One of the best parts of running PensEyeView.com is opening my eyes to a new artist every 48 hours that I otherwise may have never met, or learned about. Featuring a different artist so often has been a more than satisfying experience, and now it has become common practice to receive emails from friends, family and industry professionals teasing me with subjects reading, “Have you seen this guy?!?” or “You HAVE to feature this person!”

Back in 2006, my brother sent me an email of a YouTube video, featuring a guy sitting in front of a piano singing about eating Chinese food on Christmas and going to the movie theater – A habit of American Jews that has become as common practice as sneaking a cookie in before sundown on Yom Kippur. This YouTube celebrity, a young musician named Brandon Walker, just happened to be the first one to publicly divulge a secret many Jews figured was happening everywhere. Some million (yes million) YouTube hits later, the song was a classic.  In 2007, Walker put a new spin on his song, adding an entire music video and again received millions of hits worth of attention. It was then that I was fortunate enough to have him on PensEyeView.com – a feature that appropriately ran on December 25th and 26th last year. Needless to say, when I began work with the Jewish Times, catching up with Walker – almost a year later – was on my list of top priorities.

My initial interview gave audiences a much deeper look at Walker as an artist. Music has been an intricate part of Walker’s life since he was young child, beginning after his family inherited an old upright piano from a relative. He was seven at the time. Walker, who describes music as “the essence of everything,” has stuck to this philosophy his entire life, from playing in bands growing up to honing his craft at James Madison University with his band Midnight Spaghetti and the Chocolate G-Strings (which could very well be the best band name ever). Today, Brandon runs solo, dedicating himself to the overwhelming task of writing and posting a new song every month. He has kept his promise so far and frankly, I don’t know how he does it.

As a music teacher at Beth Tfiloh, Walker tells his students that inspiration is everywhere. “Music picks us up when we need a lift, and just as quickly it induces sadness. Music gives us energy and it mellows us out. It arouses fear just as easily as it brings relief.” His laid back approach to the fundamentals of artistic expression is rewarded by a loyal and eager class of musicians. It also helps that Walker could easily pass as a student himself. I asked him, “Do you feel that you can relate to the kids better since you are young and into similar music as them?”

“Certainly. Plenty of my students have said to me, ‘Mr. Walker, how old ARE you? You look like a teenager!’ So, even if I try to create that separation of student and adult, I’m not so sure the kids would buy it. That said, my students are respectful people, and despite our relative closeness in age, all my students recognize and respect my position as a teacher.” Keeping his title as probably the coolest teacher there, he adds, “Although they probably get away with more in my class than anyone else’s!”

But don’t take this as a fault for Walker. Music is about self expression, and letting go… and getting away. With music you have to go deeper than what you read in a book or see on a board – music is a world of open opportunity, for anyone to take full advantage of. Walker explains it best, “I think music is amazing. It has the power to guide our emotions.” Guidance is something that Walker offers to his students who, although like to tease him about his youthful appearance, will turn to him when they themselves are told a career in the arts is not a normal “path” to follow.

This is a problem that every artist has faced in their life – as Walker (and I) can attest to. When you are a kid and you pick up a guitar, sit down at piano or grab a paint brush, it is encouraged – in some case considered “cute”. Somewhere along the way though, artists are told it is better off as a hobby rather than a profession. Just imagine if The Beatles got “real jobs” or artist Jeff Koons listened to critics who said he was “wasting his time” or if Walker’s parents told him that sitting for hours at that piano would never take him anywhere.

Luckily, Brandon’s family and friends encourage him. He says, “They support me. If I want to move to LA and go for it, they’re behind me. I even got my entourage lined up, Marky Mark style.” Kudos to Walker for having the guts to follow his dream, and better yet being an example for others. After all, 1 million plus viewers can’t be wrong.

For more on Brandon Walker, check out http://www.BrandonWalkerMusic.com 

To find more great artists, check out http://www.PensEyeView.com every day!

Every year thousands of young hopefuls hop on planes heading out west to Los Angeles, chasing their dreams of success in the entertainment business. Many have grand delusions of being spotted on the street by Steven Speilberg or expect to find every top agent and producer waiting for them – contract in hand – on the tarmac. But, this is not exactly how things work. Success in today’s entertainment industry is rare; only a handful are able to ditch their job waiting tables and say hello to fame. However, earlier this year a plane left Chicago carrying Justin Stein – a young actor, dancer, singer and songwriter who has become one of those fortunate individuals. 

Two days after graduation, Stein, who deferred acceptance to NYU, bid farewell to his family and wished his college bound friends the best. He figured college could wait – his dreams could not. While his friends spent their summers in Ikea picking out furniture for their dorm rooms, Stein traveled the country with Corbin Bleu’s 2008 summer tour. He even inked a deal with Disney; “My manager is the one who hooked me up with Radio Disney. He gave them my demo CD and they told him that they wanted to play it and support me as an artist. My manager told me the news on my 18th birthday… definitely the best birthday present ever.”

This had to be reassuring news for Stein’s parents who had reservations about their son veering off the standard track of a high school graduate. Despite any doubt, both family and friends are rooting for him. “I am incredibly fortunate to have the support I have from my parents and friends. Mom and Dad come to the majority of the shows. My brother jumps on the tour with me sometimes and works merchandise. It’s great having him on tour.”

