The Shaun Johnson Big Band Experience is a rare newcomer to traditional pop…fusing a big band spirit with an inventive edge…at once more risky than Buble, more modern than Sinatra. Shaun, an Emmy award-winning crooner (and lead singer of the internationally known vocal group, Tonic Sol-fa) indelibly stamps vocal jazz and swing with a contemporary punch – to the delight of both traditionalists and newcomers – emerging as an original voice in the continuing tradition of the American singer. The new single and video for “All Because of You” is a heartfelt and timeless tale that Johnson brings to life effortlessly. We had the pleasure of catching up with Shaun as he dives into his latest work and video.

1. Tell us the story of this song, why did you choose to visualize this song specifically in this way? 
   
   When I was writing for the new album, I realized, quite accidentally, that every song had a common theme.  Each tune spoke to or was inspired by an influential woman in my life.  And “All Because of You” happened to be a love song for my wife, Mary.  I’d actually tried to write many love songs over the past few years but could never quite get the words to work.  Either the feeling was lessened by word choice or the overall lyric turned to cheese.  I suppose it’s ironic that the love song I finally felt ready to release to the world happened to be a song about writing a love song.  My wife cried when she heard the demo, and I think that made the work worthwhile.
   
2. What was the inspiration behind this video (visuals, storyline, etc.)? 
   
   My wife (Mary) works side by side with me on most creatives  – from pictures to posters to billboards and more.  Her creativity is constantly on “play,” and she typically has million dollar ideas that we must create on a shoestring budget as a small business. We’d envisioned sweeping shots of castles in Scotland, famous special guests, or couples who’d been together for 50 years+.  But since Mary is usually behind the camera, and since this song was written for her, I convinced Mary to step in front of the camera for a rare appearance.  Our story and the storyline of this video needed to start with this simple request.  It is my hope that I’ll still be treasuring this snapshot in time on my last day. And in the meantime, I’d like to think that the raw emotion of “All Because of You” and the pared down, linear video will speak directly to counterparts, partners, and true companions the world over.
   
3. What was the process of making this video? 
   
   We were in Nashville when this video was shot and asked our friend, Erick Anderson (a well known photographer), to shoot family pictures.  Mary and I had been brainstorming a very simple video concept that might serve the lyrics of “All Because of You” and ended up asking Erick if he ever shot video.  Though it was not his chosen medium, he agreed to give it a try.  Mary was drafted – somewhat unwillingly – to appear in the video, and we only did a few takes.  To be honest, it was unexpectedly emotional for all of us. The black and white feel of the video  – though draped in technicolor – ended up fitting perfectly with a simple love song and its surprisingly complex message.

Gaming Music legend TheFatRat, popularly known for his immense online following of over 5.6 million YouTube subscribers and extremely popular songs like “Unity,” “Monody (feat. Laura Brehm),” and “Fly Away (feat. Anjulie),” which have over 800 million streams combined, releases his catchy new collaboration, “Our Song.” The chill electronic single features the sultry vocals of singer/songwriter Cecilia Gault, popularly known for the 2019 hit “Love Me Like You Used To” with Kaskade and the Top 10 Billboard Dance Bop “Parallel Lines” with Zookëper. “Our Song” is the fifth song revealed from TheFatRat’s upcoming debut album, PARALLAX, and it is available now on all digital streaming platforms HERE.

“‘Our Song’ is a track that I’m particularly proud of. Emotionally and sonically, it’s very different from anything that I have done before and it opens a door to a new sonic world that I will further explore in the future,” said TheFatRat. “It’s special to me because it’s almost an anti-electro track. Unlike most electronic music, the drums are loose and often off timing. Also there is no Autotune or other pitch correction on the vocals. Everything is rough and natural and still the track sounds unlike anything that I have ever heard before.”

