Looking For A Record Deal?

Zendali

I regularly visit London and have been asked by a music industry friend to check out new talent here in Ireland. So whether you`re a band, songwriter or recording artist we can possibly help to find you that recording or music publishing deal.

I say "possibly" because there are no guarantees, it`s down to what the individual label or publisher is looking for at any given time. Your songs or band sound may simply not "fit" their current requirements, but that`s not to say that your work isnt still good in it`s own way.

No PM`s please as I wont have time to read them. Just email me a brief description of what you`re about, a photo, and a link to your sound online: gerregan1@hotmail.com. If you dont already have songs uploaded on the social media sites like youtube, myspace etc then we honestly cant take you seriously. We`ll give everyone a fair listen and get back to those who we feel could be in demand by the labels.

iMADEtheBBC

What is the model you're using ? Will you be seeking a percentage of the publishing deal or a flat fee ?

What will your role be in brokering these deals ? Can you direct the readers of this board to previous deals you have been involved with ?

What is your track record? Out of , say, 200 artists that you have brought to publishers or labels how many have been offered deals ?

Zendali

In answer to your series of questions, we are not operating to any rigid formula. Each act will have their own individual requirements as to what exactly they want from any label or publisher. It could be a licensing deal or a 360 deal or a sub-publishing deal etc. If we find an act which we feel will excite the industry then we`ll sit down with that act and discuss terms that are fully acceptable to both sides.

But that`s all hypothetical until such time as we find the right act. My colleague in London has been around the industry for some 15 years and has the "ears" of several senior execs. My brief is to search for suitable unsigned talent here in Ireland and to narrow this down to a shortlist. He also has someone on the ground in France, Hungary and Sweden so the competition for a label deal is acute.

Many thanks to all those who emailed their links. Due to the large volume of replies and the time it takes to give everyone a fair listen, I cant possibly give feedback to any individual`s material. Teaching is my dayjob and this is purely a sideline activity which already taken up a considerable amount of time.

Stephentlig

this sounds like a great oppertunity knocks that shouldnt be missed, but I would like to advise all youngsters/elders to make sure them songs are copywritten as you cant just trust anyone you meet on the net.

Dont jump the gun and use your heads.:D

Pax Christi
Stephen

NukaCola

Stephentlig wrote: »

but I would like to advise all youngsters/elders to make sure them songs are copywritten as you cant just trust anyone you meet on the net.

The minute you record your original work its automatically copyrighted under Irish music law as far as i'm aware...

Stephentlig

KingKenny wrote: »

The minute you record your original work its automatically copyrighted under Irish music law as far as i'm aware...

really? you'll have to quote me something a little more solid than that to make it believable, but I do know that when I was writing and recording I'd copyright it by registering it to myself in an envelope.

and the only time I'd open it is if I was in front of the judge to prove that it was my song.

Pax Christi
Stephen

NoQuarter

Stephentlig wrote: »

really? you'll have to quote me something a little more solid than that to make it believable

A quote from the Copyright and Related Rights Act 2000 ok for you?

139.—(1) The presumptions specified in this section shall apply in any proceedings, whether civil or criminal, for infringement of the copyright in any work.

(2) Copyright shall be presumed to subsist in a work until the contrary is proved.

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2000/en/act/pub/0028/index.html

You just have to prove that the work is yours, so keep recordings of when it was created etc...
And you also need to prove there is copyright infringment, so you would have to prove the other person had proof of access (This thread would do quite nicely I would imagine).

Just to add, putting a copyright notice on your work (c) will allow the other side be aware of your copyright and can never hurt.


edit: On topic - I think its a good opportunity, if my band was ready I would jump at the chance!

Zendali

I`m not a music lawyer but surely once a band or songwriter uploads their songs on myspace etc then surely that`s an electronic registration of copyright? If not then the tried and trusted ways are either to post a copy of your recordings to yourself by registered post and leave it unopened, (as a poster said earlier) or join IMRO as a musician member and register your songs with them.

The replies are still flowing in at a steady rate and the standard overall has been quite good. Some of the singing and musicianship has been excellent but unfortunately a lot of the songwriting hasnt come up to the same level. I`m sure some of these songs would grow on the listener after several listens but we dont have that luxury in our case. If the song doesnt grab the label exec by the end of the first listen, then he or she will simply move on to hear the next song in the queue.

