See the Trailer Own the DVD

Thomas Horn

When tragedy strikes in life we can either run away from it, or face it head on. Then again, maybe there’s another approach. Perhaps we should do like Oskar Schell, (Thomas Horn) did in the heart rendering drama “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close”.  Oskar systematically charted a course to try to make sense of his father’s untimely separation from him.

Grief is something that everyone deals with differently and yet at the same time very much the same.  While there is an overwhelming lack of acceptance or denial at first, this is often followed by anger, resentment, and a feeling of being cheated.  For Oskar it was all these things and more.  A boy who while extremely bright, in fact bordering genius, at the same time struggled with many symptoms of Asperger’s disease (Autism).

This movie was not only captivating but mixed with so many emotions that at times I found myself laughing and the next minute tearing up.  Thomas Horn was amazing in his role of  young Oskar. He eloquently portrayed the struggles of  a child dealing with the sudden death of his father. A father, who was not only missed, but one who could not even be given a decent burial due to the circumstances of his death. I could not help but be drawn into the life of young Oskar, feeling every emotion, every anxiety and anxious moment throughout Thomas’s entire performance.

The events of 911 are brought out in a very different way in this film.  Rather than dealing with the event itself, it instead shows us the life struggle of just one boy and his mother as they try to cope after their great loss.

Tom Hanks and Thomas Horn

Oskar’s Father, played by (Tom Hanks), did an amazing job in every scene in which he appeared.  Director Stephen Daldry’s  use of flashbacks was artfully interwoven throughout the film revealing life as it was before 911. A few of these flashbacks gave us a glimpse of how hard Oskar’s father worked to build a relationship with his emotionally handicapped son.  He would create adventures for Oskar that would become full fledged expeditions. Often these expeditions were nothing more than scavenger hunts designed to find clues to solve an even greater mystery.  These adventures proved to be the glue that bound them together and made Oskar feel fulfilled.

One such adventure involved the story of a Sixth Borough in New York City!

Tom Hanks & Thomas Horn in Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

Oscar’s mother, played by (Sandra Bullock), at times became the brunt of Oscar’s anger over the loss of his father. However, being an understanding mother, she remained supportive of her son.  She continually monitored his well being even when Oskar did not realize that she was watching his every move.

Sandra Bullock and Thomas Horn

The main story plot dealt with Oskar attempting to find a lock to a key that he found in his father’s closet. It was Oskar’s hope to do one more quest which would help him to keep his father alive in his life.  The back story in the film centered on an elderly gentleman who had taken up renter status in Oskar’s Grandmothers residence.  This elderly gentleman played by Max Von Sydow, befriended Oskar, hoping to help him in his quest to find the missing lock and unravel the last mystery that his father left behind for Oskar to unveil.

Max Von Sydow and Thomas Horn

Oskar reminisces with Max about a game he use to play with his Dad. They called them oxymoron wars!

The camera usage in this film was also extraordinary.  Many times it would zoom in on Oscar’s feet, hands, face or eyes, aiding us in following Oskar’s every move and emotion during his adventure.  Other times it would fade back giving us a panoramic view of the distant buildings, bridges, and surroundings which at time frightened young Oskar.

“And I’m so scared every time I leave home. Every time I hear a door open. And I don’t know a single thing that I didn’t know when I started! It’s these times I miss my dad more than ever even if this whole thing is to stop missing him at all! It hurts too much. Sometimes I’m afraid I’ll do something very bad.”

Thomas Horn Close Up

Oscar’s narration about his fears:

The music score for this film was also exceptional.  While not overbearing, it was powerful, and seemed to always match the particular emotion that was being felt at the time.

Hear the music score for the credits below:

This film received an Oscar nomination in 2012, however it was going up against the amazing Hugo (which I reviewed earlier this year), War Horse, and a few other cinematic masterpieces.  Most critics were very unkind in their early reviews of this film, but then, I’m not like most critics.  In fact, I feel this film deserves more accolades than it has received which is the reason I have finally published this special tribute here!

Young Horn truly did more than just perform amazingly in this film. He also gave a continual monolog narration throughout the film.  I have never seen or heard a movie done quite like this before.  This young actor, who until this film was virtually an unknown, deserves a standing ovation for his performance. I for one cannot praise him enough for the gift he has given me which now resides in my DVD collection.

I realize that many months have passed since this film was shown in the theater where I first viewed it. However, tonight I watched it once more, enjoying it even more the second time around.  I think understanding Oskar’s character and having a little knowledge of a child who has Autism or Asperger’s is one of the keys to the overall enjoyment of this film.

Of course, I would love to delve even deeper into this story but there is plenty of other articles on line where you can get all the spoilers should you desire.  What I want to do today is nothing more than tell you how much I enjoyed this movie and while it brought back all the emotions of that terrible day of 911, or as Oskar called it “The Worst Day”, it gave me a little more insight into the lives of those who lost so much.

I highly recommend this film to everyone young and old.

If you enjoy a film that plays on your emotions and draws you in making you a party to the discovery of an unfolding mystery, then this is a film for you!

To here all the Audio clips click play below:

One of my greatest pleasures and honors is to introduce brand new talent to the world.  This blog is very proud to have featured a number of youngsters who are now signed and making great music.  Others have recently been signed by professional managers and are on their way to a great career.

