It wouldn’t be a normal day if I didn’t spend it listening to tons of music. However, there are times when I prefer to work in silence. I’m easily distracted so even at a low volume, the right track can cause me to daydream. So I wanted to turn off the music and concentrate on my work, but since I was too lazy to go to the other side of the room and turn it off, I decided to let the music play. Shortly after I began to work, Natalie Walker’s Urban Angel began to play. I listened to the CD a lot when I originally purchased it back in 2006 but hadn’t heard it in a long time. It was like an unexpected visit from an old friend, a pleasant surprise filled with re-experiencing beautiful moments.

From her work with the group Daughter Darling followed by her solo debut Urban Angel, she has been connected to some of my favorite downtempo work outside of Bristol, England. (“Dust in the Wind” from Daughter Darling’s Sweet Shadows was a previous Underrated Song of the Day.) This romantic stroll down memory lane caused me to temporarily abandon my work and revel in musical bliss. I even overcame my laziness and went over and added Sweet Shadows to the playlist.

Walker auditioned for Daughter Darling after seeing an ad on the internet. She eventually dropped out of college to work with them full-time and record Sweet Shadows, which was extremely well-received critically. She left the trio before recording a second CD and chose to pursue a solo career. Her second CD With You was produced by the same production team who produced her debut, a duo called Stuhr, who released a CD earlier this year under the name Color of Clouds. Though With You has some similarities to Urban Angel, Walker mostly went in an indie pop direction with her sophomore solo release. Since With You, she has formed a band called Mouchette. So far, the band has released two EPs of indie pop music. It’s good stuff but nothing compares to an old friend.

No One Else
Right Here
Faith
Urban Angel

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I received this email from Maria Zouroudis a few days ago. Remember her? According to her people, she’s the next Justin Bieber. (You can read what I first said about her here.) I’m still keeping my fingers crossed for you Maria but now I’m is a little less concerned. Keep us updated.

Love,

Your Family at Me Like Good Music

From: Maria Zouroudis

Message:

Hi James!

You recently featured me in your blog post “Who Will Be The Next Justin Bieber”. I wanted to let you know I read the entire article and appreciated the time you took to write it and the advice you gave.

I’m definitely trying to be very careful and selective in the people I surround myself with. I’m not looking for any desperate opportunity to achieve success. I’m taking my time and sculpting myself as an artist. Your words really made an impression on me and helped me realize I’m on the right path so far.

Thank you so much for sharing my voice with your readers. Most of all thank you for believing in my abilities and for supporting me..with your fingers crossed. I will do my best to make your support count!

Thanks again!

All my Love-MZ

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Love it! Love it! Love it! Thanks to @Agator8 on Twitter for recommending this song. I’m really loving this one. I guess I needed a little bit of 80s flashback. Sing with me “Oh Annie, you save me from the world.” Did she save him before she was struck by a smooth criminal? That Annie is one busy lady.

Now start learning the lyrics so we can sing together.

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With the skyrocketing success of Justin Bieber, music labels are scouring social networks looking for the next big thing. A&R assistants are sitting in their cubicles at this very moment looking at homemade YouTube videos hoping to find a pot of musical gold. Both Ellen DeGeneres and Kara DioGuardi of American Idol have plucked their first signings from the latest crop of YouTube hopefuls.

Will it be possible to achieve success of Bieber’s level? Probably not. The marketing artistry of L.A. Reid and Bieber’s management team of Usher and Scooter Braun have contributed exponentially to his success. But then again, any accomplishment close to what Bieber has achieved would be welcomed by any label.

Recently, I was sent a YouTube video from “the people” of Maria Zouroudis, a young singer who is gaining the distinction of YouTube’s “Queen of Covers.” (I’m not sure of the source of the distinction. Maybe it’s self-proclaimed like “King of Pop.” ) And like everyone else, they present her as the freshest talent to hit the industry.

