Dance Music Sensation Erika Jayne to Release Highly Anticipated Debut Album, "Pretty Mess," on August 11

If disco balls, ecstasy, pearls, Studio 54, sex, crystal chandeliers, Purple Rain and crème brûlée could be whipped in a blender and made into a delicious pop-dance musical confection, you would have PRETTY MESS, the debut from dance-pop’s latest sensation ERIKA JAYNE. Due out August 11 through E1 Music (formerly KOCH Records), fantasy and escape reign on the 14-song collection of dance, rhythmic pop and dreamy electronica produced and co-written with some of today’s most in-demand and talented producers.

“Purple Rain, the feel of Studio 54, Kylie Minogue and the old Hollywood designers Edith Head and Adrian Adolph Greenberg…they were all about having a good time and that is what my record is about,” notes the Atlanta-bred, Los Angeles-based songstress regarding the variety of fabulous influences for her first album. “I want people to have fun, dance and escape into fantasy. I want the listener to take a sexy little trip away from their lives. It’s a very sensual, erotic, luxurious-feeling album.”

With assistance from production heavyweights Peter Rafelson (Madonna, Britney Spears, Stevie Nicks) and Eric Kupper (Shakira, Destiny’s Child, Kylie Minogue), Pretty Mess showcases Jayne’s talent as both a singer and a songwriter with tracks spanning from rhythmic pop and dance to chill electronic ballads. The album includes a nod to Prince, one of Jayne’s biggest influences, with a cover of his protégé Apollonia’s hit “Sex Shooter” as well as a guest appearance from legendary percussionist Sheila E on the track “Time to Realize.” Pretty Mess also includes stellar guest production from the likes of Esthero (under the name Pinklake), Jahi Lake (Chris Brown) and Ike Dirty (Lil’ Scrappy, Ying Yang Twins).

Jayne is experiencing success prior to album release that is not often seen by debut artists. The current single “Give You Everything,” created with Rafelson, has put her high on the Billboard Dance charts for the third consecutive time, following the album’s first two singles “Rollercoaster” and “Stars.” The track recently scored her “Breakout Artist of the Week” status on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play Breakouts chart, pushing her past hit artists Lady Gaga and the Pussycat Dolls to secure the top spot. The song was also a Billboard “Hotshot Debut” for the week.

With mixes from dance club elite including Moto Blanco, Mike Rizzo, DJ Escape & Johnny Vicious and Dave Audé, the single continues to jump up the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart and marks Jayne’s third time dominating the chart. Previous singles “Roller Coaster” and “Stars” were both #1 Dance Club Play tracks, with “Stars” also hitting #1 on the Billboard Dance Radio Airplay Chart.

The video for “Give You Everything” paired Jayne with Grammy-nominated video director Marty Thomas for a clip that shows off Jayne’s triple-threat talent as an actress as well as a singer and dancer. Choreography for the clip came from noted choreographer Mikey Minden (The Pussycat Dolls). The video can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hfrsd3ICBA

Tracks from Pretty Mess have also made their way to the big screen. “Roller Coaster” appeared in Deal featuring Burt Reynolds, while “Stars” has a cameo in The Pools Boys, an upcoming comedy from the director of American Pie 2 with Efren Ramirez (Napoleon Dynamite) and Matthew Lillard (Scream). “I Lose Myself” and “Just a Phase” were also included in the 2008 romantic comedy The Neighbor, starting Matthew Modine and Michelle Laroque.

In anticipation of the album release, Jayne is treating fans to special appearances at the West Coast’s two largest Pride celebrations. With back up dancers in tow, she recently captivated the audience at the Los Angeles Pride celebration and got the crowd moving with a performance of her hit singles on the festival’s main stage. Jayne will return to the stage on Sunday, June 28 with a performance at this year’s San Francisco Pride festival alongside such artists as Solange and BoA.

The complete track listing for ERIKA JAYNE’s Pretty Mess is:

Stars
Just A Phaze
Everybody Wants Some
Give You Everything
Pretty Mess
Beautiful
Roller Coaster
Time To Realize
Run Along
Sex Shooter
Without You
Love You Forever
I Lose Myself
One More Time

For more information on Erika Jayne check out:
www.erikajayne.com
www.myspace.com/erikajaynemusic

Heart Readies New Album, Children's Book

A new album and a children's book based on an old album are on Heart's docket for the balance of the year.

