Unsigned/New/Damn Good Undiscovered Artists

WORLD PREMIERE OF "LE PONY"

2010-02-05T18:26:00.000-08:00

Italian Japanese, "Le Pony" from Boa Simon on Vimeo.

A Must Go To Event!!!!

2009-11-06T17:00:00.001-08:00

I'm proud to announce this event! It's going to rock, because girls rock! Also, I'm honored to be the host for the concert!

Italian Japanese

2009-09-07T09:24:00.000-07:00

Italian Japanese is an Indie/Alternative Rock band from Southern California.. Their sound, although compared to the likes of: The Killers, Death Cab for Cutie, Phoenix, Interpol, MGMT, etc.. has a uniqueness that makes them identifiable amongst the masses of similar genre. Italian Japanese's debut release titled "The Lush, Romantic Weirdness, due out in early August 2009, is a variety of melodic, dance-style (yet stirringly soulful) tunes, contagious and bound to captivate the new listener. Only a month after conception, Italian Japanese performed live for the first time at the 2008 South by Southwest Music Festival/Conference in Austin, TX. This performance fueled a buzz among the SxSw journalist community resulting in high praise and ultimately a demand for an Italian Japanese release.

They hit the recording studio and posted 3 demo tracks online which quickly began to be downloaded thousands of times and was picked up for airplay by major radio stations in the Northwest. The track "Jaguar Paw" was played on specialty radio (107.7 The End in Seattle, WA) for 3 weeks base upon listener requests. College radio in Portland, OR began to spin the track "Le Pony" and requested an on air interview with the band.

Venues throughout the west coast began to contact Italian Japanese for bookings after repeated fan requests. Knowing that they were on to something special, the band decided to return to the studio to record a debut full-length. Italian Japanese self produced, recorded and funded the album. They then acquired the services on acclaimed producer Ryan Greene(JayZ, Authority Zero) to put on the finishing touches and mix. Although Italian Japanese is a new band they not unfamiliar with life on the road. Collectively, through past projects (Weatherbox, Lance's Hero, The Color Turning, Lucky 7, etc..) they have performed several times across the U.S., U.K., Europe and Canada.

Music festivals include: Reading, Leeds, Pinkpop, Puklepop, Rock Am Ring, Rock Am Park, Livid, Big Day Out, Terra Moto, Warped Tour, Bamboozle and numerous radio shows. Artists include: Foo Fighters, Jimmy Eat World, Queens of the Stone Age, Pink, Vampire Weekend, Eminem, and many more. Italian Japanese plans to be hitting the road this fall with friends, Say Anything, Cobras Starship, Armor for Sleep, Delta Spirit, The Soft Pack, Crocodiles and Weatherbox in support of their upcoming release.

Album Review-Latarsha Davy-Carroll for CWG Magazine
I had the pleasure of interviewing Italian Japanese on Indie Talk Live. The band’s name makes you think that a new fusion of cuisine is on the menu at a hip restaurant or a combo of the band’s nationalities. The band put that debate to rest and explained the birth of Italian Japanese. According to Chris and Allen, they had another name that nobody liked. Allen was reading an article on the band Blonde Red-Head whose members are Italian and Japanese. He put the nationalities together and suggested it to his band mates. From that moment on the band began working hard to create a sound that was authentic and true.

The highly-anticipated album from the band brings a new sound that’s very polished and definitely on another level. The first song, “Jeremiah” is a great set-up to keep you listening. So many times we as the listener can be turned off by track number one and not bother to hear the remainder of the album. The title gives the illusion that the album is the soundtrack for a movie based on a book. The last track 9.11, “Ladybird” doesn’t signal the end, but a sequel.

The songs’ beautiful melodies along with peaceful vocals can be compared to Coldplay or Death Cab for Cutie. However, Italian Japanese goes beyond the norm by fusing different genres with piercing instrumentals and futuristic metaphors.

I would say that my favorite song on the album has to be…all of them! I favored “Le Pony”, because it was the first one I heard, but there’s a book to be read and not a chapter. The Lush, Romantic Weirdness by author Italian Japanese is definitely a bestseller!

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Reverbnation

Riot Grrrl by Reed Terry

2009-07-13T23:54:00.000-07:00

Survival Of The Feminist - Evolution Of The Riot Girl Scene

Riot Girl (officially known as “Riot Grrrl”) was an underground punk rock movement “of the girls, by the girls, and for the girls,” which was quite a rage among the new generation feminists in the 1990s. It started in 1991 as the voice of women in the male-dominated punk rock scene of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Not long after, it underwent a metamorphosis and became the harbinger of the so-called third wave feminism.

A Brief Outline Of The Evolution Of The Riot Girl Movement

The band’s popularity grew exponentially in the first four or five years. It began in the West Coast of the USA, spread to the other parts of the country, and then crossed the Atlantic to create waves in the UK. Before the accidental founders of the movement even realized it, this presence had spread to a number of countries including Brazil, Malaysia, and Australia.

However, members of the movement found the widespread media attention too uncomfortable to live with. There were differences of opinion about what paths they should take. The lead figures of the movement were frequently misquoted in the media. In fact, they became exactly the thing they had opposed all along: an object of public curiosity and sexual desire. The pungent sarcasm in their activities, lyrics, and writings failed to open the eyes of a society that is punch-drunk with male dominance.

The Riot Girl movement is still active but has lost the aura it once had. To use a metaphor straight from male-dominated jargon, it is a Lolita who has grown old.

History Of The Movement

Two punk rock bands acted as the pillars in the growth of the movement: Bikini Kill and Bratmobile. Bikini Kill is widely regarded as the first of the riot-girl band. Kathleen Hanna and her friends Kathi Wilcox and Billy Karren started this band as a response to the arrogant dominance of men in the Punk Rock Scene. They focused more on passion and performance than on instrumental perfection. They were amateurs and proud of it. Their songs were about issues that resulted from the perceived inequality of women: rape, physical submission, and the portrayal of women as sexual objects.

Their music attracted similarly-minded girls, and subsequently paved way for the International Pop Underground Convention in 1991, at Olympia Washington. It was then that Bratmobile and other similar bands joined the fray, and many other functions occurred later. These meetings triggered a do-it-yourself (DIY) frenzy of zine publishing.

Zine is the short form for magazines published informally. Write as much as desired on whatever form of paper available, take photocopies of it, and bundle it all together to create a zine ready and raring to be read.

