ARTIST TO WATCH: @XAMBASSADORS

Kristin's avatarAccording to Kristin

If you think you haven’t heard of this band yet, chances are you’re wrong.  Some of their songs have been featured in video games, commercials, TV show promos and movies.  If, by some odd chance, you haven’t heard said songs, I can guarantee you will soon.

xambassadors

X Ambassadors consists of members Sam Harris, Casey Harris, Noah Feldshuh and Adam Levin.  They’re an alternative band from Ithaca, New York who have an amazing, authentic sound to them.  Blending rock, soul and hip hop vibes that create an unconventional sound is what draws you in, and their lyrics get you hooked.  Thankfully (for us), they were discovered by Imagine Dragons lead singer, Dan Reynolds, after he heard an acoustic version of “Unconsolable” on the radio.  What makes them extra unique is that lead singer, Sam, and pianist, Casey, are brothers and Casey was born blind.  This didn’t stop him from living the dream…

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X AMBASSADORS Release New Single ‘JOYFUL’

X AMBASSADORS

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RELEASE POWERFUL AND REDEMPTIVE NEW SINGLE
‘JOYFUL’ 
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE

ADDED TO SPOTIFY NEW MUSIC FRIDAY UK

NEW ALBUM COMING SPRING 2018
ON KIDINAKORNER/INTERSCOPE RECORDS

MARCH EUROPEAN TOUR DATES
Including Brixton Electric, London on the 19th

 

Multi-platinum selling rock band X Ambassadors release their powerful and redemptive new single ‘Joyful’ today via all digital retailers. The song is an emotionally raw and impassioned reminder to take a deep breath when the world is crashing down and do the hardest thing – simply appreciate being alive. ‘Joyful’ will appear on the band’s new album by the same name which is set for release this spring on KIDinaKORNER / Interscope Records.

‘Joyful’ is accompanied by a moving music video that was directed by award winning filmmaker and actress Tess Harrison and visually picks up where the video for the last single ‘Ahead of Myself’ left off.  The video was shot at the historic Los Angeles Theater in downtown LA and once again X Ambassadors’ Sam Harris has opted to sing live for the filming and ‘Joyful’ finds him joined by the band – his brother Casey Harris and Adam Levin – and a gospel choir, all of whom were all captured live as well.

The new single continues a narrative for X Ambassadors, who endeavor to find their voice in these chaotic and uncertain times.  Last March they released the inspirational song ‘Hoping’ and donated the proceeds to the American Civil Liberties Union. ‘Joyful’ is more personal than ‘Hoping’, however the message is as universal.

About the song, Sam Harris explains, “I wrote this song as a reminder to myself and to try and learn how to forgive someone. Heartbreak never fails to pull the rug out from under your feet. The pain is always unrecognisable, no matter what shape or form it takes. But heartbreak can be strangely comforting, and can bring a certain clarity to things. You start to recognise what you can and can’t control – to forgive yourself a little, and to take in the beauty of the world around you.

’Joyful’ was one of the first songs we wrote for the new album. We’d just gotten off 2 years of touring – my body was fragile, my mind was a mess, and my heart had just been broken by someone I cared about very much. So I got lost in my work, looking for something to help ground me.”

When writing ‘Joyful’, Sam, drew inspiration from his brother Casey, who is legally blind and manages to find the light and joy in everyday life, as well as his personal experiences such as writing a song with Yemen artist Methal for Spotify’s ‘I’m with the banned’. For Sam, the realisation that we live in a country where we are free to express our ideas in and of itself is something to be grateful for.

‘Joyful’ was written and produced by X Ambassadors, mixed by Manny Marroquin (Rihanna, Sia, Bastille) and mastered by Joe LaPorta (David Bowie, Calle 13).

X Ambassadors are excited to share ‘Joyful’ live on their upcoming March European tour, with the LA based band playing Brixton Electric in London on 19th March. The band will also be playing songs from their gold certified debut album VHS which was released June 30th 2016, debuting at #7 on Billboard’s 200 chart and spawning multi-platinum singles ‘Renegades’ and ‘Unsteady’ as well as platinum single ‘Jungle’.

EUROPEAN TOUR DATES
MARCH
19th – London, Brixton Electric
20th – Paris, Alhambra
22nd – Amsterdam, Melkweg Max
23rd – Cologne, Luxor
24th – Hamburg, Gruenspan
26th – Berlin, Columbia Theater
27th – Warsaw, Stodola
29th – Moscow, Glav Club
31st – Kiev, Carribbean Club

X Ambassadors ‘Joyful’ single available here:
http://smarturl.it/Joyful

Stay Connected with X Ambassadors:
www.xambassadors.com | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

Movie Review by Kristin: THE GREATEST SHOWMAN | #GreatestShowman @GreatestShowman

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Ladies and gentlemen, I finally got to see The Greatest Showman last night!

There’s a new movie theater that I’ve been wanting to check out and this seemed like the perfect opportunity. After work, we headed down there, grabbed a flatbread pizza and lounged in our extra comfy recliner seats. This may not come as a surprise, but I am a sucker for musicals and I’ve been so excited to watch this one–especially because one of my favorite dancers, Shannon Holtzapffel aka The Tattooed Man aka Prince Constantine is in it. But, you know, life happens and I ended up seeing it super late.

SYNOPSIS: “The Greatest Showman” is a bold and original musical that celebrates the birth of show business and the sense of wonder we feel when dreams come to life. Inspired by the ambition and imagination of P.T. Barnum, The Greatest Showman tells the story of a visionary who rose from nothing to create a mesmerizing spectacle that became a worldwide sensation.

In any case, I really enjoyed it! The soundtrack was absolutely phenomenal and now I’m extra salty that I wasn’t able to be a part of the sing-along viewings they had recently. The movie had a great message about embracing what makes you different, and also to remain true to yourself rather than conforming to society’s idea of perfection just to fit in. I think, in this day and age, these are extremely important messages to convey to younger generations. Bullying is at an all-time high, so it’s important to teach children to be accepting of those who seem different and to be satisfied with themselves despite their own differences. Those messages were never lost throughout the one hour and forty-five minute showtime.

The singing and dancing were fantastic, the cast was great and, while the special effects could have been a bit better, I thought this was a solid musical that everyone should go out and see. Hugh Jackman was the perfect person to play P.T. Barnum. He’s energetic, he’s theatrical and he has a great voice. Fans of Wolverine might be surprised to see him in this kind of role, but most of us knew he got his start doing musicals. Zac Efron and Zendaya were also great, but that was already expected. What wasn’t expected was how good Michelle Williams was playing Barnum’s wife, Charity Barnum. I know she’s a great actress, but she was exceptionally good in this role. Keala Settle plays the role of the “bearded lady” and WOW! She has a powerhouse voice that cuts through every song she’s a part of. This is definitely not the last we’ve heard of her.

I’ve seen some mixed reviews for the film because some thought it was too cheesy. Let’s be honest with ourselves . . . name one musical that hasn’t been cheesy. I’ll wait. I think cheesiness is part of their charm and you’re kidding yourself if you expect otherwise. Go into this one with an open mind and the willingness to have a whole soundtrack stuck in your head for days because that is what will most definitely happen.

Most importantly, show this to your children. Let them dream. Let them be different. Embrace their differences and teach them to be accepting of others. They’re our future, after all.

30 Questions with Kristin | Part 3 of 3

YoursTruly

Good morning! Thanks for checking out Part 3 of my Questions with Kristin posts. I might do something like this more often, so stay tuned.

Here’s the last of the questions:

  • What’s the biggest waste of money you’ve seen?

My number one answer, on a personal level, would be someone spending money on cigarettes. I just imagine rolled up dollar bills being burned away. I’d rather spend my money on something that’ll last. On a larger scale, I would bring back one of my responses to another question and mention celebrities who feel the need to have 10+ cars, gold silverware, Swarovski encrusted refrigerators, etc.

  • What common misconception do you hate to hear repeated as a fact?

Honestly, I don’t have any. People believe what they want to believe and if it works for them, so be it. I know that people say your hair grows back thicker and faster if you shave it, and I haven’t really known that to be a fact. I wouldn’t go so far as to say I hate it though. To each their own!

  • Where is the best place to go to meet awesome people?

Hands down, I would have to say a concert. There is so much excitement at a live show and everyone is there to see the same artist, which means you already have at least 2 things in common–a love for music and that particular artist. In my experience, I’ve also met some awesome people at fan conventions.

  • What food do you crave most?

I don’t know that I crave a certain food, but I’m half Cuban, so I definitely have a sweet tooth. Actually, I’d like to add that I could eat pizza (no pepperoni) every day for the rest of my life lol. I don’t crave it, but I do love it!

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  • What TV series do you keep coming back and re-watching?

FRIENDS and New Girl, for sure. I also wouldn’t be opposed to re-watching The Vampire Diaries and The Originals though.

  • Among your friends, what are you best known for?

Knowing who sings certain songs. I’ve been called the human jukebox. Also, I’m the person that friends bring essays and emails to for proofreading and revising haha.

  • Who of your friends is most like you?

Am I allowed to say my niece? She’s the most like me out of anyone I know. I have similar things in common with certain friends, but I don’t think anyone is really like me. If I had to choose one though, I would probably say Brancey. We both have a love for music that is not understood by most of the people around me. We’ve also had a tough time in the friend department, so we have that in common too.

  • What was the most traumatizing moment of your life?

In September 2011–just three months after my family reunion that I wrote about in response to another question–I lost my maternal grandmother. Just five months later we lost my maternal grandfather. Both of these were shocking and unexpected, especially because I felt like they were going to live forever. This sparked my anxiety attacks. Then I lost my paternal grandmother in 2014, my golden retriever in 2015 and my father just 2 months after that. All of the losses we experienced during that time were extremely traumatizing, but I have some amazing guardian angels looking out for me!

  • What’s the best lesson you’ve learned from a work of fiction?

I wouldn’t necessarily say that I’ve learned a lesson from a work of fiction, but there are definitely lessons that we need to be reminded of sometimes. There are lessons that younger generations can certainly learn from fiction though. To answer this question, I’ll leave you with three quotes from the Harry Potter series:

  • What’s something you’ll never do again?

Trust a friend with an untrustworthy guy.

30 Questions with Kristin | Part 2 of 3

YoursTruly

Hello there! Thanks for coming back to read Part Two of my little questionnaire. In an attempt to give you a little insight as to who I am behind the blog, I decided to answer a 30-question questionnaire that I saw on Twitter earlier this week.

This is part two:

  • In what situation would you feel most out of place in?

This is a tough question to answer because I don’t know that I’ve ever really felt out of place anywhere. I guess it just depends. There was one time that I took my niece to a thing called MagCon. She was with the people her age and I was in the back with the parents who were all much older than me. I felt like I was in limbo between the two groups lol. Maybe a situation like that.

  • What artist do you really like, but rarely admit to liking?

There isn’t an artist that I would ever deny liking. Everyone has different taste when it comes to music. There are some artists that I really like that come out with shit songs, but I wouldn’t deny liking them because of it. I can tell you an artist that I can’t stand and everyone thinks I’m crazy for it . . . Britney Spears. Other than that, I have no shame admitting to liking boy bands, rappers, rock starts and divas.

  • What gets you fired up?

One thing that gets me fired up is when celebrities flaunt getting free stuff from big companies. In what universe is it logical that when actors, musicians, etc. make A TON of money on a project, they get free stuff to promote a company when those of us who make crap money have to struggle to make ends meet? Listen, I will gladly model some Nike shoes and Coach bags on Instagram if it means I don’t have to sell a kidney to get them. I see homeless people beginning for money for food and I’m reminded that there are some celebrities who flaunt gold silverware and 10+ cars in their driveways. There are homeless people who would love a new pair of sneakers, but you can find some celebrities showing off their extensive Jordan collection in a sneaker closet–made JUST for sneakers. Be like Ellen DeGeneres. Give nice things to people who deserve a break. I hate seeing news articles in magazines about where to find Kim Kardashian’s $1500 bag. I don’t care where to find it because I can’t even afford the zipper on that thing!

  • What annoys you most about the fandoms you’re part of?

I’m not really in any fandoms anymore. Unless you count being a part of the TN Kids (Justin Timberlake) fandom, but nothing annoys me about them. Back in my *NSYNC days, I used to hate seeing girls cry when they saw the guys or when they came out on stage. That still bothers me about certain fandoms today. I also see the fandoms that my niece is a part of and I hate seeing these girls sending rude messages to the guys they claim to love. It bothers me even more that those same guys respond to those messages.

  • What do you do to get rid of stress?

Write or listen to music. Those are the most therapeutic for me.

  • You have to relive one day of your life forever. Which day do you choose?

There are a few days I would want to relive–my first concert (*NSYNC, of course), the day my niece was born, a trip to New York. I’m about to get really deep here though. I would go back to a day in June 2011. We had a family reunion in Cape May, NJ where we all stayed at this cute little motel on the beach. It was one of my favorite weeks ever. Especially because it was the first one that all of us were able to make it to, and the last one before my grandparents and my father passed away. Everyone had such a great time and I would love to relive any one of those days.

