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'Tis the season to be thankful, so let's all count our blessings and remember what's truly important: Pop music! This week's roundup includes a "Vampire Diaries" actress-turned-chanteuse, an "Idol" legend, rising stars hailing from the U.K. and South Africa, and a mournful masterpiece by an indie darling.
 

4.) Kat Graham, "Wanna Say (Fred Falke Remix)

"Vampire Diaries" darling Kat Graham shook up our spray cans earlier this year with her tag-tastic clang-a-lang track "Put Your Graffiti On Me." Now, she's back with "Wanna Say," the slick electro-ballad from her debut EP, Against The Wall. To celebrate the release, Kat's collected a slew of killer remixes of her latest single, including one by French house remixer/producer extraordinaire Fred Falke. As with all of his remixes, Falke's taken the track and smoothed it out into a lush, disco stomper, full of warm synthesizers and a driving pulse.

» buzzworthy.mtv.com

http://smarturl.it/t2kg11

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Kat Graham Tags Her Name on the Music Biz, Talks Heartbreak and Style
By Niki McGloster

Kat Graham‘s got attitude.

Currently, this 22-year-old singer-dancer-advocate-actress has enough sassy fearlessness and talent to steal the spotlight from a few adored pop stars. Dubbed a Janet Jackson-Lady Gaga hybrid (and a dash of M.I.A.), Graham creates music that appeases 90’s R&B purists and the lovers of all things electric. With singles like “Put Your Grafitti On Me” and “Heartkiller,” the Vampire Diaries breakout star has captivated a rapidly growing fanbase with her four-track EP "Against The Wall," and even super producer will.i.am has taken notice.

Between taking up producing at the age of 14 and honing engineering skills at 17 years young, she discovered her love for back-up dancing under the mentoring of choreographer Fatima Robinson. Although acting ultimately became the launch pad for her blossoming music career, the art of sound has always been her first love. 

“I’ve been fighting for this for so long I’d be damned if someone tells me I can’t do it,” she says. “It’s a different kind of fight people see in me. With music, it’s harder. I don’t care what anyone says. It’s harder to be a music artist than to be an actor in this day and age, way harder.”

Vixen caught up the highly flammable singer to talk her funky style, her non-”Heartkiller” boyfriend and why she’s determined to tag her name all over this entertainment biz.

VIBE VIXEN: What has been the response been for the “Against The Wall” tour?
KAT GRAHAM: It’s been insane. Literally, I’ve had two shows where I’ve cried on stage because they knew every word to the songs. It’s interesting meeting fans that have the EP, know the choreography and are just so happy to come to an actual performance.

You’ve had a few false starts in music to date, but as of late, the new stuff is catching like wildfire. Do you cringe at the old stuff?
No, I’m happy that I was even in that position that I was in. It gives me a history, ya know. If I had all of a sudden released music and it was all of a sudden so amazing, it kinda takes away my history and a bit of my progress, so even if it’s not the best music I could have came out with originally, it shows the world this is where I started and this is where I’m at. Even in a year from now or two years for now, it’s going to get even better, bigger and stronger. I’m actually happy that it’s out on the web and I release music independently without a label and that I really paid my motherfuckin’ dues.

That’s exactly what it is. What’s making you focus on the music more now than ever?
I love acting, don’t get me wrong. I work my ass off at whatever job I do, and I’m grateful I can get the opportunity to be a creative performer in that way. That’s an aspect of me, but I was never given a chance in music. I have to fight tooth and nail to get even an inch in music and I’m still fighting. The fight has grown in me to do music even more than anything before because I haven’t gotten to where I wanted to get to. I have goals in my life and I feel like with music it’s just another beast in me that’s refusing to back down and refusing to say that I can’t do it. Fuck that! I’ve been doing this; I’ve literally been making beats in my room since I was 14. I’ve been engineering since I was 17, I’ve been dancing as a backup dancer since the age of 14. If I were to compare it to acting, it’s basically if I wrote a script, produced it myself, got it to Cannes, got it completely distributed and it was a hit. That’s basically what you’re doing in music, you’re starting from scratch, you’re making it all by yourself and then you’re shoving it out there for people to see. You hope and cross your fingers that it’s a hit, that it will be well-received. If I were to compare it to film that’s what it would be.

