During the first season of NBC’s The Voice, soulful singer-songwriter Vicci Martinez found herself as one of the overall standout contestants on the show and went all the way to finals, representing Team Cee Lo.

She went on to release her major label debut record, Vicci, last summer, leading off with the single, “Come Along,” featuring her Voice coach Cee Lo Green. Recently the song has been taking off on radio, gaining momentum on the Hot AC and Triple A radio charts.

I recently had the opportunity to speak with Martinez over the phone about her recent success. She spoke candidly about what initially drew her to music, her single’s gradual climb up the charts, and advice she’d give to contestants currently competing on The Voice.

Congrats on the recent success of “Come Along.”

Thank you.

You started playing music at a really young age – what initially drew you to music and when did you realize that’s what you wanted to pursue as a career?

I played violin when I was five or six years old, kind of a happy accident, because my sister didn’t want to cut her fingernails. My parents had gotten her some private lessons, but because she didn’t want to cut her fingernails, she didn’t want to go back to that teacher. So they were like, “Damn, we have like a month full of lessons, who are we going to give them to?” And I was the next one in line that was pretty musical, I guess. So that’s how that happened.

I don’t know, it just kind of evolved into what it was. I obviously was very musical, listening to bands; I just loved music my whole life. When Lilith Fair happened, when I was about 12 years old, I was super inspired by all these women with guitars, just singing their own songs, and it just like, so freeing.

So I just started doing that myself and it kind of became what it is now.

You also started writing songs when you were younger, how would say your songwriting style has evolved over the years and did you approach your new album, Vicci, any differently from albums you released prior to appearing on The Voice?

Yeah. For me, writing was always what I was feeling. It was hard for me to force myself to write. I think when I was younger, so much was going on; you’re a teenager, then you’re a young adult. Just so many things going on ‘till you’re at that level, where you’re like, “Okay, I think I’m comfortable with myself.” [laughs] So there was a lot to write about at that point. Obviously, break-ups, make-ups, meeting new people that end up a big part of causing me to write a song

I think this one was definitely different, because of the the pressure that sort of came after being on the show and the label I was signed wanting to turn a record around very quickly. So they put me with a lot of different writers, people who I had never known or heard of. Later finding out, “Oh, you worked with this person, that person.” It was nice kind of going into it blindsided, like not even knowing. It made it very easy to come to these people and start talking about my life and what I’ve been through and at the end of the day, we had a song written.

You’ve previously referred to this album being kind of like you’re diary and letting people get to know who you are as a person and an artist, so I’m assuming it’s easier for you to write from your own experiences rather than, here’s a topic, let’s put a song around it.

Yeah. The thing is too, is that 95 percent of what I do is play live and having an audience connection. It’s important to me to write songs that are honest and true, because I have to look these people in the face every time. I can’t do the whole…I can’t bullshit. I’m very open to a lot of things, but I’m never going to say, “I don’t want to write this.” At the end they say like, “Cool, we wrote a cool song,” and someone else is going to sing that. A lot of that happened with the making of the album. There were some great songs, and I just had to throw my towel in and say, “Great, I’m happy to be a writer in this process, but somebody will do this much better than me, at this point with actually delivering the song.”

In making this album, obviously you have garnered quite the following since appearing on the first season of The Voice, did you ever feel like you needed to be that artist that people supported and voted for on the show, or did you feel like, “I’m going to showcase the growth I’ve had from the show, still incorporating the artist that you voted for”?

Absolutely. Well, the latter thing that you said, absolutely. It’s funny, because I was just talking to the stylist that was on The Voice, and that was a big part of the evolution as artist development. You’re on a TV show, they were like, “You don’t get to wear your tie dye shirt, this is a dressy thing.” It was like, “Okay, okay, let me be open to these things.” And the stylist was taking who I was as a person and so quickly having to bring out my strengths, physically, but then also my strengths, internally, and putting something on me and me saying, “Wow, this makes me feel really confident and really good about myself.” She was really good about hearing me. [She] and I still work together and we’re about to do my first video and the same thing has kind of come up, like, “Well, what is the look gonna be in the video?” But now there’s so many cooks in the kitchen, and I kinda came from somewhere, where I wasn’t not already signed and they picked me up and let me do my thing. They definitely want to be a part of this development, but what’s so great about her and I continuing to work together, she’s like, “I know you. I know what you’re comfortable with.” And she’s seen the evolution.