  • How quickly do you jump to conclusions about people?

I try not to jump to conclusions about anyone because I wouldn’t want anyone doing it to me.

  • If you were a doll, what accessories would you be sold with?

Sneakers, ripped jeans, a hoodie, an iPhone, headphones and a journal, for sure.

  • What have you done in life that has given you the most satisfaction?

I felt pretty satisfied when I finally got my Bachelor’s Degree in August 2017. At 33, I was working full-time, going to school, working on my blog and helping to raise my niece. It was difficult, but I managed to do it regardless of how long it took.

  • What would be the worst thing to put in a piñata?

Cigarettes and pickle juice? I can think of a million responses to this question lol.

Soul II Soul Announce 30th Anniversary Tour

SOUL II SOUL

ANNOUNCE 30TH ANNIVERSARY UK TOUR

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Iconic British band Soul II Soul will embark on a landmark tour of the UK in 2018 marking 30 years of hugely influential success, paying tribute to their legendary debut album, ‘Club Classics Vol 1’.

The double Grammy Award winning and five-time Brit Award nominated band will play 12 dates in the UK in October and November 2018, including a date at London’s Palladium, featuring a stunning production.

With huge hits including ‘Keep On Movin’ (which sold over a million copies in the US alone) and the UK number one single ‘Back To Life (However Do You Want Me)’, Soul II Soul progressed from being one of the leaders of the 1980’s warehouse scene to pioneering British black music around the world, and securing commercial success for themselves and the huge amount of artists they have influenced.

During the course of their stellar career the band have sold over 10 million albums worldwide and main man Jazzie B was awarded an OBE for services to music in 2008, as well as winning an Ivor Novello Award for Inspiration, as “the man who gave British black music a soul of its own”.

Soul II Soul 2018
30th Anniversary Tour  Dates

Friday 19th October: Town Hall / Birmingham
Saturday 20th October: Royal Philharmonic / Liverpool
Sunday 21st October: Brighton Dome / Brighton
Tuesday 23rd October: Guildford G Live
Wednesday 24th October: City Hall / Hull
Thursday 25th October: De Montford Hall / Leicester
Friday 26th October: Town Hall / Leeds
Saturday 27th October: Albert Hall / Manchester
Sunday 28th October: London Palladium / London
Thursday 1st November: St David’s Hall / Cardiff
Friday 2nd November: Corn Exchange / Cambridge
Saturday 3rd November: SEC Armadillo / Glasgow
Sunday 4th November: Sage / Gateshead

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Tickets are available
On pre-sale 9am Friday 26th January:
souliisoul.seetickets.com/tour/soul-ii-soul/?pre=presoul
General sale from 9am Monday 29th January:
souliisoul.seetickets.com/tour/soul-ii-soul/

#UniversalOrlando Resort and Warner Bros. Reveal Remaining Lineup of Experiences Coming to “A Celebration Of Harry Potter” this Weekend

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The Event Takes Place Jan. 26-28 and Will Feature Even More Magical Experiences, Including Q&A Sessions with Harry Potter Film Stars, New Immersive Displays at the Harry Potter Expo and more

“A Celebration of Harry Potter” kicks off this weekend at Universal Orlando Resort and will feature a variety of interactive and exciting experiences that will allow guests to celebrate their love for the stories from J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World.

Yesterday, Universal Orlando Resort and Warner Bros. announced the remaining lineup of experiences coming to the three-day fan event.

The final experiences added to the lineup include a special performance of highlights from the Harry Potter Film Concert Series at the Welcome Event, an in-park scavenger hunt, a costume showcase and even more exciting panels and activities in the Harry Potter Expo. See below for more details.

For a complete lineup and more information about events happening throughout the weekend, including the Q&A sessions with select Harry Potter film stars and more interactive panels and demonstrations, click here.

A CELEBRATION OF HARRY POTTER PANELS (Islands of Adventure theme park)

Guests will enjoy even more brand-new panels with Harry Potter film and creative talent. Admission into panels will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis.

NEW: Explore Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery

Get ready to experience Hogwarts like never before in the upcoming mobile game, Harry Potter Hogwarts Mystery! Learn how you can explore your Hogwarts Story and join the creators of the game for a sneak peek at the visuals, story, and gameplay of this groundbreaking Harry Potter RPG mobile game.

NEW: Sound & Image: The Magic Behind the Music

In film, music represents the words that cannot be spoken. Join CineConcerts founder/conductor Justin Freer and co-founder/producer Brady Beaubien to discuss the magic behind the music throughout the Harry Potter film series. What makes the music so iconic? How can a single motif define the characters we love? Join in the dissection of music within a scene, and what it takes to create these complete scores performed live to picture by a full symphony orchestra. Learn about the complexity of specific melodies we all know and love, and how each film score has uniquely defined the Harry Potter series.

A CELEBRATION OF HARRY POTTER ACTIVITIES (Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure theme parks)

NEW: The Celebration of Harry Potter 2018 – Scavenger Hunt

Throughout the weekend, guests will be tasked to search for the answers to a series of clues hidden in both magical and Muggle locations throughout The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley.  A fun experience for all Harry Potter fans, families and kids alike!

NEW: Highlights from the Harry Potter Film Concert Series

At the Opening Night Event on Friday, Jan. 26, the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra will perform iconic music from the first four Harry Potter films live-to-picture alongside memorable scenes from the films.

Hogwarts Houses Rally and Costume Showcase

Fans will be able to shine onstage by dressing up as their favorite characters from the Harry Potter series. Each contestant who is selected will be judged on the quality and craftsmanship of their costume and will have the chance to win magical prizes.

HARRY POTTER EXPO (Universal Studios Florida theme park)

At the Harry Potter Expo, guests will be able to dive deeper into The Wizarding World with additional all-new and returning fan favorite booths and displays.

NEW: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment

Jam City is excited to present Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, a new mobile game launching under Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment’s Portkey Games, a label dedicated to creating gaming experiences inspired by J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World. Fans are invited to be one of the first ever to experience the magic with a gallery wall, enchanting giveaways and hands-on gameplay accompanied by the developers themselves!

NEW: The Harry Potter Film Concert Series – CineConcerts

Fans can learn more about the global sensation that allows fans to experience the magic of the Harry Potter films with a LIVE orchestra.  Guests will be able to take an exclusive selfie at the Harry Potter Film Concert Series photo booth and take part in fun giveaways.

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment

Get ready to see the wizarding world as never experienced before with Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Virtual Reality Experience.  Fans can step into Newt Scamander’s case and explore the spectacular world of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them in a breathtaking cinematic virtual reality experience. Meet and interact with 6 beasts, complete spells, and immerse yourself in the magic like never before. This unique virtual reality experience is coming soon to major virtual reality platforms.

