Today's Pick

Dutch genre-chameleon Sander Van Doorn, currently the world's number 12 DJ, has unleashed the music video for his official new single, "Love Is Darkness," which features the lovely vocals from Carol Lee, an excellent blend of sexy vocals along with an exciting techno-trance beat that'll keep you on your feet. The song claim both singers and they test out the theory in a steamy video about an afternoon tryst complete with lacy lingerie, claw-footed bathtubs, vintage turntables, manual typewriters, and other romantic accouterments—just in time for Valentine's Day, of course.
The first ever, vocally infused song from genius producer Sander, is about to break and by the sound of it, it's gonna break big. "Love is Darkness" is the new vocal masterpiece, and is also a theme that each person on the planet can immediately relate to. Much like love itself, the song is built on a simple idea, building and becoming more intertwined and complex. With "Love is Darkness," Sander effectively marries an unexpected, perfectly original vocal with his own, uncontrived, perfectly original musicality. He carries on his tradition of vocal abilities and continues to try his own voice at self-producing the track. A marriage made in Heaven as they say.
With the songs warm wash of perpetual melody, anchored by angelic strings and a bassline that teasingly ebbs and flows, it could be just another beautiful tune. But it aint. After all, this is a Sander production, and his first commandment is 'thou shall not anticipate.' With jagged sincerity, songwriter Carol Lee expresses the painful and raw fragility within every fractured relationship. "I know it's over, but I'm still waiting for another chance, one more change of heart." But if you were expecting a love song, you better move along. This song is an anthematic, shiver inducing, big room wrecker that will have fans all over the world reaching for the sky and singing along. A soundsystem or two may also be inadvertently destroyed, one of the innocent victims of unrequited love.
Sander excels at versatility on his latest track, offering up some new features to appeal to the EDM demographic, songs for the lovers, and tunes for pained hearts. "Love is Darkness" captures all of the emotions experienced in a rough breakup, this song will have you pushing the boundaries of your speakers and takes our emotions into the deep and 'dark' side of love that we usually have trouble expressing. Carol Lee, vocally expresses the torn relationship that lives among every being. Sander tweaked a little light melody yet still keeps his bass-line reputation throughout the track, that easily means the track seems dedicated to those romantic moments vs 'the dark side,' to keep things moving along at a decent pace.

You don't want to miss this video from Black River Entertainment recording artist Sarah Darling, just released on Friday! So 'If You Need Something To Do With Your Hands,' play this video! The video will feature TNA Wrestling champion A.J. Styles as her 'handyman.' "For this particular role, we wanted to bring in someone with notable star power, and who better than a pro wrestling star?" says Darling. "Millions of wrestling fans are going to freak out when we debut and they see A.J. in his handyman suit!"
For an Iowa small-town girl who moved to Nashville knowing no one, Darling is thrilled with the way everything is falling into place. Her sounds like Lee Ann Womack meets Fleetwood Mac, and has romantic evening plans for her hard-working man in "Something to Do With Your Hands," the first single from her upcoming sophomore album "Angels and Devils." The song follows the fan-demanded release of Darling's cover of U2's "With or Without You." The extremely poppy song features a rubbery bass line and very innocent-sounding background vocals. So much so, in fact, that the extremely mature nature of young Darling's plans, never mind what she's planning to wear, come as a bit of a surprise.
Unlike the mannequin she portrayed in Big & Rich's "Save A Horse, Ride A Cowboy" video, Darling is vibrant and alive through her music. On her 2009's debut album, "Every Monday Morning," this 26-year old midwesterner writes songs she says are true stories of her life. "Most of what I wrote for the album comes out of the last three years and the things I've gone through after breaking up with my boyfriend. It's amazing what love can do," she says, adding, "After people hear my music they think they know me. When people listen to my record, they realize that my songs are open and honest, and they're able to relate."
Already recognized as one of the country music's most expressive vocalists, Darling emerges as an equally eloquent songwriter in her new album, "Angels and Devils," for nearly two years. "I've basically spent two years visiting country radio stations and singing at fairs and festivals," she says. "But I feel like I'm always making an album." The "Angels and Devils," featuring 11 tracks on two discs, will be available in stores and digital outlets on next Tuesday, February 15, and can be expected to hit the road in support of the new album shortly.

