Leigh Belz

In Teen Vogue's May 2009 issue, we introduced you to You Tube singing sensation Esmée Denters, who had just been signed to Justin Timberlake's Interscope Records imprint, Tennman.This week, the Netherlands-born vocalist released the video for her latest single, "Love...

I haven't posted a playlist in a while and I just put together a new walk-to-work mix for my 20+ minute morning trek to the office.Here's what I've been listening to:1. "Goodbye England (Covered In...

A few years ago, I interviewed the charming Rachel Trachtenburg for Teen Vogue's Talent Spotlight column. Rachel has been a member of kitchy pop group The Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players since she was six years old. (Her mom and dad are the...

This month, iconic footwear brand Dr. Martens celebrates its 50th anniversary. In honor of that huge milestone--and because of the way the brand has been represented by musicians throughout the years--the powers that be at...

This weekend, at a morning showing of Kick-Ass, I was transfid by the film. But also by lead actor Aaron Johnson. He looks like someone, I kept thinking. But I couldn't put my finger on it. Then, about halfway through...

I was born in a small community just north of Port-au-Prince. I'm fifteen and have three brothers and five sisters. We all go to school--except for the two youngest who aren't old enough. [Editor's note: In Haiti, the majority of...

Throughout the aging process, the grass is always greener on the other side. Teens are desperate to be seen as more adult, while older women struggle for youthfulness. Both groups use clothing and makeup to convince the world that age...

For anyone wondering if the high school experience is universal, 23-year-old Malaysian singer Zee Avi can assure you it is. She describes her time at her secondary school in KUALA LUMPUR as "worse than an...

Get ready, music fans. Tomorrow is something big—Record Store Day. Celebrated on the third Saturday of April, Record Store Day allows independently-owned record stores to come together with artists to celebrate music. (And encourage fans...

Last fall, Nashville quartet Gloriana gave Music Blogger readers an intimate look of what life was like on Taylor Swift's Fearless tour. Now the band, whose self-titled debut came out last August, wants to thank you,...

Tig of Chew Lips / Photographer: Roger Kisby.Last night, South London based synth-pop/indie dance trio Chew Lips played their first-ever New York City show at Littlefield in Brooklyn.Chew Lips was my "aww man!" band of...

Last December, James Mercer (of The Shins) and Brian Burton (AKA Danger Mouse) unveiled the first single of what would be their debut album as Broken Bells. The duos eponymous first full-length album came out a month ago with...

This weekend, pop sensation Justin Bieber was the musical guest on Saturday Night Live. But besides singing two of his biggest hits, "Baby" and "U Smile," he also popped up in some skits with...

You may recognize Wakey!Wakey! lead singer Michael Grubbs from his role on the CW's One Tree Hill. (He plays--no big stretch here--a bartender/musician named "Grubbs.") But Mike's music came before his small-screen recurring-character debut. One Tree...

The Whigs' video for their new single "Kill Me Carolyne" premiered this morning on Yahoo! Music. Check it out and let me know in the comments if you like the Snoopy/Red Baron creative direction. ...

The xx. Courtesy of Ben Rowland/SPIN.Last night New York City felt a little bit like Austin during South by Southwest. I ended up catching three great performances in as many hours.After work I went...

The lovely and talented Janelle Monáe releases her debut album, The ArchAndroid, on May 18th. Check out the video for the first single, "Tightrope," below:  Do you think "Tightrope"will be the first big jam of summer 2010?...

Today, Brooklyn art rockers MGMT debuted "Flash Delirium," the first video from their upcoming album, Congratulations. The short was directed by Andreas Nilsson, who has helmed videos for Goldfrapp and Fever Ray. You can stream the band's full sophomore album on their...

Whenever I'm planning a trip and looking for some restaurant suggestions, I talk to my musician friends. Why? Because they travel so often that they have undoubtedly visited the place I'm going and know exactly...

John Varvatos. Credit: Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times. One of my favorite things about stopping into a John Varvatos store is getting to check out all of the rock photography on the walls. (Unfortunately, he hasn't launched a...

Austin-based singer-songwriter Charlie Faye, whose country-tinged debut, Wilson Street, is out now, likes to keep things interesting. So for her current tour, she decided to challenge herself. The tour twist? She's doing a one-month residency in each of ten cities, with a...

Here's video version 2.0 of Florence and the Machine's "Dog Days Are Over." (You can see the original video on YouTube here.) The stylish new one is directed by Georgie Greville and Geremy Jasper and...

Saturday was shockingly chilly in Austin. Thirty-five-degrees-with-a-whipping-wind chilly. I'm-wearing-all-of-the-clothes-I-packed-at-the-same-time chilly. But it was also a day with a full schedule of good music, so festival-goers plugged on gamely. My first stop was the IFC/Crossroads house to see another taping, this...

If Wednesday was my day of new rootsy rock/folk and Thursday was one of discovery, Friday at South by Southwest was mostly about rediscovery - seeing artists I've long liked and hearing their new material....