May Grand Prize Winner in Music: Cobalt & the Hired Guns

May’s winning artists emptied out the vault when they came to claim their thousands of dollars in prizes. The good news is, we’ve got a whole new wad of cash and prizes just waiting to be snatched up at the end of June.

Meet the Reigning Champions—How Do You Match Up?
It’s not an easy task to snag the $5,000 Grand Prize on OurStage. In the case of pop/rock group, Cobalt & the Hired Guns, it took a Grammy-winning sax player, the producer/engineer used by The Hives, a session at the Chicago Recording Company (of Red Hot Chili Peppers fame), and an authentically vibrant sound to secure their top spot on the May charts. Their winning song, “Up to You” is a mix of introspection and exhilaration. Have a listen and see if it draws a smile.

One more reason to like them: Their newly released album, Jump the Fence, is completely carbon neutral. According to their profile, “all of the greenhouse gases associated with the recording, production, and direct promotion of the CD have been offset via investments in wind energy.”

Kate Tucker & the Sons of Sweden, of Seattle, took home the $1,000 Grand Prize for video with their entrancing music video, “Say Love.” Moody lighting, stunning visual effects, and symbolic details make this a standout piece. Check out the sultry vibe of “Say Love” to see a whole lot of talent…and a home in bad need of weatherproofing.

Congrats to the May channel winners: The fans are loving you, so keep it coming! Make sure to <http: />check out all the May winners, stop by their profiles and tell them that they rock. We all need encouragement to keep creating.

Newcomer star performers included:
Country: Shannon Haley
Hip Hop: Tank Law MMF
Instrumental: Jennifer Thomas
Hip Hop Music Videos: Theory

To those of you still aiming for the spotlight, your chance will come soon enough.

What did you think about May’s competition on OurStage? Comments are welcome (and encouraged).