Category Archives: Artist to Watch

Artist to Watch, Music, On Tour

THE HEYDAZE Announce Summer Tour Dates!

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NYC based trio THE HEYDAZE, part of the iHeartRadio & Macy’s Rising Star lineup for 2014,  haven’t been around for that long but we have no doubts that you’ll be hearing a lot from these guys in the future.  THE HEYDAZE just had their first headlining show at New York’s Webster Hall last week – and it was a sold out show!

We love their catchy pop sound and energy. (Seriously, listen to “Little Bandit” once and you’ll be singing it for the next several days.  We guarantee it.)   Watch the video for their new single “Young Blood” below!

Like what you hear?  You can visit THE HEYDAZE’s Facebook page to download their songs (for free!)  Or catch THE HEYDAZE on the Northeast leg of Jesse McCartney’s “In Technicolor” Tour this summer.   We saw them open for AJR earlier this year, and they are just as fun live as their music.

Check out the dates below!   They hope to see you and all of your beautiful souls there.

https://twitter.com/theheydaze/status/491291927103275008

THE HEYDAZE Summer 2014 Tour Dates with Jesse McCartney
Aug 8th – The Fillmore – Silver Spring, MD – Buy Tickets
Aug 9th – TLA – Philadelphia, PA – Buy Tickets
Aug 12th – Irving Plaza – New York, NY – Buy Tickets
Aug 13th – Paradise Rock Club – Boston, MA – Buy Tickets
Aug 16th – The Paramount – Huntington, NY – Buy Tickets
Aug 17th – The Oakdale Theater – Wallingford, CT – Buy Tickets

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Be sure to follow THE HEYDAZE & Secret Fangirls on Twitter for more updates!

Artist to Watch, Music

Brandyn Burnette Releases Video for “Thanks For Nothing”

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Even if you haven’t heard of Brandyn Burnette yet, chances are you’ve heard one of his songs.   He’s written for artists like MKTO, Jake Miller, and Hot Chelle Rae, just to name a few, including their recent hits like “Heartbreak Holiday,” “First Flight Home” and “Don’t Say Goodnight.”   See what we mean?   Brandyn clearly knows more than a thing or two about writing a catchy pop song, and calls to mind other hit-makers turned solo artists (think Sia, Bruno Mars…)  He is definitely one to watch in 2014!

Brandyn is launching his career as a solo artist, with his first single, “Thanks For Nothing.”   When the song starts, you think it’s going to be a ballad…but then the chorus kicks in and it really packs a punch!   The unexpected, upbeat twist makes for one of the best breakup anthems we’ve ever heard.

Check out the video below and pickup a copy of the single on iTunes now!   Brandyn’s EP, “The Couch Surfing Chronicles” will be released later this fall by Warner Brothers Records.

Be sure to follow Brandyn Burnette & Secret Fangirls on Twitter for more updates!

 

Artist to Watch, Music

Artist To Watch: Derik Fein

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It’s still early in Derik Fein‘s journey into the pop music world and he’s already crushing it!  The Miami, FL native recently performed on NBC,  has a loyal following of over 260,000 “Feiners” on Twitter, and his newest single “Funeral of Hearts” has been enjoying some serious success lately.  Derik blends some unique influences creating incredibly catchy Jason Mraz meets Adam Levine pop music.  The acoustic guitar driven “Funeral Of Hearts” showcases Derik’s guitar work and ability to craft an unforgettable song.  We found ourselves singing along by the end!

Watch the official video for “Funeral of Hearts” below.

You can catch Derik on tour this summer, check out the dates below!  Pickup a copy of “Funeral of Hearts” on iTunes now!

Derik Fein Summer 2014 Tour Dates
July 19th – Bamboo Gardens – Vincentown, NJ – Buy Tickets
July 20th – Wells Fargo Center – Philadelphia, PA – Buy Tickets
Aug 1st – Six Flags Great Adventure – Jackson, NJ – Buy Tickets
Aug 2nd – Inferno Limits – Newark, NJ – Buy Tickets

Be sure to follow Derik Fein & Secret Fangirls on Twitter for more updates!

Artist to Watch, Cody Simpson, Music, On Tour

Artist To Watch: Jackson Harris

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It’s been quite an exciting year for singer Jackson Harris!  Since releasing his debut EP, “Sharks and Vampires” in Feburary, Jackson has opened for artists like Fifth Harmony and Before You Exit, and is currently on tour with Cody Simpson in Europe.  Growing up in NYC, Jackson always knew he wanted to be a musician.  He immersed himself in music, listening to everyone from James Taylor to his sister’s Backstreet Boys albums, and friends’ Fall Out Boy albums.   Fitting right in with today’s DIY pop music trend, Jackson taught himself to play guitar by watching videos of John Mayer on Youtube, and posting his own covers of artists like Taylor Swift and Imagine Dragons.  (de rigueur for pop stars these days!)

