Jodi Melendez: Truly Glowing

There is very little that cannot be done by singer, songwriter, Jodi Melendez.  Her voice is one that is sure to capture your heart, and it is matched with touching lyrics and a warm spirit that resonates with anyone within a 5-mile radius.  Jodi has been singing and dancing since she was very young, “I would make random places a stage.”  From her neighborhood street, to her very own living room Jodi was never afraid to get up and do her thing!  “I never got nervous because I started out as a little girl not knowing what it meant to be judged or have insecurities. All I knew was the feeling of being free and being able to express myself and I wanted to hold on to that feeling forever.”

Jodi’s bright smile and comforting spirit does not come without hardship though.  After losing her father at the age of nine she was faced with every child’s worst nightmare and music was the only way in which she was able to cope. “As a child you don't understand many things, and being able to heal myself [through music] was a strong realization for me,” and she goes on to share that her wish is to be able to help others mend their pain in the same way she was able to do for herself. 

Having grown up in the Bronx, Jodi admits that she has always wanted to find a way to give back to her own community. While her ultimate dream would be to make it big in music, she says that she really want to be able to start an organization where she helps the youth not only recognize what their dreams are, but one that also helps them to reach those goals.  “My next single and music video "The Hug Revolution" is all about eliminating hate and bringing people together,” she shares.

Jodi’s current single, “Glow”, was written by her managers Rick Agosta and Matt Noble of Big Fan Records, to which she is signed.  The song tells the story of what it is like to be underappreciated and unable to “shine”.  “This song resonated with me because of course I had those experiences when people tried to bring me down and tell me I wasn't good enough,” she says.  The song was also recorded in Spanish, as “Brilla”. 

Recently, Jodi was on Univision’s biggest variety show Sábado Gigante (which will end in September after a 53 year run) as a part of a special remembrance of the great Selena Quintanilla. Jodi participated in a Selena performance competition where she and 3 other contestants sang a Selena song and dressed up like her as well.Of the three girls in the competition, Jodi was chosen as the winner! “I have been inspired by Selena my entire life, and I even learned Spanish through Selena’s music.  It was such an honor to be able to perform on the same stage as her and to get the chance before the show ends,” says Jodi.

Be sure to check out more from Jodi in the coming months, as she will soon be releasing her next single!

See the Spanish version, "Brilla", here. 

Connect with Jodi Melendez

Facebook: Jodi Melendez Music

Twitter: @1JOLuv

Instagram: @JodiMusic

Victor Manuelle: Que Suenen Los Tambores

Victor Manuelle, El Sonero de la Juventud, is at it again with his latest album "Que Suenen Los Tambores" out in stores and on digital platforms today.  The artist, signed to Sony Latin, never fails to impress with his innovative and rhythmic approach to the salsa genre.  The album contains 13 singles including the current hit "Que Suenen Los Tambores" which strays away from the traditional salsa arrangement, making for a unique sound.

While the album is one that is sure to get you moving, Victor also released a very special and personal ballad called "Algo Le Pasa a Mi Heroe".  Dedicated to his father who suffers from Alzheimer's disease, the song talks about how his hero (his father) is slowly losing his memory, saying "...he no longer says my name, he doesn't remember it. Neither his body nor his mind are what they once were..."  

Victor says the song was written in order to bring awareness to the disease but he never imagined that it would have the impact that it has had.  While the situation is personal and difficult to deal with, Victor says that his mission with the song is to commemorate those suffering with the disease and those who take care of those suffering with the disease.   While many may look at the disease as something sentimental and sad, Victor looks at the brighter side of things, saying that he is blessed to have had a lifetime's worth of stories and memories with his father and knows that those stories and memories are a blessing of their own.  

Victor describes his father as his hero because he taught him what it is to be a good person, and he has sure done a great job of it.  Twenty years into a very successful career, Victor remains humble in all that he does, saying that while his trajectory is one of many years, that does not take away the butterflies he feels when releasing a new album, nor does it take from the passion that ensues when creating the music.  Victor also makes it very clear that his objective as "El Sonero de La Juventud", is to make sure that salsa is appealing to the youth.  He explains that the salsa lover does not need to be convinced to love salsa, but in this day and age, the youth have every genre in their iPod and he wants his music and salsa in general to stand out among the immense variety that people now have to choose from.  

Amanda Lamb: Far from "Broken"

She’s radiant, youthful, and won’t let anything get in the way of her and her dreams.  She is Country music artist Amanda Lamb.

The 20-somehting California based singer/songwriter has been performing since age 6, and by age 14 she was writing songs during math class to pass the time.  Amanda thrives on personal experience for her writing, and says that although she is young she has never felt limited in terms of what she can write songs about.

Amanda’s music has grown with her as she explains; “When I was 15 I wrote a song called Banish Love…about how ridiculous high school romance drama seemed to me. Right now I write about looking for, finding and losing love…”   While Amanda knows that her music will change and mature as she does, she is in no rush to get there as she is living in the moment and embracing who she is as an artist today. 

