In 2012, Luara and her family moved to Los Angeles to further pursue her recording artist career. Since the move to LA, she has been in the recording studio working on her first English language album. Luara’s first single, “Fire in Me” is available now, and her highly anticipated music video will be released on January 25^th, 2013.

For more information on Luara and upcoming events please visit her website luaramelody.com

Luara is being managed by Armenian artist Mihran Kirakosyan.

Here is a clip of Mihran Kirakosyan, Peter Stengaard and Luara in the studio!

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]]> Our annual power rankings is to feature the top 10 Armenian artists who exceeded in media production and gained the highest command with fans on ArmenianPulse.com.

In the year 2012, we have chosen 10 exceptional artists who have defined the Armenian show business and pushed its limits to the max!

From multiple number 1 hits, concert sell outs and in one case, a groundbreaking Hollywood movie featuring an Armenian character, the year 2012 proved to us all, with the right talent and perseverance, we as Armenians can achieve anything!

Many other artists were very close in making our list but alas we had to go through our numbers on ArmenianPulse.com and choose the top 10. Other notable artists who almost made the list are Harout Balyan, Andre, Super Sako, Anahit Simonyan, Hayko, Christine Pepelyan and Arman Hovhannisyan.

Without further ado, lets break down our top 10 artists!

Our Sponsors for this article are:

ArmenianBridal.com | Beyond The Stars Palace | Alexander Anthony Photography | Yerevan Magazine

PULSE 10 POWER RANKINGS 2012

  Master Producer, Der Hova comes in at number 10! Der Hova is one of the most sought after music producers in Armenia, Europe and the Diaspora. His productions have been featured in both the Eurovision and JR Eurovision Song contests multiple times throughout the years. Most recently he has branched out into singing, his debut came in the form of a duet with long time popular Armenian singer Hasmik Karapetyan, with their hit song ‘Anhnar@’. With multiple number one hits and an expanding award shelf, Der Hova comes in at number 10 in our 2012 power rankings! *Winner of Best Producer at the 2012 Armenian Pulse Music Awards

  Very popular Armenian singer/songwriter Silva Hakobyan comes in at number 9! From the first year Silva started to sing, she possessed the overwhelming talent in creating and delivering some of the most memorable and catchy Armenian pop songs and ballads. Her family is also heavily involved in the success of the young beauty. One of the most loved artists by fans. Throughout her career, Silva has amassed a plethora of distinguished awards! With two chart toppers this year and one incredibly memorable song in ‘Ushacel Em’, Silva Hakobyan comes in at number 9 in our 2012 power rankings!

  One of the fastest rising stars of Armenia, Mihran Tsarukyan comes in at number 8! Mihran shot to fame after his participation in Hye Superstar (Armenian Idol) back in 2006. Since then he has amassed some of the most popular Armenian songs to date. His starring acting roll in the Armenian soap opera ‘Djvar Abrust’ has made Mihran a household name and loved by many. In 2012, he released his highly anticipated album and toured countries around the world with his first showcase in Los Angeles. Mihran Tsarukyan comes in at number 8 in our 2012 power rankings!

  World renowned artist Andy Madadian comes in at number 7! Andy is a legend in his own right! With multiple new song releases and videos in 2012, Andy has never skipped a beat. Besides the countless private parties Andy performs in around the world, his 2012 sold out concert at the Greek Theater was one of his best! Andy and Shani’s hit song ‘DJ’ continues to be one of the top requested songs on Armenian Pulse Radio. Andy Madadian comes in at number 7 in our 2012 power rankings! *Winner of Best World Artist at the 2012 Armenian Pulse Music Awards

  Armenian pop star Lilit Hovhannisyan comes in at number 6! No one inhabits the Armenian pop genre better that Lilit Hovhannisyan. She has redefined the Armenian music scene to that of major American and European markets. In 2012 she had multiple number 1 hits, such as ‘Im Srtin Asa’ , ‘Too Too Too’ , ‘Te Axjik Lineir’ and of course the massive hit ballad ‘Es Em Horinel’. Lilit captures the essence of  the pop princess title with her style, voice and dance moves. Lilit Hovhannisyan is heavily favorited by fans to represent Armenia in this years Eurovision Song Contest. Lilit Hovhannisyan comes in at number 6 in our 2012 power rankings!

