House Artists

New Video: Pierce The Veil, 'King For A Day'

2012-08-06T16:49:00.001-07:00

You've already seen a sneak peek of Pierce the Veil suiting up for a classy bank robbery, and in the new "King For a Day" video, the band pulls the heist off with style (and Super Soakers). In a very "Office Space" move, the San Diego quartet decides to get theirs after their piggish branch manager asks 'em to come in on Saturday -- dude should know that never works out. Instead of "Damn It Feels Good To Be a Gangsta," the video's set to Pierce the Veil's latest, a song split between hardcore breakdowns and a melodic, warp-speed chorus.

Watch Pierce the Veil's "King For A Day" video after the jump.

The video blends the bank sequences with the band's high-energy performance -- peep singer Vic Fuentes' sweet-looking smeared green-and-white guitar. While the heist scenes get pretty intense, don't worry -- Pierce the Veil put their own twist on the situation before things get violent. Kellin Quinn of Sleeping with Sirens co-stars in the clip, and we'll be seeing a lot more of that combo in the next few months: his band will be hitting the road with Pierce the Veil on the Rockstar Energy Presents The Collide With The Sky Tour. That bill will also have Tonight Alive and Hands Like Houses. The tour takes its name from Pierce the Veil's new album, which dropped in July on Fearless Records. King for a day? They'll be touring through November, so we'd say they've got plenty of ruling ahead of them.

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What do you get when you cross classic, folk, hip-hop and power pop together .. just a little FUN.

2012-08-06T16:38:00.002-07:00

Conor Maynard is the charismatic and charming 19 year-old who effortlessly encompasses credible-cool and
commercial appeal with his forward-thinking, futuristic, super-sharp urban-pop.

Already boasting a smash-hit debut single in the form of "Can’t Say No", which has sold well over 200,000 copies; his forthcoming album Contrast establishes him as one of pop music’s most exciting propositions.

Co-written and produced by Conor with the likes of Pharrell Williams, Ne-Yo, Midi Mafia, Stargate and Frank Ocean and UK producers the Invisble Men, it’s sure to be a worldwide smash.

Having previously won MTV UK’s coveted Brand New for 2012, we are now taking Conor global asJuly’s MTV PUSH Artist.

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Jay Sean Gets 'So High' With Afrojack On His Next Single

2012-07-15T12:16:00.002-07:00

Jay Sean has a number of A-list collaborations on his 2012 album, Worth It All. In addition to hooking up with rappers Pitbull (on "I'm All Yours")and Tyga (on "Sex 101"), he also looked to dance-music superstar Afrojack for some assistance on his next single, "So High."

The track came together in a kind of spur-of-the-minute way after the artists ran into each other in the studio. "The Afrojack thing was great how that happened," Jay told MTV News. "He was working in the same studio that I was in when I was recording the album, and I happened to bump into him. We recognized each other, so we checked out. He played me a couple of his songs; I played him a couple of my songs. We were like, 'Yo, let's do something together.' "

That something will get its big debut in the near future when it hits the streets ahead of the album, which will drop sometime later this year. And if you can't wait to hear it, Jay has a pretty great verbal tease that should hold you over for the time being.

"The song 'So High' is just ridiculous. Afrojack is such an amazing producer," he said. "Again, he lives in the clubs. He knows what works. So when it comes to actually producing, he knows what's gonna have an impact in the club.

"So, the production on this is just incredible," he added. "It sounds insane 'cause, again, the songwriting here was the same team who were behind 'Down,' 'Do You Remember' — myself and Jared Cotter. When we write songs, it just works. So that plus Afrojack's unbelievable production skills ... it sounds phenomenal."

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Feist Captivates At Pitchfork Music Festival

2012-07-15T12:13:00.001-07:00

CHICAGO — On Friday, a little bit after 8:30 p.m., the rain had finally stopped, breaking the humidity that

surrounded earlier acts on opening night of Pitchfork's music festival. That break created the perfect cool-night-air atmosphere to usher in the headliner: Leslie Feist, the singer-songwriter better known as just Feist.