Why do you want to do music?
Because everyone told me I couldn’t. I’m not doing it because I think it’s going to be easy; I’m doing it because I just want to make music. I want to be a successful artist.

You’ve been open about your love for Janet and how she influences you. If you could sit and have a convo with her, what would you say?
I would just thank her because she really was one of the only African American women that did pop, so performance-heavy, all about the dancing and she came from the TV background that I did. She wouldn’t probably understand exactly what she contributed to my journey; I don’t think any celebrity or person understands. I was getting compared to her as a little girl and that’s what turned me towards Janet. People were telling me I look like her, telling me I dance like her or different people in the industry were like I was the next her. I was a baby, so I had to go in the archives to see what she was doing when she was my age so I could figure out why people kept saying that. It makes me want to be this amazing performer and be kind too. One thing I noticed about some of the most amazing performers and people that were these triple threat that did go from one thing to another but were known as performers like Sammy Davis Jr. or Will Smith and people that really trained was that they were really kind. They came across as unaffected and anti-bullshit, and I want to be that. I’m not interested in ego.

Your activism with GLAAD reflects that. How did you become such an advocate and activist for the LGBT community?
I’m actually a part of the GLAAD community. People that supported me and people that helped me create what I am now have been primarily apart of the gay community. For me, my father was this Liberian who was dating this white woman, my mom. They suffered so much discrimination because they were together. From being the only Jewish black girl and being teased and my family being teased, I look at discrimination–it’s so stupid. Any form of it. I don’t care if you’re black or white or whatever.

When I was paying to perform, the only people that would book me were gay clubs. That was it. One of my biggest supporters is a part of the gay community, so it’s like I always felt home there and felt supported. I feel that I owe a huge piece of my life and my time for however long I’m on this earth to breaking a lot of these injustices. It goes beyond just the gay icons–the Grace Joneses, the Chers. There’s a lot of discrimination and there’s still inequality, and I just definitely feel like the world can’t afford discrimination.

Switching gears a bit, speak on “Heartkiller.” Were you referring to a recent situation?
I’ve been in a relationship for almost four years, but before I was with the person I’m with now, I had one of the biggest heartbreaks of my life. It has completely laid me down. I couldn’t find my power when I was in the relationship because I was just in love and gave my power away. But now that I’m out of it, I am saying the things I wish I would’ve said when I was in the relationship. I sometimes feel that there are girls who are in the middle of the situation that they can’t remove themselves from, so I still write about it. I know I should’ve spoken up when things weren’t right.

When was the last time your heart was broken?
It wasn’t a love relationship, but my heart was broken about two weeks ago. The person was in my life for a long time. Hearts break all the time, and for me, it’s a good thing because I can write great songs about it. Most of my songs aren’t about mushy love; my songs aren’t about being in love. It’s about getting through it, getting through hard times.

How are you and your current boyfriend doing?
I’m really happy. I’m in a completely solid place where I can be creative and I can focus on my music. I never had that before.

Define your style in three words.
90’s, mature femme, pop.

Why do you describe it as that?
I always talk about the 90’s being the era where people embraced the different sides of an artist. I felt like if I was dressed like how everyone is dressed now I would be doing what everyone was doing, and I’m not. I always kind of dressed so weird. My mom dressed me until I was 14, then when I finally had access to clothes, I went a little crazy and never came back from it. I love being fashion-forward and having style and wearing things nobody else would wear.

Do you feel like your style will evolve and change a little bit, or are you pretty much set in what you want your style to be?
I think I’m pretty set. I hope that my style matures. Like, right now I’m wearing American flag tights and hopefully I’m not wearing them when I’m 80! [Laughs] I think I always want to be me.

