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Adrianna Velazquez

Adrianna is a 20-year-old college student attending Wayne State University majoring in Public Relations and minoring in Journalism. With a passion for music and photography she spends most of her time at concerts photographing and interviewing musicians. She also enjoys baseball and coffee, lots of it!

Miranda Lambert's Hometown Welcome Sign Vandalized

As you enter Lindale, Texas you’re welcomed by Miranda Lambert playing a guitar on a billboard welcoming travelers. Recently, the billboard was vandalized and Lambert was given a makeover.

According to multiple reports, police are investigating what could be a class-A misdemeanor after vandals remodeled the welcome sign by giving Lambert a white mustache.

City workers attempted to restore the sign to it’s original state but after trying to scrub what appears to be a permanent marker using gasoline, GooGone, among other products they were unable to do so.

Sign Masters in Tyler, Texas, the company that created the sign, will be cleaning up the damage and printing a vinyl decal to put over the vandalism.

Lambert’s father, an ex-police officer, is not surprised by the news he and his wife heard of via text message, but has spoken out about the incident to local station KLTV.

“My wife and I just shook our heads and thought some ignorant fool that doesn’t have enough to do, out destroying property that cost the Rotary Club of Lindale,” said Richard Lee Lambert. “They collected the money to do that and we regret that somebody is stupid enough to go out and destroy city property like that.”

No arrests have been made in relation to the vandalism, but Police Chief Daniel Somes said he hopes the perpetrator brags about their work and is turned in and held accountable for their actions.

MTV Video Music Awards Return: Katy Perry, Beyoncé & Eminem Lead Nominations

The VMA’s are back and hopefully without the raunchy performances from last year.

The 31st annual MTV Video Music Awards are returning on Sunday, Aug. 24 and we can only hope there won’t be a repeat of last year’s raunchy performances.

Pop princess Ariana Grande will be opening the award show with her new single, “Break Free,”  a huge step for Grande who only performed a pre-show medley before last year’s broadcast.

In addition to opening up the night, Grande will be joining Jessie J and Nicki Minaj for their collaborative effort, “Bang Bang.”

This year Grande has garnered three nominations for her hit single, “Problem” featuring Iggy Azalea, who she battles in the categories for Best Pop Video, Best Female Video and Best Collaboration awards.

Other performers expected to hit the stage are Beyoncé, Aussie natives 5 Seconds of Summer, Taylor Swift, Usher, Rita Ora and Iggy Azalea among others.

Maroon 5 and Sam Smith both announced they will be making their debut VMA performances as well.

Pop queen Katy Perry leads nominations this year with nine VMA nods while Beyoncé trails with eight nominations and Eminem rakes in seven.

The VMA’s will air live from The Forum in Inglewood, California on Aug. 24 at 9/8c ET.

Tyga Gives Fans Something to be Excited About

YMCMB Rapper, Tyga may have disappointed fans last month when he announced he would be dropping from Wiz Khalifa’s Under The Influence Of Music tour, but fans have a reason to be excited again.

Tyga first announced his cancellation for Khalifa’s tour in order to focus on his forthcoming album and also revealed plans to film a movie.

He recently took to Twitter to announce the official release date of his forthcoming album, The Gold Album: 18th Dynasty. The album, which is being produced by none other than Kanye West is expected to drop on Nov. 18, the day before his 25th birthday.

According to Tyga, his forthcoming album will be far less commercial than his 2013 album, Hotel California. Tyga notes that Hotel California contained more radio-type tracks opposed to his current catalog which he says is “straight rap.”

Stay tuned for more news about The Gold Album: 18th Dynasty coming Nov. 18.

Brad Paisley Dedicates Song to Doctor Fighting Ebola

In light of the news that a doctor volunteering in Liberia doing charity work contracted Ebola, Brad Paisley is honoring his selfless act.

Dr. Kent Brantly was in Liberia helping ill patients as part of his charitable efforts when he contracted Ebola. He has since returned to the U.S. and is now being treated in an isolated unit at Atlanta’s Emory University Hospital.

According to reports, Brantly refused an experimental serum because there was only enough for one person. Instead of taking the serum for himself, Brantly refused it, insisting that Nancy Writebol, another American fighting the virus, received it.

Paisley took to Twitter to honor the doctor’s selfless act by tweeting, “Pray for Dr. Kent Brantly – one of those brave souls who risks his life to save others.”

Following his initial tweet, Paisley tweeted a preview of his song, “Me and Jesus” from his forthcoming album, Moonshine In The Trunk, dedicating the song to Brantly.

