Girl Crush: Abigail Rose

Abigail Rose is a teen country music singer, songwriter, and musician who lives in Nashville and travels around the USA performing.  We love chatting with teen musicians, both guy and gal singers, pop, R&B stars, or country.  Chloe and I are so blown away with Abigail Rose's talent that we had to introduce her to you. She's playing some big arenas in Nasvhille and some cool spaces around the country, so if you're lucky enough to have her in your town, don't miss the chance to see her!  

Age: 16 Always has: a song stuck in my head. Proudest of: opening for Sara Evans Is thankful for: supportive family Wants to: inspire people with my music Is afraid of: sharks Believes everyone should: visit as many new places as you can Is embarrassed by: her messy closet My style is: hobo chic but I love anything vintage! Pet peeve: lemon seeds in a drink

http://youtu.be/i70Y5zoZaRU Tour schedule and more videos in the links below.

How did you get started in music? I just had an interest in it and started having all these ideas that I wanted to tell people so when I got my first guitar, I started putting my ideas with music and songwriting just came really naturally to me. There was no stopping me after that. At what point did singing become more than a hobby? I think when I started home schooling, I knew there was no turning back. I knew before then that I wanted to do this for the rest of my life, but when I made the decision to leave regular school and dedicate my time to music, I think that is when it really sunk in. Is the Nashville music scene anything like the show “Nashville”?! Yes! Callie Khouri, the writer of the show, has done a great job showing different aspects of the industry, not just the country side. I really love how Nashville is becoming well-known and respected. It’s fun to see local places on the show. Your career is skyrocketing… do you have time for school and activities besides singing and songwriting? I do. I’m very much a kid at heart. I hang out with my friends, go shopping, watch my favorite shows like Suits, The Carrie Diaries and Pretty Little Liars. Living in Nashville gives me so many opportunities to be around music, which is what I love, so when I have free time I still choose to be around music and go hear other people play.

When did you realize you had a true gift for music? How about your parents? I always knew I wanted to perform but when I got my first guitar when I turned 11 I realized that I wanted to be a songwriter and performing artist. I started writing songs and playing out a little bit and fell in love! My parents supported me from the beginning and were behind me for whatever I wanted to try. I am eternally grateful for that. I think they knew I was committed when I decided to be homeschooled so I could really focus on music. What would you recommend for other singers / songwriters (ie, how do you know if singing is a hobby or a career)? When you can’t go a day without writing and you need to be around music to feel complete. Another way I knew is because I am never happier or more myself than when I am on stage performing! Who are your biggest musical influences? Well I get a lot of my inspiration from tons of different artists, not all in country music. Someone I look up to and hope people compare me to one day would be Sheryl Crow. How do you write songs and from where do you draw your inspiration? Usually I get ideas from everyday life. I write down lines or ideas all the time and I never know when something will hit me. I pull a lot of my song ideas from my experiences, but I also get ideas from my friends and family…or a tv show or movie. When will you say “Wow, I’ve made it!” That is such a hard question! I mean, playing at the Grand Ole Opry and the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville are two places that you dream of playing at when you are a country music singer. That will be a defining point for my career. But when I say, “wow I’ve made it,” I think that will be later in life…. What’s up in immediate future and where can we see you perform? I am focusing on writing right now. A lot. I try and write every day. I am also in the recording studio a lot now…working on defining my sound and getting comfortable with the sound I want to produce as an artist. You can always find out where my next show is on my website at AbigailRoseMusic.com  and my videos are on YouTube. I'm also on Twitter and Facebook!

Happy Songs

We're kicking back and getting ready for the a long holiday weekend with our happy songs - whether it's dancing or just hanging around catching up on missed TV series. What would the soundtrack for our weekend be... we put together a playlist and these are the songs that make us smile. Our playlist is perfect to get you going or wind down since it starts out with some pumped up jams and tapers off for a long night of hanging out and kicking back with friends.

Which are your favorite happy songs? We kind of like the one - don't worry, you'll find it  (let us know in the comments below when you do) - with the lyrics "you are my tuxedo, and I'm your bow tie." BFFs! But we have a thing for bow ties. {We've got a cool DIY for bow ties, that aren't really bow ties, coming up soon, but that's a whole 'nother story.} For now, revel in the free time of a holiday weekend with a happy songs soundtrack in the background.

