American Idol alum Blake Lewis doesn’t like reality television. In fact, he admits that he doesn't watch a lot of television at all. The singer gladly makes one exception though. He is a huge fan of Bravo's Project Runway and watched all three past seasons. "It is probably the only show I've really watched in the last couple of years," he tells Arjan Writes in an interview for OutZone TV.

He even ran into last season's Project Runway winner Jeffrey Sabelia during the American Idol auditions in Hollywood. "Jeffrey walked outside by the Orpheum Theatre where I was waiting for one of the last auditions. I was like 'Yo dude, I wanted you to win! Congratulations!' He looked me up and down, and he gave me a rock sign. Very cool."

It has been a whirlwind year for the singer from Bothell, WA who made it all the way to the finals of the most recent season of American Idol. Jordin Sparks ended up taking home the big pize, but that didn't bother Lewis who emerged as the fun and funky singer with his signature beatboxing.

This week, he releases his much-anticipated debut album, titled "Audio Day Dream.” It is an accomplished '80s inspired pop album that the singer crafted together with a slew of hitmakers such as J.R. Rotum, Ryan Tedder (of OneRepublic), S*A*M & Sluggo and Brian Transeau.

That’s an impressive achievement for a kid from Washington state who was virtually unknown less than a year ago. "It has been an amazing year," Lewis smiles. "Amazing is definitely the word to use with a big exclamation mark after it to describe everything that has been going on. I finally got the make the album I always wanted to make, I got to make a cool music video, play shows and I got my band from Seattle on the record. We are just ready to get out there and kick some ass with some pop music."

Lewis and his American Idol pal Chris Richardson quickly became the topic of much internet banter after a doctored photo of the two surfaced on prominent gay blogs. The two are pictured hanging out together intimately in a chair. "That photo is hilarious," Lewis laughs. “There are a lot of gay people that wish I'm gay, but they gonna keep dreaming for a long time (. . .) I'm very straight.”

He adds that he doesn’t label people and is excited about anyone who is a fan of his music. “Gender or sexual preference doesn't mean anything to me,” he says. “If you like my music then we're going to have a good time together, I can talk your ear off about it or sing you a song."

Lewis started to record his album immediately after the American Idol finale and continued working on it during the American Idol tour this summer. “Every day I was off on tour I flew out or somebody flew in and we worked on music, writing or producing," the singer explains. "By the time the tour was over I had an album done. It was all about getting all the tracks lined up and tightening down the bolts, and writing a couple of more songs."

Before his run on American Idol, Lewis was a familiar face in Seattle's underground club scene, where he was known as beatboxing vocalist B-Shorty. One of the people he knows from that time is Oscar-nominated DJ/producer BT (aka Brian Transeau) who is one of his collaborators on "Audio Day Dream. "[Brian] didn't even know I was on American Idol," Lewis says. "And one day he called me and I was like 'I just got second on American Idol!' He flipped out."

"We did a song called "She's Making Me Loose It" together (. . .) The stuff we came up with is ridiculous. I can't wait for people to hear it. I wrote this very Prince-inspired, '80s song with BT on it. The vocal editing on it is just crazy."

Lewis is not afraid his edgy style will turn off his American Idol fans who saw mostly his wholesome side on the FOX family show. "I never worried about anyone but myself," he says. "I thought I lost my artistic integrity just by being on a television show that I had never seen. But I didn't want that to happen and I represented myself to the fullest, and the fans responded to that. I take myself seriously, but I don't take myself seriously. I just have fun with what I'm doing."

The singer not only had a vision about the music he wanted to put out, but also about the visual presentation of it, including the striking album cover for "Audio Day Dream." It was inspired by this digital art piece that I found on the internet with two faces and it was very futuristic, very sort of Star Wars meets '80s," he explains. "I'm lost in music. I hope that's what listeners will get it from this music, they can just turn it on and just press play."

Blake Lewis
Audio Day Dream
Arista Records

##

Their new record, titled “Red Carpet Massacre,” features a contemporary, fresh new sound that was engineering with the help of experienced hitmakers like Timbaland, Justin Timberlake and Nate "Danja" Hills.

Timbaland in particular was essential in bringing new life to Duran Duran. On songs like "Falling Down," "Skin Divers" and "Nite Runner," he applied his big beat production style to Duran Duran's stylish brand of pop rock to serve up a futuristic, hip hop infused new sound that is both hit-worthy and still possess Duran Duran's signature sense of cool and class.

"He's like Tom Ford coming into Gucci," bassist John Taylor explains in a candid interview with Arjan for OutZoneTV.com.

"We had a thing, we had a brand - Duran Duran. Everybody loves Duran Duran. But how do you get across to young people? How can you be something more than just 'we love you guys, we love your hits from the '80s' and whatever. You gotta let somebody in sometimes and let them just what they call in fashion 'refresh the brand.' Take the qualities that you're known for and give it a fucking shake up you know. [Timbaland] is not afraid of doing that."

“Red Carpet Massacre” follows 2004’s much-anticipated reunion CD “Astronaut” that featured all of the group’s original members. Even though the record didn't match the success of their glory days of the '80s and early '90s, Taylor refuses to call the record a disappointment.

He explains that even though the project lacked "confidence and focus," it did give the group the opportunity to get reacquainted.

"[With 'Astronaut'] we were just trying to get back together. We were trying to recreate some kind of magic that we once had," Taylor says. "With ‘Red Carpet Massacre’ we just had to leave the past behind and just go blindly into the present. We made a record that we are just really excited about on a whole number of levels."

Work on this new album started immediately after their last world tour finished. Record label execs liked the collection of new songs they came up with, but suggested the help of an outside producer on one or two songs. “They started throwing names at us,” Taylor remembers. “The only guy we really liked was Timbaland."

It took the group about four months to get studio time booked with him in New York. The producer had a full agenda following his success with Nelly Furtado and Justin Timberlake. As soon as Justin Timberlake got word of the collaboration he wanted to be a part of it as well. "That was such a crazy, fucking week in Manhattan," Taylor laughs.

Guitar player Andy Taylor missed the studio session and eventually ended up leaving the group. "By the end of the week, we got new Timbaland-produced songs and we didn’t have a guitar player anymore," Taylor says. "But what we had was a new sound. Over the next few weeks we decided to just dump the album that we had and start afresh with this new sonic architecture and continue as a quartet with a very on point production style."

