King Of The Acapella App

Everybody has seen the acapella videos produced by an extremely cool new app. It basically replaced Vine for uprising singers. And for people just to goof around. One kid stands out from the crowd of consumers. That would be Austin Jones. All of his acapella videos have gone viral! But who is he? He's way more than a singer on an app and another teen heartthrob.
Austin is a 23 year old from Chicago. His musical styling ranges from Alternative to pop. Of course he has mastered acoustic and acapella music. Austin is definitely a musical king when it comes to social media. He has managed to gather 528,400 likes on his Facebook page, which for a fairly unknown artists to the public is pretty good. His Youtube channel has rapidly expanded since he first started it in July of 2007. As of right now he has over 117,295 subscribers and, as of today, 3,551,894 total views. His Vine following is roughly around 248,000.
Austin started his musical journey in 2010. He began writing his own music that year after "tragic events". He didn't go much deeper than that as far as I know. Honestly, I don't care. I'm just glad that he started in the first place! Austin released his first EP, "We'll Fall Together", in July 2014. The EP went to #12 on the iTunes charts and hit #34 on Billboard's Heat Seekers Chart. Not only did he have a very successful debut EP, he also had rather successful singles. He's released "Love Yourself (acoustic), Meds and Beds, and Fly Away. All of the above are available for download on iTunes.
Since Austin had gained such a big following in such short amount of time, Alternative Press invited him to join their 2015 Warped Tour. With this opportunity, Austin was able to expand his fan base and work along side big name artists. Some of those names included a few of my favorites: Black Veil Brides, Pierce the Veil, AS IT IS, Metro Station, and Our Last Night. Of course there were many other names. Those were just a few of my favorites.
However, Austin didn't walk away from Warped with all positives. Austin was caught up in the middle of a scandal. While touring he was accused of asking underage girls for videos of them twerking. When the rumors started, Warped was forced to take him out of the line up along with other social media sensations. He didn't deny the rumors long. Instead he released an apology. Austin immediately apologized for asking for the inappropriate videos. He also pointed out the fact that he was unaware that some of the people he was talking to were underage. Apparently he sent silly videos of him twerking back. He wasn't taking them very seriously. It was fun and games. He apologized for his actions and said that he was embarrassed for his family, friends, himself, and his fans.

Austin's "I Write Sins not Tragedies" cover

I believe the incident has long been forgotten. Warped Tour said that he had done nothing wrong and had taken responsibility for his actions. They weren't ashamed to have him on their line-up and would be happy to have him again. Since then Austin has regained a lot of his fans and fame with the help of the acapella app. His most popular videos are covers of Fall Out Boy, Panic!, and even Sleeping with Sirens. Austin has true talent. He has made some mistakes, but unlike many other stars, he took responsibility. There is no doubt that he is the King of the Acapella App.

Kenny Holland: Musical Homie Hopper?

Kenny Holland is a 20 year old singer and songwriter. He self-describes him self as a pop/rock artist. Personally, he is way more pop than rock, which is why it's "self-described". He hails from Phoenix, Arizona. He was also raised in Michigan. Kenny grew up in a musical family. All of his sisters are gifted as are his parents. He learned to play the piano when he was eight years old. He wrote his first song in the 6th grade about a girl in his class that he was crushing on. He continued to shine during his time in school by performing at almost every school talent show.
Kenny didn't rise to fame from his school performances though. He owes his fame to the lovely Vine app and Youtube. You have to love social media! Kenny had a Youtube channel in 2011, but he only really started getting attention when he started posting 6 second covers on Vine. He was one of the chosen to go on tours for Magcon and Digifest. As of right now, Kenny has millions of loops on Vine and thousands of followers. He has 147,602 subscribers on Youtube and has managed to rack up 2,122,532 views. His most recent success on Youtube was his "12 HollanDays"videos. He posted one video every day for twelve days leading up to the release of his newest single "Lifeline". The videos were posted over the holidays and the single was released on Christmas.
Kenny release his first full length album before he actually released any singles. "Heart and Keys" was released in 2012. It consists of 10 songs that show off his smooth vocals and piano skills. "Less Than Three" was his first single, which was released in 2013. In 2014 he released a second single, "This Dance". Of course I said, he just released his third single "Lifeline". Kenny also dropped the bomb that he has his acting debut in the independent film "Saturday's Warrior" in 2015.

Kenny, Sammy, and Skate

Holland is associated with a wide range of artists. He has opened for both Aaron Carter and The Summer Set. Since he came from Vine and went on Magcon tours, he is close friends with Jack and Jack. He even accompanied the duo on a leg of Jack and Jacks tour. Kenny is also associated with Sammy Wilk, who is a rapper and part of the duo Sammy and Skate. However, he is most known for his friendship with Wesley Stromberg of Emblem3.