So just particularly in style alone, that has been important to me to still be like, “I’m still me, you know?” I’m not gonna now come walk down a runway, be all dressed up in gold and Louis Vuitton and be like, “Hey, look at me,” like I’m a big star now or some shit. [laughs] I’ve still got my organic roots that I’m coming from, but at the same time, the same things musically.

It’s easy to walk down that easier way and just be like, “Okay, well, this is working right now on radio. Or this is working, and I might as well just kind of mold with it.” It’s important to me to take what I was from the show and bring that into what’s going on now, for sure.

So your single, “Come Along” is making its way up the charts. I read that this was a single that people were trying to talk you out of not releasing right out the gate. What was it about this song that pushed you to stand your ground, so you could release it as your first single?

Well first of all, the sound of it. I come from such a bluesy, soulful background, that the sound of the song was just definitely where I came from, along with an evolution of coming into this technical world, I guess, of these different sounds and stuff to make a record can kind of shape the mold of some of these records that are being made alongside, but still sticking to where I came from – that live guitar, the mood of the song, and then also the message. It sounds like it’s going to be really moody, but at the same time, there’s this clarity in the song, as far as like, you know, it kind of brightens up through the choruses showing that the message is positive. That was really important to me to have a song that had such a good message out there on the airwaves, if possible.

Your coach from The Voice, Cee Lo Green is featured on the track. Was that how the song was originally imagined or how did he get involved with in the recording process of this song?

Honestly, that was just kind of like, “Hey, we worked on The Voice together. Hey, this is my first major debut.” Because of him picking me on the show, I was like, “Why don’t we do something?” I already had the song recorded, but it was just something nice to be like, “Here Cee Lo’s helping me introduce myself to this new world.” Kind of being alongside the ride of it.

as it been rewarding for you to see “Come Along” gradually climb its way up the charts?

Absolutely. It’s all kind of like that “I told you so” feeling. Which, I don’t want to be pompous or anything, but I’ve always done things kind of grassroots. I guess, basically, not looking for labels, just going out there and playing music, because I love it. And now, it kind of died out for a little bit and people didn’t even remember that I was on The Voice and at first I was like, “Well, I guess gotta start back where I came from, where I started from, and do this the way that I’ve been doing it.” And to have it play out the way it has, I just feel so much more confident that this is the right path to be going.

When people take a listen to your album, Vicci, what are you hoping they take away from your music?

I just hope they, first of all, enjoy it. And second of all, I hope it just kind of sparks a flame in people to go out and believe in [themselves]. I hope it’s energizing to kind of get up and go, whether it’s getting motivated for work or getting motivated for the day, most importantly, motivated for life, you know? Remembering what it is that you love to do and go out and do it. That’s the intention behind, I guess, everything I do, so that’s definitely going to be the intention behind my first major album.

And just to touch on your run on The Voice a little bit – you were a standout contestant throughout your entire season; what was your favorite moment or something you took away from that entire experience?

I think when the live rounds started and we got to have such a say with our performances. I think creating the whole “Dog Days” concept and saying that I wanted to play drums and I wanted to run around the stage. I remembering acting that out in my hotel room and saying, “Tomorrow, when I go tell them what I want to do, they better say yes, because it’s going to be great.” Kind of visualizing in my head and being able to see that on TV later and be like, “Wow, it came to fruition.” They did listen to me, they gave me that power to call my own shots and they listened to it. It was good idea, it wasn’t like, “Well kid, you don’t really know what you’re talking about.” That never was the case. That was definitely a huge moment for me.

When it got down to the final four, did any of you know how big the show had become while you were competing week-to-week during the live rounds?

No, no idea. It was such a small bubble we were in. After the show’s taping, we could come back to our hotel and watch it. That was it. You were driven there, you were back to the hotel. We didn’t see commercials or anything like that; we were so busy.