In the video, Zouroudis gives an engaging rendition of Alicia Key’s “Un-thinkable (I’m Ready)”. You can see more of her performances on her YouTube channel. I can honestly say, she got me. I pressed play, listened and was drawn into her stripped down performance.

In what musical direction does Zouroudis want to go? It seems like she wants to be more than just another pop singer. Though it’s completely out of my hands, I implore her to research the great “song stylists”. (It’s a long list with a wide variety of musical styles.) Start with Sarah Vaughan or Ella Fitzgerald. These are singers who were thoughtful in their singing. It’s not about how many high notes you can hit or if the notes are so high to make dogs howl two counties over. It’s about thinking of your voice as an instrument contributing to the greatness of a song. If that’s your goal, continue to learn, explore and experiment with the beauty of a note and not only will you have a long-lasting career but it will be one where you’ll enjoy what you do for many years. If you’re dedicated to the quality of your work, you and your audience will eventually find each other. And a dedicated fan will make what you do sustainable. That is, if your goal is to be a great singer, as opposed to being a superstar.

When it comes to your collaborators (producers, managers, songwriters, etc.), try to align yourself with people who are trying to do more than make the next hit. Try to find people who want to help you create the kind of music you will never get tired of singing. (If you’re unsure, work with people who will help you experiment with the widest ranges of what music has to offer. Not everything you create will end up on an album so now’s the time to play.) I assure you, if dollar signs are the foremost goal of your team, they’ll place pressures on you beyond the ones you will already experience as an “overnight” success. Plus, if you don’t immediately achieve the lofty goals they set for you, they will probably abandon you. (In hindsight, you will see their disappearance as a blessing.)

When I started this post, my intention was to simply say “I like her. Check it out.” Somewhere along the way, I started feeling like a protective parent. In the end, I say “Well done, Maria Zouroudis. I’m crossing my fingers for you.”

What do you think?

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Based on the word spreading across the internet, the answer would be a resounding YES! I agree. Bowersox’s performances during the American Idol season were among the best of all the contestants and she blew Lee DeWyze out of the water during the finale. But is the loss a blessing in disguise?

There are high and heavy expectations placed on the winner of American Idol as well as any artist preceded by a great deal of hype. And falling short of those expectations is deemed a failure even if the artist achieves what would otherwise be considered respectable sales. In that regard, I’m happy for Crystal Bowersox. I’m hoping that the second place finish will remove some of the spotlight from her and reduce some of the high expectations that now will be placed on DeWyze. No disrespect intended to DeWyze but I personally want Bowersox’s talent to be around and available for many years to come.

During the season, there were rumors that Bowersox wanted to leave American Idol because she was overwhelmed by the offstage aspect of being a part of the show (shooting commercials, endless press and appearances … in other words, spotlight, spotlight and more spotlight). That life will continue for her but will be less intense since she didn’t win the title. Hopefully she’ll be able to spend most of her time doing what she enjoys most … performing her music before an appreciative audience. Not everyone wants to be a star.

Did you notice her discomfort during the performance of her second song? Tight dress, high heels, high-fiving front-row groupies. That’s not Bowersox. That’s the efforts of behind-the-scene puppeteers attempting to turn her into something that will produce big bucks. Instead, just let her strap on her guitar and belt out what she’s feeling in her heart. Take a swig of Jack Daniels if she desire. And, of course, shoes are optional.

Last year, I saw an episode of Real Time With Bill Maher where Maher interviewed Jay-Z. In the interview, Jay-Z discussed the importance of being true to yourself as an artist and believed that was the key to his success. (In particular, he talked about how his debut was made to impress his friends as opposed to trying to figure out what would be a radio hit.) Though I know my plea will fall on deaf (and probably uncaring) ears, I’m hoping Simon Fuller (executive producer of American Idol and now Bowersox’s manager) will allow Bowersox’s artistic integrity to triumph over his marketing plans. Let her be that “Bonnie Raitt with a folky twist” that I want her to be.

Being underrated is a good thing. What do you think?

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