Yonkers, NY is known for a lot of things. Steep hills. Strip malls. Actor Jon Voight. HBO's recent desegregation mini-series Show Me a Hero As a born and bred Yonkers-ite, the list goes on... the long-gone County Fair and Caldor, and the guy in this 1986 Lotto commercial. among them. One of its recent success stories is now synonymous with the city, and bigger picture, with pop music in general. Look out Mr. Voight, you may soon be displaced as that city's favorite native son.
Richard Andrew is better known by his stage name Outasight, and has pulled together a string of hit singles - notably 2012's platinum selling "Tonight is The Night" - and continues to excel as a singer/songwriter, rapper, and record producer. The musician, who recently moved to Los Angeles, is on the verge of releasing a new album - Big Trouble - and it's a detour of sorts in that it's far more funky than poppy.
Andrew recently dropped by the Music Conservatory of Westchester in White Plains, NY, to film an A-Sides interview to discuss the album, its first single "The Wild Life," and song placements. His songs seem to be the soundtrack to campaigns run by everything from Bud Light to the NFL. Watch the interview here, and be sure to snag his album Oct. 23.
Watch the A-Sides interview with Outasight right here, right now!
Like Outasight, Darwin Deez expands the world of pop like Plastic Man. The musician dropped his third album Double Down earlier this month, and it's another showcase for him to flex his melodic mastery of blending genres seamlessly. Oh, and his falsetto kills. Has anyone ever said that before? Can a falsetto kill? Anyway, before we get to the interview A-Sides recently conducted with him, here's a few tasty tidbits. Deez pretty much is a DIY-er. He recorded, performed, mixed and mastered his album in his Brooklyn walk-up.
Catch him on the road this fall into winter, and read the interview here.
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, song posts and trends I've noticed on my friends' Facebook walls and, most importantly: what my toddler is currently enjoying thoroughly with an assist from my infant.
About A-Sides with Jon Chattman: Jon Chattman's music series features celebrities and 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 (sometime 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, Jon strives for a refreshing change. Artists featured on the series include Imagine Dragons, Melissa Etheridge, Air Supply, Joe Perry, Alice Cooper, fun, Bleachers, Charli XCX, Marina and the Diamonds and Bastille.