Guitarist Nancy Wilson tells Billboard.com that she and sister Ann have been in and out of the studio during the past few months with producer Ben Mink working on Heart's first set of new material since 2004's "Jupiter's Darling." "We've done a lot of writing and we've been in the studio a couple times so far between some of the touring stuff we're doing," Wilson says. "We've got about eight songs that we really like, and we've recorded three basic (tracks) that work so far. I know it will be out this coming year, but I can't give you any more specific time frame than that."

Wilson adds that recording has been done so far in Los Angeles and in various hotel rooms during the group's tours. She also expects to log some studio time in Seattle. Song titles so far include "Hey You" and "Closer," and Wilson says the recording process has been organic. "We're recording with just a real woodshed, small acoustic element, people playing together at the same time and (in) the same room -- like what they used to call a hootenanny," explains Wilson, who hopes to debut some of the new songs live this summer. "There's no ProTools feel to it at all. We're just sitting around playing guitars together and going for a performance that is on the spot."

Heart is also planning for a fourth quarter release of a storybook inspired by its 1978 album "Dog & Butterfly," which will come with a CD that includes new versions of the title song and "Dreamboat Annie" Heart will record with Mink. "We always wanted to do a children's book of some form or another," Wilson says. "Ann pretty much did the writing, and I kind of was her editor. She made the initial drawings of the dog and I did the butterfly. She drew the characters, mostly, and I painted them. And then we had an artist come in and kind of fill in some of the other designs 'cause we're kind of busy right now. It looks really good. It's really simple."

Heart has tour dates booked into September, including nine dates opening for Journey. -- Gary Graff, Billboard

Into the Presence's Video, "Lovers," Showcased After Their Self-Titled Debut Album Release

Into the Presence (ITP) has recorded a timeless, dynamic rock record that both hints at rock’s past and fits comfortably among today’s best guitar bands. Made up of drummer Tim Alexander and frontman/guitarist Luis Maldonado, ITP's self-titled debut album, recorded in true analog (tape machines and vintage outboard gear), has created a sweeping musical journey that is stripped down in its instrumentation but grand in its sonic landscape.

Despite their vast musical expertise, Alexander and Maldonado fought to keep the music focused. “This was not going to be a progressive note fest,” explained Tim. “We analyzed every note and got rid of anything that didn’t improve the song. This was about the basics: the songs and making you feel something.” Both Alexander and Maldonado took part in various projects before collaborating on the album. Tim gained a following performing with Primus, A Perfect Circle, and Puscifer. And Luis, a well known studio/session player, was a child music prodigy who studied classical guitar in college at the age of 12. The self-titled album has been received well by critics and peers, and has been gaining quite the buzz.

Recently, ITP released a video of an acoustic version of their song, "Lovers." Keep checking their video widget for more new videos coming soon!

Astronauts of Antiquity Release "Rocket Science For Dummies"

Hollywood, CA-June 15, 2009-The Astronauts of Antiquity sport a very unique name and to their credit the music they produce is fitting and true to their moniker.

The sound of AOA has been described as urban-electro-organica to a jazzy, neo-soulful, electronic exploration. Think of it as musical Art Nouveau in constant motion.

The meeting of India on vocals and B. Rhyan on guitars was a chance encounter at an airport one day and that moment in time spawned an alternative rock band that would eventually morph into what it is today.

The new CD Rocket Science For Dummies, an oxymoron that truly applies in every way to their creations, will tantalize the electronic-dance-mix followers and entrance lovers of pop and rock with underlying jazz tones that weave a hypnotic web in and out of their sound. India’s breathy sexy vocals invite Rhyan’s guitar licks to challenge her to push every track to new heights of mixing creativity. All of the elements blend effortlessly to make their enticing sound.

Rocket Science For Dummies refuses to be clearly defined and its appeal transcends the normal avenues of acceptance and rejection that any new release must go through. It is as though they received a pass go and no jail time to be crowned the winner. Not an easy accomplishment by anyone’s standards but their music remains so unique in and of itself, it simply defies categorization.

Visit the media rich Astronauts of Antiquity for more information and step into their world for a few minutes, only then will you understand that this life really is just Rocket Science For Dummies.

Reggie Calloway Releases First Solo Album "Bring Back The Love"

Reggie Calloway Releases First Solo Album Bring Back The Love

Bring Back The Love Will Climb The R & B And Crossover Charts With A Bullet To The Top

Hollywood, CA-June 2, 2009-The founder of chart topper’s Midnight Star Reggie Calloway is poised to release his new album Bring Back The Love to great success and praise from listeners and critics from every corner of the globe.

