Now Hear This Entertainment

<p>Las Vegas singer, songwriter, dancer, and actress. She previously released a full-length album and then put out a five-song Christmas EP last December. Now she is working on a new album. She was a semi-finalist on season five of “American Idol.” She does a solo guest entertainer show on a wide variety of cruise lines, performs in Las Vegas with a group called The Moonshiners and also as a guest entertainer in a group called Divas3. Plus she is a featured singer in “Vegas! The Show” at Planet Hollywood.</p>

<p>An Australian singer/songwriter who is currently recording his second record for Universal Music, working with producer Matt Sherrod. Last October, Rolling Stone said he, “breathes fresh and strikingly vivid life into the umbrous bush of traditional Australian balladry.” This year he has performed on both coasts of Canada and put out a 7-inch vinyl release and digital single. He has also performed with The Beach Boys and The Temptations.</p>

<p>A producer, lecturer, author, mentor, and songwriter who has worked with some of the biggest names in the business, ranging from Barbra Streisand to Hillary Duff to The Doobie Brothers to Cher, James Brown, and many more. He has earned Grammy and Golden Globe nominations and he has been involved in the writing, conceptualization and production of albums throughout his career that have sold in excess of 50 million copies. As a performer he had gotten signed to a major record label.</p>

<p>Recorded on-location in San Diego with a Mexican born singer/songwriter who has performed internationally and is working towards an EP release. Already in her young career she has been involved in charitable works, and, she has worked with Carlos Santana’s former guitar teacher. At the time of the interview she was ranked Number 1 on ReverbNation for her genre in San Diego. She also talks about filming in China for her music video, which got over 16 thousand views in its first two months.</p>

<p>An illustrator, animator, cartoonist, and children’s book author, whose work includes the syndicated comic strips The Duplex and The Flying McCoys. His nationally syndicated editorial cartoons have been reprinted in the New York Times, USA Today, and Newsweek, and appear frequently on CNN. He also works for many of the top magazines, greeting card companies, and publishing houses in the country. His clients range from Playboy to Parade and he has designed and written for several TV and feature animation studios including Dreamworks, 20th Century Fox, and Walt Disney TV, among others.</p>

<p>A Canadian singer, songwriter, and guitar player who was interviewed on-location in Nashville at the Summer NAMM Show, she is also a photography model and hosted two popular TV programs up in her hometown. Last year she released a solo album, but also formed a high energy powerhouse duo. This year she was named the #1 Rock Artist for her area by ReverbNation. She even had a starring role in a theatre production of “Legally Blonde” and also published a blog that achieved worldwide syndication.</p>

<p>A Mississippi-based singer, songwriter, and guitar player who was interviewed on-location in Nashville at the Summer NAMM Show, he has opened for major acts including Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert, Eric Church, Thompson Square, Brantley Gilbert, Charlie Daniels, 3 Doors Down, and Alabama. He has penned numerous film scores, including on PBS and the CW Television Network. Plus, he had a song featured on a Netflix original series. He is a USO Ambassador Representative and is the founder of the Roots Foundation. He has been working with Grammy award winning producer Skidd Mills towards a new EP.</p>

<p>Recorded on-location in Nashville at the Summer NAMM Show with singer, songwriter, guitar player Shelby Lee Lowe, who released a self-titled album last November. He has opened for major acts such as Charlie Daniels, Cowboy Troy, Sister Hazel, and Confederate Railroad, among others. Last year he secured representation with the same agency that has Garth Brooks and Jason Aldean as clients. Among other live shows, he has played events for the Atlanta Braves and for NASCAR at the Bristol Motor Speedway as well as at CMA Fest. Two years ago he signed with Banner Music as a staff songwriter.</p>

<p>On-location in Nashville with this singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and actress! This past February she put out an album entitled, “I Wonder.” Last year she’d put out an EP that had a bonus track co-written and produced by Tom Petersson of Cheap Trick. Approximately a year-and-a-half ago a single for the holidays that she had released got airplay on thousands of stations worldwide. She has written songs for TV and film, including having had a song placed on the Canadian TV show “Debra.” She has a handful of sponsors and last year performed up and down the east coast of the U.S. as well as in Ireland.</p>

