Tuesday, October 5, 2004

THIS IS A STOLEN TRANSMISSION

Every week i get a ton of emails from people in bands who are looking for advice. I'm young, but I've been kicking around this industry for a while working in various facets and meeting a lot of nice people that I enjoy working with. So whenever I get a chance to help out a band that I think has that something special, I try to. Whether it's posting a link to their songs on this blog, sending their demos to A&R friends and lawyers, or even just offering them a place to stay when they're in town.

Now a lot of these bands are in the early stages of their career. I can't write about them because they don't have material out and they don't have material out cause nobody's heard of them. It's sort of a double edged sword in ways, and I just couldn't figure out what to do.

So I thought it'd be fun to make a sort of glorified art project. I approached a couple of bands, asked them if i could borrow their songs, make special artwork for their songs, and sell the cds on my blog. Apart from the handmade inventory that I paid for out of my own pocket, I wont have any ownership of anything. Whatever I sell on the blog would be used to cover my expenses, and the profits will be split with the band. Really, I just wanted to do something fun for bands that I think are really great and think you, the reader, might love too. I wanted to make something that maybe would be nice to have in a couple of years down the road. Nothing more.

For each 3-song CD release there will be a 250 pressing... unless that sells out in 6 months, then i'll do another 250. That's hardly making anyone enough money to have a nice dinner at Sushi Samba, but that's really not the point. The point is that I wanted to do something fun. The cds will cost $4, including shipping, and all be made by hand. I'm releasing this on a label i made up called stolen transmission... since i love the concept of something being stolen, and i like the idea of a sound transmission, a wave transmission... a car transmission.

So basically, i guess it's a singles label. And my first release will be by a band called Louis XIV from San Diego. I think it'll go on sale this week (once i figure out the pay pal stuff) and their CD release party will be at SNITCH next wednesday, october 13 for a party that the Tarts of Pleasure are presenting.

If you've got a band to recommend, please do so! No signed bands. Thanks!

51 comments:

Anonymous said...

THE OAOTs - LA's finest pop/punk/indie band. Just pressed their first record on their own $ on their own label. / www.theoaots.com / Husker Du meets The Jam meets The Replacements.

I tried to tell you about them earlier but got crucified for doing so. This is not my band, nor do I manage them. They are simply some friends who have manage to write my favorite album of the year. They leave on their first tour in a week or so and make it NY at the end of the month. Great live show. Check it out if you can.

Anonymous said...

So how often will these bad boys be coming out? As often as once a month or will a new release only appear when the first one sells out? I just hope you stick with this for awhile; it'd be a shame if this were "Ultra's mp3 of the day" all over again: gangbusters for a couple months and then fizzle into nothing.
- Eric in Texas

Anonymous said...

this sounds like a sweet idea. i think it'll use up a lot of your time though and so it might be hard to keep up with. i hope you stick with it because i'm totally interested. if i think of any good unsigned bands you might not know i'll throw 'em down. plus, is it blogger or just my computer that is making it so hard for me to post a comment? it just doesn't want to load. s.t.

Unknown said...

Yeah! Louis XIV is an awesome band! Am i the only reader from San Diego?

Anonymous said...

Gay Dad.

Anonymous said...

www.thediggs.com

Anonymous said...

I used to hate you, but now I just realized you are a marketing GURU. You just laid the groundwork for Ultragrrl Records. Jeez you already have a built in target demo as well as industry contacts. You have already built up a "list" thru this blog. Christ you are the craftiest bitch on the planet.

Kudos

Anonymous said...

louis xiv!! cool! i just saw them in sacramento in september and they were really good and a fun band! the bassist was pretty damn cute too. haha ~c

Anonymous said...

Don't worry, I still hate you.

Anonymous said...

I'm confused. You said "I can't write about them because they don't have material out and they don't have material out cause nobody's heard of them." But the link sends you right to the band's website where you can not only buy their cd but listen to a few mp3s. Where's the conflict?

jeddeth said...

a band with pretty posters? i'll take two copies of whatever you're selling.

i like the ring of ultragrrrl records. just promise me you won't become a sell out.