NukaCola

Zendali wrote: »

The replies are still flowing in at a steady rate and the standard overall has been quite good. Some of the singing and musicianship has been excellent but unfortunately a lot of the songwriting hasnt come up to the same level. I`m sure some of these songs would grow on the listener after several listens but we dont have that luxury in our case. If the song doesnt grab the label exec by the end of the first listen, then he or she will simply move on to hear the next song in the queue.

`
If your interested in great unsigned bands you should check out www.breakingtunes.com. There are some fantastic irish bands on there.
Good luck with the search!

ColmDawson

king-stew wrote: »

A quote from the Copyright and Related Rights Act 2000 ok for you?

Good thing it wasn't 'sicki wiki'...

Zendali

Thanks for the tip BumbleBee, I`d been on the site before but because there are so many new sites appearing all the time I`d forgotten about it. I`ve had 56 email replies to this post so Boards seems to be a very popular site among the music community.

One singer mailed me who`s 20 and plays guitar. She wondered if I`d be interested as she doesnt write her own tunes. Of course I would if the voice and guitar playing are as good as the two covers she recorded. You dont have to write songs to make it in music and publishers have thousands of songs on file waiting to be performed and recorded.

Air_Bass

Zendali, would it be possible to give us some information on your portfolio : can you name some acts that you have worked with? If your colleague in London has been in the business for 15 years there must be several acts he has worked with that we will know. Some information about how you intent to work with an act or artist would be helpful. Are you guys Music Publishers, A&R, Managment ??? Does the artist pay you up front ?

drumdrum

Hi Zendali,

Nice of ye for what your doing for others with your own free time. Decent of ya!

Just wondering though, when you say things like "If the song doesnt grab the label exec by the end of the first listen, then he or she will simply move on to hear the next song in the queue" , does this mean that the exec is looking for radio friendly, ie, commercial, ie, INDIE music only, or are they open to less radio friendly genres like meta, jazz or grundge?

It just seems to me these days is that most "big" labels wont touch ya unless you are likely to turn a quick buck sometime soon!

Zendali

In answer to "Air Bass": my colleague in London is a music producer and has worked with several international acts. For this reason his opinion is well respected among senior A & R. If you want to forward us a link to your songs and they meet his approval, then he`ll be only too happy to show off his CV.

For my part I`m merely trying to filter the dozens of demos from unsigned Irish acts. (I`ve had about 90 email links so far, so apologies for not getting back to some people). My colleague has a production company and a network of scouts like me in other "territories". Each of us will send him a shortlist of acts and he will then narrow it down further from that list.

There is no cost to the artist/act to submit a link. If he chooses you then he`ll discuss all the issues such as management, publishing, etc and will find you a professional management company if you dont already have one. But that`s all wishful thinking at this stage, until such time as your music gets his approval.

In answer to "drumdrum": labels dont have the financial resources they once had, due to cd piracy, illegal file sharing, etc. For every cd sold, it`s estimated that up to 25 copies are burnt onto blank cd`s. So the labels are less likely than ever to take a punt on a slow selling genre. They want saleable music that will connect with an international market. As regards the "merits" of saleable music and what they`re looking for, that`s another thread in itself.

Ash.J.Williams

Zendali wrote: »

I`m not a music lawyer but surely once a band or songwriter uploads their songs on myspace etc then surely that`s an electronic registration of copyright? If not then the tried and trusted ways are either to post a copy of your recordings to yourself by registered post and leave it unopened, (as a poster said earlier) or join IMRO as a musician member and register your songs with them.

The replies are still flowing in at a steady rate and the standard overall has been quite good. Some of the singing and musicianship has been excellent but unfortunately a lot of the songwriting hasnt come up to the same level. I`m sure some of these songs would grow on the listener after several listens but we dont have that luxury in our case. If the song doesnt grab the label exec by the end of the first listen, then he or she will simply move on to hear the next song in the queue.

