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Fans of the 2008 X Factor contender Diana Vickers will be happy to hear that she is finally getting some material out (it's about time). Once is the first single off her debut album, Songs from the Tainted Cherry Tree, and it is quite a proper pop tune. Diana's vocals are easily distinguished and familiar to those who followed through TXF 2008. At first hear it may sound like one of those synthesized pop garb, but Diana pulls it through with her distinctive, odd-yet-enthralling voice.

A press release from Fox Flash stated that the theme for the Top 11 is 'Teen Idols', which, if you ask me, is a bogus idea for a theme (think "Big Mike singing One Time" - @champerez). Or Paige Miles raping The Climb once more. Anyway, the Teen Idols theme spells disaster, and it plays into Tim Urban's hands (who should have been axed btw).

On the official site of Idol, however, another theme is suggested. 'Billboard #1 Hits' (seen below). Billboard #1's is a better theme, but is less challenging. We'll find out which theme the Top 11 will sing when iTunes releases the song list sometime this week.





Credits to MJ's Big Blog.

Sky Ferreira, an American singer/songwriter based in "Fucking LA", and has been described in The Guardian as "the Lolita from LA, the It Girl from Orange County". And truly, Sky Ferreira is quite a character (who apparently made Michael Jackson cry when she sang to him at eleven). She signed with big wig record company EMI in July 2009 and working with Swedish producers Bloodshy & Avant (Britney, JLo) and Paul Epworth (Florence + the Machine, Kate Nash). She is also set to have a collabo with Britney Spears, called Age is Just a Number (looking forward to this).

From the web buzz that Ferreira's been getting, you'd assume her as the naughtierbutlessexplorative little Gaga, but the chops and the ever-popular electrosynths she uses would prove you wrong. Nonetheless, Ferreira exhibits great vocals, proving that this "It Girl" should be taken seriously. She describes her music as "getting hit in the solar plexus..." and also appeared in Paris-based Uffie's Pop the Glock video. 2010 is looking to be a great year in music for the electro-pop culture, and Sky Ferreira definitely has something to add to that.

Sky Ferreira on Twitter.
on MySpace.
on Facebook.


Here is an amazing cover of Miike Snow's Animal:

One of the nominated acts for the BBC Sound of 2010, Rox proves to be an exciting new prospect with her latest single, My Baby Left Me. The pop-soul tune suggests similarity to other Brit artists like Adele, Duffy, and a hint of Corrine Bailey Rae. My Baby Left Me is pleasing to the ears, and the chorus quite infectious. Her debut album, entitled Memoirs, is due to release in Spring 2010.

Today's Web Feature is on Photoshop Lady, a compilation of the best PS tutorials and techniques screened from thousands of websites. Instead of bulldozing through heaps of ambiguous, head-splitting tutorials, Photoshop Lady already filtered out the great yet easy to follow ones. The web page layout is crisp, simple, and easy to navigate around.

Here are some impressive tuts I found through this site:

Awesome Combination Creation for a Surreal Photo

In this tutorial, you will learn how to make this awesome combination surreal photo manipulation. You need to prepare few photos first, then you can start your combination. And then, you can use the photo effect techniques to tune the color in order to mix up different photo colors and their backgrounds. You can use your imagination to make one with same technique.




Create Super Sci-Fi poster art in Photoshop

In this tutorial, it is going to let you learn the creation of science fiction art poster. Firstly, you need to find a photo with a standing human shadow. Then, start to change the sky into a Sci-Fi scene. This process is gonna contain a lot of blur function.

Being the Critic's Choice Awardee at the 2010 Brits Awards, Lights, the debut LP of English singer/songwriter Ellie Goulding, faced high expectations even before its release. Goulding, who also topped the BBC Sound of 2010 poll, showed much potential with lead single Under the Sheets, followed by another fantastic single, Starry Eyed, garnering the attentions of many a critic.

The sound of the 36-minute album is consistent, the use of synthesizers appropriate. Lights is a quirky pop compilation molded to fit the mainstream scene. The vocals of Goulding showcases a tone slightly similar to Florence + the Machine, Little Boots, La Roux, and most recently 2008 X Factor contestant Diana Vickers.

Standout tracks in the LP include This Love (Will Be Your Downfall), which could easily be the next single with its beguiling chorus. The Writer is another commendable track, led by piano and quite a heartwrencher. The opener, Guns and Horses, also does not disappoint. The acoustic intro is hypnotizing, and the whole track follows suit.

All in all, a great debut effort from the indie label artist. Though still distant to the fame of artists such as Lady Gaga, Goulding is presenting a new side to pop. By combining synthesizers, acoustics, piano, and gold dust, Ellie Goulding is definitely an artist to watch out for.