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Guards “In Guards We Trust” [NEW MUSIC]

05/20/13
Steve Rippin
· Album Reviews · Beat-Play, LLC · concert · Europe · Independent Labels · Independent Music · Los Angeles · music industry · Music News · New York · Uncategorized

Is it summer yet? I’m getting amped up for concerts and drinking out side. I’m also getting amped for today’s band of the hour. Guards. I’ve been listening to this record for a few weeks now. Its easy going rock and roll, just in time for Summer.

With this new release I think we are going to be seeing a lot of Guards for a while. It’s exciting to hear new music like this. Yes, it’s a reinvention, but the sounds are original and I really like the vocal arrangements. I’m not sure if everyone who formed a band in the last three years made it a rule to have a female so-lead singer but it’s working for me.

Founded in 2012 Guards consists of Richie James Follin, Loren Humphrey & Kaylie Church. Their most recent “In Guards We Trust” is loud, catchy and easily on of my favorite releases of the last few months. Since February the band has been touring heavily. They are currently in Europe making their way through the festival circuit and then toward the end of the Summer they’ll make their way state side to tour with Best Coast, Alt-J and Portugal, The Man. The tour wraps up with two massive shows at Lollapalooza in Chicago and FYF Fest here in LA.

Guards – Taxi Cab (Vampire Weekend Cover)

By: Steve Rippin | Beat-Play Ambassador Los Angeles | @stevewithMWL|Music Without Labels & Beat-Play, LLC

Featured Music of the Week: Ghost Beach “Modern Toungues EP” [NEW MUSIC]

04/25/13
Steve Harpine
· Album Reviews · Art · Beat-Play, LLC · Independent Labels · Independent Music · Music · Nashville · New Music · New York · Top Posts

This week’s featured music (on the left side bar <<) is from one of my favorite bands of the past year, Ghost Beach. The New York City group has been delivering their “tropical grit pop” singles for awhile, gaining more fans with each release. They’re on tour this month with fellow producer and friend, Chad Valley, and if you happen to catch a show, you’ll be in for a real treat. Chad even remixed one of their most recent projects, “Tear Us Apart.” The single dropped in October this fall as a free download on their website, setting up their release of Modern Toungues EP. The five-song EP debuted in November, primarily through digital distribution markets iTunes and Spotify. Their singles have already become summer party favorites, so I have confidence that you’ll be blasting this set at your next big shebang.

They hit you with a fresh wave of post-80s beach pop, with bright guitars and synths over big grooves that allow you to reminisce of all things fun and sunny. It’s no doubt that they’ve found their sound when you listen to the production. Influences such as Daft Punk, Depeche Mode, The Police, Tears For Fears, Brazilian Girls, and Thievery Corperation are heard, but certainly not duplicated. The Ghost Beach duo consists of Josh Ocean (vocals, bass, synths) and Eric “Doc” Mendelsohn (guitars, synths, MPC). They began to develop the whole project about two years ago, but it’s not just music that has brought attention to the band. Artists vs. Artists is a campaign that began with the way that Josh and Eric have approached music distribution from the beginning: as free to fans who want it. It approached a whole new level when it appeared in the form of a 15,000 square-foot video billboard in Times Square.

Our hope with this campaign is to stimulate the discussion on exactly what ‘piracy’ means to different people. To an older industry sector, it’s a dirty word that implies theft. From a younger, purely consumer standpoint it’s another term for distribution. As it stands now, we’re more closely aligned with the music consumer – in the sense that we are for this new distribution model, as evident by our efforts thus far to make Ghost Beach original music available for free to fans.

We think that working towards a digital retail/stream model, something similar to Spotify or Rdio, is the future of music - using the Internet as a force for connectivity and development rather then seeing it as the enemy. We subscribe to media futurist Gerd Leonhards ‘music like water’ philosophy that, one day, individuals will just pay a music bill – similar to their water bill, cable bill, electric bill – for unabated access. In this (hopefully attainable) Utopian music society, music will be available to consumers at a fare rate and artists/labels will be compensated with a fair royalty rate. In no way do we want to encourage theft of intellectual property. However we definitely support the idea of music distribution adapting to new technologies rather then fight against them.