The UK is really taking the music industry by storm lately with young talent like “One Direction” and their new hit single “You Don’t Know Your Beautiful”.  Ronan Parke, Rhys Yeomans, and recently Josh Taylor are just three more great examples of amazing young talent that is rising to fame from that part of the world.

Today I’m happy to introduce for the very first time another young vocalist who is making waves of his own in the music industry.  While he is just starting his career you can be sure that big things are in store for him in the near future.

Soon to be 14 year old Max Bowker is an amazing young vocalist who was recently introduced to me by 360 Development located in West Yorkshire, England.  I was overjoyed to hear that 360 Development was working with Max because they have already proven to be an amazing team of professionals who help young artists get their early starts in the music industry.

 Max Bowker sings “Forget You”

I was told that Max, like many talented youngsters, enjoyed music from a very young age. He also took to the performance stage like a magnet which was quickly noted by his family and friends that Max possessed that special X-Factor that could not be held contained.

It came as no surprise to me to find that Max comes from an exceptionally talented family.  His mother, father, older sister and brother also sing, and Max has been involved in school productions from the age of three when he started nursery school. The latest school production he was cast in was ‘Beauty and the Beast’ in which he played the role of “Lumiere”.

At the tender age of five, Max joined a local amateur dramatics group and has performed in their annual pantomimes and musicals ever since. His favorite role was Garoche in Les Miserables.

He attended Stagecoach School of Performing Arts for six years and was fortunate to perform in several of their productions at the West Yorkshire Playhouse.  In October 2011, Max successfully auditioned to become a student at Scala Stage School in Horsforth Leeds.

Max Bowker sings “Drive By” by Train

His first big break came in 2007 when he was cast for a role as one of the kids in ‘The Kids Are All Right’, starring John Barrowman, who was an extremely pleasant and funny man. Filming of the series took part over 5 days at the BBC building in Glasgow. It was a fantastic experience.

Max signed with the Artist Development Company 360 Development this past January and things have been popping ever since! Max and his production team are currently working on Max’s Debut album which will be released hopefully later this year.  We will soon be able to hear his upcoming single “You don’t know my name”, produced by renowned engineer Kevin Paul (Adele, Goldfrapp, David Bowie) which is scheduled for release on Monday, the 2nd of July, 2012.  You can be sure that will debut here just as soon as it’s released.

Max and his brother Lukas created a music video “I won’t Give Up”  which was fortunate enough to be featured on the Perez Hilton website and on the NME website.

Max is currently working with the renowned choreographer Tayo Okuyedi (who has worked with Cheryl Cole & Plan B) to put a dance routine together for a music video for his first single ‘You Don’t Know My Name’ and also for his live shows and Max has had his single played on the radio in the UK and is receiving a lot of positive attention.

 Max & Tayo Okuyedi visit at 360 Development

Although he knows he will be compared to the likes of Connor Maynard and Justin Bieber, he believes that his music is different to theirs and that he is unique in the market and his biggest inspiration is Justin Timberlake.

Max loves animals and has a dog named Boo, six cats, three guinea pigs and a rabbit!

Max’s original material is currently being developed but he has completed a number of covers which you can see on this article.  Original music videos are being produced so check back here for more info once they are released and don’t forget to purchase Max’s single on iTunes on July 2^nd!

To learn more about Max Bowker visit:

• Max On YouTube
• Max on Facebook
• Max on Twitter
• Max on Tumblr
• Max on ReverbNation
• Max on 360 Development
  

“Congratulations Max on a great start!  We are looking forward to your debut CD and you can be sure we will be following your career as it unfolds! 

Best of success to you from Rivenmaster’s Place!”

In my search for some of the best talent in the world my search has carried me to Asia.  I was especially delighted to find fifteen year old Yatharth Ratnum, who was born in Varanasi, India, and has been singing since the young age of five, where he appeared in his first singing competition.

Yatharth attended the Sunbeam Bhagwanpur School, which is a school that teaches both in English and Hindi, and specializes in Science, Math and English studies. With approximately 4,000 students, Sunbeam vigorously supports theater arts and music and was responsible for Yatharth’s early nurturing in music. A favorite teacher at the school was his English teacher, Moushmi Dhar.  An avid learner, Yatharth speaks not only English, but five Hindi dialects.

As a very young child, Yatharth always loved to sing, make Karaoke music tracks, and surf the internet. At that time he was an avid fan of the Bee Gees and can still recite all the lyrics to most of the Bee Gee’s biggest hits. Because of this interest in music his parents sent Yatharth to be professionally trained in Indian Classical Music. His favorite singers are Shafqat Amanat, Ali Khan, Shreya Ghoshal, and Ms. Lata Mangeshkar. His biggest personal influence is Michael Jackson and he currently listens to Bruno Mars and is a fan of American Classic Rock like Santana.

One of Yatharth’s favorite things to do is cook and he is an expert on the use of Indian spices and flavorings. Just ask him and he will educate you on Indian cuisine and happily cook you up some dahi vada, chickpeas, rice and curry potatoes. Yes, Yatharth is a vegetarian.  His favorite food to eat, when he is in America, is a bean burrito and Mexican rice.