So to now see the season as an observer and see how big the show is, it’s like, “Wow, that kind of happened to me too.” To see these new artists on the show and see what they’re going through and visit the set and watch the show, it’s really cool to be on the other side and kind of remember that happened to me too. To know what they’re going through, to know that they’re in the same boat not realizing, and maybe they are, maybe it’s different, because now they’ve be able to see a whole season, so they do know, but there’s something really special about it, being on that first season and really not knowing. I think it really helped a lot of us too.

Is there any advice that you received from Cee Lo during your season that you would impart on another contestant that’s currently going through the process of the show right now?

Yeah, I think to just allow yourself to come out of your comfort zone. To be open to ideas and possibilities, because it’s so funny to remember how closed off I was when I came to the show. And to then be introduced to so many ideas and the mentality to say yes to all of it. And yes when it was comfortable, now when it was absolutely not, not anything I would do. To just open up. It’s such an amazing opportunity, you have million dollar productions. They’re putting money into this. I say, go in there, take it, and make yourself shine.

For more information on Vicci Martinez, check out her official website. The video for her single “Come Along” is set to debut on VEVO on April 9. Watch a preview of the video below.

Tour Dates

April 11 – The Soiled Dove Underground – Denver, CO

April 12 – 9.99 The Point Acoustic Performance – Fort Collins, CO

April 26 The Swiss Restaurant & Pub – Tacoma, WA

May 11 – Chop Suey – Seattle, WA

May 16 - Olivia’s 40th Anniversary Punta Cana Music & Comedy Festival - Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

May 23 - WALK 97.5 Presents Colbie Caillat with special guest Vicci Martinez – Huntington, NY

July 28 - River Haus in the Pines - Leavenworth, WA

July 29 - River Haus in the Pines - Leavenworth, WA

Photo courtesy of Republic Records

Originally posted on Blogcritics Magazine. 

Last week, American Idol found itself a little less jolly after the elimination of 23-year-old Paul Jolley. The Tennessee native performed “Eleanor Rigby” for The Beatles-themed week. Although Jolley had a mostly solid vocal performance, the judges were less than impressed and he found himself as the lowest vote-getter last week.

The following afternoon, Jolley spoke with various press outlets about his run on the show. He talked candidly about his thoughts on the feedback he received from the judges and Jimmy Iovine and whether or not he’d go back and change anything about his experience on Idol.

I’ve got to say I was sorry to see you go. What kind of album do you see yourself making?

I still want to stick with the country/pop lane. I don’t want to change what I feel in my heart that my calling is and what I need to be doing.

What advice was given to you after your elimination from the judges?

Yes, a few of them came up and they just told me to just keep on keeping on, pretty much, and believe in myself and pretty much that I have a career in this.

Were you guys confused by the conflicting advice that you were getting throughout the competition?

I was kind of confused because every week it was something new, which I appreciated that a lot because I always want that room to grow, so if I’m not doing something wrong then there’s something wrong with them not telling me. No, I really appreciate them telling me things I can work on.

Jimmy Iovine says that the judges are being too easy on the contestants this season. I would guess that you would not agree with that.

I don’t agree with it. I feel like they’ve been really, really easy on a lot of other contestants, but for some reason I feel like I was just the pointed out one to be tough on this season. I’m okay with that because I want that critique and I want to grow as an artist and I want to go somewhere with my career. I’m okay with that.

You had said that you would prefer to do country and pop and some of the judges didn’t seem to think that your voice fit well in the country genre. Did that hold you back as far as picking songs or anything?

Not at all, because I know who I want to be and I’m not going to change that. The story that I’ve been giving people is when Elvis first started coming out, everybody was taken by storm, like, “Whoa, what’s this going on?” Once they caught on, now he’s the “King of Rock n’ Roll.” Everybody loves him. And I feel like once everyone catches on and sees where I want to go with this career and they hear the original material that I’m literally wanting to do, I feel like there will be a better understanding and people are going to love it.

I know they wanted you to steer away from country and onto pop or dance – would you ever do something like that, like a dance record?

I don’t think you’d really want to see me dance, but we’ll see.

How did you feel about Jimmy’s comment that you weren’t ready for primetime? What did you take away from that?

I would just say to each his own because I think I am ready for it or I wouldn’t be in the top ten of the competition. There’s no way I would be there. I feel he saved me for a reason, so I feel like he knows that I have the talent and he knows that I’m ready or he wouldn’t have done that for me.

