Armenchik released his latest video titled ‘Aysor’, it is off of his next Cd which has not been released yet. ‘Aysor’ is his first single and it’s already proving to be another great hit. ‘Aysor’ Music Video is produced by Armen Entertainment, directed by Gevorg Juguryan and choreographed by Ellenie Galestian of ‘In Dance We Trust’.

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By Betty Panossian-Ter Sarkissian

Silva started singing when she was only four. She was a child star of concerts and community events held in Vayk, a city in the Vayots Dzor Region. Often during Silva’s childhood, her father drove her to Yerevan to take part in singing competitions, and they seldom went home empty-handed. “Our rooms were filled with trophies,” Silva remembers.

In her formative years, Silva performed songs about fairy tales and dolls, written and arranged by her sister and brother. In time, the themes, lyrics, and musical complexity of the songs composed by the Hakobyan siblings also grew. When she was 12 years old, Silva sang “Mankutiun” (Childhood) at a festival and once again won first prize. Popular throughout Armenia, “Mankutiun” is a particular favorite at school graduation parties.

A family of talents

Today Silva’s sister, Maneh, writes the words of most of the pop star’s songs. Her brother, Edgar, composes and arranges the music. Maneh and Edgar also compose songs or arrange music for many emerging and established Armenian pop singers including Arameh, Razmik Amyan, and Shushan Petrosyan.

When it became obvious that their children would like nothing better than writing and performing songs, Silva’s parents set up a small studio in a corner of their home in Yerevan. Her father, Hakob, gave up his job as a hairdresser to manage the promising careers of his children.

“I am extremely lucky to have my family. Many of my singer friends tell me that they would have loved to be in my shoes,” Sylva says.

“We have inherited our affinity for music from our mother’s side. She and my grandfather used to sing and play the trumpet and dhol,” she says, referring to the Armenian folk drum.

Silva collaborates with a variety of artists. Beside her siblings, composers such as Martin Mirzoyan have written songs for her.

The breakthrough: The Next Best Thing

In 2006, Silva took a big leap with the release of the video for her song “Gisher e” (It’s night), which in no time became a hit.

Then, with the help of Aram Avagyan, a friend of the family, Silva submitted the song to The Next Best Thing, a BBC song contest open to under-18 singers from throughout the world.

“We had just sent the song for the sake of participating and the experience that it might bring,” recalls Silva.

She still relives her surprise at being notified that the jury members, among them Peter Gabriel and William Wordsmith, Madonna’s producer, had chosen her song as one of the best 20, out of some 2,000 entries.

Subsequently “Gisher e” was selected as one of the best six songs, and, in early December 2006, Silva was invited to London to perform at the final concert of the contest. To her shock and elation, she won the top prize and was named The Next Best Thing.

“We all were crying,” Silva says. “Even the jury members were tearful, because they all had wished for my success.”

Upon her victorious return to Armenia, Silva was named Revelation of the Year at the Armenian National Music Awards, held in Yerevan. In the following months, she was honored with more accolades at the Armenian Music Awards, held in Los Angeles and Moscow.

In 2007, a slew of fresh songs and video clips followed while Silva continued to earn popular and critical acclaim. By this time she had become a regular presence on various Armenian television programs, and her name ranked high in the pop-music charts.

With her sweet yet powerful voice, Silva performs a variety of songs ranging from hip-hop to pop and Armenian dance. “I like experimenting with different styles,” she says. “I might even give rock and roll a try, but my favorites are pop and hip-hop.”

Like other music stars, Silva finds that fame has come with a price. She says although she has always been “a good girl” and led a simple family life, steering clear of notoriety, fans can sometimes cross the line and infringe on her privacy, forcing her to be extra vigilant in safeguarding it.

Silva is a third-year student at the College of Jazz and Pop Music in Yerevan. Though she is as-ever enthusiastic about her studies, she notes, with a tinge of remorse, that sometimes she has to give up attending classes because of her tours and recording obligations. Still, she manages to make time for voice and dance lessons and also studies English.

