Keeping up with my goal of at least one spotlight a week (no matter what day it falls on *smiles*)! Still looking for great writers & bloggers as well to develop more content for the site, so email me at BrittanyShawnte@gmail.com for more information! 

Today, on The Spotlight, we have rock/alternative band Buffalo Sunn! Based in Dublin, Ireland, the group utlilizes retro 60s sounds as well as modern day beats to make up their unique sound. Four of the band’s members are actually brothers (the Paxton brothers--Daniel, who serves as songwriter, guitarist, and lead vocalist, Neil, who plays the keys, guitar and delivers backing vocals, Conor on keys and guitar and Ruairi on bass). The other two members (“honorary members of the Paxton clan) are Donagh O’Brien who plays drums, and Patrick McHugh who sings and plays guitar. The Paxton brothers themselves were sent to learn piano at an early age. “We hated it at the time because we had to go every Friday straight from school,” Daniel, who served as spokesman in this interview, recalled. “So while everyone was off for the weekend playing, we had to go to lessons!” However, after a few years, the brothers got the hang of piano and picked up guitar quite easily as well, becoming true musicians at just 12, 13 years old!

When the band officially formed, they first went by Sweet Jane, releasing their album Sugar For My Soul along with several EPs together. In October 2013, they officially changed their name to Buffalo Sunn, with the idea coming from knowledge of Native American tribes and their hunting yet respect of the buffalo. “They hunted the buffalo in a way that they got everything they needed from the animal like food, cloth, [and] tools,” Daniel said. “It was the center of their [lives], and a very scared animal as they respected it. [It] was never over hunted [by them].” The second part of their name, “Sunn,” stemmed from the sun which gives crops and heat. The band added the second “n,” taking from the vintage amp company, Sunn.

When it comes to their music, Buffalo Sunn takes inspiration from a variety of different artists like the Beach Boys, CSNY, and ABBA. “I think when it comes to our sound, the music that would inspire us is a lot of bands using harmonies,” Daniel said. “I’m a sucker for good harmonies.” The band’s latest track, “By Your Side,” is taken from their upcoming debut album, By The Ocean, which is set to be released later this year. The mid-tempo track produced by Grammy award winning producer Pat McCarthy, can be seen from a standard relationship or friendship point of view, being there for someone through it all. Daniel says was made “to evoke an emotion from the listener,” which, if you take the time to listen, it definitely will stir up feelings for those you love in your life! Get your copy of this great single now on iTunes, and check out the video below!


Though Buffalo Sunn’s debut album isn’t even out yet, they’ve already started working on their next album, which will have about 15 tracks. In terms of what sets them apart, Daniel just says the band does their own thing and hope that people like and connect with it all. “I think it’s when you really try hard to please people or try to cash in on a current scene that’s when you’re f****d,” he said honestly. “We love playing music and the biggest reward is playing to people who really dig our sound.”

You can check out more from Buffalo Sunn on their official website and SoundCloud, as well as connect with them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube!

5:04:00 AM

This summer has been too much fun, filled with trips, concerts, and great events! Best summer I've had in a long time! Last week, I went to the Phi Beta Sigma Step Show, as the fraternity celebrated their 100th anniversary in DC (Congrats to them!!!). My best friend Chelsey and her sorority sister Joyti are a part of Zeta Phi Beta, which are sisters to the Sigmas, so they went out to support them throughout the week. Last Thursday, though, the Sigmas hosted a step show with several chapters battling it out for first place! After the step show, there was a concert by the one and only Wale! Now, if you've followed me long enough, you know I'm a HUGE fan of Wale (see this concert, and this concert)! It had been a few years since I saw him live, so, even though I was going to support my friends as they supported their brothers' celebration, I was mostly going to see my favorite rapper (was rocking my #Ambition tshirt and everything!).

I was going to wait until Friday to put out these videos, but I've been editing and uploading a lot of the day, so I figured why not today?! Plus, it's #WaleWednesday, so, especially for the rest of Wale Nation, here you go!

Wale also performed a new song that night! Now, this may or may not be the title, but I just went by the hook, which was "We Don't Believe You (*laughs*)." Excited to see what he has in store for the fans! 

And, of course, check out a little bit of the Sigmas stepping and strolling for the show as well!


Definitely had a great time, and excited to see Wale again hopefully soon after The Album About Nothing drops later in the year! Congrats again Sigmas on 100 years!

9:29:00 AM

I have to admit, I've been busy enjoying life this month, taking some time away from both work and the blog, relaxing, going to Montreal, checking out some concerts, and visiting family. Though it probably seems bad professionally, personally I'm quite okay with that. All work and absolutely no play will drive you to a whole other level of crazy, so July really was/is the month to take some time out for me and regroup. I definitely have some new personal and career ideas in motion, though!

