Musician Spotlight: Rising Singer Katie Belle Akin

Musician Spotlight: Rising Singer Katie Belle Akin
BY: David Mills

Marietta, GA - We are bringing our readers a brand new Wednesday "Musician Spotlight" edition. Musician that we are featuring in this "Musician Spotlight" is on a very talented 12 year old Singer/Songwriter from Georgia. The Musician we are featuring is the lovely and talented singer/songwriter Katie Belle Akin. Katie is a raising Singer/Songwriter with her country/pop/Country style that has a very bright future ahead. Lets meet this lovely, talented, 12 year old, Singer/Songwriter.

Katie Belle Akin is a 12 year old country pop singer/songwriter on the rise.  Taking cues from her idols Dolly Parton, Carrie Underwood and Miley Cyrus, Katie’s songs encourage being strong and confident and the stories in her songs convey the message to always have faith in yourself. To date Katie has written, recorded and produced 7 original songs. Her production has been done in Nashville by Murphy/Good Studios and redredstudios; all of Katie’s music is available on iTunes.

The Georgia native got her musical start by singing in the school and church choirs.  Her calling as a singer and performer became clear when she landed and nailed the lead part in her school production of School House Rocks Jr. She hasn’t stopped performing since!  Katie has been catching audiences’ and music professionals’ attention by singing in school, church, local fairs, talents shows and competitions.  In summer 2010 Katie was a part of an auditioned inspirational choir at a talent convention performing before a crowd of over 1500, In January 2011 Katie sang at the Martin Luther King Celebration in Cobb County to a crowd of 1000. Katie’s music is currently getting spins on several internet radio stations! 2012 is starting off strong with the release of her 5 original songs on her first EP.

Katie's single Up To Me, won in the Country Category recently in www.eyerocksradio.com 2ndBattleoftheBands Jan. 2012

Katie has been a repeated Featured Artist of the Week @ Music X-ray, The Nashville Universe, dssr Rock & Radio, GirlsRockRadio, Whotunes and PMW Live radio.

"Up To Me" video was the Grand Prize Winner in the Ark Music Factory Video Contest Sept. 2011

"Who I Am" video addresses the topic of overcoming bullying, Katie is being considered for spokesperson for a national Anti-bullying campaign, “Rachel’s Challenge... as of February 2012 Katie’s song will be a featured song on an upcoming compilation CD produced by the Rachel’s Challenge organization.  Congratulations Katie!!!

Katie has just returned from Los Angeles where she was invited by Patrice Wilson, CEO of Ark Music/PMW Live for the filming of her new music video, for her original song "Born for This". Born for This is the title track from her EP. Katie caught the attention of Mr. Wilson by submitting her music to his radio station in Los Angeles.  Mr. Wilson loves Katie’s Country vibe and had been playing her music when he heard her new song “Born for This”... Mr. Wilson called Katie personally and invited her to LA because he wanted to film this video. The music video for “Born for This” is scheduled for a late February/early March 2012 release.

Upcoming performances Katie has booked are:

March 3^rd, Nashville Palace

March 30^th, Auburn University Benefit Concert

April 14^th, Nashville Spotlight TV

May 4^th, Nashville Palace

July 4^th, Katie will perform a Benefit Concert at “Camp Happy Days” near Charleston, S.C. a camp for children and siblings who are Cancer Patients… Katie will spend an entire day visiting, performing and spending the night at camp as she encourages and entertains the camp participants to never give up and to pursue their dreams. Katie can’t think of a better way to celebrate freedom and share her gifts at the same time.

This spring Katie is kicking off a Facebook/YouTube campaign against bullying.  She has been bullied thru out her school years and has overcome some tough situations caused by this. Katie feels strongly that a person can stand against bullying by relying on family, friends and support networks. Katie knows firsthand and relates to others who have also experienced this.  Katie says “don’t give up; don’t cave in, STAND UP AGAINST BULLYING.

Katie currently enjoys communicating with her fans on her Facebook, twitter,  reverbnation pages and YouTube … booking performances, taking weekly guitar lessons, performance training and working on new music in Atlanta and Nashville; all the while pursuing her “passion for performance”.

