Although the date of release has not yet been announced, former Fall Out Boy frontman Patrick Stump has finished recording his debut solo album Soul Punk onto Island Records. He is one of the dozens of AP’s Most Anticipated Music issue coming out next month, and is letting his fans help in his decision of which version of “Spotlight” he wants to put on the album. Head over to patrickstump.com to cast your vote. I’m more of a “New Regrets” kind of kid if you ask me.

Owl City penned the song – “To the Sky” – to serve as the theme to Director Zack Snyder’s animation debut Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole. The song “To the Sky” is not only the soundtrack’s first single, but is also featured prominently within the film and plays again as it soars over the end title sequence. Featuring themes and imagery from the film, the music video for Owl City’s “To the Sky” has just premiered on Vevo.

Suggested songs : Dr.Feel Good (Feat. Cee Lo Green), Billionaire (Feat. Bruno Mars), & After Midnight

There is a tour bus outside of Milwaukee’s famous Rave Club, outside it are teenage girls, all sporting their homemade shirts professing their love for Never Shout Never. Security guards are peeved, telling them they’re too close, and three feet away are four fans on their hands and knees, drawing a name in chalk around his traveling home. We venture onto the bus into the back and are greeted by the 19 year old who has purloined the hearts of millions of people besides the ones swarming around the venue. It is as if everyone in the English speaking language now knows of his existence. From his lack of shoes, ukulele tunes, and his message of spreading love and appreciation of nature, Christofer Drew has made the journey from his room in Joplin, Missouri, to the stages of nearly every state in the country. The first I heard of him was when I was in the eighth grade, still swooning over his Myspace picture. Three years later, I’m sitting on his couch, inhaling his secondhand smoke. Singing something I’ve never heard before and playing an acoustic, he lights a cigarette just as the door to the room we’re in closes. Humble and sure of where he’s going along with what he believes, upon reading his lyrics and speaking to him in person, it is no wonder why fans fall at the site of him.

Last night Jennnn informed me that I needed to have a post done in 24 hours or else…well, I don’t know what would happen, but she’s my “boss” so I figured I needed to have one done. My first thought was ‘well yeah, I do kinda owe you a post because I slept too late to take you to the show I was supposed to bring you to.’ But my second thought was ‘holy crap, I don’t know what I’m going to write about.’ Lucky for me, I got home from school today and checked my MySpace, and saw that Kate Voegele had her new single up on iTunes.

Now, for those of you who haven’t figured this out, Kate is pretty much my hero. Everyone has that one musician that just fixes all of their problems, or at least makes them go away for a little while; and Kate is that musician for me. When I heard the new song “Manhattan from the Sky” I immediately fell in love with it. The song is absolutely amazing and well worth the wait. The lyrics are heartfelt and thought provoking and you can’t help but sing along when you hear it. I downloaded it as soon as I got home and it has been on repeat ever since. You can download the song now on iTunes and hear it on tonight’s episode of One Tree Hill on the CW where Kate plays Mia, an aspiring musician as well as on Kate’s MySpace. You can expect her next full length album (A Fine Mess) out in May. And you can bet on a review the minute I hear it.

1. Who is your biggest musical influence? Why?

I would have to say Fiona Apple. I started listening to her when I was very young…I used to sing along with all of her songs.

2. From Where do you draw your inspiration?

All kinds of things…Mostly people watching, talking to friends/family about personal situations…I read a lot of good literature and movies…Usually the movies are dark/deep…they put me in a mood where I have to write in order to express what I’m feeling.

3. If you had the opportunity to perform onstage with any musician who would it be and why?

I would have to say Fiona Apple or Ben Folds. Fiona, as I said before, is my idol…and Ben Folds is such a wonderful performer. I love his sense of humor and the way he interacts with the audience.

4. What was it like touring with Kate Voegele?

So much fun! Usually tours can be really stressful and taxing on your body. The little tour with Kate was so much fun…and for the first time I started seeing touring as more of a joy than a job.

5. If you weren’t a musician what would you be doing?

Haha. I don’t like to think about that. I would probably be somehow involved in business marketing or advertising. Although I love writing…I thought about becoming an author when I first went to college.

6. Is there a story behind “Love is Trippy”?

Yea, I went to a very conservative Christian college…dating there was quite a task. There were a lot of rules..,etc. It was very difficult get to know someone without “stepping over the line”. So this made for lots of awkward experiences…a lot of first dates…not second ones…so I sort of wrote it after that.