<p>New York-based singer, songwriter, producer, and musician whose debut full-length album was released in February after having previously released three EPs. The music video for the title track from his newest release got over one million views on Facebook and the new album was mixed and mastered by some of the biggest names in the business. Each of his three EPs had made news either on the iTunes chart or awards-wise.</p>

<p>A singer/songwriter who also performs in the shows at Mango’s Tropical Café in Orlando (2500 capacity venue). She did an EP in 2015, has also released four mixtapes, and is working toward a new EP (or possibly full album). Her background includes having performed in Carnegie Hall in New York City as well as having sung alongside Michael Crawford, of “Phantom of the Opera” fame. Her talents even extend to being a vocal producer and engineer.</p>

<p>A singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, NPR said that she, “taps into the tradition of American songwriting.” She has worked with several notable producers, including Greg Rike (producer of Deep Purple and the Backstreet Boys) and most recently Ben Cooper (co-writer of Ricky Skaggs’ Grammy Award winning album, “Mosaic”). Her seven-song release in 2015 came via an overfunded crowdfunding campaign. She just returned from traveling internationally and in late July will head to Memphis to record her latest single.</p>

<p>Currently in London, she’s a singer/songwriter who has overcome a significant physical challenge and plays guitar and piano. Her independently released debut EP garnered over two million plays on Spotify and charted at #6 on Billboard’s “Next Big Sound.” She has toured the southeast of the U.S. twice and is #1 on ReverbNation in the Netherlands, and #96 globally. This coming Fall she’ll be attending NYU Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music while simultaneously working on new material. She was also a two-time full-scholarship winner of Berklee College of Music's Summer Performance Program.</p>

<p>A singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist who released her debut single last year and is currently working toward an EP release. She performs all over central Florida and has gotten radio airplay. Plus, she works with a charity called, “Kids Rock the Nation.” And she has started building a foundation of sponsors. Not covered during the interview but worth noting is that she was also an accomplished figure skater!</p>

<p>A singer/songwriter who is a voting Grammy member and co-wrote the song “Childhood Sweethearts” with Randy Travis. She toured with Johnny Rodriguez as a kid and worked with some of the biggest names in country music, such as Waylon Jennings, Tom T. Hall, and Mickey Newbury. She grew up in a show biz family and was a child actress and still acts today. She even has a romantic comedy playing on Amazon.</p>

<p>A singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist whose new music video got over 12 thousand views in the first week alone and is working toward a new EP. She has won multiple female country artist awards, plus, one of her original songs was chosen for a bullying awareness charity, which led to her headlining the Teen Nation Tour. Although she’s based in Atlanta, she does travel to Nashville regularly, having started doing so at the age of just ten years old! She is also quite accomplished in modeling as well, having been on the Spring 2017 cover of Teen Fashion Magazine, appeared at New York Fashion Week, walked at New Orleans Fashion Week, Miami Beach Week, and more.</p>

<p>For ten years up in New York he played bass in the Tony Award-winning Broadway show, “Rent.” He also recorded with Grammy Award-winning artist R. Kelly, along with others. He even had a successful writing career, having written instructional books for Mel Bay Publications and articles for Bass Player Magazine. He had graduated from Berklee College of Music with a degree in music performance. He has a book called, “Unbreakable: The Secret to Getting Anything and Everything You’ve Ever Wanted” and is also the host of a brand new podcast called, “Be A Dick.”</p>

<p>A lawyer, writer, podcaster, and teacher. He has a book called, “Break the Business: Declaring Your Independence and Achieving True Success in the Music Industry.” The audiobook version of that is being released two days after this interview comes out. He also hosts the Break the Business Podcast and has represented chart-topping hitmakers and up-and-coming musicians alike. Although he’s not a professional musician, for fun he does play guitar and ukulele.</p>

<p>A singer, songwriter, and professional dancer who just won the first ever Dunkin Donuts Cold Brew Jams jingle competition. Based in New York, she has been on national television, ranging from the likes of “The Tonight Show,” to “Saturday Night Live,” the Macy’s Fall Fashion Show, and America’s Got Talent. She has performed alongside internationally acclaimed artists such as Madonna, Nicki Minaj, and Ariana Grande, to name just a few. She’s planning to release a new single this summer and is working on her next EP. Nicole performed on Broadway and was also a dancer for the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets.</p>