Katie’s social media links:

www.katiebelleakin.com -- undergoing an update March 2012 

www.facebook.com/katiebelleakin

www.twitter.com/katiebelleakin

www.apple.itunes.com/katiebelleakin

www.reverbnation.com/katiebelleakin

Katie Belle Akin seems to us as being a wonderful Singer/Songwriter with a Country/Country/Pop style of singing that sounds great. This young Singer/Songwriter will be one to watch for big things. Akin has writing some songs that you should listen to has they are wonderful. These songs are "Movin On", "Boy In My Dreams", "Next Thing In Tennessee", Born This Way", "Up To Me", "Who I Am" and "Grow Up". It was also announced to us that Katie is up for a role in  Cool Carolina Nights", filming will be this spring and summer for a walk on role about bullying. The production company BJGproduction is in Katie's hometown of Atlanta, Ga. Cool Carolina Night's is a new cable soap opera drama. We can't wait to see where Katie's singing and songwriting will take her.

Born For This is the title track to her ep.
This song was written by katie in the middle of the night on a trip to Nashville for songwriting... katie couldnt sleep and got up because she kept hearing this song in her head. She used the light coming from underneath the door to write by as she didnt want to wake her mother up, she ran out of ink in one of the pens she was using  hence the lyric " I'm gonna bleed my pen dry".....

written by Katie Belle Akin, Kipp Williams & Joshua Silverberg

ALL SONGS:  recorded/produced in Nashville at redredstudios, producer Joshua Silverberg, co-producer Kipp Williams,  mixed in NYC by John Castelli, mastered by Nathan Dantzler, Los Angeles
next thing in tennesee

Katie wrote this song riding in the car on the way to Nashville for songwriting... Atlanta is home to Usher and JZ hence their mention.. the lyrics include many known sites in Nashville and the names of many country stars which have influenced Katies style of music... Katie loves Nashville!

Katie helped select the insturments she wanted on the song, especially the banjo!!

Boy of My Dreams

This song is written about a boy katie knows, but he doesnt pay any attention to her... she used alot of her "favortie" things i.e. strawberry mango smoothies lyric to create her imaginary boyfriend!! she really wanted the fiddle which the fiddle solo turned out really well…

Movin On

This was a callaboration song with Kipp and Joshua,,, Katie has been dumped by alot of friends, it just seems to happen alot, but she knows to bounce back and keep "movin on" the lyrics reflect the empowerment of moving forward and getting over hurts, because in life that happens...

fiddle in this song... and that part turned out really well.

Final song on the Katie's ep is Nothin on the Planet

This song is a departure from the other country influenced songs on the ep.  it is really fun and high energy, similar to Born for This. still uses some "country" music instruments but basically is a pop song... the vocals were really alot of fun.

We want to share with you a Music Video of her song "Who I Am". Please listen as she did a wonderful job in this Music Video.

What did you all think?


Our Next "Musician Spotlight" will be on The Veayo Twins from the great state of Maine, going live this Friday.

Rocky Coast News is pleased to have Katie Belle Akin as our latest "Musician Spotlight", where we highlight, promote up and coming musicians that have amazing vocals, sound, style and/or who are able to play an instrument well singing.

Rocky Coast News

Reporter, David Mills

Rockland, ME 04841

rockycoastnews@live.com

Rocky Coast News is a division of Rocky Coast Media delivering Nautical, Community & Entertainment News

First Look Photos: A.N.T Farm "patANT pending" MAR. 2nd

First Look Photos: A.N.T Farm "patANT pending" MAR. 2nd
BY: David Mills

Disney Channel - There will be an all new episode of A.N.T Farm entitled "patANT pending" on Friday night at 8:30pm. We want to share stills from Friday's upcoming episode of A.N.T Farm. Photographs are courtesy of the Disney Channel.

We you all can tune in to watch Friday's new episode of A.N.T Farm entitled "patANT pending" at 8:30pm.

