Tag: New Music

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Monday Motivation: Senses Fail

If you’re anything like me, you probably started the day by recognizing that the start of a new work week had indeed arrived and then immediately began shaking your fists at the sky in anger. Monday is rarely anyone’s favorite day, and from what I have seen firsthand it feels safe to say it’s the one day of the week some people outright hate. I guess to them the arrival of the work week symbolizes the end of their quote/unquote freedom, and as a result they head into the office/factory/restaurant/store with a negative outlook already on their mind. This leads to bad attitudes, which only makes the experience of being at work worse, and for some reason it also seems to make time slow to a crawl. We’re not about that life, and we hope this post can do the same you that the song contained within it did for us.

It was around 4 o’clock in the afternoon last Saturday when I realized that I have spent over a decade of my life listening to Senses Fail. At 27 years of age, that makes my connection to vocalist and lyricist Buddy Nielsen one of the longest-running relationships of my entire life, easily putting every girlfriend I’ve ever had to shame. Heck, outside my parents and one or two select artists there are few, if any, whose nuanced take on the world around them has connected with me on such a deeply personal as his, and even less have been able to sustain that connection for even a year, let alone twelve. 

If you asked me why that is the way my life has played out even two weeks ago I probably couldn’t have told you. I had not yet made the connection myself, so of course there is no way I could have relayed such information to you, but having sat with this notion for a few sleepless nights (due to summer heat, not my connection to Senses Fail) I’ve reached a conclusion. Though the content I relate to has changed from album to album, there is a brash and relentless honesty riddled through each and every Senses Fail record that is not afraid to tear down everything, including the person uttering each line. It’s an all-encompassing sense (no pun intended) of ‘why not tell it like it is, for once’ that keeps me coming back again and again. I never know what Buddy will choose to share, but I know it will be true, and that is more than you can expect from the vast majority of artists working today.

This week, Senses Fail will release Pull The Thorns From Your Heart, their most experimental and thought-provoking release to date. I know I just spent several paragraphs relaying how honest the band has been with every release, but there is something unflinching boldness to this record that strips away every preconceived notion fans have about what Senses Fail are supposed to be and introduces a new, fully-matured band that knows exactly what they want to say and how it needs to be conveyed to listeners in order to make the biggest impact. It’s a cathartic listening experience that leads one to question not only the lies they’ve told others, but the ones they’ve been telling themselves, and how the time spent running from the truth has only been time wasted. You can say it’s good enough, but life isn’t meant to be lived in a way that is just okay. You’re supposed to take chances and, as the band explains on the record, “leap into the great unknown.”

I encourage all of you to make time for _Pull The Thorns From Your Heart _in the days ahead. This summer has been filled with great music, but very few have the potential to make as big of a positive impact as this one, and it just so happens to be one of the most diverse offerings of any group from the alternative world in all of 2015. It will make you feel in ways music rarely does, and that’s exactly what you need to head into the week ahead. You need something that will shake you from the comfort of whatever routine you have allowed yourself to fall into and make you reevaluate the path you have chosen, as well as the people you’ve asked to join you on your journey. 

It’s time to wake up and live the life you were meant to pursue, with love for yourself and others. _Pull The Thorns From Your Heart _will help, but the work is up to you. I believe in you.

James Shotwell is the Marketing Coordinator for Haulix. He is also a professional entertainment critic, covering both film and music, as well as the co-founder of Antique Records. Feel free to tell him you love or hate the article above by connecting with him on Twitter. Bonus points if you introduce yourself by sharing your favorite Simpsons character.

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New Music Tuesday: Citizen, Kacey Musgraves, & Leon Bridges

We know it would take far too long to highlight every client’s new release each week, so we’re going to choose a few select titles each week that we feel everyone should support. These are albums we will be buying ourselves, and we hope at the very least you give them a proper spin before deciding to purchase something else. James may write the column, but everyone at Haulix will have a say in who gets chosen.

