Israel Cruz - Party Up artwork & video

Here it is. The re-invention of Israel Cruz. As I mentioned in a previous post, the 28-year-old is firmly established as one of Australia's most successful R&B/hip-hop artists but has undergone a radical makeover on his latest single "Party Up". I liked Israel's old stuff - particularly the original, non-Scarlett Belle ruined "Freak Tonight" - but this is a massive improvement. Talking a leaf out of Jason Derulo's urban dance handbook, "Party Up" is loud and proud club banger with killer beats and a huge, sing-a-long chorus. It's an amazing song and I can really see it blowing up on the charts. In fact, Ministry of Sound is so confident that they've pushed the track forward a couple of weeks. It goes to radio on Monday and hits iTunes July 8. The video is a bit rough and doesn't quite reflect Israel's polished new sound and image but it's "Thriller" by Australian standards. I like the bright colours and was genuinely impressed by his dance moves. They will come in handy as his career progresses. Check out the clip and let me know if you're on board for the second coming Israel Cruz.

Israel Cruz - Party Up preview

Here's the first look at Israel Cruz's hot new single "Party Up". Some of you might remember songs like "Wake Up With You" and "Freak Tonight" (which Scarlett Belle infamously destroyed last year) but the talented singer has swapped his trademark hip hop beats for a more radio friendly urban dance sound. Think Taio Cruz meets Jason DeRulo - but with more of an edge. I love "Party Up" and think it's an absolute smash but you can't actually hear a lot of the song in the preview. It finally comes in at around 4:10 minutes, so stick with it. The video itself looks like a lot of fun. I've seen an early edit and it turned out really well. For starters, I had no idea Israel could dance! Stay tuned for the finished product very soon.

I stan for Stan

I really warmed up to Stan Walker last year. His sophomore album was surprisingly great, he rocked Summerbeatz, charmed everyone at the after-party and even made a Cassie Davis song sound good. The former Australian Idol has been working on album number three for the past few months and it's shaping up to be a monster if the lead single is any indication. "Loud" is another great addition to the Taio Cruz/Jason DeRulo canon of urban dance music. A couple have bloggers have likened the track to Chris Brown's "Beautiful People" and I tend to agree. The track definitely has a harder club edge than any of Stan's previous singles but he turns it out. His vocal is fire (as usual) and the production is crisp and current. I don't think "Loud" is quite as catchy as Marvin Priest's not entirely dissimilar "Own This Club" but it's definitely a grower, worming its way deeper into your head with each spin. Fingers crossed the sooon-to-be-released video is hot. I love that Australia is becoming a hot bed for urban dance music and know Stan will deliver the goods with his album! Listen to the track below.

Remember this name: Elen Levon

By the end of May the name Elen Levon will be on everyone's lips. The 16-year-old Sydneysider has her sights set on Jessica Mauboy's urban-pop crown and if her debut single is any indication, J Malley had better watch her back. "Naughty" is the best demo I've heard in a very long time. Produced by local hip-hop king Israel Cruz and his US based production team, Elen's future smash rips Rihanna's wig clean off with its smokin' hot beats and fun lyrics about embracing your inner bad girl. The song has been picked up by a new Ministry of Sound sub-label and they are rushing to film a video over the next couple of weeks. No wonder they're keen to get her out there. Elen is the real deal - as anyone in the audience at Supafest on Saturday can testify. With dance moves that make Ciara look like Sophie Ellis-Bextor and a fearsome set of pipes to rival anyone in the game, this girl could be Australia's next big thing. Stay tuned.

Take your halo, put it away tonight. Cos tonight we gon' be naughty!

Auburn - All About Him

Auburn has been on my radar since 2007 when she released an independent album called "Same Giirl". Her PR team at the time contacted me but I thought her music was a bit too credible for the five tragic queens that read this blog. Cut to 2010 and the charismatic singer has been snapped up by JR Rotem's Beluga Heights label. Her debut single "La La La" was a fabulous attempt to jump on Jason Derulo's urban dance bandwagon and amusingly sampled ATC's "Around The World". It eventually peaked at a very respectable #51 on Billboard's Hot 100 - an achievement that Amerie, Ciara and Tea Tea would kill for - but didn't receive the amount of attention it deserved. I hope her second single gets a better reception because it's a killer track. "All About Him" is one of those songs that gets stuck in your head from the very first listen thanks to cute lyrics about meeting guys at Starbucks and more hooks than a hardware store. I particularly love how Auburn channels the Road Runner in the chorus! The production is interesting too. JR has moved away from the heavily produced beats of "La La La" in favour of a more organic, retro vibe. I think this sound suits the diva a lot better. Fingers crossed "All About Him" takes off on radio because this is a very late contender for my best singles of 2010 countdown. I love it and can't wait for the video. Auburn is definitely a name to watch in 2011!

