ZOË BADWI RETURNS WITH "SHOOT ME DOWN"

Aussie dance-pop chanteuse Zoë Badwi returns to the spotlight with her new single "Shoot Me Down." Penned on a writing trip in downtown Los Angeles earlier this year, the track sees Badwi deliver yet another infectious gem fans will no doubt applaud.

The clip was filmed on location, Port Botany, Sydney. Take a listen and watch the video premiere below.

"Shoot Me Down" will be available from 28 September [iTunes]

ARIA ANNOUNCE NOMINATIONS FOR 2011 ARIA AWARDS

Earlier this week the nominees were announced for the 2011 ARIA Awards, the the awards event celebrating it's 25th anniversary this year. Leading the nominees are Gotye, Boy & Bear and Drapht, all with seven nominations.

The awards will be held Sunday 27 November at the AllPhones Arena, Sydney. Stay tuned on who is scheduled to play at the big event.

I've listed the categories worth noting below, however you can check out a full list of the nominations via the official site.

SINGLE OF THE YEAR
Birds of Tokyo - Wild at Heart
Boy & Bear - Feeding Line
Drapht- Rapunzel
Gotye - Somebody That I Used To Know (feat. Kimbra)
The Jezabels - Dark Storm
Guy Sebastian - Who's That Girl (feat. Eve)

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Boy & Bear – Moonfire
Cut Copy – Zonoscope
Eskimo Joe - Ghosts Of The Past
Grinderman – 2
Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu - Rrakala

HIGHEST SELLING SINGLE
Birds of Tokyo – Plans
Havana Brown - We Run The Night
Gotye - Somebody That I Used To Know (feat. Kimbra)
Jessica Mauboy - Saturday Night (feat. Ludacris)
Guy Sebastian - Who's That Girl (feat. Eve)

HIGHEST SELLING ALBUM
Altiyan Childs - Altiyan Childs
Birds Of Tokyo - Birds Of Tokyo
Angus & Julia Stone - Down The Way
Keith Urban - Get Closer
Various - He Will Have His Way - The Songs Of Tim & Neil Finn

BEST FEMALE ARTIST
Adalita – Adalita
Clare Bowditch - Are You Ready Yet?
Kasey Chambers - Little Bird
Kimbra - Cameo Lover
Washington - Holy Moses

BEST MALE ARTIST
Drapht - The Life Of Riley
Gotye - Somebody That I Used To Know (feat. Kimbra)
Gareth Liddiard - Strange Tourist
Josh Pyke - No One Wants A Lover
Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu - Rrakala

BEST GROUP
Birds of Tokyo - Wild At Heart
Boy & Bear – Moonfire
Eskimo Joe - Ghosts Of The Past
Grinderman – 2
The Living End - The Ending Is Just The Beginning Repeating

BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST : SINGLE
Zoe Badwi - Freefallin'
Boy & Bear - Feeding Line
Havana Brown - We Run The Night
Drapht – Rapunzel
The Jezabels - Dark Storm

BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST : ALBUM
Boy & Bear – Moonfire
Drapht - The Life Of Riley
Gypsy & The Cat – Gilgamesh
The Middle East - I Want That You Are Always Happy
Oh Mercy - Great Barrier Grief

BEST POP RELEASE
Architecture in Helsinki - Moment Bends
Gotye - Somebody That I Used To Know (feat. Kimbra)
Gypsy & The Cat – Gilgamesh
Guy Sebastian - Who's That Girl (feat. Eve)
Washington - Holy Moses

BEST DANCE RELEASE
Bag Raiders - Bag Raiders
Cut Copy – Zonoscope
Miami Horror – Illumination
Pnau - Soft Universe
The Potbelleez - From The Music

BEST URBAN ALBUM
Drapht - The Life Of Riley
Illy - The Chase
Koolism - The „Umu
Phrase – Babylon
Vents - Marked For Death

Zoë Badwi performs at Slide nightclub, announces Australia-wide tour

Last night we were more than fortunate to catch Australia's dance diva Zoë Badwi perform a selection of tracks from her new album, Zoë, at Slide Nightclub.

Zoë was sensational as she pleased the crowd with her hits Freefallin', Release Me and an acoustic version of Accidents Happen. Not letting the audience forget they were there for the release of her new album she teased the gay boys and girls alike with the album track Believe You, a cover of Estelle's American Boy and the future club-stomping hit Until You're Over Me.

For the complete tracklist for Zoë see my previous blog entry.

Not content with leaving the audience with just that performance, Zoë announced that a tour will follow after the album release - and so today, I bring you the tour details!