Citizen – Everybody is Going To Heaven (CD/LP, Digital, Stream)

I didn’t know what to say the first time I heard Michigan natives Citizen perform their unique brand of boundary-pushing alternative rock, but I knew what I heard was something special. Their music feels like the impossible love child that could only result from the combination of Brand New and Nirvana, with just a dash of Thursday sprinkled on top to make you feel something beyond the typical ‘woe is me’ type emotions found in the underground alternative realm. Anyone familiar with the band before now is already familiar with this sound, but on Everybody Is Going To Heaven the band come into their own as only they are able. This is the record their debut, Youth, wanted to be, only better.

Kacey Musgraves – Pageant Material (CD/LP, Digital, Stream)

There is no such thing as country music anymore, or at least not in the classic sense. If people perform music that sounds like it could have been crafted by George Jones or Merle Haggard they’re labeled ‘traditional,’ while those who blend pop sensibilities with country structures are considered mainstream and/or crossover talents. Kacey Musgraves falls into the latter of those two descriptions, but there is no denying the influence of classic country hits on her latest album. Pageant Material plays like a collection of perfectly sequenced radio-ready singles, many of which have lyrics that feel written while Musgrave’s tongue was planted firmly in her cheek. It’s cute, but not cutesy. Fun, but not necessarily funny. It’s the future of modern country as far as I’m concerned, and it’s quite possible the catchiest album you will hear this summer. Don’t miss out.

Leon Bridges – Coming Home (CD/LP, Digital, Stream)

I won’t even beat around the bush on this one. There are some amongst the Haulix staff who believe Leon Bridges is destined to be the biggest start in the music business within the next five years, and they point to his newly released debut album as proof of his potential for global domination. It’s hard to describe what you’ll find on Coming Home without referencing the golden days of Motown and soul music, as the heavy influence from talents like Sam Cooke is oozing from every note and lyric on the entire record. If you close your eyes while the record plays you can actually picture the hazy, smoke-filled speakeasy where music like that created by Bridges was first rising to popularity over half a century ago. You see the men and women, all dressed to the nines, dancing as if they’re the only people in the world while alcohol splashes to the floor as they attempt to hold glasses and swing around a crowded room at the same time. You see and feel it all as if you were actually there, and then you open your eyes to realize everything you just experienced was caused by a twenty-something Texas native with a world of promise ahead of him. That is the power possessed by Coming Home, and I cannot recommend enough that you allow it to change your life as soon as time allows.

James Shotwell is the Marketing Coordinator for Haulix. He is also a professional entertainment critic, covering both film and music, as well as the co-founder of Antique Records. Feel free to tell him you love or hate the article above by connecting with him on Twitter. Bonus points if you introduce yourself by sharing your favorite Simpsons character.

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New Music Tuesday: High On Fire & The Ongoing Concept

Now that the Haulix blog has reached two years of existence we at HQ felt the time had come to add a few fresh ideas to the blog. We love helping writers, artists, and aspiring professionals, but we also love to talk about the amazing clients we work with and the incredible releases they put out week after week. Our Music Monday series has given us a chance to experiment with discussing the music we love to play around the office, and now we’re taking those efforts one step further with New Music Tuesday (soon to be New Music Friday). We know it would take far too long to highlight every client’s new release each week, so we’re going to choose a few select titles each week that we feel everyone should support. These are albums we will be buying ourselves, and we hope at the very least you give them a proper spin before deciding to purchase something else. James may write the column, but everyone at Haulix will have a say in who gets chosen.

High On Fire – Luminiferous (CD/LP, Digital, Stream)

With six solid or even great albums already under their belt, High On Fire have nothing left to prove with their new record, Luminiferous. Still, the California natives do their best to raise the bar for all modern heavy metal bands around the world with this nine-track opus. We have probably spent a month spinning the album on a near daily basis, and there are still times where we have to push back from our monitors, look to the stereo in disbelief, and quietly utter words like “wow” or “holy shit” while certain tracks play. “Carcosa,” for example, sounds like the soundtrack to a road trip through the same barren, war torn futuristic land where the latest Mad Max film took place. It pummels you into a state of metal-induced awe, and that’s before you realize it’s only the second track on the album. There’s nearly another hour to go, and it only gets better from there.

