This is the newest Star Trak signee. Bronx-born Maxine Ashley is a soulful ‘n sassy 17-year-old misfit from a puerto rican descent with one helluva voice. She eschews convention, wears her hair half fluorescent pink, half brunette, loves The Smiths, Neneh Cherry and Beyoncé, and has trouble keeping her big mouth shut. Her YouTube channel has already amassed 350,000+ views of her bedroom covers of R&B hits, but Maxine has traded her bedroom for the studios of New York and London, where she’s busy honing her international sound–a carefree mix of urban pop, R&B, dance, and soul that would be equally at home on the streets of the Bronx, London, or Tokyo. “You guys gotta get ready for this artist that I have, Maxine Ashley,” Pharrell says, “She is the next level. It is like grinding melodic pop.”
She was briefly part of a Xenomania group with Katie McKenna (now a member of Lite N Dark). A UK pop production house. Xenomania is a British songwriting and production team founded by Brian Higgins and based in Kent, England. Formed after Higgins met Miranda Cooper, Xenomania has written and produced for renowned artists such as Cher, Kylie Minogue, Dannii Minogue, Pet Shop Boys, and Sugababes. Her first outing is a guest vocal appearance on Italian DJ Alex Gaudino’s summer-smash, “I’m in Love“. Her tough yet vulnerable vocal atop Gaudino’s shimmering electronics has already wowed radio and club DJs Europe-wide, thus cementing Maxine’s first step on the road to international takeover. “I’m In Love” went to #1 in the UK Upfront Club Charts and released in the UK on Ministry Of Sound on September 19th. Check out some Covers and Pictures after the jump.
Alex Gaudino & Maxine Ashley – I’m In Love
Alex Gaudino’s new single was originally just a dance track with a catchy piano line and the looped “I’m In love” chant, in the same vein as Eric Prydz’s “Call On Me“. But the song was given new life with a topline written by Tim Powell performed by Maxine Ashley.
Maxine Ashley Covers
Beyoncé – Sweet Dreams (Cover)
Silent Night (Cover)
Maxine Ashley – Winter Wonderland (Cover)
Rihanna – Hard (Cover)
Beyoncé – Ego (Cover)
Beyoncé – Halo (Cover)
Keri Hilson – Knock You Down (Cover)
Lady Gaga – Speechless (Cover)
Rihanna – Rude Boy (Cover)
Melanie Fiona – It Kills Me (Cover)
Shontelle – Impossible (Cover)
Justin Bieber – Baby (Cover)
Will Smooth & Maxine Ashley – Unthinkable (Alicia Keys Cover)
Jazmine Sullivan – Holding You Down (Cover)
Maxine Ashley Dancing
Jennifer Hudson – And I Am Telling You (Cover)
Bruno Mars – Grenade (Cover)
Keri Hilson – Energy (Cover)
Tynisha Keli – Told Ya (Cover)
Keri Hilson – Knock You Down (Cover)
Karina Pasian – Slow Motion (Cover)
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