While Reggie is accustomed to success this is his first solo outing, and with that comes a certain amount anticipation of how it will be received. The personal nature of the tracks on Bring Back The Love will pull listeners in quickly and they will find how easy it is to become immersed in the words and music. The bar is set very high and the expectations are nonetheless as would be expected by such a respected veteran of the music industry as Reggie Calloway.

The Grammy nominated Reggie Calloway has worked in the music industry as Songwriter/Producer/Artist since the early 1980’s. While his past includes the timeless party songs such as the #1 hit, “Operator” and party anthems like “Freak-A-Zoid” and “No Parking on the Dance Floor” on the Solar Label, Bring Back The Love is set to stake its claim to many more timeless classic hits. This time it will not be for parties, these are love songs that you will hear playing on easy listening, contemporary and adult contemporary stations that reach out to the crossover audience and indeed will find places prominently situated in the Top Ten of R & B and Pop’s traditional and internet radio stations. The tracks have such universal appeal you may find them creeping into smooth jazz listings as well. This is a testament to the staying power of Calloway penned compositions.

Calloway’s experience as a producer and vocalist goes a long way to making Bring Back the Love the consistently solid success that it is and will be for some time to come.

With 11 tracks of smooth grooves and dim the lights sensuality, Bring Back The Love has success written all over it. Visit Reggie Calloway’s MySpace page for more information and updates.

Bring Back The Love Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTc0aS3DNAo

Erika Jayne Scores "Breakout Artist Of The Week" Status On Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play Chart With "Give You Everything"

Los Angeles, CA (May 21, 2009) – International Dance music sensation Erika Jayne has once again rocketed to the top of the Billboard charts with her new single, “Give Your Everything,” taking its place at #1 on this week’s Billboard Hot Dance Club Play Breakouts chart. The latest hit from her hotly anticipated debut album Pretty Mess, “Give You Everything” follows up “Roller Coaster” and “Stars” as Jayne’s third time atop the Billboard Dance charts. Jayne will also get fans ready for the August release of Pretty Mess on E1 Music with multiple appearances during this year’s LA Pride weekend in June.

With 33 ads in its first week, “Give You Everything” stormed past hitmakers Lady Gaga and the Pussycat Dolls to secure Jayne’s spot as “Breakout Artist of the Week.” Jayne recently kicked off the launch of the single with the release of remixes from some of music’s hottest talent including DJ Escape & Johnny Vicious, Moto Blanco, Mike Rizzo and Dave Audé and a video that paired her with Grammy-nominated director Marty Thomas. Both the single version and remixes of “Give You Everything” are currently available on iTunes.

No stranger to the Billboard charts, both of Jayne’s previous singles have had similar success with “Roller Coaster” hitting #1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart and “Stars” topping both the Billboard Club Play and Dance Radio Airplay charts. All three hit songs will be included on her debut album, Pretty Mess, which showcases Jayne’s talent as both a singer and songwriter in a collection of Rhythmic Pop, Dance tracks and chill Electronic ballads. Produced by Peter Rafelson and Eric Kupper, Pretty Mess is scheduled for an August 11 release on E1 Music (formerly KOCH Records).

Fans of Jayne will also have the chance to experience her spectacular live show as she takes the stage for multiple appearances during this year’s LA Pride weekend. On Saturday, June 13 she’ll join Deborah Cox and American Idol’s Fantasia on the main stage at the 2009 LA Pride Festival presented by Christopher Street West. Jayne will return to the stage on Sunday at Playhouse, Hollywood’s newest entertainment venue, where she’ll perform as part of the club’s grand opening.

More information on Erika Jayne is available at both www.erikajayne.com and www.myspace.com/erikajaynemusic.

Roy Rogers "Split Decision" Album Review In Billboard

Slide guitar whiz Roy Rogers has a strong album with "Split Decision," and it's a signature project. Rogers produced the record and authored or co-authored all the songs. His Delta Rhythm Kings bandmates Steve Ehrmann (bass) and Billy Lewis (drums, percussion) constitute his studio rhythm section, and Rogers is joined by such guests as guitarist Ottmar Liebert and sax man George Brooks. The album opens at a furious pace with "Calm Before the Storm," a wall-of-sound number punctuated by Rogers' stinging slide guitar. In a quieter vein, Rogers teams with Liebert on the instrumental "Your Sweet Embrace," a little slice of guitar romanticism that provides a nice mood shift. Another notable instrumental track, "Rite of Passage," affords saxophonist Brooks an opportunity to shine on a bluesy jazz piece. For something with more blues grit, listen to Rogers put the buzz in "Little Queen Bee." -- Philip Van Vleck

Source: Billboard.biz Album Reviews