N2K debut, which will be released during the worked with Billie Ray Martin, Seal, Tori with every live performance. The reaction first quarter of 1998. Amos, Crystal Method, and Mike Oldfield. He from listeners is immediate, and the requests comes to Reprise/Kinetic via 's at retail fall in line within days. Billie Myers RCA RECORDS label. His first album, Ima, will be a Universal star in the coming year. Ron Fair, Senior Vice -President which included the hit song "Blue Skies," a Also, I would be remiss if I didn't ask you A&R/Producer collaboration with Tori Amos, brought him to watch for new music from Merril The act I feel will break into the stratosphere fame in the alternative radio format (where Bainbridge, who was our first gold artist last at Top 40 in 1998 is Wild Orchid. he hit Number One at stations like KNDD- year. A single from the forthcoming movie Wild Orchid (Stefanie Ridel, Stacy Seattle, Live 105 -San Francisco, WFNX- soundtrack, Welcome to Woop Woop, should Ferguson, and Renée Sandstrom) made a lot Boston, KTCL-Denver, and 91X -San Diego). set the stage for a tremendous sophomore of friends in 1997, His new album, ESCM, has just come out, album. and we thank and 1998 will see the release of his most pop radio for the sup- song to date, "Remember," which should VIRGIN RECORDS port. With stiff appeal to the heart of Top 40 radio. Gemma Corfield, Vice President, competition from The 26 -year old Berklee School of Music A&R a talented pack of graduate has a live show that is dynamic and Common Sense is a five -piece, multi -ethnic girl groups, Wild exciting, and he tours incessantly. His music band that writes infectious pop songs that Orchid is the most has been garnering great reviews, and the bridge the musical gap between pop, rock, soulful, sangin-est, December, 1997 issue of SPIN says, "BT is a funk, soul, and reggae. Their great songwrit- most ambitious master of the multiple climax...He's the Pink ing ability, coupled with great musicianship, vocal harmony Floyd of the disco ball." awesome vocal harmonies, and an exuberant group out there. live show, gives them an uncommon flair for In a climate with UNIVERSAL RECORDS stirring up fun. so many put Marc Nathan, A&R They have played up and down the together, manufac- New artists are always a part of the Universal California coast for the last several years and tured pop artists, plan at pop radio, and we could have built up a solid fan base with college Wild Orchid stands alone. pick close to a dozen artists to kids. Their debut album, Psychedelic Surf They originally met as child stars on the spotlight, but perhaps the two Groove, came out on indie label Surf Dog television series Kids Inc. and have been artists we could go out on a and sold well with no promotion. They are writing and singing professionally together limb and "guarantee" are currently writing songs for their debut album since they were eight years old. They began Sister Soleil and Billie on Virgin, to be released in summer '98. their professional career first as songwrit- Myers. Their blend of great lyrics, hooky songs, and ers, and now write all their own melodies, Sister Soleil is a most a sexy star vocalist ensure their place on Top lyrics, and background vocal arrange- interesting new act. 40 radio next year. ments. Signed directly to the TTT1m The girls are only 21, 22, and 23 -years label by Universal Ww!-1T1R GROUT' old, but have already been able to build a Music Group Liz Brooks, A&R fan base around the world with their first Chairman, Doug BOND are four young lads from London and album. RCA is incredibly excited because the Morris, this Scotland who have been together a little over girls' new songs are funkier, harder, leaner, Chicago - a year. They found their way to the WORK meaner, lighter -on -their -feet, more slammin', based per- Group via an unsolicited, self-produced and up-to-the-minute. We'll be working with former spent demo. The demo was strong enough to put a Manuel Seal (who wrote "You Make Me much of 1997 in the WORK A&R Wanna..." for Usher), Full Force (writers of UK preparing her stun- executive on the "All Cried Out"), Robbie Nevil, Carl Sturken ning major label debut. An plane to London and Evan Rogers, and a host of other talented earlier, independent release was the day after lis- collaborators. well -received at college radio, as tening to it. A Wild Orchid's new music will be at radio in well as at a handful of commercial deal was sealed early spring, 1998. stations in the Midwest. Her live following is in weeks, they strong, and touring will be priority in 1998. were hooked up REPRISE RECORDS The new album is a blend of pop, alternative, with producer Howie Klein, President techno, and dance -based rhythms that should Matthew Wilder BT is Maryland -born Brian Transeau, a pop cross to all formats of contemporary radio. (No Doubt), and instrumentalist whose musical style combines While we will introduce Sister Soleil to radio BOND's debut with a holiday track (a unique version of album will be "Silent Night"), watch for the official album released by and single in the first quarter of 1998. WORK in late Billie Myers has already begun to make March, 1998. noise with her debut single, "Kiss the Rain," The album was which we shipped to radio in early October. mixed by Andy From small sparks grew big fires, and now Wallace (The we have great sales and request pictures in Wallflowers, major markets like Boston, Denver, New Nirvana, Jeff York, and San Francisco. The real joy of Buckley). BOND creates a fusion of classic working on this project is that the album (hit- Britpop songwriting with aggressive guitars ting the streets on November 18), Growing, and electronics, a collision perhaps of Oasis Pains, is so deep. Produced by veteran and Nine Inch Nails. writer/producer Desmond Child, Billie Myers Their sound is fresh enough to excite, and standard song structure with techno and elec- will be touring extensively in 1998, and my the songs are classic enough to sail through tronic beats. As a producer and mixer, BT has guess is that she will be accumulating fans the Top 40.

20 GAVIN NOVEMBER 21, 1997

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