So it's a fad you are after as opposed to any longevity?

all the stars

Ash.J.Williams wrote: »

So it's a fad you are after as opposed to any longevity?

yes to your question.
Product placement as opposed to artistic devolopment i believe.

drumdrum

Zendali wrote: »

In answer to "drumdrum": labels dont have the financial resources they once had, due to cd piracy, illegal file sharing, etc. For every cd sold, it`s estimated that up to 25 copies are burnt onto blank cd`s. So the labels are less likely than ever to take a punt on a slow selling genre. They want saleable music that will connect with an international market. As regards the "merits" of saleable music and what they`re looking for, that`s another thread in itself.

Ah I completely understand that its tough for EVERY industry at the moment, no doubt! The music industry has been extremely hard hit, although IMO it encouraged the piracy and downloading with exorbitant costs (E25 for a CD at one point in the shop!) and failing to adapt to changing media distribution methods.
Unfortunately the industry is very much about "who-you-know" and as such, its very hard to get ahead by yourself all the way. You can get dam far, but to the top tier you need the person who can give your product (CD) to the right person, at the right time, giving your music the best chance!

Anyways, say you were to take MUSE today as they started off 10+ years ago with Showbiz. Sure, that type of music probably wouldn't sell amazingly well (still a great album IMHO), but see what they would produce soon after as being some of the most iconic albums of the noughties! Still selling too, so surely they are a profitable band.

My point is, is that if you only take the "whats in now!" approach, you can force bands to either change their sound to be more "commercial", and hence damage potential future masterpieces from the bands. Sometimes, you gotta nurture a duckling before it can become a swan.....ya get what Im saying?
I mean, look at all the American R'n'B music in the charts these days....its insane! Sure they turn a quick buck for the music labels, but where are 90% of the artists in 3 years time? No where better, with "has-been" written all over their careers! If you nurture a band with potential, there is no telling where they can go, regardless of their genres.
I'll admit that certain genres are more.... specific to their audiences than others, but in my view, if you are willing to look outside of the "Radio-friendly" bands, you can find some real gems out there, that could be the next Muse or whatever.

I guess if you really want to give it s fair shot at the music biz in a genre other than indie, you gotta go Stateside!
Bring back the grundge rock from the nineties! Stone Temple Pilots....Soundgarden, Pearl Jam (still great!)...now they were bands!

Zendali

In response to Ash.J.Williams: are we looking for a fad as opposed to longevity? By "fad" I presume you mean a one-hit wonder or a designer band which ticks all the boxes as to current music fashion, the flavour of the week in NME`s cyberspace equivalent.

No we`re just looking for invention and innovation, bands and artists who have their own distinctive "signature sound". Kings Of Leon have this, Moby and Radiohead have this, Tricky from Portishead has this. When a covers band attempts a song from artists like these, they invariably come off looking decidedly 2nd best.

As regards longevity, recordings from the best artists will last the test of time. Naturally we`d love to work with artists over the long haul but unfortunately when you get a group of highly creative musicians together in a band, like the Beatles, Stone Roses and countless others, it`s only a matter of time before the whole thing implodes.

In response to someone else who mentioned the words "product placement", I`m sorry but I cant help you there. I dont share that stereotypical view of the music industry, where anyone not in a band or up on stage is somehow viewed as "a rottweiler in a suit". Would we have heard of U2 without Paul Mc Guinness or The Beatles without Brian Epstein?

DamagedTrax

labels dont have the financial resources they once had, due to cd piracy

hmmm.. more like due to stuffin the white stuff up their noses and ripping the public off with exorbitant prices to fund same habit while the artist gets a pittance... :pac:

Zendali

Whatever about the white stuff they certainly ripped us off for years with their margins on cd sales. But their income today is only a fraction of what it was a few years ago, before hi-speed broadband really took off. That`s why their parent companies are investing away from music and getting more into the likes of video gaming, PS3 and Wii software etc.

I fully agree, Drumdrum, that a label should nourish an act and help them to develop their career, like in the case of Muse. But the funds arent there anymore for speculating on a band`s potential. Worse again, the small indie labels which were run by passionate music fans and who relied on cd sales to survive, are going to the wall in their thousands.

