Music
Press
Atlanta Film Producer Returns Home, Empowering and Challenging Riverwood High School Students With Curriculum-Based Music/Video/Film Production for International Distribution, Choreographed by Laurie-Ann Gibson
ATLANTA, Aug. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Available Light Productions proudly
announces the filming of Emily Jackson's music video "Yeah" Saturday,
August 26th and Sunday, August 27th at Atlanta's Riverwood High School --
motivating students to explore technological and artistic interests.
A major force in the industry, Jacob Marmer found himself producing for
top musicians Beyonce, Jamie Foxx, Elton John, Nelly, Lil' John and
Ludacris -- nowhere near his planned career when majoring at Emerson
College to direct. "It's difficult to be creative and have no ability to
implement it -- I'm a director trapped in a producer's body, responsible
for hundreds of thousands of dollars, in constant jeopardy of anything that
halts production. It's tough, but not living your dream is worse, so I
stopped producing to declare myself the director I know I am." An Atlanta
producer for over 10 years, Jacob sought out top industry crew and vendors
to support his project that challenges world-renowned Laurie-Ann Gibson to
choreograph the largest routine ever filmed in a video comprised of several
hundred top Atlanta dancers.
Urban Melodic Entertainment, headed by CBS & BET network audio
supervisor Charlie Jones, represents 19-year-old singer Emily Jackson of
Montclair, New Jersey. He is currently responsible for mixing several
network shows including "The Late Show with David Letterman", "Guiding
Light", and "CBS Sports". His limited funds had no bearing on the magnitude
of Jacob's vision of the video and the success it will be.
Making his own rules as always, the radical and unorthodox Marmer
combines forces with Riverwood, allowing high school students for the first
time to learn film production in an academically rigorous environment,
preparing them for a successful future. "Every interest is represented here
in some way -- accounting, physics of lighting and exposure, set building,
fashion, computer technology, translation ... everything is needed on a
film set eventually."
Inspired principal Eddie Echols commits sponsorship with the vast
resources of Georgia's #1 ranked high school, proposing Jacob's yearly
return with expectations of international expansion. Filmmaker Timothy
Bembury of the Career and Technology Center serves as supervising producer.
Sponsors on any level are urged to join the team and contribute to this
momentous educational campaign.
Jacob Marmer
818.402.6274
riverwoodvideo@mac.com
This release was issued through WebWire(R). For more information visit
http://www.webwire.com.
- PR Newswire
New York, NY (Billboard Publicity Wire) March 26, 2007 -- Although she is barely out of high school herself, rising star and singing sensation Emily Jackson (www.myspace.com/emilyjacksonmusic) will take Atlanta by storm tonight when she world premieres her debut music video and single "Yeah" at Riverwood High School on March 26 from 7-8pm. ATL's own DJ Mars will co-host and be spinning on the 1's and 2's. In tandem with the event, Emily Jackson will be performing live this morning on Fox's "Good Morning Atlanta" in the 8am hour.
Jackson's vocal style is an amalgam of everyone from Mariah Carey to Aaliyah and Christina Aguilera to Alanis Morisette. But it's the tracks by producers such as Timbaland, Dr. Dre., Kanye West and Swizz Beats that have influenced Emily's sonic identity. Ironically, Jackson evocatively channels a torch sound on what's to be her second single "I Don't Wanna Fall In Love," slated for a 3rd quarter 2007 release in time for her album debut.
Jackson's influences reflect her upbringing in a diverse community, Montclair, NJ. And, no matter how many idols she may have, Jackson has a style, poise, and honesty all her own. That honesty will be on display in her debut album, "A Year In the Life Of Heartbreak".
"Yeah" is the first single to premiere from that album. It is also the first single to be launched by industry veteran sound engineer Charlie Jones' new indie label, Urban Melodic Entertainment (www.urbanmelodic.com) based in New York. Showtime at the Apollo, BET's 106 & Park, The Chris Rock Show, Jamie Foxx's Laffapalooza, CBS-Guiding Light, and MTV's TRL are just a few of the shows Jones has mixed.
In an innovative collaboration, Jones decided to team with veteran music video producer Jack Marmer (Chris Robinson, Hype Williams, Robot Films). Marmer makes his directorial debut and produced the music video in conjunction with Riverwood High School's Media Arts Program in Atlanta, where Marmer is an alumnus. The video was even shot at the high school, with students shadowing all of the professionals and then producing their own documentary about the experience.
The video was choreographed by Ci Ci Kelly (Mariah Carey, Outcast, LL Cool J) and features some of the city's hottest dancers. Jackson, Jones, Marmer and the students of Riverwood High School are proud and thrilled to bring the world premiere of "Yeah" back to the set where it all began.
