TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 2011

Recording the cast album for Michael Tester's musical play "Most Likely To"

Turkish Press Is 'Wild' For Tinatin & Ayhan Collaboration

More than a dozen webbies reporting on Tinatin's EP release for "Wild," co-written & produced by Ayhan, are saying: Turkish producer Ayhan Sahin, now based in the U.S., has produced his latest project with Georgian artist Tinatin. He previously released the latest French-language CD for Lybert Ramade.

Tinatin's 'Wild' Release Party!

To celebrate the release of Tinatin's EP "Wild," Young Pals Music entertained an elite crowd of music aficionados Tuesday evening at 2C Studios in Brooklyn Heights. Tinatin showed up just in time after a two-week writing/recording session in London and Paris, as we debuted the music video clip (click here.)

Tinatin's six-cut EP "Wild" is available on iTunes, Amazon and CD Baby. You can hear clips from the songs here.Below, with Chris Holmes, who lensed the music video.

Tinatin's 'Wild' EP Released TODAY!!

Today is the day! Tinatin's six-cut EP "Wild" is now available on iTunes, Amazon and CD Baby. All songs are written by Tinatin and Ayhan Sahin, and arranged/produced by Sahin. The release comes from Ayhan's Young Pals Records.

Just in time for this week's Earth Day, the cacophonous title track offers a socially conscious anthem about the ravages of climate change, as a rash of alarming trends sweep the land: “temperatures plummeting to 12 below at the equator, a dry spell across South America’s tropical rainforests and fire along the Polar ice caps.”
Hear clips from the songs here! And below is the sensational music video for "Wild," lensed by Chris Holmes.

TINATIN RELEASES DEBUT EP “WILD,” FOCUSING ATTENTION
ON POTENTIAL RAVAGES OF CLIMATE CHANGE;
RELEASED ON THE EVE OF ANNUAL EARTH DAY

As catastrophic events continue to impact the very ground we walk on, from the devastating combination of earthquakes and tsunamis in Japan and Haiti to the potential ravages of climate change, Earth Day is a more urgent call to arms than ever. This year, the 41st annual cause, designed to inspire awareness and appreciation for our natural environment, culminates on April 22, with education, public policy and consumer campaigns in more than 175 nations.

If music is the universal language, then perhaps there is no better way to spread the message than song. Singer/songwriter Tinatin grew up in the Soviet Republic of Georgia—hit by a 6.2 magnitude earthquake in 2009—while collaborator and co-songwriter/producer Ayhan Sahin worked for a decade as a civil engineer in his native Turkey—witnessing hell on earth as an equally hard-hitting earthquake devastated the nation’s northwestern region in 1999, near the metropolis of Istanbul.

Today, both New York-based musicians have banded to record Tinatin’s debut EP, “Wild” on Young Pals Music. It’s no coincidence that the six-song collection is timed for release on April 19, the eve of Earth Day. Its title track offers a socially conscious anthem about the consequences of climate change, as a rash of alarming trends sweep the land: “temperatures plummeting to 12 below at the equator, a dry spell across South America’s tropical rain forests and fire along the Polar ice caps.”

The song also includes a nod to Al Gore’s “Alliance for Climate Protection,” in the lyric, “Al sends regards, he said he is going out of his mind/The sun is shining in the middle of a quiet Carthage night,” referring to his Tennessee hometown. In hand, 10% of the song’s proceeds from iTunes will be donated to Gore’s foundation.

In addition, the force field of cacophonous percussion and insistent beats in “Wild” were such an inspiration for Tinatin and Sahin that he remixed the title track into a frenetic dance floor paean. This version, included on the EP, will be released to DJs/clubs in June. Videoclips for both were lensed by Christopher Holmes/ Holmeswood Features.

With all songs on the EP written by Tinatin and Sahin, and arranged/produced by Sahin, the disc includes a posse of name-brand live musicians, including acclaimed Aussie Garth Ploog on piano, classical guitarist Emre Yilmaz, Mike Stanzilis on bass, drummer Mike Sorrentino, Elyssa Samsel on violins and Dennis DelGaudio on electric and acoustic guitars.