Zoë will visit metropolitan and regional areas across Australia across the months of August through October. More dates and details to come, however you can keep up to date via Zoë's Facebook page or through 360 Agency.

Pre-order Zoë today, to be released 5 August [ITUNES]

[COMPETITION] An intimate night with Zoë Badwi

Keen on seeing Australian superstar Zoë Badwi perform tracks from her debut album in an exclusive, intimate and live show? Then here's your chance!

Thanks to Warner Music Australia Zoë will be performing at Sydney club Slide this coming Wednesday at 6:30pm in a special live performance. You only have 'til 3pm today to enter in your chance to win a double pass so do so via Star Observer. Good luck!

Zoë will be available digitally from 5 August, with pre-order available today [ITUNES]

Zoë Badwi's debut album - listen to new tracks, preorder online

Australian pop diva sensation Zoë Badwi has released a snippet of two new tracks to be taken from her debut album Zoë, which will hit the shelves on 5 August.

As we know the album will include Zoë's club favourites In the Moment and Release Me, the breakthrough chart-stomper Freefallin', her recent hit Accidents Happen and of course the latest collaboration with TV Rock's Grant Smillie, Carry Me Home.

Online now, you can listen to the tracks Until You're Over Me [LISTEN] and Believe You [LISTEN]

Until You're Over Me will be another club favourite for sure - the anthem's vocals and house beats carry you away into the disco night. Believe You features as the album's ballad which highlights the singers talent, her unique voice.

The full track list is below:

1. Freefallin'		7. Reckless
2. Until You're Over Me		8. One Step Behind
3. Release Me (TV Rock Edit)		9. In The Moment (Denzal Park Edit)
4. Carry Me Home (Grant Smillie Edit)		10. Believe You
5. Accidents Happen (Radio Edit)		11. Relapse
6. Never Let You Go		12. The Other Side

Zoë is available for preorder now online [ITUNES]

Make sure you keep up to date with all things music, like us on Facebook for regular updates.

[THOM'S TOP TRACKS] June 2011

Dad's home! After a whirlwind trip overseas, Thom was very pleased to have Dad and Daddy Dave home. So much so that he's dedicated three of his top tracks for June to home-grown Aussie talent - what a genius of a dog.



Thom with a very beautiful backdrop of Coogee, all on a Sydney winters day!

JUNE

Selena Gomez & the Scene

Love You Like A Love Song

[VIDEO]

Sneaky Sound System

We Love

[VIDEO]

CocknBullKid

Yellow

[VIDEO]

Darren Hayes

Talk Talk Talk

[VIDEO]

Zoë Badwi & Grant Smillie

Carry Me Home

[VIDEO]


Make sure you keep up to date with all things music, like us on Facebook for regular updates.

[VIDEO PREMIERE] Zoë Badwi // Carry Me Home (Grant Smillie Edit)

Australia's undisputed disco diva Zoë Badwi has unleashed her new video for her latest smash, Carry Me Home, a collaboration with TV Rock superstar Grant Smillie (who makes a  cameo in the clip at 2:08).

After releasing a preview of the track in early May (with the track ownership as Grant Smillie feat Zoë Badwi), we've had a change of plans and now Ms Badwi is seen as the tracks singer, with the title Carry Me Home (Grant Smillie Edit). Maybe Neon Records thought they'd get more pull from commercial radio with the change, no?
Let's just hope it makes a better impression of the market than Accidents Happen did, which peaked at #71 on the ARIA Singles Chart.

As a side note, if you take a listen to German popstars Sarah Connor's Carry Me Home (off her 2010 Real Love album) you may hear some similarities... hmmm...

Carry Me Home (Grant Smillie Edit) is available via iTunes today [ITUNES]

Make sure you keep up to date with all things music, like us on Facebook for regular updates.

[FRESH RELEASE] Grant Smillie feat. Zoë Badwi // Carry Me Home

Hold up! Zoë Badwi is about to grace us with her presence again, teaming up with her buddy Grant Smillie (half of TV Rock) to deliver yet another club smash, Carry Me Home. A preview was posted via Neon Records YouTube site a couple of days ago. Stay tuned for an official release date.

In other breaking news about my club favourite, according to Warner music Zoë will release her debut album in June!

LISTEN TO NEW WYNTER GORDON WITH "TIL DEATH (DENZAL PARK MIX)"

Ya-hoo! The official follow up to the 3x platinum Australian #1 Dirty Talk is here. Til Death, Wynter Gordon's latest single, will be released to the market in coming days.