Brilliant comedian Kev Orkian comes in at number 5! Kev Orkian is one of UK’s fastest rising stars and loved by millions throughout the world. Highly demanded by Armenian Diaspora, Kev frequently visits the states for shows and hosting gigs. But what propelled the funny musician to star power is his semi final appearance on Britain’s Got Talent where he wowed all of England! Soon after, Kev Orkian appeared as a special act for Prince Philips 89th Birthday party and just this past holiday season, Kev was on prime time British television with global superstar, opera singer, Katherine Jenkins! Kev Orkian comes in at number 5 in our 2012 power rankings!

Armenian pop superstar Sofi Mkheyan comes in at number 4! Sofi Mkheyan has had a very busy year in 2012. As one of the judges for The Voice (Armenia) she has the responsibility to find the next “Voice”, the next star of Armenia! Along with her new full time duties as judge, she has still brought us multiple hits and videos. In 2012, her songs ‘Uzum Em Xosel’, ‘Mama’,  ’2012′ and ‘Hayastani Erge’ all made the top 10 requested songs on APR and her video for ’2012′ broke new grounds in the Armenian pop scene. Never to disappoint us, Sofi Mkheyan comes in at number 4 in our 2012 power rankings! *Winner of Best Pop Female Artist at the 2012 Armenian Pulse Music Awards

Loved by all, popular Armenian singer Armenchik comes in at number 3! In 2012, Armenchik had more hits than we can count. After his highly anticipated album ‘The Armenians’ was released late last year, with multiple chart toppers, the singer kept on introducing to his fans new material in the form of singles and videos. Armenchik also toured the US and Europe and ended the year with a Christmas themed, lavish sold out concert in Las Vegas. Armenchik comes in at number 3 in our 2012 power rankings! *Winner of Best Dance Video and Best Album at the 2012 Armenian Pulse Music Awards

Armenian pop queen Sirusho comes in at number 2! Sirusho is no doubt one of the most popular Armenian female singers in Armenia and is well known and respected throughout Europe. In 2012, Sirusho continued to break new grounds and pave the way in creating and producing quality work. Always on tour, she still finds the time to amaze her fans with her hit songs and video. Sirusho’s most recent blockbuster is the song ‘PreGomesh’ which was inspired by Komitas ‘Lorva Gutanerg’, a folk song collected, analyzed and notated by Komitas. Sirusho comes in at number 2 in our 2012 power rankings! *Winner of Best Female Artist at the 2012 Armenian Pulse Music Awards

Multi talented actor, director and writer Vahik Pirhamzei comes in at number 1! Vahik Pirhamzei’s play ‘Honest Liars’ was the biggest Armenian stage play with 15 sold out performances and with over 10,000 in attendance! In 2012 Vahik achieved the highest level of media production, his movie ‘My Uncle Rafael’ was the first Hollywood film which featured an Armenian character (also developed, written and acted by Vahik). ‘My Uncle Rafael’ had a theatrical run of over 6 weeks in major theaters in the US and Canada. Vahik was recognized by the Los Angeles and Glendale City counsels for his work in bringing revenue and community excellence to both cities. Vahik Pirhamzei comes in at number 1 in our 2012 power rankings!

We would like to congratulate all our exceptional artists for their hard work, dedication to our culture and specially their talents. We would also like to thank all other artists who were not mentioned here, we believe the Armenian entertainment world is fast on the rise to greatness! We look forward to seeing what new projects are in store for the year 2013! Till our next power rankings, we bid you all farewell!

