Sandy Lo's Blog, page 24

Sandy Lo Contributes to New Publication In Phase Magazine!

Sandy Lo has been embracing her first love of entertainment journalism.  Now residing in Nashville, Tennessee where she moved to write her upcoming novel, The Watch Dog, Sandy is freelance writing for several publications, one of which is the brand new In Phase Magazine.  Sandy has two articles in the first issue, out June 1st and available for free at various Middle Tennessee purveyors.  Sandy interviewed her friend, Nashville singer/songwriter Stacia Watkins as well as the UK band, The Kooks for the issue.  Here is a list of locations you can find In Phase Magazine.  You can also check out their website: www.inphasemag.com as well as like them on Facebook: www.facebook.com/inphasemag and follow them on Twitter: www.twitter.com/inphasemagazine.



Nashville (Midtown area) – Corner Bar, Springwater, Cafe Coco, Jed’s Sports Bar & Grill, Blue Gene’s, Canvas

East Nashville/5 Points area – 5 Spot, Red Door Saloon, Mad Donna’s, The Lipstick Lounge, Samy Citgo (East Main)

Inglewood area – FooBar, Mac’s Drive-In Mkt.

Hendersonville – Holder Family Fun Cntr., Chaser’s Ole Western Grill, 1 Stop Food Mart, Second Skin Tattoos

Rivergate – Super Cuts, Pep Boys, Sam Ash Music

Madison – Rollins Mkt, “o” Rendezvous Bar & Grill

Lakewood – The Boulevard Barber & Style, Forever Yours Tatto & Piercing, Mkt. Discount Tobacco & Beer

Hermitage – Lebanon Rd. Citgo (Shiloh Plaza), SuperCuts, Double “E” Bar & Grill, Indulgence Hair Salon & Day Spa, Bellacino’s Pizza & Grinders, The Rusty Nail, Original Roadside Bar & Grill

Mt. Juliet – Country Store Disc. Tobacco & Beer, Billy Goat Coffee Cafe’, City Hall, Public Library, Capital City Mkt (BP)

Gordonsville – TNT Mkt (Shell), Capital Bank, Citizen’s Bank, Community Bank of Gordonsville, Cheers Wines & Liquor

Carthage – Save-A-Lot, Citizens Bank, Quick-N-Easy (Citgo), Smith County Bank, Riverview Regional Medical Center, Community Bank of Smith County, Carthage Swap-Shop Pawn

South Carthage – Billy Jack’s Mkt

Lebanon- The Mill at Lebanon, JNR Electronics, Linwood BP, Frankie’s Cafe’, Quick-N-Easy (Citgo), Zips, Uncle Pete’s Truckstop, Dunkin Donuts, Mini Mart (231 N), Chum’s, City Hall

Thirty Seconds To Mars Announces Plans for 4th Album!

Thirty Seconds To Mars have announced that they are currently working on their 4th studio album, the follow-up to 2009’s global hit This Is War. The new album is a “dramatic departure from the past”, says singer and songwriter Jared Leto, describing it as being “very orchestral, narrative, interactive and even more electronic than previous projects”. Leto is once again producing the album along with several other talented producers including the return of Steve Lillywhite (U2, THE KILLERS). The trio are working out of their studio in the Hollywood Hills dubbed ‘ICAASS’ (International Center for the Advancement of the Arts and Sciences of Sound) or ‘The Lab’ for short, as well as incorporating site specific recording in locations as far reaching as India, Africa, Yosemite, the California desert and Europe. Jared spoke with Rollingstone.com about recording the upcoming album and new technology venture VyRT, the feature can be read here.

The band plans to re-launch their successful event dubbed The Summit and plans to launch The Summit 2.0 as an app which will allow fans to be a part of live recording for the album through Facebook, Twitter and a new technology platform called VyRT.

The band is also using VyRT for a live performance and sneak peek into the workings of Mars, inviting fans directly into The Lab studio on April 27th for a live digital experience which will include an intimate live performance, preview of their live tour film, sneak peek of their documentary film ARTIFACT, and a discussion with the band. Digital tickets are available at VyRT.net/Mars For the first time ever, VyRT gives artists the opportunity to sell digital tickets to live events that are broadcast worldwide in an online social theater. This isn’t your grandmother’s live stream. VyRT is a high quality, high production value event that’s centered around the idea of creativity and community. VyRT gives artists the ability to share their work without having to rely on the current prevailing sponsor based model. By avoiding that system VyRT helps to create meaningful content that customers truly value. It is a one of a kind digital experience.