These zines were memorably and provokingly titled, such as 7-year bitches, CWA (short form for Cunts with Attitude), the Phantom Pregnancies, and Pussycat Trash. Through these zines, the Riot Girls projected themselves as feminists, but not man-haters. They were sick of a world run by males and wanted a slice of the power pie.

The Riot Girl movement didn’t sustain its initial momentum. Internal conflicts came into the fore, and media attention and the rough attitude of male audiences proved stumbling blocks in the path of progress. It never achieved the girl revolution its founders had hoped for, but it remains a sparkling phase in the history of feminist movements.

Concert Tickets and Show Reviews A music entertainment site with reviews and articles on all tours plus the best ways to find great concert tickets on the net.

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THE WAIT IS OVER!!!

2009-03-13T10:27:00.001-07:00

I'M SADDENED BY THE NEWS THAT MR. MOON WILL BE LEAVING THE STATION. WE'VE BEEN PARTNERS FOR OVER A YEAR AND I APPRECIATE HIS DEDICATION TO KEEP THE STATION RUNNING AND CONSISTENTLY BRINGING NEW INDIE MUSIC TO THE FOREFRONT.

I KNOW THAT MY ABSENCE HAS BEEN SOMEWHAT OF A MYSTERY TO A LOT OF YOU. I CONSTANTLY GET EMAILS LIKE..SCORPIA WHERE YOU AT..LOL! WELL I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT ON TUESDAY NIGHT..CROSS YOUR FINGERS..I WILL BE ON THE AIR FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE JULY OF 08. I'M SUPER EXCITED AND ANXIOUS TO HAVE ALL THE WONDERFUL ARTISTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD COME BACK TO U-N-U! I WILL MAKE IT BIGGER AND BETTER. ALSO, NEW SUBMISSIONS ARE WELCOMED. MY EMAIL BOX IF READY FOR OVERLOAD. SO SEND YOUR SONGS TO DJSCORPIA@UNURADIO.COM.

I'LL BE BRINGING NEW SHOWS AND A WEEKLY PODCAST. HOPEFULLY, I CAN CONDUCT SOME INTERVIEWS THROUGH SKYPE OR IF YOU'RE IN LOS ANGELES AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS I CAN COME TO YOU.

IN THE NEXT YEAR, U-N-U PRODUCTIONS SHOULD BE UP AND RUNNING. THE PURPOSE IS TO HOST CONCERTS FOR INDIE ARTISTS AS WELL AS MARKETING AND PROMOTIONAL VENTURES. I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN ME ON TUESDAY NIGHT STARTING 8PM PACIFIC TIME.

PEACE AND MUCH LOVE,
DJ SCORPIA
OWNER/STATION MANAGER

Welcome to Nodden!!

2008-06-22T15:43:00.000-07:00

Miz Mandy

J-Mac

You can pretty much sum up Nodden’s mission with the line: “I’m sorry cuz tonight we’re gonna make you move.” In April of 2008, through a chance studio meeting, Nodden met dance star Miz Mandy and rapper J. Mac. The three began collaborating together and quickly released their first single “Just Another Night,” in May of 2008 and seemingly overnight it has become the Pacific Beach San Diego anthem. The single’s popularity has secured a performance at the Best Of San Diego Event in August and is currently one of the finalists for the San Diego Magazine “Your Song” competition.

Nodden’s sound incorporates the live band hip hop appeal of the Roots with the pop sensibilities of the Black Eyed Peas and seasons it with the electronic flavor of Paul Van Dyk. After a sold-out release party at The Sandbar (Mission Beach, CA), Nodden, Mandy, J. Mac and their 5 piece live band débuted their newest single on June 9th at the Taylor Made/Adidas Golf US Open Party with opener Josh Kelly (Hollywood Records). Currently, Nodden is in the studio with local star producer Chris Hobson, (Get Back Loretta and Theives and Liars) working on his EP which is due out in August of 2008 through Rhythm Coalition Productions.

Featured Artists:

Singer Miz Mandy (Courtesy of Babylove Records):

Has performed in over 16 countries with shows ranging from private performances for the US Ambassador in Mozambique and intimate crowds at the Belly Up to 65,000-person shows in China. Her 2007 single “In the Mix” reached #37 on the Billboard Charts and remained on the charts for 8 weeks while her recent duet “Shake Shake” with Brazilian Pop star Asis reached #2 in Brazil. Her Music is played by radio stations world-wide and has been spun by Paul Van Dyk, remixed by Friscia, Lamboy of NYC, and DJ Scotty K (Nelly Furtado, Mary J. Blidge)

Rapper J Mac:

Has produced six albums and his artists have toured with everyone from Hurricane Chris to Petey Pablo (Of Lil Jon’s crew). Has performed throughout the Southwest from underground rap-rooms in Utah to premiere venues in Arizona. Has received airplay on various Utah stations (VFX-94, U92.5 and others).

Visit us: myspace.com/Nodden
Please Contact: Laurie at press@nodden.com
Please visit myspace.com/Nodden or MizMandy.com for Hi- Res Images, or contact us at info@nodden.com

Auto Defiance

2008-04-30T09:23:00.000-07:00

BiographyAuto Defiance from Nashville, Tennessee is the vision of Bradley Boyer. Writing music without boundaries, Auto Defiance playfully straddles the lines between Alternative Rock, Acoustic Pop and Post Punk. Small events that would mean little to the untrained eye, through Boyer's work are magnified to form a parallel to something greater in life. Inspired by larger than life characters from pop artist Andy Warhol to musical deity's such as Jeff Buckley, Robert Smith, Bono and Morrissey, Auto Defiance fully understands the power of iconography in music.

As a singer/songwriter, Bradley Boyer's unique palette morphs to accommodate the atmosphere of the song and numerous music business insiders have sung his praises. Upon moving to Nashville in 2000, Bradley was approached by industry songwriter Robert Malec who wanted him to co-write four songs for an upcoming Goo Goo Dolls project. Boyer turned it down. Though it never took off, it did introduce him to a slew of licensing opportunities and a number of well respected contacts, which led to on-air interviews, radio airplay and unanimous positive reviews for the independent artist and his already budding career.