When it comes to Nicki Minaj, in particular, she was very hard on you at times. What’s your general opinion of her? Are you grateful for her advice? Do you wish she had been easier at times?

I’m thankful for the critiquing that she gave me. I wish it would’ve been more things that I could take and work on or learn from, but no, I still love her just the same and I appreciate everything she has. She put me through the first round as well, so I’m very thankful.

When the judges were providing you with feedback – did you favor one judge’s advice versus the others as far as their feedback helping you in the competition?

I would say that Keith Urban gave me the best feedback that I could probably learn from and take and use in my career that I want to do after Idol. Yes, for sure, Keith Urban.

I have a question about the save concept. What do you think of that? Do you think they should make the person trying to get a save go ahead and sing, because it doesn’t seem like they were paying much attention to you singing while you were doing it.

I knew I wasn’t going to be saved because Jimmy already saved me once, and I knew they weren’t going to save me again. I’m glad I got to sing because it makes the last stamp of Paul Jolley. It doesn’t just say, “Okay, Paul’s kicked off the show,” and then I’m done. I’d rather sing something that means something to me and then leave on a good note.

Jimmy Iovine had said that he expected Lazaro to land in the bottom three following his performance Wednesday night that obviously didn’t receive great praise from the judges. That didn’t happen. Do you have any thoughts on why that might be and did it surprise you that he escaped the bottom three?

Lazaro has a huge following. He has an amazing story and everyone connects to it. I give him good props for that and I wish him the best of luck in the future.

Everyone’s been proclaiming this season the year of the girls. Do you think that naturally put the men at a disadvantage voting-wise from the very beginning, because there’s just been so much talk about how excellent the girls are?

I don’t know, maybe, maybe not. I think they’re all amazing. I wish everybody the best of luck.

Looking back, do you think that you would’ve done anything differently? If you could go back, would you have changed anything to better your chances in the competition, whether it be song choice or anything like that?

I honestly would not change a single thing that I’d done on the show. I chose my song choices for a reason. If you listen, everything that I sang had a lyrical meaning and I loved every bit of it. No, I wouldn’t change a thing that I’d done at all.

If you had stayed on Idol, what song were you planning on singing next week?

It was going to be “Tracks of My Tears.”

For all of those who are hoping to be on Idol next year, do you have any advice for them?

Just go for it and don’t hold back. When you walk in there, just be yourself. Don’t try to be something you’re not. Just believe in yourself and have faith that you can do this and if it’s something that’s meant to be then it will happen or maybe it’s just not the right timing if you don’t make it. I just say keep on keeping on.

Tonight, Idol’s Top 8 will take on “Music of Motor City” starting at 8 p.m. on FOX.

Photo credit: Michael Becker/Frank Micelotta/FOX

Originally posted on Blogcritics Magazine.

This week, A Rocket To The Moon (Nick Santino, Justin Richards, Eric Halvorsen, and Andrew Cook) follow up their 2009 record, On Your Side, with their new release, Wild & Free.

The band teamed up with producer Mark Bright (Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban) on their new record and channeled their classic rock and country music influences, from The Eagles and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers to Johnny Cash and Brad Paisley.

“We wanted that good ol’ rock-n-roll feel, almost that southern rock vibe to this album,” lead singer Nick Santino shared with me during an interview last fall.

From what my ears can tell, they definitely accomplished their goal.

Sonically, Wild & Free is a bit of a departure from On Your Side. Hopefully fans of the band will notice and appreciate the seemingly natural and genuine progression of their sound and maturity in their songwriting. Plus, vocally, Santino just knocks it out of the park.

With their anthemic title track and fun-loving sing-a-longs, “Going Out” and “Whole Lotta You,” A Rocket To The Moon pulls from their various influences for some solid folk/pop-rock fun. On their swoon-worthy and nostalgic love song, “First Kiss,” the band incorporated some country flavor.

Lyrically, the band’s latest single, “Ever Enough,” a heart-wrenching ballad about devotion, and the closing track, the piano-driven “Lost and Found,” are easily two of the most emotionally gripping songs to be found on Wild & Free. The honesty and vulnerability found in the lyrics hit you in such a way that you can’t help but to hang on to every word.