In December, Thirty Seconds To Mars celebrated their final shows in support of This Is War with a week-long celebration in NYC dubbed “MARS300” to commemorate their 300 th tour date. They were honored by the Guinness World Records® for performing more concerts than any other band in a single album cycle. Fans around the world were able to experience the big Guinness World Record-breaking MARS300 show by purchasing a digital golden ticket through VyRT.net, allowing them access to a live and interactive broadcast. A first of its kind, ticket buyers got to watch the show live and connect socially with friends and other global fans simultaneously.

Signed to their first record deal in 1998, Thirty Seconds To Mars consists of brothers Jared and Shannon Leto and Tomo Milicevic.

To get involved in the Thirty Seconds To Mars community dialogue, check out the band’s social media sites:

Facebook –http://www.facebook.com/thirtyseconds...

MySpace –http://www.myspace.com/thirtysecondst...

Twitter — http://twitter.com/30Secondstomars

YouTube –http://www.youtube.com/30secondstomars

Thirty Seconds To Mars website: www. thirtysecondstomars.com

Thirty Seconds To Mars tickets and merchandise can be purchased at: http://30secondstomars.shop.musictoda...

The Borrowed Umbrella

The Borrowed Umbrella
By Sandy Lo

©April 2012

December in Manhattan was bitter and hectic. Dee Dee ventured in the city anyhow, along with her eldest sister, CeCe. They took the express bus from Staten Island. The weather, according to CeCe, who checked things such as traffic and news, suspected an early evening drizzle. CeCe brought an umbrella in spite of Dee Dee’s protest that it was sunny out and meteorologists are never accurate these days.

The sisters were heading to see a Broadway show, an after Christmas tradition for them. Dee Dee was on winter break from college, and had missed comforts such as catching a movie with an old friend or family member. Going away to college was something Dee Dee thought would be life changing. And it was—just not the most amazing thing to happen in all her eighteen years, like she had hoped. She gained some independence, and found an inner confidence she always lacked—especially when dealing with her parents. Aside from that, Dee Dee hadn’t made many friends on campus in upstate New York. She spent most nights in her dorm room writing stories, songs and poems. Writing had always been her escape—it was her own form of therapy.

Just as Dee Dee and CeCe were getting off the bus, rain began to slowly fall. They were running late for the show as it was, and bad weather didn’t make it any easier to get around the crowded city. CeCe immediately pulled out her umbrella and opened it.

“Here,” she handed Dee Dee another umbrella, a red one that she grimaced at.

“I don’t want one.”

CeCe rolled her eyes, “Fine, get soaked then. You’re hatred of umbrellas is ridiculous.”

And Dee Dee knew her repulsion for such a simple contraption was in fact silly, but she couldn’t help but to resent the object. She could never resent the rain, though, not any more than she could hate the sun. Reluctantly, she opened the umbrella, not wanting her hair to be a wet mess by the time they got to the show.

Still, in no way was Dee Dee happy about succumbing to using an umbrella. She tried to follow behind CeCe on the congested New York City block. The umbrella would occasionally tilt forward making it hard for her to see where she was going at the hurried pace she was keeping. Dee Dee hated to be late and it was common to be late when dealing with weather and traffic in this city that often made her feel claustrophobic—not to mention her entire family ran late for most things.

As the sisters got closer to the theater, the wind picked up. Dee Dee’s red umbrella flipped inside out; pulling her back with the force. She groaned loudly, trying to hold onto the umbrella. The wind calmed a moment later, and CeCe was laughing. Dee Dee chuckled as well; it was comical as much as it was annoying.

They finally reached the entrance of the theater when another gust of wind blew. This time, Dee Dee didn’t have a strong enough grip on the umbrella. The red nylon looked like a parachute as it went flying into the street where a truck ran it over, crushing the metal and tearing the material.

Dee Dee went into a fit of hysteria. She had tears in her eyes as she laughed, now covered by the awning of the theater. CeCe huffed.

“That is the last time I’m letting you borrow an umbrella!”

Dee Dee shrugged, “I told you umbrellas are nothing but a hassle.”

