You just never know who will hit it big in music, which will be the next big act. Is it a mix of talent, luck, and being seen and heard by the right people at the right place and time? For generations they have said there are many factors in any performer’s part in making it big, I believe that is true. In order for an artist or band to make it big however, they must have talent above all, that certain “it” factor, a bit of luck, exposure at the right place and time. Those are the basic principles that have been talked about since the beginning of modern entertainment. Here are 10 MySpace artists, all who posses something special them, that can someday make them household names in their genres, and at some point may lead them to the fulfillment of their lifelong dreams.
Mad Temple/ LA, CA/ High Octane/Rock
www.myspace.com/madtemple
This LA band is high energy, young, and cannot be described as anything but High Octane Rock N’ Roll. Conceived as a band in Jr. High, now between 17 and 19, they are blowing the LA club scene apart, they have already made and released their first Cd; California. Their second Cd will be coming out in the next year. If you where to read a list of their credits of clubs they have played in LA last 3 years, it would read like a bio of bands who have been playing for five times as long, including; The Troubadour, The Whiskey, BB Kings, HOB, Club Vodka, The ally, The Knitting factory and many more multiple times, but it is their talent, professionalism, charisma on stage and off, fans who call themselves Templeheads. Mad Temple has the ability to work as a team, which is what makes this an appealing band and a band that has a great shot at making it big sometime in the not so distance future. They use their youth and energy to their advantage and it shows, putting on electrifying shows that are non-stop. The Music and Lyrics never stop flowing either, they love to perform, write and arrange music. But at this age, they have so many ideas so many dreams that they are unstoppable, know what they want, and will not stop until they get there. They want the world to know they are serious musicians, and if you listen to any of their songs you will know right away that they are serious musicians. Songs like California Livin, the perfectly sleazy Sunday Girlz, and Lost Situation about being faced with a needle and a spoon in a shady Hollywood motel; all showcase this bands talent perfectly. They play great music that can take them from the LA club scene to arenas wherever they wish to play.
Pillow Theory/ NYC/ Modern Rock
www.myspace.com/pillowtheory
This NYC band has toured from places like CBGB, A Whiskey A GoGo and others in between in their van they have also been hailed by magazines like RollingStone.com, Ocean Drive, and Village Voice. But what makes Kelsey, Jon, Scott, and Danos special is the unconventional way they approach there music. Kelsey writes the bands mostly deep lyrics while Jon arranges then, and in Kelsey’s words Ryan “fills them with beautiful colors” and Scott is “an amazing beat master”. As I listened to the Cd Outpatience they made a couple of years ago, with some great songs such as Jealous, Makeout, and Four Drinks a song that sings of a post 9/11 New York City. I could see just how true Kelsey’s words are. With a style that I cannot call anything else but down and dirty sex rock! They are now working on their own on their new Cd without their previous label. This high energy band with a rich history together that started with band members meeting in Miami and Las Vegas. They have a great chance of making it with their Modern Rock sound, deeply moving lyrics and the sexual vibe found in many of their songs. Recently two of their songs Jealous and Reason have been played several times on the soap opera Young and the Restless. If their sophomore Cd is just as diverse, sexy, and like the roller coaster ride as Outpatience and they continue to build momentum they can soon be heard everywhere, they are a band that can fill an entire demographics desires right now, and it is their time to strike.
Neverwonder/Long Beach, CA/Rock/Soul
www.myspace.com/neverwonder
Though they found their leading lady from an ad in the industries main way of hooking; Music Connection, The Rockers from the Long Beach, CA and the former American Idol contestant hit it off and seemingly found that they can make an entirely new brand of music called Rockin Soul. On the one hand you have the guys in the back playing their rock as they always have, with brothers Vincent, Andres Ramos and longtime friend Flint Mavis Rocking, adding into the band Megan Bobo the firecracker, has given these mainly self taught musical prodigy’s just the soul they needed to ignite their passion for writing and arranging music, giving the foursome the attitude and style that meshed perfectly. Though every single member is extremely talented, you cannot have a great band without the right chemistry, though found by chance, it has paid off, bringing destiny together to make magic. Now they are entering the elusive place all musicians dream of; mainstream success. While they have garnered major critical acclaim in recent times and have seen demand grown, they own it on stage, and it are beginning to own it in their hearts, knowing that success may not be as far off as they all may have thought at one point. Having recently performed at the Viper Room, HOB (LA/OC), The Roxy, and Key Club, they are now taking the next major steps in a bands career, their untitled debut Cd will be out in spring of 2008, and the songs they have recorded and played together have earned them talk on one of the oldest LA radio stations around today KLOS 95.5, as well as an apparel sponsorship with vessel watches. They are all hot, dirty and ready to get down. In Is This the End and Movin on, you feel the hard beats of the drums, guitars, and bass, which all melt perfectly into Megan’s smoldering soulful vocals. This is one hot band that when the match is lit, the spontaneous combustion will be uncontainable.