Morgan Bernard

Imagine knowing what you want to do at age 10 and totally going for it. That’s exactly what singer/songwriter Morgan Bernard did. After getting a taste for piano in first grade, then moving on to guitar a little while later, she decided to begin a serious singing career. And she has taken off! Morgan has already released 2 title CD’s and a 6-title EP (Give it All) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIXf7Md709g

Being that I’m a 30-something year old who still dreams about what she wants to be when she grows up, I had to find out what makes this 14 year old prodigy tick. So maybe, you know, she could give me some “how to be a grown-up and know what you want” advice…

Age: 14

Always has: Loved music

Proudest of: Own 12 track full CD

Is thankful for: My supportive parents

Wants to: Become a internationally famous rock star

Is afraid of: Bugs... any kind of bugs

Believes everyone should: Be themselves.

Is embarrassed by: My best friends :)

My style is: Rock'n'roll

Pet peeve: When people hum on songs

So you were VERY motivated at a very young age. Are you just that passionate about music or does it carry over into other aspects of your life? My parents, especially my dad always loved music and it was their life and I was kind of raised on it. I think that music is the best way to communicate a message.

Your life seems so crazy-busy. How do you, Morgan Bernard, teen phenom, so easily manage your career, school, social life? It gets a bit out of hand sometimes but I always do my best work under pressure so I guess it wouldn't be normal if I didn't have so much to do. I like to do a lot of things at once, but my music has never affected my school life and I've always been a straight "A" student and still have time to hang out with my friends.

What is your favorite venue to play? I love Skippers because its just a really old wooden place and has famous to local artist playing there and I enjoy there Rockabilly Ruckus event they have every year that I was actually a part of last year. I also like the Orpheum in Ybor City which is where I'm having my CD release event on December 7th.

Who is your favorite musician? How do they inspire you? My favorite musician is definitely Lady Gaga. Her messages in her music and how she's original and no one is like her is really inspiring.

If I raided your closet, what would I find the most of? EVERYTHING! Shoes, jeans, dresses,etc. I classify myself as a clothes hoarder. I own more than 30 pair of jeans.

Do you have any siblings? If so, what is your relationship with them? I actually have 4 siblings (2 brothers and 2 sisters) that are all older than 25 they live in France. I love my siblings so much and they're kind of like best friends to me but I don't get to see them that often.

 You're currently working on your first full-length album. When can we expect the release? You can buy it now but the official release of "Give it All" is on December 7 at the Orpheum. There's a little bit of everything so everyone will find a song they like, it goes anywhere from rockabilly to Lady Gaga style pop.

Check out song downloads and tour info on http://www.reverbnation.com/morganbernard

Be sure to check out our other music interviews with Jacob Latimore (who has put out another song with Diggy), Camryn (on tour with One Direction - AGAIN!), Justine Dorsey, Miriam Bryant and more! Let us know who you think Morgan sounds like... or if she has a sound all her own!

~Lisa, Music Editor

Halloween Songs: the party playlist

Halloween is sneaking deviously around the corner and we have been making Halloween candy, and have our costumes ready. It's the time of bubble, toil, trouble, vampires, werewolves and other tragically hip characters. And most importantly, it's the time for dressing up and procuring free candy. So, yeah. Maybe you're too old to pull off the whole "trick or treat" thing. But you're never too old to dress up and enjoy a good party with Halloween songs playing in the background. We've put together a quirky witches brew of tunes that even the most maudlin monster would enjoy! Yes. We started with the obvious. But c'mon! It's the quintessential Halloween tune!

"Is there a ghost in my house?"

An awesomely spooky song AND the video just adds to the creep factor. Unless skateboarding nuns and clowns of questionable character seem normal to you...

How did they make their faces do that??? *shudder*

The Ramones were an unearthly looking bunch, even when they WEREN'T singing about cemetaries. If you're really feeling brave, rent the movie based on the Stephen King novel. You'll never look at your darling pets the same.