The group continued working with Timbaland protégé Nate Hills. "He came to London and he worked with us for several weeks. And then we went back into the studio with Justin Timberlake at the very end, after he heard all the songs we had. He said 'I want to do another song with you, an 'Ordinary World' type ballad.' So we went back into the studio and cut one more song."

"The challenge for us was not to let it go too far. It had to be Timbaland meets Duran Duran, not Timbaland meets Simon Le Bon. Because for the most part hip-hop producers are really only used to working with a singer. So it took us quite a few days to sorta say 'No, no, no. We play our own bass.' (...) There were big adjustments we had to make, but we figured it out."

The group has always had a large contingency of gay fans, which is not surprising to Taylor. “We took our image seriously. It was not a macho presentation. It was a presentation that had its roots in glamour. And there was an ambiguity to it I suppose. The sound and the look and the subject matter all made it sort of appealing to a gay audience. It was certainly not threatening. We have an audience that a gay man or woman is going to feel comfortable in."

Duran Duran
Red Carpet Massacre
Epic Records
Available now

Kathy Griffin wasn’t joking when she talked about the Celine Dion megastore in Las Vegas during one of her stand up shows. Last week, I visited the store that is located right on Caesars Palace's glittery casino floor. I was amazed by all the clutter and stuff that was inspired by the Canadian singer, from earrings to photo frames and from fleece hoodies to play cards. Celine is serious business.

This year, Dion is celebrating the final year of her impressive five-year residency in Las Vegas that formally comes to an end on December 15. Las Vegas has proven to be a fitting home for Dion. Both are over the top, slightly tacky and love to entertain the masses.

In an effort to keep up with the pack, Dion chose to take a chance and work with a diverse group of writers and producers on "Taking Chances." She gathered hitwriters like Linda Perry, Ne-Yo, David Stewart (one half of The Eurhythmics) and the very talented Kara DioGuardi who has written hits for Kelly Clarkson, Avril Lavigne and Ashlee Simpson.

Even though Dion tried to step out of her comfort zone, this new record largely follows her time-tested and proven formula of grand, bombastic tunes with trivial lyrics and her larger-than-life vocals. The singer has never been particularly edgy with her music, and the truth is that she doesn't have to be. She has sold over 175 million records worldwide by showcasing her unique voice. That's what people admire and that is exactly what she delivers on "Taking Chances."

Exception to her cookie cutter ways are two tracks that were written and produced by Linda Perry, the punk-rocker turned producer extraordinaire who has written evergreen tunes for people like Pink and Christina Aguilera. You can tell that on "My Love" and "New Dawn" Perry encouraged Dion to use her voice differently, to up the timbre and lower the volume. It is as if those two songs introduce a Celine alter ego much like Garth Brooks' Chris Gaines that allowed her to experiment a bit. The result of the singer's performance in Perry's raw and stripped laboratory is something that is fresh and unusual, and worth checking out.

The rest of Dion's album is very much like a Godiva chocolate. It is rich in flavor and should be enjoyed in moderation. "Taking Chances" is the album's first single that was produced by John Shanks who started his career as a guitarist for Melissa Etheridge. This radio-friendly tune embodies what Celine is all about heralding a majestic chorus and her big diva pipes. "A World To Believe" and the snappy "Just Fade Away" present a similar crisp, conquer-the-world feeling.

"Eyes On Me" has an exotic feel to it with tablas and soaring Bollywood strings that is somewhat reminiscent of Beyonce's "Baby Boy." The song was co-written by Australian pop songstress Delta Goodrem.

Celine Dion's vocals soar on the glorious "Shadow Of Love" that was written by Swedish production duo Merlyn who are also responsible for Madonna's "Get Together" and Kelly Clarkson's "Because Of Love." It has a kicky, pick-me-up chorus that is pure pop perfection. Lyrically, it is weak with the very cliché, "I can run, but I can't hide."

More of the singer's signature vocal acrobatics ensue on "This Time" that shows off an unusually moody Celine who sings, "This nightmare is not fair and I've had enough. You call this love. But this time your lies are not enough. The rocked up "Can't Fight The Feeling" reflects similar sentiments.

R&B singer Ne-Yo wrote "I Got Nothing Left" that is a tedious, middle of the road ballad that is nothing more than a letdown. The theatrical and introverted "A Song For You" features Celine with a classical piano and a touching orchestral outro with gliding strings and a horn section that would fit her Las Vegas' Cirque du Soleil show perfectly.

Dion also features two covers including "Alone," which was originally recorded by Heart, and the very soulful "That's Just The Woman In Me" from Katrina & The Waves on which Dion goes a little down and dirty.

Overall, "Taking Chances" is an accomplished effort that will please Celine fans. Others might be interested in checking out the Linda Perry songs to hear Celine truly taking a chance.

Celine Dion
“Taking Chances”
Columbia Records
In stores on November 13

Not only did she turn from "Miss American Dream" into a single mother of two, but she is also in the middle of a fierce child custody battle, faces persistent rumors about substance abuse and deals with critics that go as far as to question her sanity. And if that wasn't enough, all of Spears' drama is captured by the prying lenses of paparazzi photographers who have made profitable careers out of documenting her every move.

But despite her trials and tribulations, the fallen pop princess has found time to work on her much-anticipated new album, titled "Blackout," which landed in stores earlier this week.

"Blackout" is the entertainer’s fifth studio album that follows 2003's smash "In The Zone." Spears teamed up with a group of crafty writers and producers who infused her music with fresh urban-pop stylings and even some electronic ingredients that, dare I say, are unexpectedly cutting-edge for a mainstream pop record.

The CD kicks off with the first single "Gimme More," a hard-driving club banger that will go in to history as the song of her embarrassing comeback attempt at the MTV Video Music Awards. Produced by the über-talented Timbaland protégé Nate Hills (aka Danja), the song offers a glimpse into Spears' very public life with lyrics like, "Cameras are flashing. They keep watching."

Britney shares more about what's on her mind on the very candid "Piece Of Me" that is rumored to be her next single. She confides, "Another day, another drama. Guess I can’t see the harm in working and being a mama." It is these introspective moments on the album that add a rare lyrical sense of authenticity to her music.

