http://www.noisetap.com/ Welcome to the Jungle en Wed, 09 Apr 2008 10:49:49 PDT By Matt Kautz
Noisetap Contributer

Within less than 10 years, waifish beauty Taryn Manning has had memorable roles in over 30 films including 8 Mile, Cold Mountain, and Britney Spears starrer, Crossroads. She is also an accomplished musician and dancer, forming the band Boomkat with older brother Kellin in 2003. Their debut album Boomkatalog.One’s first single "The Wreckoning" hit #1 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play charts, and is on the soundtrack for hit film The Italian Job.

Not contented to stop at triple threat, Taryn is the co-creator of popular clothing line Born Uniqorn whose designs have draped popular celebs such as Lindsay Lohan and Tori Spelling.

In 2006, Taryn was nominated for Screen Actors Guild and Washington DC Area Film Critics Association awards for her breakthrough performance in Oscar-winning film Hustle & Flow.

Noisetap caught up with her on the set of the music video for "Runaway," the haunting first single off upcoming album A Million Trillion Stars. Even in the midst of the madness on set, Taryn was calm and charming, open and honest about topics ranging from her creative process, to the madness of Hollywood, to her tight, toned abs.

So, "Runaway" is really a beautiful song.

Awesome, thank you!

What was your creative process? How did it all come together?

Well, I was at kind of a low point, and down on the music business, and I started listening to some of my brother Kellin’s old beats and this one really hit me. So I sat down and started writing and this song just kind of flowed out.

Is that how most of your music comes together? Do you start with the beats and then write lyrics that match? Or was that unusual?

Sometimes. It all depends. Sometimes that’s how it works and sometimes it’s the opposite. It’s just whatever hits me, you know?

What had you down about the business?

I’ve just been around this business for years and have seen how fucked up it can be. My dad was a musician and I saw what it did to him. He was always trying to work and it really got him down when he couldn’t. That’s why I’m so hungry – I’m always out there hustling, hustling, trying to do something.

Speaking of how difficult the business is, you did Crossroads with Britney Spears…

Yeah…

What do you think of her…

Cracking up?

(laughs) Yeah.

Honestly, I feel really badly for her. I mean, it would drive anybody crazy having that much attention focused on them – everywhere she goes she’s just… hounded! I mean, what little of that I’ve experienced… I can see how she’d lose her mind. Like, I was just out getting coffee the other day and this chick sees me and screams, in the middle of the busy coffee shop, “Holy shit, you’re that chick from Hustle and Flow!” And I’m just like, do you really have to scream at me like that? I love hearing from my fans, but, you know, you don’t have to be a jerk about it. And that’s the kind of stuff she’s dealing with all the time.

So, as someone who is an actor, singer, dancer, fashion designer… what do you do for fun?

Well, Born Uniqorn is kind of a hobby. That’s something I do that’s purely creative and fun for me.

But then it turned into a successful business. Do you ever just want something silly you can do for fun?

No, that’s how I like it. I’m glad it’s successful, and I like being busy. I’m a hustler! [laughs]

Which came first in your life, music or acting?
The music came first. But then I started getting work as an actor so I got into that. But music definitely was first, and is first, for me.

Final question: I heard a couple of the costume girls talking about your abs, saying…

My what?!

Your abs… your stomach? They were commenting on what good shape you’re in…

They were?!

Yeah.

Oh God… thanks, I guess…

What’s your secret?

Um, I don’t know. I mean, I exercise, or whatever, but I’m an eater, I mean, you watch me eat, I’m not turning anything down. I say bring it on. I’ve just always been lucky, I guess…

Right on. Hey, thanks very much for your time, Taryn, it was a pleasure.

Thank you!



]]> Mon, 24 Mar 2008 11:33:18 PDT Zune Arts has begun a new podcast series showcasing everything from music and art to design and illustration. The first podcast up for consumption is a true must-see, especially if you like dancing, puppets and zombies.  

The podcast gives you an inside look at the making of the upcoming Zune Arts film, "Piece of Me, Piece of You." Musical duo Chromeo provides the backing track "Fancy Footwork,” while Greg Gunn, Casey Hunt and Reza Rasoli of Three Legged Legs provide the dance-inspiring, laughter-inducing visuals. In Reza’s own words, "we're shooting a bunch of zombie puppets attacking each other and infecting each other with dance, all over a Chromeo track, which is hot!” Well said, Reza. 

