MTV Buzzworthy Blog › La Roux

If you know anything about the artists on Cherry Tree Records, you probably have pretty progressive taste in music. With a roster of envelope-pushing acts such as Robyn, La Roux, and Die Antwoord (and Sting?), the label has some of the coolest, most innovative artists in the business. English musician Frankmusik fits right into that niche with his labelmates, most of whom write and perform cutting-edge electropop.

Formerly a beatboxer under the pseudonym Mr. Mouth, Vincent Frank already had a notable career in the music business before making a name for himself as Frankmusik. He's opened for Keane and Pet Shop Boys, and is also well-known for remixing tunes for high-profile performers such as Amy Winehouse and Lady Gaga. If you've heard these remixes, you're well aware that dude's got talent.

And we might be biased here, but we're hoping it's finally time for Frankmusik to break into the American mainstream with his new single, "Do It In The AM," featuring labelmates Far East Movement. It's delicious prog-pop that features that heavy, underlying thump we keep hearing these days, and it also brings to mind two ladies we can't get enough of right now: Ke$ha and Lady Gaga -- a welcome comparison that can't hurt one's chances.

+ Check out more from Frankmusik on his website, and listen to Frankmusik's new single, "Do It In The AM" (featuring Far East Movement) here.

Tags Amy Winehouse, Die Antwoord, Far East Movement, Frankmusik, Ke$ha, La Roux, Lady Gaga, Robyn, The Buzz On

We know we've already told you a lot about about MTV PUSH Artist of the Week Nanna Øland Fabricius -- better known as whimsical Danish pop singer and style icon Oh Land. But when someone's on the brink of superstardom, we'll scream until our voice is shot.

The former Royal Danish Ballet student and daughter of an opera singer and composer recently released her self-titled debut full-length, a mix of shimmering electro- and synth-pop, which earns her a spot alongside genre-bending pop females like Lykke Li, Robyn and La Roux, who are pop music's future.

After a career-ending dance injury, referenced in the song "Break the Chain" ("She said sorry, but you're never gonna dance again/But my feet just keeps me moving/Trying to break the chain"), the 25-year-old Brooklyn resident turned to music, and with her expansive vocal range, supermodel good looks, playful demeanor and exuberant live show, has blown up among music lovers and the fashionista set alike.

But enough talk. Last week, we brought you Oh Land interviews, featuring the singer dishing about her move to Brooklyn, her dance history and how she defies musical categorizations. And now, we've got live performances of her two biggest songs, "Sun of a Gun" and "White Nights," below, as well as clips of Oh Land discussing her love of vintage and thrift stores, why there's nothing romantic about a tutu and how she describes her personal style. "It's a dreamlike quality with surreal elements," she says of the latter. Funny, we'd say the same thing about her music.

Related Content New Interview: Oh Land's 'Mary Poppins On Acid' Aesthetic

Tags La Roux, Lykke Li, MTV Push, MTV PUSH: Oh Land, Oh Land, PUSH, Push: Oh Land, video

(Credit: Getty Images)

Despite being born in the '90s, 18-year-old Sky Ferreira seems to know that the best party is wherever there's '80s music playing. Her song "Sex Rules" is a throwback to everyone's favorite neon decade of yore, and like it or not, it'll be stuck in your head after just one listen.

In case you're one of two people (the other one being me) who thought a song called "Sex Rules" would be about weird rules for sex, you're wrong. Sky Ferreira is young, legal and simply expressing her sexuality -- she literally means "sex rules." You know, like you or I might say, "These nachos rule," or like Ox from Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure said, "San Dimas High School football rules!" ('80s reference!)

Previously on "17," we heard Sky Ferreira get all dark-disco on us, but on "Sex Rules," think super early Madonna mixed with 21st-century synthpop (Chromeo, Robyn, La Roux). It's fun, synth-y, sexy pop music. "I think you mean PROTECTED sexy pop music!!!!" -- Everyone's mom

+ Check out Sky Ferreira's "Sex Rules" here, and watch Sky explain to MTV2 why you should buy her album.

