NEW_MUSIC / Niamson

Need some fresh new hip hop music in your life? Then I give you Niamson, straight from the BX, the Boogie Down Bronx. Like many kids who grew up being musicheads, Niamson and his friends would use instrumentals and a tape recorder and make music. Whatever it takes, you know? Can’t ever stop some kids with talent and desire.

Niamson is talented enough to have caught the attention of Dame Grease (whom you know from producing tracks for Diddy, Fath Evans, DMX and the Ruff Ryders and more), who gave him an internship. Niamson feels he learned so much from Dame, but especially core basics on how to put music together, format tracks and build records.

The first track I want you to check out is More Than a Little [feat. Danny Light]. The song has Niamson wittily telling a story of love at first sight over a sample of Michael Jackson’s I Can’t Help It. Here it is:



But don’t start thinking that’s all Niamson can do. Being a huge fan of music, he appreciates all genres and doesn’t feel it’s necessary to limit himself to one drama. Check out another track of his, Queen of Hearts [feat. Tony Wink & T.R.U.T.H.].



See what I’m talking about? Niamson compares his songs to watching a film. He’s got a beginning, middle and end and always focuses on the story. Personally, I think he’s going places. Make sure to check out more tracks on his soundcloud!

[© MMXV MD TOTAL all rights reserved.]

NEW_MUSIC : MNEK

UPDATED 12/12/13: MNEK has been nominated for a GRAMMY AWARD for the song "Need U (100%)", recorded by Duke Dumont ft. A*M*E* and MNEK! Things are clearly looking up for MNEK!


In the middle of a particularly brutal heat wave this past summer, someone tweeted saying they had heard a cover of Janet’s “That’s The Way Love Goes,” at a spin class by a male artist and stated it was incredible and he needed to find the recording. I figured he should’ve asked the spin teacher, but I’m glad he didn’t because I knew immediately that I needed to hear this cover and I also knew immediately that I was going to love it. I happened to see the reply with the answer and I jumped on over to Soundcloud and I discovered I was right! The cover is amazing.







The artist is MNEK [full name Uzoechi Osisioma Emenike; pronounced M.N.E.K., not M-neck], a 19 year old British/Nigerian singer/songwriter/producer/remixer from South London. You know how everybody’s got to have nine jobs in 2013. Luckily for us, MNEK is awesome at all of his. I spent the next hour listening to other stuff on his Soundcloud page – there are so many wonderful things going on in his music.

The tracks have a definite 90s R&B/house/chill vibe, but they also sound modern as fuck. That 90s feel is less “remember when,” than it is “this is where I come from, but we’re here in the present.” And then there’s his voice! His. Voice. This man is sangin. And he’s not the usual clichéd tenor that rides above pop tracks, his is a full, soulful baritone. His voice is a refreshing change that completely surrounds you, lifts you up and gently sets you back in time for you to keep dancing.



Right now, he’s got a track with Gorgon City, “Ready For Your Love,” that’s burning up airwaves over in England, and is sure to get into the hands of DJs here in the states soon. Check out both the original and the refix, they’re worth it.

He’s got an album coming soon, with a single next year. In fact, MNEK just released a mixtape, "Mixtape, Vernacular", giving an overview of some of his influences and snippets from new tracks. Seems like MNEK is about to make the big leap. OH and before I forget – he’s covered Jennifer Lopez’ “Waiting for Tonight." Jeez Louise. This track is one of a few JLo songs I legitimately love, so it’s crazy that I dig this cover so much. Check it!

[© MMXIII MD TOTAL all rights reserved]

NEW_MUSIC: Britney Fields

Now you all know I love my EDM, but that’s just one of the kinds of music I love. What I really love is variety, I have love for all genres of music. I think that comes from playing piano and viola and singing since I was little. Lack of variety is also my real problem with mainstream radio in the last decade or a little more – there’s a lot of one genre of music, but not a lot of variety. Back in the early to mid 00’s, it was all about garage rock. And that was cool, but where the hell was the R&B? Now, EDM is all over the airwaves to a degree, and as much as I have loved having it everywhere I've been worried that it would be all we heard. But that doesn’t seem to be the case. EDM has definitely made a name for itself, but its existence has also gotten people interested in making melodic, hopeful music of all genres again. That combined with the state of the world, I think, but I also feel the current state of the world is partially responsible for EDM’s rise. People want hopeful music that feels like love. But I digress. ;)

I got a submission from a young woman, who sings R&B music. Truthfully, I’d say she sangs R&B. She’s originally from Illinois, but since her dad was in the military, she moved around a lot before settling in Georgia. She says she fell in love with music as a wee little girl when she heard Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror.” (I think we all can relate to that!) So now, she’s got a few tracks that are bangin! They’re perfect for the warm weather that is arriving, tho I have a feeling they’d warm you up in chilly weather, you know…?




