Latest news with #songwriter
Yahoo
a minute ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Why Ozzy Osbourne was this songwriter's favourite artist to work with
Jim Vallance, a Canadian songwriter and producer, says Ozzy Osbourne was his 'favourite artist that he ever worked with.' Vallance, who co-wrote two songs with the superstar, says the day of Osbourne's death 'is a sad day.'
CBC
3 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- CBC
Why Ozzy Osbourne was this songwriter's favourite artist to work with
Why Ozzy Osbourne was this songwriter's favourite artist to work with | Hanomansing Tonight News Duration 4:33 Jim Vallance, a Canadian songwriter and producer, says Ozzy Osbourne was his 'favourite artist that he ever worked with.' Vallance, who co-wrote two songs with the superstar, says the day of Osbourne's death 'is a sad day.'
Free Malaysia Today
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Free Malaysia Today
Local gal Zoe Tan hits the right notes in New York
Zoe Tan expresses how she truly feels through her songs. (Andrea Rhiannon Edmonds @ FMT Lifestyle) PETALING JAYA : Like many seven-year-old girls, Zoe Tan was hooked on Disney Channel's Hannah Montana. She dreamed of standing on stage, belting out bangers, and winning hearts – just like her pop idol. 'I remember standing up on the sofa, pretending to sing like her, and realising this is something that I really wanted to do one day,' Tan shared with FMT Lifestyle. 'But I just didn't have the confidence that I would be performing my own songs.' Today the 24-year-old from Petaling Jaya, who is completing her degree in recorded music at New York University, is a budding singer-songwriter in the American city, with the singles 'Distance' and 'Walk Out The Door' already under her belt. 'I've had a hard time communicating how I feel straight up in person sometimes. But when I'm songwriting, it's the total opposite. I'm completely fearless and I have so much courage within myself,' Tan mentioned. The second of three siblings described her sound as 'cinematic folk music', a genre she's carving out with her own flair in the Big Apple. Tan is slowly establishing herself as a self-made singer-songwriter in New York. (Izzul Ahiaks) 'I wouldn't be where I am without growing up in Malaysia. That's where I found my voice,' she said, naming Demi Lovato, Selena Gomez, Shawn Mendes, and Ed Sheeran as key influences. 'What I bring to New York is my community and culture. My music is about creating connections through shared emotion.' Back in Kuala Lumpur for a short break, Tan is set to perform at Jao Tim on July 11. She'll also be releasing her debut EP next month, titled 'I Will Never Go Back to the Way Things Were Before'. 'Cinematic folk music is music that you can see, hear, touch, and feel with every fibre of your being. There's a certain perception of folk music that we have in mainstream media that I want to alter,' Tan explained. 'I want to bring elements from pop, soul, and R&B into my music … it's about capturing that feeling in the same way a movie does.' Tan hopes to tour the world with her brand of cinematic folk music someday. (Andrea Rhiannon Edmonds @ FMT Lifestyle) But music wasn't always centre stage. Tan once danced to a different beat – literally. Ballet, tap, modern dance, and figure skating filled her early years, thanks to her parents' encouragement. 'My school was putting up a Little Red Riding Hood musical and that's how I was introduced to musical theatre. I was so enamoured by the idea of music and performing. Of course, after trying out I realised I didn't like it and I went back to figure skating.' As fate would have it, music found its way into Tan's life through Ed Sheeran. She remembered falling in love with Sheeran's ability to 'tell stories that wasn't like a stage performance … he was just a guy with a guitar and I wanted to do something similar'. Her first song that really hit the right note? 'I'm At A Party And I Don't Want To Be Here' – an anthem about social anxiety. 'I was so proud of how I captured everything I was feeling. My parents loved it, too. It meant a lot because songwriting comes from such a personal place,' she added. Tan was inspired to stand on stage and sing just like her inspiration, TV's 'Hannah Montana'. (Hellen Madeitt pic) She recalled her very first public performance in New York at Pink Frog Cafe 'being scary' as it was away from the safety of her university. But soon, Tan found her voice through the kindness and support of the public. A high note in her journey so far? Performing at The Bitter End, a legendary music venue in Greenwich Village. 'Singers like Joni Mitchell and Taylor Swift have performed here. I remembered genuinely feeling the magic and the energy of all the artistes who have performed there before when I was up on stage. It was just a powerful feeling. It reaffirmed what I was doing,' Tan recounted. Ultimately, Tan hopes her music makes Malaysia proud – and one day, she dreams of taking it on tour around the world. 'I'm not in this dream for the money. It's just the feeling that it brings me every time that I do it. My ultimate dream is to just be able to live off of what I do comfortably, and to be able to share that and to grow my community,' Tan concluded. Follow Zoe Tan on Instagram.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Nanaimo singer Cameron Whitcomb tops 2025 Canadian Country Music Awards nominations
Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. Nanaimo country singer Cameron Whitcomb has topped the nominations list at the 2025 Canadian Country Music Awards with nods in six categories including entertainer, songwriter and male artist of the year. Whitcomb is tied with Waterdown, Ont., singer Josh Ross, who also has six nominations. Ross recently apologized to fans after facing criticism for calling the U.S. 'the best country in the world'. He and Whitcomb are up against each other in three categories. Whitcomb, whose career kicked off when he began posting videos of himself singing on Reddit, was spotted by an American Idol producer who invited him to audition for the program. Whitcomb competed on Season 20 of Idol in 2022, reaching the top 20 before being eliminated. The experience led him to decide to pursue a music career. He released his debut single Shoot Me Dead in 2023, inking a deal with Atlantic Records. His 2024 single Quitter was serviced to radio in Australia, Canada and the U.K., where it received favourable reviews. He has been steadily touring across North America over the past two years, building a solid fan base for his high-energy live show. Whitcomb's most recent EP Options was released on March 17. It includes singles such as the rocking Gasoline & Matches, and Bad Apple. Other B.C.-based acts in the running for awards include Surrey's Tyler Joe Miller with four nominations. Perennial favourite Dallas Smith has one nomination in the Fans Choice category. Smith has won eight CCMAs. New to this year's CCMA Awards is the francophone Artist of the Year award to be presented to a solo, duo or group act demonstrating exceptional achievements within the nomination time frame. This year's nominees are: Francis Degrandpré, Fred Dionne, Sara Dufour, Vince Lemire, and Salebarbes. The full list of 2025 CCMA Awards nominees can be found at Local fans will have two opportunities to put Whitcomb in first place as they can vote in both the Breakthrough Artist or Group of the Year, and Fans Choice awards by casting their ballot at It says a lot about the explosion of country music into the mainstream that the Breakthrough Artist Award is presented by Birkenstock. Socks or not, the comfort shoe brand is not likely anyone's first go-to when thinking about big hats and buckles. The Fans Choice Award is presented by Bud Light, which seems much more 'on brand.' Country Music Week kicks off on Sept. 10 in Kelowna. The four-day-long event includes an industry conference, fan events, country crawl and the big awards show. That event will include performances from Madeline Merlo, Tyler Joe Miller, Sacha and Restless Road, Smith and Alexandra Kay, Thelma & James, Whitcomb and more act announcements to come. The 2025 CCMA Awards presented by TD take place on Sept. 13 at 5 p.m. at Prospera Place. Tickets are on sale now at selectyourtickets. sderdeyn@ Related The best Vancouver concerts in July: The Weeknd, Katy Perry, Paul Simon and more Vancouver Folk Festival: A classic Neil Young album reimagined, plus 5 must-see performers Love concerts, but can't make it to the venue? Stream live shows and events from your couch with VEEPS, a music-first streaming service now operating in Canada. Click here for an introductory offer of 30% off. Explore upcoming concerts and the extensive archive of past performances.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Award-Winning Songwriter Part of Husband-Wife Duo Dies at 99
Award-Winning Songwriter Part of Husband-Wife Duo Dies at 99 originally appeared on Parade. Award-winning songwriter Alan Bergman, who was part of a professional duo with late wife Marilyn Bergman, has died at the age of 99 following their iconic career. Alan died at his home in Los Angeles on Thursday, July 17, with his daughter, Julie Bergman, by his side. "Bergman suffered from respiratory issues in recent months, but continued to write songs till the very end," a spokesperson for the musician said in a statement to People on Friday, July 18. He and Marilyn were best known for writing memorable songs for movies including "The Way We Were" from the 1973 film of the same name and "It Might Be You" for the 1982 movie Tootsie. The couple was critically acclaimed and won four Emmys, two Grammys and three Oscars throughout the course of their career. Alan's death comes three years after Marilyn died at the age of 93 from respiratory failure in 2022. Parade Daily🎬 SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 Despite both being born in New York City, Alan and Marilyn's paths didn't cross until they were adults living in California. When Alan moved to Los Angeles, he began collaborating with composer Lew Spence, who introduced him to his future wife. Alan and Marilyn were friends for six months when they headed to New York to discuss a Broadway offer. 'We turned it down, but Marilyn and I spent a lot of time together in New York," he told People back in 1980. "When we came back, we were an item." The couple, who got married in 1958, loved working together. "Making songs is very enjoyable. There's not much pain connected with it," he previously said. "When you're creating something, you sometimes have to go through a lot of stupid or silly things to spark your collaboration. You learn to say what comes into your head." "We've had enough experience to know that a compromise is going to be worked out," Marilyn added of their writing process. "If one of us feels strongly about something, we'll let it go for the moment, come back to it the next day and look for a third way to do it." Award-Winning Songwriter Part of Husband-Wife Duo Dies at 99 first appeared on Parade on Jul 18, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 18, 2025, where it first appeared. Solve the daily Crossword
