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Blogger, TV personality, author, party thrower and expert marketer Perez Hilton made his (fake) name on celebrity gossip, but his first love will always be music.
As an A&R consultant, the creator of the successful “One Night In…” concert series and the host of his own “Radio Perez” segment, tastemaking is in his musical blood (just ask Katy Perry, whom he helped launch) and has inspired two compilation albums. The latest, Pop Up! #2, will be released on May 14 by Opus Label.
Containing tracks by 15 emerging indie artists, the collection, which is available for preorder starting April 30, was handcrafted by Hilton (whose real name is Mario Lavandeira). He elaborated on his choices in a track-by-track for The Hollywood Reporter.
Kodaline, “All I Want”
“The first song to open this Pop Up collection is an important one because it had to tell of the direction I was going for sonically. I couldn’t have chosen a better opener. Kodaline’s ‘All I Want’ starts off very intimate and singer-songwriter and quickly takes you on an epic Coldplay-esque sonic journey. That’s what I want to do with this collection of songs — make people feel the emotions.”
Lianne La Havas, “Lost & Found”
“That voice — so haunting! That piano — so simple and so effective! I’ve been obsessed with Lianne, so having her on Pop Up #2 was a no-brainer. It was a must.”
Petula Clark, “Cut Copy Me”
“Who can believe Petula Clark is 80 years old? And still rocking! This is such a pretty song and sounds like something a hipster band in their 20s would release.”
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Elle King, “No One Can Save You”
“This one is really special. Elle King is phenomenal live, and she’s still developing as an artist. This song is lyrically poignant, and her voice has an Amy Winehouse uniqueness to it. I’m excited to see what she does next.”
Paloma Faith, “Let Your Love Walk In”
“Anyone who likes Adele, this should be right up your alley. Paloma Faith brings the the drama, the diva flair and the fabulosity!”
MNDR, “Feed Me Diamonds”
“So lush and hypnotic — Rihanna would approve!”
Charli XCX, “You (Ha Ha Ha)”
“You know her from Icona Pop’s theme song to Snooki & JWoww, which she co-wrote. Like Marina and the Diamonds, Charli is making edgy pop and proving that it’s all about female vocalists.”
Sky Ferreira, “Everything Is Embarassing”
“She’s been working at it for a few years now, and I think Sky finally hit her stride. This song is a perfect example of her growth. It will take you back to the ’80s — which is, ironically, a good decade before she was born.”
Tegan & Sara, “Closer”
“Talk about a huge smash anthem! This song has the potential to be as big as Icona Pop’s ‘I Love It.'”
Asaf Avidan, “Cyclamen”
“All the way from Jerusalem, he’s known as Israel’s Janis Joplin. So damn cool!”
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Bastille, “Pompei”
“In addition to loving female vocalists, I also love the Brits. These boys from London are great, and ‘Pompei’ will make you want to run!”
Wynter Gordon, “Reach Out”
“Like a phoenix, Wynter Gordon has shed her dance skin and is reborn as a much more credible and awesome new artist.”
Chair, “Big Deal”
“I’m a sucker for sweet harmonies, and this song makes me feel like I’m in a field holding hands with a new boyfriend and surrounded by daisies and posies.”
Blondfire, “Waves”
“Flower power of a different variety, I imagine this is something Cher would have sung in the 1960s. And that’s a great thing!”
Kal Lavelle, “The Ocean”
“I wanted to end Pop Up #2 on a sweet and romantic note, and this song is just so exquisite, hopeful and filled with love — all things I want to share with the listener. It’s also by a totally unknown artist. My hope for this compilation is that those who buy it enjoy the process of discovering new artists as much as I do — and seek out more!”
Twitter: @THRMusic
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