Kenny and Wesley 

Wes and Kenny started their own band, "The Balcony". As a group, they released their single "Fire". They even had a music video for it. The two of them were constantly working on music together. They were practically inseparable. This caused Emblem3 fans to attack Kenny with an unbelievable wrath. They believed that Kenny was the reason that Wes stopped working with his brother and spending time with Keaton. When Wes was with Kenny, there was no Emblem3. Kenny literally killed Emblem3. Fans were also upset about the fact that Kenny had "ditched" Sammy Wilk for Wes. They also accused him of taking Skate Maloley's place in Sammy's life. People accused Kenny of choosing his friendships to gain fans. As soon as he got what he wanted, he would move on.
I believe those fans were right. As soon as Emblem3 got back together, Kenny was completely out of the picture. The Balcony won't be releasing music together anytime soon. However, Emblem3 will be! Now Kenny is back to being friends with Sammy Wilk. The two of them did a cover together for his 12 HollanDays. Kenny has also been spotted with Jack Johnson yet again. Personally, I am not a fan of Kenny. I do believe that he has a tendency to use people to grow his fandom. I don't like who he is a person from what I've seen. I feel like he is rather fake, someone who is trying to hold on to any piece of fame that he has. However, there is no denying that he has talent and I respect him as an artist. So, if you want, go check out some of Kenny's songs and videosIf you feel like it! Tell me how you feel about Kenny. Is he a musical homie hopper?

Best Friend Murder Prank

If you haven't heard about this video than you must not have any connections to the outside world. What a sad life! A video titled "Best Friend Murder Prank ft. Sam and Colby" was uploaded by the already controversial Youtuber Sam Pepper. Sam Pepper is 26 years old. He's been on Youtube for roughly five years. He started out as a rising Youtube sensation. He was well known for his pranking videos as well as his collars with other Youtubers like Marcus Butler, Mark Ludford, Pointless Blog (Alfie Deyes), Harrison Webb, Mazzi Maz, and JacksGap. Of course there are many other names. The YouTube family is a close one.
In 2014 things took a turn for the worse for Sam Pepper. He was accused of sexually harassing multiple women in the UK. He also release his first extremely controversial video. It was a video of him going up and pinching girls butts. However, he did not physically touch them. There was also a follow up video of a female Youtuber doing the same thing to men. They then filmed a video explaining that they were doing a social experiment on gender and double standards. Sam was the only one to get backlash from the videos. He wasn't formally charged of anything. The honest truth is that nobody other than Sam himself knows what did or did not happen.

Sam Golbach and Colby Brock came to fame through Vine. Their videos were mainly public disturbances and skits. The duo got such a large following on the app that they decided to go to Youtube. The two have been friends for five years. They grew up in the same Kansas town and went to the same high school. Needless to say they are best friends going on life's adventure together. Both are fresh out of high school and just moved to LA where they met their friend Sam Pepper.
The three came across each other somehow and ended up spending some quality time together. After a couple days, they decided to film a collaboration. Sam Pepper and Colby decided to prank Sam Golbach because Sam Golbach was always pranking Colby. That's how this video came to be.
Sam Pepper kidnapped Sam and Colby while they were having "car problems" in an alley. Colby is in on the prank. The two of them put Sam Golbach in the trunk of the car and take him to a roof top somewhere in LA. Sam Pepper removes the bag over Sam's head so that he can see Colby kneeling off to the side with a bag still draped over his face. Sam reassures his friend that everything will be okay. Sam Pepper gives him one last look at Colby's face before firing a blank at Colby's head. Sam's reaction is pure, real emotion. There was nothing fake to it. If it was, he definitely needs an award!
The trio didn't realize that the video would get so much attention in such a short amount of time. It has been covered on National news and plastered all over the internet. A petition to take down Sam Pepper's channel also surfaced. Youtubers spoke up saying that Sam took the prank too far and needed to take the video down. People were speaking on behalf of Sam Golbach and saying that he was suffering from things like PTSD and that he was having trouble going outside and sleeping at night. None of which is true. Colby came under fire for being a "dick of a friend". Colby explained that he knew what Sam's limits were that he would be okay once he realized everything was alright. Sam Pepper was also aware of Sam's limits and knew the boundaries. Sam Golbach spoke up and said that he had actually been expecting a prank to happen to him. Not to mention he had two weeks to tell Sam Pepper and Colby that he didn't want to video to go up. Sam also said that he was thankful because the whole experience brought him and Colby closer together as friends. Other people have also reached out to Sam and Colby and told them that because of the video they became closer with the people that they love.
There is a message in the video that everybody is overlooking. Life is short. Anything can happen. Tell the people you love that you love them now. Go and live your life. Keep your friends close. Appreciate what you have and who you have in your life. Don't take a damn thing for granted. In my opinion that was actually an amazing video. You just have to look at it from the perspective that they were looking at it. As for the reaction Sam Pepper is getting, I think it's not deserved. There are more important things that we should pay attention to. The only reason he's getting so much heat from this is because he already had a bad reputation. The truth is, nobody knows Sam Pepper personally and what he's done. Until we know for sure, people should just lay off of him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBvX5dNdMK8

