KidNews is guessing these four fresh musical artists or groups have the potential to blossom into chart-toppers. But for a second (and third) opinion, we went to readers, who listened to the debut CDs and weighed in with their takes.
B2K
Boy band B2K began turning heads on tour with Lil’ Bow Wow last summer, and their super-catchy single, “Uh Huh,” is a No. 1 smash. The four boys of B2K, who are all still in their teens, are pretty hard to resist: They mix soulful ballads and hip-hop grooves better than groups twice their age; they’re slamming dancers; and unlike many super-serious boy banders, they’ve got a sense of humor about themselves. Their self-titled debut came out this month.
Ashanti
If you’ve heard
Ja Rule’s “Always On Time” or Big Pun’s “How We Roll,” you’ve already heard Ashanti, whose amazing voice was all over those hits. Singing backup on hip-hop hits is a tried-and-true way to become famous yourself (remember Mya?), and Ashanti is on her way to becoming a major star in her own right. This 20-year-old choreographer-turned-singer-songwriter’s debut album, “Foolish,” comes out April 2, and the video for the title track already is in constant play on MTV and BET.
Vanessa Carlton
There’s no denying that 21-year-old Vanessa Carlton’s debut album, “Be Not Nobody,” out in April, is hitting stores at the right time. A new crop of young artists such as Michelle Branch has made it cool for teenage girls to play instruments (in Carlton’s case, the piano) and write their own songs. Few do that better than Carlton, a former ballet dancer who reminds us a little of recent piano-playing divas like Fiona Apple. Her hit ballad, “A Thousand Miles,” has been all over MTV during the past few months, and it’s a good thing too: Carlton’s combination of classical music training and savvy, girl-powered lyrics makes her someone we’d like to see more of. (Catch our interview with Carlton, below left.)
Trik Turner
It may be hard to get excited about yet another rock-rap band, but Trik Turner is the real thing. Not only do their records deal with big issues such as AIDS and child abuse, but they combine old-school hip-hop and cutting-edge alternative grooves better than most peers. Their hit, “Friends and Family,” off their album, “Trik Turner,” is one of those songs you can’t get out of your head. That they’re one of Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington’s favorite bands doesn’t hurt either.
Reader-reviews
Ana S., 14, of Chicago
Usually listens to: Hip-hop and R&B. Likes Lauryn Hill, Sunshine Anderson, Wyclef, Jamiroquoi and Jill Scott.
Ashanti: “The beat puts you to sleep, and the songs sound really generic. This is perfect airplane music for sleeping.”
B2K: “Meaningful lyrics, good beats, enough variety and decent for dancing.”
Trik Turner: ” ‘Friends and Family’ changes from rock to alternative and the beat is mixed up. Although the lyrics are meaningful, it needs a better tune.”
Vanessa Carlton: “It’s decent if you like pop rock. The tune was catchy but too cutesy, and the music itself featured too much piano playing. You can’t really dance to it.”
Spencer H., 14, of Chicago
Usually listens to: Hip-hop and rap. Likes Wu-Tang, Redman and Ja Rule.
Ashanti: “There are only two good songs, so it’s a letdown. You should only buy this CD if you’re a true R&B fan.”
B2K: “Great ballads and a few good dance songs. ‘Uh Huh’ is the highlight, but ‘B2K is Hot’ is not a bad track. It’s an average CD but a good debut.”
Trik Turner: “It was interesting because it had a catchy beat. Yet this CD isn’t something I’d buy because I’m not a big fan of this kind of music.”
Vanessa Carlton: “I liked it. It was like R&B mixed with smooth rock and classical, because I’d hear the violin, electric guitar and piano in the background.”
Singer finds her voice and a career
Don’t hate Vanessa Carlton because she’s one of those annoyingly perfect girls who’s good at everything.
Sure, Carlton has been playing the piano since age 2. And, yes, before becoming a singer, she studied ballet at the prestigious School of American Ballet. Now, at 21, she seems on the verge of fame–even though her debut album, “Be Not Nobody,” isn’t out yet.
“People think it’s been easy, but I’ve been working for a long time,” she said. “The music business is hard. Doing ballet really prepared me for this, because there’s nothing harder than that.”
Born and raised in Mitford, Penn., Carlton was 14 when she left to study ballet in New York. Life as a dancer was stressful and exhausting. Competition between dancers was fierce and she was homesick a lot.
“You know that feeling you have where you feel like you’re going to cry? That sick tingly feeling?” Carlton asked. “I had that every day.”
Carlton had written songs (just music, without words) on the piano since she was little, though once she took up ballet, she didn’t play much anymore. One day, feeling frustrated, she went home and sat at the piano. For the first time, she started to sing. “I couldn’t sit at the piano and be silent. I was silent in ballet class. I felt very caged. Once I started writing songs, I felt like I found the key to unlock the cage.”
Carlton went back to her New York dorm and played a song for her roommates. She was so shy, she made them turn to face the wall so they couldn’t watch her sing. But singing made Carlton so happy, she knew her days as a ballerina were over.
She took a job as a waitress while she looked for a record contract. It didn’t take her long to find one. Now her days are a whirlwind of interviews, photo shoots and MTV appearances.
“I’m so busy, but I do have a full life,” Carlton said. “I can express myself. I’m not silent anymore.
— Allison Stewart