More Halloween songs to finish off your playlist of horror... Sonic Youth- Halloween Zombina and the Skeletones- Horror High School Panic! At the Disco or Marilyn Manson- This is Halloween (cover) Blue Oyster Cult- Don't Fear the Reaper (or you can opt for the haunting cover by Gus) Pink Floyd- Dark Side of the Moon Radiohead- Wolf at the Door (this one drops the f bomb so you can take out if you want) The Black Keys- Howlin' for You Stars- I Died So I Could Haunt You Beck- Scarecrow Annie Lennox- Love Song for a Vampire  

Taylor Swift dishes about making "Red"

Taylor Swift had a busy Monday morning in New York City doing television interviews to promote her new album RED. She was seen leaving ABC studios wearing a red dress and then a yellow one after doing Katie Couric’s show.

The singer told Good Morning America. “I’m writing all the time. I wrote a new [song] two days ago. … I just grab a guitar and make stuff up. When I started writing songs when I was 12, I would run to my room and write songs about a difficult day at school or something like that. It’s kind of carried me my whole life and allowed me to filter through really complicated emotions and make them simple.”

Check out more from Taylor Swift on making "Red" and see more photos at Celebrity Teen Scoop

photo: INFPHOTO.com

Lights Resolve

Popcosmo loves discovering music! We stumbled upon our latest band crush on the lineup for the upcoming Deluna Fest Music Festival in Pensacola, Florida. The minute we heard Lights Resolve, we KNEW we had to find out what these guys are all about. And not because they are totally cute. Or that they’ve (reportedly) wrestled a bear once. Their music ROCKS! But being totally cute and (reportedly) wrestling a bear once are added bonuses. Lights Resolve formed in Long Island, NY in 2006. They have since been named one of 2009’s “Breakout Bands” by Rolling Stone, played with the likes of Panic! At the Disco and Dashboard Confessional, had a song featured on Season 1 of The Jersey Shore AND logged some major downloads for their song “Dreaming of Love,” from the Rock Band video game. Representing Lights Resolve are:

Matthew Reich – Vocals, Guitar; Neal Saini – Drums; Luke Daniels – Bass

We caught up with Matthew who was awesome enough to answer a few random questions for us.

Age: 29

Always has: Drive

Proudest of: Music we've created and shows we've played.

Is thankful for: Music we've created and shows we've played.

Wants to: Write more music

Is afraid of: Not being able to write music and also snakes.

Believes everyone should: Hydrate properly.

Is embarrassed by: Voice cracks on stage...make sure you warm up properly all of you vocalists!

My style is: Better than yours...actually, probably not.

Pet peeve: Smoking and BO.

What are 3 things people probably don't know about the band?

We are one of the most diverse bands in terms of race and religion, we like the movie Twins (featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito) and we wrestled a bear once.

Were any of you in band or Glee Club in high school? Was it considered geeky or cool? I was a leader in my marching band. I taught the marching band how to play hip hop songs at the football games. I was cool as shit!

Do you guys get along all the time? Anyone have annoying habits? As with brothers, we are constantly bickering and making fun of each other...but all in good taste. Annoying habits? Where do I begin...I possess a bunch as well.

What book is on your nightstand? Reading for Dummies

If you could only take 3 things on tour with you (besides absolute essentials) what would you bring? An avocado, a snorkel and an ice pick.

Do you hang out aside from the band? If the weather's good.

Coffee, Red Bull, Soda or Water? Red Bull because they are fantastic and ship us cases to keep us energized.

If you were a girl, which of the others would you date and why? Neal seems to be the sweetest guy in the band, plus he's got those long locks of love!

What musician/band from the past would you want to work with? The Partridge Family Band would be pretty wild.

Do you follow back on Instagram or Twitter? Absolutely! Follow us now: @lightsresolve

You can catch Lights Resolve at Gramercy Theater in New York, NY on 09/29/12

Check their website for upcoming events, album downloads and other fun stuff here

“With the Pieces”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLW5jaBNxwc&feature=relmfu

“Another Five Days”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pbt-ayxUkUM&feature=relmfu