After Romeo

After Romeo is the pure definition of a boy band. BUT they are amazing artists! The band consists of Jayk Purdy (29), Drew Ryan Scott (27), TC Carter (22), and Blake English (21). Former member Devin Fox (18) left to pursue a solo career. Each member of the band contributes something specific to band aside from vocals. Jayk does most of the social media content. TC, which stands for Thomas Carter, is in charge of fashion. He does a pretty good job if I do say so myself. Blake does the choreography for the group while Drew writes a majority of their songs.
The members are from Athens and Las Vegas. They came together in L.A. courtesy of Drew in 2013. As I mentioned before, they started out with 5. So, the five of them started posting videos on Youtube. They caught the eyes of some record producers and are currently signed on to 4 Sound Entertainment's record label. As a band of 5 they released 3 singles. The first being "Free Fall" in 2013. The released a Christmas single, "Save Some Snow" that same year. In 2014, they released what is probably their biggest single "Love On Lock (LOL)". That just so happens to be my jam. After Devin left, the band continued to write music and post videos. Their first single of 2015 had the fitting title of "Juliet". They also released "Where The People Go", which is probably my second favorite from them. Yesterday they released a surprise titled "Souvenir". It's clear that losing Devin didn't deter the band. They are working on an album "The Story Continues". I personally cannot wait to see what all these four can do!

For only being together for a short period of time and not having much publicity, they are doing pretty well. The "Free Fall" music video reached number one on MTV's music chart and was also featured on international advertisements. Most of the time it takes an artist forever to be able to get their music international. In 2014 they launched into the Italian music market. The band has also reached number six on Radio Disney's countdown. The thing that stands out to me the most though is the fact that these boys started a Bully Proof Tour where they toured across the U.S. to stop and talk to students about bullying. They would go to the schools to speak and then perform in the city/town on the weekend. They group has also toured around the U.S. on the 2015 Pop Nation Tour.
I really don't know what else to say about this band. I honestly don't know as much about them as I do other bands, but I do know that these boys are talented and entertaining. They are definitely a boy band, no doubt, but there is something special about them that I can't quite put my finger on. They are just four hard working boys trying to make their dreams come true. I admire that. If you are ever board, look them up. You could find a new music obsession.

The Tide

The Tide is a band that most have not heard of. If you have, I guarantee it's because you are a dedicated fan of The Vamps. The Tide was formed by the british band in 2014. The Vamps announced a secret project in December of 2014 and they held auditions for guitarists and drummers to form a band. The band the put together was The Tide.
Austin Corini is the lead singer of the band. He also plays guitar. He's from Gilroy, California. Austin auditioned for The X-Factor in 2012. He sang an amazing cover of "Wanted" by Hunter Hayes. He didn't make it past boot camp on his own. They put him together with other boys to form the group, Playback. However, the group didn't make it past the judge's houses. This was the same year that Emblem3 was on The X-Factor, so Austin knows the boys. Drew Dirksen is the lead guitarist and contributes vocals. He is from Ohio, as is his band mate Nate Parker. Nate is the drummer. Levi is the bassist and the last piece to the puzzle. He is from southern California.
The band officially formed in 2015. They made their debut together on the internet on February 25, 2015. They posted a cover of 5 Seconds of Summers "She Looks So Perfect". I'm not a fan of covers from my favorite artists, but I actually really liked their version of the song. Since they actually caught my attention by doing my favorite song, I decided it was worth my while to check out who they were and to keep up with the newly formed band. I'm glad I did, because since their formation they have posted many other great covers on their youtube channel. They have also posted an acoustic version of one of their original songs, "Falling in Love Tonight". As of right now, the band sticks to covers, but they do perform originals live, like "What you Give" and "The Rest of Us". The band plans on releasing an EP or maybe even an album in 2016.
 Since their formation, they have been on tour with The Vamps. The accompanied them on their 2015 tour along with Before You Exit. They also played at 2015 Fanfest and the Big Ticket Summer Concert Series. They have performed next artists such as Union J and Luke Friend. The band is also planning on a 2016 tour. In order to release an EP and follow it up with a tour, it's best to have a record label, right? Well, The Vamps signed the band on to their own record label, EMI Universal. That was their big announcement/secret project in December of 2014. The Vamps also had them do a major cameo in their latest video for their single "Wake Up" along with Brooklyn Beckham.
So, what can you expect from The Tide? Their style and their influence is rather different, which I find interesting. They have a wide range in taste. Their musical style is pop. The band has even admitted to it. However, they also throw in the fact that their main influences are 5 Seconds of Summer and All Time Low. They want to become a similar band. Mayday Parade and Sleeping With Sirens are also have an influence on the band. Going in a totally opposite direction, the band looks up to singer/song writers like Ed Sheeran and even Shawn Mendes who is younger than the members in the band.

I adore this band as whole and love each of it's members. They are so down to earth. All four of them are absolutely adorable. The best part is that I can say that they are hot without feeling like a pedophile because they are all 17-18 years old! So, not only are they talented, kind, and entertaining, they are very nice to look at. Looks aren't that important though. What is, is the fact that these four boys are talented and dedicated to their music and to their fans. I love, love, love them! I can't wait to see what the future holds for them. They have the world at their finger tips! I'm going to love telling people that I knew them long before they were famous. 

