Music News Australia interview with Offshore Aussie Music Veteran Jess McAvoy.

How and when did you get your break in the entertainment industry?

 I was fourteen when I first performed on stage at cultural event at my school in Holland. I think knowing that I could overcome my stage fright at that stage was what I would call my break. I was terrified of performing in front of people so just the boost of knowing I could get through that fear set the pace for pushing against things that scared me. Other than that, I get new breaks all the time. Anything that keeps me going is a gift.

When did you realise you wanted to be a singer / songwriter?

 When I decided I wanted to meet Madonna- I think I was about six or seven – that was when I knew what I wanted to aim for.

We know you’re from Melbourne, and that you have spent a few years in Canada.  What are your favourite cities and places in the world that you have visited?

 Melbourne has to be one of my favorite all round cities in the world. I also LOVE San Francisco and New York city. As I’m getting older though- I gravitate towards the places that hold people that I love. They’re spread out all over the world which is taxing sometimes but lovely when you get to be on tour.

What do you consider the highlights of your career from both a business and personal perspective?

 My farewell show in Melbourne was a wonderful experience. The fact that I decided to film the show was a pretty nifty plus, considering Gotye was a guest performer, which was before he got massively famous. That whole show, I smiled so hard I felt like my face was going to fall off.

Who have been your favourite collaborations?

Years ago I got to collaborate with a wonderful hip hop producer by the name of Calski- we put together a song called Better Than This that got a lot of radio time. Other than that, I loved working with my dear friend Liz Stringer on a number of occasions. She’s awesome. Check her out.

Who are your biggest influences?

Vocally, Etta James was incredible. I gather influence from a bunch of very different people and I am constantly impressed with people from very diverse genres, but I tend to gravitate towards fantastic female vocalists.

What's been the best and worst aspects of new media - the internet in relation to your career?

 The worst? Facebook is a wolf in sheep’s clothing as far as I am concerned. They keep changing the algorithms and forcing you to change your tactic. I think the multitude of platforms that you have to keep updated is so time consuming and takes you away from the actual creative side of things. But the best thing is being able to interact with people across the world. I love receiving messages from people in places I have never been.

Your an indie artist.  Would you sign with a major label if a good opportunity came along?

 I think there are so many models of record companies these days and some are good and useful, whereas some are still very debilitating. If the right deal came my way I would be interested in collaborating. But I don’t know what that would look like- I’ve been doing this on my own for so long that I’d be pretty hard to manage I reckon.

What inspires and motivates you?

 Providing a good example for young people. That inspires me. I wish to gain a greater profile to provide the example of what’s possible. 
                  
What's the biggest challenges you have ever overcome?

 Getting rid of a lot of ego has been a massive challenge over the years- but pushing through that to find the core of what’s actually important, the music, has been very rewarding.

How much of your songs come from personal experience, VS other ideas that you have for songs?

 Most of my songs are straight from the depths of my inner workings, for better or worse.

Have you ever "ghost written" songs for other artists, and if so, what were the results?

 I have, and it’s really changed my sound in those instances. Nothing has been picked up yet, but I am still working on that.

What would you say you are best known for?

Being Awesome. And my song “The Sailor”. 

What were the things that led you to also becoming a journalist, and how does this compliment your career in the entertainment industry?

 I have a fascination with language, and ultimately storytelling. I find that it’s an awesome compliment to my music career, because you don’t get the opportunity to express your creativity as frequently as writing. It’s a little more accessible and it’s teaching me to take my honesty to a whole new level.

What's the main thing that brought you back to Australia?

 I’ll be back later in the year to tour and see family. It’ll be a rest stop between Canada and moving to New York.

When and where can we expect to see your perform next?

 Not too sure.

What's the biggest and smallest audience you have performed to?

 Biggest was around five thousand. Smallest, me and the bartender.

What's the best exposure and / or air time you have achieved?

 The Sailor has reached a bunch of views on Youtube- I think that’s the most quantifiable exposure I’ve achieved.