Tracks are below – before I forget, if you’re in the Atlanta area you may want to set a Google alert to be the first to find out about personal appearance - you won't want to miss it!







Follow Britney on twitter @britneyfields12



[© MMXIII MD TOTAL all rights reserved]

NEW_MUSIC: Haviland Stillwell

I first met Haviland Stillwell in Atlanta, back when we went to the same school. We weren't in the same class, but word on the street was that she was talented. And she is. But what do I remember most about meeting her for the first time? I remember thinking that this 12 year old girl was the kind of person people would refer to as a "mover and shaker." At twelve. If you know Haviland personally, none of this is a surprise. Haviland is talented as all get out and she's also quite the hard worker. Would you expect any less from someone who's been on the Broadway twice? [Fiddler on the Roof and Les Miserables, thank you very much.] You might also remember her from VH1's Single Ladies.? Or maybe you know her from her Autostraddle series, Unicorn Plan-It Or maybe you caught her on this year's Oscar telecast, singing with the cast of the Les Miserables movie? Or maybe you've been to one of her concerts, and have her album, How I Role? [check out her "Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend"]

Mover. And shaker.



[from her concert at Joe's Pub in NYC]


On top of all that, she’s incredibly generous. When I shot a small role on Unicorn Plan-It, she was directing. [the series is hilarious.] Not only was she at the top of her game regarding all aspects of the story, but she also made a point to keep everyone feeling comfortable so we could all play. There were no ego issues coming from her – in fact, I don’t remember any ego issues coming from anyone on set that day. As you can imagine, it’s rare for things to go that smoothly on set. That kind of generosity of spirit is what you need from your fearless leader and is always great to be around.

So when she told me she was releasing her first original song, I had to hear it immediately. And I was not disappointed. "MKE Maximum Energy" is some serious swirly synth pop goodness. And its lyrics are a wonderfully trippy ride from outer space all the way into our hearts. It talks about love and letting go of fear and coming together - exactly what we need most from dance music. Exactly what we need from all music, if you ask me.



"MKE," is the introduction of a new character - as Ziggy Stardust is to David Bowie, as Sasha Fierce is to Beyoncé, MKE is to Haviland Stillwell. She is "your intergalactic space siren, shooting you with her ray gun, loaded with love."

She means business. Hear the song below, and find out for yourself! You can purchase it. Get out of your chair and dance!

Free Electronic Press Kits template from ReverbNation.com

Haviland has two SoCal shows coming up, in Palm Springs on April 5th at Hunter's and in LA on April 23rd at Rockwell Table and Stage. She'll be performing the new single and songs from her debut, How I Role." Get you tickets now!




Why do this?

[© MMXIII MD TOTAL all rights reserved]

NEW MUSIC MONDAY: White Christmas!

I love Christmas music. I love the classics, I love pop versions of the classics, I love new Christmas songs, I even dig the cheesy muzak versions you hear in department stores. I love it! I believe it comes from my birthday being in December. As a kid, if I couldn't save up for a new toy with my allowance, I was always told "wait for your birthday." So, by the time we get to Thanksgiving, it's ON.

I know most people are Christmas music purists - only Bing Crosby will do. But I tend to love the remakes the most. For some reason, they remind me of being a little kid and hearing that stuff on the radio. U2 singing "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)?" Fantastic! Mariah Carey's "O Holy Night?!" Are you kidding me?! Christina Aguilera's random-as-hell R&B tracks that are about Christmas? YASSS. Hell, Sarah McLachlan's "I'll Be Home For Christmas," was the first time I even considered the singer wasn't going home for Christmas. And it broke my little heart! In the best way.

So you know I was excited when I heard about a new rock version of the song "White Christmas." Now, we've heard all sorts of versions of that song, it's a CUH-LASSIC. It has to be up there with "The Christmas Song" as one of the most recorded songs ever. This version is by a band from New Hampshire, East is East. So you know they know all about snow!

I've heard some tracks by East is East, and they're quite good. Definitely some of the best music I've heard from an unsigned band lately. Their sound would be categorized by a record store (if those were still everywhere. Remember browsing record stores? I miss that.) they would be called "alternative." Except when you think "alternative," you normally think of cheesy 90s bands trying to capitalize on a "movement." East is East is not reminiscent of that at all, their music is coming from a real place. And even though it's rock music, it's got soul. You know what I mean?