ArmenianPulse.com Team

As one of the newest voices in instrumental music, Vahagni has been bending the genres of Flamenco, Jazz, and World Music to create a unique style of his own. Multiple awards and stellar reviews are the results of a fearless musical exploration that have produced three full-length albums. With Broken Compass, he continues an exploration that has him venturing through new territory in rock/flamenco fusion with delicate dabs of ambiance and psychedelic guitar swells; from the globe-trotting rhythmic infections of North Africa to the dry gentle breezes of an Andalusian summer. All are encompassed in Vahagni’s masterful guitar renditions.

On July 30th, 2012, LMS Records released the single “Broken Compass.” The album, which carries the same title as the single, is scheduled for release on October 9th, 2012. Broken Compass will feature twelve new tracks and highlight Vahagni’s talents as an arranger and composer in addition to his virtuosic guitar playing. The album was co-produced with award-winning Latin music producer, Daniel Indart.

Vahagni’s take on Broken Compass
“The catalyst for this project was the idea of making a guitar album, which incorporates the different aspects and styles of Latin and Spanish music. Touching base on the more commercial side, we had the freedom of feeding off all the elements that were in the air from Flamenco to Central and South American influences. Many tracks have a distinct Latin flair, while some hint at a more Andalusian timbre with Moorish influences and others in the Catalonian tradition of Rumbas. While staying true to the mission at hand, we took advantage of the spontaneity of pleasant detours, which led us to creative avenues resulting in the presentation of a guitar album embodied with Latin cultures crafted for the commercial pallet.” – Vahagni

In addition, last year on November 11 in France, Tigran released EP No. 1, the 20-minute extended play available only on vinyl and as a digital download. He toured extensively with Youssef in support of the oud player/vocalist’s Abu Nawas Rhapsody album, performed a concert with Moroccan singer Hindi Zahra at Paris’s renowned Cité de la Musique, invited French guitarist Nguyen Le to guest at some of his concerts and recorded with Swedish bass player Lars Danielsson. Tigran performed a series of sold-out concerts in Paris in November and early December, at diverse venues including a pop club and a college museum. And in a New York Times piece where pianist Brad Mehldau discussed his favorite artists in 2011, he singled out Tigran, saying that he “really grabbed me, in this really cool way.”

Tigran promises to be as busy performing in 2012 as he was in 2011. He’ll sit in frequently with Gurtu, whom he first played with at the concert release party for A Fable in Paris. “At our first rehearsal, we had a great connection,” Tigran says. “It was a huge honor to play with one of the world’s greatest percussion players, and it was exciting because I’m fond of Indian classical music and what Trilok brings to it.” Gurtu, in turn, was impressed, noting that “he plays piano like a raga…the next Keith Jarrett.”

Tigran will launch a solo tour in Europe in March and April and because of the pop music crowd’s interest in his playing will perform at the French rock fest Printemp de Bourges at the end of April. Tigran will also be gigging with his own trio throughout the year. He’ll be especially busy in July, with marquee dates at several European festivals, including the North Sea Jazz Festival (in Rotterdam, Holland), the Vienne Jazz Festival in France and the Vitoria Jazz Festival in Spain. This fall the touring continues with numerous dates, including the Monterey Jazz Festival in Monterey, Calif., in September, a charity concert in Sao Paulo, Brazil in October and the London Jazz Festival in November.

Tigran also plans to record his next album in June, due for release on Universal in 2013. In addition, in March 2013, he’ll be doing a two-week tour of Canada.

Tigran’s music teems with his personality and is fired by his passion. His potent jazz improvisation fuses with the rich folkloric music of his native Armenia, resulting in a fresh sound marked by an exploration of time signatures beyond 4/4 into 5/4 and 9/8, charged dynamics, the shifting between acoustic and electric modes of expression, the use of exotic instrumentation including duduk, shvi and zurna, and, in the case of Red Hail, the enlisting of a singer well-versed in Armenia folks songs to deliver alluring vocals that complement the band’s stretch.

“When I was 13, I began to understand the rich culture of Armenia,” says Tigran. “I thought, it’s in my blood. I grew up with this incredible music without realizing it. Slowly I began to listen more to the folk music, and it shocked me how much it had been completely ignored. The more tunes I learned…the more I saw the rich potential for merging those with improvised music. That started me on a lifetime journey.”

