Tag Archive for 'television'

OURSTAGE MODEL U.N. – GERMANY

Campaign Like Clockwork

Campaign Like Clockwork

Rollover Beethoven and break out the Bach because this week it’s Germany’s time to shine. Deutchland is one nation that’s certainly not lacking in musical traditions coveted by the rest of the world. While the country has earned its fair share of props as the birthplace to some of the most well known baroque and classical composers, there are plenty of modern era artists who garnered international attention. Some German acts who’ve made a name for themselves across the pond include the pop-rock group Tokio Hotel, krautrockers Kraftwerk, and, of course the only band to actually rock you like a hurricane,  Scorpions. These days up-and-coming German artists make their way to OurStage to try to grab the world’s ear. So hike up your leaderhosen and brace yourself for this week’s batch if Model U.N. recommendations:

Fritz Carlton is a folk pop duo comprised of Sascha Fischer and Oliver Musolf. They  describe their tunes as “the soundtrack to the sundown over the Berlin backyard while dreaming of being at the American West coast.” You can get a sense of their yearning to runaway to the Golden State on their track “Rush.”

In 2006 brothers Jonathan and Javier Neira left behind their day jobs as an actor and psychologist in Chile to pursue musical aspirations in Germany. Here they formed a heavily brit rock-influenced group called THE STUD with German bandmates Marius and Axel. Already touring all over Germany, the band is bound to catch on like wildfire worldwide with great throwback rock tunes like “Sunshine.”

Woog Riots

Woog Riots

Silvana Battisti and Marc Herbert form the dance-punk/twee-rave group Woog Riots. “People Working With Computers” is a veritable homage to their quirky, new wave inspirations like Devo and Television.

Campaign Like Clockwork take cues from bands such as The Killers and Kaiser Chiefs by making dramatic power-pop music you can dance to. With an epic guitar solo thrown into the mix, this band is seriously poised for mega-hit-maker status. The band is currently on tour to support the full length follow up to their stellar self-titled EP.

Michelstadt-based hip hop artist CroSijaN didn’t have the easiest route in life. His father bailed after his mother recovered from stomach cancer when his was 5. At age 13, he found himself turning to rhymes to make vent his frustrations while living in Croatia. His teenage years were entangled with drugs and violence until he found solace through love and making music. “On My Own” is an intense slow jam that puts his past into perspective.

EVERYBODY WANTS SOMETHING THEY’LL NEVER GIVE UP: DEGRASSI STARS MAKING IT IN THE MUSIC BIZ

Dowtown Sasquatch

Dowtown Sasquatch

For those of you not familiar with melodramatic Canadian teen TV shows, there’s no bigger name in the business than Degrassi. The first Degrassi series aired in 1979 with The Kids of Degrassi Street, but it wasn’t until the late 80’s with Degrassi Junior High that the brain child of TV writer Linda Schuyler developed a cult following. Today’s incarnation of Degrassi, Degrassi: The Next Generation, is currently nearing the end of its eighth season. Over the years, the series has covered just about every possible horrible thing that could ever happen to you as a teenager. Through all the trials and tribulations there was one thing Degrassi characters could always rely on to get them through the tough times —music! Degrassi bands like The Zit Remedy and Downtown Sasquatch provided much needed relief to all the endless drama. It’s no surprise then that some of the actors on the show have begun to forge careers in the music industry.

Cassie Steele
, known for playing the role of Manny Santos, recently released her sophomore album Destructo Doll. The single, “Mr. Colson” is a rock tune with a lot of heartache and soul.

Cast newcomer Ray Ablack, who plays heartthrob Sav Bhandari, spent three years studying Vocal Music at Cardinal Carter Academy for the Arts in Toronto. When he’s not taping Degrassi, he spends time singing in his band KIAI and working on his own material.

Drake

Drake

Currently, Aubrey Graham — the actor who played Jimmy Brooks—is taking the hip hop world by storm under the stage name Drake. Fresh from signing a lucrative $2 million dollar record deal with Aspire/Young Money/Cash Money Records, Drake is gearing up to release his first commercial album after generating a great deal of buzz with his popular So Far Gone mixtape. It also doesn’t hurt him to have Lil’ Wayne as his personal mentor.

The three avid Degrassi fans in the OurStage office were more than delighted to find out that one of the bands on OurStage featured a bona fide Degrassi actress in their music video. Actress Amanda Septo, who plays fan favorite “Spike,” did the guys in Toronto’s Pizzamind a favor by showing up to their video shoot for “My Baby’s Got it Going On.” Check it out!