Currently hard at work on a debut full length album, Auto Defiance is branching out to collaborative efforts in the pursuit of a new unique sound. Adding electronica elements with synthesizers, and orchestra strings courtesy of Gerald Gardiner and female vocals and violin courtesy of Petra Kelly, Auto Defiance chameleon-like pursuit of grandiose rock music is both endearing and inspiring. Working with five separate producers on the project, Boyer captures the specific feel and personality of each individual song. With a release date for the album set for fall of 2008.

Auto Defiance is clearly an artist to watch in 2008.

E-MAIL: AutoDefiance@yahoo.com

PublisherUnderground Mass Media Music (BMI)

Instrumentation:

Bradley Boyer: Vocals, Acoustic, Electric Guitar
Samantha Cutler: Vocals
Tommy Elms: Electric Guitars, Soundscapes
Bill Bois: Bass Guitar
Brian Dowd: Drums, Percussion

Additional Artists:

Petra Kelly: Vocals, Violin
Gerald Gardiner: Synth, Cello, Orchestra

Discography2007

"Auto Defiance" Self-Titled 5 song EP courtesy SPAT! Records.

2008 "Ghost Inside Your House" Debut Single

I receive a ton of emails per day inquiring about the station and asking can their band be featured. I can't feature everyone on this site. Bradley sent me an email and gave some great compliments on what I'm trying to do here. He asked me to check out his debut single and it's awesome! You can definitely hear the influence of the Cure. It takes me back to those Breakfast Club days. It's definitely worth your ears, so check out their myspace page, you won't be disappointed! - Dj Scorpia www.myspace.com/autodef

Ana Cristina

2008-04-06T17:32:00.000-07:00

Born in the tropical cosmopolitan city of Miami, Florida on June 2, 1985, Ana Cristina represents the American and Hispanic bicultural influences where she grew up.

Since a very early age, the Cuban-American singer’s prodigious 5 octave vocal range has opened the doors for her to sing in hundreds of television shows and events. By the time she was 6 years old to the time she was 13, Ana Cristina was asked to appear frequently on shows like Sabado Gigante and The Cristina Show. At the age of 15, Ana Cristina’s big voice and talent caught the attention of executives at Sony International’s Sony Discos label who signed her on the spot, to which she then completed her first Spanish Language self-titled debut “Ana Cristina.”

She worked with Latin music’s biggest producers like, Rudy Perez(Christina Aguilera, Michael Bolton) Emilio Estefan (Gloria Estefan, Shakira), Kike Santander ( Christian Castro, Jennifer Lopez), Estefano ( Paulina Rubio,Thalia) , Manny Benito (Chayanne, Olga Tanon)….and more. Her first single, the ballad, “A Un Paso De Mi Amor”, drew attention not only from fans all over, but from the critics alike, who non-arguably agree that Ana Cristina has one of the most gifted voices and talents that the Latin music industry has ever seen. She later sang theme songs for the Telemundo soap opera “Vale Todo” and Televisa and Univision’s soap opera “Vivan los Ninos”, to which she recorded the theme songs and landed in the soundtrack. Ana Cristina’s version of Schubert’s classic “Ave Maria”, produced by Bebu Silvetti, was part of Sony’s Christmas compilation CD which included Jon Secada, Celia Cruz, and others called “Nuestra Navidad.”

Her unique and ample voice was especially recognized nationally in the U.S. when the she was chosen out of a star-studded list of some of the most respected performers in the nation to sing “The Star Spangled Banner” for the presidential inauguration on January 20, 2005. It was a grand honor for Ana Cristina to be a part of such a historical event. She sang an incredibly powerful and crystalline rendition of the country’s anthem before president George W. Bush and thousands of international dignitaries that led to a dramatic standing ovation and garnered media attention worldwide.

In 2006, Ana Cristina was chosen by the Univision Network to sing the promotional theme song for Univision Sports’ 2006 World Cup Germany entitled, “You Can Change the World.”

On October 6, 2006, Ana Cristina was invited to sing in the White House for a private show produced by Emilio Estefan and the organizers at the White House. Also present, besides the President of the United States, was the crowned prince of Spain, Felipe, and other ambassadors to various nations. Ana Cristina was introduced by the President himself before her performance and was set to perform two songs, until the President requested an encore that led to a total of 3 songs.

Ana Cristina’s creative and artistic growth has been completed with her skillfully combined development to compose her own songs with the guitar and piano. The outcome of her ability to manipulate words and improvisational melodies so easily has resulted in her capability to churn out well-crafted dynamic songs that go hand in hand with her commanding stage presence.

Whether it is through the mediums of live performance or in her writing, Ana Cristina is constantly innovating ideas that have evolved into an original musical style that only she can call her own.

Her green-eyed gaze seems to exhibit an intense sense of purpose and worldly inspiration for such a young lady. Ana Cristina has always felt that she was predestined to communicate with people through her beloved art form. Her zealous dedication to her music is sharply evident and one of the many distinct qualities that make her a natural born star. Remember the name, because you’ll never forget the voice…

New Position, New Direction!

2008-03-30T10:18:00.000-07:00

U-N-U Radio is getting bigger and better! The submissions have been pouring in and people are really starting to take notice. I appreciate all the talented artists that have contributed their great works. Please keep spreading the word!

I have a new position and it's definitely worth sharing. I'm an A&R Scout for MajorLabelScout.com! I found out this week and I'm so excited about this new opportunity. So thanks for the support. If you need to contact me on a business level, send an email to djscorpia@unuradio.com. You can also contact me through myspace.

Cool Down with Freezepop!

2008-03-25T22:57:00.000-07:00

Formed in Boston in the summer of 1999, Freezepop is comprised of band members Liz Enthusiasm (vocalist), the Duke of Pannekoeken (producer/vocalist/programmer), and Sean Drinkwater (synthesizers/programmer/vocalist). Within eight months of forming, Freezepop had released two homemade EPs and started a DIY machine that would become one of their trademarks. Their debut album, 2000’s Freezepop Forever, was released domestically on their own label, Archenemy, as well as licensed in Europe by the Spanish indiepop label Elefant. Several more EPs followed, and in 2004, Freezepop released their sophomore album, Fancy Ultra•Fresh, and toured extensively, playing energetic, fun, and chaotic shows throughout North America and Europe. After nearly eight years of self-releasing their CDs, Freezepop is very excited to be partnering with Cordless Recordings/Rykodisc for the release of their brand new album, Future Future Future Perfect.

