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Armen Named July “Best Vocalist Of The Month” With His Song
“Find A Way”
By Dale Kawashima
Armen, a talented R&B/hip-hop/reggae singer & writer
based in Los Angeles, CA, has won the July SingerUniverse “Best Vocalist Of The
Month” Competition, for his performance of his song, “Find A Way.” This song is
featured on his new 14-song album New Style, New Sound, which he will
release independently later this month (July). “Find A Way” will also be included
on a new compilation CD for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Armen
“Find A Way” is a contemporary, R&B/pop midtempo cut,
which is worthy of radio airplay on several formats. This song provides a
terrific showcase for Armen’s soulful, expressive vocal performance, and his
vocals display added power as the song builds to a climax. “Find A Way” was
recorded at Rusk Sound Studios in Los Angeles, and it was skillfully produced
by newcomer Psyrex.
Armen (whose last name is Balyan) was born in Armenia, where he lived until he moved to the U.S. at the age of 10. “My whole family was full of
musicians – my father was in a rock group which was popular throughout Armenia and Russia,” Armen recalled. Armen himself started singing when he was just three, and when
he was four he sang in front of an audience of 500 people. He has also learned
to play piano.
Armen and his family then moved first to Brooklyn, NY, before settling in Los Angeles when he was 11. He began singing in school and church
choirs, and he entered and won a local talent competition. Then in high school,
he joined a R&B band called First Class, which performed original and cover
songs.
Following high school, Armen recorded a 4-song EP (in 2001)
and a full album called Drop It (in 2002), both which were produced by
Fred Mirza. He then released another EP in 2006, which contained the uptempo
party song “Throw Your Hands Up,” which received radio airplay and club play in
several European countries.
Armen
Now in mid-2008, Armen has written & recorded his next
album, New Style, New Sound, which will be released later this month
(July). Armen collaborated with several, top urban producers for this project,
including Beat Merch (who has worked with Mary J. Blige and Akon), Illmind
(Black Eyed Peas, G Unit), OP Beats (Method Man, Young Jeezy), and DJ Altay (a
top producer in Turkey).
In addition, Armen has a couple of other recent
accomplishments. Earlier this year, he was asked to be the featured vocalist of
the new DJ Khaled mixtape with Lil’Wayne and Young Jeezy, and since then, he has
been a part of other mixtapes with such artists as Kanye West, Jay-Z and 50
Cent. Armen has also been performing live shows regularly in L.A., at such
venues as the Kodak Theatre and Wilshire Ebell Theatre.
In addition, here are four, talented vocalists/artists who complete our Top Five Vocalists honorees list for this month's competition, with their credits, plus their e-mail and website links. You can listen to their songs by double-clicking the music players below.
Malea McGuinness
"I Never Cry." (pop/AC). Performed by Malea McGuinness of Santa Monica, CA. Written by Alice Cooper and Dick Wagner.