Dre Arc Amp

R&B artist Dre Arc Amp is recording at 2C Studios today.

YOUNG PALS MUSIC CELEBRATES 2013 WITH SIX NEW RELEASES, INCLUDING BEST-SELLING CD TO DATE

New York City-based full-service music label continues versatile musical palette with R&B, rock, pop, dance, musical theater & jazz projects over past year

Best year ever? It certainly sounds like it, judging the accomplishments that Young Pals Music/Young Pals Records International logged in 2013, its sixth year as a New York City-based full-service independent record label. Since its launch, the company—helmed by accomplished composer, producer and arranger Ayhan Sahin—has released more than two dozen albums and singles for its proprietary acts.

Leading the charge in 2013 was the August launch of Erica Jacob’s 10-track debut album “Extraordinary Woman,” with a standing room only live performance in Manhattan’s East Village. First single “Run,” shot by Christopher Holmes/Holmeswood Features on location in Long Island City’s famed 5 Pointz (the world’s premiere outdoor “graffiti Mecca”), fostered nearly 40,000 views on YouTube in its first month of release, while Jacob performed songs from the album at renowned venues in New York and Los Angeles.

In fact, Jacob’s “Extraordinary Woman” has become Young Pals Music’s bestselling project to date. With its abundance of pop, R&B and dance tracks, music journalist Chuck Taylor deemed the album “a joyous pageant of sing-along anthems, offering musical mastery akin to the 100-watt persona of Jennifer Hudson, and the vocal chops of Alicia Keys.” The disc also garnered praise from nearly a dozen media outlets in Sahin’s native Turkey, including the lofty phrase, “Ayhan Sahin is following in Arif Mardin’s steps.” 

Young Pals Owner Sahin, who produced the album, notes, “This process felt so right from the first note. Erica is among the most talented, natural singers I’ve worked with. We spent three years recording dozens of songs before choosing the magic 10 to include on the album. Yes, I’m proud of the album’s success—but I also have so much pride in working with an artist I’m certain is going to be a name brand in the coming years.”

The label opened the year with a revised & refashioned double-CD soundtrack recording of “Swedish Style: The Musical,” a dramatized retelling of the break-up of Swedish super-group ABBA, originally written by Sahin and Selcen Pamuk in the 1990s. The new version comprises 14 songs from the show, mastered for licensed productions by theatrical groups and schools. It features a new NYC-based cast with a 13-piece live band & orchestra.

In July, Young Pals issued singer/songwriter Dacada Summer’s 10-song “Fourth And First,” chronicling the artist’s coming of age in the big city versus his Midwestern upbringing. 

A month before, singer/songwriter Michael Gastaldi released five-song debut solo EP “I’ve Been Meaning To Tell You,” a true-to-life snapshot about love, faith, fate and life in the moment. The two acts frequently showcase their album tracks with live performances in various NYC venues, building up their fan base.

Another highlight of 2013—demonstrating Young Pals’ ongoing versatility—was the September release of “Casino Music” by The Swing Set with Alex Cook, featuring a nine-piece jazz big band, alongside the Rat Pack-inspired musings of its lead singer. Included with a regimen of standards are reimagings of modern pop songs, including Duran Duran’s synth-pop “Rio” as a bluesy piano-tinkling refrain befitting New York’s Rainbow Room, George Michael’s “Faith” originating from a 1920s speakeasy, and a Bacharach-inspired reworking of “More than Words” from rock band Extreme. The album has been doing very well on You Tube -- over 200.000 hits since its release.

In the fall of 2013, Young Pals was notified that it was winner of a Best Of Manhattan Award in the Independent Label category for Music Licensing & Royalties. The annual contest is sponsored by the Manhattan Award Program, which showcases companies that have achieved exceptional marketing success in the local community, while enhancing the positive image of small businesses. 

