All posts in: American Idol

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11 Jun 2011

In the News…

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During Finals Week, I was unable to keep up with these “In the News…” posts so some of these bits are from two weeks ago. From here on out though, everything will be pretty current.

Fashion


– Giambattista Valli will design for Macy’s. [Source]

– Hamish Bowles is writing an autobiography. [Source]

– Gary Time has officially launched! [Source]

– Jessica and Ashlee Simpson will collaborate on tween clothing line. [Source]

– Dakota Fanning is the new face of Marc Jacobs’ “Oh Lola!” [Source]

– Emma Watson will grace the cover of American Vogue’s July issue. [Source] [Source]

Music

– Coachella is turning into a multi-weekend event! [Source]

– Adele has canceled the rest of her North American tour due to sickness. [Source]

Television

– MTV has cancelled Skins. Sad day. [Source]

– Fear Factor is returning to NBC. [Source]

– Jane Lynch will host the Emmys. [Source]

– Katie Couric is launching a talk show on ABC next fall. [Source]

– There has been talk of a US remake for the UK hit show “Misfits.” [Source]

– MTV will film their next season of Real World in San Diego. [Source]

Seattle

[vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/18539129]

– Blur Seattle has created the HappyButts project to encourage smokers to toss their used cigarettes in these designated cans and not the streets of Capitol Hill. [Source]

Other

– “Human Barbie” Sarah Burge who has had $800,000 worth of surgery recently purchased a voucher for breast implants for her 7-year old daughter to redeem when she is 16. [Source]

– The ridiculous family that started the whole Balloon Boy incident last year has decided to auction off their enormous balloon in order to raise money for the Japan relief. The price is currently set at $1m. Okay, you’ve redeemed yourself a little bit. [Source]

– Scarlett Johansson and Sean Penn are no longer dating. [Source]

– Shaq announces retirement after 19 years in the NBA. [Source]

– Ed Norton is engaged. [Source]

– Nikki Reed is engaged to American Idol contestant Paul McDonald. [Source]

– Jack White and Karen Elson are throwing a divorce party. [Source]

– The creator of Mad Libs, Leonard B. Stern, has passed away at 88. [Source]

– This fall, Emma Watson will resume her college education by attending Oxford University. [Source]

– Lily Allen got married today. [Source]

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27 May 2011

In the News…

Fashion

– Now everyone can look like Terry Richardson with these frames! umm too bad they’re $290. [Source]

– Joe Zee’s television series All on the Line has been picked up for a second season by Sundance. [Source]

– Did Urban Outfitters rip off an Etsy designer? [Source]

– Take a peak inside designer Erin Fetherston’s beautiful apartment. [Source]

Music

– A Tribe Called Quest will be releasing their film in a number of theaters for several dates. [Source]

– Transformers 3 has released their soundtrack. [Source]

– Kanye West will perform a free show in Manhattan in June. [Source]

– Dom’s “Family of Love” EP will be released August 9th. [Source]

– P. Diddy has decided to change his name to “Swag.” Is that to indicate that he is free? Easy? I don’t know. [Source]

Television

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prE0lIZOqbk&feature=player_embedded]

– Kerry Washington will be acting as “Olivia Pope” in ABC’s new series “Scandal.” [Source]

– MTV is footing a new pilot called “Married Young.” Stop it… just stop it. [Source]

– Scott Mccreery is the new American Idol. [Source]

– VH1 makes plans to bring back “Pop Up Video.” More music – less trashy reality television shows please! [Source]

Movies

–Ed Westwick will portray Tybalt in a new Romeo and Juliet film. [Source]

Seattle

– Joan Jett paid a visit to the students of Scriber Lake High School who are all at risk of dropping out. Jett took this time to urge these students how important it was to earn a high school diploma and pursue their dreams. [Source]

– A new service in Seattle called “I Have Munchies” will cater to all of your late night needs. [Source]

– Seattle is one of the nation’s safest pedestrian cities in America. [Source]