In summer 2008, Silva released her first CD. Titled Silva, the album includes the hits “Tnits Pakhel Em,” “Indz Nerir,” and “Chem Sirum,” and also “Gisher e” as a bonus track.

Going for the international stage

“Until now, I aimed at being well-known to the Armenian public in Armenia and the diaspora, and I am only happy that we made it,” Silva says.

But today, she adds, she feels confident and ready to take her music to international audiences.

Silva is very optimistic about her future. Having reached success well before 20, everything lies ahead of her

Visit Silva’s Website

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Aznavour back on stage

PARIS – CHARLES Aznavour, 86-year-old star of French song, next year plans to return to the Paris stage that launched his career 55 years ago, hinting, but not for the first time, it may be his last goodbye.

‘I’m coming back to the Olympia theatre. We’ll close the circle at the Olympia because I’ll be 87, almost 88. At some point I’ll have to stop,’ he said on Europe 1 radio Monday.

After announcing his retirement in 1999, then again in 2000, and crooning through a farewell foreign tour in 2006, Aznavour went on tour again in 2007.

Aznavour, who was born to Armenian parents and was last year appointed ambassador to Switzerland for Armenia, told the radio that this time he planned to interpret nine new songs among 23 he recently penned. It will be his first concert in France since 2007 and his first in three decades at the Olympia.

Asked whether he would announce his retirement during the Olympia concerts, he merely said ‘perhaps the star will say an ‘au revoir’. He also plans a new book next year in which ‘I’ll talk about how, like in everything, age has its springs, its autumns, its winters and summers.’

In an interview with AFP in 2007, Aznavour, who’s sold more than a million records and composed close to 1,000 songs, said:

‘It’s true the tours are getting shorter … There’ll come a day when I forget the words and stumble on stage – then I’ll stop.’

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MARIA
-Introducing Soulful Pop Music-

Maria is an innovative and dynamic singer/ songwriter who has been in the American and Armenian Entertainment Industries since the age of five. Her parents have always catered to her talents and have instilled an unparalleled ambition & drive in Maria to pursue her musical dreams. As a professional songwriter, this multi talented individual has written for many established artists. It was not until August 2007, when she released her first EP, “Special Delivery” which sold over 2000 copies independently. During this time, Maria gained recognition from peers and fans as well as
her most notable career highlight.

At the end of 2007, Maria accumulated *Over 4 Million Plays* on all Clear Channel websites nationally including KIISFM and has remained at the #1 spot since then. She has also performed at the Armenian Music Awards since 2004 and received many accolades throughout her impressive tenure. Aside from Music, Maria has extensive experience in the many realms of the Entertainment Industry such as television hosting & production, as well as Marketing/ PR. She has also coordinated and organized events at many prestigious venues in the Los Angeles area including concerts and fundraiser galas.

Maria obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from California State University of Northridge and supports many non profit organizations. Maria believes that if in any way she can be a contributing factor to making a positive change, she is willing to go above and beyond to do so. There is a fine line between today’s Pop and R&B. Truly understanding the connection amidst these two genres, Maria has beautifully balanced that delicate scale, formulating a Hit sound!

Maria’s debut album “Born Ready” releases online and in stores 11.11.10

Visit www.singmaria.com

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This contest is closed, Congratulations to Nanor Momdjian!

INVITE Only Contest

We are giving away 4 special invitations to Tamar’s ‘Sinner or a Saint’ record release party which will be held in Los Angeles on August 24th. Please read the flier below and follow directions on how to enter. You and a friend could win a special invitation to Tamar’s party, get to meet Tamar in person and have her sign your personal ‘Sinner or a Saint’ CD.

Enter now and see you at the party!

Simply answer and email us the following 5 questions along with your tie breaker answer of why YOU should be the one to be picked to meet Tamar Kaprelian and join her at her invitation only record release party in Los Angeles on August 24th 2010. You can find the answers by visiting Tamar’s Website and by reading her interview with Armenian Pulse

Also, please follow Tamar on TWITTER and FACEBOOK

CONTEST QUESTIONS

1. What nationality is Tamar Kaprelian?

2. Tamar won the Interscope Records cover contest, what was the name of the song Tamar performed?

3. Who was Tamar’s biggest musical influences growing up? Please answer at least one.

4. Name Tamar’s song that was featured on MTV’s The Hills in 2009.

5. What is Tamar’s debut album called?

Bonus: Why should YOU be chosen to meet Tamar Kaprelian?