Jackson has a versatile sound, and you can hear the range of influences in his songs.  Watch the video for his single “Life Through a Lens” below!

European Tour Dates with Cody Simpson
July 4th – Bord Gais Energy Theatre – Dublin, Ireland
July 5th – Academy 2 – Manchester, England
July 6th – Library – Birmingham, England
July 8th – La Maroquinerie – Paris, France
July 11th – Bikini – Barcelona, Spain
July 12th – Shoko Live – Madrid, Spain
July 14th – Armazem F TMN Ao Vivo – Lisbon, Portugal

He’ll be back in New York for a show on August 12th with Mike Tompkins at the Studio at Webster Hall.   Tickets are on sale now! Pickup a copy of the “Sharks and Vampires” EP on iTunes or Amazon!

Be sure to follow Jackson Harris & Secret Fangirls on Twitter for more updates!

Artist to Watch, Music, On Tour

Shawn Mendes Drops First Single “Life Of The Party”

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Youtube sensation Shawn Mendes, who was just signed to Island Records, released his first single “Life Of The Party!”  Shawn snagged a coveted opening spot for Austin Mahone and The Vamps on tour this summer.  He’s known for his unique covers of artists like Justin Bieber and Lana del Ray, which he posts to his Youtube channel as well as his Vine account.  “Life Of The Party” is Shawn’s first original song to be released, after teasing fans with (what else) Vine and Instagram videos in recent weeks.

Watch the official lyric video below and download it now on iTunes so you can sing along on tour!

Check out all of Shawn’s upcoming dates on the Austin Mahone tour here!

Be sure to follow Shawn Mendes and Secret Fangirls on Twitter for more updates.

Artist to Watch, Music, Secret Fangirls

Artist to Watch: Tiffany Houghton

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We love the pop-country sound of rising singer-songwriter Tiffany Houghton, who was just added to MKTO’s American Dream Tour lineup!  Tiffany has that fresh “early Taylor Swift” sound that we’ve been searching for.  Armed with an acoustic guitar and girl-next-door charm, Tiffany’s catchy, well-crafted songs will have you singing along before the first chorus.  Tiffany moved to Nashville at the age of 17, and has spent time songwriting and honing her craft.  We’re sure you’ll be hearing a lot more from this girl in the future!

Watch the video for her new single, “17 Again,” below, which was inspired by one of our favorite movies,”Breakfast at Tiffany’s.”

Tiffany teamed up with ConcertBlogger.com for a performance of “Band Boy,” which she wrote about her weakness for boys in bands after getting home from a concert one night.  This song is pretty much every fangirl’s anthem.  We especially love the line “fangirls love band boys and band boys love fan girls!”

Be sure to follow Tiffany Houghton & Secret Fangirls on Twitter for more updates!

Artist to Watch, Boy Bands, Music

Artist To Watch: Phase V

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Phase V is truly a modern boy band, or as they call themselves an “urban-pop boy band.”   We love that they are a boy band in the classic sense of the word:  They sing, they dance, they sing while they dance – they’ve got it!  (The right stuff.)  Phase V’s brand new single, “Drop It” is out now and it’s everything you need in a summer jam.   As fangirls of 90s boy bands, it’s safe to say that Phase V might be our new favorite artist to come out the recent 90s resurgence.

Be sure to pick up a copy of Phase V’s “Drop It” on iTunes and Amazon.  Watch the official video below.

We hope these guys go on tour soon (and play in NYC) because we’re going to need to experience their smooth harmonies and sharp dance moves in person!   They also did a cover of Justin Timberlake’s “Not a Bad Thing,” which we’ve always said would sound great with a 5-part harmony.

Follow Phase V & Secret Fangirls on Twitter for more updates!

Artist to Watch, Music

Wild Party Announce Debut Album “Phantom Pop” Out October 7th

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One of the five finalists in the iHeartRadio and Macy’s Rising Star Contest, Wild Party, just announced their debut album will be released on October 7th.  You can pre-order the album on iTunes now and get a download of the single “When I Get Older!”
Check out a tweet from the band below featuring the album art!

If that’s not enough, Wild Party are going on tour this summer!  Check out the dates below.