The End of the World.... Tour Starring 5SOS

I am drowning in tears of emotion because my four young boys from Sydney Australia finished their first ever headlining world tour. I think I'm taking this harder than the end of their tours with One Direction. And that was the end of an era! It was two years of 5SOS and 1D. Now 5 Seconds of Summer are off on their own, headlining their own shows around the world. They went from filming in a bedroom with pink speakers, to playing gigs with 12 people, and ended up with a headlining world tour, playing to hundreds-sometimes thousands-of people every night.
If you don't know who 5SOS is, you're going to have to use this awesome thing called Google. I could go on forever over these boys. The basics I can handle. Despite their name, their are only 4 members. Luke Hemmings (guitar), Ashton Irwin (percussion), Calum Hood (bass), Michael Clifford (guitar). All four contribute vocals, but Luke is the front man. Ashton is the oldest at 21. The rest are 19. The band started out with just Luke, Calum, and Michael. Ashton joined shortly before their first gig. The band has released multiple EPs and two full length CDs. They have won plenty of awards in the short amount of time they've been in the spotlight. Most recently, they won MTVs Song of the Summer for the second year in a row. The first was because of their first single "She Looks So Perfect". This year the fuss was all about "She's Kinda Hot". The band has also started their own record company called "Hi or Hey Records". Also, they are punk-rock. Punk-pop is acceptable, but they are NOT a boy band.

As many people already know, they got a huge helping hand from One Direction when they were asked to open for them on their Take Me Home tour. They asked them to come back for parts of their Where We Are tour. So, yes, a good portion of their fan base are Directioners, but 5SOS still has a die-hard fandom that I'm proud to be a part of. The fans are what makes the band. The boys realize that. It's one of the reasons I love them so much. They know they owe everything to their fans and they give back everything they have. They are such down to earth amazing musicians. I honestly can't imagine my life without them in it. They have had a huge influence on me and the person that I am today. I have a lot to thank them for. They always tell their fans that they have a lot to thank us for, but really it's the least we could do.
I was lucky enough to attend one of their concerts for this tour, Rock Out With Your Socks Out. (Amazing name btw!) It was literally the best night of my life. The only time I have ever cried from joy was when my purchase went through for my tickets. The second time I cried because of happiness was when I saw the four of them walk out on to the stage in front of me. They put on the best show I have ever seen. They were bouncing all around, interacting with each other and the crowd, and they never missed a beat. They performed songs that haven't been released yet, their most popular ones, and for the ones that have been there since the beginning they played a few of their originals. They managed to make everyone feel welcome and comfortable. The best part was that they didn't hold back and hide who they really are. They were on stage doing what they love and being their weird, funny, adorable selves. They have a special talent that not many people posses.
The best part is that they're using their talent to spread a message, to show support for people who are struggling. They are using their name and talent to raise their voices and shed some light on issues and people that get over-looked. Towards the end of the tour, they announced that they are releasing their second full length album "Sounds Good Feels Good". Along with that, they started a new age. The age of the New Broken Scene. It's something that their fans can get behind, support, and allows them to be themselves according to the band. How many people create something just so their fans feel like they belong to something important? Actually, to show them that they are a part of something important. So, not only was it the end of their first world tour (cue tears), it was the start of something new, exciting, and meaningful. I wish that these boys could've stayed my little secret, but I am overwhelmed with joy that they are making a name for themselves and doing something to make a difference. They deserve the world. They've come so far and learned so much, but we still don't know if it's hi or hey.

BOOM!!

Simple Plan. Please for the love of God tell me you know who Simple Plan is. I mean, how could you not? You're totally uncultured if you have no clue who I'm talking about. Need a hint? Scooby-Doo. The band sang the theme song for "What's New Scooby-Doo", had two of their songs play during the cartoon, appeared in their own episode, and they had an original song "Don't Wanna Think About You" on Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed. Did that help at all? It better have. 