While most of you were off enjoying the fireworks and partying on Fourth of July weekend, I took a trip with my best friend and her sorority sister to Montreal, Quebec, Canada!!! From July 3-7, the city hosted the annual Montreal International Jazz Festival, bringing over local and international artists to perform throughout the city! It was really cool to experience another country and culture, and I hope to take a major trip every year outside of the U.S.!

Diana Ross was set to perform July 3-4 at the Place Des Arts, just a few blocks from our hotel, so my bestie snagged us tickets! It was AMAZING to be in the audience as a TRUE legend performed! And, of course, I got some video!

Now we were high up in the balcony, so there was only so much even my incredible Sony Cybershot could do in terms of zoom. However, for where I was, I will definitely take this video! Regardless, the concert was so much fun, and, like I said, I saw a LEGEND perform! I will remember that for life. Ms. Ross had so much energy and really put on a show, and everyone loved it. We danced and sang (I apologize in advance if you hear me on the video!), and left feeling great.

Check out some video of the performance below!
(0:00-1:13 “Intro/Baby Love”

1:13-4:04 “The Boss”

4:04-7:30 “Upside Down”

7:30-8:51 “Ease On Down The Road”

8:51-14:44 “Don’t Explain (Billie Holiday Cover)”

14:44-21:25 “I Will Survive (Finale)”)

So much fun!

Image via Ed Oudenaarden , AFP/Getty Images

11:33:00 AM

I absolutely love how many international artists I have had the opportunity to feature on The Spotlight this year! It’s always cool to feature people outside of the U.S. to give you all a little taste of what the outside world really has to offer. It’s also allowed me to talk with a lot of awesome people! Getting back into the swing of things after all of these vacations and whatnot, so I have even more in the works!

Today, we have Australian pop/rock artist Travis Caudle! Travis admitted that he fell in love with music at a really young age. “Dad was always into stereo systems in a big way and buying the latest records and Mum plays piano, so it was always around,” he said, even recalling his first concert experience at the toddler level! “I clearly remember being at a Neil Diamond concert in Perth, Western Australia where I’m from, when I was two or three and wondering why he had red, green and blue hair (the lights!!!). Mum and Dad must not have been able to find a babysitter that night!” he joked.
At 15, Travis’ father bought him an old classical guitar, and he was taught a few chords by a family friend. Travis quickly taught himself to play guitar, and discovered that he could also sing. From there, he tried songwriter, and began to play sets around his area with some cover and original songs. Travis’ older brother would often buy him albums for his birthday, which sparked his love of music even more. Often, they along with friends would go to gigs by Australian bands, which had an impact on Travis’ own music. Inspired by bands like The Church, The Cure, Lloyd Cole and The Commotions, the singer admitted that his music was influenced by home. “I often get told my music has an international flavor but simultaneously a distinctly Australian sound,” he said. Songwriters like Steve Kilbey, Colin Hay, George Harrison and Lloyd Cole are also some of Travis’ favorite songwriters that he looks to for inspiration. “Their lyrics have an amazing depth and poetry to them that never cease to amaze me,” the artist acknowledged.

Travis recorded his first two electric albums, Trips Between Worlds and Signals, with producer Tim Powles, who also serves as the drummer for Australian band The Church. “This is where I first experienced completely immersing myself in music and creativity in the studio because I was in Sydney and away from home,” he recalled. Most recently, the singer released his EP, It’s Just You, which dropped in December 2013. “The EP is a collection of songs that straddle a few different themes like life on the road, loss and being a new parent but, overall, it’s about the process of stripping back your conditioning as a human being and questioning your life and who you are, at the very deepest levels so that you can enjoy the moment you’re in” Travis said of the project. “Much of it focuses on taking back the power you have to change all the habits and emotions that have over time come to run you, but don’t necessarily serve you.” Check out the video the title track, “It’s Just You,” below!


Currently, Travis is busy recording more songs with US-based Grammy-nominated Australian producer Mark Moffatt. The studio experience, in spite of the obvious exhaustion it can bring, is still a thrilling time for this artist! “It’s like there’s a huge amount of space to create and experiment and you never quite know where a song is going to ultimately end up, so being in that atmosphere of potential is a unique type of energetic experience that I find exhilarating,” he said. No word on when those songs will be released just yet, but Travis is sure to have some great music up his sleeves for listeners! He’s also about to head out on a few tour dates in the States, so be sure to check him out!