Rocky Coast News

Reporter David Mills

Rockland, ME 04841

rockycoastnews@live.com

Rocky Coast News is a division of Rocky Coast Media delivering Nautical, Community & Entertainment News

Suburgatory "Poetic Injustice" Premiers Tonight FEB. 29th

Suburgatory "Poetic Injustice" Premiers Tonight FEB. 29th
BY: David Mills

ABC - Fans of Suburgatory will be able to watch an all new episode tonight at 8:30pm entitled "Poetic Injustice". When Fred and Sheila strike up a croquet match with Dallas and George, Fred misreads Sheila's interest in George. Fred tells George that Sheila is fantasizing about him and asks him to seduce her. Meanwhile Tessa desperately wants to impress the new poetry teacher, Ms. Evans, but she seems to prefer Dalia's prose.

"Suburgatory" stars Jeremy Sisto as George Altman, Jane Levy as Tessa Altman, Cheryl Hines as Dallas Royce, Alan Tudyk as Noah Werner, Carly Chaikin as Dalia Royce, Ana Gasteyer as Sheila Shay, Allie Grant as Lisa Shay and Rex Lee as Mr. Wolfe.

"Poetic Injustice" guest stars Chris Parnell as Fred Shay, Luigi Debiasse as Ernesto, Jackie Geary as Ms. Evans and Jamie Denbo as Deena Doogan.

Photographs from the episode of Suburgatory tonight at 8:30pm are courtesy of ABC.

We hope you all will b able to watch tonight's all new episode of Suburgatory airing at 8:30pm.

Rocky Coast News

Reporter David Mills

Rockland, ME 04841

rockycoastnews@live.com

Rocky Coast News is a division of Rocky Coast Media delivering Nautical, Community & Entertainment News

Modern Family "Leap Day" Premiers Tonight FEB. 29th

Modern Family "Leap Day" Premiers Tonight FEB. 29th
BY: David Mills

ABC - Modern Family fans will be able to watch an all new episode tonight at 9pm entitled "Leap Day". Cameron's birthday falls on Leap Day, and with opportunities to celebrate so few and far between, the pressure for Mitchell to get it right is exceptional. Meanwhile, Jay's machismo is in question, and Phil's plans to observe the Leap Day holiday with the boys is thwarted by the girls.

"Modern Family" stars Ed O'Neill as Jay, Julie Bowen as Claire, Ty Burrell as Phil, Sof’a Vergara as Gloria, Jesse Tyler Ferguson as Mitchell, Eric Stonestreet as Cameron, Sarah Hyland as Haley, Nolan Gould as Luke, Ariel Winter as Alex, Rico Rodriguez as Manny and Aubrey Anderson-Emmons as Lily.


Guest cast includes Alex Schemmer as Jorgen, John DiMaggio as Captain Hauck, Rodney J. Hobbs as Trapeze Guy, Kali Rocha as Kate, Frank Maharajh as Micky, Harris Markson as Davy and Rob Chester Smith as Scarecrow.

Photographs of tonight's all new episode of Modern Family are courtesy of ABC.

We hope you all will tune in to watch tonight's all new episode of Modern Family at 9pm.

Rocky Coast News

Reporter David Mills

Rockland, ME 04841

rockycoastnews@live.com

Rocky Coast News is a division of Rocky Coast Media delivering Nautical, Community & Entertainment News

Body of Proof "Home Invasion" Premiers Tonight FEB. 28th

Body of Proof "Home Invasion" Premiers Tonight FEB. 28th
BY: David Mills

ABC - Fans of Body of Proof will be able to watch an all new episode entitled "Home Invasion" tonight at 10pm. This episode is about when the parents of a perfect family are murdered and discovered by their son, the team soon realizes that things are not as it seems. Meanwhile Curtis struggles with his new position, and Megan's new love life heats up.

"Body of Proof" stars Dana Delany as Dr. Megan Hunt, Jeri Ryan as Dr. Kate Murphey, John Carroll Lynch as Detective Bud Morris, Nicholas Bishop as Peter Dunlop, Sonja Sohn as Detective Samantha Baker, Geoffrey Arend as Dr. Ethan Gross, Windell D. Middlebrooks as Dr. Curtis Brumfield and Mary Mouser as Lacey Fleming.