Simple Plan is a five piece rock band from Canada. Yes, Canada. The same country that gave us Justin Bieber. However, Simple Plan is 100 times better. Their sound is described mostly as pop punk. A few people say that they have more of an "emo" sound to them. Either way, they're still amazing and one of the founders of the pop punk scene. Band members include lead singer Pierre Bouvier, percussionist Chuck Comeau, lead guitarist Jeff Stinco, rhythm guitarist Sebastien Lefebure, and bass guitarists David Desrosiers.
The band started in 1999. In the bands life span, they have put out 4 full albums: No Pads, No Helmets... Just Balls (2002), Still Not Getting Any... (2004), Simple Plan (2008), and Get Your Heart On (2011). They have also released two live albums: Live in Japan 2002 and MTV Hard Rock Live (2005). They put together an EP titled "Get Your Heart On- The Second Coming" in 2013. They have a 5th album on the way. Rumors say that it will be dropped in 2015. So, be expecting it in the next couple of months.
Not only has the band produced amazing albums and worked on Scooby-Doo, they also played a ton of Vans Warped Tours. The played at every single tour from 1999 to 2005. They also played in 2011, 2013, and 2015. The band has also started a successful foundation simple titled Simple Plan Foundation. There's not many like it out there. Their foundation focus mainly on the problems teens face including suicide, poverty, drug addictions, and abuse. They released a single, "Save You" to benefit the foundation. The song was inspired by cancer patient survivors and the video featured the people the inspired the song. Not only that, but they also donated 10,000 to Japan in 2011 after their natural disaster. Most recently, the band released a book Simple Plan: The Official Story. All proceeds went in to the foundation. This foundation hits home for me since I've struggled a lot in my teen years and I still am struggling with depression and anxiety.
The whole point of this blog is to promote their newest single and my current favorite song, BOOM! It was released on August 28th. The music video they made for it was released the exact same day. What a better way to drop a new single than to do it with a music video? The video is just as amazing as the song. It features cameos from members of the bands MxPx, PVRIS, Silverstein, Black Veil Brides, Parkway Drive, and Issues. My favorite appearances were from the members of Pierce the Veil, Alex Gaskarth from All Time Low, and Brian Logan Dales from The Summer Set. BOOM is a perfect example of the type of band Simple Plan is. It shows exactly why they are considered to be founders and kings of the pop punk scene. Everybody was more than excited to be taking part in this historic bands video. BOOM is simply amazing. I don't know who else to describe it. It's upbeat, energetic, but it still holds that unique sound that makes it punk. Simple Plan has perfectly mixed the two genres (pop and punk) in to one with this song. More people need to be talking about this! Simple Plan is back baby! :)

Tanner Patrick: Vine Star and Youtube Sensation

Tanner Patrick is a name that not many people know. However, if it is familiar to you then you probably have good taste in music or spend a lot of time on Vine and Youtube or both of course. Here's the basics on him. Tanner Patrick is 24 years old and is a singer/songwriter, musician, and producer. He is able to play guitar (electric and acoustic), bass guitar, piano, and saxophone. Oh yeah, he has an amazing vocal range making for a great voice. Did I mention that he was hot??

Despite what a lot of people think, Tanner didn't start on Vine. He started out on Youtube. He actually got pretty far into his career before he even started posting singing videos on vine. He started his channel in 2011, but has been active in music since 2008. He has managed to get over 800,000 subscribers on his Youtube and has gotten well over 86,000,000 views. Tanner signed up for Vine in 2014. He has managed to collect over 700,000 followers and he has surpassed the milestone of 100,000,000 loops.
So those are the basics. What you might not know about Tanner is the fact that he didn't start out as a solo artist. He used to be in a band with his friends. They called themselves Disco Curtis. The band did pretty well! I wish they were still together now actually! (But I do love Tanner as a solo artist) Disco Curtis signed on to MySpace/Interscope Records. They performed Bambozzle West in California and went touring with bands like Boys Like Girls and Forever The Sickest Kids. Their biggest milestone, playing in 2010 Vans Warped Tour. Sadly, in September 2010, the band broke-up because his friends attended college. Shortly after Tanner announced that he was launching a solo career. Thank God he did!
Tanner debuted his first single titled "Merry Go Round" in 2012. He also released the music video for it that April. It hit 1.3 million views. That's quite a lot for a debut song from an artist like Tanner. In 2013 he released another single called "Sideways Figure Eights". 2014 proved to be a big year for Tanner. He released yet another single, "Satellites" and a music video for it. Not only that, but he had a debut album, "The Waiting Home". All of these are available on iTunes. So are a lot of his covers that he has posted on Youtube, which there are a lot of. If you're not wanting to spend money on iTunes, then you definitely need to check out his YouTube page! So many amazing original songs and covers.
Tanner's talent is what I love the most about him. It was until I started writing this. I did a little background research as I normally do. I found out that Tanner has had some health trouble in his past. He has diabetes, which a lot of people suffer from. What really shocked me was the fact that both of his lungs have collapsed multiple times. He had surgery done and a few days later he was back with his band performing. That gives me mad respect for him! He's had to overcome a huge obstacle to continue his singing career. I mean, lungs are pretty necessary things for doing what he does and life in general of course.
So, there you have Tanner Patrick. An artist who started out as a name on the internet but is soon going to be headlining shows. He's gone through a lot in a short period of time, but he is still following his dreams and killing the game! Everybody needs a little bit of Tanner Patrick in their life.

