WHEELS 2.0 GETS ITS ENGINE REVVED UP FOR 2012

We’ve returned from that much-needed holiday break and are starting to kick back into high gear. This week’s Wheels will be light, but expect a new look and a whole new feel in the coming weeks. Keep feedin’ the inbox: [email protected]

SPOTLIGHT
Jessie Baylin, a longtime Wheels favorite, and the wife of Kings of Leon drummer Nathan Followill, will release her third album, Little Spark (Thirty Tigers), on Jan. 17. From the moment I heard her sing a couple of years ago, I was in love. Jessie’s voice is a throwback—it’s almost as if the record had been made in the ’70 s and just discovered, but her lyrics present a distinctly modern worldview. Lead single “Hurry Hurry” and “I Feel That Too” are getting early airplay on KCRW, while The Current in Minneapolis has the single in its Hot List. "Hurry Hurry" is available as a free download from Amazon's Artist On the Rise program here. The video, directed by her old friend Scarlet Johansson, will hit during release week. Take a look at this little teaser trailer here to whet your appetite. Jessie’s playing Seattle Jan. 25, Portland Jan. 26, SF Jan. 29 and L.A. Jan 31. Manager: Kim Buie at Thirty Tigers.

WHEELS GOES TO THE MOTHERLAND
Wizkid is undoubtedly the hottest act out of Africa right now. His debut album, executive produced by Banky, has shattered all sales figures and sold over 5 million copies in Nigeria alone. He won the 2011 MOBO for Best African Act, was nominated for an MTV Europe Award in the same category and has had four straight #1 singles. Labels from the U.K., US, Japan, Germany and France have been flying to Lagos to catch a glimpse of the young entertainer. Akon attended his sold-out show at the Afrobeats Festival in the U.K. and remixed his hit single. “Don't Dull.” Wizkid has 150k+ Twitter followers, 262k Facebook fans and millions of views of his lyrics, videos and music on YouTube. His latest video, released a week ago—which you can check out here—has already garnered 160k views. Expect Wizkid fever to hit Europe and the U.S. in 2012. For more info, contact Valentino Bendel @ Empire Mates Entertainment ([email protected]).