Fierce electric static is unleashed on the stripped-to-the hook "Radar" that features funky vocoder enhancements courtesy of Swedish producers Bloodshy & Avant. More bombastic sonics follow on "Break The Ice" that is another exciting production from Nate Hills.

Pinnacle track on the album is the utterly catchy "Heaven On Earth” that was produced by Freescha and Kara DioGuardi. It is a glistening pop tune with an '80s-inspired pulsating synth beat and a memorable pop melody that redefines Spears' brand of pop. She told Kiss FM host Ryan Seacrest that she considered "Heaven On Earth" her favorite track on the album. The song was co-written by Nicole Moerier from emerging Los Angeles electro duo Electrocute who brought a whole new perspective to Spears’ music.

The sleek and sexy "Get Naked" has a groove similar to "Gimme More" and shows off more of Hill’s infectious, Timbaland-inspired sensibilities. The made-for-the-dancefloor beats continue on the stompers "Freakshow" and "Hot As Ice."

"Toy Soldier" was co-produced by Sean Garrett who was also responsible for Usher's "Yeah." The song boasts a minimalist, pumping beat and glowing keyboard swirls. Surprising is the unexpected inclusion of an acoustic Spanish guitar on "Ooh Ooh Baby." It is one of the only two songs on "Blackout" that enlists Spears as a co-writer.

The Neptunes' Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams add their own distinct flair to "Why Should I Be Sad" with its soulful, stripped-down percussive melody and Williams' background vocals.

The track rounds up a surprising new record from Britney Spears that is nothing like her cookie-cutter efforts from before. "Blackout" serves up a production-centric sound that is truly adventurous and genuinely impressive. If it comes to Britney these days, expect the unexpected.

Britney Spears
“Blackout”
Jive Records
Available Now

Earlier this month, the duo got into the spirit of the season and released "Every Day Is Halloween" on their MySpace page. The track is another accomplished slice of throbbing electro that features Furey's enigmatic vocals and Napack's crafty synth production.

Dangerous Muse hit the spotlight in a major way in 2006 when they graced the coveted cover of The Advocate's annual music issue. "Sexuality isn't a label anymore. You don't think of people as gay or straight or bi," argued Napack in the article that went along with. Furey agreed and added, "There's no such thing as 'out' anymore." Their own take on sexuality created a stir among some bloggers who thought that the comments where just a way to disguise their true selves.

It was not only their view of the world that got the two initially noticed. Their music exudes a similar forward-thinking aesthetic with its dark, electro stylings and clever lyrics that capture the sound of the New York underground. Dangerous Muse taps into an energy that is reminiscent of early new wave and electro punk more than anything else. And with their heavy use of eye-liner and hair gel to glam up their appearance, they complete a total package that is confident, compelling and feels genuinely authentic.

The two first met at Fordham University in New York where they played together in a school production of the famous rock opera Tommy. When Napack brought some of his vintage synths to show off some cool new sounds, Furey latched on and the two decided to start collaborating. One of the first songs they produced for a mixtape was "The Rejection," the tune that later became their first hit.

One day, Furey went into Manhattan from his home in The Bronx and received a call from a friend who was having dinner with none other than Seymour Stein, the owner of Sire Records and the man who signed Madonna to her first recording deal in the early '80s. Furey went over to the restaurant and played "The Rejection" to Stein on his iPod. The label boss was impressed and eventually signed Dangerous Muse to his label.

The initial whirlwind of publicity in The Advocate, the coverage on major blogs and the viral power of MySpace made The Rejection," a bonafide hit on iTunes. The song was accompanied by a video that spread like wildfire on YouTube and pictured Furey crawling around a mic stand and Napack bouncing around with his vintage keytar.

After a couple of digital EPs that included new tracks like "Give Me Danger" and "Apart," things got quiet. The group took the time to prepare their full-length LP while also adjusting to the speed of a big label where priorities constantly shift.

Head over to their MySpace page to get a taste for all things Dangerous Muse including their new digital single "Every Day Is Halloween."

http://www.myspace.com/dangerousmuse

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Wearing matching polka dot outfits, this spunky British girl trio of RiotBecki, Rosay and Gwenno took the U.K. by storm last year with their critically-acclaimed debut album "We Are The Pipettes" and their head-turning performances with Amy Winehouse and Sleater Kinney. Earlier this month, the group released their CD stateside and they will embark on a U.S. tour to showcase their happy-go-lucky tunes to new American fans.

The Pipette's retro-inspired music is best describes as Happy Days meets The Supremes meets Joan Jett. It is delicious '60s throwback pop with a rebellious attitude that fits the times that we live in now. That distinct mix of authentic melodies wrapped around contemporary lyrics makes The Pipettes' music timeless.

Their approach to music-making is simple. "We don't understand why novelty can't mean longevity," says Riotbecki in a press release."One of the purposes of the Pipettes is to be able to have countless one hit wonders, to have every song a hit single."

RiotBecki, Rosay and Gwenno went back into the studio to record a bunch of new songs to fill up their debut LP. First single taken from that record was "You Kisses Are Wasted On Me" that cracked the British top 40 in 2006.

The song defined the Pipettes' mantra with the girls' assured delivery and straight up lyrics that gave a whole new meaning to girl power. "Can you see we're through? I don't love you, you don't make me smile, Get out of my face. I'm gonna catch a chase some other guy who I might like," they sing in (seemingly innocent) harmony.

Yeah, that's right. You're not messing with these Pipettes.

A second single followed that brought the group even more recognition. "Pull Shapes" is in many way a perfect pop song that combines a heavy dose of sass, class and vibrant energy in one hooky melody that is simply irresistible. Once again, the girls take charge and spice up a dance party with lyrics like "I like to disco, I like to rock 'n roll, I like to hip hop" and "Dance with me baby boy, so follow my lead and we'll one, two, three."

On the frisky, Spector-esque "Dirty Mind" the traditional boy-girl roles appear to be reversed: "On her way from the school. In a second she knew she wanted him, oh she wanted him. An overwhelming urge to smile laugh and flirt. There she goes with a twinkle in her eye. Don't take a genius to understand the reason why."

"Judy" is another story about a tough chick who is not being liked by the other girls because she is so confident and direct. "I knew a girl and her name was Judy. She used to do things I thought were rude. But I never said anything to her face, 'Cuz my friends I thought she'd kick my arse all over the place."