Previous to being signed by Universal Jazz in France, Tigran recorded three albums on European labels as a leader—World Passion (2006), New Era (2008) and Red Hail (2009). Based on those discs, he became heralded as a jazz revelation by critics.

Born in Gyumri, Armenia, in 1987, Tigran grew up in a household that was full of music. While a toddler, he gravitated to tape players and the piano instead of regular childhood toys, and by the time he was 3, he was working his way through figuring out songs on piano by pop artists. His jazz tastes early on were informed by Miles Davis’s fusion period, and then around the age of 10 when his family moved to Yerevan, he came to discover the classic jazz songbook under the aegis of his teacher Vahag Hayrapetyan, who had studied with Barry Harris.

After focusing further on jazz and meeting numerous American jazz artists who were touring Europe, Tigran began to win a series of piano competitions, including the top prize at the prestigious Thelonious Monk Jazz Piano Competition in 2006 and in the same year second place in the Martial Solal International Jazz Competition in Paris.

He relocated to Los Angeles with his family where he began to make contact with the jazz community there and linking up with such musicians as saxophonist Ben Wendel and drummer Nate Wood, who continue to play with him today. Tigran kept his European connections, which led to him recording his albums for the France-based label Plus Loin.

For his debut album on Universal Jazz France, A Fable, Tigran delivered a dynamic solo piano collection with lyrical songs that ranged from gracefully refined pieces to energetic experiments with rhythmic and harmonic diversity. The source of inspiration for the album came from traditional Armenian folk music as well as poetry. With all of the songs featuring Tigran’s inventive arrangements, A Fable featured the pianist’s own compositions as well as a wealth of covers, including Armenian melodies and a mystical rendition of the jazz standard, “Someday My Prince Will Come,” as well as music inspired by the poetry of Hovhannes Tumanyan and Gegham Sayyan.

“The title of the album came to me because all of the compositions are telling a story,” says Tigran. “I think people relate to fables because they are simple, yet deep.”

Recorded in Paris, A Fable showcased compositions that Tigran wrote and arranged over the past previous years. The title track, a Tigran original, was written in Armenia six years earlier. “This song was inspired by Armenian folk tales as well as fables written by medieval Armenian fabulists such as Vardan Aygektsi and Mkhitar Gosh,” he says.

As for recording a solo album after three recordings that featured a full band, he says, “A lot of people heard me perform solo concerts and wanted to hear me in this setting. The simple idea of performing alone in a room with an acoustic piano has been one of the most natural, and yet challenging ways to express myself musically. It is challenging because of the fact that the only two ‘band members’ that you can interact with and count on are you and the piano. Yet at the same time the freedom that you have while performing alone is deeply inspiring.”

The album thoroughly won over listeners. While Tigran’s career had been on an upswing up to the point of recording A Fable, the new album proved to solidify his growing stature in the jazz world.

Deejero was born in Armenia but now resides in Marseille, France. Since the age of 16, he discovered his talents and started to occupy himself with DJ-ing. He soon got gigs at Armenian Weddings, Birthdays and Christenings. Deejero’s talents got him to perform in some of France’s hottest dance clubs. Deejero later produced his own song titled ‘Heru’ featuring Inessa. which showcased Deejero’s music and lyric writing skills.

On September the 9th, we will bring to you, straight from France, the hot mixes of Deejero. This premiere show is called ‘World Tour’ and it will take you on a musical journey around the world featuring English, Persian, Spanish, Arabic, Greek, Hindi, Russian and much much more. The schedule for the show is to be premiered at 1pm Pacific Standard time and repeat later that night at 8pm (PST). If you miss any of these time slots, we will be re broadcasting the show throughout the week.

Please support and LIKE the fan page of Deejero by clicking here

Stay tuned for more DJ’s being added to our scheduling!