What's your main goals for this year?

Reach my crowdfunding goal and make “The Women”.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years time?

Hopefully writing for others with a decent rock career under my belt.

What's your star sign?

 Capricorn     
               
What do you do to relax?

 Watch movies

What's your motto? 

There's a way around everything.

website:

www.jessmcavoy.com

The Great Gatsby official website

The Great Gatsby official website

Opera’s Triple Threat - A birthday party for Verdi, Wagner & Britten Featuring Cheryl Barker & Stuart Skelton, Sydney Philharmonia Festival Chorus & Orchestra, conducted by Brett Weymark

Saturday 8 June - 2pm and Sunday June 9 -5pm - Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House

Sydney Philharmonia is celebrating three big anniversaries in 2013 (bicentenary of the births of Verdi and Wagner and centenary of the birth of Britten).

In theatre, a triple threat is someone who can sing, dance and act. In opera, we like to think it's a triple treat of music, drama and passion. Our three birthday boys - Verdi, Wagner and Britten - had that in spades. 2013 marks the bicentenaries of Verdi and Wagner, and the centenary of Britten, and we're delighted to be presenting this program of highlights from some of their greatest creations in one concert program devoted to some of their greatest works with a choir of 300+ voices and orchestra conducted by Brett Weymark.

The program includes highlights from: Verdi Otello  (Incl. the love duet Già nella notte densa and the Willow Song), Britten Peter Grimes (Incl. Now the Great Bear & Pleiades and the Embroidery aria) Richard Wagner Tannhauser, Lohengrin and Die Meistersinger.

Stuart Skelton will be performing excerpts from Verdi's Otello for the first time in his career. This will be his only Sydney appearances in 2013 immediately after performing Stravinsky's Oedipus Rex with the London Symphony under Sir John Eliot Gardiner and before he performs in the Paris Opera Ring cycle, Seattle Ring, Melbourne Ring and a return performance with the Berlin Philharmonic under Sir Simon Rattle.

Cheryl Barker returns to Australia after performing Madama Butterfly for Welsh National Opera and before her Tosca for Opera Australia and Desdemona in Verdi's Otello for Opera Queensland.

Opera's Triple Threat

Sydney Philharmonia Festival Chorus and Orchestra

Tickets - $45-$90 (plus applicable booking fees) or  www.sydneyphilharmonia.com.au

www.sydneyoperahouse.com or 02 9250 7777

Emma Pask (The Voice)

Emma Pask (The Voice), a set on Flickr.

An Evening with Julie Andrews media conference at Park Hyatt, Sydney, Australia

An Evening with Julie Andrews media conference at Park Hyatt, Sydney, Australia - 16th May 2013

Media were invited to cover a media conference with stage and screen icon JULIE ANDREWS, ahead of her national tour of An Evening with Julie Andrews, which takes audiences on an incredible journey through Miss Andrews’ life and career. Julie Andrews has never before been to Australia, and this will be the only media opportunity while she is here. 

An Evening with Julie Andrews plays Brisbane (May 18), Perth (May 21), Sydney (May 24 & 25), Adelaide (May 28) and Melbourne (May 31). From her London stage debut at the age of 12 to her defining roles in Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music, Victor/Victoria and The Princess Diaries, Julie Andrews' extraordinary life story will unfold in a frank and funny evening of personal memories and insights spanning six decades. This very special event will be hosted by Nicholas Hammond, the American-born Australian actor who played Friedrich von Trapp in the film The Sound of Music opposite Julie Andrews.

Bio...

Date of Birth

1 October 1935, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, England, UK 

Birth Name

Julia Elizabeth Wells 

Nickname

Jules 

Height

5' 8" (1.73 m) 

Julia Elizabeth Wells was born on October 1, 1935, in England. Her mother and stepfather, both Vaudeville performers, discovered her freakish but undeniably lovely four-octave singing voice and immediately got her a singing career. She performed in music halls throughout her childhood and teens, and at age 20, she launched her stage career in a London Palladium production of "Cinderella".