Join the debate by using #artistsforpiracy or #artistsagainstpiracy hashtags and at artistsvsartists.com. Pick your side and share your voice on this incredible platform created by one of the summer’s hottest indie bands, Ghost Beach.

By Steve Harpine | Nashville Ambassador | @Steve_MWL | Beat-Play & Music Without Labels, LLC

Phoenix Drops New Album “Bankrupt” Today! [NEW MUSIC/VIDEO]

04/23/13
Steve Harpine
· Album Reviews · Art · Beat-Play, LLC · Independent Labels · Independent Music · Music · music industry · Music News · Nashville · New Music · New York · News · Top Posts · Video

It’s been awhile since I’ve made a post here, but the inspiration has finally come… with loud noise and flashing lights. At least that was what we saw when Phoenix released the title of their new album on their website in January 2013. The announcement came exactly one year after the band had announced that they completed four songs for the record. Another month later, wearephoenix.com was relaunched with the official album release date of April 22, 2013. In proper creative fashion, the announcement came with a touch of creativity, as an invisible hand penned the following message:

Dear all, our new album, Bankrupt!, will be released the week of April 22nd. Here is the tracklisting as well as the album cover. Much love et à bientôt. -Thomas Branco Mazzalai Deck.

This was what Phoenix fans had been patiently waiting for. It’s been nearly four years since their previous release, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, which earned a Grammy Award as well as Gold certification in the US, Canada, and Australia. Today, Phoenix releases my most anticipated album of the year, Bankrupt!, so sit back and listen to the first single, “Entertainment.”

The production on this record is something from another world. The unique synths, paired with orchestra strings and fun grooves, make a perfect accompaniment to Thomas Mars’ unmistakeable vocals. The melodies dive from overlaid hooks to lines that will undoubtedly make you feel accomplished once memorized after a few listens. I think the single “Entertainment” has been an excellent choice for debuting the album. It doesn’t give away all the treats, but it sets up the creativity to come. We hear Phoenix pumping the groove on the verse, but dropping out for the chorus. The synths are heavy, but engaging. The groove is mastered with just enough of everything to keep you wanting more. And more is exactly what you’ll get throughout the rest of the album. It’s good to hear a band that knows who they are and continue to push the boundaries of making music. Get your copy today by clicking on the album art below!

By Steve Harpine | Nashville Ambassador | @Steve_MWL | Beat-Play & Music Without Labels, LLC

Kurt Vile ‘Wakin on a Pretty Daze’ [new music][free download][music video]

04/01/13
Katie Holliday McVeay
· Album Reviews · concert · Events · Independent Music · New York · Philadelphia · Video

Kurt Vile makes my insides tingle. His voice, his music, his lyrics, his hair make me feel like a helpless stoned teenage girl who can’t comprehend her feelings on a die hard crush….. swoon. Vile’s fifth album ‘Walking on a Pretty Daze’ is going to be released on April 9! If you’re in the tri-state area I suggest making it out to the Apple Store Soho for the release followed by a live performance from Kurt Vile & The Violators. It’s FREE! If you plan on going I’d get there early. Or don’t go, stay home get high and listen, that’s how I prefer it.

>>> Video compliments of Radio K <<<

Free Download for Never Run Away and preorder info available here! Be sure to check out tour dates!!

By: Katie McVeay| Ambassador |Music Without Labels & Beat-Play, LLC | crookedsunshine

The Neighbourhood is a Band to Watch in 2013 [NEW MUSIC/ VIDEO]

01/10/13
Steve Harpine
· Album Reviews · Art · Beat-Play, LLC · Independent Labels · Independent Music · Music · music industry · Music News · Nashville · New Music · New York · News · Top Posts · UK · Uncategorized · Video

The power of social media is growing in the music industry. Does it sell records? In rare cases, yes, but I believe that since it’s already become a significant factor in how music is discovered, sales aren’t too far behind. For example, my friends know my basic overall taste in music. If they don’t, a quick look at my social media channels could easily give them a few ideas. Charlie sends me a message saying, “What up man!? How have you been? I was listening to a band the other day and I thought you would enjoy them too. They are fairly new and are gaining traction quick. http://www.last.fm/music/The+Neighbourhood I think it’s pretty good stuff.” That personal recommendation (not a flashing message on the side of my screen or ad on Pandora) got me to open a new tab and listen to their music. It’s not rocket science people, it’s simply quality music that does the job. When bands take the time to make good music, it will eventually find their audience.