The track originally surfaced last year, however it's now had a makeover by the boys from Denzal Park (the same legends who produced Freefallin' for Zoë Badwi). Denzal Park are no strangers to the scene here with massive club hits Filter Freak, Drum Machine and the 2008 remix of Ce Ce Peniston's Finally.

Miss Gordon has had a pretty amazing run here in Australia if you think about it. Dirty Talk was an unexpected but welcomed hit. She's appeared in a variety of past and up-coming music festivals such as Stereosonic and Creamfields. Wynter was a feature act at the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras. And of course, the build up to the release of Til Death has been anticipated by fans nation wide.

The official release for the track is 15 April. Additionally, stay tuned for more video clip details as I get them. Can't wait Wynter, great work!

Visit Wynter Gordon's digital library online today [ITUNES]

Freefallin' gets a WaWa treatment!

Can't breathe. Can't move. The official international release of Zoë Badwi's platinum sensation, Freefallin', features remixes by Moto Blanco and WaWa. Holy mercy and all that shit.

Hurry up Australian iTunes and have it available to purchase already!

In the interim, take a listen to the WaWa mix. I think I just died, went to gay heaven, came back to life, and am now beginning to love the track that came in at #2 on my Top 50 for 2010 all over again.

[TOP FIVE KILLERS] February 2011

The Top Five Killers will be tracks that I recommend you get your hands on each and every month. They will have inspired me to dance, laugh, cry or simply want to scream with glee. At one stage throughout the given month I would have been at a moment where I couldn't live without that song. Yep, let's just say they would be my best of the best.

And so, we kick off with February's Top Five Killers. In addition however, because this is a new topic I'll look to complete each month, I feel sorry for January so I'm giving you a double-dose -- January and February. Enjoy.



JANUARY

Nicole Scherzinger
Don't Hold Your Breath
[VIDEO]

Keisha Buchanan
Under Control
[AUDIO]

Tim Berg
Seek Bromance
[VIDEO]

Rihanna
S&M
[VIDEO]

Nadia Ali
Rapture
[AUDIO]

FEBRUARY

Alexis Jordan

Good Girl

[VIDEO]

Jennifer Lopez feat. Pitbull

On The Floor

[AUDIO]

Lady Gaga

Born This Way

[AUDIO]

Zoë Badwi

Accidents Happen

[VIDEO]

September

Resuscitate Me

[VIDEO]

[VIDEO PREMIERE] Zoë Badwi // Accidents Happen

And here we have it - the video premiere of Zoë Badwi's latest track, Accidents Happen.

The video features Miss Badwi walking down a street full of action (is that George Street, Parramatta?); only narrowly missing a whole range of 'accidents'. What we certainly don't mind is the potential accident, aka hottie, that she runs into in the beginning of the clip. That's an accident most wouldn't mind passing up.

Anywho. The follow up track to the platinum single Freefallin' was the second most added track to Australian commercial radio this week... so, do we expect that Zoë may have another hit on her hands? Here's hoping - I love it.
Enjoy!

Purchase Accidents Happen digitally now [ITUNES]

[FRESH RELEASE] Zoë Badwi // Accidents Happen

If you're a regular reader of my blog you'll know that I don't hide the fact I love Australia's hottest dance export, Zoë Badwi. Miss Badwi scorched the charts with her smash hit Freefallin' in 2010, and as of this week, you can purchase the follow up to that number, Accidents Happen, online.

Accidents Happen is another hot house number. Produced by the boys from TV Rock (yes, we love you too boys), it begs for a spin on DJ tables across the country.

The video was shot a few weeks ago, and is expected to drop in the coming week. Stay tuned as I'll be posting it on here! In the mean time, get your ass over to iTunes to buy it now! [ITUNES]

Tip - the digital release features an awesome acoustic mix of Freefallin' too!

Jimmy Steele's Top 50 Singles of 2010 (Part III)

PART III, THE FINALE

And so, here it is - the Top 10 Singles as assessed by me; the music-driven, ass-swinging, blog-loving Jimmy Steele. Can I tell you how hard it was to get this list to a Top 50, let alone a Top 10? 2010 was truly blessed with so many tracks that really outshone previous years in regards to music. Pure quality I tell you, pure quality.

There have been a few key standout artists this year too... but I think that's anotehr blog post entirely - let's get into the countdown!



10.  NOT GIVING UP ON LOVE  //  Arvin van Buuren vs Sophie Ellis-Bextor

Miss Ellis-Bextor teamed up with our favourite Aussie models/DJs, Nervo, to pen this brilliant track, which also includes the girls on backing vocals. Yet again, do my Nervo girls deliver!

