Labels in shambles - long live the Indies!
Bride Reunion
The big labels are taking a knock in a big way, and it seems that more and more bands are going the Indie route – carving out their own destiny. Nine Inch Nails did it. Radiohead did it. Let's welcome Def Leppard, everyone!
Streetlamp Update: Louise Eksteen
Take a deep breath: this artist is juggling (very successfully, we might add) so many projects that it makes our heads spin!
Louise is the mastermind behind Bride Reunion. This alternative electro outfit (Louise and Lara Eksteen – no relation) just performed with Black Bird and MTKidu at the Go-Go bar in Jozi. The video for the track: “Kamikaze” (which will also feature rap artist Black Birdon) will be showcased as an interactive artwork as part of an exhibition called “Negotiating Fidelity” in 2009. This exhibition is described as “an interdisciplinary exhibition of sound and visual artworks by emerging artists”.
This past year Louise was featured on Channel GO as guest DJ, where she performed a few live tracks. Two of her tracks were also included on the latest Sick-Leaves album: Stone The Crow. This multi-talented musician is a freelance sound designer and composer, and is currently working on a film score for director Leza Mcleod’s brainchild: the short film: “Apology”. Louise also stars in this film.
Apart from all of these exciting happenings, Louise spent the last two months recording and producing her new album. The final release date for her latest offering is not scheduled yet, but in the meantime go feast on Clandestine Carnivore and Squeel Like A Pig, both from the Cameo Lash album. Both of these tracks are dark, but beautifully crafted and provide a skin-tingling listening experience.
Def Leppard Going Indie?
After three decades of major label success, the members of Def Leppard are considering going the indie route. According to front man Joe Elliot, the band has not received the support they expect from Universal over the last few years. With their contract expiring soon, the band is considering following in the footsteps of Nine Inch Nails and Radiohead. Elliot says the band will sign a lucrative touring and online sales agreement whilst recording independently. Says Elliot: “If Radiohead and The Eagles can go off and do it on their own, that’s an acceptable yardstick to measure our own chances by.”
Virgin Fest Postponed
Last week CEO of Virgin Mobile: Peter Boyd announced that the much anticipated V Fest would be postponed until next year. The reason for the postponement is that both Big Concerts as well as Virgin Mobile believes the international line-up to be “lacking”. Fans have agreed and even though ticket holders are disappointed, the promise of not only more but bigger names as well, has all of us excited once more for the renowned festival to hit our shores.
There is however 3 concerts still scheduled to take place. As a platform for the Road to V winning band, Maroon 5, One Republic, The Parlotones and Goldfish will perform alongside the winning bands in December, and the overall winner will still open the V Fest when it goes live early next year.
Ticket holders can either hold on to their tickets for next year’s fest, claim a full refund from Computicket, or attend the cheaper December concert and then claim a partial refund.
U2
The looming economic crisis does not only affect the ordinary man on the street, but also wealthy musicians. U2 have put their plans to build the U2 Tower in Dublin on hold due to the slumping property market. This building would have been Ireland’s tallest building, and would have boasted luxury apartments as well as U2’s recording studios. The Dublin Docklands Development Authority says it’s committed to building the tower and will re-open negotiations with potential developers in a year’s time.
Meanwhile, it has been revealed that frontman Bono will showcase his literary skills when he pens his thoughts for the New York Times Op-Ed section in 2009. Editor Andrew Rosenthal says that the rocker will write between six and ten pieces for the newspaper, ranging on topics from Africa to poverty to music. This will not be Bono’s first stint as journalist: previously he guest-edited both Vanity Fair and The Independent. Recently Bono also blogged for the Financial Times.
Dirty Skirts Pass On Record Deal
After their much publicized deal with record label giants Sony BMG a few months ago, the Dirty Skirts has now decided to part ways over a disagreement about ownership rights. Guitarist David Moffat says that the band was not prepared to share ownership of their material, and that none of the parties involved were willing to compromise on their stance. He also adds that the band received no support from the label on their recent European tour, nor had Sony made any effort to further them internationally.
The Skirts has already found a new label but are not yet willing to reveal exactly who they are signing with. Both Sony as well as the band insist that they will try and make the transition from one label to the next as smooth as possible.
Snippets
- This week Streetlamp welcomes Ian Hall. This musician has shared the stage with artists such as Jan Blohm, Jakkie Louw and Koos Kombuis. Ian took guitar lessons and performed in his church’s choir from an early age, but the turning point in his life was when Jan Blohm’s performance at the 2004 KKNK inspired him to such an extent that he could no longer ignore his calling. The sound on Ian’s first album: “In Geheim” is rock/acoustic orientated and is described as a Dave Matthews Band/Matchbox 20/The Calling fusion. Good solid tunes: go listen to Let Me Crawl, Nia and George Mannietjie.
- After network bosses announced the axing of MTV’s Total Request Live, Christina Aguilera has joined the legion of artists who release/premiere tracks and videos on the net. Last week Aguilera – who premiered most of her videos on this show – instead debuted her “Keeps Gettin’ Better” video on iLike.com. Check out the video here. This is a brilliant track with an equally cool video.
- AC/DC made history by releasing the first ever music video in Excel. The excel version of “Rock n Roll Train” shows singer Brian Johnson made up completely of ampersands and asterisks! You can either download the excel clip or check out the original.
- “You Had Me” singer Joss Stone has revealed that she had top-secret recording sessions at her mother’s house earlier this year. The reason for the secrecy and hiding out was not to shy away from fans or the media, but instead the singer chose this location to prevent her label from interfering with the recording process. The R&B/Soul singer says that label EMI was going through a lot of changes, and there aren’t many people left whom she knows. She added that she was going to make sure that nobody interferes with the vision she had for the album.
Random Music Facts
- Sheryl Crow started her singing career as a backup singer on Michael Jackson’s Bad tour; she was also a backup singer on tours for George Harrison, Joe Cocker, and Rod Stewart before starting her solo career
- Monaco’s national orchestra is bigger than it’s army
- The piano player on Art Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Waters” is Larry Knechtel of the group “Bread”
- Billy Joel played piano on The Shangri-Las’ “Leader Of The Pack” (1964)
- On his debut album “For You” Prince played 27 different instruments.
To blow our horn (or yours), drop Skyla an e-mail here: skyla@streetlamp.co.za
Sauseeez:)
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