Q&A with Ellie Goulding: Playing Center Stage, July 23 – Win Tickets!

By Eileen Tilson

You ever wonder why it is that the English tend to discover the coolest music way before it actually reaches the States? For example, if we were in England right now your Granny would know who Ellie Goulding is, but alas we are not, and Ms. Goulding is currently sweeping across America leaving her mark  with each town she hits. Conquering her native Britain with the biggest and fastest selling debut album of 2010, Lights, premiering at number one on the U.K. album chart, four hit singles she co-wrote, and a BRIT award-singer-songwriter Ellie Goulding is ready to make a similar splash in America with her sparkling electro-folk-pop sound.

AMG caught up with Ellie before her show this Saturday at Center Stage to chat about how in just a couple of years Ellie shot to fame.

You are managed by legendary producer Steve Lillywhite’s son Jamie; how did that come about?

He was a fan of mine. He would come to my shows, and at the time he was working for this management company, and we just took it from there. He is really unique and there is only maybe one other person that can make me laugh as hard as Jamie does. … Continue Reading

Atlanta Music Man Jay Harren Gives Back To The Music Community

By Eileen Tilson

Jay Harren knows a thing or two about the lives of musicians.  Entering the Atlanta music scene as the host of the nationally famous 99X show “Sunday School,” Jay has had his finger on the pulse on  the hottest music for decades. After moving to New York as A&R for Columbia Records, Jay was able to take his savvy and jump head first into the wild world of musicians. After spending time on the road with some of his artists, he noticed that they had a massive amount of downtime, and a lightbulb went off in Jay’s head. “What if musicians used a bit of that downtime on the road to bring some attention to a worthy cause?” Jay chatted with me this morning about his worthy cause and the stars that have already signed on to help.

Hi Jay! How are you?? What’s new?

Just trying to get this project off the ground and to attract as many artists as I possibly can!

Speaking of, tell me, how did the concept of Downtime come to fruition?

Well I was on the road with one of the bands I signed, and I was amazed at how much time they literally just sat around doing nothing… not like they weren’t doing their jobs, but we would be on the road for five to eight hours to the next gig, they would do their soundchecks, interviews, etc, and then would literally have hours of time to spare. I just thought to myself if they could spend just as little as 10-30 per week of that downtime helping towards a cause they believed in, instead of watching movies, surfing the web, or cracking open another bottle of Jack, there could really be some really cool rewards. … Continue Reading

15 Questions With Connor Christian: Playing Unplugged In The Park, July 10

By Eileen Tilson

I must admit I am not a fan of country music, which for those who know me, is ironic because some off my dearest friends are very tightly wound within that world. Unless it involves what I like to call “the Elders,” including the usuals Cash, Waylon, Loretta, Willie, Hank, I just cannot stomach the twang. However, one day not that long ago, I was watching CMT with my godchild, Lola, and a young-ish band came on called Connor Christian & Southern Gothic. Interesting, I remember thinking, they are from Georgia and look familiar… and then suddenly I found myself really enjoying the music.

For those of you not so familiar, southern rock singer/songwriter Connor Christian left home at 14 and traveled the world, visiting South Korea, France, Belgium, Singapore, and other places before returning to the U.S. and settling in Atlanta, Ga. There he put together a backup band called the Morningstar Revival with whom he released his debut album, A Southern Gothic, through the Perfect Symmetry label on February 16, 2007. Since graduating, Connor’s bands have played and tour with acts as far ranging as Counting Crows, Tonic, No Doubt, Incubus, Edwin McCain, Gov’t Mule, Collective Soul, Black Eyed Peas and Uncle Kracker, just to name a few. Connor joined us for a little “15 Questions With,” and his answers definitely confirm him as an old school renegade.

What is the most outrageous gift you’ve ever received from a fan?

Nothing super weird, but we did have these girls who used to follow our old band, Princess, and they showed up to some of our shows wearing these shirts they made with puff paint and glitter.

How do you take your coffee?

I don’t drink coffee, I drink tea. Preferably black, oolong, or whatever they have at IHOP. … Continue Reading

15 Questions With NEEDTOBREATHE: Opening For Taylor Swift July 9 & 10

By Eileen Tilson

Taylor Swift might be the bubble-gum queen of the country world, but she sure does have great taste in music. Right before the kick off of her sold out arena tour this year, she had her manager call up the boys in NEEDTOBREATHE, asking whether they would like to join her on tour – she is a huge fan. Not too shabby for a band who went from playing to rooms with a few hundred people to over 50,000. Be on the lookout for their latest album being released this fall. We chatted with Joe, the drummer of NEEDTOBREATHE, as he was wandering around Hartford, Conn., before a big show that night.

What is the most outrageous gift you’ve ever received from a fan?

We once had a fan bring us an urn containing her dog’s ashes that she wanted us to sign… that was pretty weird. We also had a girl who wanted us to sign her scar from her gallbladder surgery. … Continue Reading

15 Questions With Elijah Jones from The Constellations; Playing Smith’s Olde Bar, June 2

The self-described King of the Atlanta Underground, Elijah Jones is the Big Dipper in his band, The Constellations. Since signing with Virgin Records in 2009, Atlanta’s favorite bad boys (and girl!) have touring across the country and the U.K., introducing the rest of the world to the best part about being from Atlanta. We sat down with the infamous frontman to get in his brain a little bit…

What is the most outrageous gift you’ve ever received from a fan?

The keys to the doors of perception.

How do you like your coffee?

Irish.

If you could collaborate with any musician who would it be?

Tom Waits.

Who is your biggest celebrity crush? … Continue Reading