Access to A Celebration of Harry Potter is included with regular theme park admission or with an annual or seasonal pass. Certain activities are first-come, first-served. Exclusive event vacation packages are also available for purchase and include special benefits and reserved sections for the panels and demonstrations.

For more information about the event, tickets and available exclusive event vacation packages, click here.

 

 

30 Questions with Kristin | Part 1 of 3

YoursTruly

Good morning, everyone! I saw this questionnaire on Twitter yesterday and thought it might be a great idea to create a blog post answering the questions. It’s 30 questions, but I’ll break it down into three separate posts. We live in a time where people “get to know you” based on quick little pic posts on Instagram or character-limited posts on Twitter. I wanted to give a bit of insight as to who I am away from the screens, so here goes nothing:

  • Explain your Twitter handle.

I wanted to have the same handles for all of my social media platforms and there was always one that was already taken. So, I tried this one out, it was available, and I liked it. Simple as that! (After I changed it, the show This Is Us aired and it’s one of my favorites. So @thisiskristin_ reminds me of the show now, too)

  • Who inspires you and why?

To be a walking cliché, I want to say my mother because she’s held my family together for the past 40+ years. When my dad passed away, she took a huge step and moved out of our old house, which I never thought she would do. She’s not the type who likes change, so I was really surprised when she packed up our home of 28 years without hesitation. She’s strong, she’s funny and she’s just the best.

On a professional level, I would have to say one of my friends, Keisha Hatchett. Keisha and I have always had similar interests (i.e. baseball, TV shows and writing), but there’s one huge difference between us. She was determined enough to sell her car and pack her things for an internship in New York. She’s fought her way through internships and freelance jobs to a position at TV Guide and I couldn’t be more proud. We don’t get to talk as much anymore, but she inspires me to fight for what I want and to be a better writer.

  • Do you care what others think about you?

As much as I try to convince myself that I don’t care what others think about me, I think everyone does on some level. In some areas of my life I really don’t care. But in other areas, I do find myself wondering what people think about me. I haven’t had much luck in the guy department (thanks, Miami), so sometimes I wonder if they thought I wasn’t good enough or whatever. It’s a horrible thing to do, but for the most part I’m the way that I am and, in the end, I think that’s a good thing. While I might care in some aspects, I’m proud of myself for not changing to conform to their idea of perfection.

Also, when you’re a writer who submits work to literary journals, it’s hard not to question your abilities when you receive rejections from people that have no idea who you are. Their opinions are based solely on your work, and it’s so incredible subjective. When I get rejections I start to question whether I should continue pursuing a career in writing, but then I remember that Stephen King, J.K. Rowling and a ton of other authors also received rejections. Look where they are now!

  • What are you most looking forward to?

At the moment, I’m looking forward to seeing Justin Timberlake live (again) here in South Florida this May! Long-term, I’m looking forward to establishing my career now that I finally have my Bachelor’s Degree in English/Creative Writing.

  • What is one life rule you follow?

I actually have two that I like to follow:

The most important is to stay true to yourself. I’m okay with having to ask for help rather than trying to pretend like I know everything. I’m not the smartest or the funniest, but I try to be the best version of those things every day. I’m awkward, I have anxiety, and I’m way too trusting of people, but I’ve learned to embrace those things about myself.

The second life rule that I follow is to never go after a guy that one of my friends is interested in or has been interested in. A “friend” of mine didn’t follow that rule, and it resulted in literal heart break for me. I would never inflict that kind of pain on anyone.

  • What’s your dream job?

When I think about my dream job I immediately picture Liza from the show YOUNGER on TV Land. She works for a publishing company and started her own imprint with her friend, Kelsey. I would love to write for a magazine or to work in publishing. Being able to read books and discover unknown authors would definitely be a dream. Either that or something (anything) in the music industry. Recently, I’ve been looking into being a music journalist–someone who goes to live shows and reviews them.

  • Which fictional character do you wish you could meet?

I have three, actually. Four (Theo James) from Divergent, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot). All of them are bad ass characters who fight to protect those around them. Corny answer, I know, but it’s true. Plus, they’re all gorgeous.

  • As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I actually always wanted to be a writer or singer. Writing and music have always been two of my favorite things, so to be able to do either? That’s what I wanted, and that’s still what I want. It’s taken me a while to figure out where to start, but better late than never!

  • If you were a cartoon character, who would you be?

A lot of friends have told me I should dress up like Daria for Halloween lol. She’s extremely sarcastic (which I can be) and pessimistic (which I am not), but she kind of looks like me, so I’ll say her. It’s hard to think of a cartoon character that I would want to be anyway lol.

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  • What skill would you like to master?

Oh wow. This is a loaded question because I think there is always a skill that needs to be mastered. Right now I would have to say grammar lol. I always thought I was great when it came to correct grammar in writing, but after taking a course at UCF, I realized just how wrong I was. I mean, I know the basics, but there are so many rules and exceptions when it comes to grammar. I would love to master that for sure.

 

Well, that’s it for Part One! I hope you enjoyed learning a little bit about me. Feel free to comment with some of your answers to these questions! Post Two will be up tomorrow, so stay tuned for that!

Have a great day!

 

 

 

 

 

BAD WOLVES Release Cover of ‘Zombie’ In Memory of Dolores O’Riordan | @badwolves_band #zombie #music

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Bad Wolves Release Their Version Of ‘Zombie‘ In Dolores O’Riordan’s Memory

The Cranberries Singer Was Set To Re-Record ‘Zombie’ With Bad Wolves On The Day She Passed

Proceeds Will Go To O’Riordan’s Three Children

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Bad Wolves’ Tommy Vext Discusses Decision To Release The Track With Rolling Stone Magazine

Listen to the track on Spotify / YouTube

 

Cranberries singer Dolores O’Riordan was set to record vocals for hard rock band Bad Wolves’ cover of ‘Zombie’ this past Monday, January 15th, the day of her tragic passing. Today the band release their version of ‘Zombie‘ in her memory, with proceeds going to O’Riordan’s three children.

“It was the greatest honour to know she liked our version and wanted to sing on it,” says Bad Wolves singer Tommy Vext. “We’re deeply saddened by the sudden loss of Dolores and by the fact that she’s leaving behind three children so we are donating the proceeds from the song to her kids.”

“It’s such a powerful song and the themes are still so relevant, we wanted to release it in her memory,” he continues. “The original lyrics include the line ‘It’s the same old theme Since nineteen-sixteen. In your head, in your head, they’re still fighting’. It’s a reference to the IRA bombings during the Irish Rebellion. We changed that lyric to say ‘2018’ and she was really excited about that because the nations may have changed but we’re still fighting the same battles today. Humanity is still fighting to assert itself despite all the conflicts.”

