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Black Rebel Motorcycle Club Release New Album “Specter at the Feast” [NEW MUSIC/VIDEO]

04/01/13
Steve Harpine
· Album Reviews · Art · Beat-Play, LLC · Independent Labels · Independent Music · Los Angeles · Music · music industry · Nashville · New Music · News · Top Posts · UK · Video

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club is a rock n’ roll band based in Los Angeles that’s been killing it as an independent for most of their 14 years as a band. Their new record, Specter At The Feast, dropped two weeks ago on March 19 through their own label, Abstract Dragon, and indie label, Vagrant Records. Fans around the world have been anticipating the release since BRMC’s acclaimed 2010 album, Beat The Devil’s Tattoo. Starting in December 2012, the band released a short film every week that chronicles the making of the new record, filmed and directed by Malia James. You can start here with the first of six videos:

I don’t need to say much here because, as you can already see, there’s plenty of content to go along with this release. It won’t be long before you begin to hear these songs in film, TV, video games, and essentially most places that music is heard. The first single, “Let the Day Begin,” is actually a cover of hit from 1989 by The Call. It’s available on a free EP download at blackrebelmotorcycleclub.com along with another new song, “Returning.” Have a listen to the single here:

You can get Specter At The Feast by clicking the Amazon links to the left or visit blackrebelmotorcycleclub.com by clicking on the album art below. Composed of Pater Hayes, Robert Levon Been, and Leah Shapiro, BRMC also happen to be incredible live, so make sure you check out their upcoming tour dates while you’re there. I want this record to be something special for all who listen, so I’m going to shut up and let you do just that… listen.

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

Phoenix Releases New Single “Entertainment” from Upcoming Album [NEW MUSIC]

03/01/13
Steve Harpine
· Album Reviews · Art · Beat-Play, LLC · Independent Labels · Independent Music · Music · music industry · Music News · Nashville · New Music · UK

Ten days ago, Phoenix released their new single, “Entertainment.” It’s been nearly four years since their last release, which came in the form of a full-length album titled Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. The 2009 album not only brought them their first Grammy award and Gold record, but launched the band into appearances on the late night circuit and major festivals worldwide. Their singles were heard everywhere from video games to TV commercials and basically wherever speakers existed. The hype has been growing for the past couple years as Phoenix has been somewhat secretive about work on a new project, with the exception of a few hints and interviews during the recording process. On February 18, they broke the silence by releasing one of the most highly anticipated recordings in alternative pop history.

“Entertainment” is the first song of ten on the new album, now available for pre-order. It was originally a statement made by Daniel Glass last year that spurred the anticipation of Bankrupt!, when he said that it “could be revolutionary.” So far, we have heard complete originality from Phoenix in 2013 with their first single. ”Entertainment” seems to describe the pressures of the industry and pop culture.

Entertainment
Show them what you do with me
When everyone here knows better
What I once refused to be
Is everything they long together
I’d rather be alone

With a hook reminiscent of something out of Chinese culture, 80′s-esque synth lines, and a driving groove that dissipates in the chorus, the new single is an excellent taste of something new. They lyrics follow suit, as the band critiques entertainment from a personal perspective, which is somewhat ironic considering the popular culture into which the song will be inserted. However, Phoenix has done their best to remain true to themselves, and I for one am in major anticipation of the new record due on April 23, 2013.

Phoenix have announced a North American tour leading up to their appearance at Coachella. For their full list of tour dates, click here. Stay updated with the latest news by following them on their Journal or on Facebook.

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

Alt-J Flies Up the Billboard 200 Albums Chart with “An Awesome Wave” [NEW MUSIC/VIDEO]

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

When an album jumps 79 slots in one week on the Billboard 200 chart, there’s often a good reason why. An Awesome Wave is the debut album from British indie rock quartet, Alt-J. Since its release in September 2012, the album won the 2012 British Barclaycard Mercury Prize, and earned BBC’s Radio 6 Music Album of the Year. Now, four months later, An Awesome Wave has seen a 1% sales gain after selling 6,000 copies last week, growing total sales to 48,000 in the U.S. alone. That’s not too shabby, considering overall album sales that week were down 36%. Alt-J currently sits at No. 87, likely to make another move if their trend continues. Ready to hear some music?