While the band has done well on college radio, repeat-charting in the CMJ Top 50, a key factor in Freezepop’s success has been that they have sought out licensing opportunities as an alternate means of getting their music heard. A natural fit on videogame soundtracks, the band saw their following grow through songs in the cult music-based games Frequency and Amplitude, and then increase exponentially after appearing in the massively popular Guitar Hero series, Dance Dance Revolution, and the new MTV Games release Rock Band. Freezepop’s songs are also featured in televsion shows as diverse as Showtime’s drama The L Word, and the PBS childrens’ series Arthur, as well as the Nissan Rogue ad campaign, and an assortment of indie films, extreme sports DVD releases, and websites. Their single "Less Talk More Rokk" was the iTunes #4 dance/electronic song of 2007.

In addition, Freezepop has used the internet as a powerful way to find new fans and stay in touch with the diverse ranks of old-schoolers. Freezepop.com features enough content to keep visitors entertained for hours; the band’s MySpace page is noisy with over 50,000 fans clamoring for more rokk, and is consistently ranked in the Electro Top 10. The page, which is still maintained by the band members themselves (and remains proudly spam-bot free), has racked up more than three million plays in under three years.

I really want to thank Freezepop for sending me the mp3 of " Swimming Pool" and allowing me to feature them. I will be showcasing the bad ass single tomorrow at the top of my live show, so be sure to go to http://www.unuradio.com/ and click on Tune In at 7pm Central!

Make Way for Micah!

2008-03-13T15:39:00.001-07:00

I must say that this authentic artist has to be one of the greatest undiscovered talents of the new year! I placed an ad in craigslist requesting submissions from musicians of every genre. In my mailbox was a gift from Drew and I want to really thank him for letting me become one of Micah's loyal supporters. If you like John Mayer with a little Mraz mixed in then your ears are definitely in for a treat!

The soulful voice of Micah is one secret that Rochester, NY can no longer keep to itself. Now, as an undergraduate at Northeastern University in Boston, MA, this 20 year old vocal phenom is ready to give the world the moving voice it has been missing since the early days of Motown.

Through the summer of 2007, he has been non-stop touring the Northeast, and rapidly gaining loyal fans along the way. Performing at venues in Rochester, Buffalo, Toronto, Boston, and New York City, Micah is making a real mark on the singer/songwriter scene. With performances along side Bryan Adams, George Thorogood, and The Kin, Micah has proved his respect within the industry as not only a talented musician, but a flawless live performer.

Micah’s debut four song EP was finished August 2007 at GFI Studios in Rochester, NY. His new studio tracks encompass the energy and professionalism he brings to every live performance. His music has been played on 96.5 WCMF in Rochester, NY, and can be heard frequently on Boston based internet radio station, http://www.bprlive.org/, and now, http://www.unuradio.com/.

You can hear Micah’s newest songs at www.myspace.com/roctrio!
Cheers!

Australian Sensation Missy Higgins

2008-02-27T15:39:00.000-08:00

I was so ecstatic when I received the email from this very talented artist. I first heard her music while on meebo.com and I was instantly hooked. My ears opened like the heavens when I heard this authentic music, so I had to contact Warner Bros. in hopes that I would get a response. Well, I did and this is the official bio that was sent to me. Make sure you tune in to my live broadcast on U-N-U Radio at 7pm central tonight to listen to the hit track, " The Wrong Girl!"

Passionate and sincere, Australian singer-songwriter Missy Higgins is a welcome relief in a music landscape littered with disposable pop. The 23-year-old Melbourne native has enjoyed phenomenal success in her homeland, and a growing fanbase in the U.S., in spite of — or perhaps because she shuns the usual synthetic packaging and tabloid tackiness. Instead she's adopted a more timeless approach, relying on her undeniable songs and unforgettable live performances to forge a genuine connection with her audience.

Higgins’ new album, On A Clear Night, retains the irresistible melodies and piercing lyrics of her critically lauded debut The Sound of White, which was Australia’s best-selling album of 2005. However this time around, the tracks benefit from the empathetic production of Mitchell Froom, who is known for his work with Paul McCartney, Elvis Costello, and Crowded House. The quiet strength of the new songs reflects Higgins’ newfound confidence and changing worldview. A major star in Australia, she has grown up in public and On A Clear Night is the diary she's kept along the way.

"The album hopefully reflects where I'm at right now," Higgins says. "I feel a lot clearer about who I am and what I want to be doing with my music. I've moved on from the confusion and self-doubt I felt when I was just starting out. That's the main difference between the old songs and the new ones."

It's certainly been quite a journey. Higgins began her music career singing standards with her older brother's band when she was just 13. She was thrust into the limelight in 2001 when she won a national songwriting competition run by an influential national alternative radio network while still in high school. Instead of capitalizing on the moment, she chose to backpack around Europe before returning home and releasing an eponymous EP that topped the indie charts in late 2003. Airplay on influential Los Angeles tastemaker station KCRW led to a Stateside deal with Warner Bros Records. The following year, she released the Scar EP in Australia, which entered the that country’s charts at Number One, followed by the best-selling Sound of White, which was released internationally later that year. Higgins made repeated trips to the US and UK, opening for the likes of Ray Lamontagne, The Finn Brothers, and Howie Day. By the end of 2005, she had racked up more than 200 gigs culminating in a memorable series of huge outdoor concerts around Australia.

Fortunately Higgins likes to write songs while she's on the road, so while touring behind The Sound Of White, she penned many of the tunes that would comprise On A Clear Night, and gradually honed them through live performances. The pissed-off "Peachy" was among the first to work its way into Higgins’ set. The equally energetic (and only slightly less feisty) "100 Round The Bends" also became a fan favorite through repeated live airings.

"Unlike nearly all the songs on the first album, both of those songs were written on guitar, which is the only instrument I've got with me in the hotel room or on the bus,” Higgins says. “So the songs I write that way tend to be a bit more 'up' while playing the piano usually inspires slow songs. Maybe that's why there's a bit more energy on this album compared to the last one — I didn't spend as much time sitting around at home playing the piano." The new disc still features some beautiful keyboard-driven ballads, such as "Sugarcane" and "Where I Stood," but this time they're evenly balanced by the more uptempo tracks.

