In 1985, Annie Lennox/The Eurythmics and Aretha Franklin teamed up for the ultra-cheesy single "Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves." It was meant to be an anthem for all women, and probably was, but look back now, and you'll laugh. OK, perhaps only if you watch the music video that accompanied it. In any event, that song's message, which I'll destroy right now, was essentially this: you don't need to be a man to get stuff done. Jokes aside, the song's message has been true for quite some time (tip of the cap to you Hillary Clinton and Debbie Gibson), and in the world of music these days, it's so on-point. Bey. Rihanna. Taylor. Katy. Lorde. Iggy. The list goes on and on, and it's growing by the minute. Here's looking at you Charli XCX and Kitten. Anyway, that brings us to today's post, which I promise you will more than make up for the paragraph you just struggled to get through. Female dominance is reigning supreme, and I've got two rising stars who may soon join the pack.
Country singer/songwriter Lucy Scholl just released her self-titled EP, and the musicianship behind it will make you be all like "she's only 20?" Yeah, she is but let's move on. Scholl has been on the genre's radar for, as the cool kids say, "a minute." She's opened for Tyler Ward, performed with The Nashville Tribute Band, and was among the artists on the Country Explosion music festival stage in Salt Lake City. That lineup, by the way, included Toby Keith, Rascal Flatts, and Florida Georgia Line.
Scholl recently filmed an A-Sides session at the Primary Wave Music Listening Room in Manhattan, performing two songs, and sitting down for a chat. The Dallas native's personality, like her songs, is infectious. Watch the videos, which were shot by Yale Goodman, below. You're welcome.
"All My Life"
Interview:
* Check out another exclusive performance ("Running on Empty") here.
Do you remember when I mentioned Franklin and Lennox before? If so, I'm sorry. Let's move on to another artist, who like Scholl, could soon emerge on the singer/songwriter scene. Orlando native and current New Yorker Shayna Leigh is currently working on her second EP- her follow-up to The Cold Hard Truth and the Dream - after touring this summer with Honor as well as Howie Day. While we wait on the EP, the musician has dropped an uplifting single called "Drive." The song was co-written by Peter Zizzo (Celine Dion, Vanessa Carlton, Elizabeth Gillies), and produced by two-time Grammy-winning producer Michael Mangini (Run DMC, Joss Stone, The Corrs). Eclectic much? Envy much. Wow. Anyway, Leigh recently filmed an A-Sides with yours truly, performed a song called "Crash" as well as "Drive." Watch the former right here, right now as well as a chat in which the artist covered everything from her upcoming album to Celine Dion chest-punches.
"Crash"
Interview:
A-Sides "Delve Into Twelve" Countdown
Each week A-Sides unleashes its Top 12 tracks of the week AKA the "Delve Into Twelve"based on the following contributing factors: songs I'm playing out that particular week NO MATTER WHEN THEY WERE RELEASED (think overlooked songs, unreleased tracks, and old favorites), songs various publicists are trying to get me to listen to that I did and dug a bunch, posts and trends I've noticed on my friends' Facebook walls, and -- most importantly -- the songs my two-year-old son gravitates toward by stomping his feet in approval. Yeah, you read that right. This weeks follows below (LW= last week's rank).
12. "Don't" (debut) - Ed Sheeran
11. "Dreamer" (retro cut) - Ozzy Osbourne
10. "Ends of the Earth" (LW-11) - Lord Huron
9. "Reverse" (LW-9) - SomeKindaWonderful (Watch them live on A-Sides here)
8. "Dangerous Days" (LW-10) - Zola Jesus
7. "Happy Idiot" (LW-5) - TV on the Radio
6. "Go" (LW-8) - Grimes (w/ Blood Diamonds)
5. "Last Forever" (LW-6) - Fenech-Soler (coming soon to A-Sides!)
4. "Stolen Dance" (LW-2) - Milky Chance
3. "Do You" (LW-1) - Spoon
2. "Boom Clap" (LW-3) - Charli XCX
1. "How Can You Really" (LW-4) - Foxygen
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About A-Sides Music
Jon Chattman's "A-Sides Music" series was established in August 2011 and usually features artists (established or not) from all genres performing a track, and discussing what it means to them. This informal series focuses on the artist making art in a low-threatening, extremely informal (sometimes humorous) way. No bells, no whistles -- just the music performed in a random, low-key setting followed by an unrehearsed chat. In an industry where everything often gets overblown and over manufactured, I'm hoping this is refreshing. Artists have included: fun, Courtney Love, Air Supply, Birdy, Sleigh Bells, MisterWives, Echosmith, Charli XCX, Sharon Jones, Pharrell Williams, Feist, American Authors, Imagine Dragons, Gary Clark Jr., and more! A-Sides theme written and performed by Blondfire.