Indie labels were relied upon to discover the most exciting cutting-edge acts and the majors would keep track of the indie label signings. But with cd sales in tatters right now and indie labels being squeezed out of existence, the majors seem to be concentrating their resources on talent show winners from X Factor and American Idol. It makes sense from a business viewpoint, with a tv audience of millions. But from an artistic viewpoint it sucks to high heaven, as i`m sure you`ll agree

Fandango

Zendali wrote: »

It makes sense from a business viewpoint, with a tv audience of millions. But from an artistic viewpoint it sucks to high heaven, as i`m sure you`ll agree

Nail on the head. We can all piss and moan about the lack of decent music these days but in the end, these guys are a business. The heads of the companies arent looking for credit and a pat on the back for signing a great band, they are looking for profit. To be honest, i think its going back to the days where unless your an X Factor winner or have a huge myspace following like the Arctic Monkeys did, record companies wont go near you unless you sell out gigs left right and centre already as they cant afford to take the risks they could 10 years ago or so.

MilanPan!c

Fandango wrote: »

Nail on the head. We can all piss and moan about the lack of decent music these days but in the end, these guys are a business. The heads of the companies arent looking for credit and a pat on the back for signing a great band, they are looking for profit. To be honest, i think its going back to the days where unless your an X Factor winner or have a huge myspace following like the Arctic Monkeys did, record companies wont go near you unless you sell out gigs left right and centre already as they cant afford to take the risks they could 10 years ago or so.

Not really true... I have a bunch of labels talking to me based on no shows in 4 years and a few thousand MySpace plays.

Good songs and a good sound and hard work still work, just not as quickly.

Not boasting, promise, just think this whole thing is more pessimistic than realistic in my opinion and experience.

Jan_86

Just a tip - keep an eye out for a band called Jezzebelle. They're up and coming and well worth a look. They have a website and facebook too and as far as i know, theyre not signed. I saw them supporting Jack L in Vicar St there last week and got their CD and its really good. I usually don't like new bands but they've also got a single being released on Itunes soon enough.

Anyway, check them out and see what you think!
www.jezzebellemusic.com or their facebook is http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Jez...7660900?ref=ts

Zendali

In reply to Milan Pan!c, I`m glad to hear that you`ve been getting good interest from various labels and I hope it works out. If I`m coming across as pessimistic it`s only because I`m stating the harsh realities of today`s music industry. I`m certainly not a pessimist by nature and the very fact that I started this post in search of exciting new talent here in Ireland is an indication of my optimism, I hope.

Although my original intention with this post was merely to search for talent, via myspace links that readers would mail me, it has since opened up into a forum about the current state of the music industry. As we`re all variously involved in this area, whether as an unsigned artist or band or A & R consultant like me, (a glorified term for a talent scout!!), it`s a debate that`s relevant to us all. We can only learn from each other.

MilanPan!c

Zendali wrote: »

In reply to Milan Pan!c, I`m glad to hear that you`ve been getting good interest from various labels and I hope it works out. If I`m coming across as pessimistic it`s only because I`m stating the harsh realities of today`s music industry. I`m certainly not a pessimist by nature and the very fact that I started this post in search of exciting new talent here in Ireland is an indication of my optimism, I hope.

Although my original intention with this post was merely to search for talent, via myspace links that readers would mail me, it has since opened up into a forum about the current state of the music industry. As we`re all variously involved in this area, whether as an unsigned artist or band or A & R consultant like me, (a glorified term for a talent scout!!), it`s a debate that`s relevant to us all. We can only learn from each other.

Threads like thus are invaluable and/because there's no doubt in my mind that things are harder now.

All I was trying to say, probably clumsily, was that labels always need something to sell. If you can make something that one person who is able to help you is interested in then you have a shot.

The more people your material excites, that is, the people in the industry that hold the purse strings, the greater your chance of not getting screwed.

But it all comes back to the same things: material, personalities, work ethic and appeal.

If you can even tick a few if those boxes and are brave and persistent, convention is kinda meaningless.

Think of your favourite band - how'd they get a break? Endless touring as an unsigned act? Probably not. A billion MySpace hits? Almost as unlikely.

The bands we all listen to found an ear, at a show or most likely through a friend of a friend. But that doesn't mean labels sign their friends bands... They'd all have collapsed years ago.

