Norwegian Recycling's Creativity Evident in Current Work

Mash-ups are often difficult to create and require a good deal of creativity. Frans Peter Bull Enger, also known as Norwegian Recycling, began composing mash-ups in 2006 after listening to Party Bens "Boulevard of Broken Songs." He has released mash-ups that have been compiled in three albums, including So Far, Appetite for Deconstruction, and The College Dropout. Enger likes to experiment with different genres of music and combine songs that would not normally be put together. He is interested in expressing his views and opinions through the lyrics and voices of artists. Furthermore, he emphasizes his views by putting visuals alongside the mash-ups he creates.
Enger has been featured in newspapers, blogs, and even national TV. In addition to his current work, he has started an electronic music project called Blue Bubbles, which is a mix between chiptune, dubstep, and electronic. So far he has released remixes of Katy Perry's "Firework," All Saints' "Pure Shores," and the Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Give It Away." Three more remixes will be released later this year. Go to Norwegian Recycling's website to listen to some of his mash-ups and visit the Blue Bubbles site for a look at his new work.

Honesty and Integrity Prevail with The CO

The CO is a relatively new rock/pop band that has their own unique and distinct style. Consisting of Collin Brace, Troy Akers, and Nate Fleming, the band was first formed in 2005 by Brace and Akers, with Fleming later joining in 2007. They released their self-titled album in January 2010 and featured singer/songwriter Tyler Ward in the hit single "Keep It Together." Since their album, The CO has released singles including "Heartbeat" and "Be OK (United for Joplin)," which donated proceeds to Joplin, Missouri after the city was hit by a tornado.
The CO sounds like a mix between The Fray and Snow Patrol, which is why so many people enjoy listening to them. Their lyrics are genuine and address the ups and downs of common people's lives, allowing listeners to relate to The CO's songs. The CO is currently working on another album, and several of their songs have been used in television and film. They have performed all around the country in front of large audiences, and they will likely gain more popularity as their songs continue being used in TV and movies. To hear some of their songs and read more about them, visit The CO's website.

Check out The CO's "Be OK (United for Joplin)" tornado relief song:

Landon Austin Making Headlines

In the music world today, many people enjoy not only writing their own songs but also covering popular artists' works as well. Landon Austin is an unsigned artist living in Nashville, Tennessee that is known for covering songs. He has also composed a few original songs, but he mainly focuses on recreating songs and putting his own style to them. Additionally, he was a finalist in Doritos' Crash the Super Bowl contest but did not win against Kina Grannis. Although he wasn't the winner, he was able to showcase his voice to a large number of people. Austin sings alternative and pop songs on the guitar, and he has covered songs by artists such as Foster the People, Taylor Swift, and Coldplay. I think Austin's voice is good enough for him to make his own album in the future. Without a doubt, he will gain popularity in the upcoming years, as he gains a larger fan base. To hear some covers Austin has sang, visit Austin's YouTube channel.

I Killed the Symphony Bringing Life Back to Music

Set in Los Angeles, California, I Killed the Symphony is an alternative rock group consisting of lead vocalist Britt "Kiddo" Joyce, Jonny, Eric, Gabriel, and Jared. Joyce began singing professionally when she was four years old and decided to focus on singing even though she could play bass, guitar, and the piano. She has written and composed four albums and EP's and has been on the well-known Vans Warped Tour for three years. Joyce is an international artist, as she has toured in Brazil and Europe.
Joyce is the lead in the group I Killed the Symphony, and some of her influences are Joan Jett, Manson, and even Quentin Tarantino. She has a presence whenever she is onstage, as she combines her innocence with her explosive temper. Audiences have described her performances as theatrical pieces, but the band's songs can easily get stuck in your head. I Killed the Symphony is coming out with an EP in early 2012, so be on the lookout for that. For more information and pictures of the group, visit I Killed the Symphony's Facebook page.