Anonymous said...

which louis xiv songs are you gonna put on the single? i, for one, really like that "finding out true love is blind" one...

Anonymous said...

Yo Sarah. My name is Kimberlyn. I saw your post and have 2 Dallas area bands to rec. to you, if yer looking. butterknifeband.com and blacklightsmusic.com From girl to grrrl, the black lights are incredibly hot. Not that that merits your time, but I just saw Muse and I am still recovering, so that tidbit had to be thrown at cha. Did you ever get your camera back? I am a funeral director here and I get free digital cameras all the time (we use them for work, and we get them sent to us often), so let me know if you need one and I could ship it Spin's office, or something. Add me on Friendster (kimberly90201@hotmail.com) as well, if you like. -Kimberly Heard

Anonymous said...

APARTMENT of course. but i know you've already thought of that!
-ktb

Anonymous said...

www.thefatales.com

Anonymous said...

Sarah,
Big fan of the blog. Discovered it after a mention in Time Out and have been addicted ever since. Your success and optimism as a young person in this city is inspiring and refreshing. I've been in NYC less than a year, but thanks to your postings, I've been to some awesome bars, and seen some kick ass shows. (Yes, people, I am kissing her ass, GET OVER IT!) Anyway, just want to shout out a special thanks for all introductions and postings about the Killers. Bought the CD. Loved it. Shared it. Finally got to the show and afterparty this week. Oh dear GOD...such bliss. Such love. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. May the sweat on Brandon's sweet face never dry, and may Ronnie's cute little ass never touch the stool while he rocks. Amen. Keep it comin' with Stolen Transmission.
Thanks again,
dreshmae

Anonymous said...

19 year old dude. las vegas by way of san diego.

http://www.myspace.com/abbreviateddaylight

Jason said...

You MUST check out:

- pontius pilate and the nail driving five;
- the gordie howe overture;
- the fuck shoes;
- lean elan;
- your dad's cunt;
- stop worrying about your drapes

All of them are stupendous. I wrote about them back on June 9 on my award-winning website, if you want the full scoop.

Love,
Jason Mulgrew
Internet Quasi-Celebrity

Anonymous said...

Almost Green....Jersey band, pretty fucking good. They don't even have a website yet. I'll work on getting you some sort of material.

liz. said...

I'd for sure, definitely support Stolen Transmission's debut release--- just by visiting the site for Louis XIV makes me wanna dance. Or sing. Or something.

I suppose I'll be back to this blog checking on updates from now on.

Great idea, Rock on.

Cheers

Anonymous said...

Snowden

Dave...

Karen said...

For the record, people... this shits on the real. This girl spent every spare moment last weekend on the floor of her apartment spray painting and stamping and stencilling and wrapping these bad boys... theyre fucking awesome. Even if you dont love the single (which is ludicrous), check it out. For the price of a cup of coffee, you can own some seriously creative artwork.

And furthermore. The bassist's cute? Is that why theyre playing our party, Sar? You devil!

Anonymous said...

oh yeah. i second the fatales.

Anonymous said...

the band that played right before prosaics last friday at northsix was the best thing i've seen in a while-- you should find them. can't remember their name. sort of like siouxsie and the banshees.

Anonymous said...

You've listed some bands on your site before in New York that you should release CDs for, if they're not signed: The Madison Strays, Controller.Controller, and The Morning Theft. Oh, and 5 O'Clock Heroes are great as well!

Anonymous said...

there is a band out of brooklyn called spirit world that i think is pretty badass. i dont believe they are signed. you can check them out at fucknewyorkcity.com.

Anonymous said...

Love Louis XIV! They've been getting some good radio play here in SD and seem on the verge.
- Allison

Anonymous said...

i hate to be suggesting this without their permission, but the gals of 'goodnight gunfight' are so great, they deserve to be propagated and diffused throughout by whichever means necessary. they are local, greenpoint, i beleive...check 'em out sarah.