Other

– Tom Hanks gave the commencement speech to Yale’s Class of 2011. Students were encouraged to wear silly hats. [Source]

– Sofia Coppola and longtime boyfriend Thomas Mars (frontman of Phoenix) are getting married this summer. The couple have two kids together. [Source]

– In case you missed it, Kim Kardashian got engaged to Kris Humphries. [Source]

– Spiderman’s Andrew Garfield and Shannon Woodward have split. Not-so-secretly celebrating… [Source]

– The Kardashians need your help in deciding the title for their new novel. wut. [Source]

– The before and after shot of the damages left by the Joplin, Missouri tornado. [Source]

– Apparently it’s Asian Pacific American Heritage month so Buzzfeed rounded up a bunch of celebs that we may have not known were actually Asian. I didn’t know either of these things. [Source]

– A new study shows that those that immerse themselves in cultural activities ie) playing an instrument, attending concerts, taking trips to the art gallery – turn out to be healthier! [Source]

– Roughly 81% of the music in your iTunes library will never get played. [Source]

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22 Sep 2010

Meet: Jessie Payo

It was only just a year ago that I had started doing interviews for Yow Yow! and the first person I asked was Jessie Payo. Earlier that year, her band Jupiter Rising, had released their second album The Quiet Hype, which was packed with both pop-rock and hip-hop influenced tracks. Their songs were picked up and featured in episodes of The Hills, Criminal Minds, and The City. Jessie was the first person I wanted to interview because I was a huge fan of Jupiter Rising and had also met her for the first time a few years back. Anyways, a year went by and I decided to reach out to Jessie again. Luckily, we were able to get this going the second time around. She is an absolute sweetheart! I hope you enjoy this everyone.

Q: How old are you and where are you from?

Jessie: I’m a youngster from Los Angeles.

Q: Growing up, did you always see yourself becoming a singer? How did your career first start out?

J: When I was little I wanted to be a painter, then a dancer, then an actress.  It never really crossed my mind that I would want to spend my life as a musician.  My parents were very artistic and they had all sorts of artist friends that would come over and play music.  One time at a backyard party, there were a bunch of musicians jamming out to a Janis Joplin song…at the time I had become a huge fan of Janis.  So when the song began, I started singing really loud into the mic.  I surprised my parents…and myself.  Soon after that, my father started a band with a bunch of our church friends.  We played coffee houses and small festivals with Aretha Franklin covers and blues songs.  After that, I knew I wanted to keep on playing live.  It wasn’t until later that I started writing my own songs.

Q: So Jessie, I actually met you three or four years ago at the black Friday event at Alderwood Mall in Washington. I’m sure you don’t remember meeting me, but I caught your performance w/ Jupiter Rising and after the show I met you and your band manager. I remember being so excited because I had never met a band that wasn’t local before. Back then, I told you that I was interested in booking you guys for a show at the venue I worked for so I was in shock when I received my first business card from your manager. Who was the first person that you met in your music career that has left you speechless?

J: Wow, Katie!  That was a really fun show…really freezing too;)  I’m so happy you remember that show because I had a great time at that show!  Well, the first person I met that left me speechless was Jonny Lang when I was, like, 15…I’m not sure if you know who he is but at the time he blew up as this  teen, blues prodigy!  I was really into the blues at the time and it was so inspiring to meet someone that was young and playing music so enriched in the roots of American music.  I was soooo in awe of his talent…and not to mention his amazing smile.  Later on we got to share the stage together, and that was killer!

Q: You recently told me that you are no longer with Jupiter Rising. I’m sad to hear that especially because I still listen to both of your albums pretty often. What made you decide to end up going solo?

J: Yes, it was a sad breakup but a lot of things happen for a reason.  Spencer Nezey is one of the most talented producers out there and he is now working on a project called Her Majesty and the Wolves.  I felt I wasn’t being honest in myself as an artist and I also felt it was unfair to Spencer because he knew exactly where he wanted this band to go.  I needed to step away to ask myself that difficult question “What is it that I want?”  So now I’m feeling incredibly amazing writing new music and laying the foundation for more exciting things to come.