Guest starring Jeffrey Nordling as Todd Fleming, Jamie Bamber as Aiden Wells, Cody Allen Christian as Greg Lux, Paul David Story as Travis Pope, Tom Gallop as Owen Kreger and Ken Costanza as Aaron Lux.

Photographs from tonight's Body of Proof episode is courtesy of ABC.

Rocky Coast News

Reporter David Mills

Rockland, ME 04841

rockycoastnews@live.com

Rocky Coast News is a division of Rocky Coast Media delivering Nautical, Community & Entertainment News

Last Man Standing "Ding Dong Ditch" Premiers Tonight FEB. 28th

Last Man Standing "Ding Dong Ditch" Premiers Tonight FEB. 28th
BY: David Mills

ABC - Last Man Standing fans will be able to watch an new episode tonight at 8:00pm entitled "Ding Dong Ditch". The Baxters are constantly awakened by an early morning prankster who rings their doorbell and then runs away. When Mike catches the teen-aged boy, the kid injures himself and now his litigious father expects Mike to pay the doctor bill. Also, single working mom Kristin starts college.

"Last Man Standing" stars Tim Allen as Mike, Nancy Travis, as Vanessa, Kaitlyn Dever as Eve, Molly Ephraim as Mandy, Alexandra Krosney as Kristin, Christoph Sanders as Kyle and Hector Elizondo as Ed. 

Guest starring are Luke & Evan Kruntchev as Boyd, Uriah Shelton a Ben Milbauer, Alex Skuby as Frank Milbauer and Don Lake as professor. 

"Ding Dong Ditch" was written by Jon Haller and directed by John Pasquin.

Photographs of this latest episode airing tonight, the 28th of February is courtesy of ABC. We hope you can tune in to watch this all new episode of Last Man Standing at 8:00pm.

Rocky Coast News

Reporter David Mills

Rockland, ME 04841

rockycoastnews@live.com

Rocky Coast News is a division of Rocky Coast Media delivering Nautical, Community & Entertainment News

Jane By Design "The Getaway" Premiers Tonight FEB. 28th

Jane By Design "The Getaway" Premiers Tonight FEB. 28th
BY: David Mills

ABC Family - Jane By Design fans will be able to watch tonight at 9pm an all new episode entitled "The Getaway". Jane’s weekend with Nick gets sidetracked when India requests her presence on a business trip.

Photographs of the latest episode of Jane By Design airing tonight at 9pm is courtesy of ABC Family. We hope you all will be able to watch tonight's all new episode.

Rocky Coast News

Reporter David Mills

Rockland, ME 04841

rockycoastnews@live.com

Rocky Coast News is a division of Rocky Coast Media delivering Nautical, Community & Entertainment News

First Look Photos: Make It Or Break It Apr. 2nd

First Look Photos: Make It Or Break It Apr. 2nd
BY: David Mills

ABC Family - We want to share first look photos of the April 2nd episode of Make It Or Break It entitled "It Takes Two". After Coach McIntire pairs the girls up, they must learn to live with a constant companion. This episode will premier on the 2nd of April at 9pm.

Coach McIntire decides to pair the girls up to teach the lesson that, while gymnastics is a single sport, they won’t make it to the Olympics alone. This is not a training technique the girls were expecting, especially when Lauren and Payson are paired up and Kaylie is slotted with Kelly Parker. Still stinging from Kelly’s betrayal before, how can Kaylie possibly live with this girl, let alone trust her? And Payson and Lauren are polar opposites, so how can they possibly agree on anything that can put them on the right track? 

Meanwhile, Austin pushes Kaylie to consider a career after the Olympics. 

"Make It or Break It" is executive produced by Holly Sorensen, Paul Stupin and John Ziffren. The series stars Ayla Kell, Josie Loren and Cassie Scerbo.

These photographs of the April 2nd, 2012 episode of Make It Or Break It are courtesy of ABC Family.