CMA's Celebrate Country Music Artists

Often referred to as country music's biggest night, the Country Music Awards took place this past Wednesday, November 9, 2011 in Nashville, Tennessee. The awards show first began in 1967 and was established to honor country music artists. Award categories include Entertainer of the Year, Male/Female Vocalist of the Year, and Song of the Year. Some well-known past winners are Kenny Chesney, Martina McBride, and Rascal Flatts.
This year's show was hosted by Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley. Using their wit and humor, Underwood and Paisley made the show run smoothly. Throughout the show, various artists performed, such as Miranda Lambert, Keith Urban, and Lady Antebellum. The Band Perry was a notable winner, as they won three awards. Taylor Swift won what is considered the biggest award of the night: Entertainer of the Year. She was the only female nominee among big names including Blake Shelton and Jason Aldean. Overall, the CMA's were very entertaining and provided a great night of good country music. The CMA's help reinforce the prominence of country music in the U.S. today and showcase popular country artists' talents.

For a complete list of this year's winners, visit The Country Music Television Awards website.

Kelly Clarkson Coming Back Stronger

While being under the radar for some time now, Kelly Clarkson's new album, Stronger, was released this past October. Clarkson is a pop/rock artist and is known for beginning her career on the first season of American Idol. Stronger is Clarkson's fifth album, and it shows her comeback into the music world. The songs on her album tell a sort of empowerment story and consist of powerful lyrics. Her album expresses her expanding perspective but feature the similar sounds of Clarkson's unique voice. There are over twenty new recordings on Stronger and some hit singles include "Mr. Know It All" and "Don't You Wanna Stay" who Clarkson sings with Jason Aldean. Clarkson actually won a Country Music Award this past week for Musical Event of the Year for her performance with Aldean. Winning this award reveals Clarkson's ability to collaborate with various artists and her versatility to perform a different genre of music. To purchase Stronger, visit Kelly Clarkson's website.

Check out one of the songs from Clarkson's new album: "What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger)"

Secret Crazy Project A Success

Kina Grannis, a guitarist and singer-songwriter, began her career after winning the Doritos' Crash the Super Bowl contest. As a result of winning the contest, her music video for "Message From Your Heart" was played during the commercials of Super Bowl XLII. Her music is mainly pop or acoustic, and several of her songs have made appearances on television shows including General Hospital. Grannis began her World In Front of Me tour in the beginning of this year, and she plans to perform in Europe, Southeast Asia, and Australia later this year.
For twenty-two months, Grannis has been working on a music video for her single "In Your Arms." She called it her "Secret Crazy Project" because she wanted to create a video that nobody else has made before. Grannis was successful because her video features the use of 288, 000 Jelly Belly jelly beans and stop motion animation. The music video is unique because of Grannis' use of the jelly beans to create different backgrounds and effects. I thought her idea was very distinctive because she actually interacted with the objects that the jelly beans were forming. The light, happy tone of the song is supported by the creative use of jelly beans, making the audience feel carefree. To see the "In Your Arms" music video and to hear more from her, go to Kina Grannis' website.

The Band Perry Making Their Mark

Oftentimes, it is easier to form a band with your family, or the people who are closest to you and know the most about you. The Band Perry is a country group composed of siblings Kimberly, Reid, and Neil Perry. They began making music in 2005 and are currently signed to Republic Nashville. Older sister Kimberly leads the group, providing most of the vocals for their songs. The Band Perry did not start gaining recognition until 2008 when Bob Doyle helped them make recordings. Ever since then, they have gradually expanded their audience and have made a name for themselves in country music.
The sibling trio released their first album The Band Perry in October 2010. Some notable songs on the album include "If I Die Young," "You Lie," and "All Your Life." Many of the songs were written by the band themselves, which is rare for artists today. Kimberly's vocals are strong and reveal her emotional side as well as her creative side as she sings about a variety of topics. It is evident that The Band Perry is a quickly emerging group because they are nominated for five CMA awards, including New Artist of the Year and Single of the Year ("If I Die Young"). They are also nominated for New Artist of the Year for the American Music Awards. Both award shows will be taking place later this month. To find out more and to learn about their upcoming shows, visit The Band Perry's website.

Watch their newly released music video for "All Your Life."