In terms of what sets him apart from other artists, he believes that his creativity that stretches beyond any one particular genre that makes him stand out. He does what he feels, regardless of what people may think, which is honestly rare in music these days. “It’s pretty simple for me – I hear something in my head and then I do whatever I have to do to get it out of my head and onto an album, whether it’s going to be considered cool or not,” he stated. In the future, the singer-songwriter wants to have a successful career, and connect with others through his music. However, that’s not his first concern when it comes to his career. “The most important thing to me is to live an inspired life and produce inspired music,” Travis said. “When a song comes to me from nowhere and I’m wandering around trying to make sense of what I’m hearing and get it out of my head, there’s nothing like it. I’m totally in the music and the thing that’s furthest from my mind is my career. If I can stay inspired and keep feeling compelled to record and play music, that would be a great future."

You can check out more from Travis on his official website, as well as YouTube and SoundCloud. You can also connect with him on Facebook and Twitter!

11:10:00 AM

I have a lot of spotlights coming up, and even more submissions to look through soon. I plan to
hopefully have at least one spotlight a week for a bit, while I catch up (*fingers crossed*). As always, if you or your client is an upcoming singer, rapper, actor, designer, etc., please email me at BrittanyShawnte@gmail.com (Please give at least two weeks for response). 

Today on The Spotlight, we have singer/songwriter Constance Renoir! Raised in Brooklyn, NY, Constance got into music at a very young age. “I would say, by 9 years old, I had written my first song, and I knew that I could really sing,” she said. In junior high, the singer had what she called “sort of a life changing experience,” when she was asked by her music teacher, Ms. Christie, to perform in a talent show. “I had never performed before, and so I didn’t know which song to sing, so she recommended to me that I perform Mariah Carey’s ‘Hero,’” Constance recalled. “Once I grabbed that mic, and sang those specific lyrics, I knew that was what I wanted to do.” From there on, she started following Mariah’s music, trying to match both her vocals and songwriting skills.

In addition to Mariah, she’s inspired by some of the great artists that also call NY home, including the Notorious BIG, Jay Z, Lil Kim, Mary J. Blige, and Aaliyah. “My sound is a fusion of all those people,” the singer said. “I call it hip hop soul, or ‘soul pop.’” Her music has a fun, 90s’ chill vibe, which is definitely inspired by her Brooklyn roots. “I believe that you can make mainstream music that still has some meaning. It doesn’t have to sound fake or forced,” she said, expressing that when she makes music, she makes it with a purpose. “I mean what I say in my lyrics. They are things I’ve seen and experienced,” Constance added.

In our interview, I asked Constance specifically why she thought it was important to bring back that hip hop soul feel from music back in the day. She gave a honest answer. “There is no real distinction between hip hop and R&B on the radio. Rappers sing and singers rap,” Constance said. “When I sit with kids my age (16-21), all they do is complain about how much trash they hear on the radio. They want to hear music that doesn’t aim to disrespect women, or make them want to do negative things. They just wanna vibe.” Taking “Can’t You See,” by 90s R&B group Total ft Biggie as an example, the artist continued: “That first line makes me jump out my seat. ‘Give me all the chickenheads from Pasadena to Medina!’ That line is fun without being over done. Simplicity needs to make a comeback.” I definitely agree. It’s clear that Constance is doing just that with her own music!

In November of 2013, Constance released her first single, pop/R&B track "Rain,” which was originally sung by Brooklyn artist Razah. The song got great feedback, and was featured on several urban blogs. In February of this year, Constance released her first original single, “Still Lonely,” on Valentine’s Day. Telling the story of being caught in a love triangle, Constance’s vocals and raw emotion truly shine on the track, letting her true experiences shine through in her lyrics.

When Constance emailed me her most recent track, “Around The Way Girl,” over to me, I immediately was jamming. Inspired by her own life and how she likes to have a good time partying with her friends, being “the baddest girls in the building all for fun,” the singer decided to make a song for the girls “who aren’t too stuck up to hang.” The track was recorded at Brook Brovaz studio with Constance’s favorite engineer Kia. Check out the fun track below!


Currently, the singer is working on a 2 part demo called R and Beat, which will be released sometime later this month. “Around The Way Girl” was the first single from the “Beat” side of the demo, while Constance will release her newest single “You and I,” from the “R” side, which will “feature a softer side and focus on vocal harmonies.”

In terms of what makes her stand out from other artists, Constance believe it’s her edge that puts her above the rest. “I’m not cutesy or super polished,” she admitted. “But I think that’s what my fans will love about me. Everything I sing about is really from me.” She has dreams of really making an impact on this industry, make exceptional music and growing as an artist. Many artists, of course, have dreams of getting signed, sell records, winning awards, and going on tours, and Constance doesn’t count herself out from that. However, she also wants to “inspire, spread love, and be inspired.” The singer is truly working towards her goals solo, and doing a great job so far. “All I have is music right now and I’m just trying to bring my visions to life while staying true to myself. I know if the world gives me a chance, I won’t disappoint,” Constance said. It’s only upwards from here!

Be sure to check out more from Constance on her official website as well as SoundCloud, and follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram! 