Yatharth performs “Pehil Baar Mohabbat” on L’il Champs

An honor student, Yatharth has always been at the top of his class, his favorite subject is still English grammar, but currently he is home schooled due to his busy professional schedule. He spends most of his time in Mumbai with his two older sisters. Education is highly valued in his family. One of his sisters has a degree in Biology; the other is currently a student at the University studying Accounting. Yatharth expects to attend the University also after High School. Every year in April,

Yatharth must go through a week-and-a-half of exams to advance on to the next grade. Each day’s exam is focused on one subject.

Yatharth performs “Desi Girl” on L’il Champs

A few weeks ago he just completed all his exams and is now a High School Student. His toughest exam day was Math, and his recent Twitter post says it all,

“The judgment day … Math exam today …”

The biggest break of his life came in June, 2009, when he was a major part of India’s biggest musical television show: “Sa Re Ga Ma Pa” (L’il Champs). For six months he competed with other kid singers in front of professional judges from the music industry and from Bollywood.  The show became a huge hit in India, with a large following around the world on the internet. The kids from the show gathered large crowds on international tours that included not only his own country, but the Caribbean.  Unfortunately the tour didn’t bring them to America, to Yatharth’s disappointment.  But the show caught the eye of the Young Artist Awards in California and Yatharth was awarded “Outstanding International Vocalist” in 2010, and a chance to visit Hollywood. His contract with “Sa Re Ga Ma Pa” didn’t allow him to sing at the award show, but Yatharth got to visit Disneyland and the Guitar Center on Sunset Boulevard, where he spent hours testing guitars before buying one. It was also an opportunity for Yatharth to sign with the The Osbrink Agency in Los Angeles.

With his new guitar, Yatharth ventured into songwriting for his upcoming CD release in May, titled: “Yatharth”. He recorded his debut album at Thunder Underground Studios in Palm Springs, California – with record producer and mixing engineer, Harper Hug (The Indigo Girls, Brian Wilson).

Yatharth performs ““Soniya”” on L’il Champs

 Yatharth has co-written with Matt Harris (The Posies) two songs for his album – “Tonight” and “Cosmic”. All other songs on the upcoming CD are originals written by Yatharth. Tracks were mastered by record producer, Eric Valentine at Barefoot Recording, Los Angeles. CD distributed by Sanya Entertainment. His Manager is Simon Barron, and his music will be available everywhere on May 22nd.

Yatharth is currently busy acting and singing in his first feature film (the title and his co-stars are currently under wraps), but we can reveal that it’s about a country boy who makes it big in Bollywood. On April 26th, just a few days after his exams, Yatharth was in the studio recording with India superstar Sadhna Sargam for the film. He sent his friends this message, “It’s gonna be a long night  …

Shooting tonight 7pm to 7am next morning, in film city Mumbai.. ” It’s going to be so much fun, M so excited”.

Yatharth’s childhood dream is to become a playback singer (India’s biggest pop stars) and now his career can include in front of the camera and he is fast becoming a teen star with a large following.

I find Yatharth’s new music to be blockbusting!  It’s catchy tunes makes you get up an want to dance!  His vocals are outstanding and the arrangements of his songs are extraordinary!  This is truly a young artist that is on the rise and one to get behind!

To learn more about Yatharth and to hear his latest music please visit:

• Yatharth on CD Baby
• Yatharth’s Domain site
• Yatharth on Twitter
• Yatharth on Facebook
• Yatharth on ReverbNation

Shane Treloar

Since beginning my quest to find some of the best talent in the world I am especially delighted when I find young talent that is just starting to blossom.  Over the past several years, this website has been privileged to introduce a number of youngsters who have gone on to be signed by managers and some have even scored excellent recording contracts. Today’s featured guest is no exception to this rule, and shows amazing showmanship that well exceeds his Eleven years of life!  Even though he is just starting out in his career he has already been billed as

“The Boy With the Golden Voice”

Shane Treloar is an Eleven year old multi-talented crooner, dancer, actor, and stage performer from Pittsburgh, who I’m told, sang almost as soon as he could talk!  His Mother shared that;

     “Shane is a bit of an “old soul” and is drawn to the melodies of past generations”. 

After all, how many young boys have Benny Goodman and Al Jolson on their i-Pod?  Shane sings all genres, loves Broadway tunes the best, and can belt out the National Anthem like nobody’s business.  At the age of 7, he made his stage debut singing Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” for his elementary school’s talent show.  His promising voice pulled the audience to him and their thunderous applause confirmed for Shane that the stage is his place and connecting to the audience through song is his calling.

Seeing a gift, veteran Broadway star of “42nd Street” fame, Karen Prunzik, invited Shane to study as a Triple Threat at her Broadway Dance Studio.  He is now in his third year learning the disciplines of Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Musical Theatre, and Acting under the direction of Ms. Prunzik and another Broadway legend, Lenora Nemetz.  He gladly spends five days a week at the studio and thoroughly enjoys being the only boy in his class, as the young girls are quite pretty!  Of the disciplines, tap has become his fast favorite and he loves doing that on stage as much as he loves singing!  Gene Kelly hailed from Pittsburgh, and Shane hopes to follow in his dance steps.  The studio also introduced him to Etta Cox, a highly regarded vocalist and entertainer in Pittsburgh.  He has had the good fortune of developing his golden voice with her for the past year.