Rocky Coast News

Reporter David Mills

Rockland, ME 04841

rockycoastnews@live.com

Rocky Coast News is a division of Rocky Coast Media delivering Nautical, Community & Entertainment News

Roshon Fegan Picked For Dancing With The Stars Season 14

Roshon Fegan Picked For Dancing With The Stars Season 14
BY: David Mills

Today, Roshon Fegan from the Disney Channel series Shake It Up was choosing for Dancing with the Stars season 14 premiering on March 19, 2012 dancing with his partner Chelsie Hightower. We send Roshon a congratulations for being on season 14 of Dancing With The Stars. The following is the full list of those going to be on this season of Dancing With The Stars.

Actor Jack Wagner of "Melrose Place" fame, TV star Melissa Gilbert, who became a household name as Laura Ingalls on "Little House on the Prairie," "The View" co-host Sherri Shepherd, and Jaleel White, best known as Steve Urkel from "Family Matters," are among this season's headliners.

Tennis legend Martina Navratilova, TV host Maria Menounos, Motown great Gladys Knight, opera singer Katherine Jenkins, Disney star Roshon Fegan, NFL champ Donald Driver, singer Gavin DeGraw and Telenovela actor William Levy round out the celebrity line-up. 


Are you excited about those choosing for this season of Dancing With The Stars?


You can read those on this season's Dancing With The Stars bios by clicking here.

Rocky Coast News

Reporter David Mills

Rockland, ME 04841

rockycoastnews@live.com

Rocky Coast News is a division of Rocky Coast Media delivering Nautical, Community & Entertainment News

Musician Spotlight: Boston-Based Band Michael & Marisa

Musician Spotlight: Boston-Based Band Michael & Marisa
BY: David Mills

Boston, Massachusetts -  Our "Musician Spotlight" today is on a brother/sisters duo that perform great together. Michael and Marisa are musicians that started a band by the same name that we want to hightlight and promote. In this "Musician Spotlight" you will gain a better understanding of this wonderful brother/sister duo band from Boston. These two wonderful brother/sister duo are musicians to watch as they are on the road to have a very successful career. You will be able to see some photographs of these two musicians, a Q&A we were able to conduct with them and more.

With Michael(age 14) on vocals and electric guitar and Marisa (age 15) on drums and vocals, their harmonizing produces an exciting pop/rock blend.  This brother sister duo is experienced in performing at all kinds of venues including: concert, charity events, fairs, festivals, nightclubs, amusement parks, professional and collegiate sporting events as well as private parties and functions.  They are experienced with audiences of all ages from the tween crowd to the bar crowd.  They perform to intimate groups of 50 as well as to large crowds of 20,000 with complete comfort.  When performing, they establish a rapport with their audience from the first song and always make sure the audience has fun.  They are always smiling and are easy to work with.

Summer 2011, Michael and Marisa co-wrote with producer, Stokes Nielson at EMI Publishing in Nashville resulting in two new songs, one was released Fall 2011 and the second to be released shortly.

In December 2010, Michael and Marisa released an EP of four songs co-written with Peter Zizzo (Avril Lavigne, Vanessa Carlton, Celine Dion) 

In June 2008 Michael and Marisa released their debut CD of 12 songs.  Five of the songs were executive produced by Emmy Award nominee Amy Powers in Los Angeles of which three were co-written by Jeannie Lurie, who has written many hits for Top 40 Disney teen icon Hannah Montana, aka Miley Cyrus.

Michael and Marisa co-wrote the other 7 songs with Boston based producer Billy Garzone. 

Michael is proud to be endorsed by Gibson Guitars.  Marisa by Vic Firth drum stick company.

Marisa In The Recording Studio

Some of Michael & Marisa Highlights Are

Opening Act for David Archuleta, Disney's Mitchel Musso, Nickelodeon's Drake Bell, Cody Simpson, Greyson Chance
Bamboozle Roadshow Tour
Whisky A Go Go and Roxy Nightclubs, Hollywood, CA
Ecofest at Lincoln Center, New York, NY
Rocketown, Nashville, TN
Boston Celtics Professional Basketball Game  (18,000 people)
Hard Rock Cafe
House of Blues
Various Six Flags Amusement Parks
Hershey Park
2008 and 2010 Camplifield Tour
Boston City Hall Plaza
Kiss 108 FM Radio Featured Performers
Featured Performer at Price Waterhouse Coopers Holiday Party at Boston's World Trade Center

Michael & Marisa In The Recording Studio

The following is our Q&A we were able to conduct with Michael & Marisa recently.

