The Malaysian Insider :: Showbiz

Posted: 10 Feb 2013 07:26 AM PST

BERGEN, Feb 10 — Scandinavian pop collective Young Dreams are ushering in summer with their new single "First Days Of Something" and will be releasing their debut album in the coming months; the group have been described as a "young, dream combination of rustic harmonies and intricate musicianship" by the Guardian.co.uk.

Who?
Pop collective Young Dreams hail from the picturesque city of Bergen in Norway and feature up to 12 people in a shifting lineup helmed by Matias Tellez. The group are gearing up to release their debut LP "Between Places" on March 1/4/5 (AU, UK, US) via Modular. The group have just dropped "First Days Of Something," the second single to be taken from their forthcoming LP after "Fog Of War" dropped last year.

Why the buzz?
Young Dreams's latest track "First Days Of Something" has caused a massive stir across the indie music blogs. Music mag NME sums up the track as "a bit of bright optimism as winter wears on, reaching for the skies but dwelling on earthly concerns"; blog Ja Ja Ja Music calls it "a new, heavenly relatable and summer-ready single" and Stereogum describes it as "boast[ing] a catchy harmony-rich chorus and a vast sound."

What to listen to?
Check out "First Days OF Something" on Soundcloud at: https://soundcloud.com/modularpeople/young-dreams-first-days-of and stream the group's first single "Fog OF War" on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?&v=ZUaS1_jPbkM

Where to see?
Young Dreams will be playing February 14-16 at BY:Lam festival in Oslo, Norway before heading to this year's music, tech extravaganza SXSW in Austin, Texas (March 8-17). For further news of tours and gigs check out the band's website (http://www.youngdreams.no), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/youngdreamsband) and Twitter (@youngdreamsband). — AFP-Relaxnews

Country stars share Grammy spotlight for music’s big night

Posted: 10 Feb 2013 06:19 AM PST

Host and producer of "The 55th Annual Grammy Awards" LL Cool J speaks on stage as Ehrlich and Portnow listen during 2013 Winter Television Critics Association Press Tour in Pasadena. — Reuters pic

LOS ANGELES, Feb 10 — Country music artists will share the spotlight with rising stars and veteran performers at the Grammy Awards tonight as they take the stage for music's biggest night.

Grammy organisers want to bring the attention back to the music this year, after the death of singer Whitney Houston the night before last year's awards ceremony cast a pall over the live show.

This year's key categories are dominated by male artists, with British folk band Mumford & Sons, indie-pop trio FUN. and R&B singer Frank Ocean going into the show with six nominations each, including for the top award of album of the year.

They will be among dozens of performers including US rockers The Black Keys, who have five nods, and former White Stripes frontman Jack White, who has three nominations.

After paying tribute to electronic dance music last year, the Grammys are highlighting country music. Nominations were announced last December in a live concert from Nashville.

On Sunday, country will be represented by nominees Dierks Bentley and Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood and best new artist contender Hunter Hayes. Country music veterans Tim McGraw and Faith Hill will hand out awards.

The three-hour Grammy show, broadcast live on television, has a reputation for pairing up old-timers and newcomers.

On Sunday, Mumford & Sons will perform alongside Zac Brown, Elton John, Mavis Staples and Alabama Shakes singer Brittany Howard in a tribute to blues-rock musician Levon Helm of The Band, who died last April of throat cancer

Mumford & Sons won mainstream attention in the United States after performing at the 2011 Grammy show alongside the Avett Brothers and Bob Dylan. Their sophomore album "Babel" became one of 2012's top-selling albums in the United States.

Justin Timberlake comeback

But the Grammys are not just about those competing for awards. Justin Timberlake will make his long-awaited return to the musical spotlight in his first televised performance since he released "Suit & Tie" in January, his first new song in five years.

Timberlake, whose album "The 20/20 Experience" will be released on March 19, will also be performing a show in Hollywood immediately after his turn on the Grammy stage.

R&B artist Bruno Mars and Rihanna will team up with Sting, while John and British rising star Ed Sheeran, 21, are set to perform a duet.

Country-pop darling Taylor Swift did not release an album in time for the Grammy voting eligibility period, but she still scored a record of the year nod for her hit single "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" and will perform on Sunday.

Kelly Clarkson, Alicia Keys and best new artist nominees The Lumineers, an indie-folk band from Colorado, are also scheduled to perform.

The Grammy red carpet has seen some outrageous moments in previous years as stars pushed the fashion boundaries. But perennial scene-stealers such as Lady Gaga, Nicki Minaj and Justin Bieber all failed to score nominations this year and are not expected at Sunday's show.

Performers have been warned by the CBS network, which airs the Grammy Awards, to keep their buttocks, nipples and genitals covered up, in a "wardrobe advisory" aimed at avoiding indecency complaints from viewers and federal authorities.

Red-carpet moments this year are likely to come from Beyonce, who wowed millions on TV at her Super Bowl half-time show last Sunday and will be a presenter as well as a nominee in the traditional R&B performance category.

Beyonce is likely to be joined by husband, rapper Jay-Z, who is nominated for six Grammys. Kanye West, who is also competing in six categories, may turn up with his pregnant reality star girlfriend, Kim Kardashian.

Adele, who swept the Grammys last year with six awards, is back this year with one nomination for pop solo performance for her single "Set Fire To The Rain."

All eyes will also be on Rihanna and Chris Brown, who are both nominated, and who recently resumed their romance four years after Brown pleaded guilty to assaulting her on the eve of the 2009 Grammy Awards show.

The 55th annual Grammy Awards show will be broadcast from the Staples Centre in Los Angeles. — Reuters

Kredit: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com

Ahad, 10 Februari 2013

The Malaysian Insider :: Showbiz

The Malaysian Insider :: Showbiz

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