  Shane Treloar Performs On Stage!

In preparation of one day becoming a Broadway performer, Shane is part of Ms. Prunzik’s traveling performance company, Pittsburgh’s Broadway Stars.  This group enables him to entertain audiences with song and dance throughout the Pittsburgh region in major venues such as “Light Up Night” and the “My Macy’s Holiday Parade”.  Recently, Kids Inc. from Denver Colorado chose Shane to be part of their Safety BratZ LIVE! cast.  They are putting together a group of young super talents from across the U.S. who will use musical performances to educate and entertain families across the globe with empowering messages of safety!.  He also shares his talent with charitable organizations, singing at fundraisers for Make-A-Wish, St. Jude, Relay for Life, and Art Rooney’s American Ireland Fund.  Tunes for Tots is in the process of opening up a Pittsburgh chapter and have extended an invitation to Shane to be a member.    Pittsburgh’s professional sports teams, The Pirates (MLB) and the Penguins (NHL), have Shane sing the National Anthem at their regular season games.  The Penguins owner, Mario Lemieux, has described Shane’s Anthem delivery as “AWESOME”!  Recently he was honored to sing America the Beautiful for the 2012 Pittsburgh Pirates Home Opener against The Philadelphia Phillies to a crowd of 40,000. Shane now holds the distinct honor of performing this song for the FIRST TIME in the history of the Pirates Openers!

Shane sings National Anthem for Pittsburgh Penguins

This song was added to the ceremonies specifically for Shane at the request of the Pirates president, Frank Coonelly.  The (NFL) Steelers have invited him to sing the Anthem for their 2012 season.  He has many more events coming up, including a solo performance with the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra on Mother’s day.  A full list can be found on his website.

Thanks to the talented and experienced mentors Shane has been gifted with, he performs with a stage confidence that has brought him many awards and accolades these past two years from the industries finest talent competitions such as Access Broadway, Onstage New York, and Kean Quest.  Most notably are the Triple Threat, Exceptional Stage Presence, Judges Choice, Audience Choice, and Outstanding Vocals awards as well as Scholarships with Ron DeVito’s Access Broadway and Joe Lanteri’s NY Summer Intensive.

Shane Performs Defying Gravity from Broadway musical Wicked

Shane’s Anthem performances have attracted the attention of local print and broadcast news media.  He has enjoyed a feature story and interview on WTAE evening news, highlights on ESPN Sports Center, a feature and interview showcasing his vocal and tap dance abilities on KDKA’s Pittsburgh Today Live, a “Newsmaker You Should Know” article in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette West Section, a “Young Achiever” article in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, and a Feature Cover story in Allegheny West Magazine.

 Shane belts out “Ben” by Michael Jackson

He recently has been signed by Mike Soper Music of South Florida to help manage performance requests and further promote his blossoming career.  Mr. Soper plans to professionally record Shane’s voice this summer.  All performances to date have been live and we are eager to hear how beautiful he will sound recorded!  Look for many more exciting things to come from this young songster as he continues to sing and dance his way toward that Broadway stage!

Here is Shane’s most recent performance where he performed “Mother’s Love”  with the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra on .  Mother’s Day, May 13, 2012. (Michael Robertson, Composer).

Shane Performs “Mothers Love”

To learn more about Shane Treloar visit:

• Shane’s Domain Site
• Shane on Facebook
• Shane on YouTube
• Shane on Twitter  

Meet Blackberry Jam "Adrian & Julian"

Many of the featured artists who appear on this site are brought to my attention by either my readers or supporters.  Today’s talented duo is no exception, as it was my good friend in radio, Bruce Owens from Good Morning Hudson Valley who recommended today’s artists.

After Bruce contacted me I realized that I was already subscribed to the boys YouTube Channel. It only took a short time to get in touch with their Mother, who shared the following information about her amazing twin sons and their uniqueness not only in birth, but in talent and personality.

Being Twins

Adrian Chirtea and Julian Woodrow are identical twins…mirror twins to be exact. While they are both legally “Woodrows”, Adrian has always used his Mother’s last name. Julian is the oldest by 10 minutes, and he’s always been a fraction of an inch taller, and a pound heavier. Julian is left-handed, and Adrian is right-handed.  But other than that, Adrian and Julian really enjoy being identical.

As babies, their first teeth came in just a day apart. They also share the same moles in exactly the same spots, on opposite sides. Unlike most siblings they rarely fight and (almost) always share. As best friends, they have more fun doing everything together than trying to kill each other!

Most people can’t tell them apart, and that’s just fine with them.