When did both of you start singing?

Michael and Marisa: When we were still in diapers….

Michael:  I wrote my first song at age 4 and took lots of videos of Marisa and me singing before then. I had a kiddie video camera called Digital Blue that really worked.

Growing up was it your dream to become Musicians?

Michael and Marisa:  It wasn’t a dream.  It’s just what we did since we were very little.  Since age 2 and 3.

Are your parents and friends supportive of you both being Musician?

Marisa:

Our parents are very patient with the whole thing and very good to us.  They aren’t musicians at all.

Do both of you write your own songs?  Yes, we do.

If so, is it difficult to come up with lyrics?

Marisa: No, we keep a book of songwriting ideas and write them down as they surface.  There’s a lot to say.

What inspires your songwriting?  Marisa: Things we see that we like and others that we want to change.  We want to inspire our peers to feel good about themselves.

Along the same line. Who inspires both of you with your singing and why?

Marisa: Although sometimes fresh, Lily Allen writes very clever lyrics.  The Beatles have hundreds of innovative songs.  Vocals of singers like Adele, Jessie J, Ariana Grande, Demi Lovato

When did you both get booked for your first concert?  

Michael:  When I was 7.  I had played guitar and sang three songs at an open mic and then was asked to play a festival.  The sound guy at the festival then asked me if I wanted to play several other fair/festival typed gigs.

Marisa:  Michael invited me up on stage half way through his set as his “special guest”  to play drums and sing.  Then soon after we became a full blown duo.

Where was your first concert?  Marisa: First big concert was at the Whisky a Go Go in Hollywood, CA.  We played songs by The Who, CCR, Pat Benatar, Buddy Holly, The Everly Brothers and more.

Were you both nervous to perform that first concert?  No, not at all.  We don’t get nervous.  We love performing.

We read you performed as the opening act for David Archuleta, Disney's Mitchel Musso, Nickelodeon's Drake Bell, Cody Simpson, Greyson Chance. How did it feel performing as their opening act?  Loved all of those shows.  Each one is different.  Michael:  For me, at age 8, Drake Bell was my role model and opening for him was surreal.  He was very nice to me and taught me a song on guitar.  Marisa:  David Archuleta has an amazing voice and was so sweet to us.  He tweeted about us to the world!

Tell us about your other performances at such places like House of Blues, Hard Rock Cafe, Boston Celtics Basketball game and the various  Six Flags?  Michael: We’ve played House of Blues and Hard Rock many times.  The sound is great in those clubs and the fans are ready to have a good time.  Michael: At the Celtics game I played the National Anthem in front of 20,000 people.  I had just turned 8 and went up to center court and when I strummed the first note I noticed that someone had turned my amp off after my sound check, so I just walked over to it, turned it on and kept on going.  Michael: It’s great performing at Six Flags because after the show we get to go on the roller coasters!!! 

Is it hard being a brother/sister duo?  Hard?  No.  It’s easy because we live in the same house so we can rehearse any time and often.  We are like twins…..less than a year apart with opposite personalities.  We don’t fight.

Are your friends at school supportive of you both being a brother/sister duo?  Marisa: We don’t mention it at school and do our best to just be normal kids when we are there.  Kids do know what we do and many have happened to be places where we have played and they say:  “Wow….we had no idea.”

On the subject of school, is it hard pursuing a career in singing with both of you in school?  Michael: It’s impossible.  We run ourselves into the ground and have late nights.  It’s like two full time jobs.  

Tell us about the song "The Same" and the Music video for it?  Marisa: It was inspired by Phoebe Prince who was a teen from Massachusetts who committed suicide as a result of being severely bullied at school.  The song is written from the point of view of the bystander and takes the listener through the mind of this bystander as she ponders what to do when her friends bully a lone girl in the cafeteria.  The music video is exactly how we envisioned the song.  What’s amazing is that many schools across the U.S. have actually learned “The Same” and have sang it at their school assemblies.  Some have asked us to go to their schools to do a concert and when we play that song, they all sing along to it.  