Vext further discusses the decision to release The Cranberries’ genre-defining in an exclusive interview with Rolling Stone.

Listen to Bad Wolves cover of ‘Zombie’ HERE.

Read the band’s original statement on Facebook and Twitter.

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BAD WOLVES ON  FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE | TWITTER

 

 

WATCH: Justin Timberlake’s New “Supplies” Video | @jtimberlake #SUPPLIES #newmusic

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Good morning, everyone!!

This morning has been FANTABULOUS so far because my number one, Justin Timberlake, dropped a new track – “SUPPLIES” –  from the upcoming Man of the Woods album! It is SOOOOOOO good!

DT01KlJXkAAe8f6[1]“Supplies” is the second track that has been released so far and the sound deviates entirely from the previously released track, “Filthy.” This one takes on a more hip hop vibe as opposed to that dance/EDM-type sound found in “Filthy,” and it only proves that Justin really got creative on this album.

The video (see below) has a post-apocalyptic theme featuring Eiza González and some odd special effects, but it actually works with the song.

Now, I’m low-key salty that there was a private listening party in New York this past Tuesday that I wasn’t at, but I’m just excited for the promotional content JT is providing leading up to his Super Bowl halftime performance and the new album. I’ll take what I can get! Now excuse me while I put “SUPPLIES” on repeat for the rest of the day.

Macklemore, Sean Paul and Fifth Harmony Among Stars Performing Live at #UniversalOrlando Resort’s 2018 #MardiGras Celebration

Live Concerts, Cajun Cuisine, Nightly Mardi Gras Parade and More Bring the Spirit of The Big Easy to Florida’s Biggest Party Feb. 3 – April 7

Universal Orlando Resort today announced the headlining acts of its 2018 Mardi Gras celebration – the most authentic Mardi Gras event outside New Orleans, complete with Cajun-style cuisine, dazzling costumed performers and a stunning parade with countless beads.

From Feb. 3 through April 7, Universal Orlando’s Mardi Gras 2018 will offer more opportunities than ever before for guests to experience Florida’s Biggest Party.  On 13 select nights, fans can sing along to popular hits as some of the biggest names in music take the stage, including GRAMMY Award-winning rapper, Macklemore, international superstar and recording artist, Sean Paul and award-winning, multiplatinum chart-toppers, Fifth Harmony.  See below for the complete lineup.

The musical stars won’t be the only ones on display as a constellation-themed Mardi Gras parade will keep the good times rolling every night throughout the streets of Universal Studios Florida with breathtakingly detailed floats, festive krewes of colorful dancers and stilt performers, and countless beads.  Six new celestial floats – including Taurus, Virgo and Serpentarius – complete a lineup of 12 intricately hand-crafted floats engineered by Kern Studios, designer of the original New Orleans Mardi Gras floats for more than 50 years.

Guests will also enjoy mouthwatering shrimp po’boys, jambalaya, beignets and more at the French Quarter Courtyard while listening to authentic sounds of New Orleans straight from Bourbon Street.

The excitement of Universal Orlando’s Mardi Gras celebration is included with admission to Universal Studios Florida or with an annual pass.  Florida Residents can get three months free on Power, Preferred and Premier Annual Passes with a UPC code from select Coca-Cola products.  For more information on Mardi Gras, visit www.universalorlando.com/mardigras.

2018 Mardi Gras Headliners Lineup
Mardi Gras Event Dates                              Headliners
(Performing in the Music Plaza)
Feb. 3                                                                  Sean Paul
Feb. 10                                                           The Beach Boys
Feb. 17                                                           Kelsea Ballerini
Feb. 18                                                           Andy Grammer
Feb. 24                                                              Macklemore
March 3                                                                   311
March 4                                                          Phillip Phillips
March 10                                                      To Be Announced
March 11                                                  Fitz and the Tantrums
March 17                                                            Foreigner
March 18                                                       Fifth Harmony
March 24                                                      To Be Announced
March 25                                                               BUSH

2018 Mardi Gras New Orleans Bands Lineup
Mardi Gras Event Dates                       New Orleans Bands
(Performing in the French Quarter Courtyard)
Feb. 3 – Feb. 20                                       Free Agents Brass Band
Feb. 21 – March 6                              Naughty Professor Brass Band
March 7 – March 20                                New Breed Brass Band
March 21 – March 31                          Young Pinstripe Brass Band
April 1 – April 7                                   Dirty Bourbon River Show

LOVE, SIMON | Official Trailer, Soundtrack & First Single Released | #LOVESIMON @lovesimonmovie

IMG_2208Disclaimer: This is about to get romantic af.

20th Century Fox has released the official trailer, soundtrack and first single for their one-of-a-kind teenage drama LOVE, SIMON starring Nick Robinson, Katherine Langford, Alexandra Shipp, Jorge Lendeborg Jr., Miles Heizer, Keiynan Lonsdale, Logan Miller, Jennifer Garner, Josh Duhamel and Tony Hale!

SYNOPSIS: Everyone deserves a great love story. But for seventeen-year old Simon Spier it’s a little more complicated: he’s yet to tell his family or friends he’s gay and he doesn’t actually know the identity of the anonymous classmate he’s fallen for online. Resolving both issues proves hilarious, terrifying and life-changing.

Directed by Greg Berlanti (Dawson’s Creek, Brothers & Sisters), written by Isaac Aptaker & Elizabeth Berger (This is Us), and based on Becky Albertalli’s acclaimed novel, LOVE, SIMON is a funny and heartfelt coming-of-age story about the thrilling ride of finding yourself and falling in love.

Executive produced by Bleachers’ Jack Antonoff, the LOVE, SIMON soundtrack’s first single “Alfie’s Song (Not So Typical Love Song),” via RCA Records is now available for pre-order at all digital retail providers. The official soundtrack is available on all platforms on Friday, March 16, 2018! Check out the full track listing and link to the first single below.

Alfie’s Song (Not A Typical Love Song) – Single
Multi-retailer: http://smarturl.it/AlfiesSongLS


LOVE, SIMON (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) – Album Pre-order
Multi-retailer: http://smarturl.it/LoveSimonOST


LOVE, SIMON
 Soundtrack Track Listing:

  1. Alfie’s Song (Not So Typical Love Song) Bleachers
  2. Rollercoaster Bleachers
  3. Never Fall In Love Jack Antonoff & MØ
  4. Strawberries & Cigarettes Troye Sivan
  5. Sink In Amy Shark**       
  6. Love Lies Khalid & Normani
  7. The Oogum Boogum Song Brenton Wood
  8. Love Me The 1975
  9. I Wanna Dance With Somebody Whitney Houston
  10. Someday At Christmas Jackson 5
  11. Wings Haerts
  12. Keeping A Secret Bleachers*
  13. Wild Heart Bleachers

*Does not appear in film
**Version does not appear in film

LOVE, SIMON will hit theaters everywhere on March 16, 2018!

