Yuna

The first Malaysian to conquer the American market, Yunalis Mat Zara’ai, or commercially known as Yuna, has captured the ears of many Malaysians and people across the globe through her organic blend of contemporary pop, acoustic folk, and soulful R&B.

Born on November 14, 1986 in AlorSetar, Kedah, Malaysia, Yuna began composing her own songs when she was 14 years old. When she reached 19, she learned how to play guitar and also started to perform her composed songs.

Since 2006, she has been performing in several acoustic shows and events in various parts of Malaysia.

In 2012, the diva has shined. Her new single “Live your Life” debuted in iTunes which lifted her career up. The track was produced by a Grammy Award-winning producer Pharrell Williams. In addition, her self-titled album was also released in which it received accolades and positive response from various critics.

Yuna was also awarded by the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Datuk Seri NajibRazak with a National Youth Icon Award, for her exceptional achievements in arts.

Since then, Yuna has become an international singing sensation. In fact, the Multiple Grammy-winning producer David Foster excitedly invited Yuna to become part of the Verve Music Group, in which Foster is the head of the creative operations.

Despite her successful musical career in America, Yuna has been very true to her Malaysian roots. Apparently, she has been enjoying the fun she had in her recordings in Malaysia as well as the amazing working atmosphere for musicians and artists in America. She has enjoyed both worlds.

“I don’t really like the idea of putting myself in any category now. But as a pop artist, I feel like it’s easy for me to maneuver from one thing to another and try different things.  To me, it’s all just music, and if you have good lyrics and good melodies and good production, people won’t care what you call it.  I think that people are looking for music that’s real and honest and that they can relate to emotionally.  I think we’ve created that with Nocturnal.  The whole project was a challenge for me, but I’m very happy with the way it turned out”, she concluded in her self-titled blog.

For more updates about Yuna, visit her website @ www.yunamusic.com

Imagine Dragons

Imagine Dragons is an American alternative rock band from Las Vegas, Nevada which gained exposure following the September 2012 release of their debut studio album, Night Visions, which peaked at number 2 on the weekly Billboard 200 chart.

The band got on a world tour, and performed on major late night shows.  According to Billboard Imagine Dragons topped the year-end rock rankings for 2013. Billboard also named Imagine Dragons “The Breakthrough Band of 2013,” and Rolling Stone named their single “Radioactive” “the biggest rock hit of the year.” MTV also called them “the year’s biggest breakout band.

The lineup of the band includes vocalist Dan Reynolds, guitarist Wayne “Wing” Sermon, bassist Ben McKee and drummer Daniel Platzman. Former members include Andrew Tolman (drums), and Brittany Tolman (keys).

Imagine Dragons has released several EPs, including 2009′s Imagine Dragons, 2010′s Hell and Silence, 2011′s It’s Time, and 2012′s Continued Silence and Hear Me. The band released a live album, Live at Independent Records, in April 2013.

Their first big break was when Train’s front man fell sick just prior to the Bite of Las Vegas Festival 2009. The band members were called to fill in and performed to a crowd of more than 26,000 people.  Local awards including “Best CD of 2011″ (Las Vegas SEVEN Magazine), “Best Local Indie Band 2010″ (Las Vegas Weekly), “Las Vegas’ Newest Must See Live Act” (Las Vegas CityLife), Vegas Music Summit Headliner 2010, and more sent the band on a positive trajectory. In November 2011 they signed with Interscope Records and began working with Grammy winning producer Alex da Kid.

 Currently, the band is preparing for their upcoming INTO THE NIGHT TOUR which includes a stop at the Frank Erwin Center Feb. 20, 2014.

Watch video of interesting Facts about Imagine Dragons.

Shania Twain

The Queen of Country Pop Shania Twain has won 5 Grammy Awards and 27 BMI Songwriter awards; a proof of her indelible mark in the music industry.