The Singing Started at Lunch Box Special

Adrian & Julian "Blackberry Jam"

Their elementary school held a show-and-tell at lunchtime, each day.  The twins signed up to sing “In the Jungle” in 4^th grade.  Julian sang the wee-ba-wops, and Adrian sang the verses. Their friends and teachers loved it so much, that it became a weekly challenge to try and “out-do” the previous week’s performance. Each night at the dinner table, we’d think up a new hilarious song to learn and the twins would practice for the next week’s Lunchbox Special.  They performed “Little Surfer Girl”, “Eddie-Coochie-Catchie-Gammie”, “Minerva”, and thanks to a few well-timed video rentals, the twins also started adding “Mr. Bean” comedy routines into the mix.  The goal became to make everyone laugh.  Soon every song was littered with comedic dance moves and acting routines.

The dinner table became hilarious, as every other supper was followed by a mealtime performance.  Their principal mentioned, “I just can’t imagine what goes on in that house at night!”

Hear the boys sing acappella their cover of Jessie J’s Price Tag which really demonstrates their great vocal abilities.  While the boys felt it was not that great at first they realized even themselves after listening back that it was good harmony and done nearly pitch perfect!

 The boys sing Price Tag by: Jessie J

Soon They Were Singing Everywhere

After a few months, people started asking the twins to sing.  They would be at the grocery and they would give a performance in the frozen food aisle.  At a yard sale, they would sing a few tunes for the shoppers. Everywhere they went; people would ask the twins to sing.  They set up a hat at the gates of the local craft fair and made $167 in an hour, before getting kicked out for “panhandling”!  That experience gave them a taste for making money from singing, and after that, they only wanted to do one thing in life…become pop stars!       

Gigs and Auditions

Only recently, Adrian and Julian started playing gigs.  With borrowed speakers and microphones from the neighbors, they sang at the starting line of a local marathon, for the September 11^th memorial, at homecoming, and at the school assembly. As longstanding “American Idol” watchers, when Simon Cowell left the judges panel to start X-Factor, it was Adrian who really wanted to audition.  Having never auditioned for anything before they packed up the car and traveled to New Jersey to take a shot at fame! “Adrian and Julian” became “Blackberry Jam”, a name based on their mother’s former singing duo “Raspberry Jam”.  Coming from Vermont, Newark, New Jersey was definitely the big city! Starry-eyed, they stood in line with 22,000 other acts and made it through the auditions process to perform in front of 4,000 people at the Prudential Center on the blinding X-Factor stage!   After signing a rousing rendition of “Sunday Morning” the X-Factor judges gave them 4 “yeses” and sent them off to boot camp in California.

 The boys sing their cover of Sunday Morning!

 Boot Camp

They told me that it would be difficult to describe the incredible experience that X-Factor boot camp provided for them.  Some of the top youth singers from across the country came together at once, to rehearse and audition.  Everywhere the twins went, there were acts performing and harmonizing together.  They’d be sitting in the lobby and random acts would bust out in 8-part harmony to Bruno Mars!  It was the first time that the twins had ever been exposed to such fiercely talented youth.  Blackberry Jam was eventually eliminated from boot camp, but the experience gave them a taste for the big stage.

                                                       Back Home

They began rehearsing regularly, recording songs, and making music videos.  Blackberry Jam’s first video took 6 weeks to record, because they were just learning the recording software, and they kept accidentally deleting the file. But in September of 2011, “Best Love Song” was finally completed and posted on Blackberry Jam’s new YouTube channel. Their first video went viral almost immediately they earned their 10,000^th hit just a few weeks after being posted. This sparked even more recording, and the evening dinnertime performances were replaced by recording sessions, and video shoots.  Adrian and Julian now regularly cruise YouTube looking for upcoming YouTube singers in order to study their vocal patterns and dance moves. Just before Christmas, they were asked to be part of the “Pray” collaboration video featuring Justin Bieber’s background singers, as well as a host of other rising YouTube stars.

It was an awesome experience that connected them with a whole new YouTube music community.

Boys perform in big YouTube Colab of Justin Bieber’s “Pray”

What’s Happening Now

As 9^th graders, Blackberry Jam keeps a low profile at their high school.  Julian just finished the hockey season as the back-up goalie, and Adrian completed another successful season on the snowboard slopes. Shortly after the start of 2012, Blackberry Jam earned their 500,000^th hit on their YouTube channel.  They are working on a production of the musical Chicago right now, which has been keeping them busy until dark, most nights!   Behind the scenes, their music is really taking off. They’ve begun working with a local choreographer who is helping them to add dance routines to their songs.  A few original songs will be cropping up on their YouTube channel by the summertime, and the new season of TV show auditions has just begun.  Now that they’ve been through the TV audition process a few times, with growing confidence and refined dance routines Blackberry Jam will be trying out for TV shows like the Voice and X-Factor again this summer. Keep an eye out!

Blackberry Jam is more than just a couple of brother having fun and singing.  These guys are pure talent and future stars in the making! There is no question that these exceptional twins are sure to capture the attention of a Hollywood music producer very soon!

 Blackberry Jam performs Bruno Mars “It Will Rain”

To learn more about Blackberry Jam visit:

• Blackberry Jam on Twitter
• Blackberry Jam Official Website:
• Blackberry Jam on YouTube
• Blackberry Jam Facebook FanPage

Razvan Dobai

A little over a week ago I received a referral from my long time YouTube friend Lutz Kroppenstedt who introduced me to a new young singing performer from the country of Romania.  What I did not know at the time was that this terrific talented teen was also being interviewed by The Mystery Artist Show for Theskykid.com Radio.  This was welcome news because it allowed me to do this follow up article back to back with his appearance on the radio program.