“Our Song” is an electronic-pop ballad with urban yet nostalgic vibes, an 808 bass and Asian influences. It’s an incredibly catchy yet melancholic song that mesmerizes the listener with its use of subdued electronic elements and Cecilia Gault’s sultry vocals. This sets the foundation as Cecilia sings about her longing for her love who went to war. “As seasons come and go,” the anguished singer’s desire to reunite perseveres in hopes that she will be awakened with a kiss from the person she yearns for. She sings about looking in the distance as she sings their song.

TheFatRat and Cecilia Gault have worked together in the past on his 2018 single, “MAYDAY,” which was co-written by Cecilia and performed by Laura Brehm. Often lending her voice and songwriting skills to progressive house anthems, Cecilia Gault has featured on numerous successful tracks, including co-writing and performing Audien’s “Higher,” the 2019 hit “Love Me Like You Used To” with Kaskade and the Top 10 Billboard Dance Bop “Parallel Lines” with Zookëper. She has garnered support from the likes of Billboard, DJ Times and SiriusXM.

“‘Our Song’ reveals a vulnerability that was a little scary but was ultimately extremely special for me because of it,” says Gault. “The lyrics and vocals are so raw that there was nowhere to hide.”

TheFatRat has been releasing one song every week from his debut album, PARALLAX, and hosting interactive Discord chats afterwards with collaborators and thousands of fans. “Our Song” is the fifth track the influential Gaming Music artist has unveiled to date. The artwork and lyrics from PARALLAX tell their own cohesive story filled with imaginative characters and fantasy settings that have been referenced in his past projects, with each single sharing new chapters of the story. This lore is a huge interest for his rabid fans, who speculate wildly on online forums about the meaning of each release and guess what’s coming next. 

The album’s first single released July 9th was “Hiding In The Blue” featuring powerful vocals from Dance Pop singer-songwriter RIELL. The opener of his debut album was a continuation of the main character’s story from TheFatRat’s previous songs, “Close To The Sun” and “Stronger.” After experiencing many physical injuries and mental hardships, she retreats herself to her comfort zone and reflects on her past. “Hiding In The Blue” has already accumulated over 8 million streams across platforms, received National radio airplay on SiriusXM BPM, and received favorable reviews by publications like Flaunt Magazine, Pop Culturalist, and EDM Identity.

The album’s second song, “Arcadia,” contrasts with the melancholic mood of the first track of the album as it is filled with cheerful tunes. As RIELL reminisces in “Hiding In The Blue” about Arcadia being a place she once called home, it is no surprise that the track is more light and upbeat. RIELL returns to sing about Arcada being shaken by a war in “Pride & Fear,” the album’s slower-paced third song which demonstrates TheFatRat’s versatility and RIELL’s incredible vocals. The fourth offering, “Upwind,” is about saying goodbye to her love as he embarks on a journey to war and the sense of adventure he feels as he marches forward. “Our Song” picks up as the tranquility of Arcadia has been shaken by war and the partner of the protagonist has left her to fight, leaving her hoping that he will return safely.

Every song on PARALLAX is free to use on social media for creators and source material will be made public, true to TheFatRat’s ongoing tradition of freely dispensing his songs and their stems to help inspire the many dedicated content creators and empower their passionate projects. This forward-thinking approach has led to him having been featured in 25 million YouTube videos from a range of different content creators – accumulating over 30 billion unique views on the platform. Due to the success of these actions, he’s become a leader in the independent music community and an expert on how technology has changed the music business. 

Known for having his music sync-to-screen for many widely popular video games such as Dota 2 and Rocket League, German producer TheFatRat is the flagship musician for video games, tech and gaming culture. He’s the go-to artist for Esports brands like ESL and Dreamhack, and his sound, which Billboard Magazine has coined as “wildly energetic and genre-bending electro,” has earned him a massive legion of highly interactive online fans, over 1.8 billion streams on YouTube and Spotify, and 5.6 million YouTube subscribers.