The singer came onstage with a guitar, looking pretty in a white dress and ready to wrap the first, very rainy day of the fest with her folky, soulful sound. Feist's performance started immediately after the harmonies of the Dirty Projectors had died down from the nearby Red Stage. The Projectors were a great act for Feist and her three backup singers to follow because from then on, it became less of a rock show and more about a night of angelic voices.

Feist kicked off her set with the "The Bad in Each Other," setting the tone for a surprisingly intimate, sometimes foot-stomping and always endearing performance. Still, picking Feist as a headliner in the first place was admittedly an odd choice for the Pitchfork organizers, but the festival remains true to its seven-year legacy of creating interesting and innovative lineups.

The Canadian singer delivered some tambourine-shaking, danceable moments, including on "I Feel It All" and on big, catchy sing-along songs like "My Moon My Man." But on the whole, Feist was by far the quietest act of the fest's first day. Considering that the main Green Stage on which she performed had just been riled up by Southern rapper Big K.R.I.T., it's a testament to the quality of her songs and devoted fanbase that she not only held the interest of tired, rain-drenched festivalgoers, but had them singing along.

Among the other favorites were songs from her 2011 album, Metals, as well as the slowed-down minor version of "Mushaboom" from her 2005 album, Let It Die.

In some ways, picking a more low-key headliner was an asset for a festival that had fans shouting with A$AP Rocky and jumping around to Vancouver two-piece rock group Japandroids. By the time Feist hit the stage, it was nice to be able to sit on the lawn and enjoy songs from an artist that you didn't need to be the biggest hipster in the room to be familiar with.

The Pitchfork Music Festival continues on Saturday (July 14) with a rocking and rowdy lineup that boasts acts from Schoolboy Q to Hot Chip. It's also worth noting the awesome lineup of female artists rocking out, from bands like Wild Flag to Sleigh Bells. Solo female electronic artist Grimes has the last slot of the festival today, another interesting choice, but Pitchfork has already proven it can more than pull those off.

Share your favorite set from the Pitchfork Music Festival in the comments below!

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Kristen Stewart Wanted Edward And Bella To Make Love Like 'Animals'

2012-07-14T16:29:00.001-07:00

'Breaking Dawn' star tells Comic-Con panel the lead characters should have 'mind-boggling, otherworldly sex' in the movies.

SAN DIEGO — While "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2" isn't rated R, none of the credit for that should

go to Kristen Stewart. In fact, the star, who plays Bella Swan in the vampire series, seems to have done everything in her power to have the sex scenes turn out as intense as possible.

Stewart did much the same during production on "Breaking Dawn: Part 1," but this time, the actress thought her character could stand to be a little wilder. With both Bella and Edward now vampires in "Part 2," the intimate scenes didn't have to be so chaste, she reasoned.

"In ['Part 2,'] we just wanted it to be animals, you're not humans anymore," Stewart said during the movie's Comic-Con press conference. "Yeah, how do you do that? We tried, and they told us it was rated R, and we were like [snaps]."

In the end, of course, the final installment of the "Twilight" series won't be rated R, so the more intimate scenes will likely be edited or left on the cutting room floor. Stewart admitted she had a hard time finding the balance between coital moments that were appropriate and those that would get her in trouble with the MPAA.

"The ratings, man. It's a tricky thing," she said. "We're supposed to have mind-boggling, otherworldly sex in 'Breaking Dawn - 1,' and we really — this is weird — tried to keep the first one sweet. It was really just about discovery. Nothing about this series is raunchy."

This is Stewart's fourth time to Comic-Con, and she admitted that she feels a connection with the fans who attend. A self-professed fan of "The Twilight Saga" novels even before nabbing the lead role, Stewart said it's nice to be surrounded by kindred spirits.

"I have been obsessed with this thing and it's been such a personal experience and you look over and there are other people that identify with things that I do and that shared energy is the coolest," she said. "It's very igniting, it spreads. You like something and you can share it with your friend. Suddenly you guys love it — do you know what I mean? — because you share it. I don't know why this thing was the one that people became obsessed with, but I think it sort of just lit."