Q: I follow your Twitter as well and heard that you were trying out for American Idol. Is it true? If so, that’s very exciting! Are you able to tell us anything about it or is it pretty hush hush?

J: I can’t really share the details but it was a great experience.

Q: Who are you usually compared to? And do you think that this person and you are alike?

J: I’m usually compared to Nelly Furtado, Erykah Badu, Bonnie Raitt and Nikka Costa.  I totally see the comparisons yet these four artists have completely different sounds.  I take them all as a compliment

Q: Who were your influences growing up?

J: My first influence was Madonna.  I would imitate her dance moves and bring my “Like a Virgin” cassette to kindergarten…where it was deemed inappropriate.  Haha!  After that I was heavily influenced by Aretha Franklin, The Beatles, Eric Clapton , Big Mama Thorton, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Erykah Badu, Nikka Costa and PJ Harvey…that’s quite a list of random.

Q: Who is your guilty pleasure collaboration? Who would you like to collaborate with that your fans might find a bit surprising?

J: I would LOVE to work with Jack White….DONE!

Q: The music industry is tough business to get into, what has been your biggest challenge and what piece of advice would you give to those who aspire to become a successful musician.

J: My two biggest pieces of advice is:  Don’t stop working…there’s always something to be said about being a hustler.

Second piece of advice is never make any apologies for the work that you put out there .

Q: At the end of the day, what makes it all worth it for you?

J: What makes it all worth it at the end of the day, is the endless amount of support I get from my friends and family.  Whenever I feel like I’ve reached my breaking point I always have a good friend or family member to remind me to get some perspective.  Leaning on them at times and a good way to step outside of myself when it gets too hard.

Q: Who are you listening to these days?

J: I’m listening to the new Black Keys album “Brothers”, The Avett Brothers, Marina and the Diamonds and the new Weezer Album.  Great stuff!

Q: What’s a typical day for Jessie Payo?

J: I’d like to say that I have a typical routine, but I don’t.  A lot of it consists of running around from rehearsals to shows to sessions to vocal lessons.   Each day brings its own adventure.  Right now I’m working on building the next Empire that is Jessie Payo.

Q: Jessie, you are dating magician Justin Kredible. Has he ever played a trick on you?

J: There’s always magic in the house.  But once he put my head into a vintage head chopper to test it out and it scared the crap out of me to have my head locked into a contraption with a huge blade above it.  Thank goodness nothing went wrong…my head’s still attached to my body.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btbBLGGM1h8]

Q: Where can we see you next Jessie?

J: Keep on the look out for a brand new Jessie Payo EP that’s in the works as we speak!  Also, I’m starring in a film called “Rising Stars” that’s soon to be out!

Q: Anything else?!

J: Check out more to come from Jessie Payo on www.jessiepayo.com

And follow me on twitter at @jessiepayo

Thanks Jessie! We wish you the best of luck!

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16 Sep 2010

American Idol to include online auditions

Can you believe that American Idol is already going into their 10th season? I had no idea that the show had been running for so long, but then you remember all of the contestants that have been impacted by the show – Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Chris Daughtry, Jennifer Hudson, Jordin Sparks, etc. In its 10th season, the show is about to undergo some major changes, the first being a new lineup of judges. We have lost Ellen DeGeneres after one season, Kara DiGuardio after two, and Simon Cowell who has been with us from the start. Randy Jackson will still be at the judge’s table along with newbies Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez [who will be earning $12 million for her contract with the show.]  American Idol has always been searching for “the next big superstar” so they are making sure they have all of their bases covered by lowering the age to audition to age 15. You never know how many Justin Bieber’s could be out there.

This year, American Idol also plans to allow auditions to be recorded and posted on MySpace. [I see we’re trying to bring this one back again.] From now until October 6th, contestants will be able to post a 40-second video of their audition, but are limited to just one audition video per contestant. They will be judged just like on American Idol and then receive callbacks to Los Angeles if chosen. If they are judged just like they are on American Idol, does that mean the judges will give criticism via…MySpace comments?!

