Ruth B: Lost Boy + Golden

Born and raised in Edmonton, Ethiopian-Canadian Ruth Berhe aka Ruth B was inspired to post a six-second clip on her Vine profile in late 2014 after binge watching the popular American TV series Once Upon a Time. Up until then she had focused on doing covers, but thousands of fellow Vine users began encouraging her to compose a complete song, using her original line, advice that she wisely took to heart. The result was the beautiful ballad "Lost Boy" which was included on her debut four-track EP, 'The Intro', released in November 2015 on Columbia. (A debut full-length will drop later this year or in early 2017. )

Blessed with a flawless voice and impressive pianist skills, the singer-songwriter who turns 21 on July 2 has already done a few live shows in the U.S. and has also performed on American daytime TV.  As of today, she has two shows coming up, but no doubt many more will be added following her album release.

The official "Lost Boy" video was published in May and is by UK director Emil Nava, now U.S. based.

Last November and December, four live performance videos were uploaded: one for each of the stellar tracks on her EP: "Golden", "Superficial Love", "Two Poor Kids" and "Lost Boy".




https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-intro-ep/id1058970671

https://www.facebook.com/RuthBMusic/app/123966167614127/?ref=page_internal

http://emilnava.com/projects.html

Two Door Cinema Club: Are We Ready? (Wreck)

Many bands have broken up due to severe burn out, often caused by constant touring. After reaching this point, Two Door Cinema Club wisely opted for a very long break before regrouping and recording their third studio album "Gameshow", their first full-length since "Beacon" was released in 2012.

The Bangor, Northern Ireland trio won't be dropping the new collection of songs until October 14, but the lads have published the outstanding teaser track "Are We Ready? (Wreck)" to whet our appetites; hopefully a regular music video will follow the June 14 audio upload.

UPDATE: A comic video of the nightmarish kind was published July 6; the clip was directed by Auckland based director duo Sean Wallace and Jordan Dodson aka Thunderlips.

The band's busy summer and fall festival tour began June 3 in the U.S. and will also conclude in the U.S., with two weekend performances at the annual Austin City Limits Music Festival September 30 - October 2 & October 7 - 9. In between they'll be playing a string of shows in the UK, continental Europe and Asia. (Note: TDCC are also part of this year's Lollapalooza lineup in Chicago July 30)



http://twodoorcinemaclub.com/   (includes tour schedule)

https://www.facebook.com/twodoorcinemaclub

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/are-we-ready-wreck-single/id1124094348

http://www.goodegghq.com/thunderlips/

In Tribute To The Pulse Victims: Les Twins & Yumi Kurosawa Performing In Kyoto

Since Sunday I've been thinking of what to post to honor the many murdered and wounded at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando. Eventually I decided on a video that I've watched numerous times since last year. I chose it simply because of its beauty: the dancing, the music, the costumes, the location, the mood.

The stunning clip features 27-year-old French-Guadeloupean identical twin brothers Laurent and Larry Bourgeois aka renowned Parisian dance duo Les Twins performing in 2015 in Kyoto with acclaimed Japanese NYC based koto player Yumi Kurosawa.


https://www.facebook.com/OfficialLesTwins

https://www.facebook.com/yumikurok/

Jon Bellion: All Time Low + Run Wild

After putting out four excellent mixtapes between 2011 and 2014, Jon Bellion is ready to drop his regular debut full-length.The 25-year-old Long Island artist recorded the album at the legendary Capitol Studios in Hollywood; fittingly, it is Capitol Records which will be releasing "The Human Condition" (June 10).

Several teaser singles as well as a video to go with the track "Guillotine" came out earlier in the year. In addition to that clip, two outstanding live performance videos, also recorded at Capitol, were published: "All Time Low" is off the new album; "Run Wild" is taken from his 2014 mixtape 'The Definition'. 

Unfortunately, the stellar singers and musicians in the two studio performance clips are not credited in the video notes.

Bellion kicks off his U.S. summer tour in support of the album on June 20 at Royale in Boston and wraps it up with two shows at Webster Hall in NYC July 29 and 30. (the July 29 date is sold out.)

One show in Toronto is scheduled for July 26.


https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-human-condition/id1111702597

https://soundcloud.com/jonbellion

http://www.jonbellion.com/  (incl. tour schedule)

https://www.facebook.com/jonbellion

Yuna: Crush (Featuring Usher)

A big star in her native Malaysia for just over a decade, 29-year-old singer-songwriter Yunalis Mat Zara'ai aka Yuna has also had some degree of success in the U.S. and Europe. Released May 20, her fourth studio full-length 'Chapters' however may be the album that provides her with the exposure she needs to truly blow up world wide.

A decidedly smart career move is dropping a single featuring Usher who also co-wrote "Crush" (Note: Mac Robinson and Brian Warfield are also listed as co-writers). The song is like an audio version of to-die-for Italian ice cream on a sizzling hot summer day: meticulously crafted, ultra smooth, and impossible to resist.

The excellent video perfectly captures the mad pace of modern city life slowing down for a few precious moments; the clip was shot by Los Angeles based director Daniel Carberry.

Yuna who splits her time between L.A. and Kuala Lumpur regularly tours and has just finished a string of gigs in North America. In September she has several shows scheduled in continental Europe plus one in London.



https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/chapters/id1086204066

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/chapters-deluxe/id1086213833

http://www.yunamusic.com/tour

https://www.facebook.com/yunamusic/

http://danielcarberry.com/