Paradise Fears

My newest obsession is with a band from Vermillion South Dakota called Paradise Fears. I absolutely love them. I heard one song and fell in love. Every single song is relatable and lovable. Their music style is classified as Alternative, but they are so much more. They can fit in to the pop-punk and pop-rock categories as well. That's just in my opinion though. I honestly don't think anybody could dislike this band. If you do, I say you're crazy. How can you possibly hate a band that came from a small state like South Dakota? Maybe I have a soft spot for them because I'm from South Dakota... Either way, they are still very talented artists.
The band is rather large with six members. Sam Miller- Vocals; Cole Andre- vocals, guitar, samples, and mandolin; Michael Walker- pianos, keys, vocals; Jordan Merrigan- guitars; Marcus Sand- Bass; Joey Russ- Drums. Lucas Zimmerman was a former member who played the drums. The band formed in 2007 while they were all still in high school. Instead of going to college, they all got full time jobs to pay for their recordings. Then they followed pop punk tours to hand out their debut album Yours Truly to fans waiting in line. They managed to sell 24,000 total copies which made the album peak at number 9 on Billboard's uncharted chart.
They have been on tour with many of my other favorite bands including All Time Low, The Summer Set, The Ready Set, Before You Exit, and The Cab. They have of course toured with many other bands as well. In 2012 they went on their own headlining mini tour. The band has released 7 albums/EPs and they have 11 singles available. They also have put up covers of popular songs on YouTube. Their most popular cover being "Payphone" by Maroon 5. The video racked up over three million views. For being a band from South Dakota they have quite a large following and a great fan-base.
I discovered the band through a friend of mine. I wanted to see what kind of music he was interested in. Paradise Fears was one of them. I had to look them up. Like I said before, I heard one song and fell in love with their sound and their lyrics. It all has meaning and moves me in different ways. Some songs give me motivation others make me feel emotions, brining me to the edge of having a crying session. It's hard to pick a favorite song from these guys. It seems like every song they have is beyond exceptional and I can't help but love it. Recently I've had their song "Fight for Me" on replay. I'm also loving "Yours Truly", "Home", "Sanctuary", and "Hear Me Out". Those are only a few though! Their Spotify is my favorite thing to listen to at the moment.

Anybody that loves emotional music and looks for meaning in what they listen to definitely needs to check out Paradise Fears. If you like All Time Low or even a more preppy band like Before You Exit, you will love them too. They have something for everybody. I think music lovers in general will love them simply because they are such great musicians and writers. They aren't exactly old either. They're fairly young. In case you haven't figured it out by now, I have mad respect for anybody that starts their music career young. It just shows how hard they work and how true their talent is. Paradise Fears should be played on the radio. I think they're great enough to become a household name if they get the airtime they deserve. 

Are You Ready?

"I'm ready. I'm ready. I'm ready. I'm ready..." The ever so familiar sound of Spongebob flooded the air waves. But why? AJR decided to take a chance and mix that annoying, but catchy, Spongebob Squarepants sample with their own music to create the hit song titled "I'm Ready". It's the one that took the world by storm and turned the attention of the music world on them. They followed up their first single with another hit called "Infinity", which just so happens to be my favorite. They have also produced one full-length album titled "Living Room" along with several EPs.
It seems like these three brothers are on to something with their different and unique sound. It has been described as 'eclectic', which means deriving ideas, styles, and/or taste from a wide and diverse range of sources. Digging deeper in to their musical style you can tell that they have influence from many different genres including: pop, foo-wop, electronic, and dub step. They have said that their musical influences as far as bands go range from The Beach Boys to Vampire Weekend and Fun. I find that interesting and pretty cool for some odd reason.
AJR is composed of three brothers: Adam (24), Jack (17), and Ryan (21). Hopefully you can see where they got their band name from now. They started the band of brothers in 2006, so they're not exactly new to the music industry. They are simply just getting the attention now that they so rightly deserve. They started out as most bands doing, busking and doing covers of popular songs and posting them on Youtube. Since then they have performed on Good Day New York, Live with Kelly and Michael, and VH1's Big Morning Buzz. Both of their singles have been on Sirius XM radios hit stations and placed in their countdowns a number of times.
Other than the fact that these three are brothers and their sound is a little different, what makes this band so special? Well, for starters they are a completely do it yourself band. They write, record, produce, and mix all of their own stuff in their living room. I'm guessing that's where they got the title for their first album. Adam plays bass guitar and sings. Ryan plays the ukulele, keyboard, and vocals. He also does a lot of the producing. He has written and produced two songs with Andy Grammar. The youngest of the three, Jack, seems to be the most well-rounded when it comes to instruments. He plays guitar, melodica, ukulele, percussion, and the sample machine. On top of all of that, they all like to dabble in the making of their music videos. Apparently a majority of their music video for "Infinity" was directed and produced by the brothers.
These three have an endless amount of talent. It makes me so happy to see that the music world is actually recognizing somebody that is doing something different. They aren't following the crowd in any way, shape or form. Their songs aren't about drugs and partying. They don't do everything in a professional studio and have other people do all the hard work for them. They do everything themselves. I actually think that's something that not a whole lot of people know. They're not made of the same material as every other performer and artist. They're different. And I like it. Judging by their fast growing success, a lot of other people do too.