“I’m moved by the Christian Dr. Fighting Ebola who gave the serum to his friend. So here’s a bonus track. For him,” Paisley added.

USA Today reported that the head of Center for Disease Control  and Prevention said Brantly did receive a dosage of the serum and that his condition seems to be improving.

Paisley’s album is set to release Aug. 26 via Arista Nashville. 

Florida Georgia Line and Tour Manager Facing $15 Million Lawsuit

A concert promotions company in Utah is suing country duo, Florida Georgia Line along with their tour manager.

According to a report from The Salt Lake Tribune, Country Explosion LLC has filed a $15 million lawsuit with the US District Court as a result of an alleged breaching of an oral agreement between promoters and road manager, Troy Johnson.

Promoters gave Johnson a $205,000 check for the duo’s performance but asked that he not cash the check for three days. Country Explosion LLC’s lawyer, David Drake wrote, “It was also explained that the reason for the delay was that the check would be covered by box office receipts that would clear within the next 72 hours.”

According to Country Explosion LLC, Johnson allegedly cashed the check the next day, breaching the oral agreement between the two parties causing the check to bounce.

It was also reported that Johnson then blasted the promotions company through an industry email sent to Williams Morris Agency Nashville among other artists and booking agencies in Music City, citing that the check from Country Explosion LLC bounced, thus alleging that the company poses a threat to other artists and agencies in Nashville.

Country Explosion LLC notes that the duo “intentionally misrepresented” that the check had bounced, creating difficulty for the company which is already trying to book acts for next year’s festival.

Promoters are seeking $15 million in damages and asking that the defendants contact everyone on the receiving end of the initial email from Johnson and inform them that the statements made regarding the bounced check were incorrect.

Florida Georgia Line have not publicly made a statement regarding the lawsuit. The duo recently released their latest single, “Dirt” and will be on the road this fall with Jason Aldean and Tyler Farr.

Daft Punk Quietly Release Remix Album

French electronic duo, Daft Punk released a remix album of their 2005 album, “Human After All.”

Daft Punk took fans by surprise earlier this week after posting a remix compilation of their 2005 album, Human After All, on iTunes. This is the second treat fans have received this year.

Earlier this year, fans received a surprise treat when Daft Punk and Jay Z’s collaborative unreleased effort, “Computerized,” leaked through a fan site. The track is a cautionary tale about heavy reliance on technology where we all eventually become computerized, hence the title of the track.

According to Consequence of Sound, the French electronic duo posted the remix version of their Human After All album on iTunes without much noise. The album was first reissued earlier this year in Japan but has now been made available worldwide.

The remix compilation contains six reworkings of the track, “Technologic” from Peaches, Basement Jaxx and Liquid Twins. Other remixes on the album include those from Soulwax, Erol Alkan, Digitalism, Justice and even Daft Punk themselves.

Check out the remix album here.

Interview: Country Newcomer Joel Crouse Opens Up About Debut Album, Tour, Guilty Pleasures and More

Joel Crouse is excited about the release of his debut album, “Even The River Runs” and he isn’t going to lie about it.

Country newcomer Joel Crouse first started writing songs at the age 14 and by age 19 inked a record deal with Show Dog Universal.

A native of Holland, Massachusetts Crouse has spent the earlier part of his career in Nashville honing his skills while building a steady fan base the old-fashioned way, charming audiences in bars and arenas across the country. From playing small venues to playing stadiums while touring with Taylor Swift and Darius Rucker, Crouse has crafted an electric live show that is sure to pull you in.

Although he’s currently gearing up for the release of his debut album, Even The River Runs, an album with a storytelling tracklist of personal experiences that define his place in the music world as both a singer and songwriter, the now 22-year-old took time to speak with College News about the making of his debut album, tour, musical influences, fast food, Eminem and more.

Adrianna Velazquez: So I’m excited about your debut album, Even The River Runs,  but how excited are you for it to finally release next week?

Joel Crouse: I’m pretty freaking excited, I won’t lie to you.

AV: I’m pretty bummed you and Love and Theft aren’t coming out this way so I’ll have to take a trip out to Ohio, but that’s alright.

JC: Yeah, it’s tough going there from Detroit. I was actually surprised too when I got the dates that we weren’t going to Michigan. I’ve actually played Detroit, I’ve played Michigan State and University of Michigan so I’ve got a little base up there.