Watch the podcast here, and then, like us, begin counting the days until the film’s release.]]> Wed, 05 Mar 2008 15:41:40 PDT Rising art rock/New Wave star Santogold has teamed up with Miami-based artists FriendsWithYou to make a new, must-see short film, "Tickle Party." Using Santogold’s song "Say Aha," the film employs a number of techniques – stop motion, puppetry and 3D – to tell the story of dancing, cloud-like "fuzzies" who encounter a monster that cries rubies. Sounds great, right? Well, maybe words don’t do it justice. Just check out the video here.  

If you like the song in “Tickle Party,” be sure to look for Santogold’s self-titled debut album, which is set to drop later in the year, April 22. The album comes courtesy of Downtown Recordings, home to such heavy-hitters as Gnarls Barkley, Justice, Cold War Kids and Spank Rock.  

Santogold track list: 

1. L.E.S. Artistes 
2. You'll Find A Way 
3. Shove It 
4. Say Aha 
5. Creator 
6. My Superman 
7. Lights Out 
8. Starstruck 
9. Unstoppable 
10. I'm A Lady 
11. Anne 
12. You'll Find A Way (remix) ]]> Wed, 27 Feb 2008 17:06:37 PDT Itching to download some new music? It may be your lucky day. We’re giving 24 lucky winners a free Platinum MusicPass! Read on for details.  

What’s a MusicPass?
Sony’s Platinum MusicPass is a series of collectible digital album cards (available at Best Buy, Target and several other retailers) that can be used to download music, and in many cases special bonus content, in the form of high-quality MP3 files directly from the Platinum MusicPass website. Top artists participating in the initial rollout include Alicia Keys, Bob Dylan, Celine Dion, Daughtry, Santana, and many more. 

OK, I Want a Free MusicPass!
We’re giving away a Platinum MusicPass to the first 24 people to respond. To enter the contest, simply go to our Contact page, give us your name, email address, and select the subject line “General.” Be sure to include the word “MusicPass” in your email along with your mailing address, so we know where to send your MusicPass if you win.

Only the first 24 people to respond will win a MusicPass. So what are you waiting for? Enter today!

Contest ends March 7.]]> Wed, 12 Dec 2007 15:40:51 PDT You’ve heard Australian R&B singer Daniel Merriweather perform his smooth vocals on famed DJ/Producer Mark Ronson’s #1 UK single "Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before," but now the artist is ready to break out on his own with a new album to be released in March 2008. The new record, allegedly entitled The Fifth Season (according to some online sources) will be produced by Ronson (Amy Winehouse/Lily Allen) and released on his label, J/ Allido Records.

The Aussie’s previously released singles "City Rules" and "She's Got Me" (both 2004) quickly became club staples in London, Paris and New York.

Stream Merriweather’s latest single “Chainsaw” here.

]]> Wed, 05 Dec 2007 13:00:43 PDT The Wreckers – country music duo Jessica Harp and Michelle Branch – have released their first live album, Way Back Home: Live From New York City, via Warner Bros. Records. The album was recorded at the group’s sold-out show at the Bowery Ballroom in New York City on July 13, 2007 and features live performances of "Leave The Pieces" and the title track “Way Back Home,” among others.  

The release also includes a DVD featuring footage of the concert. For a sample, check out the video for "Leave The Pieces (Live)," recently posted on YouTube. 

The night was a special one for the group. Jessica Harp explains: "The night we filmed our live DVD was especially significant for me because I had just gotten engaged the night before…During the performance, Michelle announces to the audience that Jason asked me to marry him. It was the first time anyone other than my family and bandmates knew I was engaged. When you watch the DVD, you will see I'm wearing my engagement ring onstage for the first time." 

Way Back Home: Live From New York City may be the last new Wreckers release in the foreseeable future. Earlier in the year, both Harp and Branch announced plans to record solo albums, putting The Wreckers on hold for the time being. Release dates have yet to be announced for the solo albums, but fans may want to keep an on eye on the group’s MySpace page for updates.]]> Wed, 14 Nov 2007 11:21:29 PDT By Kym Kilgore
LiveDaily Contributor

R&B/soul man Robin Thicke canceled his US tour at the last minute, apparently because of a vocal ailment. "All tour dates must be rescheduled due to doctor-ordered vocal rest until the end of the year," said a Sunday (11/11) blog posting at his MySpace page. "Thank you for your understanding and support."

