Shaun DeGraff is a Vegas native who made singing, songwriting, beatboxing and musicmaking his lifework. After receiving his first piano at age 13, Shaun immediately fell in love with the freedom of thought and expression that song writing afforded him, ultimately gravitating to the keyboard as his main creative outlet.

Since committing full force to pursuing his talent, the artist has turned quite a few heads - earning a few award nods and even seeing his music featured in film.

Shaun's recently released album Grey Area is appropriately titled as the songs explore the ups and downs in life, walking a tight rope between positive and negative energy.

His music absolutely caught me off guard with its eclectic sound and one-of-a-kind force. Shaun may incorporate the flavors of a few big name artists - The Killers, G Love, and Ben Folds, as he references - but he definitely has a sound and dramatic flair that is uniquely his own.

Inventive, refreshing and absolutely electric. His songs will get stuck in your head time and time again.

I got to speak with Shaun over the last few weeks about his musicmaking. Here is what he had to say:

Give us a little background - how did you get started in music?
Ever since I was a kid I've always been a ham. My family never pushed me in the musical / theatre direction, it was just what I was naturally good at. I love the synergy of live performance. It's a rush putting your ass on the line and asking people "Am I good enough?" I think I chose it as a profession because I wouldn't be much good at anything else. As far as instruments, I play the keyboard so I can be any instrument I want to be organic or electric. Chances are I will fool 99% of the people out there that the instruments were played by a real drummer, guitarist, bass, strings etc. Grey Area was completely produced by me in the digital realm even though it sounds so organic.

How would you describe your sound?
LONG: Powerful Piano-pop with organic flavors of modern rock, jazz, and acoustic hip-hop. SHORT: Acoustic soul that rocks!

Very first song you wrote?
It was a song called "Shawna" and yes, of course I wrote it for a girl named Shawna. It sounded a lot like Woody Harrelson's song "Kelly" from a Cheers episode. It didn't work unfortunately. I didn't get laid. Hahahaha..

You have a very unique energy, who/what inspires you in your music?
This rollercoaster ride they call life inspires me the most. I haven't been diagnosed but I'm sure I have at least a mild case of bi-polar. If not, I'm just one moody bastard! That's why my songs range from soft and sweet to hard and aggressive. That has always been my problem as far as marketing is concerned. But that's f*cking life. As far as artists go, I'm all over the board. Bjork, Stevie Wonder, Ben Folds, Bill Withers, Imogen Heap, Owl City.

August 2010 Vocalist Of The Month for singeruniverse.com 
-Modern Rock Album Of The Year for "Music For Life" 2008 - JPF Music Awards 
-Modern Rock Album Of The Year for "In My Room" 2007 - JPF Awards 
-Modern Rock Song Of The Year for "All We Need" 2005 - JPF Awards 
-"You Had Me At Goodbye" on closing motion picture credits "The List" 2009 
-"Ain't That A B****" licensed to Google 2008 commercial 

Favorite song on Grey Area?
"Had Me At Goodbye." Love the melody, catchy lyric in the hook, and the way I produced it did the song justice. I didn't write the song. My amazing talented friend Phillip Stendek wrote it.

Name some artists on your iPod right now.
Lot's of progressive trance DJ sets. I get sooo much shit done when I listen to it. Angels and Airwaves, BT, Cocteau Twins, DJ Shadow, Fever Ray, Foo Fighters, Imagine Dragons (great band from Vegas), Justice, Phoenix, Vampire Weekend to name a few.

You seem to be doing well lately with album drop earlier this year, the recent vocalist of the month win and #1 Vegas ranking on ReverbNation. What's next for you?
First, Around The Way blog, then, THE WORLD!!! Muuuwwwaaahahahahahah!!! (Evil laugh). My goal for the next month is to put a college/festival tour together. My goal for the next three to six months is to get enough college radio play to open for a headlining tour.

Upcoming shows?
TBA. Go to http://www.thatpianoguy.com/ and sign up for the mailing list!

Thanks Shaun for the great interview! We expect to see much more of you...

Get your Shaun DeGraff fix:

Listen to his album Grey Area

Website

ReverbNation

Facebook

Twitter

Just a few weeks ago a new friend of mine sent me a you tube video that got me re-hooked on to this little self-titled cd.

