Emad Alaeddin

© Image courtesy of Stefanie Velten

In February 2011, Rolling Stone stated that “We all know you need a thick skin to make it in the music industry. Jordanian singer-songwriter Emad Alaeddin must have a hide like a rhino.”

Emad Alaeddin spent the better part of a decade trying to ‘make it’ in Los Angeles, playing in his hard rock band for a handful of friends. For a period of time, he lived in the band’s rehearsal space in between thrash metal bands that would blast their deafening sounds till daybreak. Emad’s had bottles of beer thrown towards his head while performing and has even been punched out on stage by a crazed fan. Industry representatives thought his voice was annoying and also thought his stage mannerisms were odd.A normal human being would evaluate these signs and call it quits, but Emad pushed forward, partly because of his refusal to accept defeat and partly because he didn’t think it was over yet.

 www.emadalaeddin.com

Biography

Despite being the first Arab to be nominated at the Los Angeles Music Awards in 2007 and winning a couple of songwriting awards in 2008, Emad’s quest for ‘making it’ in Los Angeles had come to an end and it was time to move on, back to his home country of Jordan in 2009.

Without his rock band that he’d been with for so many years, Emad started his solo career and released his debut solo work “Centered”. Pulling songs from his folder that were deemed too ‘poppy’ for his rock band and writing new songs about his decade long tribulations trying to become a bonafide respected musician, Emad came out with an album that found fans throughout Europe, Asia, and even the United States.

His breakout single “Sunshine” made it on heavy rotation on MTV and covered the radio waves of Jordan and the internet. Alaeddin donned the cover of UMen magazine as only the second arab with such an honour, as well as being featured in Rolling Stone.

As a one-man band, Alaeddin has successfully toured the UK, Germany, Spain, China, Jordan, Syria, UAE, and the United states to support his debut solo album. He’s even started his own charity called “Bring Change” that benefit local underfunded school.

Emad is currently working on his new album which will be released Summer 2011 and released the first single off the album, entitled “Don’t Leave Me Here” in March.

The Life of Riley

Formed in 2006 by Riley Smith and Henri O Connor, The Life Of Riley has quickly put together an impressive indie collection. After recording their debut self titled album in 2007, the band took their show on the road everywhere from Los Angeles to the United Kingdom.

While making many stops along the way, the band sold out such acclaimed places as The Bitter End and The Living Room in New York city and captivated the Midwest while opening up for Grammy award winning recording artist Jordin Sparks. The band has also gained success in the indie pop radio market, earning spins all across the Midwest and stretching as far south as Florida.

www.thelifeofrileymusic.com

Biography

In 2009, THE LIFE OF RILEY recorded an EP entitled Long Way Home, and in August of 2010 released an artistic collaboration of old and new material for their Live in Hollywood album that was recorded at the highly renowned Hotel cafe.

The band calls the City of Angels home.

Jason Manns

Jason Manns is a Los Angeles based singer/songwriter, who grew up on a farm in Virginia, before heading out to LA in 2002. With recent placements on television shows on ABC and the CW network (like “Supernatural”), as well as indie movies, and with a growing fan base internationally, it’s no wonder the last four shows he’s played in London, England have been to sold-out crowds.

Jason’s style is an eclectic mix of his own original lyric driven, melodic folk-rock songs, with some laid back covers of both some Motown and modern classics. There’s even the occasional bit of beatboxing seamlessly added in there.

www.jasonmanns.com

Biography

In 2006, Jason recorded his self-titled debut album at Omen Room Studios.  In the first week of release, this album was on the top sellers list at CDBaby.com, and since then has returned multiple times. In late April of 2010, Jason released his second studio album, ‘Soul’, which again remained in the top sellers list at CDBaby.com for some time. The notoriously difficult second album has been very well received by fans worldwide and continues to showcase Jason’s musical progression both as a singer and a songwriter, as well as help to grow his fanbase internationally.