Related Content Buzzworthy Interview: Sky Ferreira, Sky Ferreira Photos

Tags Chromeo, La Roux, Robyn, Sky Ferreira, Song You Need To Know

(Credit: FilmMagic)

I know you guys might be busy planning your romantic Valentine's Day weekend, but don't forget about the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday! It's been a banner year for Eminem, as he leads the pack with a whopping 10 nominations. He's followed by Bruno Mars, who earned himself a whopping seven nominations, and Lady Gaga, Lady Antebellum, and Jay-Z, all of whom have six Grammy nominations. Chances are high that a winner might have the word "Lady" in their name. And they're even higher than their name will be... "Eminem."

In case you need a refresher before the big night, here's the complete list of 2011 Grammy nominees:

Album of the Year
Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
Eminem - Recovery
Lady Antebellum - Need You Now
Lady Gaga - The Fame Monster
Katy Perry - Teenage Dream

Record of the Year
B.o.B (featuring Bruno Mars) - "Nothin' on You"
Eminem (featuring Rihanna) - "Love the Way You Lie"
Cee Lo Green - "F*** You"
Jay-Z and Alicia Keys - "Empire State of Mind"
Lady Antebellum - "Need You Now"

Best New Artist
Justin Bieber
Drake
Florence & the Machine
Mumford & Sons
Esperanza Spalding

Song of the Year
Ray LaMontagne - "Beg Steal or Borrow"
Cee Lo Green - "F--- You"
Miranda Lambert - "The House That Built Me"
Eminem (featuring Rihanna) - "Love the Way You Lie"
Lady Antebellum - "Need You Now"

Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals
"Glee" cast - "Don't Stop Believin' (Regionals Version)"
Maroon 5 - "Misery
Paramore - "The Only Exception"
Sade - "Babyfather"
Train - "Hey, Soul Sister (Live)"

Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals
B.o.B, Eminem and Hayley Williams - "Airplanes II"
Herbie Hancock, Pink, India.Arie, Seal, Konono No. 1, Jeff Beck and Oumou Sangare - "Imagine"
Elton John & Leon Russell - "If It Wasn't For Bad"
Lady Gaga and Beyoncé - "Telephone"
Katy Perry and Snoop Dogg - "California Gurls"

Best Dance Recording
Goldfrapp - "Rocket"
La Roux - "In For The Kill"
Lady Gaga - "Dance in the Dark"
Rihanna - "Only Girl (In the World)"
Robyn - "Dancing on My Own"

Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals
Arcade Fire - "Ready to Start"
Jeff Beck and Joss Stone - "I Put a Spell on You"
The Black Keys - "Tighten Up"
Kings of Leon - "Radioactive"
Muse - "Resistance"

+ Get more Grammy nominees after the jump.

Read more...

Related Content MTV Grammys Coverage, Grammys Performers Photos

Tags Alicia Keys, Arcade Fire, Beyonce, Bruno Mars, Cee-Lo Green, Chris Brown, Drake, Elton John, Eminem, Florence and the Machine, Glee, Goldfrapp, Hayley Williams, India.Arie, Jay-Z, justin bieber, Katy Perry, Kings of Leon, La Roux, Lady Antebellum, Lady Gaga, Maroon 5, Miranda Lambert, Mumford & Sons, Muse, Paramore, Pink, Rihanna, Robyn, Sade, Seal, Snoop Dogg, The Black Keys, Train, Usher

(Credit: TwitPic)

We recently saw a little preview of the video for Kanye West's "Monster," featuring Rick Ross, Jay-Z, and Nicki Minaj, and we were all like "OMGWTF." Today, Rihanna tweeted a picture of herself on the set of Kanye's "All Of The Lights" video with director Hype Williams and it has us all "OMFG!!!" Cannot. Wait. For. This. Video.