She smiled, knowing on the way home she wouldn’t mind getting wet. She didn’t want protection. She loved not worrying about how she looked at the end of the day. She wouldn’t mind the raindrops hitting her head. She wouldn’t mind walking from the bus stop, hearing the sloshing of her shoes. It was natural. It made her think of summer time. She was always the first one to jump in the swimming pool; never afraid to get wet like some girls she knew. She liked to jump in with both feet and not be afraid. Walking in the rain was some representation of facing life bravely—as silly as that seemed.

Dee Dee faintly heard CeCe complaining about the demolished umbrella as they walked into the theater. CeCe struggled to close her black umbrella. Dee Dee hoped one day she wouldn’t need protection from people and issues in life, just like she didn’t need it from the rain. She wanted to look at her father like a raindrop; he would just roll off her back. The kids on her campus who partied and made her feel different would fall to the floor in a puddle at her feet. The people Dee Dee lost in her life—like Grandma—would be reflected back to her in that puddle, bringing peace to her heart.

Dee Dee looked back at the umbrella; then back at her sister, realizing all CeCe wanted to do was protect her. She was grateful for that. Being the baby in the family, all any of her siblings wanted to do was protect her—maybe too much at times. Dee Dee knew she could be stubborn, refusing to ever bring an umbrella being a perfect example of that, but she also knew she would have to fight for her independence. The destroyed umbrella represented that: the battle Dee Dee had won.

The Boondocks: From Staten Island to Nashville

Being a born and raised New York City girl, country music wasn’t a consistency in my life. Music was, though. I grew up in the South Beach projects in Staten Island, and though it wasn’t the best neighborhood, it was my home. I can’t change that and I’m never ashamed to say where I came from. I wouldn’t be who I am today without my past. I’ve always been told, even as a child, I remain true to myself. While kids in my neighborhood used bad language, I never did. It was never who I was. When a friend of mine wanted to bully a girl who was different, I didn’t. Instead, I stood up for the girl and befriended her.

Despite staying true to myself, there were times I was tested. There were times I wished life was different. I wanted a swimming pool. I wanted to go outside and hang out with friends, but as I got older the kids in the neighborhood got worse. I wanted to be surrounded by good people, and though, I had quite a few nice people around—I was also around a few authority figures that didn’t do the right thing.

Music was an escape from it all. I remember walking into a different room of my project apartment and hearing The Beatles playing from my oldest sister’s radio. I would walk into my brother’s bedroom and hear Rob Base. My other sister would listen to more Top 40 and dance music. My father would listen to Run DMC while my mother gave me a well-rounded ear for the sounds of the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s. As a kid, I was partial to the music of the ‘80s even throughout the ‘90s.

My familiarity with country music consisted of Elvis, Bonnie Rait, Kenny Rogers and Charlie Daniels. Those artists were who my mother listened to, and most of them had songs in movies that I frequently watched.

As I grew up, and the South Beach projects began to go downhill, I found solace in music. By the time we moved out of the projects, I was about to start high school, and music became even more important to me, assisting in dealing with all those emotions that come with growing up.

Unlike some of my peers, I didn’t just want to listen to music. I craved knowledge about it. To this day, I’m still renowned for being full of random tidbits of pop culture trivia. It came as no surprise to anyone when I became an entertainment journalist.

Country music gradually began to enter my life as I became more knowledgeable about the music industry. I also made some friends who were big country music fans that began to strategically direct me to songs by Martina McBride and Rascal Flatts.

Soon I was watching CMT on my own since I couldn’t find a country radio station on Staten Island. When “The Boondocks” by Little Big Town came out in 2005, something about that song resonated with me. It’s a song about growing up in the sticks of the South, so how could I, a city girl, relate?

It didn’t hit me until the other night at Keith Urban and Vince Gill’s “We’re All For The Hall” show out here in Nashville. Little Big Town performed the song and I found myself singing along, but getting somewhat emotional.

“I feel no shame. I’m proud of where I came from. I was born and raised in the boondocks,” the chorus sings. Finally, it hit me. I am proud of where I came from, no matter the bad reputation living in the projects has, or for that matter, even just being from Staten Island. I am not ashamed of who I am or where I came from, and certainly not ashamed of where I live now or the people I meet—no matter how different it all is from what I’m used to.