<p>A singer/songwriter who just released a new single, she plays guitar and piano. Her songwriting and production credits include Selena Gomez, Kelly Clarkson, and Jason Derulo, among others. She is signed to a publishing deal and has also been a performer and co-writer on music heard on A&E Television’s “Born This Way.” Among other topics, she talks about recording in Nashville despite living in Los Angeles, and a new music video that she’ll be shooting this month.</p>

<p>Billy Joel’s trumpet player for more than a decade now, he also plays flugelhorn, trombone, and saxophone. Carl has also been a featured soloist with Diana Ross. And, he has been the Music Director for Blood, Sweat, & Tears, recorded with Mariah Carey and for national TV commercials. He also is a band leader of two groups of his own. As he mentions during this interview, he is currently working on material for his next solo project.</p>

<p>Aerosmith’s touring keyboard player, he is a singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer who does southern soulful rock/country in his original music, including an album released last year. He has also toured and recorded with such notable artists as The Doobie Brothers, Tal Bachman, John Waite, and Shawn Mullins, among others. As a songwriter he co-wrote the international hit single for Carlos Santana “Just Feel Better” and has had numerous songs in TV shows and in major film releases.</p>

<p>A country duo that splits their time between Missouri and Nashville, their first single went to the Top 40 on the Music Row charts and they’re now writing and recording toward a new project. They were Top 12 Finalists on The X-Factor in the first season of that show. They have been featured in national publications ranging from Rolling Stone to People Magazine, and the Washington Post, among others. They have also been featured on CBS.com, CNN.com, and MTV.com. They have opened for the likes of Sheryl Crow, Uncle Kracker, and Cowboy Troy, among others.</p>

<p>Best known as having been “Annie” in the 1982 motion picture of the same name, Aileen Quinn – along with her band, the Leapin’ Lizards – performed and then sat down for this interview during the Winter 2017 NAMM show in California. While she does talk about having played the little orphan on the big screen when she was nine years old, Quinn talks about rockabilly music and how her band formed, and they contribute to the interview as well. She also talks about where her career took her after “Annie” but before this band and compares theater life to being in a band.</p>

<p>Karen Waldrup and then folk/Americana duo Whitherward each performed and then sat down for these interviews during the Winter 2017 NAMM show in California. Country singer/songwriter Waldrup was making her third appearance on NHTE and talked about having added saxophone to her music, plus a full-length album she successfully crowdfunded, targeted for a summer 2017 release. Ashley E. Norton and Edward Williams talk about three endorsements that they (Whitherward) got while at the NAMM Show. They also talk about a new album, living on the road (literally), and having played over 250 shows last year and probably more than that in 2017. Ashley also refers back to her NHTE Episode 6 interview and talks about the record deal she’d just signed then and how it never turned into anything!</p>

<p>Brian Fitzy and then Mark Wood each performed and then sat down for these interviews during the Winter 2017 NAMM show in California. Fitzy is a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, producer, and composer who is releasing a new album. He has performed at venues ranging from Madison Square Garden in New York to the Staples Center in Los Angeles, plus, as talked about during this interview, he appeared with the Foo Fighters on the 50th Grammy Awards. He talks about his extensive use of looping technology too. Mark Wood is a recording artist, performer, producer, inventor, Emmy-winning composer, and music education advocate. He has been called the “Les Paul of the violin world, did TV broadcast music for the Winter Olympics and Tour de France, appeared alongside Lenny Kravitz, Celine Dion, and Kanye West, and toured with Billy Joel, Paul McCartney, Steven Tyler, and Roger Daltry. Plus, he has played at Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden, and Shea Stadium, and also talks on this interview about the Mark Wood Rock Orchestra Camp & Festival.</p>