Here is Deejero’s latest mix available for download:

DeeJero – Ban To Sleep (Live Mix 2011) by deejero

“Born ready” is the title of this album and it’s about to explode onto the music scene. Executive Producers for the album are Maria Cozette & Vartan Akopyan. The ground breaking compilation is entirely written by Maria Cozette, with the collaboration of its features on individual tracks. “Born Ready” features production by MG, Soul Nova, Psychotic Productions, and 51/50. Featuring artists include One 2, Mer Hovo, and Jeremy Gregory.

Maria Cozette has translated her life experiences, performing since age 5 into a 10 song cd appropriately entitled BORN READY.  The album has already gained rave reviews and has been commended for its quality in production and mixing. “Just Right” and “Yerani” are the first two singles released off of the album and has already generated radio airplay and thousands of plays! First video shoot was for “Just Right” produced by Vartan Akopyan and directed by Ray Pro. The two hit singles can be regularly heard on Armenian Pulse Radio! “Born Ready” will be available everywhere Online & in stores 11.11.10

Maria will have an in store CD signing on 11-11-10 at Backside Records in Burbank California. See poster Below!

Maria’s Bio

Since the age of five, Maria has performed on television and numerous stages throughout Southern California as the young talent in high demand! With her undeniable powerful vocals, and charming stage presence, this girl had lit up her audiences. There is no doubt Maria is a Pop Sensation, branding her own sound as ‘Soulful Pop.’ Maria’s polished songwriting skills have gained her many accolades in the American and Armenian Entertainment Industries, as well as the respect of her peers. As being the first Armenian female artist articulating music in English, Maria’s solidified fan base has adopted her into their favorites as being an original, dynamic, and powerful female vocalist. They comment, download, and advertise her music daily through fan websites. Maria describes her fans as being the “Driving force behind her voice.” Maria embodies beauty, style, talent; an absolute marketable product. There is a fine line between today’s Pop and R&B. Truly understanding the connection amidst these two genres, Maria beautifully balances that delicate scale formulating that Hit sound!

Visit Maria at her pages below to find out the latest news!
itsmyurls | Website | Youtube | Facebook | Twitter

Programing dates and times for the feature are as follows:

Monday July 5th 2010 – 6:00pm Los Angeles Time | 9:00pm Eastern

Friday July 9th 2010 – 8:00pm Los Angeles Time | 11:00pm Eastern

Aramik creates sparks with fiery Latin rhythms and cool jazz harmonies

A fresh mix of jazz and jazz-rock, blended with upbeat Spanish rhythms and  influenced by Armenian and Persian music is destined to ignite and delight  the senses.

Aramik ( Aram ) Moosakhanian brings a new edge to Canadian and world music with a sound that showcases the warm and rich melodies of acoustic guitars, bass and percussion to create wonderful jazz harmonies blended with an exotic blend of Armenian and Persian melodies. It is hard to sit still when Aram performs his upbeat, dance-oriented sound that is appealing to everyone, including other artists and musicians.

Aramik (Aram) Moosakhanian was born in 1967 in Southern Iran, in an Armenian family, and began studying and playing classical guitar at young age. In 2006, Aram released ‘Aha Ays Yesem’, an Armenian CD, nominated for
Alternative Album of the Year by the Armenian Music Awards. Aram followed ‘Aha Ays Yesem’ with the release of a Persian CD titled ‘Ghazaleh Nagofteh’ (Untold Poem) and a second Armenian CD ‘Aprogh Yeraz’ (Living Dream). His
recent release ‘Lost Melodies’ was awarded a CAC Music Award for best Instrumental CD and another award by Big Apple Music Awards. Besides being a successful solo recording artist, Aram also composes and produces music for
other musicians as well as for films and television.

Aram is invited to perform in Armenia, Brazil and Argentine and also will perform with Armenian artist TATA on July 9th in Toronto.

In terms of its classic musical genre, the sound of “The Armenoids” Project is typified as Progressive Folk. Ever since 2004, however, the Project’s creations have become so well-liked model compositions for the modern popular music standards that, in tribute to the Project, its musical style has become a trademark category.