AV: So it was announced that you will be touring with Love and Theft but you also made a cameo in their music video for “Night That You’ll Never Forget,” which looked like a lot of fun.

JC: It was a blast, Stephen and Eric are great guys, great artists, we’re going to definitely have fun on that tour. We’re all sharing a bus so I’m sure it’ll end up being a night that you’ll never forget that we’ll probably end up forgetting. I’m sure it’s going to a pretty awesome, fun-filled tour.

AV: So I know the album is going to contain some songs you’ve already released such as “If You Want Some” and “Why God Made Love Songs.” What’s your favorite song on the album?

JC: I think my favorite tune would probably be “Ruby Puts Her Red Dress On.” It’s just a really cool story about this girl who keeps it together in front of her friends and then when she’s alone she becomes vulnerable and puts this red dress on and it remind her of a time when her lost loved one told her she was the prettiest and so she dances to their song. It’s just a really cool story, it’s the only tune on the record that isn’t a personal experience of mine and it’s one of my favorite songs I’ve written.

AV: You were really involved with the songwriting process for the album, you co-wrote all the songs on the album. How important is songwriting to you both personally and professionally?

JC: It’s very important because when I first moved to Nashville I kind of thought everyone wrote their own songs so that was a little bit different for me to see there’s a difference between being a songwriter and being an artist or an entertainer. I just wanted to write my own tunes because it’s how most of my influences have done it so I started songwriting at a young age when I was 14 and I started writing good songs around 17 or 18. The whole process is very important to me, especially if I’m putting out an album, I need each song to be a song that relates to me and that maybe other people will relate to as well.

AV: What inspired the name of the album, Even The River Runs?

JC: It’s a track on the record and the song is about an experience I had with my dad. I sat down in Holland, Massachusetts, where I’m from, with my dad and he kind of just told me you can’t really play— because I was in a band before I moved to Nashville— and he just said you know, you can’t really can’t be in music and live in Holland, Massachusetts. You really got to be in Nashville and play your tunes. So, Even The River Runs, I felt was an appropriate title because it’s my debut record and it’s a song about me taking my first step and moving to Nashville.

AV: Perfect. Going back, you said you were in a band, why did you decide to give country music a shot after your band broke up?

JC: Well, I didn’t write any of the tunes in that band. My songs weren’t that good like I said. So I didn’t write any of those tunes and the band broke up for its own reasons, everyone was going to college and all that. So I was going to play my songs around and this one guy, named Brandon Creed who now manages Bruno Mars, he listened to some of my tunes and he said I would do well in Nashville. I’ve always loved story songs, and I’ve always loved instrumentation and so I moved to Nashville and started writing some songs with some people here in town and it ended up linking me up with my producer, Jamie Houston. Jamie has a reputation in the country world, the pop world, but the one thing we really agreed on was our love for old 70s rock music. What I wanted to do was just fuse together an influence of Keith Urban, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard, Tom Petty, Fleetwood Mac, John Mayer and just kind of fuse those influences together and make a record.

AV: That’s something I find really unique about your influences is that— I read that you never really categorize music by sound, but really more by what it’s about.

JC: Yeah, I say that because people ask what’s your favorite type of music, and I don’t have a favorite type. I think who I am as an artist and the message that I’m trying to portray and the songs that I write fit in a certain genre but as far as favorite genre, I just love songs, well-written songs and usually those are attached to the artists who have written them. To me, it’s either you want to get to know that artist or they speak to you on a level that you relate to and I guess I love all types of music. Like I said, I’ve been influenced by everything and I love that I can say I’ve probably been influenced by a songwriter in every genre.

AV: Your interest for music originally sparked when your grandfather bought you your first guitar, did you ever think then that your passion and love for music would translate into a career later on?

JC: Well, quickly after I got a guitar I tried starting a band which was stupid because I didn’t know how to play guitar yet. I’ve always knew I wanted to play music, I always wanted to be in a band, it was kind of just a childhood dream. I guess it just started when I was 15 and I had that band, we would add friends to our MySpace when MySpace was big, we would book shows and just kind of build a career ever since then. Lately it’s been more of, ‘Holy crap, this is my job now,’ but it was always a huge passion of mine growing up.

AV: (laughs) Earlier you mentioned you toured with Taylor Swift and Darius Rucker, what was the most exciting part about touring with the two of them, they’re pretty big.