Recording for On A Clear Night commenced at Mitchell Froom's home studio in Los Angeles in early September 2006. Over the next three months, tracking proceeded with a stellar lineup of L.A, musicians including in-demand studio drummer Matt Chamberlain (Tori Amos, Fiona Apple) and former touring compadre Neil Finn, who was roped in to provide some extra guitars on "Peachy" and backing vocals on the rustic "Going North.”

The opening track, "Where I Stood," showcases both the tasteful restraint and the lyrical maturity that are the album's trademarks, while the sass and swagger of Higgins’ personal favorite track — "The Wrong Girl" — is clearly the work of a more self-confident songwriter. Missy credits her producer with helping her realize her ambitions for these pivotal songs.

"Working with Mitchell was such an empowering experience,” she says. “He's made so many great singer/songwriter-style records, and is full of all these brilliant ideas, but he never tried to impose anything on me. He just let me take my time and we let the songs unfold the way they wanted to. The result, I think, is a record with a real depth to it.”

The first single, "Steer," is, in many ways, the album's statement of intent. An infectious and uplifting piece about seizing control of your life, it sums up the disc’s outlook. A line from its chorus led to the title of On A Clear Night. "It was inspired by a realization I had one night on the beach, looking up at this amazingly clear sky above me,” Higgins recalls. “It dawned on me how small we are, how short life is, and how ridiculous it therefore is to spend any of it feeling unfulfilled. I felt so liberated to have finally figured that out, and the song 'Steer' just kind of fell out of that moment."

This sense that 'anything's possible' isn't confined to the lyrics; it also extends to the musical departures on the album. "Going North" has a surprisingly country twang to it, "Warm Whispers" employs some unusual structures and atmospheric loops, there's an acoustic string band treatment of "Angela", and the haunting "Secret" is written around just three notes played on one string of the guitar. They're the kind of subtle and surprising twists that sustain listener interest over the course of the album.

"I wanted this album to seem really simple when you first listen to it but then the more you play it, the more you discover,” Higgins says. “There are lots of little instrumental textures and things that you only notice after a few spins so hopefully people will feel like it's one of those albums that's worth playing a few times."

The Start

2008-02-12T07:02:00.000-08:00

Info Courtesy of Wiki with the permission of the Start.

In January 2003, AFI invited theSTART to open up for them. Jeff Jaeger left the band in February and they brought in Sarah Saturday to play bass. theSTART continued to jump on tours, including Vaux, The Used and Coheed and Cambria. In May, Sarah and Brian were fired from the band because of conflicts. Having had a tour with Alkaline Trio still planned in June, theSTART borrowed friends Todd O'Keefe and Justin Rocherolle from The Green And Yellow TV to fill in.

Erick Sanger met theSTART when his previous band, Kissing Chaos, had played a show with them in Texas. He told Aimee he loved theSTART and would like to be in the band if they ever needed him. Bringing along friend Billy Brimblecom, Jr. to play drums, the lineup was finalized in July 2003. That summer they opened tours for Ozma, Onelinedrawing, and Taproot.

Nitro Records had been watching theSTART since they played with AFI. theSTART were signed in October 2003 and the Death Via Satellite EP was re-released with new artwork. They then joined the first Girlz Garage tour along with Lennon Murphy, Brassy and Lillix.

theSTART began to record their second full-length album Initiation in February 2004. In March, they embarked on another UK tour, this time with The Offspring. They continued to tour with The Offspring for North America, opening beside The (International) Noise Conspiracy and Auf Der Maur. They embarked on a co-headlining tour with The AKAs throughout July.On August 24, Initiation was released on Nitro Records.

Unfortunately it seems with good must come bad, as drummer Billy Brimblecom, Jr. announced the same day that he would be leaving the band. TheSTART took a month off then resumed headlining tours with new drummer Frank Zummo. For a few shows, Adrian Young of No Doubt filled in for drums.

In February 2005, Goldfinger asked theSTART to be on their animal rights tour, as both bands have vegetarian and vegan members. In the next few months, theSTART had another co-headlining tour, this time with Showbread.

In July, they were very excited to begin a tour with Head Automatica but less than halfway through it, Daryl Palumbo (Head Automatica singer) got sick and was hopitalized. The rest of the tour was cancelled. So theSTART jumped on the Team Sleep tour for the rest of the month. Frank Zummo left the band to focus on his project Street Drum Corps and Ed Davis was brought in on drums.

In August, Garbage invited theSTART to be the only opener on their last North American tour. March of 2006 had theSTART joining The Birthday Massacre for a month long tour. They continued on touring until the summer when longtime bassist Erick Sanger was unexpectedly let go. Drummer Ed Davis also departed to join Juliette and the Licks.

They brought in friends Lance Webber (ex-The Art Of Safecracking) on bass and Colin Strahm (of The Johns) on drums. They resumed playing when they were invited to open for such bands as Rancid, The Living End, and Metal Skool later in the year. The band was once again without a label as they had parted ways with Nitro Records. Though on Halloween 2006, they announced their signing with Metropolis Records and began work on their new album.

Aimee and Jamie wrote and recorded the new songs entirely by themselves this time. The band began playing again in March, until Echo was asked by the Teddybears to do vocals on their tour in April, which included a stop at the Coachella festival. When she returned, they hit the road with Front Line Assembly. Drummer Frank Zummo had returned for a stint replacing Colin Strahm.

The new record Ciao, Baby was released on June 5th, 2007. They played the whole cd live at the record release show at Safari Sam's on June 14th. Singer/drummer Chelsea Davis of Digital Black joined the band on drums as they prepared to tour in support of the album.

In July of 2007, the band released on their Myspace page a cover of the song "Cities in Dust" by Siouxsie & the Banshees, one of the band's life-long musical inspirations. The song was intended to be featured in promotion on the third Resident Evil film.

Ciao, Baby track "Blood On My Hands" was released as a digital only single on October 16, 2007 and featured a remixed version of the song by Chris Vrenna of Nine Inch Nails. theSTART are spending the end of 2007 opening shows for She Wants Revenge. Ironically, founding drummer of theSTART and ex-Human Waste Project member, Scott Ellis, plays drums for She Wants Revenge, making it the first time the three founding members of theSTART have toured together since 2002.

