New Signings & Team-Ups: Nov 17
Image: Henry Wagons has inked a deal with ABC/Universal
Lost Highway puts Imogen Clark on the right road
Alt-country label Lost Highway Australia’s latest roster addition is singer songwriter Imogen Clark. Inspired by Joni Mitchell and Ryan Adams, she’s a fast riser about whom Kasey Chambers said, “At just 20, she is already an old soul.” 2013’s Ceaseless Goodbye was shortlisted for APRA’s Vanda & Young Songwriting Competition and got an Honourable Mention in the International Songwriting Competition. Breakthrough single While Women Wait this year charted on CMC in Australia, played by AC radio in the US and cable TV giant Great American Country, with a reach of 59 million households. Clark will showcase from her 2016-due album at the Basement, Sydney on November 18.
Henry Wagons at ABC Music
Wagons frontman Henry Wagons(pictured) went to Nashville to record a solo album After What I Did Last Night… with producer Skylar Wilson and a crack team of Tennessee players. He’s signed a solo deal with ABC/ Universal which will release in February the album, a highly personal account of his journey from a misspent youth to father. First single out is Cold Burgers, Cold Fries.
Emma Louise joins Liberation roster
Queensland troubadour Emma Louise is at Liberation Music. First release is new single Underflow, written “about that feeling that swells up inside of you when you know that things in your life are about to change.” Louise designed the artwork: as the model on the cover is bald, the artist took on the same look for the accompanying video. Her sophomore album is set to follow in early 2016.
High Highs switch to Spunk
With their album Cascades due out in February, Brooklyn NYC-based Sydney group High Highs have signed with Spunk for ANZ and PIAS for the U.S. Although Cascades was made in upstate New York, “we wanted to make an ‘Australian’ record,” says Jack Milas. He adds that not only is there an all-year summer sound on the record, but so also Australia’s ‘80s synth pop sound.
Asia Pop 40 to screen ARIAs through Asia
EON Media Group’s Asia Pop 40 is the official Asian Radio Partner for the November 26 ARIA awards. The show is sending its host Dom Lau and two comp winners to cover the red carpet, the show and the after party. Asia Pop 40 broadcasts a lot of Australian music, with Sia, Sheppard, Rufus, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Justice Crew, Guy Sebastian, Nathaniel, Hermitude, 5SOS and Vance Joy among those getting high rotation Asian exposure.
Rob Graham, EON’s CEO explains, “The ARIAs are the most significant music awards show in the Asia-Pacific region and we are very excited to be part of the event once again. Australian Music is the mainstay of our Asia Pop 40 chart program and we are thankful to ARIA for this partnership, which gives our Asian audience unprecedented access to the awards each year.”
Inertia releasing So Pitted
Inertia will release Seattle punk trio So Pitted’s new album in February, after their signing with Sub Pop.
123 brings home a trophy
Melbourne based 123 Agency took on Newcastle pop punk outfit Trophy Eyes. The band’s made international waves since 2013’s Everything Goes Away EP. They were signed to US label Hopeless Records, toured the UK and Europe, and joined the Vans Warped tour this year through North America.
APRA AMCOS adds songwriter grant for Bouddi Foundation
A sponsorship from APRA AMCOS allowed The Bouddi Foundation For The Arts to present its inaugural songwriter grant this year. The Foundation encourages young talent from the NSW Central Court (http://www.bouddiarts.org.au/). At a ceremony at Wagstaffe Hall in the town of Wagstaffe, actor and Foundation Chairman John Bell presented 16-year old guitarist Joseph Arrua of Kincumber with the grant. Arrua, an APRA member who released the Lazy Afternoon EP, last year won the Kick Start Music Challenge set up by Central Coast musicians James Callaghan and Emma Paulley-Hughes to uncover local talent.
Danger Mouse launches 30th Century Records with compilation
Danger Mouse’s 30th Century Records, set up this year with Columbia Records, will launch with a compilation album curated and produced by the artist covering everything from garage to space, from Brazil to Glasgow. It includes Dan Auerbach’s blistering riffage in The Arcs and Autolux’s arty experimentalism alongside a Danger Mouse collaboration with Yellowbirds leader Sam Cohen and newcomers as Berkeley pop brothers Nine Pound Shadow and Waterstrider. Sony Music Entertainment Australia has a local release of December 18 for 30th Century Records Compilation Volume 1.