Kylie & Taio Cruz - Higher

I have a sickness for Taio Cruz. His songs all sound the same and he's only slightly less derivative than Jason Derulo (another favourite of mine) but I haven't stopped playing his album all year. Speaking of "Rokstarr", one of the highlights of that stunning opus has just been recycled into a duet with Kylie. The new and improved version of "Higher" leaked late last week and any hesitations I had about this most unlikely of collaborations disappeared instantly. Unlike the vast majority of "Aphrodite", I can actually imagine this on Australian radio. Taio is so hot right now and hopefully some of that popularity will rub off on Kylie. Don't worry - this isn't a re-repeat of the Ludacris version of "Chocolate" (even though I secretly love that hot mess!) - "Higher" is a dance track and is a surprisingly good fit for the elderly Minogue's voice. I'm particularly glad she gets the best line in the song: "I got this high without taking a pill". Scandal! Only one question remains. What is this actually for? The latest re-release of "Rokstarr" or the planned re-release of "Aphrodite"? I just hope Parlo and/or Warner have to sense to release "Higher" as a single over the three and a half minute cure for insomnia otherwise known as "Better Than Today". On past performance, I won't be holding my breath.

Mutu - Australia's Taio Cruz?

Although I never actually got around to reviewing his album for the blog, I'm completely sick for Taio Cruz. That whole urban dance sound pushes my buttons and I really want to zoom around Ibiza in his speedboat! Given the surging popularity of the genre (See Usher's "DJ Got Us Falling In Love" and Flo Rida's surprisingly amazing "Club Can't Handle Me") it's no surprise that an Australian has finally put their hand up for a piece of the pie. Not that Mutu is a johnny come lately. In fact, I've been meaning to write about him since January when his taster single "Not Worth Your Love" did the rounds. I liked that song but his official debut is even better. Produced by Stylaz Fuego (Snoop Dogg and Kelis) and mixed by Brent Kolatalo (Kanye West), "Familiar" is a slick mid-tempo pop tune with just enough R'n'B flavour to keep the urban crowd happy. The video also turned out well (below). Extra points for the cool choreography and pretty lights. "Familiar" is released on the 4th of October. Fingers crossed it's a hit. There might be hope for Selwyn yet!

Kat De Luna & Akon - Push Push

Kat De Luna has to be the unluckiest woman in pop. The current urban dance craze can be traced directly back to her 2007 album "9 Lives", yet the Dominican diva gets no credit for paving the way for Rihanna & co - let alone acknowledgement for hooking up with RedOne well before Lady Gaga. I guess revenge is a dish best served bankrupt because Kat continues to work with the hottest names in the industry despite having more flops than Dannii. But there could be some method to her madness if "Push Push" is any indication. This stunning call to the dancefloor is one of the best American pop songs of 2010 (along with Livvi Franc's "Automatik" and the ubiquitous "Better Than Her"). The production - courtesy of RADIO - is equal parts electro-dance and dancehall. I love the catchy handclaps and vocal hooks, while the euphoric chorus grabs you by the balls and refuses to let go. Akon's rap is also a surprising treat. "Come on closer with your umbrella, 'cause you're about to get rained on" is either the year's most romantic rhyme or a disturbing reference to watersports that I'll choose to ignore! Don't be put off by the demos that have been floating around the net since January. The finished version (below) is a massive improvement, lifting the original material to new heights. "Push Push" is released on the 6th of April. Fingers crossed Queen Kat finally has a hit on her hands. Oh and make sure you check out the pop pioneer's Myspace to hear the song in Spanish. I want it. Bad!

EDIT: I got in trouble for posting the final version. Here's the next best thing on Youtube!