Not Giving Up On Love was released as the lead single off Armin's 2010 album, Mirage, and will also feature on Sophie's fourth studio album, Make a Scene, which will be released in this coming April. Armin debuted the track in his A State of Trance podcast in August.

Whilst the single didn't fair that well chart wise (excluding Poland where it went to #1 - random); it certainly made a presence on the club scene globally.

Miss Ellis-Bextor, with her sassy vocals and classy style, oozes sex 'n' love in this video. Also, she kinda makes me jealous lounging on that boat in the video clip (grrr), which was shot in Ibiza, Spain (double-grrr).

Purchase Not Giving Up On Love digitally now [ITUNES]



9.  EMPIRE STATE OF MIND  //  Jay-Z feat. Alicia Keys

Some of you may argue that this track really should have been featured as a 'best of 2009' - well... bite me.

The ode to one of America's most well-known cities is really, one of the stand-out tracks of this decade. Alicia Keys belting out...

"New Yoooooooork...concrete jungle where dreams are made of... there's nothing you can't do..."

...sends chills down my spine and makes me wanna grab that credit card and book my one-way flight now.

Alicia and I had a good year in 2010 actually - this is her third appearance in the countdown (with tracks Un-Thinkable and Try Sleeping With a Broken Heart making earlier appearances)... I gotta say, her Elements of Freedom album clearly was one of the best albums of the year.

Purchase Empire State of Mind digitally now [ITUNES]



8.  BELIEVER  //  Freemasons feat. Wynter Gordon

Oh bless. What an amazing combo - the boys from Brighton, England; and New York's princess, Wynter Gordon. I'm not really sure what else to say here except for...

Get your ass into gear and start grooving!

Believer was released earlier in the year to the UK/Australia markets, however only in the last month has it been released in the US. A huge club smash in the UK and Europe over summer, I'm expecting it to do the same over the US in the coming weeks/months.

Also, this is Wynter's second appearance today with Dirty Talk coming in at #26... oh how we love Miss Gordon!!!



7.  SHAMPAIN  //  Marina & the Diamonds

Welsh/Greek Goddess,  Marina Lambrini Diamandis, or as you may know her, Marina & the Diamonds; is clearly one of 2010's precious gems.

Her debut album, The Family Jewels, is a piece of pure indie pop heaven... really, it's hard to fault any of the tracks on the album. So much so, this is Marina's third appearance in my Top 50 of 2010 (Hollywood at #19, Oh No! at #32)!

I was lucky enough to see Marina perform just recently in Sydney in a show performing at The Factory Theatre. Her performance - vocally and stage-presence wise - was really hard to beat. It was hard not to be captivated by her aura on stage... one word to describe the night - WOW.

The Shampain video, with it's Thriller-like choreography, wind machine blowing leaves and overall beauty of Miss Diamandis, clearly is one of the best clips of 2010.

Purchase Shampain digitally now [ITUNES]



6.  ACAPELLA  // Kelis

Acapella was Kelis' opportunity to embrace a market in which we knew she'd reign - and boy did she do that. The lead track from her fifth studio album, Flesh Tone, was co-penned by Kelis and produced by David Guetta; and paved way for what was received as one of the best albums of 2010.*

*according to me of course

The colourful and energetic video was a collaboration between fashion photographer John "Rankin" Waddell (Germany's Next Top Model photographer), and director Chris Cottam. It's vibrant, effective and provides the buzz that the track needs - a great, great film clip.

In addition to Acapella, the album spawned three other singles - 4th of July (Fireworks), Scream and Brave.

Purchase Acapella digitally now [ITUNES]



5.  HANG WITH ME  //  Robyn

So here we have Robyn, her second appearance in my countdown (no surprise there) with Hang With Me. In 2010 Robyn released three EPs, titled the Body Talk series. All three were released within a six month period, with Hang With Me featuring on the first and second editions.

On the first edition Hang With Me is a slow, soulful acoustic ballad. A beautiful number really... however it wasn't until it got a little bit of treatment and appeared on the second edition did it really hit the mark. The single gave Robyn her fifth top five number in her native Sweden... hmmm, what was her forth...? Stay tuned!

Purchase Hang With Me digitally now [ITUNES]



4.  TELEPHONE  //  Lady Gaga feat. Beyonce

The second track to be lifted off Gaga's infamous The Fame Monster EP, Telephone is pure pop brilliance. Originally written by Lady Gaga for none other than Miss Britney Spears (for her Circus album), once rejected, Gaga decided to own the track and pursue Beyonce for the additional part. Great move girl.