JC: Touring with Taylor was one of the greatest experiences I’ve had because it broadened my fanbase incredibly everywhere, on social media. Some fans are even really excited for this record to come out. Learning from someone like Taylor doesn’t suck because you know, obviously she’s doing something right. She’s a great entertainer, great songwriter, great to the people she works with and some of her new artists as well. Touring with Darius was a completely different thing because Darius and I have been touring almost 15-20 dates a year for the last three years. I met him when I was 19 and rolling around on a broke down mini-van and he saw me and I only had two tour dates with him and after those two tour dates he put me on the rest of his fall tour back when I was 19 and put me on his band bus and has really just been taking care of me and helping me through a lot while I start this career, this adventure so he’s really like a big brother.

AV: That’s really awesome and you mentioned a big part of that was expanding your fanbase. Social media is extremely important in the music industry now, how important is it to you to connect with fans on social media?

JC: It’s really important because they get to know you on a different level. It’s totally more personal, I mean my fans kind of know— when they’re bringing me my favorite candy and Chipotle gift cards, stuffed animals of lions and everything it’s kind of cool that they know my interests. It’s also important because if my songs relate to them on a personal level then I’d like to as well.

AV: Going back to the album, do you feel it’s a true representation of your artistry all together?

JC: This album was written between the ages of 17 and 20 so I think this is going to be a really great representation of me as a debut artists and it’s a setup for a second album and I’m going to keep continuing writing songs and I think my fans will get a good sense of who I am as an artists and as a songwriter.

AV: What are your thoughts on cross-genre collaborations? It seems to be a black and white debate in a lot of cases. Some think that by crossing genres it’s taking the ‘country’ out of country music while others think it’s a window of opportunity.

strong>JC: The thing is about music, is that music constantly evolves, especially genres and you’re always going to have that because of new artists. For instance, how old are you?

AV: I’m 20.

JC: Alright, so I’m 22. People like us are growing up with the internet and where we can get music pretty much anywhere and I think you’re seeing, instead of cross-genre, is younger artists who have had the internet to grow up with for finding music and that means— you know— all the YouTube and iTunes and even the illegal side that I don’t recommend because it’s not good for songwriters like myself. Anyway, we can get our hands on rap, folk, country, rock, classical, reggae, polka music all within 10 minutes. We can listen to all different songs within different genres in 10 minutes and so I think new artists have been influenced by so many different genres with the easy access to it that you’re just having all of these sub-genres break out. Pop isn’t what it used to be, country isn’t what it used to be, rock definitely isn’t what it used to be. As far as collaborations go, I don’t see the big deal, songs are songs and if people want to change stuff up— I mean people are collaborating all the time. Paul McCartney did with Michael Jackson, The Rolling Stones used to go up to Detroit and collab with some of the old R&B singers so it’s been happening for awhile now.

AV: With that said, what would be some of your dream collaborations?

JC: I would love to collab with Fleetwood Mac, The Eagles, Tom Petty, Keith Urban or John Mayer, pretty much my influences. Outside of my influences I think it would be really cool to do something with Eminem, I don’t know if that’ll ever happen but I still think it’d be pretty awesome.

AV: You’re the second country artist I’ve talked to that said Eminem for outside of their genre.

JC: Well, if I’m the second one then let me think of something else so I can be the first. I’m just kidding. (laughs)

AV: (laughs) Chase Rice said the same thing which I thought was really cool.

JC: Yeah, I really dig Eminem as a lyricist. He took a lot of chances and wrote some interesting lyrics that were just honest about how he felt so I think that would be cool to go completely outside of the box. Willie Nelson would definitely be a dream and a half too.

AV: That’d be awesome. So do you have a motto or philosophy that you live by or that inspires you?

JC: Growing up I was pastor’s kid so a lot of times I had to put on a front for no reason so I think if any motto I live by it’s just being who you are with and without the scars.

AV: That’s really great. Well, that wraps up all of my serious questions so now I have a lightning round of some fun questions.