Today, Future Funk icon and internet sensation Yung Bae, whose track “Bad Boy” went viral on TikTok last year with over 2 billion impressions across 1 million videos, has released this Summer’s Olympics-themed feel-good anthem, “Silver & Gold.” The single features Australian singer-songwriter Sam Fischer, who’s coming off of a moving TV performance of “What Other People Say” on The Ellen Show with Demi Lovato, and R&B artist Pink Sweat$, who recently released his debut album Pink Planet, and performed its standout single “At My Worst” with Kehlani on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. “Silver & Gold” is available now on all digital streaming services and the lyric video is available on YouTube, found HERE!

Following critically-acclaimed singles “Woman On The Moon (feat. UPSAHL)” and “Wonder (feat. Channel Tres),” producer Yung Bae dishes out another dose of grooviness alongside the powerful vocals Sam Fischer and Pink Sweat$. Popularly known for his viral hit “This City,” Sam Fischer has written for and worked with renowned artists such as Demi Lovato, Jessie J, Ciara, and MAX. Additionally, he has toured with Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Lewis Capaldi. His breakthrough song “This City” currently has more than one billion views on TikTok and over 250 million streams across platforms.

“‘Silver and Gold’ is truly a labor of love between creative friends and family. It feels like it’s travelled through different times, pens and cities to end up as the glorious moment it is now,” Fischer says about the song. “I’ve been a fan of Yung Bae and Pink Sweat$ for a while so I’m stoked to be able to come together on a song about celebrating & going hard at life. To add to that, getting the chance to have a purely joyful song out in the world for me is a relief from my brand of heart-wrench pop!”

Philadelphia-raised singer-songwriter Pink Sweat$ has been praised for his soulful vocals and versatility. He has written for rapper Tierra Whack, collaborated with acclaimed singer and dancer Kehlani, and worked with international artists such as South Korean R&B artist Crush. His hit song “Honesty” has over 200 million streams on Spotify, reaching number 10 on their US Viral Chart. His debut album Pink Planet released this February was hailed by The New York Times, Complex, MTV, REVOLT, and more.

“Silver & Gold” is a playful and uplifting track with an energetic beat highlighted by jovial horns and claps. The addictive and anthemic chorus inspires people to unite and reach for their goals. It’s a motivational and highly danceable tune likely to stimulate an outburst of dancing in the streets or a festival frolic. Sam Fischer and Pink Sweat$ take turns singing about positivity, appreciating life and working hard for your dreams.

Along with releasing new music, Yung Bae also recently launched his weekly live radio show on Apple Music, Groove Continental Radio. Listen live for free every Saturday at 7:00 p.m. PST or on-demand anytime on Apple Music Hits. His show celebrates the history of Funk and Disco through personal inspirations, top-hits, undiscovered gems and a few from his own release catalog. The first few episodes feature special guests, UPSAHL, bbno$ and Marc E. Bassy.

Yung Bae will be performing live at The Novo in Los Angeles on November 20 and 21 and at House of Blues in Chicago on November 27, all to sold out audiences. He also recently announced a performance at Brooklyn Steel in Brooklyn on November 12. Tickets on sale at www.yungbae.com.

VCAGE returns to the music scene with his latest single “Lobotomy”. This single focuses on society’s influence on individuals and the way in which people conform to society’s expectations. It is difficult to run away from toxic relationships, including a relationship between yourself and what others expect out of you. VCAGE expresses frustration and desperation to escape the pressures of life. “Lobotomy” breaks the barrier as it touches on a topic not often challenged. VCAGE is an instrumentalist, producer, and singer/songwriter who dedicates his time to making creative sounds and songs. His return to the music scene stemmed from his passion for producing unique and creative sounds out of many different objects, not just instruments. VCAGE is not afraid to merge genres and instruments together to create a space full of contrasting rhythms and sounds coming together. VCAGE shows his technical knowledge along with his creativity in “Lobotomy” as he follows the common ABA rhythm pattern, ending the song the way it began. 