Personally, I really enjoy “You’re My Song.” I think the song is a real sweet spot among the 13 tracks on this record. I like the overall energy of the track, and I can’t help but smile at the line, “You’re a little bit country, yeah, and I play rock-n-roll.” Even though it is the second-to-last track on the record, I feel like it really packs a punch that leaves a lasting impression of how much ARTTM has evolved with their sound.

A Rocket To The Moon’s new record, Wild & Free, is available now.

For more information on the band, please check out their official website.

Photo credit: Fueled By Ramen Records

The night before performing one helluva show at The Great American Music Hall in San Francisco, UK singer-songwriter Lianne La Havas performed “Lost and Found” and “Is Your Love Big Enough?” on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

Check out her stellar performances below!

Seriously, if you have the opportunity to go see Lianne La Havas, just stop what you’re doing and go. Don’t miss out on hearing her sing live. She is the absolute real deal.

For tour dates, check out Lianne La Havas’  official website.

Featured photo credit: Warner Brothers Records UK

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This past week on American Idol, season 11′s runner-up Jessica Sanchez debuted her new single, “Tonight,” which features one of my favorite artists, Ne-Yo!

Check out her post-Idol video package & her rockin’ performance with Ne-Yo below.

Can’t even front, I downloaded the song immediately that night & got my dance on. However, I will admit that I think it’s a little weird that Ne-Yo kicks off the song. Being that it is Jessica’s debut single, I would think the first voice you would hear would be hers. That said, I think Jessica has quite the hit on her hands, and I hope that “Tonight” does well for her.

You can download Jessica Sanchez’s new single, “Tonight” ft. Ne-Yo at iTunes now. While you’re there, preorder her debut  album, Me, You & the Music, which is due out April 30.

Check out the official music video for “Tonight” below!

Featured photo credit: Michael Becker/FOX

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From The Andrew Sisters to Heart and The Bangles to Tegan & Sara, bands featuring sisters have had quite an impact on music throughout the years. Looking to make an impact of their own are the Staveley-Taylor sisters—Emily, Jessica, and Camilla—who are collectively known as The Staves.

Hailing from Watford, England, the folk rock group followed up their recent performances at this year’s SXSW with the American release of their full-length record, Dead & Born & Grown, earlier this week.

I recently had the opportunity to talk with Jessica Staveley-Taylor about the group’s new record. She spoke about the trio’s songwriting process, working with acclaimed producers Glyn and Ethan Johns (The Rolling Stones, The Eagles, Kings of Leon), and her thoughts on the recent influx on folk rock music on mainstream radio.

Were each of you always interested in music growing up?

Yeah, we were. We were. We’ve always sung together and our parents would always be listening to records and singing. It’s always something that’s been very natural to all of us. We’re just having fun.

We never really had like a game plan to be a band or anything like that. It just kind of happened quite naturally over the years.

At what point did you all decide that music was something that you wanted to pursue professionally?

I think it got to a point when we were gigging quite a lot and getting a lot of shows and we couldn’t hold down a job. We were all working in restaurants and bars and stuff. We had to keep kind of taking time off from our jobs, and we just kind of thought, “We don’t really want these to be our jobs.” We’d rather do music. And yeah, it just kind of happened that way.

Growing up, what music influenced and helped shape your sound when you were first starting out?

Oh, so many. The Beatles are a massive one, because our mom and dad would listen to them all the time.They’re kind of the basis of all pop music for us. They’re a huge inspiration. There are all kinds of singer-songwriters, like Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, James Taylor, Neil Young. That kind of era definitely influenced us.

When you’re in the midst of the songwriting process, do each of you have a specific role or is it completely collaborative effort?

I think it’s different with every song for us. Sometimes, it just kind of happens and it might be one person that does the most of it. Other songs take years to write. Like, add a little bit here and there in the course of a year or so.

With each song being different, do you approach them differently as well, in starting with either the lyrics or the melody, or does your approach vary with each song?

I think the music comes first, but having said that, there’s a lot of songs that started with just a lyric idea. It usually happens at the same time, I think, the lyrics and the music.

For your album, you worked with Glyn and Ethan Johns. How was it working with them in the studio?