The Ongoing Concept – Handmade (CD, Digital, Stream)

If you listen to our podcast, Inside Music, then you already know that The Ongoing Concept went above and beyond the call of DIY rock when they decided to begin work on their new album Handmade. The band literally built their instruments from scratch, and by scratch I mean a tree they themselves cut down. They built their instruments, wrote an incredible follow-up to their critically-acclaimed debut, and then began making videos on their own to promote the record. One might think these added responsibilities distracted the group from focusing on the quality of their material, but that could not be further from the truth. Handmade swings from anthemic rock tracks, to emotionally-devastating moments of alternative beauty, and back again with seamless perfection. I have no idea why Saloon did not put them on everyone’s radar, but it seems hard to believe anyone will be able to ignore the awesome power of this record. Do not sleep on it.

James Shotwell is the Marketing Coordinator for Haulix. He is also a professional entertainment critic, covering both film and music, as well as the co-founder of Antique Records. Feel free to tell him you love or hate the article above by connecting with him onTwitter. Bonus points if you introduce yourself by sharing your favorite Simpsons character.

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Monday Motivation: Sorority Noise

If you’re anything like me, you probably started the day by recognizing the start of a new work week had indeed arrived and then immediately began shaking your fists at the sky in anger. Monday is rarely  anyone’s favorite day, and from what I have seen firsthand it feels safe to say it’s the one day of the week some people outright hate. I guess to them the arrival of the work week symbolizes the end of their quote/unquote freedom, and as a result they head into the office/factory/restaurant/store with a negative outlook already on their mind. This leads to bad attitudes, which only makes the experience of being at work worse, and for some reason it also seems to make time slow to a crawl. We’re not about that life, and we hope this post can do the same you that the song contained within it did for us.

There is a very good chance that by the time 2015 comes to a close Sorority Noise will be the biggest band in alternative music. Their upcoming album, Joy, Departed, is an unforgettable listening experience that doesn’t shy away from tough topics or honest conversation. You can sense the heartache and unabashed emotion pouring through nearly every verse and chorus, though never so much so that it becomes a bore. In fact, the album is one of the more diverse and unique releases to be produced by the current scene in quite some time. It’s like Brand New’s iconic Deja Entendu, only this was written in the last year with an additional decade of cultural change and influence backing its creation. I know that’s a big comparison, but when you hear the album you’ll understand its entirely justified.

“Nolsey” is just one of many songs from the new Sorority Noise album to find its way online ahead of the official record release, so if you enjoy what you hear above then you can find a number of other songs currently available online. If you love those, please make it a point to pre-order Joy, Departed as soon as humanly possible. Sorority Noise is the kind of band that could very well change the world, and they’ve written a record that possesses the kind of artistic genius that only shows itself once in a great while. Don’t let this band or record slip through the cracks. Who knows? They might just change your life.

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Monday Motivation: Veil Of Maya

If you’re anything like me, you probably started the day by recognizing the start of a new work week had indeed arrived and then immediately began shaking your fists at the sky in anger. Monday is rarely  anyone’s favorite day, and from what I have seen firsthand it feels safe to say it’s the one day of the week some people outright hate. I guess to them the arrival of the work week symbolizes the end of their quote/unquote freedom, and as a result they head into the office/factory/restaurant/store with a negative outlook already on their mind. This leads to bad attitudes, which only makes the experience of being at work worse, and for some reason it also seems to make time slow to a crawl. We’re not about that life, and we hope this post can do the same you that the song contained within it did for us.

When I finally got out of bed, just after 6AM EST, the first thought on my mind was music. I need a good soundtrack in order to have a good day, and I’ve tried very hard to force myself to check out new music as a way easing into the unpredictability of the week ahead. Today, the one new record I kept coming back to again and again was Matriach, the latest record from Sumerian Records’ metal band Veil Of Maya. It’s the fifth album in the band’s critically-acclaimed catalog, and it arrives in stores nationwide tomorrow morning, May 12. You can stream the lead single, “Teleute,” above.

