Pitbull always claims he's "Mr. Worldwide." That may be true in some circles, but if you've followed the career of Matthew Koma thus far, the distinction clearly belongs to him as well. Within the last year, the emerging solo artist played Coachella, Ultra Music Festival, iTunes Festival London, and EDC Las Vegas to name a few. Want further proof? He seemingly has more hits than Ichiro Suzuki.
The budding DJ/musician/producer is behind some of the biggest EDM smashes over the last few years including the #1 Billboard single and Grammy-award winning song "Clarity" (co-written with Zedd), Tiesto's "Wasted," and Showtek's "Cannonball (Earthquake)". Oh, and he's also featured and co-written with such acts as Giorgio Moroder, Steve Aoki, Afrojack, and Audien. That list goes on like a windmill so I'll stop there.
Earlier this month, RCA Records announced the signing of the New York-bred music master to a solo deal, and released his debut single "So F**kin' Romantic." Fittingly, your ears have been or will be hearing a f**kin' lot of it on the airwaves. Last week, Koma performed the track and sat down for a chat at Primary Wave in NYC. Watch it exclusively on ThisIsAsides.com right now.
We move from a New York native going worldwide to a New Yorker going home to her Nebraskan roots.
Tomorrow, singer/songwriter Heidi Merrill will release her single "Cornhusker Strong," an anthem that celebrates her state and the unwavering love of their football team. Nebraskans, by the way, don't have a professional sports team to call their own so they live and breathe this celebrated college franchise.
Merrill's song, which she co-wrote with Jeff Cohen (Sugarland, The Band Perry) and Tamara Stewart, evokes the era of country songs entering the pop world --- think Shania Twain's rise in the late 1990s and Carrie Underwood's reign in the mid-2000s. Actually, with her pop-friendly country twang, Merrill sort of sounds a lot like a cross between the two artists.
In any event, Merrill recently performed "Cornhusker Strong" and another song off her upcoming debut EP Home Grown (out later this fall) for A-Sides. Like to hear it? Go here now.
A-Sides "Delve Into Twelve" Countdown
Each week A-Sides unleashes its top 12 tracks of the week AKA the "Delve Into Twelve" based on the following contributing factors: songs I'm playing out that particular week (no matter when they were released -- think overlooked songs, unreleased tracks and old favorites), songs various publicists are trying to get me to listen to that I did and dug a bunch, song posts and trends I've noticed on my friends' Facebook walls and, most importantly: what my toddler is currently enjoying thoroughly with an assist from my newborn.
*Note this is for the week of Aug. 10 *
About A-Sides with Jon Chattman: Jon Chattman's music series features celebrities and artists (established or not) from all genres performing a track, and discussing what it means to them. This informal series focuses on the artist making art in a low-threatening, extremely informal (sometime humorous) way. No bells, no whistles -- just the music performed in a random, low-key setting followed by an unrehearsed chat. In an industry where everything often gets overblown and over manufactured, Jon strives for a refreshing change. Artists featured on the series include Imagine Dragons, Melissa Etheridge, Air Supply, Joe Perry, Alice Cooper, fun, Bleachers, Charli XCX, Marina and the Diamonds and Bastille.
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