Twain was born Eilleen Regina Edwards in Windsor, Ontario, Canada on August 28, 1965, the second oldest of five siblings. Her humble beginnings draw an inspiration. Eilleen Twain had a hard childhood in Timmins. Her parents earned little and there was often a shortage of food in the household. Eilleen did not confide her situation to school authorities, fearing they might break up the family. In the remote, rugged community, she learned to hunt and to chop wood. Sharon and Jerry’s marriage was at times stormy, and from a young age, Eilleen witnessed violent fights between them. Sharon struggled with bouts of depression.

After graduating from Timmins High in June 1983, Twain was eager to expand her musical horizons. Her 1995 album The Woman in Me brought her fame, and her 1997 album Come On Over became the best-selling studio album of all time by a female act in any genre and the best-selling country album of all time, selling over 40 million copies worldwide. Her fourth and last studio album to date, Up!, was released in November 2002 and has sold more than 20 million copies worldwide.

Twain’s mainstream pop acceptance was further helped by her appearance in the 1998 first edition of the VH1 Divas concert where she sang alongside Mariah Carey, Celine Dion,Gloria Estefan and Aretha Franklin, and also by VH1′s 1999 heavily aired Behind the Music, which concentrated on the tragic aspects of her early life as well as her physical attractiveness and Nashville’s early resistance to her bare-midriff music videos. After Divas, Shania Twain wrote and/or sang background vocals with her then husband Robert John “Mutt” Lange the songs, “If Walls Could Talk” and “Goodbye’s (The Saddest Word)” for Celine Dion.

On November 12, 2008 Twain made her first television appearance since her split from ex-husband Robert “Mutt” Lange, where she appeared as a surprise presenter at the 42nd CMA Awards.

In April 2010, started her own TV show, titled Why Not? with Shania Twain. The show debuted on May 8, 2011 on OWN.

The Calgary Stampede and Stampede Concerts Inc. are thrilled to kick off 2014 with the first announcement of the Virgin Mobile Stampede Concert Series. Performing her first show outside Las Vegas and the only Canadian show in 2014, Shania Twain will take the Scotiabank Saddledome stage Wednesday, July 9, 2014.

Watch video of interesting Facts about Shania Twain.

Krista Earle

The best is yet to come. Singer and songwriter Krista Earle, Canada’s Country/Pop Vocalist makes a mark into the International Music Scene.

Krista’s first single “Bad Hair Day” was released to Canadian National Radio in 2011 followed by her single “Man Up” in 2012 receiving heavy radio rotation.

She has a very original sound, a powerful voice with a sweet tone. Her music is a unique blend of catchy country/pop melodies. Krista has been greeted by a strong fan of tweens, teens and adults who follow her even to her live performances across Canada.

Krista has had a great passion for singing and performing from an early age. Born in Toronto, Ontario, Krista was raised from a family whose talents were singing and playing numerous instruments. At the very early age of 14, she performed as a main stage Disney Performer for stage shows across Ontario which she continues to do.

She won several awards in the Music Festival Vocal Competitions and shows. Also, Krista was a finalist in the International Songwriters Competition in 2012, and a recipient of the 2012 “Stars Among Us” Government of Ontario Arts Award. Also, she represented her country at MIDEM 2013 in Cannes, France. Krista.was nominated by the Country Music Association of Ontario for Female Artist, Single and Songwriter of the Year 2013.

Krista’s music story has also been shared in Nashville based award winning author Joyce Knudson’s book titled “Successful Failures Music Throughout the Ages”, where she can inspire other artists to persevere and follow their dreams. Also, just returning from a recent trip to Nashville where she performed and was featured on TV News Channel 5 Nashville, Television for Women Rock for Charity Achieve Rock Star Dreams Event.Also an advocate for numerous charities, Krista works with the Sicks Kids’ Make A Wish Foundation. Also a standing member of the Canadian Country Music Association, Country Music Association of Ontario, Nashville songwriters Association International, and the Songwriters Association of Canada.

Her new single.”I’m Done” is to be released to National Radio at the end of this January, 2014, is already receiving heavy radio rotation in both Europe, and Australia. The official music video to released to CMT Canada shortly after.

Krista’s dedication is an evident in her writing and performance which leads her to where she is now and will be in the future.

Watch video of interesting Facts about Krista Earle.