Miike Snow, a Swedish group consisting of Andrew Wyatt and the producing team of Christian Karlsson and Pontus Winnberg (known as Bloodshy & Avant), created this coolly melodic album that features what can only be described as intelligent pop music.

Great tunes for a little decompressing.

Listen here.



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Jessica Rose, a New Jersey native and singer/songwriter, started playing guitar at age 16.

Self-taught, she began by learning her favorite songs, but soon found herself constructing her own melodies and lyrics. Jessica wanted to share these original pieces with the world but knew that she had to refine her vocals before she could really put herself out there - she has since been writing, singing and recording nonstop.

Her musical capabilities have landed her jam sessions, work and recordings with the likes of Michael Lehman (Greg Allman, Luther Vandross, O-Town) Anthony Krizan (Spin Doctors), Ted Mason (Modern English), Ronnie Page (Fuel), and Jason Corsaro (Madonna, Fleetwood Mac, The Benjamin), to name a few.

She is one incredibly talented lady.  

She also happens to be an old college friend of mine. And, this week, she is performing in the BREAK'N THROUGH 2010 Finals in New York.

Oh how I wish I could go.

If you are in the city though and looking for something to do this Thursday night, May 27th, check out Jessica Rose at the Gramercy Theatre and support the VH1 Save the Music Foundation.

{click to enlarge}

Buy Tickets.

Check out Jessica Rose's website.

*JR photos by Olivia Malone*

... makes a pretty killer pandora station, too.

Happy Monday.




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If I was capable of designing and making my own wardrobe, the pieces in it would look a lot like the 2009-10 fall/winter Athé diffusion line from Vanessa Bruno. The collection mimics the same beautiful but wearable style of Bruno's mainline but is full of essential basics.

Be sure to check out the designer's Plant a Tree* compilation, too. The soundtrack, created by Thomas Gizolme, features hard-to-find folk melodies from old records. It's lovely - and eco-friendly. For each CD purchased, five trees will be planted via Planète Urgence - Bruno's good cause of choice.





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I have a slight obsession with Sleeveface.



And now it's been immortilized into a book!



Sleeveface is a daily photoblog...



Started by DJ Carl Morris...



And features people obscuring or augmenting parts of their body with record sleeves...



Creating a hysterical illusion!

DIY:

1. Find an old-school vinyl record sleeve with a nice headshot of your fave musical icon (The Boss, Debbie Harry or Cyndi Lauper will do oh so nicely).
2. Put the sleeve in front of your face.
3. Strike a pose.
4. Get someone to snap your photo.
5. You've officially been Sleevefaced.

So addicting.

Blog here.

Book here.

I can't believe I'm admitting to this in a public forum, but it is a fact: tonight I'm seeing Britney (ahem, and the Pussycat Dolls) with a girl friend here in DC.

Now, part of me is hoping for some batshit crazy, Britney circa 2007 stuff to go down. The other part of me hopes she blows my mind with a comeback.

Either way, I'm excited for the costumes by DSquared2.

{photo creds: WWD}

UPDATE: the show was kind of amazing and totally worth the cash. It was Cirque du Soleil meets the freak show... to a Britney soundtrack. Surprisingly awesome. There was one old school Britneyesque moment, however. Check it outtt.

Today, my brain is consumed with hateful thoughts about the [insert myriad profanity here] execs at AIG and Bank of America. And, as much as I would love to write a million paragraphs about my fear and loathing, I look at this stuff all day at work. Sooo, I move on to something totally and completely unrelated...

Rachel Yamagata.


{photo cred: rachaelyamagata.com}

This girl has got it going on. Last year I saw her in concert, which resulted in a serious lady crush.

I purchased her most recent album, Elephants…Teeth Sinking Into Heart, when it came out in October '08 . But, it wasn't until last night that I really gave it a full listen, beginning to end. Wow, have I been missing out. This angst-ridden starlet can really articulate heartache.

My faves are Sidedish Friend and Faster. But, I also love this quote-worthy line from Elephants:

"... So for those of you falling in love
Keep in kind keep it good keep it right
Throw yourself in the midst of danger
But keep one eye open at night... "

Rachel Yamagata is brilliant. Period.

Have a listen, if you will.

I saw this amazing group, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, a few months back at 9:30 Club and I'm still addicted. I love Til' the Morning Comes off their album This is Somewhere, though it's no good in comparison to hearing it live.

{photo cred: grace potter dot com}

Get your pretty little asses over to their site and have a listen.