Daisy McCrackin

Actress Daisy McCrackin (3000 Miles to Graceland, Halloween) continues to evolve as a musician, and she’s shot a suspenseful video for “Ladykiller’s Wife,” one of the top songs off her second album God Willing. The video depicts a troubled couple and comes to a disturbing outcome, all in slow motion, but the video itself is full of warm colors that complement the beauty of McCrackin’s voice. “Without castles and horses and chainmail armor, this is the absolute best video that could have been made for this song,” says McCrackin. McCrackin is an L.A.-area resident and the video was filmed on Topanga Beach. View “Ladykiller’s Wife” on the Popmatters Web site or on YouTube.

 

Red Bull Music Academy 2012

Applications for musicians to attend this year’s Red Bull Music Academy in New York City are now available. The 60 musicians-- producers, vocalists, instrumentalists and DJs across all genres-- that are ultimately selected to participate in the all-expense-paid scholarship program will be given the chance to learn from guest lecturers and luminaries who have shaped the global musical landscape, and will have the opportunity to work on their own music in custom-built studios. By night, participants will have the chance to perform in some of New York City’s most iconic clubs and concert halls. Alumni of the academy include Flying Lotus, Aloe Blacc and Mr. Hudson; past lecturers include Nile Rodgers, Chuck D, Erykah Badu, Mark Ronson and reggae rhythm masters Sly & Robbie. Applications are available at www.redbullmusicacademy.com until April 2.

 

Giant Single: The Profile Records Rap Anthology

In conjunction with February being Black History Month, Arista and Legacy Records have issued a various artists compilation called Giant Single: The Profile Records Rap Anthology, which chronicles the rise of Profile Records and the dawn of hip-hop culture in America. The indie label sold millions of records during their 1980s and 1990s heyday, including hit singles like “Genius Rap” by Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, “Born and Raised in Compton” by DJ Quik and the huge crossover hit “Walk This Way” by RUN-DMC. Those songs and 28 others by performers like Rap-O-Matic, Dana Dane, Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock and Too Kool Posse round out this two-CD collection. Ten pages of liner notes accompany the music, and one of the facts you can glean from reading them is that Profile ironically did not set out to be a rap label; initial plans had the imprint scheduled to release dance records.

 

Festheads.com

Since the 1960s, music festivals have achieved mythic status. Fans who attended the first Woodstock, Lollapalooza and Coachella recount stories of the inaugural events as defining moments in their lives. Now, more than 40 years later the most comprehensive music festival road map is on the newly launched Festheads.com. With new festivals popping up like wild flowers, at Festheads.com fans finally have the facility to search for the right festival by region, musical genre, time frame, ticket price, climate, amenities and even a particular artist. Festival-goers can also use Festheads.com to connect with festival live feeds or grow their “tribe” by connecting with other like-minded individuals. The site has info on more than 100 festivals scheduled for 2012 available now.

 

Half Notes

Buzzbands L.A. has named the Soft Swells as a “band to watch in 2012,” and you can take that suggestion literally by catching the band’s in-store appearance at Origami Vinyl at 7 p.m. on February 28. Tell the Right Story is the name of the debut E.P. from Los Angeles-based folk/Americana band Harriet. Before you head to their show at the Bootleg Theater on February 20, click over to www.harrietmusic.com and download a free copy of the E.P. Beaus $ Eros (bows and arrows, get it?) is the name of the just-released album from indie rap trailblazer Busdriver, and you can hear his new music at the Echo on February 21 as he plays a special record release show. Reggae fans take note: One of Jamaica’s most talked-about upcoming artists has just dropped a new one called Crying to the Nation. I Octane is rapidly becoming a leader in the conscious dancehall movement, following in the footsteps of acts like Sizzla, Capleton and Buju Banton.