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Archives for 2007

Article #8 – “Postmarked: Yesterday”

February 16, 2007 By Tyler Hayes Leave a Comment

I write to you with the expectation that you will never read this, and if you are reading this, then itâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s too late. My heart is overcome with sadness that you have ended up like this. Since youâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢re reading this you know what I’m talking about. All I can say is do anything you can to warn the others, without putting you and others in harms way. After you’re done reading this, shred it, burn it, and then drive over the computer you read it on.

I have seen you every day, and everyday I was trying to tell you everything I knew. I tried leaving clues, and hinting, almost everything except for coming out and directly saying it. Now that I have your attention though there are still a few things you may or may not know. All of your phones are tapped, thereâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s a camera in every room youâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢ve ever been in within the last 3 years. You know as well as I do, once youâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢re in they don’t want you out until theyâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢ve sucked you dry of funds. I don’t really understand exactly why the security is so tight, but itâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s like the mob. They got investments and they intend to protect them.

They get in your mind, you think youâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢re making the decisions, but thatâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s just when they know they have you. As soon as you signed that dotted line thatâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s the second they started thinking for you. This whole thing is like â┚¬Ã…”professionalâ┚¬? wrestling, itâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s all decided behind some curtain with dice and money. I stumbled backstage one day and thatâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s why I disappeared. I saw the minds behind the minds, and so I was taken out of circulation.

The first song I ever wrote, that song was for me, it was for music, it was just because I could, it wasnâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢t good it wasnâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢t really bad either. The second song I wrote was for a girl, and after that they moved my hands and wrote the hits. A modern day, music industry Cyrano de Bergerac, thatâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s all it was. Some kids sang along, some yelled and screamed that we sold out others just stopped listening. To sell out you have to have made something, and we didnâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢t make anything. It was more like a crime scene where we got robbed and were took hostage by nothing more than a piece of paper.

It used to be about the music. It used to be about shows, and fans, and fun but in the end it was only about making it out alive. You wonder why some of the better bands break up? Because they escaped and itâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s just the story the label told everyone. My guess is they are living under some other name, playing in some other band, and probably only doing house shows. I know thatâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s what my plans are as soon as I’m fully out. Don’t forget though whenever you think you know, and you think itâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s not real thatâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s when they are feeding you your thoughts. When and if you try and tell the world, they wont care, so don’t try. They would rather go on believing in lies than come to grips with the reality as it is. Iâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢ll see you on the other side.

Sincerely,

The one who used to be

[I wasn’t going to write an explanation and I’ll keep this simple, because I still want feedback. This is simple commentary on the industry from a band members perspective written in the letter format]

Filed Under: Articles, News

Covington Post New Song

February 15, 2007 By Bryce Jacobson Leave a Comment

Covington, featuring Jamison formally of JamisonParker has posted new songs on the bandsԚ  MySpace page.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Covington, JamisonParker

RedRedBlue Post New Songs

February 15, 2007 By Bryce Jacobson Leave a Comment

RedRedBlue, featuring Nic Newsham of Gatsbys American Dream, has posted new songs on their MySpace page. All the songs are up for download so get them while they’re hot.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Gatsbys American Dream, RedRedBlue

Anberlin Video Update

February 15, 2007 By Bryce Jacobson Leave a Comment

Check out a video update from Anberlin below.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Anberlin, Tooth And Nail

Mike Sapone – Industry Interview

February 15, 2007 By Reema Desai Leave a Comment

A couple of months ago I did an interview with producer/engineer/industry extraordinare, Mike Sapone, and after having some issues I am finally posting it. Thank you very much to Mike for taking them time to do the interview, and thank you to everyone who doesn’t mind the fact that there is no picture/graphic to go with it!

-For those that don’t know, please introduce yourself and describe what it is you do.
My name is Mike Sapone. my current occupation is Music producer and/or recording engineer/mixer/programmer. I live in New York-USA. On my latest project i had the pleasure of working with Brand New on The Devil And God Are Raging Inside Me.


-Describe some of the typical duties a producer is responsible for. What is your average day like?

Generally a producer can help with song arrangements/structures, suggest sounds/tones to fit a song or idea, help inspire an artist to create and complete their vision.
Depending on the project: a day or week can consist of a variety of activities: recording music, mixing music, editing music, mapping out click tracks, microphone shoot outs, listening to demos for possible changes or keepers etc…


-What is the difference between pre-production and production?

Pre-production is preparation for the final recordings, to see what works and what does not, whether it be live rehearsal or elaborate recordings, this is the first time decisions are made towards arrangement and song structure. In some cases if you really love something on pre production recordings you fly it into the album version if possible.


-When did you realize this was what you wanted to do for the rest of your life? Did any aspects of your childhood lead to this career choice?