“Sometimes we feel we live in a certain reality that everyone sees but we are living in the reality of our own thinking”. VCAGE expresses a deep emotion through this single about societal expectations. His voice indicates a strong energy coming from within as he sings about a topic that is prevalent in today’s times. VCAGE brings about the notion that as human beings we are flawed to believe that we must live a certain way in order to fit in. However, VCAGE attempts to remind us that we need to break free from this mindset through the lyrics and production value of “Lobotomy”. His voice transitions smoothly from singing, to rapping, to humming, and sometimes even belting. His ability to transition from one style to another shows his vocal range and capabilities. 

“Lobotomy” is a fuse between folk and country and rock and rap. His instrumentation relates to that of country music as country music typically will have instruments such as a tambourine and acoustic guitars. When VCAGE hums, especially with the fast-paced guitar rhythm, he sounds very much like Ed Sheeran. There is also a big resemblance when he breaks into rap as Ed Sheeran is known for including a few rap verses in his music as well. During his verses, VCAGE hits a higher vocal range that sounds very much like Brendan Urie from Panic! At The Disco. “Lobotomy” touches on many qualities belonging to well-known artists and genres that it is clear why this song is such a great hit. This single is a wake-up call that we all must pay attention to. 

Stream “Lobotomy” Here:

Follow VCAGE Here:

https://www.vcagemusic.com

https://www.instagram.com/itsvcage/

https://www.facebook.com/itsvcage

Manta’s new double single “Teasing,” and “Echobaby” are offering up the coolest way to close out your Summer. The tracks which compliment each other from start to finish, make Manta an indie band to watch in 2021. “Teasing” offers up a lighter, almost twee-pop feel side of the band while “Echobaby” is filled with dreamy tones that float over a hypnotic bed of instrumentation.

Formed in Princeton, NJ, Manta is a psychedelic rock band consisting of Jack Brickner (vocals/bass), Charlie Guarino (vocals/guitar), Sam Guarino (vocals/guitars) and Mike LaFisca (drums). The group specializes in delivering dynamic musicianship, meticulous arrangements, mood-inducing grooves, and thoughtful lyricism in the form of tightly crafted pop songs. The band expands upon decades of popular music, mixing various genre textures (jazz, tropicália, funk, disco, to name a few) and adding layers of sonic flourishes in a manner reminiscent of the experimentally-minded ethos of the 60s and 70s.

Find Manta via:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cM7FnO8NbpM
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeAreManta/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mantamusic/

Watch Live Lounge Starting Friday, August 6 at 7:00PM PST 

on the LIVIT App

Global live streaming and entertainment platform LIVIT,operated under the 17LIVE brand, announced today that they will be hosting a live-streamed concert & interactive event series featuring global superstar Kygo’s Palm Tree Records, multi-platinum, award-winning singer/songwriter VASSY, and more. Presented by 17LIVE, the interactive Live Lounge events will begin on August 6th and will be produced at CreatetheLAB in Los Angeles. Each concert will be live-streamed exclusively on the #1 streaming platform in Asia on the LIVIT Official Account in the app, found HERE

17LIVE is the leading platform for rising music artists, entertainers and influencers that has more than 45 million users in Asia and is rapidly growing across the United States with their U.S. centric brand LIVIT. Exclusively on the LIVIT app, they will be hosting this series of three-hour long events, consisting of multiple performances, interview segments, and Q&As that will allow fans to have a live, intimate experience with their favorite musicians. 

The August 6th Live Lounge presented by 17LIVE will feature VASSY and hit-making singer-songwriter Josh Cumbee. Best known for her vocal prowess in viral collaborations with dance music heavyweights such as Afrojack and Tiesto, VASSY recently reached the 1 billion stream milestone with her single “Bad”, which was her collaboration with Showtek and David Guetta. The pop artist released her hit track  “Chase” this summer with Aussie producer duo Bonka (The Chainsmokers, Timmy Trumpet). The track is currently sitting at the #1 position on the dance airplay radio chart and reached #1 on the dance Aria charts in Australia. Josh Cumbee built his career as a producer and songwriter for world-class artists such as Madonna, Kygo, Rita Ora, Armin van Buuren and Adam Lambert, and recently wrote the worldwide hit ‘Wondering’ for Olivia Rodrigo. Having worked in genres including ballads, dance music, rock, K-pop and C-pop, Cumbee is a songwriter and producer of exceptional talent who has had #1 hits in Korea, China, Italy, has a Latin Grammy nomination under his belt and more. He recently released ‘Sound Of Your Name (with Vicke Blanka)’, his first collaboration with another artist as a solo singer-songwriter.

