Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Getting to The Top: Suzerain


SUZERAIN are a 5 piece London based band who been playing together for about 5 years. The band formed because “no one was playing the music we wanted to hear, intense electro-rock-punk-pop by a band that gives a damn. Or something like that…”

The music is about love, pain, dreams, politics, individuality and bad faith. They’ve earned themselves a great reputation as a fearsome live band playing to massive crowds (Hyde Park & Trafalgar Square).

Recently they have been playing to crowds in Europe in Italy, Sicily and Germany. They played the NRJ festival in Munich alongside Franz Ferdinand and Mando Diao. They also played the Reeperbahn Festival at the old Beatles Haunt – The Kaiser Keller, where the power blew mid set. “I tried to keep singing in the dark and the audience all held up their lighters – it was so cool”.

SUZERAIN are a band that if you get them – you really get them! They say “it’s like we’ve started a gang.”

The band have worked incredibly hard on the first record producing and filming their own videos, enlisting the help of talented friends for the artwork, and acquiring the talents of Steve Lyon (The Cure, Siouxsie Sioux and Depeche Mode) on production.

They’ve recently signed a deal to release their debut album Midnight in the Drawn City in North America and are planning to release in the UK later this year with tours to support the record and inevitably recruit more members to the gang.

What’s the first thing you would say to someone when they ask you to describe yourself as an artist?
An antagonistic, futuristic, alternative-rock act, with a keen sense of the absurd

How long have you been in the industry?
5 years give or take – not long enough

Do you have any projects out now?
Our debut album ‘Midnight in the Drawn City’ will be released in the US and Canada soon and we’ll be supporting that with a tour as well.

What inspires your music?
Most things about the human condition really – but mainly what it is like to be alive at the beginning of the 21st century with all the craziness and insanity that it brings.

Where are you from?
London and the surrounding ‘burbs

What artists in the industry inspire you the most today?
That’s a toughie, it’s rare to find bands that really make us light up – I guess anyone from NIN, Rufus Wainwright, My Chemical Romance, Daft Punk all have things about them we really like.

Why is that?
We like and admire people who take risks with their music and art and who embrace a wider sense of what it can be – regardless of whether it is “our” type of music. A musical and artistic generosity of spirit.

What makes you different from other artist today?
There’s a terrible cynicism in a lot of music you’ll never find in ours – we believe in what we do and we refuse to let people down. We also love what we do and I don’t think we moan about stuff.

What do you want your future fans to know about you?
This is the start of a beautiful friendship.

This article was written by alwayztherro.com

For more information, please contact: info@spectrarecords.com

Monday, January 17, 2011

Vince Martell to appear on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.


Vince Martell who is best known as the lead guitarist for the American rock band Vanilla Fudge will appear on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" March 28, 2011. The band's original lineup - vocalist/organist Mark Stein, bassist/vocalist Tim Bogert, lead guitarist/vocalist Vince Martell, and drummer/vocalist Carmine Appice - recorded five albums during the years 1966-69, before disbanding in 1970. The band has reunited in various configurations over the years, and is currently operating with its four original members.

The band has been cited as "One of the few American links between psychedelia and what soon became heavy metal."

Ray Manzerek of The Doors was quoted as saying "A more soulful shredder may not exist in all of Classic Rock than Vince Martell."

Spectra Records released Vince Martell's latest CD in 2010 entitled "Endless High." The album is available now at iTunes, Amazon, Napster, Rhapsody and more.

For more information, please contact: info@spectrarecords.com

The Hitchers new release "Tees Valley Deadbeats"


What an interesting and unique style of music the all talented UK punk/Psychobilly band The Hitchers play. Amazingly enough is not a genre I was too familiar with I must say. But these Middlesbrough natives are something of a find for fans of punk rock in general. The band quotes “We’ve been playing our own style of punk rock’n'roll, with the ambition to capture the infectious buzz of punk rock with the fun and style of the 1950s rock ‘n’ roll years.” Under normal circumstances I would pass on title like this, but the music here is took me totally by surprise.

What’s interesting is that I haven’t heard much about this particular genre, honestly I couldn’t possibly understand why. You got a style of music that is a kaleidoscope of musical influences from your typical Americana, Punk and 50′s syle rock. Sounds like a nice formula to me. Anyways the band did receive some critical acclaim from Kerrang magazine and through various international tour invites they end up on the Vans Warped Tour the last 3 years.

The band releases their 2nd studio album in “Tees Valley Deadbeats” and the formula seems to come together even more on this release. If you love some classic 50′s style rock infused into what is alternative punk you’ll loves tracks like “Bop Till U Drop!” and “Shake Ruby UB”. The pragmatic alt-ballad of “I Might Never” is a good listen with it’s urban rhythm. The dead beat flowing message of “Rotten Baby” is a superb flux of energy and punkish flavor. Ohh I loved the doo-wop entrance to “”Me And London” what a cool sound mix, sounds a bit like if Green Day had gone rockabilly on us it works somehow.

