[Free Music] Take A Listen To (And Download) Independent Artist Vanessa Elisha's "Don't Go" EP

Received an email from an Australian up-and-coming Diva called Vanessa Elisha. Always one to try and shine a little light on new and independent talent, I thought it was only right that I make a post for her new EP, Don't Go.

With a dark Rnb sound that isn't dissimilar to that featured on Tinashe's excellent Reverie mixtape, Vanessa has compiled an EP of beautifully atmospheric tracks. With a voice that shares qualities with both Mya and JoJo, the vocals are kept breezy and light for most of this EP- which is actually respectful to the production. So don't expect your head to be blown off by big notes and crazy runs. But if you do want to hear Vanessa stretch her voice a little more, take a listen to the ad-libs on the closing track Blur. They hint at there still being more to come from this singer-songwriter.

I really love this era of music. No longer does an artist have to faff about with record labels to showcase their talent to a wider audience. Now a person, anywhere, can get on the net, upload their creations and the world is (potentially) their audience. The internet has effectively democratised music- and it's awesome!  Keep doing your thing, Ms. Elisha!

[Watch] Ariana Grande Vocally Impresses @ Ellen With Live Performance Of "The Way"

Ariana Grande put on a great showing of single, The Way, for the audience at the The Ellen Degeneres Show. We've already seen that the young lady can sing, via YouTube videos, but this was the first time (for me, at least) that I've seen her perform in a live studio environment. Needless to say, she smashed it.

With a timbre like Mariah's and a penchant for musically suspect vocal runs like Christina, Arina is still somewhat finding her own unique sound. Yes, she can sing. No question. But she needs to get a style of her own if she really wants to compete, or stand shoulder to shoulder with the Divas she so clearly idolises.

Still, with a voice as pristine as hers is- despite sounding a little nasal and fuller, in this live setting- it's sure to take her far no matter what she does with it. I just hope she's smart enough not to rely solely on the range and runs to impress when it comes time to record that ever important début album.

[Music Video] Ke$ha Turns Latina Gangsta In Video For "Crazy Kids"

Yes to Ke$ha! Yes to her new single, Crazy Kids! Yes to the new video and the Latina gangsta look! But NO to the totally unnecessary Will.I.Am rap. NO! NO! NO! NO! ARGHHH!

When I first heard Crazy Kids it wasn't love at first listen- thanks in large part to the whistling! Seriously, when is whistling- not of the Minnie Ripperton variety, but of the average Joe kind- anything other than annoying? (Just because I can't whistle doesn't mean I'm jealous of anyone who can, so put away that Psych -101 textbook!)

But I'm over it, and I love everything about the album version of the song (note: it doesn't feature Mr. Will.I.Am.Everywhere). It's just too bad that they did away with Ke$ha's second verse to fit in Will's rubbishy part because it does affect the natural flow of the song. The omittance of the swears, though understandable, also somewhat dulls the devil-may-care attitude of the lyrics. So moral of the story/paragraph/post/life: listen to the album version after you've checked out the video!

Take a listen to both version of Crazy Kids, below!

[Music Video] Kelly Clarkson Inspires With "People Like Us" Video

Having a crappy day? Well, let Kelly Clarkson inject some colour and positivity into your gloomy disposition with the video for new single, People Like Us.

It's another rousing single from the American Idol winner, calling for all misfits to embrace their differences and unite. It's not like we haven't heard similar messages of empowerment from the Diva ( Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)/ Catch My Breath), but since it's so catchy, we'll let Kelly off for this lack of diversity in her recent output. Just give us something a little different on the next single, please.

So let's get to it, misfits! I'll meet you guys near the Tesco car park. You know the one I'm talking about- near the roundabout. And we'll get to proudly pounding the streets under our banner of unconventionality!! Viva la revolution.

[Watch] Mariah Carey's Strangely Festive Car Crash Moment(s) During "Good Morning America" Mini-Concert

Erm, awkward! I don't know if I even want to get into Mariah Carey's Good Morning America mini-concert. But here goes:

From the moment she stepped onto the stage, you could see that all wasn't well with the usually pristine Carey- I mean, come on, when was the last time you saw her hair looking greasy?? Surviving a wardrobe malfunction, things really went downhill before new single #Beautiful, when Mariah inadvertently swore live on television. The choice of word was an ominous sign of things to come from the impending Miguel duet.

[Vocal Profile] Brian McKnight

Vocal Type: Leggiero Tenor
Vocal Range: 3 octaves 2 notes and a semitone (D#2-G#5)
Tessitura: 2 octave 1 note(D3-E5)
Whistle Register: No
Vocal Pluses:One of few who can actually qualify as being a Leggiero Tenor in pop, Brian McKnight is a powerful male vocalist with one of the best developed mixes in the industry. He has phenomenal control and is able to execute precise vocal runs in all registers of the voice. The ability to sing rapid-scale melismas, as well as the elasticity of his belting range, are both signature characteristics of the singer's vocal style.

Brian McKnight's lower register is dark and velvety, extending down to D#2, with the tone retaining it's colouring even up to an octave above at E3. The voice harmonizes well with itself, retaining its warm tone. His vocal weight is rather light (though for a tenor, surprisingly heavy) which gives him the agility to sing rapid descending scales to impressive depths. His placement is healthy and neutral, with plenty of resonance down in even his lowest note of D#2. This lower register is characteristic of the Leggiero Tenor by being baritonal in color and in the weight of its extremes (below A2). His technique in this register is great.

His mid voice, which extends up to D4 from F3, places him in the realm of most tenors, despite his ability to belt lower fifth octave notes. This area is warm and dark in color, with a thick velvety texture. Even when it looses an extensive amount of weight, it still retains its texture and colour. With the lack of weight, his dexterity becomes significantly freer, capable of executing some extremely swift vocal runs. His technique in this portion of the modal register is also great.

His belting register, is quite impressive. The tone remains dark as he comes close to A4. Above A4 (like most tenors), his tone significantly brightens becoming slightly heady, extending upwards to F5. His dexterity doesn't suffer, despite this impressive feet. Even at the height of F5, he can execute some pinpoint accurate vocal runs. He places his voice nasally though, but it does little to take away from his vocal freedom. He still has resonance and is capable of reaching mezzo-forte. He most likely employs that to get longevity on those extensive fifth octave belts. His technique for his belts, is second to none.

His head tone, relies heavily on chest, extending upwards to G#5. He has sang an F5 in falsettone as well, however he relies mostly on deft mixes of chest and falsetto in this register. The tone is thick and labored, though this may be an artistic decision since fallsettone lacks the ressonance of headvoice. Overall his technique for this area is questionable.

Vocal Negatives: Questionable technique used in his falsetto, and some may find his style relies too heavily on vocal runs.

[New Music] Take A Listen to Beyonce And Kelly Rowland's Guest Vocals On The-Dream's New Album, "IV Play"!

Having been responsible for creating some of our Divas' biggest hits- Single Ladies /Umbrella/Obsessed, to name but a few- it's small wonder super-producer The-Dream was able to rope in some big names for his fourth album, IV Play.

The only two Divas making an appearance though, are DC sisters-in-arms, Beyonce and Kelly Rowland- wait, no love for Michelle? Lucky for us, both songs have been released on to the net as a precursor to the album's May 28th release, so no need to wait till then to hear them!