Talking About

What everyone talking about? Isn't the answer obvious? Conor Maynard is stepping back out in to the music industry with his new amazing single "Talking About". It hasn't even been out for a week yet and its caught the attention of thousands of people. It's his first single in some time. The wait was worth it. I'm absolutely in love with this song! Sadly, it's not available in the U.S. iTunes store yet. However, it is up for pre-order. I've been having to settle for racking up the video's views on YouTube.
The song is extremely catchy. I suggest you listen with caution. The second you listen to it, it will be stuck in your head for days on end. I'm not complaining though because it's such a great song! It has the typical Conor Maynard style. The beat is easy to move to. It's definitely a song that will be played in clubs! It has similar sound to his previous songs, but it's not as computerized as many of them. There is a range of sounds the meld perfectly together to create the catchiest song of the year so far.
If people recognized this song and the artist, Conor would have so much more fame than he already does. It's just that nobody appreciates music unless it comes from a big name. Honestly, I think his song is ten times better than anything Taylor Swift will put out or Rihanna who just released that song "Fourfive Seconds" or whatever it's called. The only reason their songs are so popular even if they are crap is because they created a name for themselves. It's time to start recognizing artists like Conor. He is using everything that is being used in today's popular music. It's got bass, catchy lyrics, easy to remember, fast-paced, and it uses computerized instruments. I feel like this song could be Conor's big hit to launch his career again.
 "Talking About" is easily one of my favorite songs of the year so far and I think it will stay highly ranked in my book. I'm not usually in to this kind of music, but there is something about Conor that makes me love, love, love his music. I don't know if it's because of the type of person he and his personality or if his music is just different and draw me in. As I'm typing this, I'm realizing that it's both. Conor has an amazing personality! I've discovered that by watching him appear on YouTube videos and by watching the videos he post on social media or videos other have posted with him. His music is different than a lot of the things that we hear on the radio. Sure, it has a similar sound, but the thing is that he hasn't changed his sound. He started with it and he has continued with it. He didn't change to fit in with the time just to get a number one single. I don't think he ever will. That makes him more likable for me.

Not only that, but I know Conor is capable of doing things other than the type of music he releases. He displays his talent on his YouTube channel by posting covers of songs. One of his most recent ones was a cover of "Waves". Personally I liked his cover more than the actual song because it was more raw. Conor has an immense amount of talent. This will be the song that people will hear and recognize him for what he is. An immensely talented artist who has worked his ass off to get where he is at.

Spencer Sutherland

This is the day and age to break in to the music scene by using the Internet. In my opinion, Spencer Sutherland will be the next big thing to come off of YouTube. He's got the personality, the looks, and most importantly the talent. His quickly building his fan base by posting covers of popular songs, like R-Kelly's "Ignition". He's also posted covers of "All About That Base", "Waves," "Bang Bang", "Fancy", "Talk Dirty", and "Chloe". One of his most popular videos was one that he stared in the with close friends Emblem3 in their cover of "Sugar". I wrote a whole blog about it previously. It's obvious he covers every genre. 

Not only does he have the talent, but he has the connections. As I just mentioned, he is friends with Keaton and Wesley Stromberg. I'm not saying that's what is going to get him places, but it certainly helps to be close with somebody that is in the business. Not only will they be able to give him pointers and help him along they way, but they can also help promote him. One simple tweet with his video attached can get the video thousands of views, giving it the possibility of being noticed. That's exactly what happened to 5 Seconds of Summer. They are now one of the most popular bands of the year. It all started with a single tweet from a One Direction member. Along with his friendship with Emblem3, he has shared the stage with Ariana Grande, MKTO, and Austin Mahone. So, he's already gotten his name out there. 

Spencer is a self taught musician as well. Nothing is more impressive than that. It takes a lot of time and talent to teach yourself to be a good singer and songwriter. He is 22 years old and has mastered the musical art of song writing. He is a co-writer on Emblem3's album Forever Together. Not only does that give him more exposure, but it shows off more of his talent. He released an EP, Unveiled, in January on Itunes. It consisted of four original songs. He has also released a single, "Nothing Can Hurt Me".  

Spencer  is not only a star in music though. He is a star in the modeling industry. He is signed with Ford Models New York. Yep, he can be one of the boys on your Hollister bag. He totally has the body for it. His cheek bone game is strong! Don't believe me? Maybe you should check out his Youtube channel or possibly go follow him on Twitter or Instagram? Sounds like a good idea to me. I believe we need to keep a close eye on this kid. He is going places. Someone with as much talent as him deserves to be recognized on a stage bigger than Youtube. 