Source

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27 Aug 2010

Paul Rudd knows good talent

“I’ll be a nice judge, but if I don’t like what they do I will tell them to give up on their dreams.”

– Paul Rudd, joking about filling Simon Cowell’s judge’s seat on American Idol, to MTV News

Source: People Magazine

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29 Jul 2010

In the News…

– That same Miu Miu applique dress has landed yet another cover for August making its appearance total to four covers this month. It really is one great dress… [source]

– The boys of Glee will co-host the Teen Choice Awards with Miss Katy Perry next month.

– Justin Timberlake’s William Rast Collection will collaborate with Target’s Go Fashion line to bring affordable denim to both fans and customers. Pieces are likely to range from $15-$80.  [source]

– Jimmy Fallon is accused of sexual discrimination because of his preference with who he wants to work with. [source]

– Mel Gibson continues to be disgusting so Leonardo DiCaprio has decided to pull out of an upcoming film with him. Good choice Leo! [Source]

– Who is set to be more “present” on  next season’s Glee? Click here to see!

John Legend and The Roots are releasing a new album! Check out the tracklisting here

– Jennifer Lopez will be replacing Ellen DeGeneres on American Idol next season. [Source]

Huge crush on Neil Patrick Harris

GQ introduces pantless Saturdays including Michael Cera and his Scott Pilgrim costars. NSFW or SFW  at your own discretion. [Source]

– Zac Efron visited a strip club in New York and it was a BIG deal you guys. [source]

– Kanye West has got a Twitter account now y’all! Follow him here

– Another Victoria’s Secret model has let slip that Miranda Kerr may be pregnant? Maybe that’s why her and Orlando Bloom got married one month after announcing their engagement.

– W Magazine is pulling a “September Issue” and will be filming a documentary on the release of their September issue. Copycatters of Vogue much? [Source]

– Taylor Momsen has got an official album cover.

– Naomi Watts is the new face of Ann Taylor [Source]

–Essence Magazine hired a white fashion director, which is causing a little bit of a scandal. [source] and the response back here

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in random news from The Daily What

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAZtebBzYOo&feature=player_embedded]

The poor kid didn’t get to see any of his favorite animals at the zoo because all of the girls wanted to see “gentle animals.”

Awesome street art from Warsaw

The world’s oldest Twitter user passed away today at age 104. [source]

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In Seattle news…

– The Picasso will be at the Seattle Art Museum this October. Find out more about how to get tickets here

– The Block Party has come and gone, now you can start making your schedule for Bumbershoot hour-by-hour here

The Grassroots production continues to take over Capitol Hill and it is awesome.  [Source]

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24 Jun 2010

FOX and Glee waste your time

Didn’t think the two was possible? Yeah, neither did I. Remember when FOX and Glee organized that huge competition back in January in which everyone started using their MySpace again to upload videos of them singing? I got at least four friends from Facebook requesting me to vote for their videos. Anyways, I was unaware of the details of the competition until now. Apparently, the producers from Glee and the creator Ryan Murphy were going to review each and every entry until they had selected a smaller pool to compete in an American Idol type competition/reality show until the three winners were announced. These three no namers would then receive roles on the actual Glee series and get their burst into stardom.

Well, sadly, those dreams aren’t going anywhere because Ryan Murphy didn’t realize how much time it would take to review the entries. It would also be taking his time away from working on the actual series so the whole competition was for absolutely nothing! hahah that was mean, okay it’s not for nothing. Ryan is still going to look over the videos and select a number of winners that will have a chance to appear on Glee for at least one episode.

Readers – did any of you submit? Did you receive a notification about this?

Source

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22 Jun 2010

In the News…

– Simon and Garfunkel have canceled their North American tour because Art Garfunkel has a condition that has been affecting his voice.