Now after my long Wiki intro, I can give my opinion on this awesome band. Remember peeps, that I listen to all the tunes first and 90 percent of the time, I've been in contact with the artist and they've approved me putting their info on the site. All of them have been gracious enough to send me some mp3s of their wonderful creations. I was totally shocked and pleasantly surprised that the Start messaged me back. I couldn't believe it, you know how some bands are to hot that they don't feel a need to be on some little site like Crazy Indie Girl.

I first heard their music while watching the L Word season 5 episode 5 and I had to find out the goods on the music that was filling my ears. There are tons of fan websites and one in particular lists all the artists and track that are played on the show. There it was, " Ciao Baby" and " Surrender"! Please make sure you take time out to check out the links as well as listen to their album. It's so worth it! Also, make sure you check out my new radio station, UNUradio to hear all the tracks from the artists on my site.

Graystar

2008-01-31T19:58:00.000-08:00

I found this band by following up on a comment that was left by Katy. It turns out that she's the manager of this awesome band. Thanks so much for leaving the comment, because now I'm a fan for life. On my show yesterday I played " Free" and " Cry No More" and my listeners absolutely loved the song, so here they are peeps..Graystar were formed in 2003 by Dominic James after he wrote the material in his hometown of Liverpool. After performing over 70 gigs around the UK, they released their debut album ‘A Million Pieces’ in September. With stand out tracks like ‘Free’ and ‘Cry No More’, they’ve gained worldwide attention from top radio presenters, impressive reviews from popular music media, and a steady increase of online sales of their album, along with their international fan base. In the album, James’ melodic and introspective lyrics are paired with otherworldly atmospheric production to create a collection of passionate and enigmatic songs. They are already in the process of producing their second album. The first single, "I Disappear" is set for release on February 10, 2008. The band: Dominic James, vocals, guitar, keyboards: Craig Finnie, lead guitar: Tim Dyer, keyboards: John Reynolds, bass: Neil Hartley, drums.

Reviews:

"Fantastic"
Dave Monks, BBC Radio Merseyside

"Beautiful tracks"
Janice Forsyth, BBC Radio Scotland

"an EP of beautifully poignant songs" –
The Skinny Magazine

"majestic, mysterious…beautifully crafted"
Overplay.com

"a collection of fresh, anthemic indie turns"
The List

"A depth of songwriting that is overlooked by a lot of bands these days"
Is This Music

"Free" is a certified thing of beauty"
Live Music Direct

Contact Info:
www.myspace.com/graystaruk
www.graystarmusic.com

Bent is Worth Your Ears!

2008-01-16T20:03:00.000-08:00

Simon Mills and Nail Tolliday form the group Bent. They hail from the UK and after 10 years in the business it seems they're not slowing down. Bent caught my eye when I was searching for Electronica on Myspace. I listened to a couple of their mixes and I was instantly hooked! Their sound is a mix of Moby, Depeche Mode, and Fatboy Slim. I'm not even across the pond, but they have to be Electronica kings, because what I've heard is superior. Bent's influences are Rolf Harris, Geoff Love, John Lennon, the Beach Boys to more clearly dance music-orientated ones such as Kid Loco and Aphex Twin. I would suggest that you go to their page and check out some mad mixes.

" One Bitch Band"- Betty Dimo

2008-01-16T19:41:00.000-08:00

Betty Dimo started making rock music when she was 11 years old, hammering out Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath riffs on a small ukulele and a broken-down acoustic guitar purchased at Sears. She realized she wanted to play rock music forever when she snapped her first B string playing Smells Like Teen Spirit alone in her bedroom late one night. In her teens Betty was introduced to the music of PJ Harvey, Kate Bush, Ani Difranco, Peaches and many other influential female musicians. She started writing her own brand of intense, dark alternative/rock music and began performing live in 2001. Since then she has had the opportunity to perform and record with many bands including Clara Engel, Tom Glenne 5.5, Theresa’s Sound-World, The Good Ideas, Aquamuffin and many more. Betty currently resides in Toronto and plays in local band, Secret Public. Her personal demo recordings are backed by members of Trucks Leaving (Todd Harrison, Dov Tiefenbach, Virginia Dimoglou) and Broadband (Virginia Dimoglou and Louise Simpson). The newest track, Ugly Beautiful, is by her current band, Secret Public, who Betty will be touring with in the very near future. More news and info on that coming soon…stay tuned.

This bio comes from her page on myspace, so I figured why change it! Betty was kind enough to send my favorite track, " Anna Despair". This song really tugs at the heart strings. One thing I try to do when reviewing music is to ask, does it tell a story? It's important to feel the artist mentally and Betty definitely captures my attention. We have to continue supporting great works. So if you want to know more information about Betty Dimo, email her at bettydimo@gmail.com.

Take a Listen to Intervurt!

2008-01-10T09:30:00.000-08:00

INTERVURT – TRANSLUCENT – DEAD PLANET RECORDS

INTERVURT “The most exciting new alt-rock band coming out the UK”
(Dennis Sanders, manager Mondo Generator)

INTERVURT are:
Paul O’Keeffe (Vocals), Mark Alberici (Guitars), Lee Wilton (Bass), Oliver Alberici (Keyboards), Scott Richman (Drums)

INTERVURT are a highly motivated 5 piece alternative rock band from London UK. Building a reputation of being a great live act that crosses the attitude and melody of the Killers and U2 with the richness and darkness of Depeche Mode and Muse, combined with the power of the Queens of The Stone Age.

The band have already supported the likes of the Strokes and the Raconteurs, as well as appearing at the O2 Wireless Festival at Hyde Park, Get Loaded in the Park, Beautiful Days, Guilfest and Bestival over the last 18 months.

INTERVURT have recently signed to Dead Planet Records, a new South London based independent record label. Translucent is the first EP to be released on the 28th Jan 08 from the bands forthcoming debut album, most of which has already been recorded at Jimi Hendrix’s Electric Lady Studios in NYC, working with producers Mark Plati (Bowie, Cure, Prince) and Tom McKay (Joydropp)

“Translucent” along with all 3 other tracks contained on the band’s debut EP is a brilliant calling card for anyone looking for something new, fresh and different to get their teeth into. Tracks like Suffering offer a much heavier and darker insight into the band while retaining their pop sensibilities.