There is something about chaotic metal like that performed by Veil Of Maya that aides me in gathering my thoughts and focusing on the tasks that must be accomplished in my immediate future. I think that occurrence is the direct result of hearing how well the band manages to channel its numerous ideas and influences into a coherent piece of art, but it could just be the fact I feel so energized when this record plays that I feel like chasing King Kong through Peter Jackson’s dinosaur-filled version of Skull Island. Either way, it moves me, and that impact is a positive one.

If you want to learn more about Veil Of Maya, or if you want to be a good music fan and purchase Matriarch, you can do so on the band’s official Facebook page. Comment below and let us know what soundtrack is helping you start the new work week.

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Journalism Tips #21: ‘Making The Most Of Your New Music Coverage’

Thank you for joining us for another installment in our our ongoing Journalism Tips series. We started this column as a way to help aspiring writers get their start in music, but over the couple months we have been evolving into a place writers come to have their questions about life in the business answered. Today we are continuing that effort with a response to a question posed by multiple readers in regard to how writers can make the most of their upcoming album coverage. If you have any questions about developing as a writer/blogger in music, please do not hesitate email james@haulix.com and share your thoughts. We can also be found on Twitter and Facebook.

New music is at the core of every writer’s efforts. Whether it’s reviewing, discovering, promoting, or generally updating readers, nearly every single thing we music writers post about in our day to day lives revolves around the idea of exposing more people to new music. Many sites, however, fail to properly explore every avenue for content creation when approaching coverage for a new release. There is far more that can be done than your typical review and interview column. So, with that in mind, we put together this handy dandy guide to maximizing your coverage of the next big release:

Album Announcement/News:

This is where it all begins. If you want to have the biggest return for your efforts you need to make it a point to follow the promotional campaign of new releases from the moment they begin. Response and clicks may be slow at first, but as you continue to cover the album you and your site will be a reputation amongst the fans of that particular artist and your overall following will grow. In order to become a site people frequent they need to believe you will always be on top of their favorite artist’s next move.

Album Review:

This is your basic ‘bread and butter’ coverage. If you want to talk about music you are probably already writing album and/or single reviews. Don’t stop. People may tell you professional criticism is dead, but it is not. With the amount of music available at an all time high it is more important than ever that the world have tastemakers people are able to connect and relate to. You and your site should be the lighthouse on the shore of an endless sea of content, each drop representing one artist hoping for mentions and coverage in the press.

Interview (email or phone):

Along with album reviews, this is the most common type of coverage to be created around new releases. Interviews are great because they allow you to connect with new readers by first forging a connection with a musician who is working as hard as possible to make creating art their career. These efforts forge relationships and networking opportunities that would otherwise be impossible to create.

Exclusive Premieres:

This is the holy grail of coverage, and it’s not hard to understand why. Partnering with an artist to premiere unreleased content from their album is guaranteed to bring a wealth of new visitors to your site. Artists will promote your content on all their networks, and in many cases their PR team will also send out a press release. Young writers and sites my have a hard time locking in big premieres, but with consistent posting and hard work it’s possible to position yourself to be among the first consider for an artist’s next big reveal.

Track-By-Track:

This could fall under exclusives, but it’s one piece of content that is often overlooked, especially with young/up and coming artists. Track-by-track features transform your website into the ultimate artist to fan digital engagement this side of streaming video. Lyrics are incredibly important when it comes to forging a connection with listeners, and as host to the secrets behind the songs your site is viewed as being close with talent. Artists trust you enough to host the true motivations behind songs that potentially change countless lives. It’s a big honor, regardless of the size of the talent’s fan base.

Listicle:

I call this the ‘Buzzfeed Approach.’ Create a list that correlates to the artist’s new release. It does not have to be deep or complex, but it’s never a bad thing to challenge yourself. Not everyone is a fan of the listicle, but in terms of generating more clicks for your site it’s easily created content that is easy to digest. I don’t know if anyone has cracked the code behind why people like sharing listicles, but it’s digital trend that shows no signs of slowing anytime soon.