Please click here to email all responses or copy and past this email address tamarcontest@armenianpulse.com

Thank you and good luck!

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This show has been canceled. Ticket refunds available at the point of purchase.

Singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and political activist Serj Tankian will bring his Imperfect Harmonies World Tour with The F.C.C. and additional ensemble to The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles on Saturday, September 18. Tankian will release a new solo album, entitled Imperfect Harmonies, on Serjical Strike/Reprise Records on September 7th, 2010. The album is the second solo release from the System Of A Down frontman, following up his critically acclaimed 2007 solo debut Elect the Dead. As with Elect the Dead, Tankian produced Imperfect Harmonies himself at his home studio in Los Angeles.

“Where Elect the Dead was essentially a rock record with progressive melodic elements,” Tankian says. “Imperfect Harmonies could be classified as rock because it is punchy with many peaks throughout, but the instrumentation is somewhat different. Though there are live drums, bass, and some guitars, the driving aspects are electronic and orchestral. It’s quite unique in its sound palette. This is, in essence, music that has sat in the vat and matured to a ripe sensation and is now ready to serve.”

Imperfect Harmonies is as powerful and musically eclectic as its predecessor. “I have been calling the music ‘electro-orchestral-jazz-rock’ because it has all of those aspects in prominence within the songs,” Tankian says. “A few are more stripped down, but the majority of the songs have this huge wall of sound presented in a way I’ve never heard before. It’s not common to have a song that is both electronic and orchestral since one is synthetic and the other organic, but I found a way of meshing a lot of these colors together.”

The album has been influenced by Tankian’s experience making Elect the Dead Symphony, a symphonic interpretation of his debut that had its inaugural performance in New Zealand with the Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra in March 2009. The performance has been captured on the CD/DVD Elect the Dead Symphony. “The making of Elect the Dead Symphony gave me the confidence and tools to create ensemble pieces for orchestra more confidently and effectively than before,” Tankian says. “And that became one of the primary colors for this record along with electronic, jazz, and live instrumentation.”

Tankian has a series of upcoming live Elect the Dead Symphony shows planned for the summer, as well as the kickoff to the Imperfect Harmonies World Tour in August with a series of European festivals and headlining shows, including appearances at Belgium’s Pukkelpop and the Leeds and Reading festivals in the U.K.

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For the month of August, we decided to leave the decision for Artist of the Month up to the fans themselves. We had an overwhelming response, Thanks to all 195 fans who voted within 3 days to make this contest truly exciting. With 32% of the votes (63) going to Erevanski, they have been chosen to be August’s Artist Of The Month on Armenianpulse.com. We here at Armenian Pulse believe Erevanski is one of the top leading talent in the Armenian Market today. They have brought us hit after hit and there is no showing of slowing down. We congratulate Miko, Rafo and Hayko of Erevanski and wish them nothing but continued success! Please visit Erevanski on their facebook page here and get to know the guys in a more intimate way. Please visit their itunes page to download their tracks. Their music is also on rotation at Armenian pulse Radio. Below you will find more info on Erevanski and how they became to be the leading Armenian hip hop acts today.

Erevanski is a special music group comprised of three talented artists: Miko (a.k.a. Mikayel Sargsyan), Rafo (a.k.a. Rafayel Fahradyan) and Hayko (a.k.a. Hayk Serobyan). All three were born in Erevan, Armenia, but they met each other in California after crossing the Atlantic Ocean. They all had different dreams for the future, but had one commonality: music. Rafo and Hayko met in high school in 2002 and fast became friends. In 2005, Erevanski was born when the third member of the group, Miko, met Rafo and Hayko. All three became close friends and found themselves constantly hanging out together. During one such hangout on a gloomy rainy day, they started writing poetry and throwing ideas around out of boredom. Their first song “Arandz Dzez” was created during such a day and attracted many fans on the Internet. With the support of their families and their new found fans, they saw an opportunity to create music they and their fans would love.