INTERVURT are “Natural Born Killers with high-octane music that contains a reckless menace, both vicious and vulnerable in equal measures. Like Natural Born Killers, they’re prepared to do whatever it takes!” Notion Magazine

“Love this band” (Janice Long, BBC Radio 2)

“This Band is going to be huge” (Chris Hawkins, BBC 6 Music)

“Translucent is a monster of a track” (Phil Jackson, BBC SCR)

INTERVURT will be live in session on the Janice Long show national BBC Radio 2 on Fri 18th Jan at 00.30am

INTERVURT debut EP Translucent will be out on general release, 28th Jan 08. Download / Limited Edition 7 inch. To listen to the EP now! Visit http://www.deadplanetrecords.com/

For more details contact Matthew Wood matthew@deadplanetrecords.com / http://www.intervurt.com/ / www.myspace.com/intervurtrocks

I listen to all the music that is recommended on this site. So if it's posted then trust it's that damn good! Please follow all the links and get to know more about the band. My job here is to inform and encourage individuals to give authentic music a chance, let go of the stereotypical sound that you're use to. The UK is just fuming with talent, so support them too!

Rise-Up for Eternia!

2008-01-03T18:40:00.000-08:00

I discovered Eternia while searching for Indie Hip-Hop artists, you know give the site some variety! Well what I stumbled on is a diamond in the rough. Eternia is not only beautiful, but very talented. Eternia's debut album, " It's Called Life" was released nationwide on October 4, 2005. In early 2006, the album was nominated for Best Rap Recording at the Juno awards. Her voice is so powerful and she makes you feel every word. The single " Do This Like Me" is my I don't give a f*** anthem! It's on her new banger, " Where I'm At-The Setup", so make sure you cop that! Why won't the airwaves wake up, leave the barbie wannabees on the street. She's up there with Eminem and Pac, yea that's real deep. I think with the right exposure, she can put Lil Kim and the others to shame. Please check out this lady of authentic Indie Hip-Hop. She also has a blog that is a very good read! Make sure you go to her myspace page for more tour dates and new track listings.

Other Reviews:

It's perhaps telling that almost every write-up I see on Eternia invariably plays up the fact that the Toronto rapper is white and female. That's disingenuous at best. I guess its too tempting for some to automatically assume that she's a novelty act or can't possibly be any good. But her latest album, It's Called Life, manages to call bullsh-t on both theories. "- Blog T.O., 2005

"Its Called Life is a definite contender for album of the year."-Groove On (Australia) 2006

"I'll get to the point: BUY THIS ALBUM. Trust me... This is one of the best albums I've ever reviewed, period."- RapReviews.Com, 2006

Markovic and Thermostatic

2008-01-01T20:39:00.000-08:00

Markovic's debut album Adoreus has received extremely good reviews in Sweden. The album will be released February of this year in Germany together with the Supermusic label. They will tour in Germany and the UK in March. Apparently, the band is simply amazing live and Johan, the singer, sings just as well live as on CD!

Thermostatic was discovered in the summer of 2003 in Gothenburg by Vox and Charlie. The track "I Want To Be A Marilyn" was recorded under rather spontaneous circumstances and quickly gained an underground cult-status. The band-name Thermostatic was suggested by Michael Strandtoft of the band Helm as the “-Perfect name for charming electronic music. The combination of thermo and static actually beckons the style of the music, since it is both warm and strict at the same time”. When the tune finally reached DigiDroid’s ears he immediately fell in love with the catchy sound and overall atmosphere and also felt that this easlily could fit in the main theme of his own sound. Not long after he joined in and also brough his long time collaborator TiN. The duo then turned into a quartet.

The track "Private Machine" was recorded and stated the characteristics of the nowadays well-established Thermostatic sound. The song wasn’t even finished when it started to draw the attention of DJ’s and club-heads. When it finally landed as a one track CD-R at Christer Björndahl´s (driving force behind Club Spacelab) desk, he was quickly overwhelmed and determined to book the band for his club. In september 2004 the group themselves released an EP containing four songs to offer the visitors at the Spacelab gig. A limited edition of 50 copies was created and the band hoped to sell atleast 20-25 pieces… - All copies were consumed within 20 minutes after the show.

The electro-saga continued and Thermostatic was contacted by Wonderland Records, This led to a collaboration that eventually ended up in the release of "Joy-Toy"– the first Thermostatic album. Thermostatic won the prize for "Best Newcomer 2005" at the SAMA festival! Currently the band is promoting the two singles from "Joy-Toy" and are working on new material.

Universal Poplab

2008-01-01T19:25:00.000-08:00

Pierre Bremell

Universal Poplab was signed to Wonderland Records in 2006. They are currently working hard on promoting their new album Uprising. " I Could Say I'm Sorry" has to be one of my favs right now! The beat and the vocals are just awesome and on point! I hope you'll become a fan too.

In January 2002, vocalist Christer Lundberg and producer Paul Lachenardière shook hands over a couple of beers and a vegetarian meal, agreeing on plans to create a shimmering spectacle of synthpop art. In February 2004 their debut album "Universal Poplab" was released. The album - and several singles from it such as "New Baby Boom", "We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful" and "Dice Roller" - achieved chart success in Sweden and Russia. Universal Poplab has just finished recording their second album together with new member Hans Olsson.

Each member's creative output has also taken various forms over the years: Christer is not only a songwriter and singer. He also hosts his own daytime radio show on Swedish radio and has produced acclaimed TV documentaries. Paul is not only an accomplished producer. As well as being a skilled multi-instrumentalist, he creates music and releases records in such varied genres as trance and nu-jazz. Hans has produced, mixed and mastered records in many varied genres. (Together with pop wiz Timo Räisänen, he's just about to tour Sweden).It's in the meeting of these three different minds that magic is born.

Live, the band is a riot! Universal Poplab made their live debut in 2003 at the Scandinavian Alternative Music Awards, SAMA (where, two years later, they won the award for best album) followed by extensive gigging at clubs and festivals.

In recording the new album each band member has focused relentlessly on honing every aspect of the band's work from song structure to lyrics and live performance to ever greater heights of artistry.
The only way is UP!

Emmon

2008-01-01T18:59:00.000-08:00

Cristian Hagward

I'm working with Wonderland Records out of Sweden to bring you guys more access to damn good music! I've listened to all the artists on the label and let me tell you, all of them are worth your ears. I'm a big fan of Ladytron and this next artist is definitely in that top tier!