Their version of "White Christmas" is warm and makes you want to cuddle with your sweetheart by the fire until the middle when it breaks loose and they bring it home in a real rollicking way. Like those nights when you're snowed in, sitting by the fire, reading a book on your ipad and all of a sudden that spiked hot chocolate kicks in and it is ON. Oi-oi-oi!

Check it out below, and if you want to purchase it, all proceeds go to UNICEF! (hooray for giving back! It is Christmas, after all - it is better to give than receive...) After you fall in love with that track, check out more of their tracks from their album, Provenance, either on soundcloud, iTunes, or their website. You won't be disappointed.



Find East is East online! Twitter. Facebook.


[© MMXII MD TOTAL all rights reserved.]

NEW MUSIC MONDAY: Shoshana Bean!

As a performer who sings, I always love to hear excellent singers. But it goes farther than that, I took piano lessons and played viola before I ever sang in a chorus. My mom, crazy person that she is, taught me to read music starting when I was five. Hell, the only thing that would calm me down when she was pregnant with me was music. Specifically, Stevie Wonder's "Songs in the Key of Life." Specifically "Sir Duke."

Music is in my soul, yo.

I first heard about Shoshana Bean when she was the Elphaba standby for Broadway's "Wicked." Everyone was saying how great she was, everyone. As a standby! She came and did the show in LA, and I somehow missed it, even though it lived here for over a year. And the theater is down the street from my house. I know!

So my first real intro to her singing was in a Seth Rudetsky deconstruction of her in an Actor's Fund charity concert of the musical "Hair." [skip to the 3:50 to hear her go OFF] She's got this incredible belt voice AND a beautiful soprano voice. That's what we call an anomaly.

And then she released a solo album. Superwoman. And on this album, there is a cover of Aretha's "Ain't No Way." And she kills it.

What da fuck....? So her album is aptly titled. Okayyy!

Then I get to see her live. Blues music. While I had the blues. She was so amazing, that at one point in the concert I kinda blissed out listening to her sing. I was dumbfounded, staring off into space. And then the most amazing thing happened. Shoshana Bean recognized this, leaned down - while she was singing - and waved hello to me to snap me out of my trance... And it worked! When She leaned into my field of vision, I could see that she saw that I was enjoying her. And she brought me back to the present.

You know, where she was still singing.

Now, Ms. Bean has an album coming out soon. An Indie record that raised money on Kickstarter. Indie for real. And the first single has been released, "Runnin' Out of Days." It's that bluesy soul sound we all know from the 1960's, yet it also carries a strong modern feel and relevance. This girl is sangin my music, yo.

Those horns are tellin’ a story. You know she’s serious before she even starts singing. And she’s got a happy story to sing about - which is a great feel, especially for this time of year. Check it out below, the single is available on iTunes now!




OH, and Ms. Shoshana just happens to playing Friday nights at Rockwell Table and Stage. And she takes it to CHURCH. Check it:




[MMXII MD TOTAL all rights reserved.]

N E W _ M U S I C !

So we're starting a new section of Soccerboy in LA today, and it's all about new music! Mostly it'll be some stuff I've found from new and/or indie artists [of all genres], plus new music from established artists, plus some random old stuff we've either forgotten or deserves a fresh listen. This is all about FUN.

But I won't be reviewing music; I'm an artist, not a critic. I'm just celebrating others in their artistic endeavors because I want to live in a world where artists support each other. So if you see it posted here, you know that I'm already digging it.

If you'd like your music to be considered to be featured, email me some links. My email isn't difficult to find.

I'll leave you with a quote by Martha Graham:

"Let's dispel with this idea that the theatre, that dance, that the arts, that humanity, the American people, all things are in desperate shape, sad mendicants of the evening. I reject this entirely, as should you. Those who should survive, will survive. We help those we can. We support those we can, at all times, but we do not wrap ourselves in hair shirts and strap cans in our hands and beg for our survival and seek sympathy for our puny rewards. Art--like life--is a majestic calling, a great adventure, a remarkable opportunity and gift. I resent very much these people who create for themselves artistic sinecures by advocating on behalf of the arts. They have no place in the arts. Create your art; support the art of others. Create a life; support the lives of others. Be a great artist; be a great human. The rewards arrive daily. Do not join clubs to support life and art. Simply live and be an artist."

- Martha Graham [1990]


I'll leave you with a fun little gym banger from Kylie back in 2004. Sweet. Music.





[MMXII MD TOTAL all rights reserved.]