First of all, I had a difficult time deciding what song you should hear first, but “Breezeblocks” should give you a good taste of their sound. Don’t leave it at that though, because you’ll miss out on other great songs from Alt-J. You may ask, what does their name mean? Alt-J is the keyboard shortcut on Apple OS X for ∆, a triangle and Greek letter Delta, but don’t take my word for it. Try it out, it’s fun. The band is composed of Gwil Sainsbury (guitarist/bassist), Joe Newman (guitar/vocals), Gus Unger-Hamilton (keyboards), and Thom Green (drums). Alt-J met at Leeds University in 2007, where they began the initial process of making music together. They built cohesiveness and developed songs, then spent two years rehearsing before signing a deal with Infectious Records in 2011. One of the biggest strengths in their music, besides it’s uniqueness, is the texture, tone, and creativity put into the moments within each song. They’ve created a series of musical landscapes, where the compositions allow for tonal clarity, space, and percussive ingenuity to support each lyrical phrase. Even the dynamics in songs like “Fitzpleasure” will make any music geek appreciate what Alt-J is doing on this album.

As you can hear, Alt-J likes to blend ideas from multiple genres, but I think that’s another characteristic about their music that makes it stand out. If anything, it compliments the personal lyrics that you may or may not understand upon first (or second) listen. Overall, I think there is some outstanding creativity and musicianship within Alt-J. I know, I know. You’re already wondering, “When and where are they touring?” Alt-J is currently finishing up their own small headline tour in the UK. Besides the large number of festivals that they’ll be invited to this summer, the band is set to play the Australian 2013 Laneway Festival in Australia and New Zealand. Then starting in February, they’ll be doing six European dates, followed by a full US and UK tour. Until then, you can get stay up to date with their music and touring on Facebook, or purchase the album by clicking on the art below. If you’re not sure whether a purchase is worth your dime, scroll a bit further and listen to some more tracks on the Soundcloud player. Enjoy and remember to listen to more music!

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

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

CAZZETTE Releases Anticipated Debut Album “Eject” with Popular Streaming Service [NEW MUSIC/VIDEO]

11/12/12
Steve Harpine
· Album Reviews · Art · Beat-Play, LLC · concert · Independent Labels · Independent Music · Music · music industry · Music News · Nashville · New Music · News · Top Posts · UK · Uncategorized · Video

Cazzette is about to blow up, or at least that’s what one of the world’s largest streaming services claims. When their debut album Eject drops tomorrow, it will be marketed in full force by Spotify to millions of users worldwide. The major marketing push is really more of an experiment for the company to discover whether or not they can help break new artists. It just so happens that their first “experiment” is being done with one of the most hyped EDM artists of the year. Cazzette is a Swedish DJ duo consisting of 23-year-old Alexander Björklund and 19-year old Sebastian Furrer. They just wrapped up a 17-date September tour in the US and have received support from David Guetta, Tiësto, Swedish House Mafia, Avicii, and Martin Solveig to name a few. The underground success for the duo began a year ago when Cazzette released their first track, a remix for Avicii entitled “Sweet Dreams (CAZZETTE meet AT NIGHT Mix), which charted at the Top20 on Beatport Top100 General Charts for months. Soon after, their bootleg of Adele’s “Set Fire to the Rain” landed the number one spot on HYPE MACHINE Most Popular after being uploaded on their Soundcloud page.

Their musical product is in demand and ready to infiltrate the ears of the electronic world, as their Dub House style has already won over countless EDM fans and listeners. This gives Spotify an edge and definite advantage in their “experiment” to see if they can fuel downloads and drive fans to concerts. ”We want to be a powerful partner to artists so they can leverage our platform to build strong one-to-one relationships with their fans,” said Steve Savoca, Spotify’s global head of content. “That’s something we’ve been putting a lot of effort into lately.” It seems like a logical diversion from their low royalty amounts and culture of free music that the company has been creating since it’s conception. Other artists’ feelings aside, Cazzette doesn’t seem to mind and will only gain from the exposure, especially with hype reminiscent of the alien arrival in the 2009 film District 9, EDM style. Check it out in the official music video for their new single, “Beam Me Up.”

With awesome new music and an incredible team on their side, not to mention the list of EDM names supporting them, Cazzette is positioned for success, with or without Spotify. However, as the first album exclusively releases on the streaming service, it will be interesting to see how quickly Eject is shared through social media. With the growing genera of EDM, the partnership makes sense, since most early adopters will spread the album like wildfire. Cazzette also views album sales as secondary to their main avenues of exposure and touring. In agreement, their manager, Ash Pournouri from At Night Management (same manager behind the meteoric rise of AVICII), admits that it will be easier to see the effects of the exclusive promotion ”without a major label or other corporate marketing machine behind them.” So, put Eject on your listening list for tomorrow and be prepared for a Swedish takeover.