What it means is:

if you have talent and work hard and take chances then when your opportunity comes you might be ready to take it.

When I was a teenager my first band ever was offered a major label deal, if we got a new singer. We said no.

I regret that almost every day.

Follow your dreams and bust your hump and be smart and persistent. This thread proves that opportunities exist.

Most people aren't ready...


Oh and btw., I hope it works out too.

If you want to help, you know where to reach me.

Bass Level

hey man good thread you started here i`m learning heaps. have you come across any cool bands? you into metal btw cause i`m in a band here in antrim and we brew up a storm at every gig we could be much bigger if we had the rite biz guy behind us

Zendali

In response to Milan Pan!c: I agree absolutely with the thrust of what you`re saying. The hardest working acts generally win out in the end. If you want to mail me a link to three good tunes on myspace, (preferably under 4 minutes for each song), I`ll give them a close listen.

In response to Bass Level: I`ve been getting some really good replies from bands and songwriters in Northern Ireland. So fire ahead and mail me links to your band`s tunes. Metal is fine by me though I`d probably lean more towards the melodic vocal end of the genre, like Children Of Bodom.

To those bands and songwriters who`ve been mailing me from England, Wales and even one yesterday from Canada, I`m trying to confine this to unsigned Irish acts. I`ve already been swamped by demo links and I couldnt possibly cope with overseas acts as well.

Bass Level

i been followin this thread and just a couple of wee points there from "Milan Pan!c" that i dont realy get. "Think of your favourite band - how'd they get a break? Endless touring as an unsigned act? Probably not. A billion MySpace hits? Almost as unlikely." i was always told to gig gig and keep giggin till the right guy seen us from a record label and we get tight as well playin heaps of gigs no? and see that there bout myspace are you sayin that millions of hits wont catch the eye of a biz guy

MilanPan!c

Bass Level wrote: »

i been followin this thread and just a couple of wee points there from "Milan Pan!c" that i dont realy get. "Think of your favourite band - how'd they get a break? Endless touring as an unsigned act? Probably not. A billion MySpace hits? Almost as unlikely." i was always told to gig gig and keep giggin till the right guy seen us from a record label and we get tight as well playin heaps of gigs no? and see that there bout myspace are you sayin that millions of hits wont catch the eye of a biz guy

I wouldn't be surprised if someone said that to you, but the majority of bands aren't signed on the basis of being good live... Think of how many huge bands are only OK live... Bands are signed because someone sees a business opportunity.

Playing a lot live may make you a better live band, but it won't guarantee you have good songs that someone can sell.

Anyway, it's just a reflection of what I've seen happen repeatedly in my years in the biz. Feel free to completely ignore it or give contrary advice. Everyone has different experiences, right.



Good luck as well, seriously!

Zendali

A couple of interesting points there raised by Bass Level. I think the number of hits on an act`s myspace would certainly be noted by a label exec. I found this during my own experience of checking out scores of email links from this thread. Some acts had less than 200 hits while others had well over 100,000. They all got an equal listen but no need to guess which ones got my closer scrutiny.

On the question of gigging and the importance of being good live, this is a tricky one to answer. I agree with Milan Pan!c where he writes: "think of how many huge bands are only OK live". I think a lot of it comes down to the particular genre. Certainly in the case of a metal gig the band would need to be really tight as the fans would expect nothing less than brilliant musicianship. In the case of an indie band who have added loads of overdubs in the studio, they can sound very bare on stage with just a guitar, bass and drums.

American labels always attached a big importance to an act`s live performance whereas the focus among European labels was very much on what the act could do in a studio. An extreme example here would be Enya, who`d sold over 20 million albums before doing her first gig. That would be almost unthinkable in America, where the label head honchos would`ve insisted on seeing her perform before signing her

Paulbronco

Interesting thread and would be nice to see an artist get something from this and maybe go on to better things , but can you tell us what percentage in your own opinion of all that you've heard so far might be of interest to your friend in england and if you have forwarded any artists webpage on to him/her as a result?

good luck all:)

Zendali

In reply to Paulbronco: I`ll be sending a list of 5 acts to London this coming weekend, based on the first batch of 100 or so replies. (So that`s about 5%). I`ll then send him further lists as I work through further batches. We didnt expect so many replies so I`ll be sending on links on an ongoing basis while the replies are still coming in.