“The Armenoids” is the reality’s mirror into the past and the future, together with many shades, and their crossroads is the popular music “clock.” One hand of this clock embodies the past, whereas the other hand represents the long-standing cultural content and the modern technologies.

“The Armenoids” Project’s debut album Glocal was a synchronization of the global and local ideologies. So, considering the centuries-old history of the civilizations and the challenge of preserving the common global values, we face two contrasting poles where, no matter how enticing the new local technologies may be, each nation continues to preserve its identity and tradition, and, thus, putting into effect the well-established ethnic formula: “All are different yet equal.

The Armenoids Myspace page

Here at Armenian Pulse we have been getting constant email requests to interview Kim Kardashian. She is by far our top requested celebrity. I’m happy to announce that Kim has agreed to take some time out of her busy schedule to answer some questions. We have all seen Kim on her hit reality series “Keeping Up With The Kardashians”, or heard all the gossip stories in the rags. Often times, with the media running wild on just the gossip, other relevant or interesting aspects of celebrities lives get overlooked. Having spent considerable time on blogs and forums, I noticed the same questions were consistently being raised on “How Armenian is Kim?” “Does Kim speak any Armenian?”, “Is Kim really Armenian?”. So, for this interview, we will ask her questions related to her Armenian heritage and history in hopes to find out just a bit more about the subject.

Some people would like you to believe that Kim Kardashian is famous for doing absolutely nothing, this fact could not be further from the truth. Employing her entrepreneurial business skills, Kardashian started on her own as a fashion stylist and became an immediate sought after wardrobe stylist for infomercials, television shows, music videos and photo shoots. But it was her organizational, orderly arrangement and construction of high fashion closets that led Kardashian into a unique line of work overhauling and designing closets for celebrities.

In 2006, together with her sisters Kourtney and Khloe, Kim Kardashian opened the designer clothing store DASH in Calabasas, California, their second store opened in Miami in May of 2009. Kim Kardashian just launched her own perfume in February 2010 and the fragrance is now available worldwide. In addition, Kim will co-design a fashion line with her sisters Kourtney and Khloe in conjunction with Bebe for five seasons. Similarly, Kim and her sisters will also design a line of Armenian-inspired jewelry with Virgin, Saints and Angels to honor their heritage. Her online shoe company, ShoeDazzle.com, launched in March 2009, provides affordable, fashionable shoes to its members. Kim released her new fitness series DVD “Fit In Your Jeans By Friday” to incredible reviews and it has hit the #1 spot on Amazon.com!

Along with the success of her many projects and ventures, she is a consummate doner to charity. Kim is a Dream Foundation ambassador which grants last wishes to terminally ill adults and does regular sales on Ebay to generate donations for the charity. She also recently completed PSA’s about the political plight in Burma and Breast Cancer awareness and also participated in a photo shoot promoting the “Until There’s A Cure” bracelet dedicated to eradicating HIV/AIDS by raising awareness and funds to combat the pandemic. In 2009, she helped raise more than $90,000 for the Etchmiadzin Children’s Fund (EFC). For two decades, the EFC – under the auspices of Catholicos Karekin II and the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America – has raised funds to help build an orphanage and help children in need in Armenia, “Anything we can do to lend our support to our heritage we gladly do” Kim said.

So without further ado here is our interview with Kim, asking the questions we felt our readers most wanted to know the answers to. We hope you enjoy it!

Hello Kim, thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer a few questions. First of all, how are you and what are you up to?

I am great! Enjoying spending time in Miami with my sisters filming their show “Kourtney and Khloe Take Miami“!

There is a ton of information about you, but one small fact remains unanswered. We are hoping you can shed some light on your Armenian background and how it has shaped your life.

I am 4th generation Armenian, born and raised in Los Angeles. My great Grandparents from my fathers side came to LA from Armenia right before the Genocide. My great Grandfather was Armenian and my great Grandmother Turkish-Armenian. My mother is English, so I am half Armenian, but, I was raised with a huge Armenian influence, always hearing stories of Armenia, eating Armenian food and celebrating Armenian holidays!