It was great. The two of them have made so many amazing records, but they had never made a record together until this record with us. It was really special having them both in the room. We’re huge fans of their work. I think we were probably a bit nervous at first, but then they’re really lovely guys, and we had a really good time with it.

They like to record everything live, so it was a really interesting experience for us to work in that kind of way and I think it captured the sound of us in the room at that time. It’s not in any way been altered or changed or manipulated. And that’s a really nice thing.

What is the dynamic like between you and your sisters in the studio? Is it more business or more of a comfortable and laid back kind of vibe?

In the studio, it’s just the same as anywhere else, really. I think we get along really well, the three of us. We’re very fortunate that we have a really good time together. In the studio there’s a lot of laughter, sometimes when you’re spending long, long days trapped in a studio with no daylight, you start to go slightly mad.

We get along well, and obviously we have a job to do, but it’s just an incredibly fun job to do. It’s just good.

So it’s definitely an upside that you get to collaborate and create music with your sisters.

Yeah, yeah. We get on well, we understand each other. We have a very good relationship, but there’s always downsides, because you always argue with people you love and people you spend that much time with and we spend a lot of time together, making music together and in our personal lives, we are family. We see each other there, and there’s always going to be slight personality clashes here and there, but the pluses outweigh the minuses, definitely.

The title of the album is Dead & Born & Grown, which is also a title of one the tracks on the album. Is there something specific about that song that you felt encompassed the album as a whole to use it as the overall title?

Yeah, definitely. That song was pretty much the first song we ever wrote. It holds a special place for all of us. We were just beginning then when we wrote that. We knew we wanted it on the album, that was always going to be the case. Then as we were making the record, I think we just felt that’s what the album should be called. I think it kind of catches an idear about, like an all-encompassing passing of time. It’s a special song for us.

What do you hope the listening audience takes away from Dead & Born & Grown, and is there a song that you hope they give special attention to?

I say pay attention to all of them, because they’re all good. I think we all have our favorites on the album, one in particular, which is called “Eagle Song.” It’s just a really special track for us, but I think that people can listen to the record and feel that they’re in the room with us. That’s what we wanted to create. We wanted to create an actual sound that had a way of capturing how it is when the three of us sit down together and sing. I hope that they can get that from it, and I hope that they enjoy it.

You already released the record in the UK. What are you looking forward to the most about releasing the record in America?

More people getting to hear it would be great. We’ve toured over here quite a lot now, and we’re going to be touring more this year over here. It’s just really exciting to be able to give the American people the full-length album that they can sink their teeth into. It’s very exciting.

Last question—what’s your take on the continued influx of folk rock bands like Mumford and Sons and The Lumineers finding success on the radio right now and how do you think this trend will affect your crossover into the U.S.?

I’m not sure really, to be honest. I think the success of those bands is great. I think it’s good that they’ve kind of opened the door for a larger audience to listen to and appreciate music of that kind of genre. Music that sounds like that with acoustic instruments and harmonies. I think it’s a really positive thing and I hope that it means that more people will be open to appreciate our music.

At the same time, we’re very different bands from those guys, so I’m not quite sure. But I think it’s a good thing that those acoustic guitars and harmonies [are] around.

—

Dead & Born & Grown by The Staves is available now. Check out their latest music video for “Facing West” below.

Photo credit: Rebecca Miller

Tonight’s episode of Glee, entitled “Guilty Pleasures,” features music from the Spice Girls, ABBA, Radiohead, Phil Collins, Barry Manilow, and Bobby Brown. The episode also features one of my own favorite guilty pleasure songs, “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” by Wham!

Check out the New Directions’ performance of the track below, featuring Blaine (Darren Criss) & Sam (Chord Overstreet)!

Glee airs tonight at 9 p.m. after American Idol on FOX.

Featured photo credit: Eddy Chen/FOX

Last night, Justin Timberlake’s music video for “Mirrors” made its debut on VH1.com. The song is the singer’s second single off his brand spankin’ new album, The 20/20 Experience.

Check out the video for “Mirrors” below!

Who knows how to be a heartbreaker? Glee’s Brody Weston sure does. Newcomer Dean Geyer, who portrays Brody on the hit FOX show, will be performing Marina and the Diamonds’ new single, “How To Be A Heartbreaker,” during tonight’s episode. Glee’s version of the song also features vocals from the oh-so talented Lea Michele (Rachel Berry).

