• Small Talk – Daniel Radcliffe (2 of 2)

    In his latest movie, The Woman In Black, Dan traded his Hogwarts uniform for a totally new role as a Dad.

  • #freshpresslive – feb 10/12

    Natalia brings you the latest news on Adele’s interview with Anderson Cooper, Kristen Bell’s interview on Ellen is auto tuned, Ladyhawke’s latest music video and much more!

  • #freshpresslive – Feb 8/12

    Natalia discusses what’s new with Pharrell Williams and her thoughts on Karl Lagerfeld’s mean comments towards Adele’s weight. She also shows a roster of animals behaving like humans and, wait until you see the new size of coffee available at Starbucks!

  • #freshpresslive – Feb 7/12

    Natalia dishes the latest news on the Juno Awards nominees, the upcoming Spiderman 3D film starring Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield and is Katy Perry hooking up with Tim Tebow? Watch today’s episode to find out.

  • Small Talk – The Kooks (2 of 2)

    When The Kooks are in the studio they’re focused and most importantly, sober. Watch Hugh and Luke explain their reasoning below.

  • Small Talk – The Kooks (1 of 2)

    The Kooks released a new album called “Junk of the Heart,” and you would think Hugh and Luke would be very excited about it. Well, they seemed rather indifferent to be honest. We spoke about that and why they don’t care about critics.

  • #freshpresslive – Feb 2/12

    Natalia dishes the latest in entertainment news on Joan Rivers, Lana Del Rey and a brand new trailer for the movie Hunger Games.

  • #freshpresslive – Feb 1/12

    Natalia talks about how Snooki might be pregnant, Nicolas Cage’s Cage Rage, Elisabetta Canalis is dating Steve-O and more for Feb 1, 2012.

  • #freshpresslive – Jan 31/12

    Natalia dishes the news on Miley Cyrus breaking her tailbone, a 100 year old woman who plays the Nintendo DS to stay young and Houston, Texas contemplating a statute of Beyonce.

  • #freshpresslive – Jan 30/12

    David Beckham debuts a new line of underwear, the worst dressed celebrity – Shy’m and Matthew Broderick is back as Ferris Bueller with a brand new commercial airing during the Super Bowl on Feb 5th 2012.

  • Small Talk – Daniel Radcliffe (1 of 2)

    Daniel Radcliffe is back with his new movie The Woman In Black. It’s a bone chilling remake of a film from the ’80s. Ironically, Daniel actually scares very easily but he’s not afraid of ghosts. In this interview he tells us what really gives him the creeps.

  • Small Talk – Graffiti6 (2 of 3)

    Next time you’re struggling to make conversation, try asking this question: “If you could invite anyone (living or dead) to the perfect house party, who would it be?”

  • Small Talk – Graffiti6 (1 of 3)

    Graffiti6 is starting to make their North American invasion, and they are hitting up the Tonight Show. Does this sound familiar? Well the Beatles made the exact same journey over 40 years ago. Naturally, @jordans_life had to make some comparisons.

  • Small Talk – Nick Carter (3 of 3)

    Nick plays World of Warcraft. Not only that, he’s the head of his guild, demonstrating that it IS possible to juggle being a hardcore gamer with being a top-selling recording artist.

  • Small Talk – Nick Carter (2 of 3)

    During a LIVE interview on andPOP.com Nick Carter gave out a number and took phone calls from his fans. These were real phone calls from real fans who we gave exclusive access to one of the biggest recording artists of our generation.

  • Small Talk – Nick Carter (1 of 3)

    There were great questions about music, fitness, the backstreet boys but the most popular question, however, was about his underwear. In this clip Nick talks about his his ‘Haynes’ and covering his fans with glow in the dark paint.

  • Small Talk – Hedley (2 of 2)

    When releasing new music today, half the battle is online promotion. However, contests, signed merch and giveaways aren’t always the best solutions. When working on their latest album, Hedley came up with a brilliant idea, they decided to make trailers.

  • Small Talk – Hedley (1 of 2)

    It’s hard to prepare for an interview with Hedley. So in this interview, we threw caution to the wind, got a 24 of beer and broadcast the interview live on our USTREAM (andPOP.tv). Eventually Jacob, Dave and @jordans_life ended up talking about hairy legs, their newest music video and more.

  • Small Talk – Marina and The Diamonds (2 of 2)

    Diamandis from Marina and The Diamonds talks to us about her very serious disease. It’s called synaesthetic. And we lied, it’s not a disease. More like a cool condition. Diamandis explains further.

  • Small Talk – Neverest

    Would you be embarrassed if someone scrolled through your iPod? We sit down with Spee and Brendan to talk about the diverse music on their playlist.

 
 

Tag Archives: avant

 

New Label Brings New Chances for Avant

Posted by Adam Gonshor on January 13th, 2004

Avant’s “Private Room” has been on the Billboard album charts for the past four weeks, but many music enthusiasts have only recently heard of the Cleveland-born singer.

Even though his two previous albums went platinum, he feels his former label, Magic Johnson Records, didn’t push his music hard enough.

“I thought that things would work out better,” he tells andPOP, on the line from Chicago. “Everything is a learning process.”

Avant still keeps in touch with Johnson, and owes the basketball legend gratitude for his help in starting his career. When the major labels weren’t calling, it was Johnson who gave Avant a chance.

“He helped me get into the game. He gave me everything I needed to get in the game. Me and him are still real cool.”

When MCA, the company that distributed Johnson’s label, folded, Avant happily signed with Geffen and released “Private Room,” which debuted at number 18 in December.

Avant wrote the majority of the album, which he feels brings him closer to his fans, creating an intimate feeling that was absent from his first two. He didn’t try to create that sound. He just goes with what flows naturally.

“What I try do is what I’m feeling at the time. I wanted to make my fans feel me and know who I am as an artist.”

He also wants to appeal to new fans. How’s he going to get them? By developing a rock star persona. While urban artists often perform at their concert and jet, rock artists are known to stick around and hang out with fans. That is the attitude Avant takes. He signs autographs and poses for pictures with fans after his concerts.

He’s going to need all the fans he can get if he wants to fulfill his master plan.

“I want to be in this game for 50 years like Ron Isley,” he says. “I’m here to stay”

And Avant is also doing some acting. In addition to having a track on the “Barbershop 2″ soundtrack, he makes a brief appearance in the movie.

He feels he has enough patience to keep exploring his acting options.

“[Movies are] nothing but a long music video. But out of all due respect, there is more emotion in that acting. It’s wonderful, I love it. I went to the Cleveland School of Art. I practiced drama. A lot of it was stage acting but it’s basically the same.

“I’m looking forward to making some things happen. It’s going slowly but surely.”

Catch Avant on tour with Jagged Edge, Joe, 112, and Ginuwine, starting next month.

Tags: