New Signings & Team-Ups: April 19

US label deal for Sui Zhen

Melbourne electro pop songstress Sui Zhen (aka Becky Sui Zhen, pictured) who’s making waves with her Secretly Susan album through Dot Dash/Remote Control has landed a US issue with Chicago-based TwoSyllable via a licensing deal. It is released in North America on June 17. She plays a going away –and holding fundraiser show at Hugs & Kisses on Thursday May 5 – for her overseas turn. In addition, she is announced to play Splendour In The Grass.

US agency deal for Julia Jacklin

Eight shows at South By Southwest saw NSW’s Julia Jacklin hailed as one of the buzz new acts by the New York Times, NPR, The Guardian and NME. She’s now signed with Paradigm/Windish agency in the US (The Black Keys, Father John Misty, The National, Courtney Barnett) working with Dave Kaplan and Marshall Betts.

After her first Australian tour (April 29 to May 14), she heads off for her maiden UK run of dates. They run May 19 to 30, with three shows at The Great Escape in Brighton, Sound City Festival in Liverpool, This Must Be The Place Festival in Leeds and a club show at London’s The Forge. More international festival appearances are to be announced shortly.

AC/DC’s Gucci link up?

AC/DC look like they’re following in the trail of heavy rock acts as Black Sabbath into the fashion world. An AC/DC logo is featured in one of Gucci’s northern fall women’s fashion line. The front cover design of the New York Times’ fashion magazine T features a woman wearing apparel with the logo. After years of refusing to licence their works to brands, there has been a change of heart in recent years. Thunderstruck, for instance, has been used to plug utes, software and superannuation firms. Their one time manager Steve Barnett, now Chairman of Columbia Records, told the New York Times, “They have a purist approach. Their instinct was always to do the right thing for fans, think long term and not be influenced by financial rewards.”

Ziggy Marley sourced

Source Music has Ziggy Marley for the Australian and NZ release of his self-titled sixth album on May 20. The album is out elsewhere through Tuff Gong after which he will embark on a world tour, which will presumably bring him, back here. Talking about lead-off single Weekend’s Long, he explains, “It gives reasons why you should laugh instead of cry and why you should live instead of die. It’s a song of hope and revival for those who are losing hope. If you don’t want to go that deep, you can follow the tune and have fun with it.”

Sanzu’s album gets re-release

Three-year-old Perth death metal band Sanzu are to re-release their debut album Heavy Over The Home for global presence. The album was self-issued last year as part of their DIY ethic. Now it will be issued globally by Listenable Records on CD and limited edition orange vinyl. The updated version includes revised artwork with bonus tracks from their Painless EP. It is out on May 13 in Europe and on May 20 in North America.

Groeni gets European profile

Wellington EDM creative Alexander Green is Groeni, and Groeni is a solo studio production project turned three-piece band. In January, EDM.com’s Future Garage Soundcloud channel played the track Fray to 25,000 online plays, which led to airplay on BBC3. Now Groeni’s second EP Hewn, which runs a pencil over psychedelic folk, ambient techno and dubstep, is being released on Berlin-based Project Mooncircle/HHV.DE.

SoundCloud, Sony/ATV pact licensing deal in Europe

SoundCloud and Sony/ATV this morning announced a “multi-territory agreement for Europe” around the publisher’s vast catalogue. Its songwriters and composers will be able to generate more revenue through the online company’s ID technology.

High Contrast at 3Beat

Acclaimed British DJ and producer High Contrast has joined the 3 Beat roster, with a new album due at the end of 2016. First single Remind Me premiered on the BBC. The act (real name Lincoln Barrett) produced Underworld’s new album, Barbara, Barbara, We Have A Shining Future and also programmed the music for the athletes opening parade at the 2012 Olympics.

Home recording workshop

Tony Edwards from Razorblade Music in partnership with Regional Development Australia will host a free day-long home recording workshop at Make Place in Mandurah, WA, on May 8. Contact Edwards to reserve a place on (08) 9586 3400 or via email on john.lambrecht@rdapeel.org.au.

Krispy Kreme creates classic with jukebox

Krispy Kreme launched a new range of “classic” doughnuts with a limited edition old-school jukebox. Not only does the machine dispense the roundies but each of the four classic ranges comes with its own ‘50s signature song playlisted by Spotify. The campaign’s theme song was cut in Sydney. Roberto Pace, Managing Director of The Eleven agency, which co-produced with Digital Arts Network, said, “The Fifties is an important decade for pop culture and the music that went with it. We wanted to capture the era’s most memorable hits, bring back the jukebox and transport people back in time to celebrate the new Krispy Kreme range in a fun, memorable way.”

Red Bull launches live music series

Red Bull launches a new live music series in Sydney called Red Bull Sound Select. Designed to uncover new talent with a headliner and two supports, it will take place on the last Friday of every month. Starting date is April 29 with Methyl Ethel at the Chippendale Hotel. Red Bull partners I OH YOU’s Johann Ponniah and Laneway Festival’s Travis Banko will curate the series for Red Bull.

MTV event returns to the Philippines

Tourism Promotions Board Philippines partners with MTV to bring back the award winning MTV Music Evolution Manila to the country for a second year. It stages on June 24. MTV Asia announced OneRepublic as the first of the performers with local acts also to be confirmed. The free-entry event is recorded live for global telecast under the MTV World Stage series, to an international audience of more than three-quarters of a billion households in over 160 countries. Last year’s event drew 22,000 to Rizal Park in Manila to see Naughty by Nature, YG, Apl.de.ap, DJ Cash Money, and the Philippines’ Gloc-9 and Abra,

Limelight, Rhapsody, extend deal

Limelight Networks, a global player in digital content delivery, extended its 15-year relationship with music-streaming company Rhapsody. The Seattle-based Rhapsody will leverage the Limelight Orchestrate Delivery and Storage services to continue to deliver 35 million songs to its 3.5 million customers around the world.

Kobalt showers with Blue Raincoat

Kobalt Music Publishing inked a long term administration partnership with Blue Raincoat Songs, the publishing company led by UK music vets Jeremy Lascelles and Robin Millar which “aims to bring back the true spirit of independent music to the industry”.