The singer/pianist was scheduled to kick off the outing yesterday in Englewood, CO, and visit clubs and theaters from coast to coast through mid-December. There's no word yet as to when the tour will be rescheduled.

Thicke played across the country in the spring to support his latest album, "The Evolution of Robin Thicke," which reached No. 5 on The Billboard 200 when it was released last year. The set has spawned the platinum-selling song "Lost Without U" as well as the latest single, "Can U Believe," which is making waves at R&B/hip-hop radio. An album sampler is streaming at the singer's MySpace page.

Thicke, a Grammy-winning songwriter and producer, is just now breaking through as a performer. He won the Breakthrough Artist trophy at last week's Vibe Awards and is up for the same honor at the Nov. 18 American Music Awards.

At age 16, with no formal training, Thicke began writing and producing music for artists including Brandy and Brian McKnight, according to his bio. He has since amassed dozens of gold and platinum albums with the likes of Usher, Mary J. Blige, Michael Jackson and Christina Aguilera.

The multifaceted artist is the son of actor Alan Thicke and singer/soap star Gloria Loring.

Article used with permission of LiveDaily.]]> Wed, 14 Nov 2007 11:13:03 PDT By Kym Kilgore
LiveDaily Contributor

As the holidays approach, so does Kenny Rogers' annual Christmas & Hits tour. Now in its 26th year, the US trek--which will also feature Grammy-winning country singer Linda Davis and "America's Got Talent" semifinalist Julienne Irwin--is set to kick off Nov. 25 in Aurora, IL, and visit cities stretching from the Midwest to the East Coast through Dec. 23. Details are listed below.

Shows will feature Rogers performing hits from his extensive catalog--everything from 1975's "Lucille" to last year's "I Can't Unlove You"--as well as holiday standards.

The light-country icon has been touring since March to support his latest release, "Water & Bridges," which is his highest-charting record in more than 23 years. In addition to spawning the Top 20 country hit "I Can't Unlove You," the set scored a Grammy nomination for the Rogers/Don Henley duet "Calling Me." Several songs from the album are streaming at Rogers' MySpace page.

Last year also saw the release of the "21 Number Ones" hits compilation and "The Journey" DVD, which comprises recent concert footage and a career-spanning video biography.

Rogers charted his first single in 1958 and has become the only artist to chart a record in each of the last six decades, according to a press release. The three-time Grammy winner has earned 20 platinum album certifications, 22 No. 1 hits and record sales topping 105 million units worldwide.


Article used with permission of LiveDaily.]]> Fri, 02 Nov 2007 11:31:37 PDT By Maya Marin
Noisetap Editor

Earlier this year, New York rockers Interpol released their highly anticipated third album Our Love to Admire (their first with Capitol Records) and are currently on tour. What does lead guitarist Daniel Kessler have to say about recording the new album, playing larger venues and the future of the band? Read on to find out.

In a recent interview Paul (Banks, lead vocals and guitar) says that there was a lot of pressure on the band when recording Antics to measure up to the huge success of Bright Lights – but somehow you were able to release yourselves from that same pressure when recording Our Love? Does he speak for the entire band when he says this?
For me, I don’t think we actually had pressure to…I didn’t feel pressure, I should say, for any of these records. I feel like we were pretty prepared when we were making Antics, personally, because we never really stopped writing from when we were making Bright Lights ‘cause we were very conscious of the fact that we were about to start touring and we knew our writing was about to change and be challenged by touring and doing interviews and attention. Then we kind of started writing really very quickly so we basically never put down the writing pen and that essentially just kind of helped us remember why we were doing this in the first place. So I didn’t really feel any pressure with Antics as much as…well there’s always a certain amount of pressure when making an album, not so much from worrying about it being good or people liking it, but more from the fact that it takes a lot of work to make something come out the way you want it to and things can get lost, very much, in the mix and in the recording studio. There’s always that pressure to make sure that it comes out right, something that you can basically own up to the world but I didn’t feel pressure per se as far as success or expectations from others.