Andrew came to Broadway in 1954 with "The Boy Friend", and became a bona fide star two years later in 1956, in the role of Eliza Doolittle in the unprecedented hit "My Fair Lady". Her star status continued in 1957, when she starred in the TV-production of Cinderella (1957) (TV) and through 1960, when she played "Guenevere" in "Camelot". 

In 1963, Walt Disney asked Andrews if she would like to star in his upcoming production, a lavish musical fantasy that combined live-action and animation. She agreed on the condition if she didn't get the role of Doolittle in the pending film production of My Fair Lady (1964). After Audrey Hepburn was cast in My Fair Lady, Andrews made an auspicious film debut in Walt Disney's Mary Poppins (1964), which earned her an Academy Award for Best Actress.

Andrews continued to work on Broadway, until the release of The Sound of Music (1965), the highest-grossing movie of its day and one of the highest-grossing of all time. She soon found that audiences identified her only with singing, sugary-sweet nannies and governesses, and were reluctant to accept her in dramatic roles in The Americanization of Emily (1964) and Alfred Hitchcock's thriller Torn Curtain (1966). In addition, the box-office showings of the musicals Julie subsequently made increasingly reflected the negative effects of the musical-film boom that she helped to create. Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967) was for a time the most successful film Universal had released, but it still couldn't compete with Mary Poppins or The Sound of Music for worldwide acclaim and recognition. Star! (1968) and Darling Lili (1970) also bombed at the box office.

Fortunately, Andrews did not let this keep her down. She worked in nightclubs and hosted a TV variety series in the 1970s. In 1979, Andrews returned to the big screen, appearing in films directed by her husband Blake Edwards, with roles that were entirely different from anything she had been seen in before. Andrews starred in 10 (1979), S.O.B. (1981) and Victor Victoria (1982), which earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Actress in a Leading Role. 

She continued acting throughout the 1980s and 1990s in movies and TV, hosting several specials and starring in a short-lived sitcom. In 2001, she starred in The Princess Diaries (2001), alongside then-newcomer Anne Hathaway. The family film was one of the most successful G-Rated films of that year, and Andrews reprised her role as Queen Clarisse Renalid in The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004). In recent years, Andrews appeared in Tooth Fairy (2010/I), as well as a number of voice roles in Shrek 2 (2004), Shrek the Third (2007), Enchanted (2007), Shrek Forever After (2010), and Despicable Me (2010).

Websites

An Evening With Julie Andrews

www.julieandrewslive.com

Julie Andrews IMDb

www.imdb.com/name/nm0000267

Park Hyatt, Sydney

www.sydney.park.hyatt.com

Eva Rinaldi Photography

www.evarinaldi.com

Music News Australia

www.musicnewsaustralia.com

Chris Brown Launches New Social Media-Driven Entertainment App Exclusively on the App Store

London and Los Angeles (May 15, 2013) – Expanding his already teeming social media activity, Chris Brown today unveils The Chris Brown Channel App exclusively on the App Store for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. The Chris Brown Channel is a new kind of entertainment app, integrating social media with a continual stream of fresh content, connecting with fans in a more immediate, more intimate, more interactive way.  

“I am so excited to get closer to my fans – to bring them into my world, hearing from me directly, in my own words wherever I am, whenever they want,” said Chris Brown.  “Through my channel app they can be part of my music, my art and my life, day in and day out.”

The Chris Brown Channel encompasses all facets of the Grammy-winning singer/songwriter, artist, actor and model: from music to art, style to philanthropy.  With the capacity to broadcast live, Chris controls the content, both planned and spontaneous, sharing his experiences on the fly and offering viewers a true inside glimpse – whether in the studio, in live video chats with friends, or on the road.

Supported by a dedicated creative and content team, the channel also features photos, posts and news.  Fans will be able to interact with Chris, take part in polls (potentially even choosing which song he sings first for a show).

