Lachey swaps band for fatherhood

‘A Father’s Lullaby’ dedicated to son

LOS ANGELES, Feb 27, (Agencies): Singer Nick Lachey, a member of US group 98 Degrees, has swapped his boy band heartthrob status to embrace fatherhood in a new album of lullabies dedicated to his baby son.

On the cover of “A Father’s Lullaby,” Lachey, 39, is pictured cuddling his son Camden, who was born in September 2012.

“When I first learned that I was going to be a father, I was inspired to create a special tribute to my son,” Lachey said in a statement on Tuesday.

“Creating this album allowed me to further connect with Camden while also sharing the experience with families who are on a similar journey of welcoming a new life into their world,” he added.

The 12-track album, released in partnership with toy brand FisherPrice, includes four original songs by the singer, such as title track “Father’s Lullaby” and “Sleepy Eyes.”

Download

“A Father’s Lullaby” will be available to download on iTunes and Amazon from March 13, and in stores in April.

Camden is the first child for Lachey and wife Vanessa, who married in July 2011. Lachey was previously married to singer Jessica Simpson from 2002 until their divorce in 2005.

Lachey rose to fame in the 1990s with his brother Drew and members Justin Jeffre and Jeff Timmons in boy band 98 Degrees, who were known for top 40 pop chart hits including “True to Your Heart” and “Thank God I Found You.”

The band went on a hiatus in 2002 and Lachey married Simpson. The couple appeared in their own MTV reality series “Newlyweds.”

Lachey, who recorded two solo albums during the band’s hiatus, reunited with his band mates last year and 98 Degrees announced a new album and tour.

Their upcoming fourth studio record “2.0” is set to be released in May. The band will be joining fellow 1990s boy bands New Kids on the Block and Boyz II Men on a North American summer tour.

Karen Mok wrestles with what’s been a life-long question for her on the title of her first English album, “Somewhere I Belong.”

The Hong Kong pop diva has a halfChinese, half-Welsh father and her mother is half-Chinese, one quarterIranian and a quarter-German. It’s easy to see why Mok cannot pinpoint one ethnic identity.

So where exactly does she feel like she belongs? Mok explains it’s not a geographic location, but rather her home is on stage, wherever she performs.

Emotions

“It’s about what I do, when I feel comfortable, that’s when I’m doing what I love most, that’s singing, that’s when I’m performing on stage, and just singing my heart out, sharing my emotions,” she said. “So that’s where I belong.”

After 16 successful Mandarin/ Cantonese albums, Mok is venturing into English lyrics and a mix of music styles.

The album is her first attempt to cross from pop to jazz. She sings classic jazz tunes, as well as reinterpretations of Chinese and Western pop songs.

Insisting on a jazz album with an Asian sound, Mok made the album in China with Asian musicians and added a traditional Chinese instrument, the gu zeng string instrument, to the background of some tracks.

The 42-year-old songstress has been on the Asian entertainment scene for more than 20 years. She’s starred in over 40 feature films and is the first Asian female artist to star in a Broadway show, when she was cast as Mimi in the 10th anniversary Asian tour of “Rent.”

Mok is currently promoting “Somewhere I Belong” in Asia.

Later this year, she will appear in Keanu Reeves’s directorial debut, “Man of Tai Chi.”

Amanda (Decca)

This collection of James Taylor and Carole King songs marks Amanda Brecker’s US recording debut, but the singer has a rich musical pedigree. She’s the daughter of noted jazz trumpeter Randy Brecker and Brazilian singer-pianist Eliane Elias, and has performed with her mother since she was 8.

Her background gives her the confidence to perform classic songs like “So Far Away,” ‘’Something In the Way He Moves” and “Sweet Baby James” in a relaxed, respectful manner - with a few jazzy embellishments - that caresses the lyrics without over-

Brecker,

“Blossom” the-top vocal displays.

Producer Jesse Harris brought in several King-Taylor collaborators such as bassist Lee Sklar and drummer Russ Kunkel, whose tasteful accompaniment enhances but never overwhelms the vocals. Brecker gives her most impassioned performance on “You’ve Got A Friend,” tastefully backed only by jazz pianist Larry Goldings, a frequent Taylor partner.

The only original “You Were Mine” hints at Brecker’s songwriting talent. While “Blossom” showcases her vocal talents, her next album hopefully will reveal more of her musical personality.

C2C, “Tetra” (Universal Republic/ Casablanca Records) Get ready to dance. A lot. “Tetra,” the debut album from French foursome C2C, is a multigenre, beat-driven adventure that feels good throughout all 14 tracks.

C2C is a turntable group made up of 20syl, DJ Greem, DJ Pfel and DJ Atom. They’ve crafted songs that feel soulful (“Happy”), energetic (“Delta,” ‘’The Beat”) and eerie (“Give Up the Ghost”). “Because of You” is Gorillazesque and “Genius” is oh-so-fun, as is “Who Are You,” which samples The New Birth’s “You Don’t Have to Be Alone.”

“Le Banquet” even weaves in a speech from Ronald Reagan - and it works.

“Tetra” is flavorful and upbeat - it’s hard not to jump around to these beats. C2C has meshed a sound that is wild, but still consistent.

Now dance.