Erevanski released their first CD “Mi Angam Amerikayum” on August 30, 2007. City of Erevan being so near to their hearts (birthplace and where their families still resided), they compiled their most notable song “Erevan Im Srtum” on their first CD. “Erevan Im Srtum” gained Erevanski more fame and they began performing at concerts. With evident success from their first release, they began working on their second CD.

Erevanski recently released their second CD “Hip Pop” on December 11, 2009. This CD is on the fast track to being one of their best achievements as a group. With this recent CD release they have attained a more devoted fan base, and will be performing at numerous concerts to satisfy demands from their fans for live concerts.

If you would like to purchase soundtracks from Erevanski’s most recent album, you can visit iTunes. If you would like to see them live in concert, please add them on facebook to get the latest concert dates.

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You decide the Artist Of The Month for August, We have collected all the nominations through email, twitter and our Facebook fan page. Top 10 artists nominated were (in no particular order) Erevanski, Aramik Moosakhanian, Armenchik, Hasmik Karapetyan, Sofi Mkheyan, Khachik Karadanyan, Ara Martirosyan, Silva Hakopyan, Ani christy and Robert Chilingirian. Poll is open until August 1st when we announce and showcase the winner.

THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED, CONGRATULATIONS TO EREVANSKI FOR GETTING 32% OF THE VOTES AND WINNING! PLEASE FIND EREVANSKI’S ARTIST OF THE MONTH PAGE HERE

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Tata will be performing live at the Staples Center, Los Angeles on October 10, 2010 (10-10-10). To Purchase your tickets please call 818-736-5444 or email tickets@tatastaples.com you can also visit the official Tata at the staples website at tatastaples.com

Tata Simonyan is one of the most well-known Armenian pop artists. Tata’s passionate performances and lively stage presence, not to mention his great voice, have endeared him to Armenian’s the world-over. He was the Honored Artist of Republic of Armenia in 2006, and was nominated for the King of Pop Music in Moscow in 2008 In April 2010, Tata Simonyan won the Best Album Category for his “Amenalave Du Es” at the world famous Tashir Armenian Music Awards held in Moscow. To date, Tata has performed for audiences in the U.S., Canada, Australia, Holland, Belgium, England, France, Spain, Greece, Cuprous, numerous Middle Eastern countries and 45 cities in Russia.

He has released eight albums for which he wrote the music and lyrics. His songs top the charts and receive countless nominations. He has also collaborated with such well-known singers as L. Uspenskaya, “Reflex”, A.Dneprov, and “Otpetie moshenniki.”

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Hello Kev, It’s a real treat to have you here today, thank you for taking the time to talk to us.

You’re welcome, it’s a pleasure to be here!!!

Before we begin, I would first like to congratulate you on your recent success with ‘Britain’s Got Talent’, you did an exceptional job and we could not have been more proud of how far you were able to go on the show.

The show was a great experience. To be selected from over 100,000 people to the last 40 acts was a great honor.

In my personal opinion, I think Simon Cowell had already made up his mind before you even took the stage, your first act fooled him totally and I don’t think he ever got over it. What’s your opinion? Do you feel like your final act before the judges went over their heads or do you think you made a blunder in your routine?

In my humble opinion, the show is not really a talent show, but more of a great TV show. I auditioned with so many talented people that didn’t even get through the second round. Yet a man just chopping wood on stage accompanied to a backing track or another dressed as a leprechaun prancing around the stage to no avail got through to perform live on stage in front of millions. After my second audition in front of the judges, I felt that the show hadn’t exposed my act enough for the audiences at home to understand the character I was portraying. They had edited my act so much; it didn’t really make sense on the night. I also believe, not signing to their management had a small part to play in my being eliminated in the semi Finals. I have done that same routine on stage for many years and know it works, however on the night of the performance; I was hit with Simon Cowell calling me a “one trick pony” just as I walked on stage, which confused me, and with a cocktail of loud buzzes from the judges, this ruined the pace of the routine. So instead I finished off with a piano boogie, knowing this would be my last appearance on the show.