Armenian food is the best! What’s your favorite dish?

Lamajune with string cheese!

That’s an interesting combination I’ll have to try

Ever since you made a name for yourself, The Armenian youth have literally been obsessed with you. In all my time on forums and blogs, your name is constantly being mentioned. At Armenian Pulse, we have received so many email requests to interview you, clearly you have an Armenian fan base out there that is really proud of your accomplishments.

This makes me so happy! My father would be so proud that we talk about our Armenian heritage! My dad used to always tell us to never remove the ian from our last name like some Armenians that came to the U.S. He was so proud to be Armenian and his biggest regret was not sending us to Armenian school! I am so proud to be Armenian and so happy that I can identify with my Armenian fans!

You didn’t go to Armenian school, but do you speak any Armenian?

Unfortunately I don’t speak Armenian, I wish I did!

You have no idea how much buzz was created on the fact that you mention Armenia as your location on your Twitter page.

People ask all the time if I am from there and unfortunately I have never been to Armenia, but it’s my dream to go there for sure!

Many Armenians weren’t actually born in Armenia, I was born in Beirut Lebanon for example and have never made it to Armenia either. Are there any plans in the near future to visit Armenia?

I am trying to go with my “Keeping Up With The Kardashians” cameras so that we can show the world what Armenia is like! It’s my dream to go to Armenia!

I’m sure the Armenian Community would love to see that happen! We recently saw a youtube video made by Perez Hilton and it was titled “Little Armenia: In Search Of Kim Kardashian” It was a hilarious video where Perez Hilton had a mission of getting an interview with you, how did you feel when they surprised you at one of your signing events?

I thought it was hilarious! It was like Borat style! I totally have a sense of humor and laughed so hard at that video when I saw it!

There was a segment in your hit reality T.V. series “Keeping Up With The Kardashians” where your mom was leading a very famous Armenian dance called the “Sourj Bar” at your sister Khloe’s wedding. How much, if any has your Armenian side shaped who you are?

That dance was so hilarious! I was hoping I did it correctly! Thinking about it, growing up with a strong Armenian influence has really shaped who I am!

Obviously your look is very important to your career as a model, spokesperson and pop culture icon. You definitely have the Armenian look, the big dark eyes, long black hair and great figure. How proud are you of your looks which can be attributed to not only your parents but that Armenian gene?

It’s so funny because everyone assumes I have had plastic surgery to get the body I have but I always say, have u seen Armenian women before?! LOL I love the exotic look of Armenian women and am proud to be Armenian!

It’s great you are so proud of your heritage. Armenians are well known for being great in business, Your father was no different, We all know that Robert Kardashian was a very successful and respected businessman/lawyer and that gene has passed on to you, You are literally involved in every aspect of entertainment and fashion, how and when do you find the time and energy for everything you are involved in?

I am a true business woman at heart! I’m a workaholic and I am so passionate about every project I am working on! I love diving into different projects weather it’s my perfume, tv show, shoe company or fitness projects I’m working on! I make the time!

Well, you’re certainly doing the right things. Growing up, what’s the best advice your father has given you concerning keeping your Armenian heritage alive?

My father always taught us to never forget where we came from. We grew up learning so much about our Armenian ancestors that we will teach what we have learned to our kids one day!

We know you have to go, we want to thank you very much for giving us your time and a bit of your history. I’m sure once this interview gets featured, Your Armenian fan base will have learned a bit more about your Armenian background.

Thank you so much for taking the time to talk with me!

You’re welcome Kim, Before we go, I would like to mention your newest venture, Your new fragrance branded after your name “KIM KARDASHIAN” just hit the market, What can women expect out of your new line of fragrance?

It’s a very voluptuous scent, very sexy and sweet!

The new fragrance by Kim Kardashian is now available exclusively at SEPHORA.com! For a limited time, you get the double K logo tote bag as a free gift, check it out!

