Nothin' More to Say
Alyson
By Paul E. Pratt
Though Alyson has tasted the Top 10 with
her first two singles “Feel You” and “What’re You Gonna Do,”
both fell short of pole position on Billboard’s Hot
Dance Music/Club Airplay charts.
“Nothin’ More to Say,” the newcomer’s third time out, could
be the charm.
“You hope every single you put out will hit #1,” says
Alyson. “So far, though, the #1 has eluded me.”
Alyson hopes to build on her growing popularity and name
recognition among club audiences and DJs with “Nothin’ More to
Say.” To add extra fuel to the fire, the self-made star called
in the big guns for the remixes - including Grammy
Award-winning producer Hex Hector.
“We have a lot of awesome mixes on this single,” Alyson
notes. “Hex’s mix is amazing. Eric Kupper and
Norty Cotto are turning out amazing mixes.”
As for whether it has what it takes to go “all the way,”
Alyson says, “You can only hope!”
The 25-year old singer and former personal trainer says
“Nothin’” was originally written as an emotive slowjam about
lost love. Alyson notes the “chorus was just crying out for
the dancefloor.” “The ballad is part one of the song,” Alyson
explains. “The remix is part two. Together they tell a really
powerful story.” Early speculation was that “Nothin’” would
have a flavor reminiscent of Deborah Cox, a
favorite of both Alyson and Hector. “People thought that
because it was a ballad remixed by Hex, it would sound like
her,” she says.
Alyson debuted the song live the first night of West
Hollywood club Avalon’s “Ken” night performing the song live
with Hex. As Alyson knew would be the case, the song proved to
be nothing like Cox.
“It’s actually quite a different style as far as the remix
style for Hex,” the singer describes. “He’s moving in a really
interesting direction musically, so it actually sounds very
different than his past remixes.”
The “Nothin’ More to Say” CD maxi-single with all mixes of
the track is available now. In the near-term, fans clamoring
for the track can find it in both its original ballad and
Hex’s extended remix versions on Alyson’s debut CD Take a
Good Look. The 15 tracks on Take a Good Look,
which hit stores this Spring, showcase a wide array of styles
The singer sounds equally comfortable performing breezy pop
numbers like the Islands-flavored “Forever” and R&B-tinged
“Baby Come Back.” Many of the cuts are found in both their
original forms and, later, remixed for club airplay.
Unquestionably, Alyson is most at home on the dancefloor.
Awaiting immediate DJ attention is the
Randolph Club Mix of the CD’s title track.
Sizzling “Didn’t Ya Think,” another uptempo confection, bears
an uncanny likeness to Kim Wilde’s mid-80s
chartopper “You Keep Me Hangin’ On.”
The singer is rightfully proud of the album, not only for
its success to date but because of its commercial availability
in general. Unlike most artists, who are discovered, produced
and promoted by a record label, Alyson did it all on her own.
On the surface, it seems Alyson’s career has been built on a
series of chance encounters. However, the singer - who appears
to be as talented in business as she is musically - says she
left little to “chance.”
“It was more like really doing the research about the
industry, about how it works and getting out there and meeting
the people who are doing it,” she says of the process by which
she marketed herself and the record label she formed to
promote her music. Alyson made calls too numerous to count.
She flew across the U.S. to meet promoters, publicists and
owners of regional record pools - little-known organizations
which provide club DJs around the country with the latest in
mainstream and independently-produced music.
“It was definitely deliberate meetings over the course of a
number of months,” says Alyson, but does admit “some of it was
definitely chance.” “Whenever you’re talking to someone, you
never know who they’re going to refer you to or what they’re
going to advise you about,” she says.
As the performer and business woman develops her own
career, heading her own independent record label has its
perks. Alyson envisions the opportunity to help others break
into the industry.
“There are just so many amazing and talented people who,
for various reasons, can’t get their stuff out there,” she
says. “I would love to nurture and help new artists get their
music heard.”
For the West Hollywood resident, it’s first things first
though. With Take a Good Look still fresh in stores,
and with appearances in the works to promote “Nothin’ More to
Say,” Alyson is focused on her own music career at the moment.
“We’ll probably release a few more singles off Take a Good
Look,” she shares regarding the future. “And we’re already
working on my second album, which will be out next year.”
Meanwhile, as her music is now starting to reach the
masses, Alyson truly enjoys performing for gay crowds. “The
gay audience has been such a huge support to me,” she says. “I
appreciate it so much, and I really love them for it!”
For more information about Alyson, her music and upcoming
appearances, visit: http://www.alysonmusic.com/.
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