If you're looking to extend your summer into the fall, make sure to check out the sunny and giddy tunes by The Pipettes. But be warned. "We Are The Pipettes" can be extremely addictive, so don't expect to kick it any time soon.

We Are The Pipettes
The Pipettes
Universal/Interscope
Available Now
http://www.myspace.com/thepipettes

Annie Lennox is a woman with many different talents and interests.

Not only is she a legendary singer, songwriter and a pop icon, she is also a mother, an Oscar winner, a humanitarian and a concerned citizen of the world. On her much-anticipated new album "Songs Of Mass Destruction," she shares her concern about the state of our planet and her worries about social injustice with listeners. But no mistake about it. This is by no means a sad record. Lennox swings out, hoping and praying, using her soulful music to send out a message of compassion and equality.

You collaborated on this album with Glenn Ballard who is mostly known from his work with Alanis Morissette. What was it like to work with him?
It was a very enjoyable, creative experience. I really got on very well with Glenn, and it was fantastic every day that we worked together. It was just tremendous fun and very inspiring for both of us.

How do you approach the songwriting process. How do your songs come about?
I don't know how any of my songs come about. It is really hard to say. I work very intuitively. I usually make a start on piano and I find something that is really interesting for me, or maybe I have a keyboard and I have an interesting sound and I just start with one line and I just go on to create the song, whatever comes. There's no formula for it except that I just have to make a start.

The song "Colored Bedspread" is for me personally a stand out track with its electro-pop feel. It reminds me of a vintage Eurythmics tune.
Well, I love electro music. The Eurythmics were fairly eclectic and a lot of our influences were very diverse [coming from] a broad palette of influences. I love electro music, I think it is very exciting. There is still so many aspects and styles of music that I want to record and explore. If you listen to the album, you will hear that each song has its own particular style and many different reference points.

Do you think there is a lack of strong leadership in the world?
I think there's a tremendous lack of visionary, ethical, moral and creative leadership. There's a tremendous lack of this. By and large politicians lack vision, they fall into the convention of just following the party line, doing whatever is good for business and I think it is a great travesty and tragedy of the democratic system.

You have always been an advocate for women's rights. Do you feel affinity with the GLBT community and their struggle for equal rights?
Yes, I do. I would say so. Anyone who is victimized because of their sexual orientation to me is so unnecessary. That we are in a place where we can't be tolerant to our differences. Surely, if we respect each other as human beings we have to understand we're not all the same, we don't all come in a square package that looks one way. We are by nature different. And some of us go one way and some go another. There's nothing threatening about that. Some people react insensibly because their afraid inherently. As a woman, I feel that women historically have quite a bad rep in terms of empowerment and power. That's very sad for me. Especially, when I go to developing countries and I see women (. . .) that have no real social empowerment and political empowerment, no empowerment over their sexual health in terms of reproductions. There's a desperate need for feminism.

What is your relationship with the gay community?
I don't have a community, except that I'm just part of of the human race and being the best of it, you know. I don't know what to say about the gay community with any real authority as I'm not part of it. It is something that is a little separate to my own experience you know. This is the thing that I find funny. Why does your sexual orientation have to be predominant? It is like saying "I'm really good friends with a black person," or "that woman is a good friend of mine." If you're gay it doesn't make any difference, I look at you as a whole person (. . . ) I suppose when somebody was very ghetto-ized gay than we would have too much in common, because obviously I'm not male and I'm not gay.

Ari Gold plans to take listeners on a journey this fall. In October, the handsome, openly-gay singer will release his new album "Transport Systems" that is filled with sexy and funked up R&B pop tunes that will please fans and surely make many new ones.

Making this new record was a journey for Gold as well after celebrating the success of 2004's "Space Under Sun." "On my last album, I made some inroads about being an openly-gay artist and I think it put me on the map," he tells Arjan Writes. "For this new album, I wanted to step up my game and make it sound even more tighter and better, and challenge myself when it came to songwriting, singing and production. The pressure was on."

"This record poured out of me creatively. I've made a tremendous growth," he explains. "You learn stuff every day about life and yourself. Coming to the realization that at the end of the day nobody is going to do for you what you can do for yourself was a big lesson for me. I think that's a big lesson for gay people [in general] because we have to really learn how to respect ourselves and learn how to give ourselves the accolades and the props before we can expect it from the outside."

Gold doesn't mind that some people have brushed off his artistic talent and labeled him as just another pretty boy singer. "They said that about Madonna for years too. That she was just some dumb, sexy, pretty chick, so I'm good company there," he laughs, taking the criticism in stride. "[If] people would really take the time to listen to the music and listen to what I'm trying to say then I just can't believe they would still say that. If they still want to hate then the only other I can think of is just that it is a jealousy thing."

"Transport Systems" is inspired by the singer's fascination with "progression, movement, transformation and transportation" that serve as metaphors for the social issues he sings about. He discusses topics like gay relationships, the meth epidemic, gender identity and human rights. "I write about a lot of different things. I like songs that are about having fun, but then there's a more serious side to my music as well," Gold says. He laughs, "Gay people are multi-faceted. We're not all interior designers who want to make straight people look better.

One of the standout tracks on his disc is "Mr Mistress" on which the singer addresses the down low phenomenon. "The song is written from the perspective of a gay man who finds out that the man who he is having an affair with is married with kids, explains the singer. "It is really an empowerment song. It is written in the first person, so me singing it was sort of like me saying 'I don't wanna deal with all that drama and all that mess. I don't wanna destroy somebody's family (. . .), especially when there's children involved."

"I think gay people deserve better for ourselves. A lot of us spent so much time in the closet struggling to be proud of who we are so why would we want to put ourselves back into a situation where we have to lie or keep someone else's secret for them?"

A lot of the stories in Gold's song come from real-life stories he absorbed around him. "(. . .) I think I'm a good listener. Even from an early age when I was in elementary school or high school, my parents used to always call me the school psychologist because I would have all the girls calling me, keeping me up at all hours of the night over the phone telling me their problems and I would sit there and listen."

The theme of the entire disc culminates on the track "Transport Me" that he worked on with producer Steve Skinner (Celine Dion, Jewel, Diana Ross). In the song, the singer imagines being transported to another place and another time where there are no limitations to the concepts of gender, sexuality and race. "Take me someplace where the core of me isn’t up for debate," he sings. "The system is not working. This system is flawed."