The Chris Brown Channel will integrate Chris’s existing social media activity – his posts on Facebook (30 million Likes) and tweets via Twitter (12.5 million Followers).  
 

The Chris Brown Channel App is available for free from the App Store on iPhone, iPad and iPod touch or at www.AppStore.com. Additional content is available via In-App Purchase.

The Chris Brown Channel is facilitated by Entrago, a UK and L.A.-based media company that develops and manages entertainment channels with innovation and dynamic programming that provides greater engagement between consumers, celebrities and brands.

Australian STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS Song - First Listen and Making Of Featurette

J.J. Abrams ‘STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS’ is Australia’s number one film this week, and to celebrate we have a featurette with Australian singer/songwriter Penelope Austin who has written and recorded an original song with J.J. Abrams for the film called ‘THE DARK COLLIDE’. An electro-pop stomper, the track is being hailed as the best of the six sourced from around the globe.

Penelope Austin and co-writer Robert Conley are among a select group of artists from six countries who received a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have their work featured in the upcoming film from Paramount Pictures.   

For the first time ever in a Paramount live-action film, lyricists, vocalists and music producers from around the world were invited to add their creative talents and a local flavour to a track written for a major motion picture, which will be featured in the film during its theatrical run in each of the artists’ respective countries.

So, moviegoers in the countries that participated will hear a unique and different soundtrack than the moviegoers in other countries.  This opportunity, in which the artist’s own song will play during a pivotal scene with Star Trek’s iconic character Scotty, drew interest from the world’s hottest talent, including Australia’s Conley and Austin—who as of today will now hear their work in the soundtrack in every movie theatre in Australia

Their song ‘THE DARK COLLIDE’ is featured on the “STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS” soundtrack during a nightclub scene, which also features Academy Award®-winning composer Michael Giacchino’s score, in every theatre in Australia.   

This featurette is a behind the scenes look from Austin and Conley about how they came to be involved in this fabulous opportunity and the inspiration behind ‘THE DARK COLLIDE’.

WATCH ON YOUTUBE or direct link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYrlhFSlcPg

Todd Rundgren Announces New Melbourne Shows

Todd Rundgren has announced that his Melbourne shows in Ferntree Gully and Chelsea Heights will now be replaced by three special intimate shows at Bennetts Lane in the CBD on the 18^th of July and the Caravan Music Club in Oakleigh on the 20^th. Bennetts Lane in Melbourne's CBD is renowned for its quality as a live music venue so much so Lonely Planet dubbed it as the world's best jazz club. Todd Rundgren will perform both early and late evening shows at the hallowed venue. Caravan Music Club is fast becoming a must play destination for great touring artists both from Australia and the world with the venue boasting an intimate and up close experience that is unique and unforgettable. Limited tickets are also still available for Todd's originally announced show at The Corner Hotel on the 21^st of July.

A Wizard, A True Star. The title of Todd Rundgren's 1973 solo album aptly sums up the contributions of this multi-faceted artist to state-of-the-art music. As a songwriter, video pioneer, producer, recording artist, computer software developer, conceptualist, and, most recently, interactive artist, Rundgren has made a lasting impact on both the form and content of popular music. This July Todd and his amazing band will bring to life 40 years of amazing music to Australian audiences.

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Rundgren began playing guitar as a teenager, going on to found and front The Nazz, the quintessential `60's cult group. In 1969, he left the band to pursue a solo career, recording his debut offering, the legendary Runt. But it was 1972's seminal Something/Anything?, on which he played all the instruments, sang all the vocal parts, and acted as his own producer, that catapulted Todd into the superstar limelight, prompting the press to unanimously dub him 'Rock's New Wunderkind'. It was followed by such landmark LPs as The Hermit of Mink Hollow and the above mentioned A Wizard, A True Star, as well as such hit singles as I Saw The Light, Hello It's Me, Can We Still Be Friends, and Bang The Drum.

