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Al Walser

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Al Walser
Background information
BornLausanne, Switzerland
OriginLiechtenstein
GenresRock'n'roll, dance
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter, record producer, DJ
Years active2004–present
LabelsCut the Bull Entertainment
Websitealwalser.com

Al Walser is a biracial Swiss-born Afro-Liechtenstein Grammy-winner, singer, songwriter, and record producer residing in Los Angeles, California. Walser first gained fame as a member of German Eurodance group Fun Factory with whom he toured worldwide. His 2012 single "I Can't Live Without You" was nominated for a Grammy Award in the field of Best Dance Recording. Walser won The New York International Independent Film and Video Festival Award for Best Music Video for his single "I Want My Money Now" in 2014.[1] He won the Grammy Award for Best Children's Music Album in 2020.[2]

Biography

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Walser was born in Lausanne, Switzerland to a Liechtenstein mother and African father. He later became a radio personality in Liechtenstein at Radio Liechtenstein, then toured worldwide as a DJ.[3] Following his work on radio, Walser was asked to join German Eurodance group Fun Factory following the departure of member Toni Cottura.[4][5]

Walser later wrote the book Musicians Make It Big: An Insider Reveals the Secret Path to Break in Today's Music Industry and founded the record label Cut the Bull Entertainment, based in Hollywood.[5][6] He's the producer and host of the weekly syndicated US TOP 20 Show and is the former host of the weekly syndicated radio show Al Walser's Weekly Top 20.[7]

In 2008, his debut album Heart Breaker was released.[8] Walser released the single "Living Your Dream" in collaboration with American singer Jermaine Jackson in 2009. He released the song "I Can't Live Without You" in August 2012, and it was later controversially nominated for Best Dance Recording at the 55th Grammy Awards. In 2015 he released his solo album "Al Walser Comes 2 Life!", which featured a development in his style, as it attempted to incorporate reggae, disco, and drum and bass into electronic dance music.[9]

In an Interview with Spin, Al Walser talks about his music and career after the 2013 Grammy Awards. He talks about his relationship with God and how his spirituality guides his career. Walser says "God is really my manager and my guidance."[10] Al Walser released a new single and music video called "O.C.D." on August 1, 2014. Alan Cross reviewed the song on his website, A Journal of Musical Things! Cross says he likes the song and "I confess to never having heard of Al Walser before, but given my industrial/metal predilections, I’m going to have to give the guy a closer look."[11]

Controversy

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Walser's Grammy nomination for "I Can't Live Without You" attracted much attention due to his low profile compared to his fellow nominees.[5][6][12] Several prominent dance musicians reacted negatively to the nomination,[13][14] with German musician Zedd alleging that Walser had used elements of his song "Spectrum" in one of Walser's remixes without permission.[15] Several media outlets speculated that Walser's membership in the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and position as a Grammy voter may have had a role in his nomination.[6] Walser rejected the claims and instead attributed his nomination to "great music" and "drive".[5][16] In an interview with FUSE TV, Walser attempted to explain the shock wave reactions he caused to the music establishment by saying "Some people pay money under the table or exchange sexual favors; and I came in clean!"[17] Amid the negative attention, there were also media outlets that liked Al Walser and his rebellious style. Billboard's Zel McCarthy wrote "His attitude reflects a unique understanding of the music business at large."[18]

Discography

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Studio albums

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List of studio albums
Title Album details
Heart Breaker[8]
Al Walser Comes 2 Life!

Singles

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List of singles, showing year released and album name
Title Year Album
"Living Your Dream"[19]
(with Jermaine Jackson) 		2009 Non-album singles
"I Can't Live Without You"[20]
(with Olga Levit) 		2012

References

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  1. ^ "Festival Awards." The New York International Independent Film and Video Festival. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://nyfilmvideo.net/content/section/15/124/ Archived 2014-10-21 at the Wayback Machine>.
  2. ^ "A Grammy For Liechtenstein Artist Al Walser | Embassy of the Principality of Liechtenstein in Washington, D.C." www.liechtensteinusa.org. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
  3. ^ Marchand, Francois (December 7, 2012). "Meet Al Walser, this year's unlikeliest Grammy nominee". Vancouver Sun. Archived from the original on December 9, 2012. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
  4. ^ Cadasse, David (November 15, 2004). "Al Walser : "Je veux construire un pont entre l'Afrique et le monde"". Afrik (in French). Retrieved December 8, 2012.
  5. ^ a b c d Sherburne, Philip (December 6, 2012). "Who the Hell Is Al Walser and How Did He Get an EDM Grammy Nomination?". Spin. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
  6. ^ a b c "Al Walser Very Happy About Al Walser's EDM Grammy Nomination". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. December 7, 2012. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
  7. ^ Lhooq, Michelle (December 8, 2012). "We Spoke with Al Walser – The Euro DJ Who Trolled The Grammys". Vice. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
  8. ^ a b "Heart Breaker: Al Walser". Amazon.com. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
  9. ^ Wiser, Danny (2021-06-25). "LIECHTENSTEIN: Al Walser Comes 2 Life! - Al Walser". 200worldalbums.com. Retrieved 2024-04-08.
  10. ^ Sherburne, Philip. "Grammy Upsetter Al Walser Is Back, and He Wants His Money Now." Spin. N.p., 4 September 2013. Web. <https://www.spin.com/2013/09/grammys-al-walser-i-want-my-money-now-video/>.
  11. ^ Cross, Alan. "I Like This: Al Walser." A Journal of Musical Things. N.p., 2 August 2014. Web. <http://ajournalofmusicalthings.com/like-al-walser/>.
  12. ^ Sargent, Jordan (December 6, 2012). "The Grammys Nominated the Dance Music Version of Rebecca Black and Nobody Knows Why". Gawker. Archived from the original on December 8, 2012. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
  13. ^ Talbott, Chris (February 6, 2013). "Grammys & Al Walser: Dance Music Community Rejects Unknown Nominee As Awards Defend Themselves". The Huffington Post. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
  14. ^ Makarechi, Kia (December 6, 2012). "Al Walser's Grammy Nomination Stuns Electronic Dance Music World". The Huffington Post. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
  15. ^ Berdellans, Albert. "Al Walser: Innocent. Grammy's: Guilty. — An Editorial". Dubstep.net. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved November 6, 2013.
  16. ^ Bhansali, Akshay (December 7, 2012). "Exclusive: Al Walser's Shock EDM Grammy Nom Is 'Decades' Of Work". MTV News. Viacom Media Networks. Archived from the original on May 5, 2015. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
  17. ^ Newman, Jason. Controversial EDM Grammy Nominee Al Walser to Haters: "Eat It" Fuse. Fuse, 4 February 2013. Web.
  18. ^ McCarthy, Zel. "Grammy Day With Al Walser." Billboard. N.p., 11 February 2013. Web. <http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/code/1538774/grammy-day-with-al-walser>.
  19. ^ "Living Your Dream". Amazon.com. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
  20. ^ "I Can't Live Without You: Al Walser". Amazon.com. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
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