You released Antics very quickly after your last major tour which gave you very little time to record that album, but you had a lot more time with Our Love. How did taking more time change or affect the recording process?
I would say that it changed the recording process in the sense that…I mean we worked with someone else, Rich Costey, rather than producing it ourselves. We were producing with someone else and so this changes when you’re…having a dialogue with someone else and trying to create the best sound possible. It’s not really the time. I think the time…for us…for some reason sometimes we just take a long time. I don’t know what it is. We were pretty prepared for this record as we were for all our records. We don’t walk into a recording studio until all our songs have an identity and sort of, you know, we can play the songs. We’ve essentially rehearsed them, we write them in a rehearsal space and we know they’re ready to record when we can really feel them…and it’s up to you to make sure those moments come alive in the recording and that sometimes takes time. And I don’t know why this record took more time but it wasn’t due to difficulty or complications. Maybe there was just more to it. People took a little time off in between. Who knows why.

Which of your albums do you, personally, feel the most connected with and why?
Oh, they’re all my children (laughs).

And you love them all equally.
(laughs) I think artistically, you should always be the most connected to the last thing you did or what you’re doing right now so for me, (Our Love to Admire) is what I most identify with because that’s me now. And I think the next thing I do will probably be the next thing that I’m most connected with. That said, I never want us to be one of those bands that are sort of like “yeah we were trying to do this” or “I don’t know why we did that.” To me, these are all moments of expression and I enjoy playing all these songs and when I listen to all these records I don’t cringe…They’re moments in time and moments that I always stand behind, but you’ve always got to keep moving forward, and the last thing we did is the closest to where we’re at now.

You’ve definitely been a major influence on today’s music scene, as there weren’t a whole lot of bands out there with your sound when you first started--unlike now when bands are even being labeled as Interpol imitators. What was the band’s reaction to this movement that you helped create?
(laughs) Probably that (referring to the laugh)…I don’t know, we don’t really think on those terms. It’s kind of funny when you go away for a few years and you come back. I think more so now than ever we really don’t pay attention to what people are doing in other bands. And probably as a collective decision I think we’re just…you get so busy that when you’re just not doing band stuff you just fall into (other) things that interest you. It just happens. And we collectively don’t read music magazines to find out what’s the latest and who’s the newest and we don’t do that. And I’m happy that we don’t do that because it’s just not that interesting so if there are bands that you come across that you like as a fan then…I still like, I buy records all the time, I’m still into it but don’t look at what the other guys are doing unless I’m already a fan and it’s flattering to think that possibly people might like us enough to be influenced by us, but I haven’t really taken notice. But as I said, you go away for a few years then you come back and you start getting questions about influencing other bands that sound like you. It’s not like I’ve noticed that because I’m in a bubble. I don’t listen to the radio and I don’t have TV and I don’t go reading up on the newest thing. So I like being in my bubble I guess you could say.

So in your bubble, who are you listening to right now?
Umm…In my bubble I am listening to Liars because we just toured with them, I love them, they’re a great band. And just a bunch of thing that are a little bit different. A lot of electronic music. Yeah. Not so many rock bands. I like the new Spoon record and the Blonde Redhead record too.

Oh yeah, you’re touring with Blonde Redhead soon.
Yes, exactly, we’re really excited to tour with them. They’re good friends of ours.

So you’ve now moved from the clubs to playing some pretty large venues. Has that affected the way you approach performing?
No. Well, I mean, a bigger stage is a bigger stage so it’s going to affect our movements, but ultimately it doesn’t. In my opinion, a special show is a special show and it could be in the biggest room in the world or the smallest one. So it doesn’t really affect it. So, surprisingly, the bigger stages, as much as it affects the intimacy, I don’t think it necessarily loses it. It just changes it, for me at least. Maybe to a concert goer it’s a bit different, but to me, I like it. I still think there’s room to connect with everyone who comes to the shows as a general mass of people moving with what you’re doing and you can kind of really feel the energy when it’s roaring in a big room.

Do you think the fact that you’re playing larger spaces might actually affect the band’s songwriting or maybe the production?
Well, yeah, I think. We just played Madison Square Garden, we just played the Forum in L.A. Those are big venues and you can’t come in with the same lights and stuff like that, you do have to bring in more production. It doesn’t mean that you’re gonna all of a sudden have fire shooting out of the ground or a little Stonehenge moment…you’re gonna do whatever in that environment feels comfortable to you and it just happens that we’re very associated with lights, and have always been since we got a lighting person. You know, it’s part of our music and the person we work with is really the only lighting person we have and…we’ve worked with someone else in between, but he’s the first person we’ve had. And the lights really move in conjunction with the changes in the song and that’s kind of something that I would always like to be there and so if you’re playing a bigger venue, the lights should be a little bit bigger, but ultimately it should be the same principle.