In 1974, Todd formed Utopia, an entirely new approach to the concept of interactive musicianship, and embarked on an extensive round of touring and recording. Standout Utopia offerings included Oops! Wrong Planet, Adventures in Utopia, and Oblivion. Along the way, Utopia combined technical virtuosity and creative passion to create music that, for millions, defined the term "progressive rock."

Rundgren's myriad production projects include albums by Patti Smith, Cheap Trick, Psychedelic Furs, Meatloaf, XTC, Grand Funk Railroad, and Hall And Oates. Rounding out his reputation as rock's Renaissance Man, Rundgren composed all the music and lyrics for Joe Papp's 1989 Off-Broadway production of Joe Orton's Up Against It (the screenplay commissioned by The Beatles for what was meant to have been their third motion picture).

Todd Rundgren will release his new studio album State on the Esoteric Antenna label via Cherry Red in May, 2013.State is Rundgren's 24th solo studio album (and that's not including the two albums he recorded with his first band The Nazz, and the nine albums he recorded with his band Utopia). Todd's latest musical vision is a fusion of rock, soul, r'n'b and electronica that is at once danceable, ground breaking, spiritual, challenging and infectious.

Lennard Promotions Present

An Evening With Todd Rundgren

17TH. JULY THE GOV, ADELAIDE

Tickets via Moshtix on 1300 438849 or venue box office 8340 0744

18TH.JULY BENNETS LANE, MELBOURNE

(2 NEW SHOWS ADDED – Evening and Late Show)

http://www.bennettslane.com/

20TH. JULY CARAVAN MUSIC CLUB, OAKLEIGH

(NEW SHOW ADDED)

www.caravanmusic.com.au

21ST. JULY CORNER HOTEL, MELBOURNE

Tickets via venue box office on 9427 9198

23RD. JULY LIZOTTES, NEWCASTLE

Tickets via venue box office on 4956 2066

25TH. JULY BRIDGE HOTEL, BALMAIN

Tickets via moshtix on 1300 438 849 or venue box office on 9810 1260

26TH. JULY WHITLAM THEATRE, REVESBY WORKERS, SYDNEY

Tickets via venue box office on 9772 2100 or via www.rwc.org.au

27TH. JULY TWIN TOWNS SERVICES CLUB, TWEED HEADS.

Tickets via venue box office on 1800 014 014

For tour information visit:

www.lennardpromotions.com.au & www.facebook.com/lennardpromotions

Australian-born Songwriter Jess McAvoy Launches an IndieGoGo Campaign to Fund her 13th Studio Album, “The Women”

Toronto, Canada, May 7 2013.    As the music industry changes rapidly and demand informs supply, fans play an active role in their favorite artists' next move. With her 13^th recording, “The Women,” Jess McAvoy gives crowd-funding backers the opportunity to become part of the recording and production process.

Jess McAvoy will launch an Indie a Go Go campaign on May 7 2013, which will run for 45 days. The campaign aims to fund McAvoy’s thirteenth release on Henduwin Music, her own music label, as she opens up her back catalogue and outs the songs that have been in hiding.

The Women. Twelve songs spanning seven years, capturing aspects of McAvoy’s relationships with a number of different women. Lovers, friends, and even her mother.

“G’day, My name’s Jess McAvoy. I am from Perth, Western Australia and I currently live in Toronto! I want to talk to you about my new record, The Women, and how [gestures at the viewer] we’re going to make this record together,” says McAvoy in the video she filmed for the campaign.

The release of 2008’s “As the Sun Falls” expanded McAvoy’s audience internationally, especially through the spin-off video from her Melbourne concert featuring Grammy Award-winning Wally De Backer (aka Gotye) performing a duet with McAvoy on her classic, “The Sailor.”

“The Women” and the crowd-funding process will give fans unprecedented access to McAvoy's creative process.

Upon meeting her funding goal, McAvoy will be booked for rehearsals and recording in mid-July in Toronto, mixing with Kevin Killen in New York in the first week of August, with an anticipated release to backers towards the end of August.