The Neighbourhood’s music video for “Sweater Weather” has already gathered over 1.3 million views on YouTube. The indie pop group started in Los Angeles just over a year ago, but already have steady attention from two EPs released in 2012. The band is composed of Jesse Rutherford (vocals), Jeremy Freedman (guitar), Zach Abels (guitar), Mikey Margott (bass), and Bryan Sammis (drums). Their first EP, I’m Sorry…, dropped in August 2012 and has quickly spread because of the band’s quality production and unique sound. Much of the focus has naturally centered on frontman, Jesse Rutherford. You may think that he looks like a regular 21-year-old with ink up to his skull, but you’d miss the attention to detail. The band dresses only in black and white for photos, and according to MTV: ”He won’t eat in a restaurant that has a menu printed in Comic Sans or Papyrus.” Obscurities aside, it’s no doubt that The Neighbourhood has found their style, confident in the sound dreamed by Rutherford and brought to life by producers Justyn Pilbrow and Emile Haynie. Here’s ”Female Robbery.”

“I always have a strong vision before I go into anything,” Rutherford says. “I don’t know how to make music any other way. It was all in my head, and that vision for the music was to make hip-hop beats with guitars and I was going to sing and rap over them. We wanted to do that hip-hop aesthetic on an indie platform.” There’s a method to the madness. The heavy beats, mid-tempo consistency, vocal flow, and ambient textures are all essential in the melodramatic vibe that has produced two quality EPs so far for The Neighbourhood. ”It’s not just words being said; it’s about how the words are said,” explains Rutherford. Through their “black and white” style and mystique, along with some solid touring, the band has produced quite the buzz in 2012. With a full-length debut in the works, it’s no doubt that they will be able to expand on their success in 2013. It’s a combination of determination, persistence, quality, sacrifice, art, and a little help from their friends (you) to share it. Check out the official music video for “Let It Go,” from their Thank You, EP, released in December 2012.

Click on the album art above to get music from The Neighbourhood

By Steve Harpine | Nashville Ambassador | @Steve_MWL | Beat-Play & Music Without Labels, LLC

Episode 15 – Feat Yann Tiersen + Datsik + MORE!

12/28/12
Katie Holliday McVeay
· Album Reviews · Beat-Play, LLC · concert · Contest · Events · Independent Film · Independent Labels · Independent Music · Interviews · Music · music industry · Music News · MWL LIVE Tour · Nashville · New Music · New York · News · Photography · Video

This week on Episode 15 of MWL Live you can look forward to a great montage of all of our favorite moments from 2012! This episode also features music videos from Lookas Roar, Little Band of Sailors + Balance Series Episode 2 feature + Snap Shot of Ed Romanoff in Nashville, TN and info about Savant’s 5th album in 13 months!

Subscribe to Music Without Labels TV today!

By: Katie McVeay| Spokesperson |Music Without Labels & Beat-Play, LLC | crookedsunshine

Episode 14 – Feat. Rachael Yamagata

12/21/12
Katie Holliday McVeay
· Album Reviews · Art · concert · Contest · Events · Independent Film · Independent Labels · Independent Music · Interviews · Music News · MWL LIVE Tour · Nashville · New Music · New York · News · Video

This week on Episode 14 of MWL Live you can watch our exclusive video interview with Rachael Yamagata. This episode also features new music videos from Rosco Bandana, Watch the Duck, and Mice Parade ++ Snap Shot of Adrien Reju in Nashville, TN and info about Bogan Via‘s new digital-only EP!

Subscribe to Music Without Labels TV today!

By: Katie McVeay| Spokesperson |Music Without Labels & Beat-Play, LLC | crookedsunshine

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