7. What is your most memorable concert experience?

Most memorable concert experience was singing “Volcano” with Damien Rice in Iceland.

8. What made you decide to pursue music as a career?

I’m not sure when I really “decided”. It was always something I wanted to do. I guess when I left school last year and started touring full time was when I decided to make it my “career”.

9. Out of all the songs on your album which has the most meaning to you and why?

I would have to say “Simple things”. I spent about 6 and 1/2 years of my life living in Honduras with very little entertainment. I had to learn how to entertain myself and I had to learn how to take pleasure in “simple things”. This song takes me back.

10. What is your all time favorite song why?

That’s a really hard question. I love “Hallelujah” by Jeff Buckley, “Babylon” by David Gray. I also love “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac (personally I like the Dixie chicks version better)…and I love all of Damien Rice’s songs.

11. My Favorite TV show is: The Office

12. Something that I never travel without is: makeup!

13. The best thing about performing is: Afterwards…when I get to talk to my fans, relax, and have a drink ☺

14. Something My fans should bring me is: My fans do enough by coming to my shows, showing their support and being awesome. I couldn’t ask for more

In Arizona: The Grand Canyon, The Phoenix Suns, The Maine, and oh yeah, Mike Goodrick. With his poppish acoustic sound and his deep sincere lyrics he is out to make you smile. Seriously, that’s what he wants to do, make you smile. Influenced by bands like Relient K, he writes sad songs with happy upbeat music. The question is are you smiling yet?

1) How long have you been playing?
I’ve been singing in choir and stuff like that since I can remember.
I’ve been playing guitar for about 5 years. I taught myself in seventh grade how to play guitar and since then I’ve been teaching myself to play lots of other instruments like piano, trombone, viola, and the harp.

2) What made you want to become a musician?
Well I have always liked to sing but I never even considered it as a career choice until I got my first guitar for my 13th birthday. I immediately fell in love with writing songs and I started a band 3 weeks after. I’ve been writing music in various forms ever since. Although the songs I wrote then I would never play for anyone, they were really bad, they definitely helped me out with experience to write the songs I have now.

3) Biggest musical influence?
the rocket summer really was the first solo artist I really got into. He showed me that you dont have to be a justin timberlake or britney spears to do music as a solo artist. His music is exactly how he wants and portrays an awesome message and thats why I wanted to do. If I had to choose one band that influenced me to quit my band pursue music as a solo artist it would definitely be Bryce Avery. He’s an awesome guy and his music, as well as his message, has really influenced me tremendously!!!

4) If you could play live with any band/musician who would it be and why?
That is a really tough decision and I’m being pulled between 3 right now. The rocket Summer, The Maine, and Jimmy Robbins. So I’m gonna answer the why questions for all of those guys.
The Rocket Summer because like I said before he is huge musical influence and has been since I started in the music business. It would be a dream come true to share the stage with a band that has somewhat defined who I am as an artist.

The Maine because they are from my hometown. I have grown up in Arizona and I saw The Maine way before they were so HUGE. It would be awesome to share the stage with a band that has done my dream. They have also kind of showed me that its possible even from Arizona, to make it in this business.

5) Worst job you’ve had? Why?
I worked at a restaurant for a little while and it sucked really bad cause it had nothing to do with music. I quit after like a month. I couldn’t stand not being involved in music. I would much rather do this full time!

6) Anything you can tell us about your upcoming tour?
Well not much right now. There will be one for sure. I just signed with a management company and they are working day and night to get one set up. So hopefully it will be super super soon.

7) Are you planning on coming to Chicago anytime soon?!
I will definitely be coming to Chicago on my upcoming tour. I definitely gotta come see my buddies from Station Static!!

”…the taste of her cherry chapstick.”

I had the opportunity to meet the oh so famous Katy Perry at this year’s Warped Tour. She seems really nice. While I was on side stage, during the opening song One Of The Boys, a (pardon my language) really stupid, moronic, just really idiotic fan decided to throw a bottle of water at her during her performance. Unfortunately, he didn’t miss. He hit her head on. Dude, she got splashed. So she threw her guitar at her tech (wouldn’t you?) and flicked off the crowd. I honestly respect her for continuing on singing after the little interruption. I would have done the same thing but my performance would have included a few curse words…haha anywho, after she was done with the set, I asked her, ”what would you tell the person who threw it at you?” and here’s the video.