Same ol politics always seem to get in the way, it’s really a shame. You’re no stranger to fame or large stages, but what’s it like to be standing there on national TV as a semi finalist on Britain’s Got Talent?

Like any performance I do, the buzz you get is second to none…It’s the most amazing place in the world to be for a short period of time. To know you will be performing in front of Millions didn’t even cross my mind, on the night I was still performing to the people in the theater…

Had you auditioned for BGT in previous years? And if not, what made you go for it this year?

I had never auditioned for BGT before, due to other projects always clashing with the filming dates. My management decided this year; we should do it for the exposure even though we knew in the back of our minds that comedians don’t really win these kinds of shows.

We have a clip here, Let’s take a look at your first performance in front of the BGT judges.

That was just awesome to see and experience! When did you first realize that you loved to make people laugh?

I can’t really put a time on it, however, as far back as my childhood I have always been a class clown and joke teller. It always made me feel good to see people laughing at something I had prepared. That feeling has grown with me over the years…To see total strangers in fits of laughter at a routine I have prepared is one of the best feelings in the world.

As an Armenian kid, growing up in London England, were you surrounded by the Armenian culture? Did you grow up in an Armenian community or did you have to work hard to retain your culture, language and love of your heritage?

I thank my parents for my love of the Armenian Heritage. The moment I was able to speak, which was a few hours after I was born, I learned Armenian. I was taken to Armenian Sunday school from the age of six and joined the Armenian Dance troupe, at the age of twelve. Something all Armenian children are expected to do. Living in the UK, Armenians are few and far between, so knowing other Armenians was a treat and my family surrounded themselves with friends from Armenian Church and Community Center. Retaining my heritage has never been hard for me as we grew up Armenian in Britain and not the other way round.

You started to play the piano at age 4, composed your first pieces at 12 and by the age of 15, passed all eight piano grades. Considering how serious of an accomplishment that is and how much discipline it takes to achieve that, did you ever think comedy would play a huge role with your music?

Playing the piano was always my mum’s dream, which my sister and I have as our career now. I was always encouraged by my parents to practice on the piano, however this wasn’t always an easy task with me, and mum did have her fair share of stress when it came to my daily practicing. After a while piano became a very big part of my life, and practicing became second nature. I started trying to outdo myself in technique and style, and the more I learned the more I wanted…The comedy was always part of me, and this with the piano became a natural progression into Piano Stand-up. I never knew how big a role this would play in my life and still don’t.

On stage, your performances tend to mix it all up, acting, dancing, singing, playing the keys, physical comedy, language, culture and on top of all that, it still needs to be funny. What’s the most challenging part of your routine?

The most challenging part about my act is me…I am very critical about what I do, and if a routine doesn’t get the response I believe it should have, I am rehearsing the act over and over till I get it right. If a piece of music I play has a note wrong this upsets me greatly and plays on my mind for days.

Your performances are always packed full of emotion, your delivery is second to none, what excites you the most about what you do on stage?

It’s all about the unknown and the excitement performing the routines I have written and rehearsed. Ad-libbing on stage is a major rush, and hearing the audience’s response to what I do is overwhelming…

Do you write your own material? And if so, where does all the inspiration come from?

I write everything I perform; from the music to the routines…My inspirations come from everyday life, and past childhood experiences growing up in an Armenian family. Veteran Stand-up comics like Victor Borge, Dudley Moore and Les Dawson are also big inspirations of mine. Watching their techniques and styles have always influenced my performances…

Do your routines come to you in unusual ways and places? or is it more deliberate where you make a decision to write something?

The ideas come completely out of the blue. A piece of music I’m listening to can influence a routine, or watching something on TV triggers off an idea for a joke…there really isn’t a moment during the day that goes by, without something going through my mind about what would be funny or clever to perform on stage…

In your opinion, what aspect of writing or performing a comedy piece makes an act truly memorable and funny?

