Matthew Koma is ready for the big stage.

The singer/songwriter made a huge splash in the industry by writing the hook on Sebastian Ingrosso and Alesso’s smash single “Calling (Lose My Mind).” On May 22nd, Koma hits the road with LMFAO, Far East Movement, The Quest Crew, Sidney Samson, and Eva Simons for the “Sorry For Party Rocking Tour.”

In the midst of it all, he is preparing to release his heartfelt, debut EP, “Parachute,” on May 29th.

“I think any great record or great artist achieves a truth,” Koma says. “Sometimes it’s a hard thing to tap into that honesty, but it’s important to accept the responsibility and deliver something real. That’s the only way to connect with people in an honest way, through trust. Having kept that in mind throughout the process of making this record, I hope these are stories people can feel and take something from.”

Koma wrote and produced/co-produced all of the four tracks on “Parachute,” working with collaborators Alex Da Kid (Nicki Minaj, Rihanna), The Runaways’ Sam Watters and Louis Biancaniello (Kelly Clarkson, Leona Lewis), The Smeezingtons’ Ari Levine (Bruno Mars, Bad Meets Evil), and Mike Caren (T.I., B.o.B.).

The four tracks that make up the “Parachute” EP are just a taste of what’s to come when Koma releases his debut album “Propaganda” later this year.

You can follow Koma on Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace.

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You can even sell your Milli Vanilli CDs

I’ve been an avid music collector all of my life. I’ve gone from records, to cassettes, to CDs, to digital music. Every time a new type of media comes along, I always have the problem of what to do with my previous collection.

At my peak, I owned over 1000 CDs. It took me several years to create digital copies on my computer. When I finally finished that Herculean task, I looked at the piles of CDs in my office and wondered how I would dispose of them.

Thankfully I discovered, CashForCDs.com. The company was founded by Morninglory Music in Santa Barbara, CA and has been serving the internet community for over twelve years.

The site made it easy for me to get rid of CDs and get some cash in return. The home page describes the three steps for selling CDs:

  1. Get Quote
  2. Send Discs
  3. Get Paid.

There are no long forms to fill out, and the company pays for shipping the CDs to their warehouse.

“We now offer several ways for CD sellers to get a quote for the value of their items,” said Stan Bernstein of Santa Barbara, Calif.-based Morninglory Music, which runs CashForCDs.com. “People can get an automatic quote on the website. They can also sell larger collections by sending some information about what they want to sell or sending a photo of the items. We make it very fast and easy for people to sell off their unwanted music.”

If you’re downsizing your living space or just need to get rid or extra CDs or DVDs, visit CashForCDs.com. It’s a great way to recycle your unused music.

 

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When I first heard, Alabama Shakes, I knew they were a special band. Their style of Southern soul is a refreshing sound that cuts through the prefabricated pop music that permeates the air waves.

This song, “Hold On,” (right click and select ‘Save link as…) showcases Brittany Howard’s soulful singing. The yearning in her voice is accented by the funky, twangy guitars.

You can buy their latest album, “Boys and Girls,” on iTunes, Amazon, or on their web store. You can also follow the band on Twitter.

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Twitter Party Playlist – “On-the-Go” Songs

by mochadad

Most weeks, I host Mocha Dad’s Friday Night Party on Twitter (9:30pm – 10:30pm CST). During the one hour show, I chose a theme and play songs that my followers want to hear. Last week’s theme was “Songs to Party To” in honor of The Beastie Boy’s Adam Yauch (MCA). Here is the playlist: “Vapors” [...]

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Live Music: Sy Smith and Zo! at Fitzgerald’s Houston, TX

by mochadad

Sy Smith and Zo! brought some smooth soul, R&B and funk to Fitzgerald’s. Sy’s gorgeous voice and Zo’s funky keys kept the rain-soaked crowd grooving late into the night. Check out Sy Smith at Syberspace and buy her new album, “The Fast and the Curious.” You can also follow her on Twitter and Facebook. Z0! [...]

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A Tribute to My Favorite Beastie Boy, Adam Yauch (MCA)

by mochadad

When I was a kid, I loved hip-hop. In the late 70s and early 80s, the music was heady, fresh, and irresistible. I couldn’t get enough of Run DMC, Fat Boys, Kurtis Blow, Whodini, and LL Cool J. But it was trio of white boys from Brooklyn that helped my beloved hip-hop to reach the [...]

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Twitter Party Playlist – “Songs to Party To” (In Honor of Adam Yauch – MCA)

by mochadad

Most weeks, I host Mocha Dad’s Friday Night Party on Twitter (9:30pm – 10:30pm CST). During the one hour show, I chose a theme and play songs that my followers want to hear. Last week’s theme was “Songs to Party To” in honor of The Beastie Boy’s Adam Yauch (MCA). Here is the playlist: “Old [...]

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Free Music Download: “Mommy Was a Zombie” by Dance Hall Pimps

by mochadad

Created in 2009 in the Los Angeles underground scene, Dance Hall Pimps is a genre-bending show band, playing original music that ranges from rootsy, garage rock with a haunted swamp vibe to New Orleans-inspired romps. Their debut album, “Beast for Love” (Lakeshore Records), combines dark and twisted subject matter, wistful lyrics, and upbeat tempos. “Mommy [...]

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Twitter Party Playlist – Songs That Make You Dance

by mochadad

Most weeks, I host Mocha Dad’s Friday Night Party on Twitter (9:30pm – 10:30pm CST). During the one hour show, I chose a theme and play songs that my followers want to hear. Last week’s theme was “Songs That Make You Dance.” Here is the playlist: “Got to Be Real” by Cheryl Lynn @mochadad “No [...]

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Desert Island List: Kenny Vaughan

by Kurt Schwarz

Guitarist Kenny Vaughan knows a thing or two about music. The veteran musician has not only created his own tunes, but he’s also collaborated with some of the biggest names in the music industry. ”I’ve met and played music with people I never would have dreamt of playing with; Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, [...]

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