Upon moving to Nashville, I was teased about moving to a town of rednecks, hicks, etc. etc. etc. Well, if Nashville natives are rednecks, then count me as one, too. I feel at home in this city. I’m proud to be here where music thrives, people are warm, and God is celebrated.

“The Boondocks” represents home. “One thing I know, no matter where I go I keep my heart and soul in the boondocks.” What a true lyric! To me, this song brings my past and present together. It reminds me of where I come from and also why I moved to the South. It makes me feel good about where life has taken me.

Aside from this revelation, Little Big Town is simply amazing and everyone (including you New Yorkers) should download “The Boondocks”. While you’re at it, get the band’s new single “Pontoon” when it comes out!

***Random Note: The part at the end of the song with “You get a line, I get a pole” is a variation of a song my mother used to sing to me that she took from The Andy Griffith Show.***

New Interview with JoJo!

R&B/Pop star JoJo, the powerhouse vocalist responsible for hits “Leave (Get Out)”, “Baby, It’s You” and “Too Little Too Late” is creeping back onto the music scene after some much needed normalcy.  At thirteen, she was hitting the Billboard charts, and now at twenty-one, she’s ready for more with new single “Disaster”.

I caught up with JoJo when she was visiting my new hometown of Nashville for local radio DJ, Intern Adam’s Birthday Bash at the club, Mai.  Dressed in knee-high boots and a corset, JoJo stepped on stage proving she is no longer a girl, but indeed a woman packing the same talent she always did.

I skipped out on Intern Adam’s party early so JoJo and I could chat without all the screaming fans at Mai, who were eagerly awaiting Karmin’s performance.  Of course, I got to wish Adam a happy birthday first, who was “hollering and swallering” with the crowd all night.

After getting lost—not surprisingly—I made it to the lobby of the hotel around 1am to a patiently waiting JoJo, who had been up since four am, and had an early flight the next morning.  Like the first time I met her back in 2004, JoJo was eating popcorn.  It was one of those full circle moments, I guess.  Or just pure coincidence, more likely.  Read on for the goods on what’s coming up from Miss JoJo.

Special thanks to Intern Adam and Ashlee Foxx from 107.5 The River, Katie Gallagher, Gita Williams & Diana Levesque.

Sandy Lo:  First, how are you?

JoJo:  I’m good, thanks!

Sandy Lo:  Good.  So since The High Road, which was the last time I interviewed you, what’s been new?

JoJo:  What I did after The High Road, most importantly, was finish high school.  My mom made sure that I prioritized and put my education first.  I resisted that.  I wasn’t that keen on it, but toward the end of my high school experience, I was actually really thankful that I did it.  So I really became academic and went through the college application process and had that conversation with myself, my family and my close team members and decided that I was going to move to L.A. to focus on recording an album and put off school for a while.  Then I lived in Boston for about a year—got a condo in Southey—from 18 to 19.  I still have it, but I’m renting it out.  At 19, I moved to L.A.  For the past few years, I’ve been working on music nonstop and kind of just developing a sound—and writing through my life.  Writing through the good times, the bad times, the weird times, the stupid times.  And just really finding out who I am through music.

Sandy:  Very cool.  Now let’s talk about “Disaster”.  Did you write that song?

JoJo:  I wrote it with my close friend Gino, yeah.

Sandy:  What would you say that the song is about?

JoJo:  It’s definitely about young, crazy love.  About something that was really important to you and something that…  Sometimes when you’re in love, especially when you’re young, you’re totally wrapped up in it.  When it starts to go downhill, it’s completely devastating.  It can feel like a disaster.  It comes out of nowhere sometimes.  So that’s what it’s about.  I can definitely relate being caught up in something and you don’t even know how it got so bad.  And then you just feel you’re in the eye of the storm.  But what I love about the song is that there is kind of redeeming feeling at the end.  Just because a relationship doesn’t turn out the way you envisioned it, there is so much more to life than just a boy.

Sandy Lo:  How would you say you’ve grown—I mean obviously you’ve grown a lot since the beginning of your career when you were thirteen and “Leave (Get Out)” came out, but how has life influenced you as an artist?