An entertainer since the age of 12, Stein understands the responsibility of a professional artist. After all, the Disney tag carries a higher standard of excellence – one which Stein plans to live up to. Years of performing in children’s and community theatre productions in and around Chicago, along with diligent vocal and dance coaching have given Stein what Disney sees as a bankable future. The attention that comes with being a Disney star has been helpful as well. “I especially like seeing Radio Disney reps at the venues. They always hype the crowd and are just really fun people.” But it hasn’t been a difficult job getting folks excited for this up and comer – His infectious blend of pop, rock and R&B has been compared to artists such as Justin Timberlake and Chris Brown. 

Today, Stein’s catalogue of teen pop hits like “Leave It On The Floor,” “Loose Control,” and “Don’t Be Playin’ With My Heart,” are just a few samples of Stein’s energetic stage presence, while tunes such as “Sweetest Girl” and “I’ll Never Look Away (Hey Girl)” allow Stein to showcase his classically trained voice. He has compiled these songs onto his self titled album in hopes of portraying the real Justin Stein, rather than what most pop acts are told to portray. This, without a doubt, is what has made him so successful.

Still, I can’t stop thinking about what must have been going through his head when he was on a plane with no plans of turning back and no cushion to fall back on. I had to ask him, ‘You left your family, said goodbye to your friends – What was going through your head on that plane ride?’ He replied, “Pursuing a career as a solo artist is something I have wanted to do ever since I started writing songs around 12 years old. On that plane I was just thinking ’Wow! I’m actually doing it!’” Stein is living proof that sometimes, all it takes is a “WOW moment” to have your dreams take flight.

For more information on Justin Stein, check out: http://www.JustinStein.com

To check out more great artists, visit my e-magazine, http://www.PensEyeView.com . It all starts with a pen, paper and a vision.

When I was little, my bubby used to call me a character. This was partly because I would do just about anything to make her, or anyone around me, laugh – even when most of the time it was at my own expense. Since then, I’ve surrounded myself with individuals who share a similar zest for life.

When I first met 25-year-old singer/songwriter Shwa (short for Joshua) Losben earlier this year, this “character” was being compared to everyone from Elliott Smith to Coldplay. Bit by the music bug rather early, the former Holland, Pennsylvania resident picked up a trumpet at age ten and then moved to the guitar in the seventh grade. Besides his interest in music, Shwa was very involved in the Jewish community at a young age, such as being a bar mitzvah and attending summer weekends with The North American Federation of Temple Youth (NFTY).

Shwa admits that his first stab at music, with a junior high band, did not go as well as he would have liked. “We were awful,” he recalls. Still, Shwa could not let those early, failed attempts at music halt his dream. Throughout high school he honed his skills, bouncing around with bands that had slightly more potential. However, it was not until Shwa attended college at American University in Washington, DC that he found a healthy home in the powerful DC music scene. As he landed regular gigs at the popular DC venue, Grog and Tankard, people started to really react and take notice of Shwa and his music. Not bad for the boy who once attempted Pearl Jam and Beatles cover songs with his eighth grade garage band.

When I caught-up with Shwa last week, he was still as positive as ever – cracking jokes and, well, being a character. Since leaving DC, he has found a home in New York City. And, with everything that New York has to offer, what does Shwa love best? “It’s great to know you can get dinner anywhere at 3AM.” Living in the city also gives Shwa the opportunity to stay in touch with his extended family. His older sister, who is a rabbi on Long Island, hopes that he will swing by for the high holidays. The job of a traveling musician does not exactly offer the best chance to attend synagogue. However, if his sister has anything to do with it, maybe that will change, for it’s family that Shwa leans on for support. “They’ve all been immensely supportive, especially my parents. I think they wanted me to go to grad school at first, but after they saw my CD in shrink-wrap, they became my biggest fans. I think they’ve sold more CDs than anyone else!”

Shwa is currently promoting his album, “Chop Chop”, which was released in February, 2008. When I asked Shwa what to expect from “Chop Chop”, a true songwriter’s album, he says, “At one point we were playing mouth trumpet and running it through distortion. We banged spoons on a toaster. We used kid keyboards from the 80s… just a lot of cool sounds. At the same time I feel like there’s a lot of open space in the songs, which is a cool thing too.” USA Today recently featured “Chop Chop” fan favorite, “Myriah”, on their Pop Candy podcast and XM Radio came calling as well, playing Never Too Soon to Compromise. Additionally, the Comcast Network featured Shwa on the program Backstage in May.

With the crowds growing at every show, Shwa is getting more comfortable with the intense New York music scene. So, what can fans expect from a live show? “Fire dancers. Lots of animals running on the stage…and gift bags,” Shwa says. Even though he is currently on tour and performing on a regular basis, Shwa – who in one word describes himself as a “Diva” - still manages to keep a steady head on his shoulders. “I’m still living off of grilled cheese and PB and J. I’m not really living the dream just yet.” After all, if everyone who dreamed of being famous got their wish, we’d all be celebrities, which takes away the appeal. That’s the crazy thing about dreams - you have to be willing to face the struggle that comes along with them. Something tells me that Shwa is pretty good at handling any struggle that may come his way.

For more information about Shwa Losben, check out www.ShwaMusic.com. To learn more about my interviews with various artists in the entertainment industry, from around the globe visit PensEyeView.com - it all starts with a pen, paper and a vision.