Good Manners never too much for Whale
Good Manners Records, which in August signed a deal with Caroline Australia/ Universal Music, has released the debut solo single If (Demo) by Sydney act Collarbones frontman Marcus Whale. Good Manners’ roster includes Banoffee, I’lls, Klo, LUCIANBLOMKAMP and Planète.
Future Classic joins Apple Music
Following on from triple j, Apple Music has tapped Aussie dance label Future Classic to curate a show. Its playlist comes from its own artist tracks as well as from other local sources specialising in new music.
BMW takes a drive with Deezer
BMW has gone into partnership with Deezer for its in-car Connected Drive service. BMW drivers cam access its catalogue without a smartphone, using the car’s built-in SIM card. Beemer drivers can select albums through ’Online Entertainment’ and store them on the hard drive. The music can be played offline at any time, even where Deezer is not connected.
Elefant Traks contributes to diabetes doco
As part of World Diabetes Day last Saturday, hip hop label Elefant Traks and streetwear Obey Clothing worked on the limited edition Shepard Fairey-designed ’Human Trial’ t-shirt. All proceeds go to The Human Trial, a US documentary by Lisa Hepner and Guy Grossman about Type 1 diabetes and follows one of America’s top research labs in its efforts to find a cure. Label signing The Herd’s Sulo (Richard Tamplenizza) was diagnosed four years ago with the disease after falling seriously ill whilst on tour.
Exhibition of Melbourne’s rave culture
A team up by the City of Melbourne, the Electronic Music Association, Melbourne Raves and Monash Art Design and Architecture set up an interactive multi-media exhibition in the Docklands of Melbourne’s 1990s rave culture which blossomed in the sheds of the former Victoria Docks. “Electronic music, circus schools, women’s warehouse parties, Queer stage spectaculars and dirt bike competitions were all part of this new scene,” recalls Rohan Leppert, Chair of Council’s Arts and Culture committee.
Pilerats reaches for Lower Spectrum
The record arm of Perth collective Pilerats signed WA EDM act, film composer and sound artist Lower Spectrum (aka Ned Beckley). His obsession with artistically pushing the envelope saw Traces last year receive over a million plays on Spotify. Pilerats will in early 2016 release the five track New Haze EP where “dynamic cadence, analogue emotion and gospel scripture permeate an aural glow, dissolving the boundary between human touch and mechanical precision.”
St. Paul and The Broken Bones land record deal
US southern soul purveyors St. Paul and The Broken Bones will have their second album out by the time they play Bluesfest next autumn. They just signed a record deal with a label called RECORDS, an indie formed by former RCA/Jive and Island Def Jam Music Group CEO Barry Weiss and SONGS Music Publishing. The Broken Bones’ first album (2014) reached #56 on the US charts.
Rod Laver Arena chooses Lendlease
The contract for the $338 million revamp of Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena has gone to Lendlease to complete by 2019. Changes include a new eastern entrance “pod”, a footbridge to link the venue to the CBD, automated and retractable seating and a loading bay that is most production-friendly in terms of easier access, larger scale capacity and quicker turnarounds.
Roc Nation helping out Philymac
Jay-Z’s Roc Nation and Phil McIntyre’s management company Philymack (Demi Lovato, Nick Jonas) will partner in projects in music and entertainment. No specifics but Jay-Z said, “Our views aligned on nurturing, growth and allowing creatives to stay true to their voice. That dream we are living today and it’s been amazing for all parties. We look forward to what tomorrow brings.”
The Veils learn to Nettwerk
London band The Veils are with Nettwerk Records, the North American company which signed Aussies Hermitude, Boy & Bear and the Angus & Julia Stone catalogue. Their album was co-produced by Nick Launay whose name is listed on a number of classic Australian albums.
Gwen Stefani launches Harajuku line
Gwen Stefani designed a line for Harajuku Girls female streetwear. This one, in association with Petco, is 30 items including hoodies, fedoras and socks for dogs.
Second Queensland industry hook up
The second of the HOOKUP series – a Brisbane industry initiative by QMusic, 4ZZZ and Music Industry Inside Out – will focus on managers. Three established managers will speak, followed by a Q&A, and a session where new managers will introduce themselves to the audience. It is at Foundry Records in Fortitude Valle on Monday December 7 from 5.30 pm.
Another hip hopper heads to US TV
Rapper, actor and producer Common has a two year deal with HBO for a first-look rights at projects he develops through his Freedom Road Productions. Two months ago, a coming-of-age drama was commissioned by rival Showtime.
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