 

Official Channels:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | #LOVESIMON

Artist to Watch: 4TH AVE | #4thAve @4th_Ave_Music

IMG_2169Ladies and gentlemen, we have another band on our hands!

After an incredible run on ABC’s Boy Band, Jaden Gray, Mikey Jimenez and Marcus Pendleton made it to the top 8, where they fell short of the final band. BUT, never fear, we all knew their talent was far too great to have it end there. With the help of another strong voice from the show, Camry Jackson, the guys formed a new band and announced their name today via newsletter–4th Ave!

After weeks and weeks of speculation, the guys had announced that they would be providing back up vocals for Charlie Puth on an episode of NBC’s The Voice this past season. It was their first TV spot since Boy Band ended and, to be honest, they felt like a band. For them to be back up for an established artist and still have a strong stage presence says so much about these guys. It speaks volumes for what’s sure to come.

In the newsletter, the guys revealed the band name and a first run for merch. They’re releasing it in limited quantities each time a run is out. So, for RUN 1, they’ll have limited quantities and then that design will be thrown out and replaced with a new design for RUN 2. They’re also including a free download of their first single (which I believe will be released on February 9, 2018) with each purchase from RUN 1.

I may be in my thirties, but I’m really excited about this band. Their voices are absolutely incredible on their own, but together they’re about to blow minds. Not to mention the fact that they’re working with some incredible people: Tim Davis and Adam Blackstone.

Head over to 4thavemusic.com to shop the merch in RUN 1. You can also find them at the following links:

4th Ave – Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | SnapChat:  fourthavemusic
Cam       – Instagram | Twitter
Jaden     – Instagram | Twitter
Marcus  – Instagram | Twitter
Mikey    – Instagram | Twitter

 

 

Review | DEMI LOVATO: SIMPLY COMPLICATED | @ddlovato #SimplyComplicated

IMG_2130I was finally able to sit down and watch Demi Lovato’s documentary Simply Complicated today and it was so good!

The documentary is a YouTube Original that aired in October 2017. It currently has over 13 million views and with good reason.

It showcases Demi’s life–both the good and the bad. Through family issues, addiction, breakups and the pressure to be perfect, Demi has fought her way to almost 5 1/2 years of sobriety and is still working on finding herself in the process.

I remember sitting down and watching Sonny With a Chance, and Camp Rock with my niece when she was younger. Neither of us knew who Demi Lovato was at first, but I remember thinking that her voice was absolutely incredible. To look back on it now and to know that she hadn’t even tapped into a fraction of her full potential at that time is amazing. Looking at her on-screen, you had no idea that the person behind these characters was struggling with depression, an eating disorder and so many other underlying issues that had barely scratched the surface.

To be honest, I had no idea that things had gotten that bad for her. I knew that there were substance abuse issues, but I wasn’t really aware of the actual timeline of when everything hit rock bottom. I didn’t know the extent of the damage either. So, watching this documentary really shed light on her struggle and the struggle of those around her.

I would strongly suggest preventing your child from watching it if they’re under the age of 13 because it does touch heavily on drug use and alcohol abuse. However, I’m a firm believer in being honest with younger generations and showing them the uglier side of things so that they know what to avoid. This documentary takes an honest look at her struggles, the root of those struggles and the people who helped her through them.

One of the most touching moments for me, personally, was when she spoke about her relationship with Wilmer Valderrama. It’s clear that she still has so much love for him, and it’s nice to see them post-breakup still getting along and not having anything bad to say about one another. I can agree with her reason for needing to be alone and to learn how to depend on herself rather than someone else, but I’m secretly hoping for them to reconnect romantically. What can I say? I’m a hopeless romantic lol.

While watching Simply Complicated, I found myself teary-eyed more often than I’d like to admit. Viewers also get a bit of insight to the recording process for her working alongside her producers and manager. If you don’t walk away from this in pure awe of her vocals, you should probably check your hearing. The girl has got some VO-CALS!!

I definitely recommend watching the documentary, especially since it looks like Part Two might be happening in the near future. It’s a fantastic look at a talented young woman’s road to self-discovery, sobriety and overcoming struggles that so many of us deal with.

Check it out and, as always, let me know what you thought!

WATCH: Justin Timberlake’s New “Filthy” Video | @jtimberlake #filthy #newmusic

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It’s here, ladies and gentleman!!

The first single & futuristic video from Man of the Woods has dropped and it certainly has people talking. There was a lot of speculation this week surrounding the announcement of the forthcoming album, but I don’t think anyone was expecting the vibe from “Filthy.”

The song was co-written with Timbaland, Danja, James Fauntleroy and Lawrence Dopson, with Timbaland and Danja co-producing the track.

“Haters gon’ say it’s fake. So real.”

“I guess I got my swagger back/I said, ‘Put your filthy hands all over me/And no, this ain’t the clean version.”

“Your friends, my friends/And they ain’t leavin’ till six in the morning.”

People assumed that the new album would have a country sound, considering the title of the album, but “Filthy” has more of an electronic vibe that might even transport you back to his FutureSex/LoveSounds album. To be honest, I’m feeling this one more than I was feeling “Suit and Tie” when it first came out, but that one grew on me big time. Artists evolve, people. Let it happen.

According to Rolling Stone’s website, “Timberlake plans to release three other videos in the weeks preceding the album release. Three different directors helmed the other clips, which will be out weekly starting January 18th.”

Man of the Woods has a February 2nd release date and, with any luck, we’ll see him performing some new music when he headlines the Pepsi Super Bowl LII Halftime Show on February 4.

Have you heard it yet? Let me know your thoughts. Also, check out the video for “Filthy” below! Not sure about you, but this song will be stuck in my head all day now. Not that you went anywhere, but welcome back JT! It’s been way too long!

Justin Timberlake Announces New Album ‘Man of the Woods’ | @jtimberlake #manofthewoods

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Ladies and gentlemen, the start to 2018 just got even better! Justin Timberlake has announced his next studio album, titled Man of the Woods!

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The follow-up to The 20/20 Experience will arrive on February 2nd with a new song set for release on Friday, January 5th. Yes, you heard correctly . . . that’s in THREE DAYS!! I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m stoked! The 20/20 Experience 1 and 2 came out in 2013, so it’s been way too long.