Describe your most memorable on-stage moment.
That’s a tough one, you know. Coachella’s very memorable because it was our first show in the U.S. in over two years and it was a memorable one. There was like 50,000 people there and I didn’t know what it was gonna be like and how I was gonna feel. I can’t really say, though, because I’ve had a lot of very memorable experiences. Playing Madison Square Garden in my home town…The Forum was special and Mexico City, that’s always special, that’s always one of my favorite places to play….there’s a lot. One day I’ll sit back and I’ll kind of look back, but right now it’s harder for me to do that. I keep looking forward.

Yeah, I see. You know, a lot of artists mention Coachella.
Well for us we were away for so long so there was a lot of expectation and anticipation. But it was great. A really wonderful experience.

I can imagine, after a hiatus.
A hiatus, yeah. It was a big first show to have.

So, looking to the future, are you interested in doing any collaborative work with any of the artists or bands you admire? If so, who would you like to work with?
As a band or as an individual?

Both.
For me, it’s hard to say. As a band, I think we’d be very interested in working with multimedia, specifically with film. It’s something we’ve always wanted to do.

Yes, and I know that Carlos (Dengler, bass) has been working with film.
Yes, that’s definitely an aspiration of his, but as a collective, I think we’ll want to do something. But individually, the songs usually originate with me. In fact they all pretty much originate with me so like, for me, I get my kicks by just starting them off. I really like writing songs. That’s my favorite thing to do, and ultimately we grow them into Interpol songs together. And I really get a lot of satisfaction from that…but ultimately down the line I’d like to work with some other people. I’ll talk to friends in bands that I like in time, but for right now, all my energy is focused on Interpol and these are the people I want to be working with as far as collaboration.


]]> Thu, 01 Nov 2007 12:01:02 PDT Unkle at the Echoplex, Los Angeles, CA
Friday, October 26, 2007 

by Tsega Dinka
Noisetap Contributor  

Unkle's promotional tour for their new release War Stories stopped by Los Angeles' Echoplex on Friday, October 26, 2007. The band kicked off the set with a couple of instrumental tracks, beginning with "Chemistry" from the new album. The sound of guitar and heavy bass over thrashing drums filled the mid-sized venue and quickly let the crowd know that their every penny had been spent well that night.   

Following a brief interlude after "Drums of Death," James Lavelle himself stepped up for the vocals on "Hold My Hands" which had just been released as the latest single a few days prior. It was refreshing to see that Unkle’s frontman could hold his own on stage as well as he did on the record. Then came another set of songs, including "Reign" (from 2004), "Broken" featuring a live performance by Gavin Clark, and the Ian Astbury-fronted first single "Burn My Shadow." Even though Astbury's vocals for the song were replayed from a recording, the musicians made up for his absence with their stellar performance. The onslaught of driving drums and guitar along with the foreboding lyrics and the amazing psychedelic video all added up to create a charge that could be felt in the air.   

The band followed up "Burn My Shadow" with another crowd favorite, "Lonely Soul," off of their album Psyence Fiction. It was great to see that the venue was packed with die-hard Unkle fans that could recite the words to songs nearly 10 years old. "Lawless" with its synth-heavy beat and "Mayday" with its marching rhythm followed up to help carry things along into the haunting, cinematic sounds of "Price You Pay." Gavin Clark made a second appearance on stage for "Keys to the Kingdom," followed by Lavelle and special guest Chris Goss for "Morning Rage."   

Lavelle described War Stories as a California record, with quite a few tracks having been recorded out in Joshua Tree, and credited his new musical outlook to Chris Goss, co-producer of War Stories. The signature combination of trip-hop, psychedelic and synth-heavy sounds coupled with dark vocals was a perfect fit for the Echoplex and the crowd that was in attendance. The only thing I was left wishing for at the end of the night was that more vocalists from the album (Ian Astbury, Autolux, etc) had been there. Oh yeah, did I mention the encore performance of "Rabbit in Your Headlight"? If this show is coming near your town, do yourself a favor and catch it.  ]]>