Keaton Stromberg

Keaton Stromberg, a.k.a my future husband,  is a member of the outstanding duo Emblem3. He's the younger sibling to Wesley Stromberg. He's only 18 years old and has mastered many, many talents, including stealing the hearts of girls everywhere. This talented kid started playing instruments at the age of six. He can now do 7 different things related to music. He can play the guitar, bass, piano, drums, ukulele, trumpet, and he does amazing vocals. To top it all of, he is a God when it comes to song writing and audio engineering. He has always been involved in the song writing process just like Wesley and former band member and friend, Drew Chadwick. Since Emblem3 got dropped from their record label, Keaton has been doing all of the producing and engineering on his own. Major props need to be given to this kid!
Not only does Keaton focus on writing and producing for Emblem3, but he also constantly works for himself. I often wonder how he has any free time or if he ever gets enough sleep. He has produced many of his own amazing songs and posts them on SoundCloud and Youtube. One in particular he spent three years working on. 'The Simple Life' is now one of my favorite songs ever. I could listen to it for the rest of my life and never get tired of it. It was three years of hard work well spent. Other original songs include: You Will Not Be Forgotten, For You, To the Moon and Back, Reach for the Stars, Thought of Her, Do What You Love, and The Best of Me. I can't get enough of any of these songs! He plays the instruments, records the vocals, and then puts it all together all on his own. I can't imagine how much time and effort is put in to his stuff. He literally puts his everything in to his work. I believe that's what makes it so good. His heart and sole are obvious when he performs and records.
Not only does he put out his own work, but he does plenty of covers as well. His most recent was one that I was shocked to hear, but I still loved it. He did a cover for 'Talking Body' and posted it on SoundCloud. He's also done covers of Sweater Weather, Cardiac Arrest, Seaside, We're Going to be Friends, and Somewhere Only We Know. Of course, you can find others if you search the web. It just seems like there is nothing that this kid can't do.
Music isn't his only strong point though. Oh, no. Why would it be? The highlight to Keaton is his personality. For being as well liked and popular as he is at his age, he is very down to earth. He has a great sense of humor that few will fully understand, but everybody loves. He is shy and quiet, yet he can conquer the X-Factor, perform on TV, and in front of thousands with up-most confidence. He always has a positive attitude and spreads it wherever he goes. I've never once seen this kid say something pessimistic unless he was merely joking or it was simply the truth. He is an inspiration, someone to look up to.
My dream is to meet this kid. We have a lot in common and I'm sure we'd be great friends. I don't want to know him because he's famous. I want to know him because he's just such an amazing person. I've never heard of another like him and I don't think anyone ever will. He is one of a kind. He's 18 years old and it seems like he can do anything and everything! He's one of those people that make me wonder what I'm doing with my life. I NEED a Keaton in my life. I want TO BE Keaton. I've never met him, but he's stolen my heart. Love you Keater Pan!



-Please click the links to show Keaton some love! He really does deserve it! :)

Janoskians + Jack and Jack!

The Janoskians have announced that Jack and Jack will be coming with them to what they are calling
'Janofest' which is an arena performance for the Youtubers/musical group. If you are unaware of who The Janoskians are you have been living under a rock. They are a hilarious Youtube comedy group that became famous for their 'Awkward Train Situations' video among other pranking videos. The group reigns from Australia and is actually friends with the other dominate Australian musicians 5 Seconds of Summer. The Janoskians consists of brothers Beau, Luke, and Jai Brooks (Beau is the oldest. Jai and Luke are twins), and their friends James Yammouni and Daniel (Skip) Sayhounie. The five have had huge success in the Youtube field. They have done collaborations with many popular Youtubers including Tyler Oakley, Marcus Butler, PointlessBlog (Alfie Deyes), and Mazzi Maz.
Not only has the group gained popularity on Youtube, but they've also gotten attention from the music industry.
The boys released their first single 'Set This World on Fire' a few years back. It was received so well by the fandom that they later decided to release another song titled 'Best Friends'. Of course, they tried to make it clear that they were not just another boy band. In my opinion they aren't, but in others they are. The fact that they've released three other songs didn't help them ruin the whole boy band image. Judging by the song titles "Real Girls Eat Cake", "This F***ing Song", and "That's What She Said", they aren't exactly serious songs, but they all did fairly well on the singles charts. "That's What She Said", their latest release, was named MTV's Hit of the Week in the summer. The boys' constant success with their tours, videos, and music has led them to the major opportunity to play in an arena.They are bringing along the best boys they could find, Jack and Jack.
If you don't know Jack and Jack, you have been living under a rock too. Jack and Jack started their career out on Vine. They are two of the few Viners who actually made it out of the Vine world and in to the music industry. They have released a ton of singles that have all done fairly well on the charts as well. Their vines are some of the most viewed vines on the app. These two best friends have a talent at what they do, and that's entertaining. Jack Johnson handles the rapping in their songs while Jack Gilinsky memorizes people with his amazing singing talent. They found the most success in their song and video "Wild Life". These two boys have come a long way from where they started and definitely deserve this opportunity.
There's no doubt that The Janoskians + Jack and Jack (Janofest) will be an absolutely amazing show! Not only are both groups talented, but they are also great to look at. The crowd will be jamming to the catchy beats created by Jack and Jack and then lost in the antics of the Janoskians. There is no telling what this show is going to be like, but it's easy to say that whatever happens, it will be entertaining and well worth the time and money everyone put in to. If you have tickets to these shows you are one very lucky person and I would love to be in your shoes!