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Joseph Gordon-Levitt Says 'Looper' Defies Sci-Fi Label

2012-07-14T16:05:00.003-07:00

SAN DIEGO — At San Diego Comic-Con, Joseph Gordon-Levitt told a Hall H audience that "Looper" was the first movie ever written specifically for him. The "Dark Knight Rises" actor even plays a guy named Joe in the

upcoming flick.

'Looper' Stars Explain How They Got Involved With The Project

"Looper" blends sci-fi, action and densely layered drama with a tale about assassins who take their victims out with the assistance of time travel. Gordon-Levitt's character is tasked with killing his future self, who happens to be played by action-hero icon Bruce Willis.

"It's a sci-fi movie in the tradition of 'Blade Runner,' 'The Matrix' or 'Inception' that gives you a lot to think about," explained Gordon-Levitt, speaking exclusively to MTV News in San Diego, where he, co-star Emily Blunt and and writer/director Rian Johnson debuted footage. "It's got the badass action, and it's a thrill if you want to just watch it for that," he continued. "But if you want to, you can find a really dignified drama underneath the genre."

During the Hall H panel, Gordon-Levitt also regaled the Con audience with tales of how he worked to capture the essence of Willis (it involved watching Willis' movies on repeat, listening to his voice on an iPod and wearing a few facial prosthetics). Blunt called it simply "the best movie" she's been in.

"I loved 'Looper' so much 'cause it has that completely kick-ass, action/thriller element to it, but yet there's a real complex story in there," Blunt agreed. "The movie is three steps ahead of you at every single turn, and I think it's rare to find a movie like that. I had to read [the script] three times before I really understood it. Even on the third time, I was like patting myself on the back for keeping up with it. I was like, 'I'm with it this time. I'm there.' I hadn't even come to my character yet, I was 30 pages in, and I called my agent. I said, 'Get me in the room with this guy now! This script is amazing.' "

Gordon-Levitt first collaborated with Johnson on the writer/director's first film, "Brick," which similarly blended genres. Hard-boiled crime-noir collided with high school in the 2005 movie, which inspired Roger Ebert towrite of Johnson, "You're good. You're very good."

"He and I have been really good friends since we made 'Brick' together," Gordon-Levitt said. "He's literally one of my best friends in the world and has been for years now. It wasn't even that long after we finished shooting 'Brick' that he started talking to me about this time-travel idea that he had. And then years later, he finally showed me the script."

Where the genre-melding of "Looper" will ultimately place it in the DVD aisle remains to be determined, but Blunt had a great suggestion: "Carve out a new space for it," she declared. "It is a sci-fi/action movie — I think that's really what he wanted to make — but within it, there's an emotional drama happening too.

"I think its complexity is what will keep people seeing it again and again and again," she added. Making it a perfect movie for Comic-Con crowds.

"Because Rian has been thinking up this, this idea has manifested in his head for years," Gordon-Levitt chimed in. "So he's thought [of] every single thread. Every single reveal or twist or turn in the movie has been thought out perfectly. So I think there's a lot to nerd out over. "

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Lady Gaga 'Has Full Control,' Akon Says

2012-07-14T15:40:00.002-07:00

Over the course of her ever-evolving career, Lady Gaga's longtime boss, Akon, has always been by Gaga's side

as she reincarnated herself from disco-ball-wearing dance princess to couture-sporting pop demi-goddess.

Now that Mother Monster is several years and millions of albums sold into her career, Akon has stepped back a

bit and changed his role in the Haus of Gaga, giving the singer more control over what she does with her career.

Akon Says Lady Gaga's Creativity Is All Her Own

"So the way it works is, Gaga's on Kon Live/Streamline, which is Vincent Herbert, and it's distributed through Interscope," he explained to MTV News. "And the first two albums, we were fully involved in everything creative when it comes to Gaga, and then, as she grows, she becomes more in tune with herself [and] what she wants to do.