Official public release of the record is slated for early October, 2013.

Jess McAvoy Indie Go Go Campaign Launch for “The Women” (slated release October, 2013)
www.jessmcavoy.com

InStyle and Audi Women of Style Awards

InStyle and Audi Women of Style Awards

The InStyle and Audi Women of Style Awards honour Australia’s most inspirational and innovative women, across nine fields, including: Business, Arts & Culture, Charity & Community, Beauty, Lifestyle, Environment, Design, Fashion and Entertainment.

WHO: Kirsten Galliott (editor, InStyle), Claudia Karvan, Collette Dinnigan, Layne Beachley, Kirk Pengilly, Jana Wendt, Kate Ritchie, Rachael Finch, Samara Weaving, Kerri-Anne Kennerley, Jesinta Campbell, Isabelle Cornish, Melissa Doyle, Kylie Gillies, Samantha Armytage, Sally Obermeder, Jessica Rowe, Charlotte Dawson, Cheyenne Tozzi, Michelle Bridges, Emily Symons, Tim Ross, Krew Boylan, Ann Sanders, Dick Smith, Sophie Falkiner, Camilla Franks, Alex Smart, Genevieve Smart, Anna Plunkett (Romance Was Born), Camilla Freeman-Topper, Marc Freeman, Kirrily Johnston, Yeojin Bae, Gary Bigeni, Magdalena Velevska, Fleur Wood, Pip Edwards, Gracie Otto, Becky Cooper (Bec & Bridge), Bridget Yorston (Bec & Bridge), Elizabeth Ann Macgregor, Alyssa McClelland, Gillian Armstrong, Poh Ling Yeow (Lifestyle nominee), Susien Chong (Fashion nominee), Carla Zampatti (Fashion nominee), Ana Maria Escobar (Fashion nominee), Susie Porter (Entertainment nominee), Erica Gregan (Charity & Community nominee), George Gregan, Elizabeth Broderick (Charity & Community nominee), Hayley Baillie (Lifestyle nominee), Sam Mostyn (Business nominee), Lindy Klim (Beauty nominee) and Michael Klim.

“The InStyle and Audi Women of Style Awards celebrate the achievements of extraordinary Australian women. Many of them work in vastly different fields but they all share the same passion, commitment and leadership qualities. Our fifth year of the awards promises to be both inspiring and surprising,” comments Kirsten Galliott, editor, InStyle.

“We look forward to toasting our remarkable nominees and winners at this very prestigious event,” adds Galliott. 

Category winners have been chosen by the esteemed InStyle Women of Style judging panel, which includes: actor, producer and campaigner, Deborra-lee Furness; Director of the Museum of Contemporary Art, Elizabeth Ann Macgregor; film director, Gillian Armstrong; CEO of Harvey Norman Holdings, Katie Page; journalist and author, Jana Wendt; Louise Olsen, Designer and Creative Director, Dinosaur Designs; entrepreneur and environmental campaigner, Layne Beachley; General Manager, Marketing, Audi Australia, Anna Burgdorf.

For further information on the Awards see: www.instylemag.com.au/womenofstyle

Promo

Welcome to the fifth annual InStyle and Audi Women of Style Awards, also supported by Longines, Waterford and David Jones. In the years since these awards were founded, InStyle has honoured more than 100 successful, inspirational women who are making a difference across many fields.

How do we characterise a Woman of Style? We consider her to be an innovator and a leader – a woman who has made a significant contribution in her field, is actively involved in the community and who operates with integrity and compassion. She is a mentor to those who follow in her footsteps. She is intelligent, inspiring and engaging.

The 2013 nominees were announced on March 11 in the April issue of InStyle. You can read all about these inspirational women here as well as our Style Scholarship Finalists.

Websites

Instyle Australia

www.instylemag.com.au

InStyle Awards

www.instylemag.com.au/womenofstyle

Eva Rinaldi Photography

www.evarinaldi.com