“I’m excited for my artists to have the opportunity to show the world what they’re capable of.” – Kygo

On August 27, Live Lounge presented by 17LIVE will host the first-ever showcase for global superstar Kygo’s Palm Tree Records, which is a joint venture with Sony Music Entertainment.  With over 15 billion cumulative global audio and video streams, the Norwegian artist  is known for chart-topping hits like the multiplatinum “It Ain’t Me” [with Selena Gomez], “Higher Love” [with Whitney Houston], “Like It Is” [with Zara Larsson & Tyga], and “Lose Somebody” [with OneRepublic]. Kygo’s showcase will feature performances by Palm Tree Records artists Frank Walker, Forester, Haywood, andPetey Martin. Toronto-based DJ/Producer Frank Walker has captivated fans across the globe with his club-ready collaborations such as “Like Gold” with Loud Luxury and Stephen Puth, along with solo releases like “Dancing In The Dark” which was recently nominated for a Juno award. Los Angeles-based indie electronic duo Forester has already made a lasting impact in the scene, blending acoustic instrumentation with electronic elements that transport the listener to wide open spaces, allowing for introspection as well as the desire to dance. They dropped their sophomore album ‘A Range of Light’ on December 4th and have earned  over 20  million total streams across their catalog.

“I’m excited to partner with 17LIVE to host our first-ever Palm Tree Records showcase and be able to live stream it to millions of people around the world while interacting with users of the platform.” – David Rishty, President of Palm Tree Records

Songwriter and producer Haywood has penned hits for everyone from Katy Perry and Kygo to BLACKPINK and Selena Gomez and is now a solo artist. The New Zealand-born and Australian-raised songstress introduces a glorious and glossy sound of her own on a series of 2021 singles for Palm Tree Records punctuated by her skyscraping vocals and punchy lyrics. Nashville-based Petey Martin wrote/produced “Ashes” by Celine Dion for the Deadpool 2 Motion Picture Soundtrack, “Bigger Than” by Justin Jesso & Seeb, and five songs on Kygo’s ‘Golden Hour’ album, including the lead single “Like It Is.” He made his debut as an artist collaborating with Matoma on “Keep It Simple” and released his introductory  single “Come Back Home” on Palm Tree Records featuring two-time Grammy winner Lauren Daigle.

CreateTheLab is a custom-tailored production studio in Los Angeles with multiple stages. The events will be invite-only with press, influencers, and artist teams in attendance in-person; with millions of viewers watching on LIVIT around the world.

Head of U.S. Operations for 17LIVE, Armin Collosi, says, “We are thrilled to launch the Live Lounge concert series with some of the most respected music artists in the industry. Our platform is quickly becoming a special place for talent of all levels to showcase their creativity, and we are proud to provide the platform where they can be their most authentic selves. With the return of live music, LIVIT has created a unique concert experience that will allow fans to interact in new ways with their favorite artists. We look forward to seeing all the amazing performances we have scheduled this summer.”

Powered by Taiwan-based 17LIVE, a leading global social entertainment company, LIVIT was launched in 2019 and has more than 45 million registered users across the globe. As the largest live streaming platform in Asia, LIVIT is expanding to multiple international markets. LIVIT plans for its North American operation to be a curated space where artists can collaborate, interact directly with fans and grow their careers. No matter who you are, or which corner of the world you reside in, you can connect with anyone through LIVIT’s media platform to showcase your talents and passions and realize your dreams. LIVIT is available for free download on iOS and Android.