The Warned/Orange County and San Diego, CA/Rock/Alternative/Metal
www.myspace.com/thewarned
Any well schooled rocker knows; no matter what their age, about the glory days of the enormous arena rock shows, with upwards of 40,000-80,000 fans chanting your bands name, clamoring to hear your music; The Warned, a band of 5 young men raised during the height of that frenzy are no exception. Hailed as one of the greatest live acts in Southern California by critics, they are biding their time for the days of arena rock to be back in the public’s consciences’ so they can go and do just that, rock em live and hard! Sounding great on a Cd or Mp3 is great, but this is a band that are at their best when rocking the masses live. Onstage is where The Warned wishes to be. Having played almost every club from LA to San Diego, they are now ready to conger a new frontier, and these conscience guys heartland of the southland is a delightful contradiction to what is typically seen and heard in the rock music coming out right at this moment. And are ready to rock and show the world what goods they have. While the band members are proudly tattooed, if you get up close enough to see the tats, they tell stories of who they are, where they have been and what they wish represent to the world. These 5 Men, who rock hard, but believe strongly that life is about giving to the community and the world. While in Africa, they saw beauty and poverty leading them to write At the Sight of the Dead, an eye opening son of the ills of not just of Africa, but other third world countries. What will make them such a great potential breakout band is also their ability to write about love, as showcased in songs like; Answer the Call and Breath Out. With a full Cd expected this year this band with the mighty vocal and songwriting skills of Justin Warn and the bands ability to arrange is one band that can bring the glory days of Arena Rock back to where it was just a short decade ago, which started in the 1980’s. They are made to be heard live.
VK Lynne/LA, CA/ Southern Rock/ Blues/Roots
www.myspace.com/vklynne
This young woman originally from Pennsylvania Dutch Country, Decided to leave that life behind, and head to LA to peruse a career in music, the move from the simple life to the hustle and bustle. That move has been very good to her. Her music has garnished raves from Darren Fox of Cutting Edge Voices, Eat This Music, Music Discoveries and more. Her Country/ Rock vibe will put her on the track to performing on some of the country’s largest stages. Her Icy Blonde looks are captivating, and with songs like Black Halo, Her End of The Phone, My Bones, and Baby off of her Debut Cd Black Halo will appeal to country audiences as well as mainstream audiences alike. Since early 2005, YK’s venue list has been growing like a hot list of where to play in LA, and deservedly so. In recent months, she has played or will be playing; at The Tangier, The Stone, The Derby, The Rainbow Bar and Grill. By the time this prints, you will be able to catch this rising star in the LA area after print, check out her page for dates. She is one to keep a close eye on. She has the full package, beauty, allure and a voice of a true songbird while maintaining a very attainable and inviting vibe, so if you want to see her before the avalanche of fame, you should do it now, before she hits so big, getting into see her becomes almost impossible because she is filling and selling out arenas.
Gun Metal Groove/SO, CA/Rock
www.myspace.com/gunmetalgroove
One of the newer bands to MySpace, but not to the LA club scene, this Rock/Heavy Metal band all born and bred here have played clubs like The Whiskey, The Troubadour, The Knitting Factory, and The Galaxy. This is another band who does not have one band member is over 19, amazing! All members started playing music while still in Jr. High, and not long after started meeting up, to make GMG. This band has created a sound that brings around the old school rock and heavy metal back to a new generation of listeners, in a format that takes you back to the pre glam rock days of the 1980’s. Their music is explosive, and will engage the older generation looking for new acts that sound pure and not too produced, while bringing in the younger audience with a modern edge and a great club sound. With rock and heavy metal making a major surge right now, GMG has a good chance of hitting and of striking it big while the iron is hot. Though they have not done a full Cd, but the songs off their Ep like Peace of Mind, Almost Gone, and Dead Flowers, have me wanting a full length Cd. It is only a matter of time before the boys of LA make their mark on the music industry.
Carmireli/NYC, NY/ Santurce, Puerto Rico/ Pop/Rock/Latin
www.myspace.com/carmireli
For this young woman from a small town in Puerto Rico called Santurce, near San Juan. For her to make it as far as she has in the music industry is a major accomplishment. More amazing is the fact that Carmireli is the youngest girl, in a house of 11 children. Now 19 her entire family moved from Puerto Rico to Queens while she was still rather young. With few American friends to keep her company, she found influences in Many American contemporary singers, as well as some well known Latin performers. Now an adult and full of a sublime sex and a beauty that crosses all racial barriers Carmireli, is ready to take the entertainment industry by storm. Her drive and ambition to succeed for her “La Familia” and herself are her driving force, making her one of the most successful female MySpace Musicians with almost 1,000,000 hits to her page. She gained fans of every age and fans from all backgrounds because of her obvious charisma, her aquamarine eyes, innocent yet all knowing personality and sex appeal and her bigger than life personality and talent. Her songs, most with over 100,000 hits each are all hit potential. The song Slide where her Latin roots are shown in all their glorious bounty, I Want it All, The emotional ballad One Mistake show off this young woman’s ability to show a range in her voice, and range of emotion. Amazing still, is the fact that she has done mall tours, and has played the leading lady in a 2007 Emmy nominated comedic short called Mobijokes. Carmireli, has it all, the ability to sing, dance, pen her own music, perform live as she has proven in showcases for several East and West coast studios, Club Vista, and at the Hispanic Festival in N.C. Plus she can act. The young woman from Puerto Rico is a Triple threat, on the Verge on major breakthrough success. In her case, it is so close and tangible, so close she can taste it. For the public soon we will be asking; not where in the world is Waldo. Rather where in the world is Carmireli!