Most performances can be replicated with other comics or musicians, so what I try to do is write material that’s about me and my talents. Anyone can copy Michael Jackson’s Moonwalk, but there was only one man who could sell the style, even now he’s left us.

What routine from your set do you enjoy performing the most?

I don’t really have a routine I enjoy above others. Playing the piano has always been my first love, so writing a song or a piece of music has always had a special place in my performances…

Every stand-up comic has gone through an ooops moment on stage, what does it feel like when an audience doesn’t “get it” and how do you quickly turn that hurdle around?

When you first start out as a comic and do a routine that doesn’t go as planned, your inexperience gets the better of you, however like anything the more you practice your craft the better you can handle any hurdle thrown at you.

It takes a certain strong willed person to do what you do, were you ever shy or self conscious or have you always been confident on stage?

I have never been shy or self conscious…surprise surprise!!! Nothing quite comes close to performing on stage in front of a live audience…

Who were your biggest influences growing up and why?

My influences were always those performers that didn’t need to be funny or great, they just were. I grew up on Charlie Chaplin and Laurel & Hardy, just there facial expressions and physical comedy always appealed to me. I would laugh so hard and yet they hadn’t really done anything. Benny Hill, would smile to the camera and you knew exactly what he was thinking, or Peter Sellers who pretty much performed in the Movie “The Party” without saying more than 10 words and yet, had you in tears of laughter with his persona…that’s a rare commodity amongst performers…My mum however is my biggest influence…just repeating some of her antics on everyday life, has had people rolling in the aisles…she has always made me respect the god given talent I have.

You have toured the world, made millions laugh out loud, performed for Royalty and given so much of your time and talent to charity. Are you at a place in your life where you can say you are completely satisfied with what you do?

I’m never fully satisfied with anything I do. I believe you can always outdo yourself by being better, funnier and greater in everything you put your mind too…I’m too judgmental on myself to ever be satisfied…

This August, you will take your ‘Illegal Tour’ to the Edinburgh Fringe, appearing at the Underbelly, in what will be your debut appearance at the festival. Can you give us an inside scoop of what we can expect from that show?

My show consists of Music, comedy and singing, with some dancing and audience participation…It’s packed with stories about my family and friends and impressions of Elton john…I don’t want to give too much away, however I do promise to give the audience something different.

ok, it’s time for our Armenian Pulse Fun Facts, Without re-arranging, What’s the top 5 tracks you have on your ipod or mp3 player right now?

I actually don’t own an Ipod or MP3 player, how sad am I? The Top 5 tracks on my itunes are Chicago’s inspiration, Bee Gees Beethovens 5th, Aretha Franklins Respect, Elton John’s Saturday, & Billy Joel’s Bo Jongles.

Who and when was the first big named act you saw in concert?

Believe or not, Spice girls in Wembley as Emma Bunton was my college friend.

Biggest celebrity crush growing up?

Kylie Minogue

Tell us something most people would be shocked to find out about you.

I suffer from ADHD which is a hyper active disorder, so I’m always juggling the highs as well as the lows. Due to this I suffer from depression at times as well as insomnia…so most nights my sleep pattern is no longer than 4 hours.

It’s perhaps a side effect of your amazing talent, my wife reeled off a long list of other comedians that suffer from depression among other things. Are you currently single or married?

Married to a wonderful, very patient lady named Michelle.

Favorite Armenian food?

Anything with Lamb…and I adore Pilav.

Mmmmm Pilav! lol Well, thank you Kev for giving us your time. We wish you nothing but the best for your career and your upcoming tour. I hope to see you in Los Angeles very soon!

Thank you to all who continue to support what I do, and I hope to see you guys later in the year with my one man show in LA. Much respect to Armenian Pulse, love you guys!!!

We love you too Kev, Thank you very much!

Become a fan of Kev Orkian at FACEBOOK | Follow Kev Orkian at TWITTER | Visit Kev Orkian’s WEBSITE

Make sure you catch Kev Orkian’s ‘The Illegal Tour’ this Summer!

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