Wild Party Summer Tour Dates
** w/ Andrew McMahon
June 21st – Macy’s Northridge – Northridge, CA – More Info
June 25th – Bootleg Bar – Los Angeles, CA – Buy Tickets
July 9th – Tricky Falls – El Paso, TX – Buy Tickets
July 10th – The Rhythm Room – Scottsdale, AZ – Buy Tickets
July 12th – Club Sound – Salt Lake City, UT – Buy Tickets  **
July 13th – Aggie Theater – Ft. Collins, CO  – Buy Tickets   **
July 14th – The Black Sheep – Colorado Springs, CO – Buy Tickets  **
July 16th – The Slow Down – Omaha, NE – But Tickets  **
July 17th – The Castle Theater – Bloomington, IN – Buy Tickets  **
July 19th – Schubas Tavern – Chicago, IL – Buy Tickets  **
August 8th – Stone Pony – Asbury Park, NJ – Buy Tickets  **
August 9th – Chameleon Club – Lancaster, PA – Buy Tickets  **
August 30th – Grand Junction Off Road, Grand Junction, CO – More Info

Listen to “When I Get Older” below.

Be sure to vote for Wild Party in the iHeartRadio Macy’s Rising Star Contest – it’s the last week to vote!

Don’t forget to follow Wild Party & Secret Fangirls on Twitter for more on your favorite artists.

Artist to Watch, Music, Secret Fangirls

Olivia Somerlyn: SomerLover Meetup in NYC!

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Attention NYC SomerLovers:  Olivia Somerlyn is having a meetup in NYC this Friday, June 20th!

Olivia’s music is super fun to dance to and definitely the perfect summer soundtrack.  Her new single “Parachute” (co-written/produced by none other than Nick Jonas) is out now on iTunes and Amazon.
Come out to a Somerlover meet up and you’ll know why Olivia is the sweetest popstar to emerge in recent years!

We hope you’ve been voting for Olivia in the Macy’s and iHeartRadio Rising Star Contest — this is the final week to vote!

Be sure to follow Olivia Somerlyn & Secret Fangirls on Twitter for more updates!

 

Artist to Watch, Boys We Like, Music, Show Review, The Vamps

MTV Artist to Watch: The Vamps at Highline Ballroom in NYC!

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British band The Vamps (yes band, NOT a boy band) played to a sold out crowd at NYC’s Highline Ballroom on Sunday.  The show was part of the MTV Artist to Watch Series, which has recently featured artists such as Austin Mahone and Hunter Hayes.   We were thrilled to have the chance to see them again!   This wasn’t their first time playing in NYC:  Back in February, they played the Gramercy Theatre with AJR.  Since then, The Vamps released their debut album “Meet The Vamps,” which has been as high as #2 on the charts in the UK, and have been all over the world in support of their album.

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The quartet, Bradley Simpson (lead vocals, guitar), James McVey (lead guitar), Connor Ball (bass) and Tristan Evans (drums) really mesh well together considering they found each other via social media about 3 years ago!  Each member has their own unique style and musical taste (James for example is a fan of country stars like Dan + Shay), yet the music The Vamps create is pure, catchy pop rock at its best.  The band’s musicianship, harmonies, and talent show that  this group is more than just another band creating a frenzy among teenage girls.

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Their high energy performance had the crowd dancing from start to finish!  The Vamps’ set featured all of their singles, including the latest “Somebody To You,” and the first song the band ever wrote together, “She Was The One.”  The crowd was singing along to every word, which is impressive for a band whose album hasn’t even been released in the US yet!    They have a great stage presence, interacting with each other and also with the lucky fans in the front row!

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The Vamps also performed solid covers of The Killers’ “Mr. Brightside,” Simon and Garfunkel’s “Cecilia,” and a fun, rock version of Jason Derulo’s “Trumpet.”   When the crowd started chanting “take it off,” Tristan turned it into a jam session showcasing all of their musical talents, as Brad told the audience “let’s make some music together!”   If you haven’t met The Vamps yet, get ready:  they are most definitely the Artist to Watch in 2014!

Setlist:
Wild Heart
Last Night
Somebody To You
She Was The One
Mr. Brightside (cover)
Girls on TV
Trumpets (cover)
Can We Dance
Cecilia (cover)

Watch our video of The Vamps performing “Somebody To You” and check out our Youtube & Tumblr for more photos & video from the show!

 

If you’re in NYC, you can meet The Vamps and catch an acoustic set at Planet Hollywood tonight!  If not, be sure to tune into their livestream at 6PM today…they’ll be making a big announcement you don’t want to miss! 

The Vamps will be touring the US with Austin Mahone all summer long!  Check out the dates here and get a copy of “Wild Heart” on iTunes!

Be sure to follow The Vamps & The Secret Fangirls on Twitter for more updates!