<p>Natalie Gelman and then Josh Logan each performed and then sat down for these interviews during the Winter 2017 NAMM show in California. Gelman talks about getting started by playing on the street in Times Square and then down in the subway as well as pretending to be 21 to play in the clubs. A singer/songwriter based in California, she also talks about a new music video as well as a European tour she did and an album release she’ll be doing this year. Josh Logan was on “The Voice” in 2013, finishing in the top 12, after having been top 15 on “Rockstar: Supernova” in 2006. He recently released an EP and talks about it, as well as staying fresh by moving around, his deep-rooted admiration of and influence by Stevie Wonder, and even his thoughts on music streaming services.</p>

<p>Peter Thom performed and then was immediately interviewed and three members of Death Angel sat down for a Q&A as well during the Winter 2017 NAMM show in California. Peter Thom was promoting and doing a live demo of LoopTunes, which he developed (released last June). Originally from Germany and classically trained on piano, he started making music when he was seven years old and recording when he was 14. On their portion of this NHTE episode, three of the five members of Death Angel talk about – among other topics – the 30-year anniversary of their first album, their discography, advice for up-and-comers, and their interest in vinyl. The band has opened for the likes of Metallica, Megadeath, and Slayer, among others.</p>

<p>Jordan Rudess performed and then was immediately interviewed and Vinnie & the Hooligans sat down for a Q&A as well during the Winter 2017 NAMM show in California. Rudess has been the keyboard player in platinum-selling Grammy-nominated prog rock band Dream Theater for 19 years now. While he does talk about the band during this interview, he was also promoting and doing a live demo of the GeoShred app from moForte and Wizdom Music. (Rudess founded the latter.) He also talks about his influences. On their portion of this NHTE episode, two of the four members of Vinnie & the Hooligans talk about their latest EP, the band’s history and songwriting process, the following they’ve built up, and what’s ahead for the rest of 2017. Plus, of course, we give the listeners a taste of the band’s original music.</p>

<p>Brian Scoggin sat down for a Q&A and Keith Charley performed and then was immediately interviewed as well during the Winter 2017 NAMM show in California. Scoggin has been the drummer for Casting Crowns for the last eight years now and talks about how he had gotten that opportunity as well as thoughts from the stage, gear he’s using, and the band’s current tour and newest album. Keith Charley is a California-based jazz guitar player preparing for the release of a ten-song solo CD and then a tour to support it – all while being an audio systems manager at Sony (for the Playstation). He talks about his influences as well as the differences being a musician now versus when he was young and starting out.</p>

<p>Ric Viers, Rick Allen, and Robert Dudzic, and then Dave Pensado all sat down for these two interviews during the Winter 2017 NAMM show in California. Viers, Allen, and Dudzic are among the leading sound designers in the industry and talk here about their work and favorite projects. Viers wrote the Sound Effects Bible and his location credits include hundreds of productions for nearly every major TV network, Universal Studios, Dateline, Good Morning America, Disney, and many others. Allen has received gold and platinum records from major labels for editing and remixing, and earned Addy Awards and Clio certificates. Dudzic is a producer, engineer, and studio musician who has spent the last 15 years designing and composing music and sound effects and has created several libraries of music and effects heard regularly on radio, TV, and in the theater. Pensado is a Grammy Award-winning mix engineer who has worked with some of the biggest names in the business, including Michael Jackson, Kelly Clarkson, Elton John, and Christina Aguilera, among countless others. He also has “Pensado’s Place,” a weekly YouTube show that has run for five years with over 210 episodes, an audience in over 150 countries, and monthly viewers between 550 and 700 thousand.</p>

<p>Jessica Jolia and then Malynda Hale each performed and then sat down for these interviews during the Winter 2017 NAMM show in California. Both are singer/songwriters based in that state. Jolia had a song placed in the film “Sister Code” and on Spotify’s “Fresh Finds Top Tracks of 2016 Playlist.” She is recording a new album, slated for release in July, and is also touring the country with Eric Benet and Johnny Gill. Jessica tells a funny story about something no one knows about her. Malynda Hale won Best Female Vocalist at the 2016 Hollywood Music in Media Awards. She is also an actress and is a SAG member, having even done national commercials and a Lifetime movie. She also co-hosted “The Vampire Diaries” after-show and was the main host for “The Walking Dead” after-show. She mentions having even done modeling and voiceover work. On top of all that she’s working on a new five-song EP for release this summer.</p>