Emma Nylén, alias Emmon, is so far perhaps best known as a member of the Swedish indiepopband Paris (Parismusic, Look left recordings, V2 records). The solo project Emmon first saw the light of day in a sound lab at Konstfack in Stockholm in 2001. Since then a number of demos have popped up at various clubs and dancefloors all over Sweden.

After being crowned the electro queen of Sweden, having her demos on high rotation at several radio stations, performing live at Hultfredsfestivalen, P3 Popstad and clubs, supporting band like Stereo Total and Vive le feté, and having remixed a number of tracks for well-known acts- It´s now time to fully concentrate on bringing Emmon out to the masses.

The collaboration with Wonderland Records started in 2006 and since then everything has fallen into place. The debut single ”Wake Up Time” was released on the 29th of November. The debut album The Art & The Evil was released in January of 2007 and has recieved a tremendous amount of publicity and lots of great review.

Here you can read some samples: REVIEWS.During the beginning of 2007 Emmon opened for Melody Club on their tour as well asdoing several own shows. In April Emmon is part of the Spring Wonderland Festival with shows in Sweden and Denmark. Emmon is also booked for this years Arvika Festival alongside giants like Scissor Sisters and Magic Numbers. In April Rock D'Amour, the 2nd single from the album, was released and it features great remixes as well as a superb arty video made by Induction (www.induction.se).Please check back here every now and then for updates or send us an e-mail if you have any questions. Best Wishes, The Wonderlanders info@wonderlandrecords.com

Elliott Smith 1969-2003

2007-12-30T18:34:00.000-08:00

Eliott Smith is an awesome artist who will be remembered for his creativity and genuine songwriting. Unfortunately, in 2003 he was found dead with two stab wounds. Addiction is such a powerful thing and so many times we're left with words from these creative people. In early 2007, New Moon was released. This album is a collection of Smith's unreleased recordings. It's really worth a listen, because he's truly one of the greats.

Client Rules the U.K.

2007-12-30T18:20:00.000-08:00

You really have to check out this all female Electroclash band from the UK! Client has that awesome synth-pop sound that will draw you in and keep you there! Their new album Heartland was released earlier this year, but it's never to late to add to the CD collection. Make sure you check out their Myspace page!

Halifax

2007-12-29T15:28:00.000-08:00

I first saw Halifax while watching The Real World:Austin. The cast members were covering South by Southwest which is a really awesome eventful series held at many venues in Austin of Indie music from bands all over the country. Currently, they're signed to Drive-Thru Records. I hope you like their music, because I sure do. They've been touring in the UK and some parts of the U.S. this year, so hopefully in '08, some fresh music will be released. Check out their myspace page.

Cory Lee

2007-12-29T15:12:00.000-08:00

I really like Cory Lee, she's a Canadian artist of Asian and German origin. I first heard her music while watching one of my favorite shows and the actors were dancing to this song and I immediately started tapping my feet! Cory was nominated for an Indie award and her sophomore album came out in March of this year. Check out the song that started it all!

DJ Likuid

2007-12-27T08:25:00.000-08:00

I had to give a shout-out to my homie, Likuid! He's a talented DJ and definitely deserves to have his mixes heard. He was gracious enough to send me various mixes from his DJ gig at Eclectricity Radio and I want to share it with you. I love it when he says, " K for the king not the queen!"

Mature audiences *only*, the mix contains some derogatory terms.

The Bruises

2007-12-23T17:07:00.000-08:00

San Francisco female fronted band The Bruises prove that chicks rule as album Connected prevails as a poppy estrogen treat. Aja Blue and Jen Black, originally from Illinois, both showcase their respected creativity as they write/sing/play guitar on the album. Scott Tusa of Scissors for Lefty fame produced the album, which might give The Donnas a run for their reputation. Album highlights include the edgy "Hold Me Down" and "Here's to Us" on the album, which is very buffered. "Found" has a very bohemian tone to it, unlike any of the other eleven tracks. This album has arrived at the perfect time, as the country has grown sick of the Spice Girls reunion.
- Julianne Shapiro

Uh Huh....Her

2007-12-23T14:26:00.000-08:00

I discovered Uh Huh Her by being a big fan of the L Word! Leisha Hailey who plays Alice has been apart of a couple of bands that I've followed over the years. When Uh Huh Her was formed I instantly loved all of the songs and Leisha even more. My favorite songs from the album are " Say So" and " I See Red". I encourage all to take a listen and add to your musical collection. It's definitely worth it!

Esthero Who?

2007-12-22T19:53:00.000-08:00

Esthero is one of my top artist of all-time, yes that's real big! She is definitely one of a kind and certainly deserves to be on mainstream radio. She reminds me a little of Pink, content wise. Her voice can go from seductive to enraged all in one verse. She's so fucking talented and a hit on my radio show. We R In Need of a Musical Revolution is my 07 anthem and it embodies all the feelings I have towards music in general. I first heard her music while watching one of the episodes of the L Word. So, please watch the video below and support damn good music!

Teenagersintokyo

2007-12-22T08:19:00.000-08:00

Photo by: Ben Sullivan

I discovered this band on Missingtoof and I was instantly hooked. Their sound is Experimental/Jungle/Country. They also hail from Australia. It seems like all the bands I'm discovering comes from Australia, hopefully the states will catch on. The name is catchy and the music is awesome. What else could you ask for from a quality band? I hope you'll check them out on myspace and give your support!

Presenting.....Glovebox

2007-12-22T07:33:00.000-08:00

Glovebox is one of those bands that need to be mainstream. The band hails from Australia and their music sounds like 80's Synth Pop/Electro era. The single Toyko beats keeps my head bobbing and makes me want to dance all night! The lead singer Mishka and manager, Lisa have been a big supporter of what I'm trying to do at Eclectricity Radio.com. I have a segment every Friday from 8-9pm EST for artists that I feel should be known worldwide. I think authenticity and a fresh sound should be considered as far as radio is concerned, but instead we get the same old shit! I mean don't get me wrong there are some bands or artists out, that deserve airplay and number one hits on Billboard, but if I hear Soulja Boy/Girl one more time, I'm going to scream. It's about time that we a music lovers open our ears and recognize some damn good music and Glovebox definitely has that sound. I stumbled upon them on myspace when I was searching for artists do do voice overs for the station. So make sure you check them out and leave a message on myspace telling the band where you heard about them. Also check out their myspace page.