Gold adds that he is particularly proud of the lyrics in the song "Good Relationship" that is a pretty "harsh and revealing" song about his own personal issues and psychology. "I really laid it out there on the line," he confided. "That song also speaks about [the relationships between gay men] and the kinds of issues that come up and what we deal with."

He segues into the song he recorded with out musician Dave Koz, titled "Love Wasn't Built In A Day," which is about the hope and the step by step nature of lasting relationships.

"That's really what this album is all about. Forward movement and moving past the pain and past these injuries that we have experienced."

Ari Gold
Transport Systems
Gold 18 Records
In stores October 2

Just Jack's "Overtones" is by far one of the most noteworthy new records of the year. Jack is a London-based MC who mixes his distinct talk-sung vocals with shimmering pop, disco, soul and funk. The CD is the follow up to his indie debut “The Outer Marker” that was released in 2003.

None other than Kylie Minogue duets with Jack on "I Talk Too Much," a collaboration exclusively cut for the U.S. release of "Overtones."

How does “Overtones” compare to your debut?
I wanted it to be a little bit more electronic. I wanted there to be more organic elements than on the first album, as in live drums and live instruments. Generally, I wanted it to have more energy and be little bit more upbeat. I wanted it to be Saturday night sounding rather than Sunday morning sounding if you know what I mean. The first one was more laid-back (. . .), the second one is a little more upbeat and energetic I think.

Your first label folded and left you without a recording contact for a while. How did you experience that?
I wasn't that unhappy. I just was a little bit confused about what to do. Having said that, because the way that I got signed for the first record was so unexpected, [I didn’t have many expectations]. I saw myself just as this little bedroom producer (. . .) and I didn’t ever really think about actually putting a record out and having to promote it and having people writing reviews. When the label disappeared and it fell apart, it all didn't feel so bad (. . .) And I kinda knew that I had some improving to do anyway. So I went away and got on with that."

You seem to emphasize melody and lyrics as much as the beats on your music.
The beats are definitely secondary. I want to get to the point where the beats are as strong as the lyrics and the songs. I hope with the next album, I kind of have the full picture. I want to have it all really. I don’t rely on beats. There are too many hip hop things at the moment, especially in the more chart and more pop area of hip hop, where it is all about the producers and the beats. Whatever comes on top of it is obsolete almost. People are just listening to the track for the beats."

Do you have a favorite lyric on the album?
In a track called "Life Story" there is a line that I quite like. It goes, “And all the underachieving geezers getting more lean and peezer on melon Bacardi Breezers and skinny plastic cached reefers.”

How did you relationship with Sir Elton John come about?
I heard that Elton liked my music. He started to talk to a lot of people about it and mentioned it at an award ceremony. I met somebody that went for a meeting with [Elton John's] management company and I wrote my number on the back of a CD and gave it to him and he handed it over. The next day, I got a phone call from the guy who is now my manager."

Do you have a lot of gay fans back home in Britain?
I've always been into a lot of disco and house music, which obviously originates in the gay community so I'm not that surprised I have a lot fans in that community."

How do you keep sane with all your success?
I just let things happen. I don't make a big song and dance about stuff. I do the best I can and see what happens. I think when you're thirty-one, it is much easier. then when you’re 18 or 19. [At that age] it would have been incredibly difficult to keep any sense of normalcy in your life.

www.justjack.com

Kaskade grew up in Chicago where he first got into dance music listening to Frankie Knuckles spin at Club Medusas. After moving to Salt Lake City, he funded his studies at the University of Utah by starting his own record store and DJing at a local radio station. After he moved to San Fransisco, he landed a gig as A&R Manager for indie dance label OM Records, which was the perfect opportunity for Raddon to get his own demos heard. Under his Kaskade moniker, he released his first album "It's You It's Me" in 2003 and his breakthrough effort "In The Moment" in 2004. Time to sit down with Kaskade and quiz him about his latest effort.

Why did you decide to do a remix compilation?
When I do an artist album, people get 12 or 13 tracks that I wrote and produced. This album was a great opportunity for me to show the DJ side of me. I find that in the DJ world sometimes the music gets a bit lost. People like to hear the music in the mix. So I approached the label and I said I want to do a mix CD because I'm getting so many requests from people for certain remixes.

How did you select the tracks?
When I'm doing a mix CD, I like to send out emails to friends of mine who are producers and ask them for their upfront music. I also look in my DJ bag to see what I'm playing in the clubs. In the studio, I figure out what tracks fit together. I just think about what I would want to hear in the car, in the bedroom or when I'm getting ready to go out. In the end, it really represents what does well for me in the club.

What is it about your style that appeals to people you think?
It's interesting. People that go out like to hear dance and electronic music but they also like to hear music that is recognizable; older songs that have been mashed up or hits that have been remixed. So that's what I always include in my sets. When I'm on the road, I play a lot of my own music almost to the point that it seems self-serving, but I find that if I don't do that people get upset. They also want to hear my own tracks.

For people not familiar with your music, how would you describe it?
I make epic, emotional dance music. There's always an epic flavor to it, but it is more organic than what is currently out there. It is funny that a lot people listen to my music and they say 'oh this is dance music?' and I say of course. Dance music can have melody too! If people like Justin Timberlake or Nelly Furtado come to me for a remix they like the fact that I'm a songwriter as well and they want to hear a different spin on their song. It sort of an entry level dance sound. I started playing in small cocktail bars but now I play huge crowds and my thing has always been to keep the sound small and soulful but adding an epic flavor to it.

The DJ landscape is incredibly competitive. How do you stay fresh?
I don't feel that. I have carved out my own sound I think. I'm not like Paul van Dyk or DJs like that. You have that whole group of DJs and they all are the number one DJ in the world. I have never aligned myself with that. I do my own thing.

You have been very successful with your own artist albums. Are you not itching to write your own music again and work with vocalists?
I'm always itching. I just enjoy writing music. I'm actually in the studio right now, locked away. I'm always working on stuff and hopefully some new music is coming out early next year.

Are you a classically trained songwriter?
Not at all. I am actually a trained singer.

I have never heard you sing on any of your songs!
That's because I'm my own worst critic. I'm not that good [Laughs]

When I saw you spin in town, I think half of the room was filled with your gay fans.
I love it! I love that they come out to support me. I love playing gay clubs. They get so into the music. It's a blast. Totally. It's cool that I write music that appeals to them too.