<p>Chalise Zolezzi sat down for a Q&A and then Citizen Shade performed and then was immediately interviewed as well during the Winter 2017 NAMM show in California. Chalise Zolezzi is the Director of Public Relations and Social Media for NAMM and talks about the Show, the Foundation, and various awards, plus the NAMM Day of Service. Citizen Shade – songwriters Will Howard (vocals and percussion) and David Lezcano (piano/keyboards) – has just released a new single and also did a Lukas Graham cover that has 3.2 million views on YouTube. The duo has drawn comparisons to John Legend (Will) and alternative pop bands such as Bastille. Among other topics, they talk about having performed at the Greensboro Coliseum.</p>

<p>Laura Dickinson performed and then was immediately interviewed, and the Phantasmic Ghost Hunters sat down for a Q&A as well during the Winter 2017 NAMM show in California. Laura Dickinson has three songs on the Grammy ballot this year, has been working with Michael Bublé, has opened for Tony Bennett and Lyle Lovett, and has done work on the films “Rogue One” and “Sing.” She has worked for eleven years with Disney TV Animation, including on “Phineas and Ferb.” The Phantasmic Ghost Hunters, Gavin Kelly and Paula Purcell, were until now seen on YouTube, but have just signed an exclusive deal with Amazon. They investigate the most haunted, abandoned asylums, sanitariums, and mental hospitals. They have also released an app called the PGH Tracker to see ghosts and photos.</p>

<p>The Hazelrigg Brothers and singer/songwriter Jessica Lynn performed and then sat down for these interviews during the Winter 2017 NAMM show in California. The Hazelrigg Brothers – Geoff and George – have a new album out but also have an electronics company, just acquired another, and even talk here about their love of aviation. Jessica Lynn has toured nationally and internationally, including opening for Loretta Lynn and Phil Vassar, among others. She has two specials airing on PBS and, along with her band, will be opening for ZZ Top this summer.</p>

<p>A singer/songwriter who has released eight albums, the last of which was featured on the Grammy ballot. Her music has found success internationally, with her first jazz CD being in the Top 5 on Amazon Japan’s jazz chart, along with the likes of releases by Norah Jones and Diana Krall. Also outside the U.S., she is scheduled to perform in March in Haiti. She is also the host of a new TV music series.</p>

<p>She is releasing a new single at the end of February or beginning of March and a new album will be done by early Spring. (She records in both Nashville and L.A.) Named the Country Breakthrough Artist of the Year 2016 by the New Music Weekly, CBS LA called her one of Los Angeles’s Top 10 Female Musicians, and she has won twice at the Los Angeles Music Awards. She has been the artist ambassador for the beauty salon chain Supercuts and even performed in films like “Hoffa,” “Basic Instinct,” and the original “Batman” film, along with advertising campaigns like her role in one of Ray Charles’ Diet Pepsi commercials. She also talks about her “Music Mom” website.</p>

<p>Presently working on his second album, he is a singer/songwriter who is ranked #1 on the Chicago ReverbNation Pop Charts. He has performed at the likes of the House of Blues, Hard Rock Café, Six Flags, and other notable venues and events. He has built up a huge following, with over 300 thousand followers combined on his social media and three million views on his YouTube channel. In 2010 he had been signed to a modeling agency and his music career was launched one year later.</p>

<p>Singer/songwriter who has also authored a book that was featured in a Huffington Post piece. She also does voiceover work and is an avid blogger. Plus, she is a regular contributor for a lifestyle publication for women called Eydis Magazine. She is also the co-founder of Brain Stamp Music, based in Metro Detroit and Nashville. In 2015 she released an 11-song album called “Zebra Stone” and is planning to release a new album this year (2017).</p>

<p>The first Germany-based guest on the show, this singer/songwriter released a single in October and then put out a 14-song album last month. She traveled to California last month as a nominee at the 2016 Hollywood Music in Media Awards. She is under the international record company KHB Music and will be on German national television on January 12th. Included in this interview is talk of her having filmed a music video at a popular but eerie location in Berlin.</p>