I found a lot of the acts arent really prepared for a label and could clearly do with some management. Loads of basic errors like: having one original and two covers on their myspace; having songs of 6 to 7 minutes in length, with intros lasting up to a minute; having song ideas instead of finished songs, with one act having a song lasting 1 minute and 20 seconds.

A lot of the rock bands had youtube clips of their gigs. They came across far better live than in their recorded songs on myspace. Great energy on stage and great reactions from the audience, but their recorded songs were often let down by a poor vocal or overproduced recording. Would these bands not consider having their gigs recorded and then selling this live album wherever they play next?

It`s just a suggestion and if anyone else wants to chip in some advice then feel free. Same way, if any act wants industry advice then fire ahead. I or anyone else on here may be able to help them.

MilanPan!c

Zendali wrote: »

In reply to Paulbronco: I`ll be sending a list of 5 acts to London this coming weekend, based on the first batch of 100 or so replies. (So that`s about 5%). I`ll then send him further lists as I work through further batches. We didnt expect so many replies so I`ll be sending on links on an ongoing basis while the replies are still coming in.

I found a lot of the acts arent really prepared for a label and could clearly do with some management. Loads of basic errors like: having one original and two covers on their myspace; having songs of 6 to 7 minutes in length, with intros lasting up to a minute; having song ideas instead of finished songs, with one act having a song lasting 1 minute and 20 seconds.

A lot of the rock bands had youtube clips of their gigs. They came across far better live than in their recorded songs on myspace. Great energy on stage and great reactions from the audience, but their recorded songs were often let down by a poor vocal or overproduced recording. Would these bands not consider having their gigs recorded and then selling this live album wherever they play next?

It`s just a suggestion and if anyone else wants to chip in some advice then feel free. Same way, if any act wants industry advice then fire ahead. I or anyone else on here may be able to help them.

Some venues in the States do this and it actually works out great for all parties.

Give the sound guy 50 quid and get a really sharp sounding version of your songs...

Surprised to know that's not too common around here..?

A venue would be wise to cop onto that...

It's amazing, for instance, how many bands sell CDs recorded at The Spiral in NYC... the staff are bastards and the venues a dive, but the recordings they make are really astonishing.

At least they were back in the day.

So, sound guys, get on that.

Bass Level

that new york place sounds realy good man d`you know what kind of gear they use is it an analogue desk? and what happens if the band make a mistake do they have to start over again with the song?

MilanPan!c

Bass Level wrote: »

that new york place sounds realy good man d`you know what kind of gear they use is it an analogue desk? and what happens if the band make a mistake do they have to start over again with the song?

No idea on the gear, the recording was available on DAT or CD.

The place actually didn't warn bands that they were being recorded. After you finished your set they'd start playing it back to you almost immediately over the PA then try an sell it to you...

Also, the sound guys name was, wait for it... Pepsi.

No ****.

Bands record themselves live a LOT in the states, mostly to fine tune their set.

Good idea.

Zendali

Are there any engineers looking on here? I`ve been getting loads of replies from bands whose youtube clips show them playing a dynamic live set, working the audience to a frenzy.

Then I hear their recorded songs on myspace and it`s a major anti-climax. They dont seem to be able to reproduce that energy and soul in the studio. Are these bands better off getting a mobile studio to record their gigs, then fine-tune the mix and add overdubs in the studio?

louloumc89

Bass Level wrote: »

that new york place sounds realy good man d`you know what kind of gear they use is it an analogue desk? and what happens if the band make a mistake do they have to start over again with the song?

We played a set in Dolans warehouse in Limerick and the sound guy recorded it for us. Savage venue, savage sound....Very excited to split the recording up and put it on our myspace.

Should be up on Monday if you want to hear how it sounds.
www.myspace.com/veryangrygirls

conorcuffe

Hey were not together too long but we put up a video of us playing an original in the studio, its meant to be pretty catchy if you want to check it out, and it gets a good response live, hope to hear from you soon!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1DXP0tY0rw

Zendali

Thanks "louloumc89" for that info, Dolans sounds like a really good venue in Limerick. Is that the best place for visiting bands to play there? The Roisin Dubh in Galway has a good sound as well but does anyone know if the engineer there records the gigs?