“This album is really inspired by my son, my wife, my family, but more so than any album I’ve ever written, where I’m from,” Timberlake says. “And it’s personal.”

You can catch JT performing at the 2018 Super Bowl halftime show, and what I’m hoping will be an endless string of promotional appearances (ok, I’m pushing it, but a girl can dream).

Fans can also sign up for the Tennessee Kids fan club on justintimberlake.com for access to pre-sale tickets, new music (as it becomes available), contests, a newsletter and more for only $24.99 annually. There is also a free version of the fan club that includes the newsletter and access to the site.

Here’s to a great start to the new year! I hope you all have a FANTASTIC one!

X AMBASSADORS Announce UK and European Headline Tour | @xambassadors #music

IMG_1524

ANNOUNCE UK AND EUROPEAN HEADLINE TOUR

BRAND NEW ALBUM DUE SPRING 2018   ‘AHEAD OF MYSELF’ THE SINGLE – WATCH VIDEO HERE

FEATURING ON THE SMASH HIT SINGLE ‘HOME’ WITH MACHINE GUN KELLY & BEBE REXHA    

FEATURING ON EMINEM’S NEW ALBUM ‘REVIVAL’

Multi-platinum selling three-piece X Ambassadors have announced their UK and European headline tour in March 2018. The nine-date run will be kicking off at London’s Electric Brixton on March 19th.

The tour comes ahead of their eagerly anticipated new album, co-written with American multi-platinum selling songwriter, producer and musician Scott Harris (Shawn Mendes, Chainsmokers) and due for release in Spring 2018.

The album’s lead single ‘Ahead Of Myself’ was released this summer to great acclaim, and the official video has clocked up over 3 million views on YouTube. The band also sold out their headline show at London’s ULU, and pulled in one of the biggest crowds on the Radio 1 stage at Reading and Leeds Festival.

2015 saw the launch of the US trio onto the music scene across the globe. Their debut album VHS spawned the breakthrough platinum selling #1 Alternative radio track ‘Renegades’ and hits ‘Unsteady’ and ‘Jungle’ and debuted at #7 on the Billboard Top 200 chart. VHS has since been gold certified and saw the band embark on a nearly two-year touring odyssey, winning over fans around the world.

X Ambassadors are currently tearing up the US charts with ‘Home’ a collaboration with Machine Gun Kelly and Bebe Rexha, which features on the soundtrack to the new Will Smith Netflix movie ‘Bright’. The track currently holds the #3 spot on Spotify’s Today’s Top Hits – with over 18 million streams – and is at #10 on US iTunes.

The band also feature on the track ‘Bad Husband’ on Eminem’s brand-new album Revival which will be released this Friday (Dec 15th).

They have collaborated with a number of prolific artists such as Tom Morello on the track ‘Collider’, Elle King, A$AP Ferg, Wiz Khalifa, Eminem and labelmates Imagine Dragons and have earlier this year released music for the trailer for the upcoming Tom Cruise film American Made, Transformers: The Last Knight, and the inspirational track ‘Hoping’, which came about following the US presidential election and saw proceeds got to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which is fighting Donald Trump’s immigration ban.

X AMBASSADORS MARCH TOUR DATES

Mon 19th – London, Brixton Electric UK
Tue 20th – Paris, Alhambra FR
Thu 22nd – Amsterdam, Melkweg Max NL
Fri 23rd – Cologne, Luxor GER
Sat 24th – Hamburg, Gruenspan GER
Mon 26th – Berlin, Columbia Theater GER
Tue 27th – Warsaw, Stodola POL
Thu 29th – Moscow, Glav Club RUS
Sat 31st – Kiev, Atlas UKR

 

“One of rock’s hottest new bands”The Independent

“Triumphant, euphoric, immensely uplifting”Clash Magazine

“Bombastic rock that’s as stomping as it is diaristic, leavened by big-tent pop hooks and a hint of hip-hop swagger”Rolling Stone

 

FIND X AMBASSADORS ON; WEBSITE / FACEBOOK / TWITTER / YOUTUBE

Review: @RadioDisney Concert with @InRealLife & @SkylarStecker – Celebration, FL | #review #lifelines #irl

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Good morning, music lovers!

This past weekend (December 9-10), my niece & I headed up to Orlando from Miami, Florida to see In Real Life perform for Radio Disney at Celebration Town Center. Before I get to the review, let me give a bit of back story . . .

Over the summer, my niece became invested in a group of guys competing for a spot in the newest boy band. Every week, my mom & I sat with her and watched the performances and their Instagram lives, and became invested ourselves. As a lover of music, I enjoyed seeing this young group of guys with the drive and determination that most adults don’t possess. There was never drama between any of the boys, no petty controversies or bickering. Their families all got along and it just seemed like one big family. The final five ended up being Michael Conor, Sergio Calderon, Jr., Chance Perez, Drew Ramos and Brady Tutton.

The boys were swept into a mini promo tour as soon as the show wrapped and it was announced that they would be managed by Johnny Wright, who also manages Justin Timberlake and Alicia Keys. Knowing this, we knew it was a matter of time before the boys would be making a trip to Wright’s compound in Orlando, Florida. Sadly, they made that trip in October, just ONE DAY after my niece and I left Orlando to return to Miami. She literally missed them by one day. (You can read more about our misadventures that weekend by clicking HERE). So, needless to say, I had to take another trip up to Orlando with her when it was announced that they would be performing for Radio Disney on December 9th.

Florida doesn’t get “winter weather” too often, especially not in Miami, so we were excited to hear that we’d be getting a cold front for the weekend! We drove up to Orlando Saturday morning, checked into our hotel and headed over to Celebration Town Center early so that my niece, Briana, would have a good shot at meeting the guys. She was also meeting up with another fan around her age, Cristina (aka tattoo girl lol). As soon as we met up with Cristina and her mom, Paige, we found out that she’d met the guys in Starbucks right next to where Briana and I had been sitting. She was so close yet again! (Side note: I tried to get in touch with someone about scheduling an interview with the guys for my blog, but it was such short notice and pretty much impossible to get in touch with someone from their team.)

Now let’s get to the review:

IMG_1510As we were sitting by the empty stage about four hours before the show, we heard a loud crash. The roof of the stage collapsed and missed the workers by inches. This made it impossible for the guys to come out for a proper sound check. Instead, they came out and did a mini sound check behind the stage with an audience of possibly 12 girls and their moms (& aunts). I felt like they probably could’ve come over to meet the few girls that were there in the cold so early, but they were rushed into a nearby hotel for a warmer rehearsal. They were able to give quick little hugs to a few of them before they left though. The rest of us stayed out in the cold while another stage was brought in. The girls all went over to get black wristbands that gave access to the meet and greet that would take place after the show.