A beautiful woman with luscious body, Nicole Scherzinger makes sure to tease her asset to her fans. After posing as a venomous woman and kicking bad guys as superhero costume in a telephone booth of the first single "Poison" video, the 32-year-old singer now strips at the back of her ride, and has released a music video for her follow up new bouncy pop song "Don't Hold Your Breath," which is a simple, melodious, easy on the ear, catchy with an electro-pop/dance beat and voila, shows her vulnerable side. She cries over a break-up, wailing on a moving car but never looking back at what she left.
Poor pussycat doll! Scherzinger looks like she lapped up some sour milk in the video for her upcoming UK single "Don't Hold Your Breath," that sampled a song originally written by Timbaland and Keri Hilson and was remixed by Dave Aude, is expected to make the second cut to Scherzinger's first solo studio album which was supposed to be out in 2008 and suffered a lot of push-backs. Although the message is clear, "Don't Hold Your Breath" is fairly uptempo for a gloomy song. The song's title may also have a correlation to the infinitely delayed debut album, which will apparently finally hit the shelves later this year. Or maybe next year?
Against her advice, you can at least do so until she finishes changing her clothes in the taxi scene. Offering self-empowered visuals, the Rich Lee-directed video sees the former lead Pussycat Doll singer struggling to cope with her broken heart, and shows her acting skills by portraying a very depressed, bitter and angry girlfriend who has taken a long taxi ride back home after having her heart broken by her lover. Doing a full 180-turn, director Rich Lee transforms the sexy Dancing With The Stars winner from the luscious, red-hot woman in "Poison" into a depressed and angry ex-girlfriend. Lee chose an abandoned house backdrop to suggest the haunting memories of a shattered relationship.
Her latest pop offering is about leaving a bad relationship behind. But in the video for "Don't Hold Your Breath," Scherzinger ensures the unnamed gentleman she sings about knows exactly what he's missing. She rides around in the clip in the backseat of a car while it's raining, looking properly angst-ridden over a boy who apparently only brought her "a heart full of pain." Despite the saucy images, "Don't Hold Your Breath" is an angst-ridden break-up song. The video was one of those self-empowered visuals after a woman encounters a break-up. It started decent but would have made for a better clip if it had a storyline or some type of concept.

Today's Pick is one of those independent artists that I think you should hear. After traveling the globe as Moby's female vocalist, Kelli Scarr now has her own superb debut release, "Piece," on Silence Breaks. The Brooklyn, NY singer has an incredible voice and live it's simply breathtaking. With a varied music background, that took her from California to Boston, then Brooklyn, her newest Matthew Nourse-directed video for the tune "Break Up," is a highlight of "Piece" among many such highlights.
This Berklee College of Music-trained singer-songwriter has had music in her bones from a very early age, showing a love of singing at the tender age of three whence upon she began recording her young vocalizations with a little hand-held tape recorder. She got her big break when Moby took notice of her work and invited her to work with him on his 2009 album, "Wait For Me." From her time with indie darlings Moonraker, to her collaboration and touring with Moby, to her Emmy-nominated compositions for HBO's "In a Dream." Scarr's artistic accomplishments are, like her voice, impossible to ignore.
Throughout "Piece," Scarr imbues her simple songs with depth: from the wistful Brother to the achy and vulnerable "Break Up." The heavy reverb gives her music a retro sense that comes to feel timeless. It's her voice and the music together that create an ethereal beauty. A rich burgundy wine would complete the mood. In the end "Piece" reflected a large portion of Scarr's life and those around her. In songs like "Break Up," we hear soulful piano filled country that despite its easy digestion never feels impersonal or heavy handed. From the sounds of her creaky upright piano and midnight acoustic recordings to the whimpers of her son waking up from a nap in the next room, "Piece" captured an extremely personal journey, providing a photo album's worth of lush images.
In a word, "Piece" is catharsis for Scarr. With these melodies, she can give order to the events that once felt so terribly chaotic. The genius of it, though, lies in Scarr's ability to hang the listener on his seat, wondering what images from his own life her next lyric might conjure. Her solo debut will leave an ache in your heart, for sure. It's as sad as friendly faces frozen for eternity inside cracked picture frames or once cherished toys gathering dust in the attic. It's authentic Americana with a whole lotta soul. Scarr's is a smouldering smoky voice backed by vibrant, elegant playing and enough trinkets and sparkle to fill Aladdin's Cave. Like the best stories, "Piece" is one you'll want to hear over. Don't let it go unheard.

Nottingham-born soul musician Liam Bailey returns to the cafe and gives SoulCulture the exclusive premiere of his official video for "You Better Leave Me," the lead single from his forthcoming self-penned, Salaam Remi-produced debut LP, "Out of the Shadows" will be released on Polydor in May. Ben Newman delivers a unique performance video for new soul sensation Bailey. Set in a speakeasy style club we see Hotly-tipped singer songwriter perform to couples in different stages of a love.
I know I bang on and on about how great British music is, but there really are some undiscovered gems just waiting for an opportunity to make themselves heard. Bailey is definitely one of the lucky ones, having been found by the soul musician Amy Winehouse, releasing two EPs, and now getting a major deal for his upcoming full-length LP. The first single, "You Better Leave Me," has Remi's signature production style but with a little dub thrown into the mix and Bailey's husky, rich vocals running over the top. The video, while visually pleasing, isn't anything out of the ordinary, but that kind of works as it leaves Bailey's vocals to take center stage. Definitely one to watch.
The up-and-coming UK soul man first caught the attention of the public and media alike with the release of two EPs last year: "2am Rough Tracks" and "So Down, Cold." These intriguing snapshots, recorded very simply with just Bailey and his guitar, showcased the raw tenderness of his unique vocal and heartfelt, emotional storytelling. Both EPs were released on Winehouse's Lioness Records. The "Back to Black" singer first heard Bailey's music through a mutual friend and felt so connected with its stripped back emotion that she was compelled to contact him. They bonded immediately. All the EP tracks were recorded late at night with the emphasis firmly on getting up close and personal with Bailey and his guitar.
"You Better Leave Me" is hotly-tipped singer songwriter's first official legit single and will be available digitally on March 13, also featuring a Shy FX remix. Bailey was full of energy, charged up about his new single "You Better Leave Me" and rightfully so. Full of melancholy soul, it's blues steeped in 70's funk-rock. Such is the breadth of his talent and appeal that Bailey also hooked up with urban stars Chase & Status and is the guest vocalist on their new single "Blind Faith." British soul may have just found its first authentic male voice of the decade.