<p>Billy Joel’s guitar player/background vocalist on tour, he also continues with his successful Big Shot tribute band that got him to his spot with the “piano man.” In addition to touring with and playing with his own tribute band, he also performs shows doing only his original music. A singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, his original song “Ordinary Guy” has been picked up as the theme song for the CBS sitcom “Kevin Can Wait.” He was recently featured in Rolling Stone magazine and has also gotten coverage in national media such as “The Today Show” on NBC.</p>

<p>Sweden-based award-winning singer/songwriter who has had success in her home country as well as in the U.S. and China. In addition to the recordings she has put out, she has also performed in major roles in the theater. In November she traveled to Los Angeles as a nominee in the 2016 Hollywood Music in Media Awards.</p>

<p>A just-turned 18 years old singer/songwriter who plays guitar, having released his first EP in June and held the number three spot on the iTunes Country Album chart. When he was 16 years old he was a semi-finalist on Season 9 of “The Voice,” being mentored by Blake Shelton. He will be starring in a musical early next year.</p>

<p>Singer/songwriter who released another single last week and has been touring with Post Modern Jukebox. She was one of the Top 12 girls’ semi-finalists on Season 11 of “American Idol.” She is signed to Freedom Records, her YouTube videos have amassed over two million views, and she has received attention from the likes of Billboard.com, RyanSeacrest.com, and Hollywood Gossip. She is working on a new release targeted for Spring.</p>

<p>Nashville-based songwriter, teacher, and host of the Monday Open Mic at the famous Bluebird Café in Music City. She co-wrote the song, “I Guess You Had to be There,” which was a hit for Lorrie Morgan. She also does workshops and one-on-one sessions. This interview was recorded on-location in Alabama, where she was one of over 200 songwriters performing at the 32nd Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival.</p>

<p>A singer/songwriter who performs in a duo and brought his duo partner with him for this interview. The former just completed recording his newest project and he is currently ranked number two on ReverbNation for his area. His colleague, a multi-instrumentalist, is in the process of recording an EP (his second). They recorded this interview the day before the release party for Foisy’s new CD.</p>

<p>An actor, improviser, musician, and podcaster, he currently performs in several different improv and comedy groups in Los Angeles. He is also a contributor to the Superego podcast. Music-wise he is a singer, guitarist, and pedal steel guitar player. He performs with an L.A.-based bluegrass band called The Dust Bowl Cavaliers. They got approached to do an album in the popular Pickin’ On series. And, the band just got hired to do an episode of “American Crime” (ABC). CORRECTION: The Joel Schumacher story referred to in this interview was from Episode 137 (Marco Argiro), not Episode 141 (Fly By Midnight).</p>

<p>The host of a weekly pop culture podcast called The Incomparable, which is the flagship of the Incomparable Radio Network, which features various podcasts. The Incomparable Radio Network has built up a couple hundred episodes! He is also part of Upgrade, which is essentially the official Six Colors podcast. Plus, he is the co-host of TV Talk Machine, with his co-host being the chief TV critic at the Hollywood Reporter. Also a co-host of a podcast called Liftoff, Jason had written for Macworld for many years.</p>

<p>Identical twin sisters, Carli Kennedy plays guitar and Julie plays violin, while they both sing and write songs. They recently were the grand prize winner in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest and have had nine BCCMA award nominations since 2012. The country duo has performed during the likes of Canadian Music Week, the Live at Heart Festival in Sweden, the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, as well as Florida’s Listening Room Festival. They had a video get played on CMT in Canada, got their first Canadian Country Music Award nomination last year, and Julie was nominated for Fiddle Player of the Year (this year). They even talk about visiting 60 radio stations across Canada to do promo.</p>

<p>This retro pop duo recently opened for Third Eye Blind and has performed at notable venues such as the Hotel Café in L.A. and The Bitter End in New York, plus other locations up and down the east coast from New York to Florida. Two weeks prior to this interview they released a video that in that time had already gotten more than 31 thousand views on their YouTube channel, which has over 150 THOUSAND subscribers. They have both written for artists on “American Idol,” “The Voice,” and “X Factor,” and one of them (Justin Bryte) was on MTV’s “Dream Bigger.”</p>