Anonymous said...

you are genius
--
is there a way you can ship cds to france?
--
i love you

ben

she's so street said...

www.myspace.com/karmawithak

Anonymous said...

great idea sarah. will these be CDs or CDRs? real pressed CDs i hope, although doing anything to get something out by these bands is a big help to them.

the custom artwork is a very cool thing. plus these things will eventually be collectors items if the bands go anywhere, like those first two interpol EPs i have (and i bet you do too) that probably go for nutty amounts on ebay.

Anonymous said...

you're kinda hot(ter) when you make posts like this.
justinbot

Anonymous said...

excellent idea sarah- and not to sound all industry-ish but this really is part of the (music/release/big label vs street level) revolution ...born-of-darwinian-methods and casually..

we trust this.. we trust you. yes!

Anonymous said...

There is a band from Sacramento that is awesome. They unfortunately get a lot of "early/mid 90's indie rock" comparisons which I think are unfair. They have a myspace profile with a couple of songs http://www.myspace.com/ohdarkthirty up there. They also have a website http://www.ohdarkthirty.com but best of all (for you) is that the band has a boy singer. No pesky girl vocals!

Anonymous said...

there's a band in El Paso, Texas called The Skelters, they sound really good and they have no label, I just heard their new material through their web site and it sounds interesting... www.skeltersweb.com

Anonymous said...

hey sarah

if ur interested in bands from overseas too..there are a few over here (newcastle australia) that u might like. poland - kinda like mogwai/radiohead www.polandband.com
the pints - mishmash of rock/blues
the karl kennedy affair - like kings of leon kinda

if u want i can send u demos
guru x

my email is gurugayatri@hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

surefire
http://www.surefireband.com

new EP coming soon

Anonymous said...

This seems a lot like it would be my new favorite record label. On the Factory Records model (artists-own-their-work), just releasing things you think are worth it that people are ignoring. Plus, if you like the band enough to take a chance on it, theyre probably worth it. I hope it goes well. I think it's an awesome idea.

- DJM

Anonymous said...

ADARA! from Richmond, Va.

www.adararock.com

Anonymous said...

http://www.judahjohnson.com/discography/mp3/JJ04-kisses.mp3

Anonymous said...

3 great bands

vertego
(www.purevolume.com/vertego)

tonation
(www.purevolume.com/tonation)

cosmic caravan
(www.purevolume.com/tonation)

-anthony silverstein

Anonymous said...

MADISON STRAYS!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

ilashmusic.com sounds like Pulp.

MTS said...

hi sarah, id like to chime in with another band for your CD comp -- philadelphia's THIS RADIANT BOY [http://www.thisradiantboy.com/]. I believe you may have gottena press kit about this a couple months back. drop me an email [mariaATplainparadeDOTorg] if you want to talk details!

Anonymous said...

Thank you for this opportunity to talk about a band that is, and has been rocking Central Pennsylvania. I know, you think that I am a member, or Amish for that matter. No I am not, these guys play all over this area and I have seen them many times. I have not seen such talent and love for real rock and roll in a long time. Their name is The Suburban Sound. They do have a web site thesuburbansound.com you can sample music there and check them out. I am proud of them because the truly have a sound all to themselves and a lot of people here love them. Please check them out.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for this opportunity to talk about a band that is, and has been rocking Central Pennsylvania. I know, you think that I am a member, or Amish for that matter. No I am not, these guys play all over this area and I have seen them many times. I have not seen such talent and love for real rock and roll in a long time. Their name is The Suburban Sound. They do have a web site thesuburbansound.com you can sample music there and check them out. I am proud of them because the truly have a sound all to themselves and a lot of people here love them. Please check them out.

Anonymous said...

American Watercolor Movement, from Jersey City.

www.americanwatercolormovement.com

Amazing.

Anonymous said...

so whats your release after henry xiv, sarah?

Anonymous said...

FUR CUPS FOR TEETH!

Anonymous said...

Hey Sarah, MOTEL CREEPS are an unsigned band with an EP you can help sell. I don't think they know what they're doing, but they have good live shows. see http://www.motelcreeps.com

Anonymous said...

I've seen the Motel Creeps, and they're just a big ripoff of The Killers. Not worth anyone's time.