"Now she has full control over her project, period," he continued. "Everything you see of Gaga now is all from her brain ... and our job is just to make sure whatever she's thinking we can make into reality. So I guess more so with the approval processes and everything like that, we still do what we do, but creatively, 100 percent, it's all Gaga, and Vince does all the day-to-day stuff relating to Gaga."

Then whatever's about to go down in Gaga's upcoming "Marry the Night" video certainly got the A-OK from Akon. The singer was spotted in New York City filming a clip for the fifth single from her chart-topping Born This Way.

What are you expecting from the "Marry the Night" video? Let us know in the comments!

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Akon Passed On Signing Drake, Kardinal Offishall Says

2012-07-14T15:34:00.003-07:00

Akon sure has an ear for top-notch talent; just ask T-Pain and Lady Gaga. Still, even the best music execs miss out from time to time, and on Wednesday's "RapFix Live," Kon's buddy Kardinal Offishall revealed the "Locked Up" singer's most notable miss.

"The biggest one that he passed on, I told him about Drake early," Kardi revealed. "I said, 'Kon, this kid is a T.V. star... and this kid is crazy.'

Kardinal, like Drizzy, hails from Toronto, but was able to establish himself as a notable rap talent years before Drake broke out with 2009's So Far Gone."I had met him years before he started with his first mixtape," Offishall said. "The thing that's dope about Drake is that I remember, like he was just hungry because he wanted to make that transition from the acting to the rapping."

Kardi recalled a specific meeting where the OVO spitter played him an early mixtape, which he was instantly impressed with. The two even collaborated on "The Last Hope," a song off of Drake's 2007 mixtapeComeback Season. It would take a number of years, but by the time Drake officially arrived with So Far Gone, there was little doubt that he was going to be huge. "After he blew, I went back and said, 'See Kon, I told you,' " Kardinal said. "But it's one of those things that worked out beautifully for Drake with YMCMB. He's got a good camp."

Where do you think Drake's career would be today if he had signed with Akon? Let us know in the comments!

?Justin Bieber & Selena Gomez: Did They Break Up

2012-07-14T15:20:00.001-07:00

But multiple photos from the fete show the "Love You Like a Love Song" singer all smiles, appearing to be in

upbeat spirits. She was even photographed being twirled around by a man identified as Bieber's close pal Alfredo Flores

Is there trouble in paradise forJustin Bieber and Selena Gomez?

A source tells PEOPLE that Gomez, 19, "was crying about Justin and was upset" during Ashley Tisdale's birthday bash last week.

TMZ reported Monday that the young lovebirds broke up last week, but have since gotten back together.

The couple faced split rumors last August, but quickly proved they were still an item when they sat next to each other smiling at the Teen Choice Awards.

After publicly confirming their romance by smooching during a press conference in May 2011, their relationship has included over-the-top date nights, a helicopter trip and family bonding.

Just a week ago, Gomez, 19, and Bieber, 18, were photographed wearing coordinating outfits at the Katy Perry: Part of Me 3D premiere.

Neither half of the Twitter-happy pair has addressed the breakup reports.

Reps for the stars have not responded to a request for comment.

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Spike Lee Prepping Michael Jackson 'Bad' Documentary

2012-07-11T11:42:00.001-07:00

"We have footage in this documentary that no one's ever seen, stuff that Michael shot himself, behind-the-scenes stuff," he said in an interview Monday. "We had complete access to the vaults of Michael Jackson. ... He wrote 60 demos for the `Bad' record. Only 11 made it. So we got to hear a lot of that stuff, too, so it was just a great experience."

He added: "You don't have to be a Michael Jackson-head to enjoy this."

Lee's documentary, which does not yet have an official title, will be part of a flood of material to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the "Bad" album, Jackson's follow-up to "Thriller" that included hits like the title track, "Smooth Criminal," `'The Way You Make Me Feel" and more. The album is being rereleased Sept.18 with additional tracks, a DVD and other bonus material; Lee's film is due to come out later this year, but no date has been set.

Besides Jackson's artistry, Lee said the documentary will show a more personal side of the late legend.