NOTE/ Cleveland, OH/Hard Core/ Old School/ Rap
www.myspace.com/noteslay
Note’s music hit’s hard and many of the rhymes talk about growing up in some of the toughest streets in Cleveland. He has great insight and his rhymes are dead on. Note’s Old School Rap is in a deep contrast to the rap on the scene right now. Going back to times when Rap was pure and sampling was not used, and he uses some great music arrangers. This is the way rap was done when all the great Old School Rappers where coming up and how it should be. Right now almost all of his songs are about growing up on the rough streets of Cleveland, and dreams about getting out, West Side High, Scandalous, and Die 4 Dreams are real stand outs, he opens his soul. The songs are well done and eerily accurate of a life for those who have ever lived in the projects. His Tunes have been featured on the MTV show Yo Mama, and he has 2 music projects coming out this year. An Ep called “It’s Always Sunny in Cleveland” and a Cd titled “Kill it Before it Dies” To be released in June. What gives Note star potential is not only his immense power as a rapper and songwriter, but if you go to his page and read his blogs, the guy is also funny as hell. The first time I visited his site I saw He is also a regular blogger, with titles that are mainly unprintable, but one is, 10 Things a Woman Should Never Do!!! They will make you laugh for a good long time. What makes Note so special is that he is multi talented. It was like reading old Chris Rock material? He has star potential in several areas, and moving to LA, may be the smartest thing he may ever do. Note is a talented rapper and comedic writer, either way he is an entertainer, and he needs to be seen, and heard by the masses. His Rhymes are deep, his comedy funny. He is made for Hollywood! Check him out for his music, and those funny as all get out blogs.
John Nathaniel/ Montreal, Canada/ Rock, Pop, Acoustic
www.myspace.com/johnnathanielmusic
Out of the majority of musicians on this list, he may not have the most experience playing the big clubs of New York City, or Los Angeles, but what John does have is a huge following on MySpace, with almost 300,000 plays. He is pitch perfect and multi instrumental, where he plays both the guitar and the piano himself. John is also his own best marketing machine. He does it all. He has some kind of magic that brings fans and listeners to his page and those fans are faithful. A regular blogger he lets his fans know just about every move he makes, holds contests, and allows fans to see pieces of his personal life. He knows how to use his good clean cut looks, charisma and is becoming a master of building his own buzz, all without a major label backing him. John has the sound of a pop/rock star and the drive. This February he has his first CD coming out; Shades of Gray, and he is building excitement of its release on his own by holding a contest. The first 100 people to purchase the Cd will get a signed copy of it. Just by looking at his blog comments, he is creating frenzy over this, and his Marketing plan is working. People want to be the ones to have 1 of those copies. Of the songs up there right now, my personal favorite is Ever and No Ones Breathing. Plus there is a pretty good cover of Fast Car originally done by Tracy Chapman. John can become a master of rock ballads if that is the direction he wishes to take. He is ready to bust through and take the music business by storm. So he can focus 100% of his talent to his music, and his growing fan base, and bust out and make hits.
Gina Cutillo/Long Island, NY/Pop/Rock/Alternative
www.myspace.com/ginacutillo
A long time MySpace musician, whose career on the east coast has recently been taking off, showing up on several local east coast news programs including winning an award on WNBC’s show Stars of Tomorrow, where she picked up an award for Best Original Song. Soon her local celebrity may explode and become national, as her Sophomore Cd released on her Indie Label Flesh and Blood Records is getting this talented musicians name out of the east coast, and is starting to spread her powerful pop rock vocals around the country. Selected from over 500 final entries Gina and her back up band was in one of the top ten runners up in The Doritos: Crash the Super Bowl contest that played out in early February 2008. She has also played a concert in the middle of Times Square, played onstage with Prince at the Continental Arena, and will soon be playing several clubs in NYC and its surrounding area. For dates and times, you can check out her MySpace Page. Her music though modern, and her versatility is perfectly showcased, she has the same of the appeal of the women of 80’s rock. In songs like The Blame, describing the freedom a woman feels when she walks out on a dog of a man is exceptional, along with other great songs like You Know, Hey You, and a hot remake of an 80’s Classic by Ammie Mann’s Voices Carry, are songs that will pull at women’s heartstrings, and Gina’s long legs are sure to garner attention from adoring male fans. While showing off her vocal prowess.