Other highlights include the tender, regretful “Fly,” which tells of a lamenting lover whose partner has been untrue, defiantly offering no second chances. “When you come back, I’ll be out of your life, say goodbye,” Tinatin sings. Similarly, the midtempo “Said and Done” gracefully acknowledges when it’s time to turn the page and begin a new chapter; while “If You Ever” is a lovely lilting ballad that assures a helping hand: “If you lose your ground, if you come undone/If I held you in my arms, you would feel the love inside.”

Aside from this first physical CD release, Tinatin has seen her career burgeon since planting roots in the U.S. Debut single “We the Peoples,” based on the United Nations Charter, earned her kudos as one of Billboard magazine’s 2008 “Artists To Watch,” while composition “Connected” was a finalist in the Pop category of the John Lennon Song Contest. “Is It True,” written by Tinatin with Óskar Páll Sveinsson and acclaimed producer Christopher Neil, was first runner-up at the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest. The entry was subsequently hailed as the pageant’s Song of the Decade.

Sahin has worked with Olivia Newton-John, Melba Moore, Phoebe Snow, Turkish superstar Sezen Aksu, Sandra Bernhard and a half-dozen “American Idol” finalists, including the 2010 debut single for “AI” season eight finalist/comedian Norman Gentle, “Bitch Slap!” The track’s music video logged more than 75,000 YouTube hits in one week after being launched by The Los Angeles Times and Yahoo! Music. In addition, Sahin is associate producer of the award-winning music documentary “Lift Humanitarian Relief Songs Initiative,” which features Tinatin as one of 35 global participants.

For information on “Wild,” contact Janet Castiel at Redwood Entertainment, Inc.
212-543-9998; Janet.Castiel@RedwoodEntertainment.com.

MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2011

Recording the cast album for Michael Tester's musical "Most Likely To"

Matt Zarley: 'We Belong' To A Fab Sunday Brunch

I met openly gay singer/songwriter Matt Zarley several years ago through uber-publicist and pal Michael Caprio, who reps two of my top-tier fave acts, Olivia Newton-John and Jon Secada. My first impression was, gulp, hot, sexy, to the point that I found myself bashful in our first conversation.

But once I heard his music, I was able to see Matt more objectively, and realize he is a wildly talented entertainer, and I was happy to review his single "Here I Am" in Billboard. I wrote-->>

Now that I know Matt better, I recognize he has a heart of gold to match his iron-clad demeanor (okay, he's still hot as shit). His latest single is a remake of Pat Benatar's "We Belong," which, lyrically, is a wondrous mantra for young gays finding their way in a still-often hostile world. He is donating all proceeds to gay youth organization Trevor Project.

Meanwhile, he is working on full-length project "Change Begins With Me," which is slated for release this summer. On Sunday, Ayhan—who provided one of the remixes for "We Belong"—and meese, with our mutual bud (and Caprio's partner) Randy, had a grand catch-up, brunching at Chelsea hot spot Elmo.

Emre Serenades 2C Studios With Classical Guitar

Emre was back at 2C Studios Friday to record three hours of guitar parts for new compositions that Ayhan is writing for his main muse Karine Hannah. This is going to be good, cool cats!

Karine Hannah's Warm, Breezy 'Guilty Pleasures' Show

Songbird Karine Hannah returned to New York's Metropolitan Room Wednesday evening to share her "Guilty Pleasures" songbook with a packed room.The collection includes songs she grew up with that were originally made popular by male singers. Amazing to hear a female interpretation of the lyrics, via Karine's crystal-clear voice. As always, a triumph.Karine with renowned Quebec singer Kaya (a.k.a. Francis Martin).Love Karine's smile here! With Leo & meese.

Karine Hannah Is 'Unresolved' At 2C Studios

Karine Hannah was back at 2C Studios in Brooklyn Heights working on a brand new song written by Ayhan Sahin. Working title: "Unresolved." The pair have previously released three albums on Ayhan's Young Pals Records. I'll Be Alright" in 2007, "Karine" in 2009 and "Calling Card" by DNA featuring Karine in 2010. Hopefully, this represents the first steps toward a fourth.

FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 2011

Recording with Karine Hannah