Telephone featured one of the most anticipated video clips of all time. The video, shot by the creative genius that is Jonas Åkerlund (who directed Gaga's Paparazzi), featured Lady Gaga and Beyonce in a range of designer outfits that played out in a number of different scenes.

The video, available in 'clean' and 'explicit' versions, is just over nine minutes and thirty seconds in length, and as of today, has had more than 100,000,000 views on YouTube. Un-fucking-believable!

Purchase Telephone digitally now [ITUNES]



3.  GET OUTTA MY WAY  //  Kylie Minogue

What has been claimed by critics* as Kylie's best track in years, Get Outta My Way was a clear reminder that Miss Minogue still has it. Oh yes she does. Whether it's the video with those gold shoes, the striking poses or the brilliant chair choreography - she still has it.

*those critics being me and a whole lotta gay men globally

The second single off the Aphrodite album (clearly a life saving album, thank you Stuart Price), unfortunately didn't receive the chart success it deserved, however it still is, without a doubt, one of Kylie's best songs EVAH (big call, I know).

Purchase Get Outta My Way digitally now [ITUNES]



2.  FREEFALLIN'  //  Zoe Badwi

Ex-Siren (remember those girls - come on, think about it... Sarah-Marie from Australia's Big Brother... I'm So Excited... Oh God, yes, that was Zoe Badwi) has been around the Aussie club scene for some time now. She's partnered with TV Rock and delivered In The Moment and Release Me over the last couple of years - clear club numbers that everyone loves.

Move forward to 2010, grab yourself an Amy Pearson penned track, Denzal Park on production and BANG - you have yourself a surefire hit. Freefallin' is nothing but brilliant... picture it now... gay men throwing their hands up in the air like they just dont' care. Oh bless. Cause I'm freeeeeeeeeefalllin...

LOVE IT.

Purchase Freefallin' digitally now [ITUNES]



1.  DANCING ON MY OWN  //  Robyn

Here it is!!! My #1 Single of 2010!!!

Dancing On My Own was unveiled to the world in June - the synth love ballad, with Robyn's unique vocals oozing heartache and betrayal, instantly won me over the moment I heard it. And, funnily enough, I wasn't alone worldwide.

The track went to #1 in Sweden - Robyn's first ever hit to the top in her homeland. Additionally, it achieved top ten in many countries across Europe, including the UK. It was the lead track off the three-part Body Talk series and certainly gave us a great taste of the excellence that was yet to come from the following EPs.

The video, with Robyn's awkward yet mesmerising moves, is a reminder of what it feels like when a love is not reciprocated. Painful, beautiful, indulging.

Robyn - you really are a talented artist. Much love.

Purchase Dancing On My Own digitally now [ITUNES]

Keepin' busy - go Zoë!

Well yes she certainly has! I'm talking about none ofther than our gorgeous Zoë Badwi.

A few weeks ago I blogged about her new single, Freefallin', landing in the ARIA top 100 singles chart - Zoë's first ever single to do so. Since then the track has bulleted up the charts and as of this week Freefallin' is currently sitting at #36 in ARIA's top 100 singles chart.

With her digital sales increasing across this week (Freefallin' currently sitting in the top 20 iTunes digital downloads), expect to see the smash hit take another massive jump up the charts.

To add to the success, last week Freefallin' pushed and shoved fellow Aussie Dirty South outta the top spot on the ARIA club chart - #1 baby! 

The single has been picked up by radio stations around the country, with Zoë doing interviews with the Nova and NovaNation teams nationally, which you can see/read all about on her Facebook page.

But wait - there's more. Zoë is finally starting to get the international success she deserves. Release Me has been repackaged in the UK (along with credits to the TV Rock boys) and is getting loads of air and club play there. Let's not forget the massive shows she has recently completed in the US (NYC and LA) in the last few weeks as well.

So, in case for some strange reason you are yet to purchase Freefallin' - do so now via iTunes here. Zoë is, wihtout a doubt, someone you'll be hearing a lot more of.

Woo hoo - I'm freeeeeefallin'...

Finally! Australia has started to catch on to Zoë Badwi's latest single, Freefallin' - today the single debuts at #74 on the ARIA singles chart!

Most of you would know Zoë's club hits Release Me and In the Moment which charted in the ARIA club charts back in 2008 and 2009 respectively. Freefallin' however, is her first single to hit the ARIA top 100 singles chart.

The song, which was penned by our very own Amy Pearson and club favourites Denzal Park, features a video of Zoë groovin' around some sexy lil dancers. Check out the video below!

And of course if you haven't already purchased it - here's a link to the song on iTunes: Buy Freefallin' now!