After what seemed like forever, the show finally started with 15-year-old Skylar Stecker. I’d never heard of her before, but she actually has a great voice. I felt for her dancers because they looked like they were freezing the whole time. Her set was about 3-4 songs and then they took another break for what seemed like forever before In Real Life came back out to perform.

Their set was actually impressive considering they’ve only been together for a few months and only have three official songs released for download and streaming. This was their set list for the night:

That’s What I Like (Bruno Mars cover)
Tattoo
Feel This Christmas
I’ll Be Home This Christmas
Eyes Closed

The show sounded fantastic, the guys looked comfortable (despite the cold) and they seemed extra happy when they were able to point the mic out to the crowd and hear the fans singing the words back to them. That has to be one of the most rewarding parts of the music business. There is so much talent in this band, but there has even been a huge improvement with their vocals collectively since they were formed. Props to the guys for improving on choreo also! I give major credit to the people setting up the stage(s) who managed to reposition the sound equipment with no time setbacks or mishaps. It really was a great show and I’m glad I got to experience that with my niece.

There was another long wait between the end of the show and the meet and greet, and at that point the cold was almost unbearable for those of us used to Miami “winters” lol. They probably should’ve moved the meet and greet inside somewhere, but it took place out in the cold. Not many of the fans knew who Skylar Stecker was and, absolutely no disrespect to her, but I felt like they should’ve had two separate meet and greets. Instead, they had a joint one that ended up being more of a take-your-picture-and-then-keep-moving, as opposed to actually having a minute to actually meet the guys. In any case, the girls were ecstatic and the guys made them feel as special as they could in such a short amount of time.

Here are our pics with the guys & Skylar Stecker (sorry for the blurriness):

Here are some more pics from the day:

A huge THANK YOU goes out to Radio Disney for putting on this show (even though I wish it was in Miami), to In Real Life for coming out and giving 100% to their fans in the cold weather, to John Clubb for being so sweet to my niece and for giving the gifts she brought to the guys. Another shout out to the girls who became friends with my niece at the show and to Paige for being such great company! You have to love when unexpected experiences bring people together. That’s MUSIC for you!

If you ever have a chance to check out In Real Life in person, do it! They’re still extremely new, but they have such a great stage presence and they really appreciate the fans so much. That in itself proves that these guys still have that drive to succeed.

Keep it up, guys . . . the hard work is paying off!

Boy Band Friday! | New Music

Today unexpectedly became the day for boy bands to release new music! I’m not complaining either. Well, besides the fact that it’s not *NSYNC, but that’s besides the point.

In Real Life has been on a whirlwind since being crowned the winners on ABC’s Boy Band show this summer. They released their debut single “Eyes Closed” and a Christmas EP with an original song, “Feel This Christmas,” and a cover of the classic, “Home for Christmas.” Today they released an acoustic version of “Eyes Closed” and I think it’s really good! For being fresh on the scene, they’ve been really busy getting their name out there – which is no surprise considering they’re being managed by boy band genius Johnny Wright, who also currently manages my No. 1, Justin Timberlake. Check out both versions of the song and let me know which one you like better (if you can bear to choose between them).

PRETTYMUCH also released a new single today called “No More,” featuring French Montana. Ok, I have to admit that this one of my new favorite boy bands since *NSYNC. Their performance level is through the roof! These guys can dance! This is their fourth track release and every one of their songs so far have been bangers. Definitely check out “No More,” and you can also listen to “Would You Mind,” “Teacher” and “Open Arms.” PRETTYMUCH is managed by Simon Cowell, who put together one of the biggest boy bands, One Direction.

I’m happy to say that one of the old school boy bands of my day is still alive and thriving. New Kids On the Block released a new EP today titled “Thankful,” and it has a Christmas vibe to it. These guys aren’t going anywhere any time soon, so check out their old stuff and enjoy the new music as well!

Age knows no bounds when it comes to boy bands. At 33, I find myself enjoying some of the new bands (mentioned here), and my niece, who is 13, enjoys going with my to NKOTB shows. I know she’ll be right there with me if there is ever an *NSYNC reunion show also! So, if you’re a music lover and can appreciate harmonies, catchy beats and occasional pelvic thrusts, give these guys a listen and, as always, let me know what you think!

A VERY PENTATONIX CHRISTMAS | TV Review

A Very Pentatonix Christmas - Season 1

Hey there!

If you know me at all, you know that I absolutely adore Pentatonix and everything they’re doing and have been doing for the past few years. I don’t remember why, but I missed their Christmas special last year and I refused to do it again this time around!

This year’s special aired Monday, November 27th on NBC at 10/9c, and it was adorable! If you missed it, don’t worry . . . the special will re-air on Wednesday, December 6th at 8pm. Do not be like me last year and miss both airings! You can also find a link to the special on their Twitter page @PTXofficial, so there are no excuses lol.

The one-hour special featured an amazing duet with Oscar, Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild, BAFTA and Grammy Award winner Jennifer Hudson, an appearance by “America’s Got Talent” winner Darci Lynne Farmer and a duet (and hilarious sketch) with country music star Brett Eldredge.

As usual, the vocals were exceptional throughout the entire show.

The only part that threw me off a bit was Avi’s absence. If you were previously unaware, Avi Kaplan left the group earlier this year to pursue a solo career as Avriel & the Sequoias. Filling in on bass is Matt Sallee – who sounded incredible. While it was odd seeing Pentatonix perform without Avi, I thought Matt did a great job. He even got Avi’s stamp of approval on Twitter: “Beautiful! It is now officially Christmas. @mattsalleemusic you are killin on bass! Much love to you brother.” I’m not sure if he will be invited to permanently join the group, but it was a bit awkward at times when they would have him come out to sing bass with them and then he’d walk off stage while Kevin, Mitch, Kirstin and Scott entertained the audience. His name was also listed separately from the group during the credits. I say invite him to join! Avi approves and is doing his own thing, so why not?

Either way, I thought the show was a great little Christmas special. They didn’t sing my favorite, “That’s Christmas to Me,” or my mom’s favorite, “Hallelujah,” but I can forgive them for it because their vocals and the show’s stage design really put me in the Christmas spirit!

Here’s the video of their version of “Deck the Halls,” which was released ahead of the special:

If that didn’t satisfy your craving for great music, here’s a video of the duet with Jennifer Hudson from the special:

Be sure to check out the special, and watch for the closing of the show especially. The group sang their version of “Imagine” and it was absolutely beautiful. Let me know what you thought!

Happy Holidays, everyone!