Skylar Grey Steps Into the Spotlight

The late Nate Dogg might have been the King of Hooks, but a new Queen seems to be only just beginning her reign.

Whether you're familiar with her name or not, there's a very good chance that, whenever you turn on the radio, you are hearing her crystal clear pipes coming through your speakers. Skylar Grey is the name (remember it!), and she has been a key player in hit after hit, and, believe it or not, it’s been going on for years!

Growing up in a folk duo with her mother in Wisconsin, music has been a part of Grey’s life for a long time. When she first hit the L.A. music scene, she went by the name Holly Brook. She was signed to Linkin Park’s label, Machine Shop Recordings, and once opportunity began to rise, so did her recognition. You might  remember her from one of the most unforgettable songs of 2006: Fort Minors’s “Where’d You Go”. She's also toured as an opening act for Jamie Cullum, k.d. lang, Daniel Powter, Teddy Geiger, and Duncan Shiek.

After releasing her album Like Blood Like Honey in 2006, Brook took on the new alias by which we know her today: Skylar Grey. Producer Alex da Kid gave Grey a production deal which led to her participation as a contributing writer for Eminem’s chart-topping hit featuring Rihanna, “Love the Way You Lie”, and even received a Grammy Nomination for it. She co-wrote Diddy-Dirty Money’s “Coming Home” hook and “Castle Wall” by T.I. and Christina Aguilera. Grey's distinctive voice (reminiscent of The Cranberries's Dolores O'Riordan) also appears on Lupe Fiasco’s second single “Words I Never Said” from his latest album Lasers. Quite an impressive resume! We all got our first real look at Skylar when she performed live alongside Em and Dre at this year's Grammy Awards, singing the chorus to the smash hit "I Need a Doctor."

Since her arrival on the West Coast, Skylar Grey's contribution to the music we love has been invaluable. I'm psyched to see her finally breaking out on her own, premiering her own music at Lollapalooza this summer and giving mainstream audiences a proper introduction to this soon-to-be superstar!

Check out our interview with Skylar at the Studio, below:

Hedley Gets Set to Take On the U.S.

O Canada, the country that gave us hockey, Trivial Pursuit, and the zipper can also be credited to giving the world good music. Besides Justin Bieber, FeFe Dobson, and Drake, I've become really psyched about another great musical act from our northern neighbors, the amazingly talented rock-pop-punk band Hedley.

Lead singer Jacob Hoggard, bassit Tom McDonald, guitarist Dave Rosin, and drummer Chris Crippin have such a great unique sound that allows them to stand out from the rest. These guys have done a lot of growing from the days when Hoggard made it to the top three on "Canadian Idol" in 2004. Sure, they still like to let loose and fun, but at the end of the day, these guys are having the most fun doing what they do best -- playing good music. And we're having a damn good time listening to it too!

Their singles “Cha-Ching” and “Perfect”, from their most recent album Go With The Show, are incredible in their own right but just a taste of what these guys are capable of.  With the US version of their album being newly released and their tour winding down for the holidays, I can see 2011 being a very successful year for the band, and I hope they soon find their way into the Studio!

Check out our interview with them below:

More Than Just a Chance for Greyson

CNN recently reported that 12 hours of video is uploaded to YouTube every minute. Occupying 3 minutes and 38 seconds of that YouTube time earlier this year was a talented teen from Oklahoma, Greyson Chance. What's even more exciting is what happened just two weeks after performing at a sixth grade talent show and posting it online -- a phone call from Ellen DeGeneres. After viewing the video of Greyson covering Lady Gaga’s hit “Paparazzi”, he took his first airplane flight to Los Angeles the very next day to appear on the "Ellen DeGeneres Show". Shortly thereafter, we all became obsessed, and she signed him to her label.

We recently hung out with Greyson at the Four Season’s ballroom here in L.A. It's difficult to remember that you're watching a 13-year-old; he is so mature and well-spoken, which is also evident through his natural voice and songwriting abilities, that there is no doubt in my mind that he is going to blow up and have a long and successful career. As someone who grew up in Hollywood myself, I can attest to the difficulties that these kids can encounter, but honestly, I think Greyson is up to the challenge and will be just fine. Check out our exclusive interview with the whiz-kid below:

His single, “Waiting Outside the Lines”, is now available, and Greyson is currently touring and capturing hearts everywhere. Be sure to check out his Website.

Keeping an Eye on "Little Big Star" Charice

She may only stand 5 feet tall, but you can't underestimate the mighty large talent that is Charice Pempengco, or just Charice for short. If you aren’t familiar with the name by now, then let me catch you up to speed on what you've been missing.

Hailing from the Philippines, Charice made quite the name for herself after competing in the Filipino equivalent of "American Idol" in a series called "Little Big Star" in 2005, soon becoming an Internet and YouTube sensation. Her quickly rising fame brought her to the U.S. for the first time in 2007, where she performed on "The Ellen Degeneres Show". Not too long after, Oprah came calling and dubbed her “the most talented girl in the world” (as reported by Wes Ferguson back in June), and we all know there is no arguing with Oprah!

Charice recently secured herself in pop culture history as the reoccurring character Sunny Corazon on the hit show "Glee", and for her to be portrayed as stiff competition for the incomparable Rachel Berry (Lea Michele), you know there is something special going on. Check out her now infamous throwdown with "Rachel" below:

She's still focused on her music career though, and “Pyramid”, the first single off of her latest album, Charice, hit #1 on the U.S. Dance charts this year. We expect more great things from her in the near future!