"He had a great sense of humor, and he was funny - so you'll see a lot of that stuff," he said.

Lee interviewed people ranging from Kanye West to Mariah Carey to L.A. Reid to Sheryl Crow, who was Jackson's background singer on the "Bad" tour.

"We really divided it into two things: Artists today who were influenced by Michael, and then people who worked side by side - musicians, songwriters, technicians, engineers, people at the label, who were all committed to Michael, to the follow-up to the biggest record of all time, which still is `Thriller.'"

Besides the documentary, Lee also plans to hold his now annual birthday tribute to Jackson in Prospect Park in Brooklyn, New York, on Aug. 25; Jackson would have turned 54 this year.

"This year we're going to focus on the `Bad' album, we're going to focus on the 25th anniversary, but at the same time we're going to play his full catalog, including the Jackson 5 and the Jacksons," he said. "It's going to be even bigger and better this year."

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Courtney Love Sued by Fired Assistant

2012-07-11T09:22:00.001-07:00

Jessica Labrie filed the wrongful termination, wage and breach of contract lawsuit in Los Angeles on Tuesday.

The suit states Labrie worked as Love's administrative assistant for about a year in 2010 and 2011, but was fired after complaining she was owed thousands in unpaid wages and expenses for business trips. The lawsuit claims Labrie suffered from headaches, insomnia and other medical conditions as a result of Love's conduct.

Her attorney, Joshua Gruenberg, says Love wanted a hacker to change records to businesses she owned or believed she owned, but Labrie refused.

Attempts to find a current representative for Love were unsuccessful.

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Chris Brown’s Album ‘Fortune’ Debuts At 1 On iTunes

2012-07-11T08:12:00.001-07:00

Feel free to call it a comeback! Team Breezy has united to make Chris’ latest studio effort a smashing success.

Chris Brown‘s fifth studio album Fortune hits shelves July 3, and much like the singer’s polarizing public persona, the album will either be completely adored or totally hated by listeners. It’s a pretty major departure from his usual collection of energetic dance songs and punchy beats, instead showcasing his more “serious” side. The question is: Will you embrace the new Chris?That answer — at least from Team Breezy — appears to be a resounding “yes,” as the deluxe edition of Fortune is already in the No. 1 spot for iTunes album downloads!

Brown’s latest bout of perverse publicity has far less consequence. Men fighting men seems less offensive than embarrassing — and irresponsible in a public place. But if the incident will do nothing to lessen the impression of Brown as a brute, it does serve to highlight his music’s savvy stylistic shift.The most adventurous sections of “Fortune” leap on the dubstep bandwagon. They move Brown one step from the giddy dance-pop style influenced by David Guetta on his last album, 2011’s “Fame,” and one step closer to Skrillex’s disruptive approach to club music. It’s a style that, in the last year, has intrigued stars all the way from Korn to Justin Bieber.The closest parallel to Brown’s particular twist would be Usher. “Fortune” follows the general strategy of Usher’s just-released “Looking 4 Myself.” Both butch up the star’s dance beats and broaden their sense of pop. But Brown’s does so with far better material.While he originally concieved “Fortune” as an extension of “Fame,” the new album turns out to be a more exciting and varied work. The harder cuts have more force than anything in Brown’s past, the softer ones, more sweetness.On the roughness front, “Bassline” matches the fractured and changeable beats of dubstep to synthesizer textures buffed with a futurist sheen. “Till I Die” and “Mirage” borrow the street sounds of hip hop without losing R&B’s melodic shape.Ballads like “Stuck on Stupid” and “4 Years Old” recall the puppy-dog persona Brown started his career with when he was a teen. At the same time, he intensifies his later R. Kelly-like, horndog character in fabulously filthy cuts like “2012” and “Strip.”But the album’s signature pieces lie in songs like “Turn Up the Music” or “Don’t Wake Me Up,” which balance avant dance music arrangements with the more conventional kind. They’re good singles, performed with Brown’s usual acrobatic vocal panache.Will that be enough to finally shift the accent away from all of Brown’s ugly press and back to his music? If not, it should be.

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