Another highlight of the year gone by is the signing of an exclusive deal for Young Pals to produce, record and release the debut solo album from award-winning Mexican musical theater and TV actress Bianca Marroquin. The beloved superstar is the first Mexican actress ever cast in a leading Broadway role, as Roxie Hart in “Chicago.” Marroquin also serves as a judge for the Univision reality dance competition series “Mira Quien Baila” (the Spanish-language franchise of “Dancing With the Stars”).

Marroquin’s debut album on Young Pals, set for release in 2Q 2014, will offer 10 Spanish- and English-language songs, including her own original compositions, as well as co-writes with Young Pals producers Ayhan Sahin and Dennis DelGaudio (DNA). A second version of the album will be released exclusively on iTunes, with reverse translations of all 10 songs. The project is being coordinated by Tom Gallaher.

And finally, in December 2013, Young Pals launched a new location for its 2C Recording Studios, relocating from Manhattan’s East Village to Tribeca.

As 2014 spreads it wings, the label will also helm the Musical Cast Album for “The Guardian,” which Sahin is producing and composing with collaborators Michael Merritt (playwright) and Jerri Bocchino (lyricist). In addition, the label is working with singer/songwriter Jade Zabric on her first full-length project., as well as dance artist Michael Anthony and R&B singer Dre Arc Amp.

Since its 2008 launch, Young Pals Music has released 100+ albums, singles and theatrical soundtracks, and four full-length original stage musicals. With its accompanying 2C Recording Studios in Manhattan, the label was born out of a theatrical troupe in Sahin’s native Turkey, evolving into a bona fide record label when Sahin relocated to New York at the dawn of the millennium. 

Today, the full-service independent record label offers artist development, songwriting and collaboration, vocal and instrumental recording, mixing, graphic design, merchandising and consultancy services.

Over the past decade, Sahin has worked with Olivia Newton-John, Melba Moore, Phoebe Snow, Turkish superstars Sezen Aksu and Sertab Erener, Sandra Bernhard, Jill Gioia from “Rockstar Supernova,” and five “American Idol” finalists, including Vonzell Solomon, Norman Gentle, Jon Peter Lewis and Anthony Fedorov.

For information contact:  Janet Castiel, Redwood Entertainment, Inc. -- (212) 543-9998 -- info@redwoodentertainment.com

Bianca Marroquin Recording "Marquee"

Today, while the temperatures hit below 10 degrees on a cold winter New York day, Bianca Marroquin recorded "Marquee" for her upcoming album. 

The theatrical composition written by Ayhan Sahin, Dennis DelGaudio and Chuck Taylor, about reinventing oneself after hitting rock bottom will relate to so many people in the real world, when one wants to shake things up and have a new start.

It was also a perfect platform for Bianca to showcase her unbelievably rich register with so many low and high notes with passion an dramatical edge.

"Been so long since I've been back on

Top of the world I belong

Pull it together

Nothing's forever 

Pick up the broken pieces

Put my name on starlight

Marquee"

Today, the song is recorded live with Tom Gallaher on grand piano and Bianca on microphone at Uptime Studios in midtown Manhattan, which will be accompanied by a strings chamber orchestra with parts arranged by Gallaher.

Stay tuned!

Jerri Bocchino - The First Artist Recording at New Location of 2C Studios

Jerri Bocchino stopped by the new 2C Studios located in TriBeCa to lay vocals for a demo that is part of a new musical project "Guardian" written by Michael Merritt. Bocchino  was the first artist recording in the new location of the studio.

Bocchino  and Ayhan Sahin have been working on writing the songs for this new musical over the last 6 months. 

Young Pals Music will release a concept album showcasing the songs from the musical in 2014.

Michael Anthony signs a recording deal with Young Pals Music

Michael Anthony is one of the two newly signed artists to Young Pals Music this month. He will be working with producer Ayhan Sahin to make his debut album within the next 6 months. We welcome him to our family of talents within the label. Michael visited 2C Studios today to record "Redundant."

Kelsey Denae on Piano

Kelsey Denae was at the studio today recording piano parts for Jade Zabric's upcoming album from Young Pals Music.

