If Hunnypot Live! were a meme we’d be the cats that replace the Curling rocks. Last night the air outside the air was like an ice rink but inside we turned up the heat. Hot Tub got the night cooking with a music set of party songs. Shelly Peiken got in to the tub for the first time and brought us a playlist of her major musical accomplishments and influences, stories of her journey as a songwriter, author and an elevator friend to Carly Simon. Jenna Nation brought the whole Hunnypot country together for a pop music summit, V Torres rocked guitar centric gothic cowboy gypsy set, The Habits power popped us with their musical trio, Alexa Villa got dark and vicious, Frak drilled down the mantle with his rapper flow and Nordstorm & Patrik dropped a DJ set of dance heaven. Recap by J. Gray / Photos by J. Gray / J. Born / L. Phillips  02/19/2018

SHELLY PEIKEN (SERIAL SONGWRITER, INTERVIEW/DJ SET)

Shelly Peiken is a multi-platinum Grammy nominated songwriter who is best known for her #1 hits "What a Girl Wants" and "Come On Over Baby". She earned a Grammy nomination for the song "Bitch" recorded by Meredith Brooks. She’s had hundreds of songs placed on albums, and in TV and film. 

Shelly's book Confessions of a Serial Songwriter chronicles her journey from a young girl falling under the spell of magical songs to writing hits of her own.  It’s about growing up, the creative process, the highs and the lows, the conflicts that arise between motherhood and career success, the divas the egos and the back stabbers, but also the lovely people she's found along the way. It’s about the challenge of getting older and staying relevant in a rapidly changing and youth driven world.

Her Serial Songwriter Facebook page has become a forum for all things songwriting and ideas about navigating a changing music business as a creative person and parent.

Shelly is a contributor to The Huffington Post. She is well known in the music industry as mentor, panelist, consultant and guest speaker and a fierce advocate of creators' rights as a founding member of SONA (Songwriters Of North America).

Shelly is a New Yorker at heart who enjoys her life in Los Angeles with her husband, composer Adam Gorgoni, their daughter, Layla and her 2 cats.

Website  Twitter  Facebook  Instagram

JENNA NATION

JENNA Nation is an R&B/Pop singing sensation who is quickly gaining momentum on the international music scene. 

Born in Ottawa, Canada, JENNA Nation was introduced to music at an early age through her musical family. She began her career with extensive training and success with classical music/opera, jazz and then with R&B/soul while studying and graduating Summa Cum Laude with her Vocal Performance Degree from the famed Berklee College of Music.

An outstanding vocalist with a charismatic stage presence, JENNA Nation progressed to hit some significant milestones early in her career. Since she began singing, JENNA Nation has performed at the Official JUNO’s After Party in Calgary as well as for the Prime Minister of Canada and as part of the Canada Day celebrations on Parliament Hill. In addition, she has appeared at several famed festivals including the Newport Folk Festival, Boston Outside of the Box Festival and the Toronto, Ottawa, and Beaches International Jazz Festivals just to name a few. Other highlights include performing at the world’s largest urban music festival New Skool Rules in Holland where she was selected as Best Artist. JENNA Nation has also been a finalist for several international songwriting competitions. 

JENNA Nation boasts a soulful and even jazzy vibe to her music. Long-time influences include Michael Jackson, Ella Fitzgerald, Judy Garland and Stevie Wonder - a notable name with whom she aspires to collaborate. JENNA Nation has worked with a number of Grammy and JUNO-nominated producers and songwriters including Boi-1da, Tommy Brown, Victoria Monet, Travis Sayles, Kinetics and One Love, Ryan "Ghost" Bowser, Elev3n, Druski, and Young Wolf Hatchlings among others.

JENNA Nation’s fourth album, You Don’t Know (released November 2017) has already received numerous accolades. The album was named Canada's Best R&B Album of 2017, one of the Top 10 Best Records of the Year and #9 Best Album of 2017. JENNA Nation has also been featured in numerous news outlets across Canada, including Music Canada, iHeart Radio, Canadian Beats, Sirius XM, State of Hip-Hop, CP24, Musique Plus Video Channel, FYI Music News, and the Global Morning Show.  Forever, JENNA Nation’s latest radio single and video features Toronto rapper Fame Holiday and started 2018 by entering the Radio Indie Alliance Top 40 Chart at #8 as well as #10 on the 365 Radio Network. The video has generated over 10,000 views on YouTube and charted in the Top Ten on the Worldwide Indie Charts.  Her album is currently playing on 500+ stations worldwide.

Website  Twitter  Facebook  Instagram

V Torres

V Torres is the epitome of the modern day songwriter. With two studio albums under her belt, Torres is prepared to release her latest project: Real Life Love.