American rock band Panic! At the Disco are back in all their hyper-dramatic emo-pop glory and picks up steam yesterday with the debut of its "The Ballad of Mona Lisa" across all of MTV's platforms. Written by lead singer Brendon Urie, the mid-tempo rocker in lieu of a ballad, "The Ballad of Mona Lisa," is the first single composed for the Grammy-nominated group's third album, "Vices & Virtues," It proved to be an inspiration for the production of "Vices & Virtues." Urie wrote the song dealing with his own personal convictions and struggles. The track is a typical cheeky, up-tempo pop/punk anthem, but the video shows a darker side.
The song also marked the debut of Panic's new two-man lineup after the exit of Ryan Ross and Jon Walker, leaving as the remaining duo singer/multi-instrumentalist Urie and drummer Spencer Smith. "On the surface it can seem like just the story of drama between a guy and a girl," explains Urie. "But it's really about what I've been going through, an inner-struggle within myself, and fighting the dualities of my personality -- the side that fucks everything up and destroys everything and the other side that tries to pick up the slack. It's all growing pains." The song was also inspired by Urie's move from Las Vegas, Nevada, where he's lived his entire life, to Santa Monica, California with Panic! Smith. Urie notes that the move was "a huge part of growing up."
Featuring a top hat, pews, and a church setting to Urie's costume and various camera shots, the steampunk-themed video for song was directed by Shane Drake and produced by Brandon Bonfiligo. The video documents the steps for preparing and displaying a body before burial in the Victorian era, from shutting the windows and covering up mirrors to laying the body out in white so loved ones could mourn. A young woman is also present, mourning the recently deceased. The body is finally show to be Urie's, whose ghost has been wandering around at his own wake. He finally makes contact with a young child and directs her to a note in his corpse's pocket, naming his murderer as the young woman. The woman tries to escape, only to be caught by the crowd and taken away while Urie's ghost watches and is pleased. The League of STEAM's full ensemble cast appear in key roles in the video.
Musically, the song is similar to those produced for the band's 2005 debut album, "A Fever You Can't Sweat Out," however, Urie explained in a recent interview that the song represented more of a new beginning. Urie said "It was a new start when Spencer and I started writing, so it was gonna end up sounding different, sonically." The track has received positive reviews upon its release, has described it as "an anthemic power-rock ballad with dark and personal undertones," and Panic! swung the song's sinister faux-cabaret verses into an absolutely towering chorus. The the song's sound as "bringing fans back to the sound they were introduced to when the band first broke onto the scene. Old school Panic! rocks! Enjoy.

Dutch female-fronted symphonic metallers Within Temptation's music video in abutment of their new distinct "Faster" has aloof fabricated its way out. It was released as a short movie "Mother Maiden", introducing the main character played by British actress Dawn Mastin. The "Faster" video is visually vivid, and has a graphic novel and noir film pastiche to it. Check out the Spider-Man like creepy-crawlers in the opening frame.
Within Temptation was founded in 1996 by the couple, frontwoman vocalist Sharon den Adel and rhythm guitarist Robert Westerholt. They have come a long way in the last fourteen years. From their humble beginnings, the band have now making them not only Holland's biggest selling musical export but also one of the biggest rock acts internationally. Released on January 21, "Faster" is serves as the lead from the metal/rock band's long-awaited new concept album "The Unforgiving," to be released on March 29. The album is released alongside both a comic book series and a series of short films that together encompass a story.
The first short film revolves around a powerful medium, "Mother Maiden," as she recruits lost souls to be part of her wraith task-force to fight evil in all its forms. She offers the "remorseful souls" an opportunity to "make right what is wrong" by giving them missions and assignments to hunt down evil as a penance for their previous sins. It ties in with "Faster," introducing the main characters of the narrative. These movies give further insight into the concept of "The Unforgiving" and are based on the comic book storyline that has been unfolding on the band's site. Each film is followed by a band performance that, all together, form a dark and compelling tale of life, love, revenge, rage and regret.
Westerholt said on band's official site that: "'Faster' is a song which surprised ourselves. It's a very fresh new sound wrapped around the 80'ties heart and soul of the track. 'Faster' reflects one of the many musical roots we have. Combined with the modern influences on our new album, it's like the past and future created the present." The edited music video, part of the "Faster & Mother Maiden Short Film" is the first of three short films to be released this year. It consists of the band playing a shortened version of the song with clips of the first short film. The following day, the first short film, "Mother Maiden," was released. This release included an extended version of the "Faster" video without the clips but with the guitar solo.