By Geoffrey Rowlands

 
What exactly is Baauer’s US chart-topping single, Harlem Shake? Music reviewers are certainly divided. Some are content to just describe the track as hip-hop. Others suggest it fits a sub-genre called trap. One said it was trap and bass while another insisted the song was not hip-hop at all but simply hip-hop influenced.
For his part, the man born Harrison Bauer Rodrigues couldn’t care less.
“I just made a goofy, fun dance track,” smiled the 23-year-old DJ/producer. “I’m not bothered how it’s defined by music critics. I just know a lot of people have a great time dancing to my song and that’s the best feeling.”
Born in west Philadelphia, his father’s work as a financial consultant for international companies saw Baauer living in Germany and England between the ages of four and 13. It was only after his family returned to America that he discovered hip-hop.
“Music at home tended to be jazz and classic rock. After getting into hip-hop, I found videos of the World DJ Championship on YouTube. That made me want to become a DJ and I played my first gig at the Toquet Hall Teen Center in Westport, Connecticut.”
Baauer studied audio technology at City College in New York and now lives in Brooklyn.
“I love the whole scene in New York. There are so many artists and musicians so the vibe is really creative. I don’t think I’d want to live anywhere else.”
After initially DJ-ing as Captain Harry and being involved in what he describes as “millions of failed projects,” he rededicated himself to his craft under the new name of Baauer.
“I added another a to my middle name and decided to really commit myself to the Baauer project. Rather than being lax in things as I’d sometimes been before then, I made sure I always finished whatever I started.
“I’d created house music for a long time but thought I’d try making a hip-hop song. I enjoyed cutting up samples and trying to vary the hip-hop beats. It felt really natural.”
He posted two pages of songs on Soundcloud. One of these was Harlem Shake which was heard by Rustie who featured the track on his BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix show last April.
Although there was industry recognition, public response was hardly overwhelming. Producer Diplo acquired rights to Harlem Shake and released it as a free digital download. The song was issued commercially last June but little became of it until earlier this year when the first 30 seconds soundtracked a video made by 19-year-old communications student Filthy Frank.
It depicted one person moving to the beats while others followed their mundane tasks. After 15 seconds, everyone is seen dancing around like madmen. This video, posted on Frank’s YouTube page, set off an Internet meme which saw thousands of copycat videos uploaded to YouTube. Harlem Shake effectively became 2013’s Gangnam Style.
Despite the videos using just the opening part of Baauer’s song, interest quickly grew in hearing the entire track. It proved so popular that Harlem Shake stormed straight to No.1 on Billboard’s Hot 100.
“I’m just happy that so many people like my song,” Baauer smiled. “It would have been nice to achieve all this success without the video craze. But many of the videos are great and, no matter how it may have been discovered, people finally found Harlem Shake so I’m very pleased about that.”


in
brief

Caleidra releases second single
 
Caleidra has just issued her second single, Miss Me.
The 16-year-old Oldham-born schoolgirl’s debut release, With You, was written as part of her GCSE Music exam. It not only earned her an A-grade but prompted renowned producer John McLaughlin’s desire to work with Caleidra, real name Naomi Higginson, after seeing her featured on British television.
Miss Me is again self-written. The song not only highlights Caleidra’s powerful voice but also showcases her talents as a multi-instrumentalist. The promotional video can be seen on YouTube.
At the conclusion of Miss Me, the video for With You will automatically play. Following this is a video for The Last Word. Although not released as a single, this was Caleidra’s first song to appear on YouTube. Some of her friends thought it was so good that they uploaded a demo version to the website.
 
Tayla Blue debut song on YouTube
 
Tayla Blue is another young vocalist and songwriter who is starting to make her mark on the UK music scene.
At 18, Tayla is two years older than Caleidra. She has also adopted a more pop/rap style as demonstrated on her forthcoming debut single, Play.
The promotional video is available to view now at www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFJX3DV2EFc. A link posted on this webpage sees Tayla performing live acoustic versions of Monopoly and Play for a BBC Introducing session. She is also interviewed between songs.
Earlier videos, some of which were recorded when she was just 12 years old, are posted on her official YouTube channel. These can be accessed at www.youtube.com/user/taylabluenew.
Some of Tayla’s more recent songs can be heard at (no www.) soundcloud.com/user179116809.
 
Charity project by Linkin Park
 
Alternative rockers Linkin Park have created a bracelet to help benefit the Haitian victims of Hurricane Sandy.
An unusual design, two interlocking circles engraved with “Music For Relief” are linked to a black adjustable band. It is available to purchase for $15 from www.musicforrelief.org. All proceeds will be donated to International Medical Corps to help fund their long-term health care, water and sanitation programmes In Haiti.
Linkin Park guitarist and singer Mike Shinoda recently travelled to Haiti with Music For Relief. The video of Mike visiting International Medical Corps personnel to better understand their cholera treatment and prevention work can be seen at www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyne-YFgYEQ.
 
Boy Friend’s Secret City is out
 
Austin, Texas, trio Boy Friend have just released their Secret City EP. Two of the four tracks, Labyrinth and Standing Still, can be heard at (no www.) boyfriendmusic.bandcamp.com/album/secret-city-ep. Links from this webpage offer access to six more Boy Friend releases featuring 22 different songs.
Secret City is their first release since former Sleep ∞ Over members Christa Palazzolo and Sarah Brown were joined by bassist/drummer Tiffanie Lanmon. The girls directed and filmed their own video for lead single, Labyrinth. It was shot amid the stunning scenery of Lake Caddo on the Texas/Louisiana border and can be viewed at www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uS6ExaihkM.
No longer posted on YouTube is Boy Friend’s cover of the Prince song, When Doves Cry. The purple one seemingly wasn’t too happy and insisted the video should be removed.
The song can still be heard as one of four covers posted at (no www.) boyfriendmusic.tumblr.com/ but you must scroll more than halfway down the page to find them.