Tag: calvin harris

INTERVIEW: Ayah Marah (2013)

You’ve heard Ayah Marar’s voice, but you might know who she is just yet.? She sang on three tracks from Calvin Harris’ last album (“Ready For The Weekend,? ?Stars Come Out,? and ?Flashback?) and is the featured vocalist on the club hit “Thinking About You.”? After gaining critical acclaim in the UK, her debut album is getting a full US release previewed by the progressive pop jam “Beg Borrow Steal,” which we wrote up here.? However, the album is a complete mash of EDM styles, especially when she goes back to her drum and bass roots.? Listening to the tracks, you will definitely realize why she is a “Hustle Girl.”

RS: I love the name of your label, where did the name Hustle Girl come from??
Ayah Marar: ? I am a hustle girl. It originally came from Jay-Z?s song about the hustle girl and from there it turned into Hussle Girl.

RS: Did you learn a lot from creating Lucky Devil Records?
Ayah Marar: I did, I founded it so I didn?t really have a choice. A couple of friends and I were DJs at the time and we used to run a drum & bass night together which turned into a record label. We ended up signing a few guys who are now big on the drum & bass and dubstep scene in the UK.?
Continue reading INTERVIEW: Ayah Marah (2013)

SONG OF THE DAY: Ayah Marar – “Beg Borrow Steal”

You may not know her name, but you will definitely recognize her voice.? Ayah Marar sang (and cowrote) Calvin Harris’ most recent hit “Thinking About You.”? For the lead US single from her debut album, “Beg Borrow Steal,” Ayah creates a similar vibe with a bit more of a pop edge.? The chorus has my trainspotter brain going crazy – making me think of Fergie’s “Big Girl” as well as Bruno Mars “Just the Way You Are.”? Ayah sounds great, but if I were to make one critique it would be that the backing vocals almost cross that cheesy line.? Well, that and that my favorite remix, Looney B’s, is a dub rather than containing vocals, though the remixer gets points for the comical name and makes me wonder if it’s Lenny B in disguise.? DJs looking for a vocal mix should go right to DSC CHK mix which has all the right elements in place and works for primetime.? By the way, if you get a chance to see Ayah perform live – do it.? When she performed at Promo Only Summer Sessions, she won the crowd.? And no one else can rock a top knot cone bun like she can.

Image Courtesy of Radikal.

SONG OF THE DAY (SUNDAY FUNDAY): Mel B – “For Once In My Life”

Scary spice Mel B is back with the uplifting dance pop confection “For Once In My Life.” The production is similar to what you would expect from a big name dance producer and pop artist collaboration – like David Guetta and Kelly Rowland or Calvin Harris and Rihanna – complete with positive and inspirational lyrics that would be the equivalent of a mature or modernized “girl power” anthem (should we call it “woman power”)? You’ve got to love an artist who can deliver lines like “the world is my dance floor” believably with the life experiences of being up and down while in the spotlight. The video is quite a bit of fun, playfully filmed to be like a real-life single take but obviously isn’t. “For Once In My My Life” is the kind of song that a mom and daughter can have fun with, singing and dancing together.


Image Courtesy of SBB Records.