“Khloe, Rob and I went to meet Archbishop Hovnan Derderian of Armenia! There was a charity event for the orphanages in Armenia and we went to support. Anything we can do to lend our support to our heritage we gladly do! We are dying to go to Armenia! Hopefully this year we will go! No one in my family has been back, and it’s really important to me that we go!The Armenian orphanage foundation raised $90,000 the night we attended their event! We are so proud!!!”

“This picture was taken at the Armenian restaurant, Carousel in Hollywood that we would always go to growing up! This particular photo was taken on my birthday!I think I was turning 19, I can’t exactly remember! No matter how big of a birthday party we would have, the family would always get together for a special B-day dinner at Carousel! Armenian food is my absolute favorite food on the planet!”

“This old school pic is of me and my grandmother. We always called her “Nana.” She is my Dad’s mother and her real name is Helen Kardashian. She passed away earlier this year… She was your typical Armenian grandmother: always cooking the best Armenian meals, our favorite, which was this Armenian breakfast called “beeshe”! I’m not sure if that’s even how you spell it but it’s basically a fried pancake with lots of sugar on top! She passed along the recipe but Kourtney is the only one in our entire Kardashian family who has mastered it. So every year in December my dad’s side of the family gets together and Kourtney makes it for us all! I miss my Nana so much!”

Visit Kim Kardashian’s Blog
All Artwork designed by Scenestealergraphics

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Shad Sager, Vartan Antonyan, Ryan Bradley, Erick Uphoff, Crespatrick De Los Reyes

SKYLINE is the story of five hearts that dared to dream big. It’s a tale of five passionate souls who’ve become the quintessential legend of the American dream come true. The band is a powerhouse quintet, marked by diversity and an excess of talent, fused as one unit to create an internationally appealing, edgy Pop phenomenon. From the effortless bad boy ways of Erick and the avant-garde wisdom of Vartan, to the party guy charm of Ryan, the mysterious swag of Crespatrick, and the boy-next-door innocence of Shad, these lethal pairings of artistic gifts with unique personalities set the band apart from the rest. They attribute their name, SKYLINE, to entail just that–a symbol representing five young men from five distinct cities, standing together united. If you ask, they’ll tell you to look upwards towards the horizon where the earth and the sky collide into one another, where all is one and one is all. That is the essence of SKYLINE.

Since their creation in Sept. 2008, this group of singing sensations has headlined a national commercial for Cricket Wireless, opened for Grammy-nominated recording artist Colby O’Donis in concert, and packed world-renowned venues to capacity, such as the Music Box at Fonda, the House of Blues, and the Key Club Hollywood. Along with originally crafted dog tags around their necks, the boys use these symbols of commitment to enter the unforgiving battle grounds that is the entertainment industry. The tags represent a dedication to the fight in delivering music that transcends what ‘boy bands’ are stereotypically expected to do. Therefore, equipped with an arsenal of fresh, addictive, and inventive songs, such as the Doo-Wop inspired heartbreak tale of “Not The Only One” and the urban meets electro, feel good declaration of “Man On The Moon,” the boys have come prepared to change the game. In an industry where artists are puppets, SKYLINE is proud to inject Pop consumers with a dose of realness.

Peeking in through a different lens, this is also a tale of brotherhood–a fantastical fable of a family grounded in their unwavering faith. Having fought through personal pains and tragic losses, these five friends have fallen, endured, and risen together, all the while never having budged their eyes from the SKYLINE. Fans and supporters alike would attest to the boys’ genuine bond. This, they’d claim, is what anoints the band into a league of their own. When asked about their success, the captivating quintet state that not one of them could have foreshadowed such achievement. Most importantly, however, according to Shad, Vartan, Ryan, Erick, and Crespatrick, would be “…the messages we sing about and the ideals we stand for as artists,” that have changed and touched their fans’ lives. “On top of that,” they continue, “we get to experience this journey with each other, as brothers and best friends. That’s what makes it all so special.” So with their hearts on their sleeves and hands reaching for the stars, SKYLINE is surely ready to change the face of music, whilst embarking on the greatest adventure of their lives.

Visit Skyline’s Website