You recently produced a great remix of Timberlake's "LoveStoned." How do you go about making a remix?
Actually, the lyrics and vocals are very important to me as a starting point. If I can just hear the acapella, I can imagine the song in my head and how I would have produced it. I like to come in with a blank slate if possible.

A lot of your mixes are not easy to get and a lot of people share them online. Does it help you or hurt you?
Five years ago, it hurt me and I wanted people to stop because it is stealing. Now, I still think it needs to stop but I'm much more aware that it has helped me too. I played a huge room in Asia for example, and I know I didn't sell a lot of records there but the the crowd was singing along to the music. How can that be? That's because they're sharing the music. I wish the distribution was more worldwide and people could get it legally.

Junior Senior are two shiny happy people.

Time to have a chat with the openly-gay Jeppe Laursen to talk about the album and more. (Jeppe is pictured on the right in the photo.)

Junior Senior's feel-good music is definitely filling a void among the moody rock and roll that is so prevalent here.
It is funny you say that. People sometimes think it is all one big master plan and that we want to make people dance and all that. But that is really not something we have in mind so much when we start working on a record. What we do is just what we like and what we do well together, and if it makes people want to dance, then that's great.

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Are you a happy person? Sometimes the happiest people are really the most depressed.
[Laughs] We're very normal actually. Not crazy happy or crazy sad. Sometimes people think we party and dance all the time, but of course we aren't. But if we are, I think we're really good at it. We don't go from hyper to dark in a second. I'm glad though that people think that we are very happy people, because then our music is doing something right.

Do you ever write ballads or sulky love songs?
Our definition of a ballad is probably different than how most people define it. "No, No, No's" is a bit of a ballad for us.

Your music mixes up American hip hop, pop and funk. Was this music very available when growing up in Denmark?
When we were growing up as teenagers in the 90s we didn't have the world wide web to discover new music. The best way to find new music was to go to second-hand record stores and read music magazines. That's how we found out about a lot of new music from America. We didn't really grow up with James Brown or Little Richard on the radio. You really needed to have a passion for it and dig for new music. I think that is why a lot of Americans appreciate it because we present our take on American music and we sort of help them to re-discover it.

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Your music appears very spontaneous. Did you spend a lot of time on production or was it a one-take recording?
We actually rehearsed the songs very well before we went into the studio, so we were done recording pretty fast. We wanted this album to be really, really tight so we made sure we had a good drummer with good grooves. It was a really organic process. We did spend quite a bit of time on mixing it all in Nashville actually.

Some people say your music is gimmicky at times. What do you say about that?
We really do what we like. It was never like we sat in a big boardroom and decided to come up with a gimmick, like cutting up words and stuff like that. We are not a marketing trick. [Laughs]

You're openly-gay. Do you find that important?
It is not something political. I have no agenda at all. It is just who I am and I can't really hide it or something like that. It is not some statement I'm making.

Do you have large gay fanbase in Europe?
Not so much. I think we have more gay fans in America. I think a lot of gays in America jumped on the first album, which is typical. In Europe it is not so black or white, or straight or gay. And we had a big rainbow flag on the cover. I think that helped.

Do you get more dates now that you are an international pop star?
I don't go on dates! Plus, I have a boyfriend. When I was single, I'd just meet people out in clubs, but I didn't go on dates. A date to me is like is a big questionnaire dinner. It is like you have to sell yourself. That's all a bit awkward to me.

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There are, however, plenty of singers who have no problem being openly gay in their personal and professional life. Three of them are emerging from the crop and are worth keeping you eye (and ears) on.

Ari Gold is one of New York's most prominent gay pop singers. With his good looks and smooth, sultry vocals, he has built a reputation as one of the gay community's most prominent heartthrobs.

Gold is gearing up to release his third album on October 2. The disc, titled "Transport Systems,” was inspired by the concepts of movement and progression, transportation and transformation.

Even though his music sounds subtle and sweet, the singer tackles some very controversial topics head on. He discusses gender identity (“Transport Me”), gay relationships (“Good Relationship”), spirituality and forgiveness (“I Can Forgive You,”), crystal meth addiction (“Feeding The Fire”), and human rights for every one (“Human”).
He also gets help from Grammy nominated out artist Dave Koz, who plays saxophone on “Love Wasn’t Built In A Day.”

Lyrically, one of the standout tracks is “Mr. Mistress” that discusses the down low phenomenon. It is a kicky R&B/disco jam, that is told from the perspective of a man who finds out he’s having an affair with a married man. Ari sings, “I won’t be your Mr. Mistress / Won’t be your man on the side / What you gonna tell your wife and children? / That you creep on the down low and you’ve been telling them lies?”

The first single, taken from the album that is hitting clubs this summer, is the groovy and deliciously catchy “Where The Music Takes You" that you can stream on Ari’s MySpace page.

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Kirsten Price

Lesbian singer Kirsten Price has one of the strongest voices I've heard in a while. Listen to the track “Magic Tree” on her MySpace page to hear it for yourself.

Price’s breakthrough moment came when “Magic Tree” was featured on “The L Word” soundtrack and was also played on “CSI” and a few other television shows. Not too shabby for a debuting artist looking to get mainstream attention.

The singer/songwriter was born in Islington, an inner-city district of London, and wrote her first song at the age of 11 on her living room piano.

Poised to become an opera singer, Price rebelled and left her studies at the University of London and moved to San Francisco. "San Francisco seemed to have this perpetual hangover from the ‘60s counterculture that I was inspired by," she says in her biography, "plus it was the furthest place away from England where they spoke English and I could hang out."

But after spending some time in California, Price missed the urban chaos of a big metropolitan city. She decided to move to New York City where she befriended producer Fred Sargolini ("CSI: New York" and "Sex In The City") who helped her record her first demo tracks.

Earlier this year, Price was signed to Music With a Twist, a Sony Music imprint that focuses exclusively on marketing gay and lesbian artists. She is currently working on her full-length album debut.

Adam Jospeh

Another artist signed to Music With A Twist is spunky soul/hip-hop singer Adam Joseph.

The singer received his training at the prestigious Berklee College of music in Boston where he specialized in Music Production and Engineering, Vocal Performance and Music Business.