To hear the Mystery Artist Radio Interview CLICK HERE!

This terrifically talented teen is none other than fourteen year old Razvan Dobai. While many young artists from Europe have been featured on this site, Razvan is the first to represent his country of Romania.

I often enjoy watching the Euro Junior Contests live on the internet or on YouTube after their live airing. I especially appreciate listening to music from other parts of the world which are unique, and in many cases very different than what is often played here in the US.

I asked Razvan’s mother to tell us a little about Razvan and his discovery of his talent. She told me;

“Looking back, I think Razvan was interested with music since his first spoken words.  They say that all children say “Ma-Ma” first.  But Razvan said “LA-LA”. As he grew he was always on the move”, she said; “the only time he would stop for a minute was if he heard or saw music on TV”.

“Razy sings Englishman in New York”

When Razvan was in kindergarten he showed no interest in music. When all the other kids were singing, he would just silently watch them. Instead, he memorized all the children’s poems. Razvan also did extremely well learning English and showed very early signs for acting. His mother would often joke saying, Hollywood is waiting for him, because he was so good at pretending to be someone else. He could cry on demand and laugh a second later. Everyone that met him also comment saying that he looked like Macaulay Culkin.

Razvan has always been extremely energetic, his mother reported.

“When older children would play with Razvan he would tire them all out in no time.  They would complain saying: Doesn’t Razvan ever get tired?”

Due to this overwhelming abundance of energy, his family began to seek out an activity that would absorb it.  Their search led them to a dance club for children that just happen to be looking for boys to enroll in their classes. When Razvan turned six years old they made the decision to enroll him in their class. After only the first hour of class, Razy told his parents that he really enjoyed it and wanted to continue. Razvan progressed amazingly well.  So much so, that his instructor asked him to participate in the National Dance Contest and to also perform in a dance show.

The show was mixed with both girls and boys who sang and danced. While participating in the show, Razvan recognized a girl from his home town. He asked her how she got into the show to sing.  She replied that she had been taking vocal lessons.  While his mother overheard their discussion, Razvan never mentioned it to his mother. Some time went by and she remembered hearing him singing in his room with the door closed. He came out of his room and told his mom that he liked to sing. She replied “OK, go back in your room and sing”. He did, but then came right back out and said; “No, I don’t want to sing just like that, I want to take singing lessons, just like my friend”.

While she didn’t pay much attention to his request at first, Razy became very insistent and finally convinced his mom to bring him to the singing coach. He took his first lesson at age 6 and memorized one complete song from beginning to end.

He continued with both dance and vocal lessons for four years and then began piano lessons.  After a year he decided to stop dance lessons but continued with his music. During these years, he participated in many dance and music contests and was awarded with prizes for his performances. You can view some of these prize winning performances on his Domain Site.

Razvan sings “Angels” at Festival -Rasnov 2010

One day Razvan discovered Declan Galbraith’s “Tell me why”, and from that time on Razy changed from singing children’s music to older and more mature songs. His performance style also changed dramatically accommodating for his new found ability to interpret a song demonstrating a confidence beyond his years.  “I can say that Declan Galbraith was the first inspiration for Razvan” his mother reported.

After his first discovery of Declan he began to take notice of other great recording artists which he started to cover. He covered “Angels” by Robbie Williams, in the style of Declan. He also performed “Click Clack” from Ralf Mackenbach which was another challenge for him due to the Dutch language.

Razy sings “Click Clack”

He was invited by “Miraj”, a local rock band, to cover “Have You Ever Seen The Rain” “Hey Jude”, “Proud Mary” and “Let It Be” which was his first experience singing with a live band.
“Fairytale” from Alexander Rybak was his choice for another singing contest where he was accompanied by a live band.  This proved to be another great experience which built even more confidence in his musical abilities.  Razy produced a video for this song which I think is his finest video production to date.  I offer it below because this article would not have been complete without it!

Razvan’s Music Video is a Must See!

It was about this time that his voice started to change and it was this song that ended up carrying him to the finals in another contest organized by Monica Anghel on a well known radio station from Romania “Radio Europa FM”.   The irony of this was that his father had sent in the song to the radio station just hoping that it would get some air time.  However, they liked it so much they entered into the contest for him. It was this experience that helped him learn how to sing live on the radio and he chose Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” for his final performance entry.
While he did not win this contest due to having only three days to prepare the song, it remained in his repertoire and he continued to practice it. It soon became a favorite of many who really started to take notice of his vocal ability.

Razvan Performs “My Way” Live

Razvan has also been interviewed on local radio station “Radio Transilvania”, was featured in a magazine named “Cosmos”, and currently has a Christmas version of “My Way” available on i-Tunes :
Razvan recently purchased a new microphone for home recordings and is learning how to use a mixing board for his own music. Expanding his musical talents he plans to begin guitar lessons this coming summer.
Outside of music Razvan enjoys computer games, swimming, bike riding and skating.