Now, your body is insane. How do you stay in shape?
I just dance. I’m really bad at going to the gym.

So you’re naturally petite, you don’t have to work at it.
Yeah, I only have an ass I don’t really have anything else.

Lastly, what are you bringing musically to the table that we haven’t seen?
Since the 90’s, I don’t know if there’s really been a performer, other than maybe Chris Brown and Britney Spears. I really think Ciara is a great artist. But as far as doing it all, I don’t really think there is one. I want to bring it back; I want to take it back to the old school. 

» www.vibevixen.com

» youtu.be

Tour Dates:

DATE                                  CITY                                         VENUE                

6/14/12                       San Francisco, CA                  The Crib          

6/15/12                       Chicago, IL                           Roscoe’s         

6/16/12                       Bridgeview, IL                       Toyota Park - B96 SummerBash                     

6/21/12                       Boston, MA                            Estate/Glam Life                    

6/22/12                       Washington, DC                     Town Dance Boutique

6/24/12                       New York, NY                         230 Fifth

6/26/12                       Las Vegas, NV                        Pure Night Club – Rock The Vote

6/27/12                       Wilton Manors, FL                    Bill’s Filling Station 

6/29/12                       Miami, FL                               Score

6/30/12                       Tampa, FL                              G Bar                          

7/1/12                         Orlando, FL                            Parliament House                  

» www.vevo.com

» www.seventeen.com

» idolator.com

» popcrush.com

Debut Performance On Ellen Airs Today, May 29th

Los Angeles, CA (May 29^th, 2012) – Kat Graham’s newest track, Heartkiller, from her debut EP Against The Wall, will be featured as the coveted iTunes Free Pop Song of the Week beginning today, May 29^th in the U.S.  Against The Wall, which marks the multitalented singer/songwriter/actress/dancer's first major label release through A&M/Octone Records, is also available today exclusively on iTunes before it releases to all other digital retailers.  Kat, who is planning to connect with her fans at shows across America later this summer, will make her broadcast television performance debut today on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.” For further information on show times, please check local listings: http://ellen.warnerbros.com/about/whenitson.php. 

"Heartkiller is a song I wrote almost entirely in euphemisms,” said Kat of the latest Against The Wall track.  “It represents a heart breaker who's not going to get a free pass by me to come and kill my heart. This is for girls to feel strong about saying no... That it’s ok to say no to a person who in the end simply doesn't deserve you."

Kat recently released her debut single off Against The Wall, “Put Your Graffiti On Me,” through A&M/Octone Records.  The single, which dropped March 26^th, perfectly portrays Kat’s unique and captivating sound where rhythmic meets Top 40 and fresh beats pair with pop melodies.  The Benny Boom directed video currently has over 3.4 million views on YouTube and VEVO combined and is a true representation of the signature style that Kat is known for. 

EP Track Listing:

Put Your Graffiti on Me

Heartkiller

Wanna Say

Supa Dope

» itunes.apple.com

Los Angeles, CA (May 22, 2012) – Pop sensation Kat Graham will release her debut EP Against The Wall on May 29^th through A&M/Octone Records.  Recorded in Los Angeles with a slew of notable producers including Australian duo “Twice as Nice” (50 Cent, Pete Wentz), Against The Wall marks the multitalented singer/songwriter/actress/dancer's first major label release.  For the first week of its release, the EP will be available exclusively on iTunes beginning May 29^th before releasing to all other digital retailers.  Kat will make her television performance debut on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on Tuesday, May 29th on NBC at 4PM ET / PT and 3PM CST.

 “There is no better place to be than Ellen DeGeneres and it has been a dream of mine since I first saw Ellen.  I’m excited to share with my fans what’s in store for this performance,” said Graham of her upcoming appearance on Ellen.   "This is the real deal," continued the pop starlet on her EP. "It's about owning yourself, your sexuality, and who you are. It's okay to be unapologetic. This is me vocally, musically, and fashionably. It's not just about tagging the wall, I'm saying, 'If you want me, come and get me'."