Immediate plans are to make the music video available on internet outlets such as youtube, myspace and dave.tv. Eventually the music video will be serviced to mainstream outlets. The radio promotion campaign is being lead by Issy Sanchez of Elite Music Group in New York and Marketing/PR handled by Angela Thomas of Prana Marketing (www.pranamarketing.com). Jones is looking to form a strategic alliance with a major media company in time for Jackson's album debut.
Following the premiere, Emily will wrap up her second year at Cal Arts' prestigious Theater Program and then plans to take some time off from school to devote her energies to promoting the brand new single, album, and record label.
See the music video on Emily's myspace page: www.myspace.com/emilyjacksonmusic
###
- Billboard PR Wire
PRESS RELEASE
Highly Respected Sound Engineer Launches Indie Record Label
(Urban Melodic Records debuts with 19-year-old pop/urban diva Emily Jackson.)
New York, NY (Billboard Publicity Wire/PRWeb) February 5, 2007 -- Highly respected sound engineer Charlie Jones is embarking on a new chapter in his career. He has launched Urban Melodic Entertainment.
BET's "106 & Park." "Showtime at the Apollo." Jamie Foxx's "Laffapalooza." MTV's "TRL." CBS's "Guiding Light." "The Chris Rock Show." These are just a few of the shows mixed by Charlie Jones, or "C.J." as his friends and colleagues know him.
Though he isn't a household name, the shows he has mixed and the talent whose shows he's laid his sonic stamp upon are. And when a TV producer or Executive in Charge of Production needs an audio mixer or "A1" as it's called in the TV world, Charlie is usually on the top-10 list of go-to mixers.
Mainstream with an urban edge is the philosophy for this new company. "Hip-Hop and its influence on pop culture, from music to fashion to Madison Avenue is profound and undeniable. Urban Melodic is where melody and the street come together," Jones said.
Launching the label is a natural progression for this Howard University graduate, who majored in music composition and minored in music business. The New York-based label is an extension of the infatuation with music videos that C.J. developed while working as a freelance audio mixer over a period of 16 years at BET, MTV and VH1. During the past three years he has been developing three artists under his Urban Melodic Productions moniker. The current roster consists of:
Emily Jackson: 19-year-old Pop/Urban female from Montclair, NY
Gyant: 34-year-old R&B/Urban male from Washington, DC
Sadiiya Rock: 21 year old R&B/Urban female from Brooklyn, NY
In November 2005, C.J., along with colleague Jacqueline Manning did a showcase for then Columbia Records President Steve Greenberg. Manning had worked with Greenberg during his S-Curve Records days to help break recording artist Josh Stone. It became clear in February 2006 that a deal would not materialize due to no fault of any of the parties. At that point, C.J. decided to launch Urban Melodic as an independent label rather than take "another" A&R meetings. "After the showcase, everyone in the room kept coming to me saying that the artists, material and the caliber of talent are as good as any signed to a major label. I knew we could be competitive and it was time to take matters into my own hands."
C.J. set out to create the infrastructure necessary so singles were available to the public once the artists became visible. He began to build a steady fan base via the Internet and singles placed on iTunes and other Internet outlets. He brought in Steve Conner (formerly Creative Director at Burrell Communications in Chicago) as a creative director/consultant to oversee branding and visual presentation and recently hired Issy Sanchez of Elite Music Group as a consultant to handle radio promotion. In the meantime, he has continued recording each artist to complete their albums with targeted 3rd and 4th quarter 2007 album releases.
Jones wears all the hats, from executive, manager and psychologist, to recording engineer, producer and mixing & mastering each project. C.J. also enlisted some friends to help him out on production including Shay Taylor (Ne-Yo, Busta Rhymes), Lawrence "Woo" Allen (B2K, Destiny's Child-remixes), Jason "Loose" Dyer of Natural Born Builders (DTP's I-20, Salaam Remy) and Dave "D.S." Stanley (Mobb Deep, Various Mix tape tracks).
The first single release is "Yeah" from pop diva Emily Jackson. The single will be serviced to radio in March along with the music video being serviced in Mid-February 2007. The music video for "Yeah" was directed by veteran music video producer Jack Marmer (Chris Robinson, Hype Williams, Robot Films), and is Marmer's directorial debut. Marmer produced the music video in conjunction with the Riverwood High School's media arts program in Atlanta, GA. Tim Bemberry, director of the program approached Marmer, who is an alumnus of the high school to do a music video symposium. Jack Marmer went one better and shot the music video at the high school. Marmer brought in industry veterans to handle cinematography, AD, wardrobe, stylist, hair & makeup, audio, lighting and grips, involving the students giving them hands-on experience in making a music video. The students in turn made their own "Making the Video" film.