In addition to sold out international shows and appearances, Jason has also performed live for 5 million viewers on the KTLA morning show, as well as in the Star 98.7 star lounge with host Ryan Seacrest.

Jason is also a talented actor, screenwriter and producer.

Discography

STUDIO

Soul - Released: Apr 01, 2010 | ℗ 2010 Jason Manns

Jason Manns (Debut Album) - Released: Jul 05, 2006 | ℗ 2006 Jason Manns

Hallelujah (Acoustic Album)

LIVE

Live at the Hotel Cafe

The Bitter End

Fall in the City

Louden Swain

For their third full-length album, “A Brand New Hurt”, Los Angeles indie rock band Louden Swain set out to capture the energy of their emotional, heartfelt, and often amusing live show.

The result is 14 catchy, soulful rock songs that find the band at the height of their musical maturity. This is a band that has more than paid its dues in the Hollywood music scene—having honed their sound together for over 8 years and gaining accolades from CMJ, The L.A. Times, and earning widespread placement on MTV soundtracks as well as the recent cult classic “Snakes On A Plane”.

And the new album A Brand New Hurt, reflects the musical cohesion that comes from countless live shows and hours of rehearsals. This time through their relatable, often humorous lyrics, the band wrestles with the growing pains associated with maturing–in relationships, life and career choices—all framed by the backdrop of today’s changing political climate. Louden Swain has taken a musical snapshot of where they are and the world around them. And the result is a refreshingly focused picture of a band that has stayed true to themselves.

www.loudenswain.com

Biography

Rob Benedict - Lead Vocals & Guitar
Michael Borja - Bass & Vocals
Billy Moran - Guitars & Vocals
Stephen Norton - Drums & Vocals

Louden Swain lives in Los Angeles and recorded their album in the Hollywood Hills, but they’re not a Hollywood glamor-band. It’s true that they took their name from a movie (the 1980s teen flick Visionquest), and their lead singer Rob Benedict is also an actor who plays the recurring role of Richard on TV’s Felicity. But Louden Swain sees themselves as regular guys from the Midwest who write songs about heartbreak, self-doubt, the folly of vanity, and the frictions within families. And they strongly embody the do-it-yourself ethic of alternative rock.

Louden Swain started in the late ’90s at Chicago’s Northwestern University where three students came together over a few beers and soon found themselves playing together as a band. They were David Wendell (guitar), Borja(bass), and singer/guitarist Rob Benedict. The threesome worked on cover tunes and also tried jamming on acoustic instruments. Eventually they moved to Los Angeles, where they met up with Stephen Norton (another native of Illinois), who became their drummer.

According to Wendell, he and Norton “bonded over Midwestern heavy metal music,” but the songs the band soon began to write fell more into a pop/rock vein, influenced by all their favorites — from the Clash and the Replacements to Weezer, the Foo Fighters, and even the Beatles. The band also took inspiration from such D.I.Y. artists as Ani DiFranco when it came to making an album.

While searching for a major label that would accept them, they started their own label, 3 Car Wreckords. In February 2001, they released their album Able-Legged Heroes, which within the next few months would receive attention through MP3 and a network of loyal friends who spread the word. The bandmembers kept their day jobs — Borja as an environmental engineer, Norton with a job in the music business, Benedict with his acting, and Wendell as an independent filmmaker whose film Smut featured (of course) an appearance and songs by Louden Swain.

Discography

A Brand New Hurt - Released: Feb 24, 2009  | ℗ 2010 3 Car Wreckords

Suit and Tie - Released: Apr 26, 2006 | ℗ 2006 3 Car Wreckords

Overachiever - Released: 2003 | ℗ 2003 3 Car Wreckords

Help You - Released: Apr 06, 2011 | ℗ 2011 3 Car Wreckords

Able-Legged Heroes

(Biography and Discography source: iTunes - http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/louden-swain/id6653157)