If you'll recall, Kanye West's "All Of The Lights," from his latest album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, features pretty much every person on the planet --Rihanna, Alicia Keys, John Legend, The-Dream, Fergie, Kid Cudi, Elton John (on piano), Ryan Leslie, Charlie Wilson, Tony Williams and La Roux singer Elly Jackson. And seeing as though the video is being directed by Hype Williams, who's directed pretty much every hip-hop video on the planet, the expectations for this video are set really high. Like, Christmas-morning-when-you're-six-years-old high.

Rihanna tweeted with the picture, "Turn up the lights in here baby, EXTRA BRIGHT b----es!!!" Is that a little secret letting us in on what the video might entail? We can't really get a good look at the set or, more importantly, Rihanna's outfit for the video, but we're going to guess it might have something to do with...lights!! I know, we're smart like that.

Tags Alicia Keys, Elton John, Fergie, Hype Williams, Jay-Z, John Legend, Kanye West, Kid Cudi, La Roux, Nicki Minaj, Rick Ross, Rihanna, Ryan Leslie, The-Dream

(Credit: Getty Images)

With many of our favorite celebrities logging off Twitter this week to help raise money for charity, I thought the Twitterverse would be quiet. But thankfully our old faithfuls are still keeping us up-to-date, 140 characters at a time.

This week, Taylor Swift reminded us why she's the coolest -- she watches YouTube videos of cats with her parents, just like you and me. We also learned that Justin Bieber is a trooper, even when he's under the weather, Rihanna needs a vacation (get in line!), and Pink is the most energetic pregnant lady in the world. Are you surprised?

Also this week, Buzzworthy darling La Roux is as ecstatic as we are about her Grammy nominations, Maroon 5's Adam Levine finds the grossest bug ever in his house (seriously, it's disgusting), and Kanye West finds the time to remind us one more time that he's really rich.

But the best tweet of the week has to go to Drake, who reveals he's a PBS fan: "Antiques Roadshow. Nuff said." What I would give to be a fly on the wall when Drake's eating cookie dough ice cream in his sweatpants, watching a bunch of old guys appraising a still life...

Check out all of this week's celebrity tweets below and be sure to follow us at @MTVBuzzworthy!

TAYLOR SWIFT
@taylorswift13
Why, at my family gatherings, do we always have to end up youtubing funny cat videos..

RIHANNA
@rihanna
Fantasizing abt being in the most beautiful remote place, alone or with someone I love, wakin up to the sound of the ocean & the SUN #fantasy.

JUSTIN BIEBER
@justinbieber
So, being sick is the worst, but can't call the school nurse and go home and watch spongebob. I gotsta stick it out

LADY GAGA
@ladygaga
@ladygaga is dead. I will sacrifice my digital life to fight HIV/AIDS. No more tweets little monsters until we #BUYLIFE http://bit.ly/bQjboo

PINK
@pink
alright peoples!! mama's fired up this morning! workout, shoot a commercial, a video... all very exciting stuff. no sex crimes though.

DRAKE
@drakkardnoir
Antique Roadshow. Nuff Said.

LA ROUX
@larouxofficial
thank you so much everyone. I really don't know what to say. Very unexpected but we are very very happy about our nomination x

MAROON 5's ADAM LEVINE
@adamlevine
Is this bug kidding me? Please stay out of my house. http://plixi.com/p/60543622

KATY PERRY
@katyperry
I LOVE IT HERE! I feel SO safe & there's a STARBUCKS on base?! Oh sh--... I'm gonna join the Marines! PLUS camo is super trendy! #DIVA'S

KANYE WEST
@kanyewest
I don't think I own enough non de-script Margiela to go to Basel this year. I can't fit in w/o non de-script Margiela.

Related Content Last Time In Celebrity Tweets

Tags Adam Levine, Celebrity Tweets, Drake, justin bieber, Kanye West, Katy Perry, La Roux, Lady Gaga, Maroon 5, Pink, Rihanna, Taylor Swift

(Credit: Splash News)

Most of the songs we've heard from My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy have been collaborative tracks. The scary posse cut, "Monster," features Jay-Z, Nicki Minaj and Rick Ross; the lean "So Appalled" features super producers RZA and Swizz Beatz; and most of the other tracks feature appearances from Charlie Wilson and The Clipse's Pusha T.

