists. It thought that the producer of the song is Fraser T. Smith, but was also originally produced by Slick and Magic in London.
The song was completed in Los Angeles by Dylan "3D" Dresdow, the mix engineer that also mixed every Will.I.Am or Black Eyed Peas' record since "Elephunk."BBC chart blog's Fraser McAlpine states about song: "Interesting how they really layer on that autotune at the crucial moment, the bit where he claims to want to give you, the most important person in his life and therefore his most precious love, his name. I wonder if that's so the song can't be considered to be legally binding, should McLean's actual girlfriend sue him for non-delivery of ring and promise in the event of his becoming famous with a song in which he promises to marry her."
Hailing from Dagenham, emerging British crooner McLean has fought his way up through the UK urban scene working with Chase & Status, Tinie Tempah, Ironik, Tinchy Stryder and N-Dubz along the way. McLean's voice is uniquely soulful and producer Fraser T Smith describes him as: "The modern day Marvin Gaye," leading to a plethora of premiership producers working in the studio with McLean on his debut album. "My Name" is an ultra-catchy ditty that you can file right next to Jay Sean, Jason DeRulo and Trey Songz. McLean has some savvy songwriters who know perfectly how to match his warming soul timbre with a polished, radio-ready melody. I really hope this one gets enough exposure and he continues to do great things for UK urban music.

Colbie Caillat Released "I Never Told You" Video

2-time Grammy winner, Colbie Caillat has released a new music video on Vh1's Top 20 Countdown for her latest single, "I Never Told You," just in time before she heads out on tour with the lovely ladies of "Lilith Fair!" "I Never Told You" is the second single, and is the follow-up to the singer's equally-lovey-dovey Top 20 hit "Fallin' For You." Both singles are featured on her sophomore album "Breakthrough," which earned a 2010 Grammy Nomination for Best Pop Vocal Album.
The power pop ballad song was released in February 01, to coincide with the Valentine's Day. In "I Never Told You," Caillat reveals she still has feelings for a previous love and misses him. Caillat originally penned this song whilst touring Europe in her hotel bathroom. She told Starpulse.com: "I wrote it about someone I had broken up with that I was missing at the time." Later on the song was completed during a three week "writing camp" in Hawaii that Caillat organized with fellow singer/songwriter Jason Reeves and American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi. The song has been already a moderate success on the Adult Pop Songs, staying for seven weeks, and reaching thirteen, so far.
There is no naughtiness in Caillat's "I Never Told You" Video. There's nary a pink Lamborghini, girl-on-girl prison yard scene, high-heeled balancing act on the toilet, traipse through a looney bin or dude with a second mouth on his throat to be found in Caillat's music video for "I Never Told You." Instead what you get is an earnest, straightforward glimpse at three couples who nearly lose out on love, but manage to salvage their relationships. Head below to watch Caillat's little bit of sweet amidst of music video world full of so much naughty.

Iyaz Takes Us To His Home Island For "Solo"

R&B upstart Iyaz has already scored a chart-topping smash with the sunny, Caribbean-flecked flashback ditty "Replay;" now he seems poised to do the same with new single "Solo." The song's melody is sampled from Janet Jackson's 1993 single "Again" without directly sampling either the main hook or re-upping the lyrics directly. The official music video for "Solo" was shot in Tortola, British Virgin Islands and it features the singer strolling down the street during a sunny day with beautiful scenery from the beach captured along the way.
The new single "Solo" is the second single and produced by J. R. Rotem, off his upcoming album titled "My Life" which is due to arrive in the US stores on April 27. The new single "Solo" already has millions of hits on YouTube since it was posted on January 26, and is expected to be released in the UK on May 2. The track is aimed to follow up the album's lead single "Replay" which peaked at No. 2 on Billboard Hot 100 and ruled the UK Singles chart for two weeks in a row.
Countless hooks in R&B and hip-hop are built, of course, on borrowing; you could say Iyaz is just aiming to compete a land of Jason Derulos and Jay-Zs. And maybe it feels unfair to call him out for not taking enough of the song to make it more than just naggingly familiar. When asked what he wants to achieve, Iyaz said, "I don't want the fame. Just put me in the studio and let me do me. Let me do what everybody fell in love with, which is make good quality music for people to listen to - feel good music."
Iyaz's publicity openly acknowledges the connection, but it still feels a little squirrelly, especially considering many of the 22-year-old singer's young fans probably aren't familiar with Jackson's nearly two-decade-old hit. Undoubtedly, the song will put some residuals cash in Janet's jumpsuit pocket, and also very likely save Iyaz from one-hit-wonderdom forever. So in the end, it mostly comes down to the listener.