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

Masters In France Brings Back “Playin’ With My Friends” with Ikea [NEW MUSIC/VIDEO]

11/10/12
Steve Harpine
· Art · Beat-Play, LLC · Independent Labels · Independent Music · London · Music · music industry · Music News · Nashville · New Music · News · Top Posts · UK · Video

I think it’s amazing to see the progression of music throughout time, especially when songs and ideas from decades ago are revisited by contemporary artists. We all know that there’s nothing quite as good as the original, unless it’s completely taken apart and put back together again. I’ve found a perfect example. The history of the song is even enough to get you moving, but the groove won’t disappoint. It was co-written by Robert Cray and Dennis Walker in the early 1990′s, and was featured and performed by BB King (Blues Summit) and Tony Bennett (Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings the Blues), among others. Both albums won Grammy awards. The song has now been resurrected in 2012 by Masters In France as their latest single.

The song officially released on October 22, 2012 and recently exploded with over 1.3 million views on YouTube due to it’s placement in an Ikea advert, but we won’t hold that against it. After all, it’s all about “bringing people together this holiday season.” Check it out.

Masters In France is an alternative band from the UK that released their debut EP, Inhale, in September 2011. Though an ironically misleading name suggests otherwise, Masters In France actually originate from Bangor in Whales. The band has been together since 2009, but began officially releasing singles two years later. They write and perform in both English and Welch, while their music is driven by bass lines, heavy grooves, heavy riffs, and crisp blending vocals. Like their cover of “Playin’ With My Friends,” the rest of their music is energetic, musically complex, and well produced. Their current single, “Mad Hatter,” has been rolling for over a year with heavy support from BBC’s Radio 1. The rest of the EP is full of great songs with influences from a variety of genres ranging from dark heavy rock to pop and dance. Here’s the official music video for their latest single, “Mad Hatter.”

You might try listening to the music without watching the video the first time. Despite the odd story line, which makes some sense considering the title, I really like how this video was shot. You can count on Masters In France to keep the quality coming, and let’s hope for a debut album in 2013. Until then, visit their Facebook page for the latest updates on music and touring. Pass it on!

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

When Will Phoenix Release Their New Album? [NEW MUSIC/VIDEO]

10/28/12
Steve Harpine
· Album Reviews · Art · Beat-Play, LLC · Independent Labels · Independent Music · Music · music industry · Music News · Nashville · New Music · News · Top Posts · UK · Uncategorized · Video

The anticipation began in April 2011, when Phoenix created a blog post with photos from a studio and a title “Songwriting…,” giving fans some excitement that a new album was in progress. Nine months later in January 2012, Glassnote Records founder Daniel Glass revealed that the band had completed four songs on the album and expected a late-summer release. He held a high opinion of the new album admitting, “It’s very hard to beat Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, but this could be revolutionary.” His statement left us in even more anticipation, as Phoenix’s 2009 album, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, contained two top 10 hits and won a Grammy Award for best alternative music album. As we approach the end of October, it’s become evident that Phoenix are either the biggest jerks or one of the most mysterious bands on the planet. I’d like to think they’re the latter of the two.

Phoenix has done some recordings for the new album, presumably titled TPC, and describe it as very experimental. In an interview with Pedestrian.tv at Sydney’s Good Vibrations Festival, Phoenix’s Thomas Mars and Deck D’Arcy revealed that the new recordings might be a departure from the “hooky pop” of their last album.

“We’re meeting an orchestra that specializes in, uh, I don’t know how to say it in English,” Mars said.

“We’re going to record a bunch of percussionists in [Australian beach town] Byron Bay,” D’Arcy added.

“It’s a test, if it works, we’ll probably come back and record something that’s going to be on the album,” Mars said.

“It sounds like the TGV, it’s a fast French train, it sounds like that,” Mars explained. “It’s very … nostalgic, futuristic. It’s very experimental, it’s very minimal music. … I think because we do a lot of music with drum machines — we blend a lot drum machines and real drums — for us, it’s a way to escape that. There’s something a little frustrating when you do pop music, and drums are, they’re the DNA of our music, because we’d like to go somewhere else, we want to change that DNA.”

Since Phoenix is on independent label Glassnote Records, there’s no telling when they’ll decide to let fans in on a release date. Rest assured, whenever Phoenix decides to release their new album, we’ll be on top of it. For the best new music from Nashville and other cities around the world, make sure you add musicwithoutlabels.com to your list of go-to sites.

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

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