I recently had the opportunity to chat with Marina Diamandis, who shared that she actually had never seen an episode of Gleebefore, but was ecstatic about having her song performed on the show.

“I’m so excited. It’s such a treat,” the Welsh singer-songwriter exclaimed during our phone interview. “It’s quite awesome just being asked to do something with the song. It’s great.”

“How To Be A Heartbreaker” is the second single off Marina and the Diamonds’ latest album, Electra Heart, which was released last April and hit number one in the UK.

The song is surely to be a hit among fans of the show. With its infectious, pulsing electro-pop beat and playful lyrics, Gleeks are bound to be dancing and singing along to “How To Be A Heartbreaker” in no time.

Diamandis hadn’t heard the show’s take on her song when we spoke, but said that she was “just really interested to see what it’s going to sound like” and summed up the opportunity as being “quite surreal.”

Marina and the Diamonds will be bringing the music of Electra Heart to life this May during the North American leg of the Lonely Hearts Club headlining tour. Check out a preview of the tour below.

Catch Glee’s peformance of Marina and The Diamonds’ “How To Be A Heartbreaker” tonight at 9 p.m. on FOX.

Tour Dates

May 2 – Seattle, WA, Showbox At The Market

May 3 – Vancouver, BC, Commodore Ballroom

May 4 – Portland, OR, Wonder Ballroom

May 6 – San Francisco, CA, Warfield Theatre

May 7 – Santa Ana, CA, The Observatory

May 9 – Las Vegas, NV, The Pool At The Cosmopolitan

May 10 – San Diego, CA, House Of Blues

May 11 – Los Angeles, CA, Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE

May 13 – Salt Lake City, UT, Club Sound

May 14 – Englewood, CO, Gothic Theatre

May 16 – Lawrence, KS, Granada Theatre

May 17 – St. Louis, MO The Pageant

May 19 – Minneapolis, MN, Varsity Theater

May 20 – Chicago, IL, Vic Theatre

May 22 – Detroit, MI, St. Andrews Hall

May 23 – Toronto, Ontario, Sound Academy

May 24 – Montreal, Quebec, Virgin Mobile Corona Theatre

May 28 – Millvale, PA, Mr. Small’s Theatre

May 29 – New York, NY, Rumsey Playfield/Central Park

Photo courtesy of Atlantic Records.

Originally posted on Blogcritics Magazine.

To make sure that you play a pivotal role in having your favorite season 12 Idol contestant (Kree Harrison, FTW!) making it to the Top 9 all the way to the winner’s circle, you’re going to need to get your vote on. Check out four different ways to vote for your favorite Idol contestant below.

Vote by Phone

You can vote by phone, by calling Idol’s toll-free number, 1-866-436-57__ (the last two digits are given out during each contestant’s respective performance) as many times as you want during the two-hour voting block. And yes, I do know the number by heart.

Vote via Text

If you are an AT&T subscriber, you can text the word “VOTE” to the given contestant’s four-digit number. You will receive confirmation that your vote was received only once.

And just like voting by phone, you can text an unlimited amount of times during the two-hour voting period.

Online Voting

During season 10, online voting was introduced to the world of Idol. All fans have to do is log into their Facebook account on AmericanIdol.com and select the contestant they wish to vote for. Plus, you can share which contestant you’re supporting on your Facebook wall.

Unlike voting by phone and text, you can only vote up to 50 times online during the two-hour voting window.

Vote via the American Idol App

Idol introduced a fourth way to vote this season with the recent release of the official American Idol app. The app contains a myriad of features, but most importantly, it allows you to vote 50 times via your Facebook account during the given two hours to vote.

The Idol app is available for iOS and Android devices. You can download it from the App Store or Google Play.

Power Voting

If you vote online at AmericanIdol.com or via the Idol app, you have the ability to power vote. You have the option of placing all 50 of your votes on one contestant at one time or you can divvy them up between multiple contestants.

There you have it, four different ways to vote this season. So tonight when you’re voting for Kree or, you know, the Idol contestant of your choosing to move on in the competition, you have a variety of voting platforms at your disposal.

 Photo credit: Michael Becker/FOX

Originally posted on Blogcritics Magazine.