In terms of collaborations, the newly leaked "All Of The Lights" is a supersize one. According to MTV News, the track features--deep breath--Rihanna, Alicia Keys, John Legend, The-Dream, Fergie, Kid Cudi, Elton John (on piano), Ryan Leslie, Charlie Wilson, Tony Williams and La Roux singer Elly Jackson.

It's kind of a dizzying situation: Rihanna handles the hook, much in the fashion of "Live Your Life." The song features some piano tinkling in the middle courtesy of Elton, a ragga-rap part by Fergie and a sort of second chorus by Alicia Keys.

For what it's worth, "All Of The Lights" is not an official G.O.O.D. Friday release from Kanye, but it's definitely worth your attention. It's is sort of like "Through The Wire," on steroids. It's beefed up, with swirling keyboards, horns and a military beat, while Kanye raps about Michael Jackson's death and going toward that light that meets you at the end. Stirring stuff!

Kanye West's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is out Nov. 22.

+ Listen to Kanye West's "All Of The Lights," here WARNING: NSFW

Tags Alicia Keys, Elton John, Fergie, Jay-Z, John Legend, Kanye West, Kid Cudi, La Roux, Nicki Minaj, Pusha T, Rick Ross, Rihanna, Ryan Leslie, Song You Need To Know, The-Dream

(Johnny Lawrence/Splash News)

+ Lady Gaga has been named the second most powerful entertainer in the world by Entertainment Weekly, coming in just behind Johnny Depp. (EW)

+ According to Kanye West, La Roux, M.I.A. and Alicia Keys will all appear on his upcoming My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy album. (Idolator)

+ Rihanna wearing a Topshop sweater with owls and other birds on it! Cute! (Just Jared)

+ Adam Lambert shared a smooch with his bass player on stage in Japan. (PopEater)

+ Solange Knowles has taken to Twitter to rip Katy Perry's "California Gurls" for its effect on her young son. (The FABlife)

Tags Adam Lambert, Alicia Keys, Johnny Depp, Kanye West, Katy Perry, La Roux, Lady Gaga, M.I.A., Rihanna, Solange Knowles

(Credit: Andrew Whitton)

Hard to believe that La Roux's self-titled debut album came out more than a year ago. Since last September, the red-headed Brit chanteuse has been enchanting us with her powerful, emotionally naked, tuneful electro and her visually stunning music videos.

Well, La Roux the album and La Roux the artist (La Roux being the duo of Ben Langmaid and Elly Jackson) keep on giving. And now she has a new video, for her single "In For The Kill." The track features some rather acrobatic vocal stylings from La Roux, and the video matches the ambitious music with a David Lynch-like portrayal of a seedy hotel (actually the famed Chelsea Hotel), full of voyeurs, snakes, sad sailors, Elnett hair spray and a slow-mo Elly Jackson, who seems to see all with her wandering eyes.

It's another breathtaking video from one of the most exciting new artists to come along in years.

+ Watch La Roux's "In For The Kill" video.

Tags La Roux, video

(Credit: Simone Joyner/Getty Images)

If you're anything like me, you were pretty amazed at Mark Ronson's "Bang Bang Bang" video. And if you're anything like me, you were left wondering about the identity of the lady vocalist with the crazy shades and awesome hairdo.

That was Amanda Warner, one half of the awesome electro-pop duo MNDR. Together with her partner, Pete Wade, Warner produces minimal, primal dance music, calling to mind everything from La Roux, to Bat For Lashes to Bjork to the Pet Shop Boys.

MNDR's released two EPs, the best of which is EPE, featuring the haunting "I Go Away" and the ecstatic "Jump In." They're currently working on their debut album, due out sometime in early 2011. If you happen to be in Hollywood tonight (August 23rd) they're playing. And if you're in the Big Apple you can see them on the 30th.

Check out music and tour dates over at MNDR's MySpace page.

Tags Bat For Lashes, Bjork, La Roux, Mark Ronson, MNDR, Pet Shop Boys, The Buzz On