I listened to a lot of radio growing up; I started playing drums at 13, 4-track cassette recorder around 16, later on the tascam 16 track reel-to-reel and mixing console etc.

-What do you think is currently the biggest flaw in the music industry? How can it be fixed?
It’s no secret there have been flaws in the industry for decades, and in recent years technology has made things even more complicated. It seems there are two sides to the music-downloading dilemma; I am undecided. We are in a long transition where the end may or may not be close.

-Do you think it is easier or more difficult to get a job in the music business nowadays than it was 10 or 20 years ago? (Easier because there are more labels out there; harder because of the amount of competition?)
There’s just more options now, the internet has helped create new opportunities for many new music industry entrepreneurs to reach the public in a way that was not possible 20 years ago. My answer is easier!


-What do you think is the most common myth surrounding the music industry?

MYTH? Maybe it’s not the answer your looking for but I like this one:

In the late nineteen sixties, Doors’ singer Jim Morrison founded a publishing company named Zeppelin Publishing Company with the help of the legal department of Warner Brothers Pictures and Atlantic Records. According to promotions for Zeppelin, “Jim wanted to get his hands on the trademark ‘Zeppelin’ before Led Zeppelin did. He did this while everyone in America knew who the Doors were, but before the other rock group was well known…” Zeppelin Publishing Company was chartered and put into hibernation for later resurrection.


-Describe your favorite memory you’ve experienced while working in the industry.

Studio occasions when the energy or vibe of the song coming out of the speakers just hits you a certain way, no matter how many times you replay it in the session, it seems to sound stronger and more exciting; those moments are my favorite.

-What do you consider to be the greatest accomplishment of your career and why?
I feel lucky to have worked with so many talented people it’s tough to single out one. I can say the Public Enemy remix was a good time for me; I absolutely loved making that remix and have always enjoyed Public Enemy’s music and considered Chuck D a true icon.

-You’ve worked as a producer, mixer, engineer and programmer. Of those different jobs do you like best and why?
I enjoy all of these but if I had to pick, I guess programmer. I’ve been sequencing music since high school; it’s become a second nature for me to compose music on a computer with a sequencer/DAW. I’m a huge fan of both new and old school gear in creating music.

-If I’m correct, the first album you worked on was Stuttering John’s. How do you think you’ve evolved as a producer/engineer/mixer/etc since then?
For years I have worked and talked with other engineers, learning new ideas and methods is an endless road for me; I can only hope to evolve in a positive direction in the years to come.


-What is going on with Moleman? Will there be any more mixes in the future?

The latest effort was Men Women & Children’s Dance In My Blood (moleman remix); this is available on iTunes. There will be new moleman mixes in the future; people can visit saponetrax.com now and then for new info.

-What advice would you give to someone pursuing a career as a producer or even just a general industry job?
Reading gear magazines and ezines (eqmag.com, emusician.com) on a constant basis helped me out a lot. New products and technologies just move so fast, if you are in a control room for long periods of time you need to somehow keep up with what’s going on outside and stay current.

-Starting out, what was your one ultimate goal and do you think you’ve accomplished it yet?
I just wanted to keep making music. So far so good.

Filed Under: Interviews Tagged With: Mike-Sapone

I’m glad they are OK

February 15, 2007 By Jamie Pham Leave a Comment

Read the message below from Faulter regarding them flipping their van and trailer and canceling the remaining dates of their tour.

We have some bad news here at the Faulter camp.

Yesterday we flipped our van and trailer heading out to Evansville, IN. Thankfully there were no injuries, but we have since had to cancel the remaining tour dates.

We’d love to continue, but as of now we are still unsure about the condition of our equipment and our trailer, not to mention the cost of renting a van and/or trailer is so astronomical we can’t afford it.

We’ve posted a new blog that has more info on the accident.

We’re already looking at future tours and will hopefully be heading back to all the places that have taken such good care of us.

Thanks,

Faulter

Filed Under: News Tagged With: faulter

Koufax and Daytrotter

February 15, 2007 By Jamie Pham Leave a Comment

Koufax has just recorded 4 songs on Daytrotter. Go there now to listen and download them for free!

Filed Under: News Tagged With: koufax

Please, please, please, Mr. Hox…

February 15, 2007 By Jamie Pham Leave a Comment

You can watch an acoustic version of Holly Hox, Forget Me Nots performed by Chris Conley here.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Saves-The-Day

Over It Show Cancelled

February 15, 2007 By Jamie Pham Leave a Comment

Tonight’s Over It show in Rochester, NY has been canceled due to bad weather.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Over-It

Taking Back Eisley

February 15, 2007 By Jamie Pham Leave a Comment

Congratulations to Adam Lazzara of Taking Back Sunday who proposed to Chauntelle Dupree of Eisley on Valentine’s Day!

Filed Under: News Tagged With: eisley, Taking Back Sunday

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