From a very young age, Amanada has dealt with Type 1 Diabetes, a disease that affects asmany as 3 million Americans.  Given this issue is something so close to her, and after dealing with some heavy complications because of it, she decided to write a song to inspire people like herself who need to go the extra mile just to make it through each day.  The song, titled “Something in the Blood”, is heartfelt, comforting and inspiring. “I hope that people who suffer from any condition which just makes life difficult will gain strength from the lyric line “I’m made a little different but I’m not broken.” For so many of us, there’s a battle to stay alive, or to live a full life, but we somehow find the strength, and that’s what I wanted the song to reflect,” Amanda shared.

Amanda’s strength and fearlessness in sharing her story is admirable and goes to show that with just a bit of courage one can overcome life’s struggles.  You can keep a look out for Amanda this Sprig and Summer if you're in the California area as she will be touring. This Fall, she plans on releasing an EP where she unleashes a darker, more moody Amanda Lamb.

    

Connect with Amanda Lamb:

Website: http://amandalambmusic.com

Facebook: Amanda Lamb Music

Twitter:  @AmandaLambMusic

Instagram:  @AmandaLambMusic

YouTube:  AmandaLambMusic

Leo Cody: A Passion for Music and the Love of a Guitar

Utah native and natural artist, Leo Cody is a treat to the ears and soul.  With his soothing and charming voice, Leo has been able to capture the attention of many and has been doing so since he was a kid.  Leo started off singing in amusement parks in Utah and Tampa, later moving on to be in a cover band for a short time and today he continues working to perfect his craft.

While his ultimate goal is to make a living full time by doing music, Leo says that he has had some pretty interesting experiences along his journey.  Last July, Leo was given the opportunity to open for Carrie Underwood at a show in Utah—he was selected as the lead singer in a band that was assembled exclusively for the show.  “…it definitely gave me a taste of what it would be like to reach that level, and it just made me that much more driven,” he shares. 

Leo’s true love however is the guitar.  He shares that while he was growing up he learned to play various instruments such as the piano, clarinet and the saxophone but nothing soothed him more than his interaction with the guitar.  Leo goes on to say, “It came pretty easy to me and has been the best tool for writing songs with. I just love the way an acoustic guitar supplements my voice.”  And it sure does!  Leo’s influences stem from artists like Gavin DeGraw whose career Leo truly admires saying, “I would love to mirror his music career, he’s had some number 1’s, plays tons of shows, has a great following, but not the crazy fame of some other artists. I feel like I could pick his brain for hours!“

For now, you can find Leo on YouTube, many times seen with his guitar—covering some of his favorite songs of the moment.  He is also currently working on a 3 song EP that is due out this summer and is looking to do some performances in the near future. 

Connect with Leo Cody:

Facebook  Leo Cody

Instagram  @LeoCodyMusic

Twitter  @LeoCodyMusic

Bullyheart: Fearless Thunder

Music is the fire that ignites the soul that is singer, songwriter and musician Bullyheart.  The 40 something mom of two is nothing short of an inspiration for all fierce and resilient women as she pushes to keep her dreams alive and deliver authentic, quality driven music.  Bullyheart began her interest in music as a child and from there went on to UCLA Theater School where she decided that music was her true calling, so she followed that voice and created an artist that would forever morph and change according to its calling.  However, at the time, theater remained her full time focus.

Bullyheart did not always have it easy though, and even today she notes that the events of the past are ones that have shaped her into the artist that she is today.  After a traumatic, life threatening experience with her health, Bullyheart went from doing music on the side because she liked it to going on to do it full time, “It became very clear to me that music was my heart's desire and my life goal,” she says. 

Now, her most recent project, “Antigravity” reflects on who she is today.  “I basically hit 40 and got really pissed,” she says and goes on to describe the single as one that tells of someone “who wants connection in a world of increasing disconnection.”  Bullyheart doesn’t stop there, she goes on to share the meaning of the word “antigravity” as it pertains to this song saying, “it speaks to the unsettling feeling of floating in nothingness (maybe not really being here), and also to the observation that many in our world seem to elevate meaningless things in service of nothing more than empty ego.”

Bullyheart is honest and astute in her delivery, not only in her music but, in the way she carries and expresses herself as well.  She is a warrior, unafraid of the future after having conquered her past, and ever growing and changing in the most fearless way.  Biullyheart plans on doing some tours and will continue working on her new material.  “Antigravity”, is set to be featured on an upcoming TV Land series called “Younger”, by the creator of Sex and the City.

Connect with Bullyheart:

Website: http://bullyheart.com/home.html

Twitter:   https://twitter.com/BullyheartMusic

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Bullyheart

Instagram: https://instagram.com/bullyheartmusic/