 Most recently Kat released her debut single off Against The Wall, “Put Your Graffiti On Me,” through A&M/Octone Records.  The single, which dropped March 26^th and is currently available on iTunes and all digital retailers, perfectly portrays Kat’s unique and captivating sound where rhythmic meets Top 40 and fresh beats pair with pop melodies.  The Benny Boom directed video currently has over 3.3 million views on YouTube and VEVO combined and is a true representation of the signature style that Kat has become known for. 

EP Track Listing:
Put Your Graffiti on Me

Heartkiller

Wanna Say

Supadope

About Kat Graham:

Born in Geneva, Switzerland and raised in Los Angeles, Graham, best know for her role as Bonnie Bennett, in The CW’s drama “The Vampire Diaries,” has been making music since long before she hit the screen.  At the age of 15, Graham was chosen to perform at the BET Awards as a background dancer for Lil’ Bow Wow.  That experience led to other stints as a background dancer for Missy Elliott, Pharrell, Ludacris, Gwen Stefani and Jamie Foxx. After completing her degree in recording engineering, she went on finish a world tour with The Black-Eyed Peas, and her voice is featured on Will.I.Am’s solo release “Songs About Girls” (“I Got It From My Mama”) and “The Donque Song,” featuring Snoop Dogg.  Graham was seen in the film “17 Again,” with Zac Efron and Matthew Perry, and in “The Roommate,” with Leighton Meester. For more on Kat Graham check out Twitter.com/KatGraham and Facebook.com/OfficialKatgraham

For further press inquiries on Kat Graham, please contact:

Dvora Englefield // Beau Benton at 42West               

Dvora.Englefield@42West.Net  // Beau.Benton@42west.net

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Kat Graham, right now, is a name only familiar to two slivers of the population: those who watch The Vampire Diaries, where she plays Bonnie, or those who trawl about the outer reaches of the pop blogs. We’re part of the latter. (I mean, it’s plausible that someone in this room right now has seen an episode or so of vampires doing whatever vampires get up to on TV, but me, I’ve just seen ads on the subway, and those came down months ago.)

Part of this is because she’s never had a proper major-label release before “Put Your Graffiti On Me,” her first single on A&M/Octone Records. That’s Maroon 5′s label. Maroon 5 is in the sort of career resurgence that lets them name an album Overexposed and not have it be a laughathon. In other words: much like The Vampire Diaries, this single comes with stakes.

“Put Your Graffiti On Me,” to its immense credit, sounds a lot fresher than it could be. It’s not the lyrics, exactly; half of them are essentially Rihanna’s “Birthday Cake” without the sex or scandal, and the rest are standard image-development (the first line, “denim jean jacket, pink Chucks and a miniskirt,” is nearly a casting description) and swagger-and-shove. Nor are the sounds themselves different; the track’s a bit like something by Diplo if he lowered the Major Lazer a tad, or perhaps a bit like “Say It Right” without the wistfulness, the synths swoop and the snares stutter as radio does nowadays, and Graham clips her lines, shifts her pitches and spits her catchphrases (i.e. “tag me”) enough to exceed radio’s swag requirement.

All this works for two reasons. First, producers Twice as Nice were wise to emulate Diplo instead of, say, RedOne, and for every trendy production choice are three more tired ones avoided. But more so, it works because Kat Graham. Her voice’s always had a certain push to it, and that’s a huge advantage when pop demands vocals go into full attack mode. “Now that Ciara’s career is kaput, Rihanna’s run off the rails, Beyonce’s bogged down with a baby, and Nicki Minaj is Nicki Minaj, the urban-pop scene is in desperate need of some fresh meat,” writes The Prophet Blog, and they’re onto something. These are probably the best possible conditions for Kat to break out, and judging by “Put Your Graffiti On Me,” she could be working toward her best possible song.

» popdust.com

» www.eonline.com