6:41:00 PM

I am on the train back from a beautiful vacation in Montreal, which I plan to blog on sometime this week on my personal site, BrittanyShawnte.com, as well as showcase some pictures and video here of the LEGENDARY Diana Ross, who I saw on the Fourth of July! In the meantime, I'm working to get quite a few spotlights up (the backlog on these is honestly a mess due to my outside jobs and issues, but I'm working on them!). As always, if you are interested in being featured on The Spotlight, please email me at BrittanyShawnte@gmail.com. (With the huge amount of requests, please allow a few weeks for response).

Today, on The Spotlight, we have Australian singer-songwriter Vanessa Elisha! Vanessa became involved in music rather early, growing up in a musical environment. From the TV to the radio, Vanessa heard music everywhere she went. Her dad would even drum on her back as a baby (softly!). “He always says he ‘drummed the rhythm into me,’ the singer said.

Inspired by artists like Lauryn Hill, Aaliyah, Jon B, and Monica, Vanessa acknowledges that her music has a “90s feel with a twist.” She also draws inspiration from her Assyrian roots. “I have hundreds of relatives,” she said. “We always gathered for barbecues and family functions, [and] there was always singing, whether in English or Assyrian (Middle Eastern).”

The singer released her EP, Don’t Go, without any backing from a major label. For the project, Vanessa stated that it all stemmed from her writing one song—“Blur,” which she was encouraged to release on SoundCloud and received great reception, which caused her to take her craft more seriously. She literally wrote and recorded the EP on her own, using producers GXNXVS and Cviro to develop beats. “I wrote about my life, what was happening, how I felt,” she said of the EP. “The beats inspired me more than anything else. The rest is just my story.”


Most recently, Vanessa has released a few other tracks this year, including her song, “Ocean.” “Water has been a major influence on these last couple of songs,” the singer said. “I find the juxtaposition of a relationship and water quite haunting. Vanessa continued: “There are also nuances of reflection in my lyrics, pondering my own existence. I guess you could say, 'I don’t know where I go, I don’t know where I fit in.'”


Vanessa feels like her perspective and musicality is different, which makes her stand out in a sea of upcoming artists. She likes to think of her music as “genre-less,” consistently creating music through her own emotions and life experiences. Constantly writing and in the studio, the singer plans to come out to LA soon and see which doors open up for her there. In terms of the future, Vanessa wants to continue to be “an artist above all else,” and a writer for herself and for others. “I just want to put pen to paper, create melodies, and vibe out for the rest of my life,” she said.

Be sure to check out more from Vanessa on her official website, as well as SoundCloud. You can also follow her on Facebook and Twitter!

2:06:00 PM

This post should have happened a LONG time ago, but the busyness of life and work took over.  That shows just how far behind I am with a lot of blog work, but, now that I am FINALLY on vacation, I plan to catch up on a lot! Right now, I'm blogging from beautiful Montreal, Québec, Canada! There's so much amazing culture and art here, and I can't wait to share it with you guys! Plus I'm going to see the legendary DIANA ROSS tonight, so you know I'll have some videos and pictures!

As we all know, Danity Kane has reunited, and they are steadily working on making some new music for the fans! Back in May (May 31st to be exact), I went to Danity Kane's No Filter Tour which stopped at the Fillmore in Silver Spring, MD, the closest stop on the tour to me.

Check out some videos and pics below!

The tour was opened up by upcoming singers GoGo Morrow and Jessi Malay. Both of them had high energy and good material, though I'll admit I like GoGo better. I saw her interview with Kevin and Makael of The Skorpion Show, and check out a little about her (Random: I actually saw her outside taking pictures under the marquee before show time, and snapped a photo of my own! 

Check out GoGo and Jessi perform below!

Then came the main event! DANITY KANE!!!! Aubrey, Dawn, Aundrea, and Shannon came out in full effect, hitting the stage with crazy energy and love for the fans! First, all four of them did a set of some of their greatest songs together, including "Bad Girl," "Damaged," "Show Stopper," and "Poetry," They even did a special little tease for this random guy in the audience during "Right Now," that I captured on camera. We already know that Aundrea, who I am about 85% sure is already pregnant, would be leaving the group after the tour to get married and start a family, so she came out and said a few words, announcing the new era of DK3 with just Aubrey, Dawn, and Shannon. I'll be honest, when I heard that she was leaving, I was afraid that Danity Kane wouldn't be able to keep up, but I was wrong! The remaining ladies did a few new songs, including my new riding song, "Lemonade," and KILLED IT!

Check out the ladies of Danity Kane ripping the stage below!


Overall, I had a really great time! I rode solo, as I do to most concerts, which is always interesting because of the people you get to talk to and meet since you're alone. After five long years, I'm working on actually getting behind the scenes to these type of shows, so we will see what happens!

10:53:00 AM