If you would like to learn more about Razvan visit:

• Razvan’s Domain Site
• Razvan on YouTube
• Razvan on Facebook
• Razvan on Twitter
• Razvan on MySpace

This past weekend this site was honored to introduce John Ververis, an amazing new young vocal prodigy from Connecticut.  Though just beginning his venture into this huge entertainment arena, John already demonstrates many of the qualities both in personality and musical skill to become a real star.

  John introduces himself!

In his previous feature article we learned much about John, but recently we were privileged to hold an exclusive interview with him via phone, where we were able to gather more insight about this talented thirteen year old vocalist.

While there is not room to share everything from that call, we have selected many of the questions presented to John during that interview.

Rivenmaster:    John I understand you come from a very musical family.  What can you tell us about the influence they have had in your life and music aspirations?

John:                   My mom is definitely an inspiration of mine because she has traveled with the USO and even sang for President Reagan. I also have my sister who is always so confident and determined to do what will get her ahead in life. It shows me that I can’t just stop, I need to keep moving.

Rivenmaster:    What is the first time you remember singing or performing and what would be the most memorable event.

John:    Probably some of my most memorable events were in Kindergarten when I sang in my school talent show. I sung “Breakaway” by Kelly Clarkson, and I can just remember after it the crowd went wild and it was an amazing moment for me. I also performed in my hometowns idol competition and won 2nd place!

Rivenmaster:    Are you interested in acting as well as singing?  Have you performed on stage in any theatrical plays?

John:    Yes. I am very interested in the performing arts! I recently performed in my school musical “The Adventures Of Tom Sawyer” I was chosen as Huck Finn, one of the leads and Tom’s best friend!  I had a great time doing it with great people!  In second and third grade, I remember performing in “Beauty And The Beast” I was chosen as Gerard the grocer, a very humorous character. That was also very enjoyable!

Rivenmaster:    What type or genre of music do you feel drawn to the most and what artists do you currently have on your mp3 player or I-Pad?

John:                   I am mainly drawn to music like Adele, Gavin DeGraw, Michael Bublé, Coldplay, Mac Miller, and John Mayer! Mostly songs that have a good beat!

Rivenmaster:    Have you ever received any vocal lessons or are you planning to work with someone in the near future?

John:                   No, I have never received any vocal lessons, but I am definitely thinking about it!  It would offer me an opportunity to learn even better techniques for singing making it more enjoyable for others!

John performs “Fix You” by: Cold Play

Rivenmaster:    What is School like in your home town? Do your friends know you sing and perform in the area and how do they respond to your musical ambition?

John:                  School is great! I have so many supporters that love my singing! Especially my friend Katelynne!  She loves my singing and is always asking me when I will post a new video! My friends always respond in such a positive manner that always encourages me to create a new video or record a new song!

Rivenmaster:    If you could perform anywhere in the world and with anyone dead or alive where and with whom would you like to perform?

John:    If I could perform anywhere in the world, I think I would start out with the amazing Radio City in New York! It looks like such a fun and exciting place to perform at, with the crowd always roaring and lights always flashing… It’s great!

The person would probably be Mac Miller! He has awesome and fun songs that I love to listen to all the time! 

Rivenmaster:    Who would you say is your all time favorite artist and what artist has influenced you the most in finding your own singing abilities?

John:                   The artist that has influenced me most is Adele. I know that she gets very nervous before her performances, but she goes on. She does it for her fans, friends and family so they can enjoy her God-given gift.

Rivenmaster:    I know you are just beginning your career, but who would you say is the most famous person you have ever met thus far in your musical adventure.

John:                   The most famous person I have met so far is actress Joanna ‘JoJo’ Levesque.  I met her while auditioning for the Pilot Pen Tennis Tournament. After auditioning, she hugged me and told me I was “very cute!” JoJo starred in the movie RV with Robin Williams.

Rivenmaster:    You have recently been going to the Studio working with some outstanding people. Can you tell us a little about that and your experience in the studio?

John:                   My experience has been amazing. The people I work with are so nice. Without them, I might not have made it here!  Those people are Jim Robinson of CSB (Connecticut School of Broadcasting), my sister, Amalia Ververis who has recorded and edited some of my songs and Zach Zubko, who has directed my amazing music video of me singing “Not Over You” by Gavin DeGraw.

Rivenmaster:    Are you thinking about putting together an EP or CD in the future?

John:                   Yes!  It seems so far that every one that has heard my voice has really enjoyed it!  Creating an album or CD would let even more people enjoy it!

Rivenmaster:    What are some of your immediate and long range goals for your music and for your hopeful career?

John:                   Just to be known for what I do best, and to have people enjoy it! It makes me so happy when people say they enjoy my voice. It would be great if I could have this as my career for as long as I can keep it up!

Rivenmaster:    I know you are currently doing cover songs but when you start creating your own music what do you hope to achieve through your music and what message if any would you like to convey to your listeners?

John:                   I want to mostly inspire my listeners, but also make them want to just get up and dance! I want to be able to make inspirational and exciting songs that people will want to play over and over!

Rivenmaster:    Outside of music what do you enjoy doing most?

John:                   I love to hang out with friends, go outside onto my trampoline, take pictures, and play on my Xbox! I love to play tennis and I am thinking about starting snowboarding! 

Rivenmaster:    Is there anything we have missed today that you would like to add?

