Expect the UK producer Wilkinson to fill many a dance floor this fall with the latest single ‘Afterglow.’ The South West London DJ began his musical career at the age of 16. His debut album Lazers Not Included is scheduled for release on 28th Oct. It includes earlier singles ‘Need to Know,’ ‘Take You Hight’ and ‘Heartbeat.’ A video for ‘Afterglow’ just bowed on VEVO.
Wilkinson – Afterglow
The new single is available via iTunes in a special remix package as well as Spotify.According to the eminent music blog Get Lifted Tonight, the Adele-esque singer on ‘Afterglow’ is Becky Hill. Beginning with a piano, the track turns into a great drum and bass track.
Wilkinson has been awarded the National D&B Awards as the Breakthrough Producer, and is regularly played on BBC Radio 1 by DJs such as Annie Mac, Nick Grimeshaw and Zane Lowe.
In the ‘90s, Meja recorded the hit singles ‘All ‘Bout the Money’ and ‘Private Emotion’ and now she’s back. ‘Blame It on the Shadows’ precedes the upcoming EP ‘Stroboscope Sky,’ which is set to debut in mid-December. Written by Meja and Nicolas Gunthardt, production is handled by Ebbot Lundberg (former singer of The Soundtrack of Our Lives).
Née Anna Pernilla Torndahl in 1969, she re-named herself Meja at the age of three. It became a legal registered name in Sweden in 1976.
She was initially a background singer for the Swedish group Rob n Raz DLC in 1991.Moving to the US in the early 90s, she returned to Sweden forming the dance project Legacy of Sound.
The 1994 Legacy of Sound album Tour de Force included the track ‘The Woman in Me’ which was recorded by Jessica Simpson featuring Destiny’s Child on the former’s album Sweet Kisses (1999).
Legacy of Sound – Happy
‘All ‘Bout the Money’ International Breakthrough
Her eponymous debut album from 1996 was followed by the 1998 sophomore set Seven Sisters. Meja worked with famous industry gurus such as Billy Steinberg, Jörgen Elofsson and Douglas Carr. It included ‘All ‘Bout the Money,’ which became an international hit. The track was actually featured in the Chevy Chase movie Funny Money back in 2006.
Ricky Martin featuring Meja – Private Emotion
‘All ‘Bout the Money’ spent 24 weeks on the Swedish singles chart, peaking at No.4. The set was later issued in the US by the Columbia C2 label. In 1999, Meja hit the charts with the Ricky Martin collaboration ‘Private Emotion.’ The track was written by Rob Hyman and Eric Baziian, while production was handled by by Desmond Child.
Celebrating her 20th anniversary in the music business, Meja says on her home page that she will introduce new collaborators, new music and a new vibe.
Listen to Meja’s ‘Blame it on the Shadows’ via Spotify
Expect to hear more from Toni Braxton as she re-unites with Babyface on the Stateside hit ‘Hurt You.’ Currently sitting at No.6 on the Billboard Adult R&B chart (Oct.12), the track precedes the upcoming duet album Love, Marriage & Divorce (set to bow this December).
Dueted with Babyface on Debut Single
Back in 1992, the Atlanta-born vocalist launched her career with the help of the Babyface duet ‘Give U My Heart.’ The track was featured on the soundtrack to the Eddie Murphy movie Boomerang. ‘Give U My Heart’ was actually the first single taken off the set, but was over-shadowed by Boyz II Men’s monster hit ‘End of the Road.’ The soundtrack also contained another Braxton hit (‘Love Shoulda Brought You Home’), which was also co-penned by Babyface alongside Daryl Simmons and Bo Watson.
In addition to the aforementioned hits, Babyface has penned the following (more or less successful) tracks for Toni Braxton.
‘Another Sad Love Song’
‘Breathe Again’
‘Let It Flow’
‘Seven Whole Days’
‘You Mean the World to Me’
‘You’re Makin’ Me High’
Un-Break My Heart, Biggest Hit
Most Swedes are familiar with Toni Braxton’s (by far) largest hit ‘Un-Break My Heart.’ Penned by Diane Warren and produced by David Foster , the track was included on Braxton’s sophomore set Secrets. Issued in July 1996, the single topped the Billboard Hot 100 for eleven weeks. Despite becoming a world-wide hit (it was No.1 in Sweden), the track peaked at No.2 in the UK.
Toni Braxton – Un-Break My Heart
Toni Braxton has sold more than 66mn records worldwide. In addition to releasing the album with Babyface, both of them are scheduled to appear in the upcoming Broadway musical After Midnight. Hopefully, the re-newed push will put some well deserved international spotlight on Toni Braxton. Her recent releases have made some impact on the US charts. She placed ‘I Heart You’ atop the Dance/Club Songs chart last year, a track co-written and produced by the previous Mint Condition member Keri Lewis. Braxton’s most recent album was the 2010 set Pulse, including the singles ‘Yesterday, ‘Hands Tied’ and ‘Make My Heart.’
Sweden’s Adele – Miriam Bryant – will perform on Tuesday’s Allsång på Skansen
Dubbed Sweden’s Adele, the 22-year old singer Miriam Bryant will perform on Tuesday’s edition of Allsång på Skansen*. The music program, hosted by pop singer Måns Zelmerlöw usually attracts a +1m audience and was covered in the WelcheMusic blog back in 2011.
With a voice that definitely captures any audience, Miriam Bryant earned a top 20 hit in Sweden earlier this year with ‘Push Play.’ Her first single via EMI Music**, the song preceded the debut album Raised in Rain. Both the single and the album peaked at No.12 upon their respective release.
Safe to say, a nationwide audience and a summer atmosphere I wouldn’t be surprised if Miriam Bryant elevates her success in the same way Melody Gardot did on Skavlan a few years back. Bryant’s career started with the debut single ‘Finders, Keepers’ via the record label 100 Songs last year. The track managed to climb the German radio charts and led to a sold-out club tour there.
Born in Gothenburg, Miriam Bryant’s father is British and mother Finnish. Her album is co-written and produced by childhood friend Victor Rådström.
‘Finders, Keepers’ is about a broken relationship and Miriam Bryant calls it ‘an angry love song’ about letting go in an interview with Aftonbladetahead of the release of her debut album. In a recent interview, she reveals that no one but Bryant herself calls the shots. Everything from cover art to the script to the music video. Chatting with reporter Frida Söderlund, she’s proud of her achievements. The sold out club tour in Germany, awarded ‘Artist of the Week’ by MTV Iggy in the US and a No.4 hit on Swedish iTunes with ‘Push Play.’
She had a rough time and didn’t pass her major subject musical theater in upper secondary school. She felt alone, ugly and different. And she refused o sing, scared to disappoint people.
Miriam Bryant’s singing voice earned her a worldwide contract with EMI Music. Today part of the Universal Music group, I sincerely hope that she will get a well deserved international breakthrough. It’s her Allsång på Skansen premiere, and other guests this Tuesday are Danny Saucedo and Eurovision Song Contest winner Emmelie de Forest.
Miriam Bryant – Push Play
*This Tuesday, 1.6m viewers watched Allsång på Skansen
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