Solo Artist of the Week: Iwan Rheon

http://www.facebook.com/iwanrheon

If you're like me, you know Iwan Rheon as Simon from the hit British show Misfits. (Haven't heard of it? You need to hop on over to Hulu right now and get filled in. Or, if you're opposed to watching shows online, Logo will start airing it July 19 at 10 PM ET. Nice little plug, eh?)

If we're being completely honest, if it hadn't been for the commercial for Misfits I saw on Logo this morning, I'd probably keep this boy all to myself. But that isn't fair to do, so I guess I'll share. (See, I can be nice.) Anyway, I've been turned on to Mr. Rheon's talents for some time now. You see, aside from being a part of such an awesome show, the Welsh actor has also been a part of the cast in the London cast of Spring Awakening (which for anyone wondering is one of my favorites) and-- obviously or I wouldn't be writing about him-- he has a musical career.

His first solo EP was recorded and released in 2010 with help from Kevin Bacon. Okay, not the Kevin Bacon you're thinking of, but it sure did grab your attention, didn't it? It's a four track slice of heaven that features him and an acoustic guitar. His second was recorded and released just last year, so as you can see, though he's been off acting, he's also kept up with this music business.

Now, I know what you're thinking. Vicci, you've told us about him, but what does he sound like?!

Well, my dear, dear readers, he sounds like a man with a wonderfully ear appeasing folk voice accompanied by acoustic guitar. He fits in nicely with the likes of the British Folk Movement that we've seen as of late. You know, that one that includes Mumford & Sons and Bobby Long. This is the type of music that you have playing on a lazy afternoon when you curl up on the couch with a good read and a nice warm cuppa. (cup·pa/ˈkəpə/: Noun: A cup of tea) 


Or on a rainy day.


Or on a nice, sunny Sunday drive.


Or while studying.


Packing for a trip.


Really, you could probably just listen to him whenever the hell you felt like it really. It's so calming and
I really can't imagine anyone being able to listen to his music without just getting lost in it.


Is it completely different from anything we've ever heard? No. It isn't. But there's always room on my 
iPod for a nice and good folk song that wants nothing from me except my undivided attention.


That being said, Iwan is currently working on a full length album to get on out there so we have more to
add to our "Just About Anything" playlist, and we'll be waiting ever so patiently because god dammit,
we love you Barry. Er, I mean Iwan.


(Don't get that reference? Well obviously you need to watch Misfits.)


Go Download: You can pick up both his 'Tongue Tied- EP' and 'Changing Times- EP' on iTunes. 
(Egad! I actually had download links for you guys!)

Solo Artist of the Week: Olly Murs

http://www.facebook.com/ollymurs

Welcome my dearest readers to the first official Solo Artist of the Week! And who better to kick off this new branch of promotions than the one and only Olly Murs.

You see, as many of you may know, I have One Direction Infection bad. Like... real bad. If I had it in me to feel ashamed, I probably would be. Luckily enough, I have no shame. But I digress. This confession is necessary because it's thanks to One Direction that I know Olly Murs. Sure, I'd heard the name before and I knew of him, I just hadn't listened to him. Not because I didn't want to, mind you, but because I just never got around to it. So when I finally got around to really listening to Mr. Murs, it was at 1D's Atlanta concert just a few nights ago.

You see, hearing people live is probably one of my favorite ways to discover artists, because really if they're great live then of course they're going to be good on album. It's like the true test. I can love an artist based on performance alone. So when Olly came out and lit that stage on fire, it was needless to say that I needed him on my iPod, and I needed him there ASAP.

For those of you who don't know, Olly was the runner up in the The X Factor UK in 2009. You know, that same X Factor that gave us our beloved British boy band. (I just love alliteration, don't you?) He was slated as the dark horse of the competition, though if I'm being honest, this Joe McElderry must be pretty damn phenomenal because I can't think of any other reason why Olly would have been beat if it weren't for that.

He's just a really funny guy, freaking adorable, and SUCH an entertainer. You know when you can just tell that someone was born to perform? Yeah. That's how I feel about him. AND on top of that, his music is quite literally the musical personification  of sunshine and happiness. Wikipedia likes to classify it as pop/reggae fusion/ska/dance/soul, which is kind of a lot of different things to roll into one, but honestly, it's probably how I'd classify it as well. I seriously can't NOT be happy when listening to his tunes. Even his slower stuff is amazing. I'm also quite certain that "I Need You Now" was written from my head, okay. If you can't relate to it, you're cold and heartless.

Of course, he also performed "Superstitious" and "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" and you guys should probably know that I freaking love Stevie Wonder too, so I may be just a tad biased.

But that's why I'm here, to tell you to look people up and decide for yourself if you think they're amazing as well! (Which you should, because right now I'm listening to him sing "Isn't She Lovely" and I just can't even handle it.)

PLEASE America, I BEG OF YOU, love Olly Murs so he can headline in the US and we can all fangirl over him and bask in the sunshiney happiness that is his music. And I mean, did I mention he's like, the cutest thing ever?

Go Download: WELL, first off, you can pick up a free remix of his single "Heart Skips A Beat" if you sign up for his newsletter. You can also pick up the original version of the single over on iTunes. And LASTLY, you should definitely pre-order his album which is released in the US on September 25 for jus $7.99, also on iTunes. Take it from me, it is worth SO much more than $7.99. (But you should know my favorite, hands down, is "I Need You Now.")

And if you have 10 minutes to spare for some Stevie Wonder Medley Goodness, check this out. You won't regret it. I promise.