John:                   No I don’t think so, but I do want to thank you for this opportunity and invite everyone to visit my new website, follow me on Twitter and be watching for my new videos.  I really think you will like what I am working on and getting ready to release on my YouTube Channel too!  Oh I almost forgot I just created a new Fan Page where you can reach me on Facebook.

John continues to impress with every new release he does. I have no reservations in predicting that John will go very far in his quest to become a recording artist.  The support of his family friends and professional team will play a big part in his success but John’s ability to interpret a song and deliver it is true magic. 

Be sure you subscribe to his YouTube Channel, Join him on Facebook, Follow him on Twitter and visit his new website.

I wish you the very best of success John and stand behind you all the way!

I‘m told that a virtuoso was originally a highly accomplished musician, but by the nineteenth century the term had become restricted to performers, both vocal and instrumental, whose technical accomplishments were so pronounced as to dazzle the public.

Today I’m delighted to introduce a brand new vocalist who has just begun to make his mark in the entertainment circles, but is already raising the eyebrows of people who recognize talent.

I first discovered John on his original YouTube channel where he was singing acappella a cover of “I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz.  His first video was a little out of sync before it was corrected, but that is not what caught my attention.  I recognized something in this boys voice that I had heard before from those who have gone on to be bright young professional vocal artists.  What I heard was a wonderful tone quality and nearly perfect pitch performance.

It only took me a few days to make contact with Johns Dad via an e-mail which led to a wonderful return e-mail and a follow up phone call where we exchanged an engaging and interesting conversation.  I found out that John was just getting ready to begin his quest to become a professional recording artist.

I was delighted to find out that John was soon to go into the recording studio to create his debut video and even more excited when I realized that I would be introducing him to the world for the very first time!

Watch John in his Debut Cover of “Hurt” by Christina Aguilera

Thirteen Year old John McLean Ververis lives in Burlington, Connecticut where he attends Har-Bur Middle School. John comes from an extended musical family including his Mom, Colleen Ververis who performed with Metropolitan USO for ten years and his older sister, Amalia who is an accomplished guitarist and singer.

John’s Grandfather affectionately called “Poppy” loves music and would sing to his grandchildren all the time. He would rock them on his lap and hum a catchy tune “Deedle dee”  At nine months old John’s mom found John sitting up against a kitchen cabinet rocking and humming the tune his Poppy would always sing.  From that moment on it was evident that John had a love for music. He sang and hummed before he even spoke!

The family remembers a time at a party when John sang God Bless America at the top of his lungs at just two years old!  After that event John was the entertainment at all family functions.

At five years old John was the youngest performer at the Lake Garda Elementary Talent show singing Kelly Clarkson’s Breakaway. American Idol and Clarkson were great influences on him when he was younger.  Also at age five John won Burlington Idol which made him into somewhat of a local celebrity.

When John was nine the United States Tennis Association chose him from his audition to sing America the Beautiful at the Pilot Pen Tennis tournament in New Haven Ct.

John was asked to sing at many community functions including the National Anthem at championship sporting events and Patriotic songs at Political meetings and inductions. He has performed at numerous talent shows and musicals.

One day hanging and swimming with friends, John broke out into song not knowing he was in the company of Dick Robinson, acclaimed radio host and icon who was blown away by John voice and good manner.  He asked John to perform for his “Great American Songbook” which paved the way for Dicks new adventure of seeking out new young talent to represent the songs from the great American songbook.…

John’s innate interest in music began at such an early age but he has been influenced by so many people and artists around him. His mom and sister continue to perform and his extended family includes many singers and musicians.  Other influences include Gavin DaGraw, Adele, Mac Miller, Cold Play, Michael Buble.

Aside from singing John enjoys the piano, his Xbox and Tennis. He is also a talented visual artist and has had many pieces displayed in art shows.  John is an excellent student and has been asked to be part of “Odyssey of the Minds” academic competition for the last 5 years. In this years competition he wrote and sang two short songs incorporating his love for music into the challenge.  He loves to read and some of his favorite books include the Percy Jackson series and The Hunger Games.  His favorite holiday is fourth of July because he loves fireworks!

Being half Greek John has been exposed to many foods and culture. He has a sophisticated palate and enjoys baklava, pesto, lobster and sushi – not typical of a 13 year old! However he loves a good cheeseburger and fries now and then.

Aside from his supportive family John is lucky to have his community, teachers and close friends including Zach, Alex, Christian, Eli, Kevin, Keean, Lexi, Katelynne, Kyle, Nate, Sam and Erica stand behind him.

John wants to share his God given talents and hopes to be able to travel and meet interesting people during his musical journey and hopefully career. He wishes that his singing will inspire his listeners and encourage people to use whatever talents and abilities they have in a positive way and to be grateful for them!

I know that John will continue to dazzle us all with his future singing performances. There is no doubt that this boy will continue to climb the ladder of success in the music field and entertainment industry!  So buckle your seat belts and get ready for the climb, because John (Virtuoso) Ververis is on his way to the top and there’s no looking back!

To learn more about John Ververis visit:

• John’s Domain site    
  
• John on YouTube
• John on Twitter
• John’s Facebook FanPage