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In a field of young artists striving to be fresh and cutting-edge, Eamon has entered the music world as an innovative leader. Instead of following the fold of sound-alikes, the New York-rooted newcomer has masterminded what he believes will be a much-copied new genre: ho-wop.
"It's a combination of raw hip-hop and smooth doo-wop," the 20-year-old Eamon says with a proud grin. "It's my thing; something that came to me naturally. I don't want to just fall in line and do what everyone else is. That's boring. I want to be an original. I want to stand out in the crowd."
And that's precisely what he's doing. In fact, Eamon is setting radio airwaves ablaze. The fire started with the single "F**k It (I Don't Want You Back)," a jam that has served as an anthem for anyone who has ever been done wrong by a lover. The song cleverly combines the no-punches-pulled aggression of the street with the rich, well-crafted framework of a classic pop love song - except, in this one, it isn't the tried-and-true scenario of boy-meets-girl. It's a case of boy telling girl to step off.
"It's something that everyone has gone through at least once," Eamon says. "You meet that person who uses you, cheats on you, makes you feel like shit. And then you have a choice. You can either eat it. Or you can say 'fuck it' and move on. I think it was long overdue for there to be a song for people to say it like it really is... to say 'fuck it, go away.'"
Apparently, Eamon was right. "F**k It (I Don't Want You Back)" has enjoyed a strong presence at retail, where it has been the No. 1 best-seller in the country for 5 weeks running. The single has also been an instant hit at radio, enjoying widespread radio play in over 100 markets around the U.S., and #1 most song in a number of major markets including New York (Z100), Boston, Philadelphia, Hartford and Detroit. The single is also in the top-ten of Carson Daly's influential radio countdown program. MTV has also just added the accompanying video, which depicts Eamon in his Staten Island neighborhood.
"It's wild," the singer says, beaming with pride. "When I made this record, I hoped that it might click with people. But hoping for something and seeing it happen are two different things. I'm proud of how well it's done."
"F**k It (I Don't Want You Back)" may have introduced Eamon to listeners on a national level, but he has been actively performing since he was 9 years old. He was often seen onstage with his father's doo-wop group. When he was 15, he met producer/writer Milk Dee of "Top Billin'" fame, whose credits include MC Lyte, Janet Jackson, Mary J. Blige, and Sinead O'Connor. Milk Dee and Eamon, along with producer Mark Passy and Yared Williams of the First Priority Music Group, NYC, discovered an instant, intense chemistry that has resulted in an album's worth of hit-ready material.
"This is music that I want a lot of people to hear," Eamon says. "We've worked hard to put together a CD where each song is better than the next." It's also a collection of songs that tell it like it is.
"No doubt!" Eamon exclaims. "There's no point in bringing music to the world unless you're going to keep it 100% real. There's stuff about relationships, the ups-and-downs of life, and everything in between. And I'm telling it from the view of every man and woman. This is shit that people can relate to."
With the music well-assembled, it's time for Eamon to hit the road and spread the word about his new sound. In the space of several months, he's won fans all over the U.S. with a show that sparks with youthful energy. "It's all about getting out there and showing what you're made of," he says. "I love to get onstage. I love to make music. And right now, I'm loving how it's all coming together. There's a lot of good stuff still to come, too. Just stay tuned."
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