Lightning Round
AV: Most embarrassing moment?
JC: I was walking out of a Hollister store— yeah, I shopped at Hollister, I was 15, I’ll admit that. I was walking out of the store and I didn’t see this leg rest or whatever and just tripped over it and just ate sh*t in the middle of the floor. So many cute girls were there and they saw and I just got up and act like nothing happened. I’ve had more moments than that I’m sure. (laughs)
AV: Guilty pleasure?
JC: I really love fast food, I’m not gonna lie, a lot of fast food, junk food.
AV: Okay then what’s your favorite fast food and least favorite?
JC: I really dig Wendy’s, I’m not a fan of Arby’s.
AV: Not surprising, I don’t think many people are.
JC: Good point.
AV: What’s your favorite song at the moment?
JC: I never have one, a lot of people ask me that question but it’s really hard for me to pick a favorite. I’ve been jamming to “Coolkids” by Echosmith, that’s a fun jam.
AV: Describe yourself in 5 words.
JC: I would say, a musician, songwriter, a rambling man, insomniac, funny.
AV: Finally, if you had to choose between Chipotle or beanies which would you choose?
JC: Putting me on the spot, huh? Well…I’d have to go with my beanie, as sad of a question that is. You’re the first person to ask me that, that’s a really good question.
AV: I’m actually surprised by your answer, I really thought you were going to pick Chipotle.
JC: I don’t think you understand the love I have for this beanie, it just keeps me from never having to do my hair.
AV: That’s true, I guess there’s always Wendy’s.
JC: Well, I’d probably just skip out at that point.

Taylor Swift Returns to the Big Screen in “The Giver”

The Grammy Award winning songstress is returning to the big screen this Friday in the haunting drama, The Giver, based on Lois Lowry’s young adult novel.

Swift plays an overwhelmed brunette woman named Rosemary, a former Receiver of Memory whose existence ceased after two months. In Lowry’s novel, the Receiver of Memories is the sole bearer of emotions in a regimented society.

In a clip released earlier this week, Swift is spotted doing what she does best: quietly humming a tune to herself as her fingers graciously prance along the keys of a piano. In the same scene, her successor (Brenton Thwaites) witnesses The Giver (Jeff Bridges) pass along Rosemary’s memory which demonstrates music—  a forbidden gift in their bleak world.

“She’s the one they all talk about,” Thwaites says in the clip.

“She no longer exists…except here. And in my memories,” responds Bridges.

This is Swift’s first return to the big screen since she first made her acting debut in Gary Marshall’s 2010 romance film, Valentine’s Day.

The haunting story of The Giver hits theatres Friday, Aug. 15.

Trace Cyrus and Metro Station Reunite for Unexpected Comeback

Trace Cyrus and Mason Musso have unexpectedly reconciled despite their indefinite 2010 split caused by multiple disputes among band members.

According to Billboard, Cyrus and Musso are making a Metro Station comeback with an EP and tour in their sights.

“After over four years of being apart, fans — and even myself — thought this would never happen,” Trace Cyrus told Billboard. “I’m extremely excited to be making amazing music with Mason as Metro Station again. We started this band together and it only feels right we finish what we started.”

“Love & War,” the first single since the reunion leaked a day early with an accompanying music video that features Cyrus and Musso as they sing about a toxic love affair. “Love & War” is a dance-heavy track that will fit perfectly among Top 40 hits.

Metro Station was originally short-lived having released one album in 2007 along with their Billboard Top 10 single, “Shake It.”

In addition to the reunion and their latest single, Metro Station announced they will be embarking on a co-headlining tour with The Ready Set on The Outsiders Tour. The Downtown Fiction and Against The Current will be supporting.

The Outsiders Tour is scheduled to kick off on Oct. 21 in Salt Lake City, Ut. and will wrap up on Nov. 22 in San Diego, Ca.

For more information regarding tour dates and tickets click here.

Be sure to check out the official music video for “Love & War.”

Fans Outraged Over Teen Choice Awards Voting Controversy

Teen Choice Awards producers excitedly added new social-media themed categories to the award show this year which had fans excited until controversy sparked via Twitter Sunday night.

Fans on Twitter appeared far more angry than they did excited about the award show, with claims that voting was rigged after tweets from Vine sensations Cameron Dallas and Matt Espinosa sparked controversy.

Dallas, who won the “Choice Viner” award took to Twitter after losing the “Choice Web Star: Male” award to Tyler Oakley.

“It’s funny how they told me I won the viner award 6 days before the voting ended and made the runners up still vote to tweet for for them,” Dallas tweeted during the award show. “He already knew he was going to win that’s why he didn’t promote and that’s why he didn’t seem surprised,” he continued.

Espinosa also shared his disappointment with producers via Twitter.

“Basically they picked the people almost 6 days before voting was done and used all of us for promotion,” he tweeted.

Fans were outraged and shared their disappointment on Twitter using the hashtag #TeensDontHaveaChoiceAwards which quickly began trending worldwide.

The tweets from Dallas and Espinosa were deleted but many grabs of the tweets are making their way around the internet and fandoms that spent hours voting for their idols are still rather angry, vouching to boycott the award show next year.