What a fresh sound I was totally impressed with these guys. Is not everyday when you run into something as creative as the melting pot of influences that reverberate around these Brits. If you’re a fan of Punk you probably need to check this CD out and any buyers who enjoy their music melodic will find something captivating about this release also. Being that the band has toured with some of the most popular rockabilly groups in the scene I expect them to have a following already, but the point is to extend their horizons and I hope that people reading this will give them a shot because they’ll be just as surprised as I was. Recommended!!!

myglobalmind.com
Written by Denys

Ratings Denys 8/10

For more information, please contact: info@spectrarecords.com

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Spectra Artist on NBA 2K11


Spectra Records national recording artist Hogni is now featured on the new video game NBA 2K11 for Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, Playstation Portable, Wii, PC, OnLive. The video game features the upcoming radio hit "Bow Down (to No Man)." Hogni joins the likes of Snoop Dogg, Alan Parsons Project and over 2 dozen others picked to have their music spotlighted in this critically acclaimed game.

Game review websites (like IGN) have praised NBA 2K11 for its developed controls, online multiplayer, and Michael Jordan features. IGN Editor-In-Chief Hilary Goldstein proclaimed, "This isn't just the best basketball game ever; it's the best sports game of this generation." Mike D'Alonzo of G4tv.com echoed these sentiments in his review and stated that 2K11 "is not only the best basketball game I've ever played, it's one of the best sports games I've ever played, and a serious contender for Game of the Year."

Visit http://www.2ksports.com/games/nba2k11/

For more information, please contact: info@spectrarecords.com

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Emerging Past Soundtrack Deal with Spectra


Spectra Records has inked a deal with Church Hill Productions and Chocolate Bunny Productions to release the soundtrack to their triple award winning film “Emerging Past.” The 17 song soundtrack, primarily an alternative rock album with a mixture of pop and instrumental movie themes, is available now for download via MP3 or to order as a CD through the film’s website. It will be available on iTunes in the upcoming weeks and in stores such as Best Buy, Borders and FYE in April. This partnership with Spectra marks quite an achievement for an independent film and puts “Emerging Past” into the ranks of major studio releases. ”One of the best soundtracks I’ve heard all year! Great from start to finish.” – Bobby Collins, Spectra Records.

The musical score and several songs were written for the film by Gerard McMann, better known as G Tom Mac, most famous for his cult favorite “Cry Little Sister” from the movie “The Lost Boys.” G Tom Mac has already had an internet hit with his single from the film “Soul I Bare” and its accompanying music video shot by “Emerging Past” filmmaker Thomas J. Churchill. G Tom Mac’s song with late actor Cory Haim, “Mend Me,” is also featured. Singer Katie DiCicco lends two songs to the CD: her award winning “Mud,” which took home Best Song from the New York City International Film Festival and “Beautiful Tragedy.” Churchill also directed the music video to “Mud” which can be seen on YouTube. Other Spectra artists such as Kizzy Star and gold selling artist Magni round out the playlist. Churchill is extremely proud of the finished product and feels it has “earned its position in stores next to soundtracks from the top grossing films.”

This soundtrack partnership is just the beginning for projects between Spectra Records and Church Hill Productions. Look for more music, film and events from this team in the near future.

Churchill has garnered much attention lately in the horror film world with “Emerging Past,” which he wrote, directed and produced. After creating a buzz at the New York City Independent Film Festivalwhen a second screening had to be booked because of the overwhelming interest (a first in festival history), the film took home the award for Best Horror Feature and Best Song for “Mud.” This impressive accomplishment was followed by a Best Actor win at the Spooky Empire Freakshow Horror Film Festival in Orlando, FL in October. The Best Actor win made three wins in as many screenings, setting an enviable record for any feature film. Churchill premiered “Emerging Past” in Pennsylvania at the Mr. Hush Weekend of Fear, which also premiered “Mr. Hush” – a film in which he has a supporting role as Sheriff Churchill as well as being a producer. “Emerging Past” went on to the Salty Horror Film Festival in Salt Lake City and will continue to be shown to eager horror fans at festivals and conventions around the country in 2011.

“Emerging Past” is a horror twisted psycho-thriller rollercoaster ride of terror that follows a tormented woman on her journey to discover where her past is leading her. The film features an impressive cast of genre stars including: Brooke McCarter (“The Lost Boys”), Steve Dash (“Friday the 13th Part 2), Tony Moran (“Halloween 1 & 2”) and Stephen Geoffreys (“Fright Night”). Churchill says that his vision for the film came from a road trip to Washington DC, the setting for one of his favorite films, “The Exorcist” and says “somewhere between “The Exorcist” and “The Omen” “Emerging Past” shall sit.”

Features on a variety of internet radio programs – such as The Jimmy Star Show, Random Talk Radio and Mothpod – have helped to create anticipation and buzz on this film in the horror film community. It has also been mentioned on popular horror sites such as Dread Central, From Dusk Till Con, GeekTyrant and Encyclopedia Psychotica.

-We Are Movie Geeks (4th Most Read Article on Google January 4, 2011)