In reply to "conorcuffe": I`d prefer if links didnt appear on this thread. I`m trying to create a forum where advice and info is exchanged by readers to help the countless unsigned acts who are out there. And the last thing I want to do is comment on your song, (or anyone else`s), in public.

I gave my email address early on in this thread so just mail me a link to your myspace songs and I`ll give them a fair listen, same way as hundreds of others have done so far. Your 3 best songs of 4 mins duration or less is all I need to hear. Posting a link to the songs on this thread just reminds me of queue jumping and is a positive turn off.

Bass Level

what kinda bands you mostly been gettin is it indie or oasis kasabian kinda stuff?

louloumc89

Zendali wrote: »

Thanks "louloumc89" for that info, Dolans sounds like a really good venue in Limerick. Is that the best place for visiting bands to play there? .

Dolans is probably the best place to play in Limerick. It's harder to get gigs there for new bands, without taking the risk of making the money you pay for the venue back on ticket sales. The recordings from our gig there last week are now up on our myspace, if you want to hear the quality. It's basically what went through the mixer. The vocals are a bit high obviously, but it's good.

Baker Place is a really great place for new bands, it's where we started out. They have lots of gigs and they won't charge you to use the venue. Plus, if you need an opening act, or a couple of opening acts, they will sort you out with good local bands.

Caught

Hey,

I've written a few songs but I'm not really sure if they're any good and I don't want anyone close to me to hear them [I'd be afraid they'd be awful - or tell my Mam I wrote songs! I hate it when she wants me to play stuff for and stuff, kinda a long story]. I think I might be better at them than covers though - so which should I record and send you, do you recommend?
I'd be afraid I'd choose the worst song I've ever written if I sent you the video - I'd be stuck between two or three [and I cant go by which ones I love - I loved one a few years ago and now I just cringe - one of my first songs though, so its kinda understandable, right? I WAS 12 or something, like...] :P
Also am I a bit late to send you the video?

Go raibh maith agat
Caught

P.S. Is that recording copyright thing seriously legit! I could save myself SO MUCH on stamps on envelopes. :rolleyes: :P Hey, I'm 15. I don't have all the money in the world you know. And it is a recession...

P.P.S Do you like Hollywoods Records Disney kinda music? Because I'm leaning towards one song and it reminds me of Demi Lovato...

Byeeee.

Zendali

In reply to "Bass Level": the bulk of the replies so far have come from rock bands, with soft rock, blues rock, hard rock, alt rock etc. Loads of indie bands as well, with influences like Pulp, Blur, Radiohead and Elbow. Singer-songwriters have also been raining down from the skies along with punk and electro-guitar bands. And also loads of recordings from bedsit/bedroom composers, using software like Reason and Cubase and composing movie soundtracks, triphop, and various creative sounds.

In reply to "Louloumc89": Dolans Warehouse sounds like a happening venue in your part of the world. The only venues I`d heard of before were Boru`s Porterhouse and The Stables in the University of Limerick, so it`s good to know that if a band are doing a nationwide with one available slot for Limerick, then they should pencil in Dolans.

In reply to "Caught": Pixie Lott wrote her first hit at 15, but unless you`re a prodigious talent like that, what`s the rush in looking for Jedward-like fame and a record deal? Why not let your talent develop and mature because who knows, in a few years time you could be fronting an indie guitar band like Catatonia as your music taste changes?

Bass Level

just a question there for louloumc89 is there much of a metal scene in limerick and wheres best down south for metal bands to play? i been told cork is good does anyone here know?

MilanPan!c

This thread should be pinned. It's become a useful "industry talk" jumping off point.

louloumc89

Bass Level wrote: »

just a question there for louloumc89 is there much of a metal scene in limerick and wheres best down south for metal bands to play? i been told cork is good does anyone here know?