– Amy Poehler is the co-creater in the project Smart Girls at the Party, which is a web show featuring girls who are changing the world all on their own.

– James Franco has been preparing for his solo art show to debut on June 23rd at New York’s Clock Tower Gallery. Show’s focus? Sexual confusion. [source]

– Toy Story 3 may have a shot at winning the Oscar’s Best Picture award. [source]

Engaged.

Miley Cyrus performed at the MuchMusic Video Awards 2010 last night in this getup. Stop it Miley. Just stop it.

– True Blood officially renewed for a fourth season.

– For the next season of American Idol, they have decided to lower the age limit from 16-28 to 15-28. Auditions begin in Nashville on July 17th.

– Chris Klein has checked himself into rehab after his second alcohol related arrest last Wednesday.

Listen to Maroon 5’s newest single Misery here

– Radiohead is hoping to release their new album before the end of 2010.

– So summer hasn’t hit yet in the northwest. At least we don’t have tornadoes right? Yesterday, a tornado in Billings, Montana destroyed their sports arena and event center Metrapark.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlGsNN7TPrc&feature=player_embedded]

– The Glastonbury music festival is this week. I wish I was there.

– Abercrombie & Fitch is bringing back their most controversial quarterly. mmm how we like a scandal… you’re trying to boost sales aren’t you A&F? [source]

– Givenchy will no longer present a couture runway show, but will opt for private appointments instead. [source]

– Jack White wants his fans to stop sending him stuffed animals. [source]

– Bachelor contestants Jake Pavelka and Vienna Girardi have ended their engagement. The dating show has produced 13 failed relationships.

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02 Sep 2009

In the News…

– Daniel Radcliffe had his first injury while filming Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows today.

“I was shooting a scene where Harry is fighting a huge snake,” he said. “As you know, the Harry Potter films are big productions, so instead of an actual snake in front of me, our stunt coordinator held a long stick with a boxing glove at the end.”

Poor guy now has a black eye.

– DJ AM has left a $1 million estate behind and no will. His funeral was scheduled for this afternoon.

– Every so often a show will come along and at that point I will add it to my schedule of must-sees. This might be one of them! And also I love Shiri Appleby and have loved her ever since the show Roswell.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Np_h7RW6lzc&feature=player_embedded]

– The Duggars are expecting another child. (Not again… but are we even surprised? Absolutely not.)

– Avril Lavigne and Katy Perry will be guest judges on this ninth season of American Idol.

– Halle Berry is expecting also!

– Spencer Pratt recently announced that he wanted to change his name to “King Spencer Pratt.” Gross.

– John Krasinski and Emily Blunt are engaged! But want a short engagement.

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Sex and the City 2 has begun filming.

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06 Aug 2009

In The News…

– The All American Rejects performed on Conan Tuesday night.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xVp5pITlmc&feature=player_embedded]

wtf at Tyson Ritter’s stage presence. Regardless, still so excited to see him at Bumbershoot!

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– Actress Dania Ramirez, who plays Maya on Heroes has been delcared the new face of CoverGirl.

– Twitter was down early this morning causing spectulation that the site had been hacked. Facebook had similar problems as well.

– The Boys Are Back movie trailer starring Clive Owen

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDyF5xGZaLM&feature=player_embedded]

– John Hughes has passed away this morning at the age of 59 due to a heart attack. He is best known as the director for “Sixteen Candles,” “The Breakfast Club,” “Pretty In Pink,” and “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.”

– Victoria Beckham is set to appear as a guest judge on at least one episode of American Idol next season.

– Robin Antin says the Pussycat Dolls are NOT broken up.  …yet.

– Miley Cyrus’s sister Noah Cyrus dressing really…nice. Yeah she’s 9.

– Oprah is getting sued for one trillion dollars for allegedly plagiarizing part of the book “A Tome of Poetry” written by Damon Lloyd Goffe. The suit was filed July 31st and Oprah herself had even said that she used his book? Now Goffe thinks he should be making money off of it too.