Out of all the songs you both wrote, what is your favorite and why?  Well, “The Same” has had the most impact and is a big and moving song.  We have another song like that coming out soon called “Beautiful Comeback”, which is about teen struggles with a positive message. 

We heard you both were in the recording studio in Los Angeles recently. Can you tell us a little about your new projects?  Marisa: We LOVE our new songs….You guessed it…We call them Lily Allen meets The Beatles.  The lyrics are funny and clever and the music Beatlesque.  We can’t wait to release them.

Michael tell us about being endorsed by Gibson Guitars?  Michael:  Gibson invited me to their showroom and let me pick out a guitar about 3 years ago.  I chose a black Les Paul Double Cutaway, and also have an Epiphone by Gibson and a Gibson Bass guitar.  In October, we did a showcase at the Gibson Studios in Los Angeles and everyone out there was very nice to us getting the sound just right.

Michael tell us about performing with Marisa?  Marisa is an awesome drummer.  She keeps a steady beat and is always smiling.

Our final question Michael, what should our readers know about Marisa?  Huh?  Don’t you want to know about me?  Just Marisa?  Ha!!  I’m awesome and so is Marisa.  She’s very nice, smart, loves interacting with her fans, she (both of us) has a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, She’s done ballet, tap, jazz for 12 years and pointe for 2 or 3.  She’s very strong and can do lots of push ups.

Marisa, we hear you got endorsed by Vic Firth drum stick company. How does it feel being endorsed?  Vic Firth merged with Zildjian last year.  Both companies are amazing and have sent me sticks and cymbals.  I got to tour the Zildjian factory and saw how Cymbals are made.  Did you know there is a secret recipe for the metal that only the Zildjian family knows?  Also, each cymbal is tested by hitting it a few times and there are only 3 or 4 people qualified to pass the cymbals.

Marisa tell us about performing with Michael?  Oh, OK….equal time….Michael is funny.  He says crazy things and is very creative and musical.  He was born musical.  He can sing any note you tell him...I mean he has perfect pitch. He uses his computer to make, change, remix and create music and videos all the time.  

Final question Marisa, what should our readers know about Michael?  He’s a giver and is always thinking of the other person.  He’s an awesome brother and lots of fun.  He always keeps me laughing.

What advice would you both give to someone wanting to get into singing?  Sing.  You can learn a lot on line about singing.  Listen to yourself, practice singing, join singing groups, sing to all the songs you like, play with your voice and try to imitate voices you hear so you learn how to manipulate it.

Michael and Marisa, what do you hope to accomplish with your singing?  Well we sing, but we are really multi-taskers.  Michael plays guitar while he sings or piano and I play drums or piano.  So singing is what we do while we do something else.  We hope to continue creating inspiring music and to perform it live for fans all around the world.

Is there anything else our readers should know about you both?

We’re very interested in what our fans have to say so like us on facebook at facebook.com/michaelandmarisa or subscribe to our youtube channel at: youtube.com/michaelandmarisa. Comment because we read the comments on facebook and youtube and will post answers.  We have web casts from time to time and you can tweet in questions and of course follow us at: @michael_marisa.  We often do meet and greets after shows, when venues allow it, so stop by and say hi sometime.  Love to meet all of you. We post tour dates...half of our shows are over the summer. Website is: michaelandmarisa.com.

Michael In The Recording Studio

We want to thank Michael & Marisa for taken the time to answer our question. Michael & Marisa filmed a music video to go with their song "The Same", one of our favorites, that we would like to share with you all.

We hope you learned more about these wonderful musicians that have a very bright future ahead. Michael & Marisa keep up with the great work. It will be great to see where these two will go with their music.

Our next "Musician Spotlight" will be on The Veayo Twins from Maine, going live Friday, the 2nd of March.

Rocky Coast News is pleased to have Michael & Maisa as our latest "Musician Spotlight", where we highlight, promote up and coming musicians that have amazing vocals, sound, style and/or who are able to play an instrument well singing.

Rocky Coast News

Reporter, David Mills

Rockland, ME 04841

rockycoastnews@live.com

Rocky Coast News is a division of Rocky Coast Media delivering Nautical, Community & Entertainment News