Yea, there's a pretty big metal scene in Limerick. Baker Place always has metal nights. If you get in touch with them on myspace or facebook or whatever, the manager should be able to sort you out. As for Cork, I know we played a gig in An Brog, and it was good enough. Apparently they have metal nights there too. We're playing in Cork in a few weeks in a bar called Fred Zeppelins, it's supposed to be more of a metal bar. We're playing with a couple of punk bands that night though. If you send me on your myspace, I can put you in touch with a couple of metal bands I'm mates with down here.

Caught

Zendali wrote: »

In reply to "Caught": Pixie Lott wrote her first hit at 15, but unless you`re a prodigious talent like that, what`s the rush in looking for Jedward-like fame and a record deal? Why not let your talent develop and mature because who knows, in a few years time you could be fronting an indie guitar band like Catatonia as your music taste changes?

Haha, I'm not a prodigy in any way! Well, I'm great at maths and making imaginative English stories and poems, but thats as close to a prodigious talent you'll get from me! I wouldnt want to wait because I think it'll be harder in a few years because I'll be older - sure Kevin Jonas is in his 20s but Nick is 17! I'm imagining it would take years to try get a deal of any sort, if I was to ever get one. All the musicians I love as in their teens and twenties [except the amazing Westlife, of course, and the Script I think, and Leona Lewis]. It would take years to get there, unless you went along the route of something like the X Factor, in which case you're propelled so fast that Hookes Law makes you spin downwards in proportionate timing. Look at Eoghan Quigg, he got dropped last July. You;ve made me have something to think about though, so thanks.

iMax

Subscribing to an interesting thread

Stephentlig

In reply to "Caught": Pixie Lott wrote her first hit at 15, but unless you`re a prodigious talent like that, what`s the rush in looking for Jedward-like fame and a record deal? Why not let your talent develop and mature because who knows, in a few years time you could be fronting an indie guitar band like Catatonia as your music taste changes?

I agree with this, waiting for a few years to allow oneself to mature both voice wise and songwriting. A nice bottle of wine thats been in the cellar a few years tastes a lot nicer than the cheapo one you buy for a fiver around your local londis, but like good bands such as the beatles there comes a time when we must empty the bottle of its contents after a good few years, and although the bottle is empty and the wine no longer, the memory of how good it tasted stays with you forever.:DmMMMmmm

Pax Christi
Stephen

Zendali

Thanks a lot to louloumc89, Caught, iMax and Stephentlig for posting informative and witty comments. It`s what every forum needs

And apologies to all those who have recently mailed me with their links to their myspace songs. I`ve been here in London since Saturday and fairly overwhelmed by all the galleries, gigs and all the other stimulus on offer. So my email Inbox has been put on a bit of a hold!!

But soon as I get back to Ireland I`ll go through the Inbox and give everyone a fair listen. Which is more than I can say for some of the label execs I`ve been meeting, who give a song about a 30 second listen before moving on, due to time restraints.

London is the gateway to the European music industry. For that reason, acts from Melbourne to Moscow and from Lagos to L.A. are targetting London to break Europe. I`m fully aware of this global competition having once worked in A & R for London-based labels and publishers. My dayjob is a music teacher but being a `paddy`, I`d love to help an Irish act to achieve their goal.

Stephentlig

Zendali wrote: »

Thanks a lot to louloumc89, Caught, iMax and Stephentlig for posting informative and witty comments. It`s what every forum needs

And apologies to all those who have recently mailed me with their links to their myspace songs. I`ve been here in London since Saturday and fairly overwhelmed by all the galleries, gigs and all the other stimulus on offer. So my email Inbox has been put on a bit of a hold!!

But soon as I get back to Ireland I`ll go through the Inbox and give everyone a fair listen. Which is more than I can say for some of the label execs I`ve been meeting, who give a song about a 30 second listen before moving on, due to time restraints.

London is the gateway to the European music industry. For that reason, acts from Melbourne to Moscow and from Lagos to L.A. are targetting London to break Europe. I`m fully aware of this global competition having once worked in A & R for London-based labels and publishers. My dayjob is a music teacher but being a `paddy`, I`d love to help an Irish act to achieve their goal.

Well I mailed you some of my songs of old, I'm not sure you know of people who'd buy the songs as I dont play anymore, and could do with some cash in the back pocket.

Gods will be done for me of course.

Pax Christi
Stephen