Jacob Horstmeier back at 2C Studios

Jacob Horstmeier was at the studio today recording bass guitar for Jade Zabric's upcoming album with Young Pals Music.

Bianca Marroquin recording "Gone"

Another Friday recording session with beautiful Bianca for her upcoming album. Today, we recorded "Gone" and started laying tracks for "Salvame."

Bianca Marroquin recording

At today's Friday session, Bianca recorded "Something More Than Sideways" -- a DelGaudio-Sahin composition for her upcoming album with Young Pals Records International.

The session was held at 2C Studios with Marroquin, Sahin, DelGaudio and Tom Gallaher.

Stay tuned for her album!

Happy Birthday FRIDA!!

After so many songs, even a musical written for you, you're still the biggest inspiration!

Happy Birthday!!

Award-Winning Mexican Musical Theater & TV Actress Bianca Marroquin To Release Her First-Ever Solo Album

Collection of 10 Spanish-language & English songs to be released in 

first-quarter 2014, via Young Pals Records International

New York City-based Young Pals Records International has signed an exclusive deal to produce, record and release the debut solo album from award-winning Mexican musical theater and TV actress Bianca Marroquin.

“This album is very significant to me, because I'm finally recording my own creation,” she says. “I have written these songs throughout my life and am just dying for them to catch light. There is a time and place for everything, and this is the perfect moment for me to release my music… no earlier, no later… now!”

Marroquin’s debut album will comprise 10 Spanish- and English-language songs, including her own original compositions, as well as co-writes with Young Pals International proprietors & producers Ayhan Sahin and Dennis DelGaudio (DNA). A second version of the album will be released exclusively on iTunes, with reverse translations of all 10 songs. Due for release in first-quarter 2014, the project is being coordinated by renowned pianist Tom Gallaher and recorded at New York’s 2C Studios.

The flavor of the album, according to Young Pals’ Sahin, is “contemporary pop meets Latin pop, a la Enrique Iglesias, with guitars, piano, chamber strings, percussion and horns. When you add the sweet, velvet-lined textures of Bianca’s voice, the results are pure magic. She is such a sincere woman, and that authenticity rings true in her music.” 

Marroquin adds, “The sound is organic because of the acoustic guitars and strings, feisty because of the tempo of the drums, sensitive and honest because of the lyrics that come from my heart, and diverse because it is sung in both Spanish and English. I think it offers something for everyone.”

The beloved superstar is the first Mexican actress ever to be cast in a leading Broadway role, and one of the youngest to play Roxie Hart in the original production of “Chicago” in New York City. Marroquin also commandeered the role of Hart in the Spanish-language version of “Chicago” in Mexico, which won her the esteemed Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Lead Actress, as well as five awards from the Mexican Critics Association, including Best Actress and New Revelation. 

Her stage career in Mexico also includes “Beauty and the Beast,” “Rent,” “Mary Poppins,” “The Vagina Monologues” and “The Phantom of the Opera”; while she has also appeared on Broadway in “In the Heights” and “The Pajama Game.”

In addition, Marroquin has served as one of three judges during all four seasons (2010-2013) of the highly rated Univision reality dance competition series “Mira Quien Baila,” the Spanish-language franchise of “Dancing With the Stars.” She also judged reality series “Pequeños Gigantes.” Televisa cast her as the main protagonist in telenovela “Esperanza del Corazón,” while she also sang the show’s theme song. In 2007, she performed at “The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts.”

Independent music company Young Pals International is a burgeoning force among post-millennial record labels, with a full-service focus on the artist. It offers developing and established artist development, songwriting and collaboration, vocal and instrumental recording, mixing, merchandising and consultancy services.

For information, contact: 

Ayhan Sahin (Young Pals Records International)

ayhan@youngpalsmusic.com

YoungPalsMusic.com

TGIF: Bianca Marroquin is back in the Studio

Bianca Marroquin was at 2c Studios today, recording a DelGaudio & Sahin composition -- "One Lie" with DelGaudio, Sahin and Tom Gallaher for her upcoming album with Young Pals Records International.