Bark + Bite

Meet Christian TV, the man behind Britney's fave song of the summer

There's something to be said for having a grand entrance. If the music industry is all about connections, then Detroit-born producer/singer/songwriter Christian TV got the hook up of a lifetime. He was fortunate to be introduced to millions of new listeners by none other than the princess of pop herself, Britney Spears, in June. Britney casually tweeted the singer's name and single, dubbing it her favorite song of the summer, to her 5 million plus followers and suddenly, a wave of attention crashed on Christian's doorstep. If co-signs were worth money, this one would surely be worth a million bucks.

Bark + Bite got a chance to chat with Christian TV and he gave us the details on what it was like getting a shout out from Britney, the story of how his saucy debut single came to be and what he has in store as he gears up to launch his album.

Q&A: Mr. Hudson talks Jay-Z, new album and Betty White

Though Mr. Hudson released his debut single "Supernova" with Kanye West last year, the British singer is probably best known in the States for his collaboration with another superstar, Jay-Z, on his hit single "Young Forever." Yes, Mr. Hudson, born Benjamin Hudson McIldowie, is the Sting-like voice that soars on Jigga's larger-than-life, pop crossover hit about eternal youth. The success of that single allowed Mr. Hudson a spotlight on SNL, performing the song live on national television. He even got rub shoulders with sitcom-star-turned-internet-phenom Betty White. And now that the introductions have been made, Mr. Hudson is releasing his own album Straight No Chaser under the G.O.O.D. music label. Check out our Q&A with the singer below.

Bruno Mars is crafting his sound, shaping his debut

Photo credit: Harper Smith

With two chart-topping songs under his belt, Bruno Mars and his silky smooth vocals are in high demand. The Hawaiian-born singer and songwriter plays hookman on B.o.B.'s breakout hit "Nothin' On You" and Travie McCoy's solo debut single "Billionaire." Both songs have seen extraordinary success with the B.o.B. collaboration riding at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 for two consecutive weeks.

Born Peter Hernandez, Bruno came into the music industry with little to his name. Abandoning the easy-going, laid-back Hawaiian lifestyle for the hectic grind of L.A., Bruno worked his way into the industry as a songwriter, helping to craft songs for people like Flo Rida, Brandy and K'Naan. Bruno checked in with Bark + Bite and answered some questions about his upcoming album, his adoration for young Elvis and Michael Jackson and his collaborations with Cee-Lo.

Miguel dares you to be different, do the unexpected

With an already hot songwriting career under his belt and an even hotter new single on deck, Miguel just may be the next thing to blow in R&B. He talked to Bark + Bite about songwriting, his brief foray into reality TV and his single "All I Want Is You."

Anoop Desai wants to change your mind

Anoop Desai is ready to take on the world, and he's confident that his voice and sound can make an impact on American pop music. The "American Idol" season 8 alumni just released his debut EP "All is Fair" on May 4th, but shortly before the album's release, he spoke with Bark + Bite about "American Idol," his new album and comparisons to Jay Sean.

Daniel Merriweather wants the real deal

Photo Credit: Max Dodson

If Jay-Z's "D.O.A. (Death of Autotune)" was the first shot fired at the artificial state of music, then autotune better brace itself as the line of attackers only seems to be growing. Daniel Merriweather, a Mark Ronson protege and pop/soul singer who launched on to the scene with "Stop Me," is one of the louder voices in the chorus against what he sees as the automation and robotization of singers.

"At the moment on pop radio we just get so many songs, that you kind of wonder, Can I actually hear a person in there? Was there any artistic element to the song at all?" said Daniel Merriweather, in an interview with Bark + Bite. "Where do you draw the line where you don't even need the artist or the producer and it ends up being like Orwell's "1984," where there's this song generator, and it's a box and you press a button and then for the next six months the whole population sings this song that this machine made."

Suffice it to say, a collaboration with T-Pain doesn't appear to be on the horizon. And with the success of more 'organic' artists like Sade and Maxwell this past year, the pendulum just might be swinging toward more stripped-down voices, instrumental sounds and richer lyrics. Which is quite alright with Merriweather, who considers himself a fan.

"I've been a fan of Sade since I was a kid and the same with Maxwell. It's just great to see real music get the respect it deserves again. Real artists, with real opinions and emotions, putting themselves on the line I think is really important," said Merriweather.

Jazze Pha says Ciara ain't listening, talks new ventures in 2010

Jazze Pha is one of ATL's most well-known and prolific producers, having worked with everyone from Nelly and Ludacris to T.I. and Mariah Carey. But he is also closely associated with "Goodies" singer Ciara, having produced two of her biggest records, "1,2 Step" and "Get Up." After Ciara's 2009 album "Fantasy Ride" flopped, reports surfaced from former colleagues accusing Ciara of having "changed." And in an interview with Jazze Pha, the producer confirmed that he and Ciara no longer see eye to eye.

"I don’t know what’s going on with her. She’s not really listening," said Jazze Pha. "We always gon' be friends but she gon' listen to what she wants to listen to. It’s a weird situation."

Though he was tight-lipped in his interview, Jazze's differences with Cici were more specific on Twitter.

As Jay-Z says, it's on to the next one. The producer is keeping busy with projects in both music and television on deck for 2010. He is one of the big guns working on T.I.'s new album. The rapper, who was recently released from prison, is staying in a halfway house and is only allowed to come out for work, said Jazze. Fans of the ATL rapper can expect more of what they've come to love about him.

"He already has a sound carved out. We're just gonna hit 'em with the best of him," said Jazze.

Jazze is also putting in work in the studio with R&B singer Bobby V, producing new material for his next album. The duo have selected what they hope to be the second single and are now in search of that undeniable first single, said Jazze.