Hailing from the beach cities of Southern California, V Torres has spent her entire life in or around music and sports. While in high school, indie-rock and hip-hop became her passion and basketball gave her the drive to persevere through adversity. Torres went on to attend Loyola Marymount University majoring in accounting and minoring in theatre arts. Upon graduation, Torres moonlighted as a corporate finance accountant to fund her musical career.

To date, she has spent the majority of her career writing and performing with the band Gorgeous Got a Gun, and released their self-titled debut album in 2009, followed by Welcome Home in 2011 and single release I Remember You in 2016. During this time, Torres’ music video for song Violent Games was featured on the blue ray release for the feature film Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. Since then, V Torres has performed throughout the country while collaborating and recording with various artists and producers including Joe McGrath (AFI, Alkaline Trio) and most recently Jonny Perdue and Steve Stout of Lost Beach.

Backed by a newfound love of yoga and a desire to share her truth, Torres infused a fresh energy and sound into her latest project, five song EP Real Life Love. Leveraging life’s highs & lows, this project is inspired by the sense of urgency she has never lost throughout the years. Like any singer-songwriter, V Torres’ music has matured while continuing to effectively convey her experiences and emotions. Real Life Love was released in all digital stores on 11/11/17.

Spotify  Website  Facebook  Instagram

THE HABITS

The Habits met each other in the blue-collar town of San Pedro, just far enough away from the glamour of the Hollywood glow to be isolated. Comprised of singer/guitarist Wolf Bradley, pianist Chance Famighetti, and drummer Andrew Macatrao, The Habits ground their music in bite size melodies that are impossible to get out of your head. Their music is accompanied by slightly melancholic lyrics that tell a story of love, loss, and everything in between. Their alt/pop sound is unique to them but stems from incongruous avenues of inspiration. From Maroon 5 to Cage the Elephant, The Habits’ music makes you wanna dance and hits you hard in the feels. The three of them have grown up together in Southern California and are more like brothers than band members. Playing pretty much every bar, club, basement, and alleyway in LA, they’ve honed in on their live show skills, giving their audience a lively and fun show experience.

Website  Twitter  Facebook  Instagram

 ALEXA VILLA

"Singer-keyboardist Alexa Villa projects a natural confidence, an admirable all-in swagger that leaves the listener convinced of her commitment to every word she sings." -Music Connection Magazine

Alexa's latest EP entitled, "ACT I" is something to be noticed. She describes her music as "grunge pop with a little blues feel and a whole 'lotta attitude." Soaring vocals, surprising chord choices and captivating stories within her lyrics are sure to leave you wanting more. But it doesn't end there. Her live performance and style match her quirky and eclectic personality.

Alexa has played Warped Tour and opened for acts like The Darkness, Drake Bell, Mark Ballas and BC Jean of Alexander Jean and Ryan Cabrera to name a few. Alexa also models in LA Fashion week, and for several fashion companies. She has been on set for SpikeTV and various music videos for artists like Chris Brown and Nikki Minaj among others.

Her influences range from Led Zeppelin, to Lana Del Rey, Lady Gaga, Dorothy, Halsey, Deep Purple, The Neighborhood, Heart, Blondie, the Pretty Reckless, Nirvana, Awolnation, and the list goes on.

From age 7, Alexa has been classically trained playing piano, performing original songs at talent shows and landing lead roles in theater class. She grew up in San Diego playing clubs with her parents' band and her brothers band before developing her own unique style.

"I want to create an escape and plant a visual in your head. I want to make you feel something new and I want it to encourage you to do the things you've always wanted to. Music is not just sound, its an entire world. It's who I am."

Spotify  Website  Twitter  Facebook  Instagram

FRAK

Frak is a rapper from the Bay Area. A songwriter, battle rapper, producer, and music video director, Frak's art is intersectional between all these mediums. Having performed along such artists as Kendrick Lamar, Earth Wind & Fire, Anderson Paak, Shad, Travis Scott, Mistah Fab and Watsky, this is an artist unlike any other. Frak’s newest album, Limewire '03 which dropped this month, has a cohesive feel, as it mostly sampled early 2000's R&B, slowed down, reversed, and transformed into head-bopping bangers. The album attempts to sketch the millennial condition, and how our technology addiction can manifest itself in the nooks and crannies of our days, months and lives.

Soundcloud  Website  Twitter  Facebook  Instagram

NORDSTORM & PATRIK (DJ SET)

Sweden based Hunnypot super-fans are back in the US and will kick our Dance Party with special guest vocalist Gustav Zetterberg! Come out and say Hallå!

Oscar Nordström - Facebook 

Partik Karlsson -  Facebook