In 2004, he moved to New York City where he created “Elegant Children Productions,” his own production company. Besides working on his own singing career, he also works on beats and songs for other rising hip-hop, rock, and dance artists.

Even though his music touches upon pop, hip-hop, and electro, it is his love for soul music that strings it all together. "Soul Music is what I do because that is what comes naturally to me,” he says in a press release.

His breakthrough single "Faggoty Attention" is a confident, straight up pop-driven track that will hit you with flu-like strength. And if you like the song, make sure to check out the video with its lusty, synchronized dance moves, pumping club scene and its sexual innuendo. Pure hotness.

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Watching the show, I wondered what a “My Life On The D-List” music compilation would sound like? In other words, if the series would have a soundtrack with tunes inspired by the show, what would be the playlist?

Knowing that Kathy is a big pop culture connoisseur, it should include a heavy dose of hits, evergreen tunes, plus some campy classics to please her biggest fans, the gays.

So here it goes -- “My Life On The D List” -- music inspired by the TV Series:

Backstreet Boys “Backstreet’s Back”
Backstreet Boy Nick Carter made a bit of a comeback on Episode 2 of this season when he and Kathy went out for dinner for “publicity reasons.” It didn’t appear that the date was all that great and, unfortunately, it didn’t generate much buzz among paparazzi either. Better luck next time, Kathy.

Kelly Clarkson “Ms. Independent”
This is a fitting tune that emphasizes the newly single Kathy who is not afraid to date. The wisecracking Ms. Independent went out with a variety of men this season, from Nick Carter to her high school boyfriend, and from Ron Jeremy to Chucky Venice, the British actor from “Footballers’ Wives.”

Johnny Cash “Folsom Prison Blues”
One of the show’s Emmy-worthy moments occurred in Episode 5 when Kathy performed at the Arizona State Penitentiary for a group of male and female inmates. She compared herself to the late Johnny Cash who toured many prisons to entertain crowds.

Sisters Sledge “We Are Family”
Kathy has family all around her, from her team of assistants, to her hordes of gay fans, to her real-life family back in the Midwest. This tune has Kathy written all over it.

Donna Summer “She Works Hard For The Money”
The stand-up comedian jets all over the country to perform shows for fans, make appearances at corporate events, accept awards, or to present at the gay porn award ceremony. Recently, she confided on Suze Orman’s personal finance show that all her hard work is generating a nice amount of cash that enables her to maintain her modest D-list lifestyle. But Kathy is not afraid to give back. In Episode 7, she went to the streets of Los Angeles to give away money in her effort to be the “benevolent and giving red-headed Oprah.”

Fergie “London Bridge”
Kathy’s trip to London to promote the premiere of the D List series on E! Television in the U.K. was another highlight of the series’ third season. This Fergie song refers to the city of London even though there is not such a thing as the London Bridge.

Carly Simon “The Show Must Go On”
Remember that touching episode of Kathy going back to work soon after her father passed away? Simon sings, “It is never knowing how the evening will end. Will I be the joke or the comedienne?” But no matter what people will think or how they feel, the show must go on -- an appropriate song for Kathy’s show at that very emotional time.

Madonna “Human Nature”
Kathy always gets into lots of trouble with her brash sense of humor, but she isn’t the one who is going to apologize for it. “Did I say something wrong? Oops, I didn’t know I couldn’t talk about sex,” Madonna sings on this no-regrets song from her 1994 “Bedtime Stories” album.

Spice Girls “Spice Up Your Life”
This track is totally camp and cheesy. The sort of thing Kathy likes to make fun of, especially now that the Spice Girls are making a comeback.

Liza Minnelli “All That Jazz”
Episode 1 was all about Griffin’s debut at New York’s Carnegie Hall. She solicited advise from Whoopi Goldberg and Joan Rivers about performing at this famous venue. She was really hoping that Liza Minnelli would be attendance as well. She adores the Broadway legend in a “not safe stalkerish” sort of way. Unfortunately, Minnelli never showed so this classic tune should help to fill some of the void.

Celine Dion “My Heart Will Go On”
A very corny selection, but “D List” aficionados know that Kathy has a special relationship with the Canadian singer after she petted her once in a moment of backstage anxiety. And given the fact that the passing of her father was such a poignant moment on the show, this would be a good fit for a soundtrack.

Diana Ross “I’m Coming Out”
It is no secret that Kathy is a huge fan of Diana Ross. This feel-good, uplifting song from La Ross captures the show in the best possible way. Even though, this has been a rough year for Kathy, she comes out stronger than ever, setting the stage for more wisecracking to come.

With all the noise and bad publicity surrounding the release of her album, folks might just forget to take a good listen and find out that “My December” is actually a very satisfying pop-rock effort. Kelly awakens her inner Pat Benatar and goes at it. Have a listen to her gut-wrenching new single “Sober” that features some of her most accomplished songwriting to date. “Nothing’s real/Until you let go completely/So here I go/With all my thoughts/I’ve been saving.” She croons. It’s a must-hear.

Listen to Kelly Clarkson “Sober” [Windows] [Real]

Listen to Ralphi Rosario & Craig CJS mix [Windows]
Listen to DJ Dan Remix [Windows]

“Jenny” by The Click Five is totally my guilty pleasure right now. The song is so incredibly hooky that is hard not to tap along. You might remember The Click Five from their matching suits and their 2005 hit “Just The Girl.” Since then, they have lost their suits, amped up their sound and recruited a yummy new lead singer. His name is Kyle Patrick and he looks a lot like Daniel Vosovic I think. Watch the video and find out for yourself.

Watch The Click Five “Jenny”

Look at her! Hillary Duff is on the cover of Maxim looking all voluptuous, sexy and grown up. Yeah, this is no longer the innocent girl we used to know. “Danger” is a track from her new album “Dignity.” A few talented DJs have turned the song into some very exclusive, pumping house mixes that you can hear on OutZoneTV.com. None of these remixes will ever be formally released so listen now before it’s too late.

Listen to Albert Castillo Club Mix [Windows] [Real Audio]
Listen to Vission Vs Aude Mix [Windows] [Real Audio]
Listen to Vission Vs Aude Show Mix [Windows] [Real Audio]

Openly-gay pop singer Darren Hayes recently released a much-anticipated video for his new single “On The Verge Of Something Wonderful.” You might remember Hayes as the singer of Savage Garden (“Truly, Madly, Deeply”), the Aussie pop band that sold millions of records and was awarded multiple music awards in the ‘90s.