JoJo:  Hugely, in every way.  Just from living on my own and not really having to answer to anyone.  You know, that’s what happens when you turn eighteen and go off to college, but especially after that college time and you’re on your own and finding yourself.  I kind of got to do that, especially in L.A.  Just having a great circle of friends; having good times with my girlfriends, and having them to help me through.  Or going through a fun, crazy relationship that turned horrible and destructive.  Being part of the dating scene and things like that, and being comfortable being single.  All that has really influenced my music, as well as things that go on in the industry.  And that oppose to just being from a small town in Massachusetts and finding my place in this big city of L.A.  So all of that is really inspiring to me.

Sandy Lo:  Now to flip it, how would you say being an artist at such a young age has had an impact on your life?  You know, growing up in that kind of spotlight…

JoJo:  I’m sure it had an impact on the person I am, and who I’m growing into, but I don’t know anything different.  I mean, I’ve been singing forever.  I got signed when I was twelve.  So my entire teenage life and now my life as a young woman has been kind of in this.  But what’s cool is that I got time to be a regular person.  My mom made sure I was very acquainted with reality.  I was very close with my family and I really had a nice New England upbringing, I think.  Growing up in this industry just made me comfortable around adults and maybe made me grow up a little quicker I guess.  But I’m not jaded.  I didn’t see like drugs and stuff like that because my mom was already right by my side until I was eighteen.  So I feel like I’m a little naïve to certain things actually because my mom kind of put me in a bubble.

Sandy Lo:  But that’s good.  Your parents should protect you.

JoJo: It is good.  I’m thankful for that.  Even things that my friends who grew up in Beverly Hills were exposed to from such a young age because they had access to everything and were so rich.  They went out to clubs at a young age.  I didn’t do that, so I’m thankful.

Sandy Lo:  Awesome.  So when can we expect the new album?

JoJo:  What I’m saying as far as that is, support the singles.  “Disaster” and we’re moving onto a second single soon.  We’re looking to release the album this year, but I’m still in the studio so the album keeps taking a new shape.

Sandy Lo:  Are you working with any new producers?

JoJo:  I am, but I want to stay tight-lipped about that. [Laughs]

Sandy Lo:  Gotcha!  In the past you’ve had a pop/R&B style.  Are you going to stay with that or are you moving more toward dance?

JoJo:  I’m not really venturing into the dance movement.  I love records that you can dance to and I love the electronic/house sound.  However, I don’t think that is really being true to myself.  So I want to stay in the pop realm, but I want it to be infused with all the things that I love.  From neo soul to hip-hop to rock—I mean all different things.  The record is younger and more fun and cooler than anything I think people have heard from me before.  It’s edgy, but it’s not—I used to describe the sound as pop with an anger management problem, but it’s not angry anymore!  The way the album has evolved…I want to do interesting, cool stuff.  I think that’s more the direction I’m going.

Sandy Lo:  Very cool.  Tonight you performed at Intern Adam’s Birthday Bash here in Nashville.  How did you get involved with that?

JoJo:  The station [107.5 The River] reached out.  Adam has been really, really sweet about following my career and giving me props, so I said of course!  And I LOVE Nashville!  I just texted some of my friends and said we need to take a weekend trip here and come explore.  The music, the culture is so rich.  The city is thick with energy.

Sandy Lo:  It’s nice, especially because most celebrities who live here get to lead a normal life.

JoJo:  Yes!  It’s a really dope place.  So, I was thrilled.  There was just a great energy inside the club.

Sandy Lo:  The crowd reacted to you wonderfully!  They were screaming like crazy.  Outside, there was this guy singing “Leave (Get Out)” at the top of his lungs. [Laughs]

JoJo:  So sweet!  It was really fun.

Sandy Lo:  What’s it like to know your fans have stuck with you all these years?

JoJo:  I can’t even express how thankful I am.  I feel like I don’t even…  What did I do to deserve such loyal fans?  It’s just SO nice.  It’s just amazing and humbling to know people believe in me so much.  And that people are thinking about the long term, and see my same vision for myself.  I’m really appreciative for that.

Sandy Lo:  Well, that’s it for the interview.

JoJo:  Thank you!

Sandy Lo:  No problem.  It’s great to see you and interview you for the fourth time. [Laughs]

JoJo:  You too, and I’m sure there will be a fifth.

Follow JoJo on Twitter: www.twitter.com/jojoistheway

Official Website: www.jojoonline.com