The treatment has Emily Jackson taking over the high school and turning every location she goes to into a dance off/traveling party. The music video then culminates in a concert. Choreographed by Ci Ci Kelley (Mariah Carey, Outkast, LL Cool J, Laurie Ann Gibson) the music video features some of the hottest dancers in Atlanta. Kelley also oversaw some 200 dancers for auditions. A world premiere is scheduled to take place at the high school on March 26, 2007. - Billboard PR web
Discography
singles currently available on iTunes, CD baby and most internet outlets
"Yeah" feat. South Boy
"I Don't Wanna Fall in Love"
Photos
Bio
Emily Jackson
Bio
She wears her heart on her sleeve...perhaps more than she should. But that's the soul of Emily Jackson. The 21-year-old vocal powerhouse hails from Montclair, NJ, a community known for its diversity. This also reflects Emilys musical tastes and influences. As a kid growing up in the 90s, I listened to Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Alanis Morisette, Aaliyah and of course Britney Spears. But, I also love Rap. My favorites are 50 Cent, Eminem, and Jay-Z; but its the beats that draw me in. I really want to work with Timbaland, The Neptunes and Kanye West.
It was this approach, combining street beats/hip-hop influenced tracks with contemporary melodies that describe Emilys sound. Emily brings her own eclectic blend of urban-pop to the game and is about to take the court. She often draws comparisons vocally to Jessica Simpson, Pink, Mariah Carey and Christina Aguilera. I love all of them, especially Mariah and Christina. They have been the blueprint to create my own sound and direction. I also would re-create Aaliyahs vocal stylings only to find my falsetto was a lot like hers.
Emily grew up around music, a stark contrast to the rest of her family where anything that was non-musical was the priority. Emily would always sing around the house with the stereo blasting in her bedroom. I was constantly yelled at to turn the music down, but then I would be singing just as loud as the music. My family eventually gave up on telling me to turn it down. Her mom has no idea where Emilys love of music and vocal ability came from. Wherever its from, its raw, emotional and instinctive.
Onstage is where Emily comes alive and people take notice. Emilys recent performance at BergenPAC in New Jersey opening up for Rick Springfield left the audience buzzing who is this girl? Her performance chops come from her pursuit of musical theater. In her senior year of high school she played the role of sultry-tawdry Evelyn Nesbit in Ragtime. She makes her first appearance from a swing elevated 20 feet above the stage wearing fishnet stockings, a red dress with a long slit to her thigh and black camisole. From that moment all eyes are on her. She opens her mouth, recites her lines, and breaks into song in full diva character commanding the stage. Thats the "IT" factor Emily brings to her music and permeates who she is.
A test music video was shot for I Dont Wanna Fall In Love, a powerhouse ballad that allows Emily to showcase her vocal aptitude. Emily decided to portray a 1940s torch singer tormented over love gone awry. The treatment places Emily in a nightclub engaged in a classic performance of the song. She combines her theatrical prowess with modern day sensibility. Urban Melodic decided to leak the single first on iTunes because the label wanted to establish Emily as a true singer and that be the first impression people get about Emily.
The song itself is about a real life situation, a recent dilemma about a guy shes desperately in love with, yet his head is stuck in the sky and isnt paying attention to the signs shes in love with him. Emily finally comes to her senses and realizes she has to let it go. In conclusion she questions how love makes you act and think irrationally. Love leaves you with all these feelings and emotions that you just dont know what to do with them. But Ill never give up on love.
Emilys life process is that of your typical teenager/21-year-old life processes engulfed in love, relationship breakups and partying. Her debut single Yeah is written about a house party. This combination of love changes and party seeking has created the album
Love Hard
Party Even Harder. The collection of songs reads like a personal journal and Emily has invited you in to read it. The topics range from the rush of meeting a potential love on Ill Make the 1st Move to Merry Go Round Da Club an up-tempo party anthem.
"Yeah" is the first single and music video to be released for the album. The song features a rap by ATLs South Boy whos currently blazing down south on the mix tape circuit. Veteran music video producer Jacob Marmer, who's been producing music videos for Music Video Director Chris Robinson's Robot Films, makes his directorial debut. The treatment has Emily and a bunch of high school students taking over the high school and turning each classroom into a party. It was shot on location at Riverwood High School in Atlanta.
After graduating from Montclair High in 2004, Emily had the tough decision of grinding in New York to pursue her recording career or going to college. She chose the later and was accepted at prestigious Cal Arts outside of L.A. The experience has paid off. Now a second year theatrical major, Emily has developed into a true triple threat performer. Shes had several auditions and landed a role in pilot Beautiful being developed for T.V. Upon the producers hearing her voice she was asked
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