This new single presents a much happier Darren Hayes after all the changes in his life. He came out of the closet, married his British boyfriend and broke with his record label to release his forthcoming new album “This Delicate Thing We’ve Made” independently. “On The Verge Of Something Wonderful” is a zingy slice of electro-pop that is a good introduction to the sound of his new CD. The video features a cameo by America’s “first supermodel” Janice Dickinson.

Watch Darren Hayes “On The Verge Of Something Wonderful” [QuickTime]

Summer’s about to get even hotter as Junior Senior, the half-gay Danish dance duo, announced that their new album, “Hey Hey My My Yo Yo,” will include a companion EP entitled, “Say Hello, Wave Goodbye.” The all new 7-song EP will be included as part of a limited edition, 2-disc version of “Hey Hey My My Yo Yo,” available August 14, 2007 via Rykodisc/Crunchy Frog. Jeppe (Senior) Laursen comments on the new recording, “We wanted to dance this summer, so we went into the studio. Four days. Wham-bam! I hope people will want to dance to it too.”

Listen to Junior Senior on target="_blank">MySpace.

Wasn’t the Live Earth concert amazing last week? The Bravo broadcast included top-notch performances by Madonna, Keane, Melissa Etheridge (love her!) and Kelly Clarkson. Beforehand, I was skeptical about Madonna’s performance of “La Isla Bonita” but it worked out flawlessly. She was joined on stage by Eugene Hutz and Sergey Ryabtsev from New York gypsy punk band Gogol Bordello. They mixed “La Isla Bonita’ with the traditional Romany song, ‘Lela Pala Tute’, a live staple for Gogol Bordello, and performed in the Romany language. Once again, Madonna picks obscure talent to present to the masses.

Listen to Gogol Bordello on MySpace.

Can we ever, ever get enough of Mika? No! The fun and frolicking pop singer brings us another free lollipop to suck on. Download a totally guilt-free MP3 of “Happy Ending,” the final track from his “Life In Cartoon Motion” disc that seems to come right from a Broadway musical.

Download Mika “Happy Ending” [MP3]

That’s how it is, folks. All good things must come to an end.

More OutZoneTV music next week.

Here's a brief run-down of what to look out for:

Madonna (London)
The Queen of Pop will be taking the stage in London on Saturday. After her incredibly successful show at Live8 in 2005, I'm sure Madge was eager to return and show the world her capabilities as a live performer. She closes the London show, and her set list is rumored to include "Hey You," "Ray Of Light," "La Isla Bonita" and "Hung Up." Excuse me? "La Isla Bonita"? I kid you not. "Hey You" is Madonna's version of a protest song that she penned together with Pharell Williams and was inspired by the global concert series. The song is mediocre at best, but hey, it's the message that counts.

Melissa Etheridge (New York)
This lesbian icon knows how to rock an anthem. Etheridge wrote the compelling”I Need To Wake Up" for Al Gore's documentary An Inconvenient Truth. The song impressed many and took home the award for Best Original Song Written For A Motion Picture at this year's Academy Awards ceremony. It makes sense for her to perform this song at this concert, hopefully with a few guest musicians. If you have never seen or heard the song, you can watch it here.

Sarah Brightman (Shanghai)
The famous musical theatre performer Sarah Brightman will be appearing at the Live Earth concert in Shanghai, China. It is interesting to have Brightman's mesmerizing "popera" and haunting vocals performed in an Asian setting -- a little surreal, but very 2007. Proof that this is indeed a global village and that the climate crisis is impacting everybody on our dear little planet.

Enrique Iglesias (Hamburg)
This teen heartthrob is working very hard to become a straight gay icon as well. It all started with that famous performance at London's pop epicenter G.A.Y. when he serenaded a gay fan on stage. I think it is great to have a young pop artist flirting with his own sexuality a little. When you got it, flaunt it. Make sure to catch your own piece of Enrique in Germany.

John Legend (Hamburg)
Legend became a bonafide YouTube legend last week when he got down and dirty with a female fan on stage in The Netherlands and got visibly aroused. Yeah, that's right. White stretch pants are pure evil! I like his new single "Stereo" that is blowing up in the charts overseas. Watch it here.

Keane (London)
I'm so glad Keane is part of Live Earth as well. After singer Tom Chaplin entered rehab last fall to deal with an addiction, the group came to a screeching halt. But now the singer is healthier than ever and the trio is back to its full-strength. I met Tom a year ago in New York for an interview and he was so incredibly down with his gay fans. And he even confided that the group's predominately gay audience in San Francisco is one of his favorite crowds to perform for. They will probably be performing "Crystal Ball," a song from their last album that packs several social-conscious themes that fit the cause of the event.

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Kanye West (New York)
He's straight as an arrow, but the cocky rapper is one of our best friends in hip hop. It was Kanye who stood up and asked fellow artists to stop homophobia in hip hop. It all happened after West found out a family member was gay and wasn't really any different. West just released the incredible video for his new single "Stronger" that was directed by Hype Williams. Watch it here. Make sure to check out his cool, semi-protective shades.

Fall Out Boy (New York)
Fall Out Boy is probably one of the most popular pop-rock bands right now that appeals to both straight and gay audiences. Bassist Pete Wentz has fully exploited the gay angle and has shown off his "effeminate side." He told The Advocate recently, "At some point when we were doing this band, I was like, 'you know what? I'm going to be the most androgynous person that I can possibly be. I’m going to wear girl pants and makeup.' I looked to David Bowie, Mick Jagger and people like that and I was like, 'that's what's missing in all the bands that we're playing with right now!"

Fedde Le Grand (Amsterdam)
Dutch superstar DJ Fedde Le Grand will be spinning his special new track "Mirror 070707’" that features Danish singer Ida Corr. The song will be available as a charity download starting on Monday in digital download stores around the world. Part of the proceeds will go to a Dutch Red Cross project in Nicaragua that supports reforestation. Trees produce oxygen, which helps to diminish CO2.

Lenny Kravitz (Rio De Janeiro)
Catch Lenny Kravitz as he headlines the Brazil leg of the Live Earth concerts. Being held on the famed Copacabana Beach with a crowd expectancy of over one million people, Live Earth Brazil is the only show, within this global arrangement, that is entirely open and free to the public.