Custom Editorial:

This is my favorite of the bunch. If you’re going to write about the music your passionate about it only makes sense to share the reasons you care so much with your readers. You can choose a single track or an entire record, either way the goal of these articles should be to share a piece of yourself with readers by leveraging the popularity of an upcoming release. Fans of that artist seeking others to be excited with will find your content and feel a connection with you and the work you do. In some cases, that alone can be enough to make them a reader for life.

Album Previews:

Last, but certainly not least, those fortunate enough to hear an album in advance of its release can craft content to excite fans for the record’s eventual street date. Some sites frame this content as ‘first impressions,’ but be careful to not cross the line and write a full blown review. There is a difference, and if your ‘advanced preview’ reads more like a ‘super early review’ you could risk upsetting industry contacts. 

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Industry Spotlight: John Rankin (New Music Inferno)

Hello and welcome to another edition of the Haulix Industry Spotlight series. This column exists to celebrate the hardworking individuals who keep the music industry alive, often for very little – if any – pay, day in and day out. We believe by sharing the stories of those who are actively working in music we can help inspire and guide a new generation of industry professionals to success careers in entertainment. If you have a site, publication, or writer you feel would be a good fit for this series, please do not hesitate to contact james@haulix.com and share your story.

Over the last five years, the two fastest growing trends in digital journalism have been original video content and podcasting. So far, this series has done a fine job of highlighting individuals who saw the demand for video content rising and met it with high-quality results, but it recently dawned on us that we have done a rather terrible job of covering those who exists in the world of internet radio. This post is the first of many in the coming months to focus on individuals working in this area, and I do not think we could have picked a better person to kick things off.

There has been a sharp rise in music-related internet radio shows over the last year or two, but five years ago the market for such programming was relatively non-existent. Seeing an opportunity to reach music fans in a way few had tried, John Rankin launched New Music Inferno as a way to share the music he loved with others, and over time built one of the most engaging outlets for unsigned/independent music on the net. Today we share his journey, and it’s one I guarantee you do not want to miss.

If you would like to stay up-to-date with everything John is working on, make it a point to bookmark New Music Inferno as soon as you are able. Additional comments and/or questions can be left at the end of this post.

H: For those unaware, please state your name, the company you work for, and your role at said business:

JR: Hi Everyone! I am John “J.R.” Rankin. I am the sole owner & operator of New Music Inferno. I book all of the artists,produce the show and promote it all.

H: What was the first album you purchased with your own money?

JR: My first record that I bought with my own money was “The Slim Shady LP” by Eminem.

H: Everyone finds their own way into the music business. What first attracted you to this industry?

JR: I found my way into the music industry, just by being passionate about music. I used to be an F.Y.E. employee and worked there for 7 ½ years. I always would just browse through the random bands we’d get through shipment that most of the people working there(including myself) would have no clue about due to them being newer bands.

H: You’re the first radio host we have featured! Well, are you a radio host? A podcaster? How do you explain New Music Inferno to people?

JR: New Music Inferno is an online radio show/podcast(even though its not broadcasted like a terrestrial station). I consider myself to be both. I used to do college radio. I haven’t had a chance to be on “mainstream radio” but that is one of my goals to have happen with this and my personal career goals.

H: The name New Music Inferno is quite unique. What inspired the name? Were there any other titles considered before you settled on that one?

JR: The name just came to me after the original name had to go do to some negative connotation. The show was originally called The Extasy Drop host by myself under the moniker known as Eron Extacy. The name of New Music Inferno fits so much better and is much more well excepted by industry people around the world.

H: Most the people we’ve spoken with started a site to share their thoughts on music with the world, but few have gone so far as to use their actual voice to share said thoughts. What inspired you to start a radio show?

JR: I was always interested in doing radio as a career and I knew I needed to somehow get my name out to the world. It’s been a slow process but been very pleasing to me and to many of my guests as a lot of them enjoy coming back onto the show to chat and have fun.

H: Did you ever consider a companion website? If not, do you foresee NMI evolving in any way in the years ahead?

JR: I actually did have a website of newmusicinferno.com for about three years but couldn’t really get anything started with it due to time and money. I had done some reviews of records and had some friends do some too but nothing really came of that site. I wouldn’t mind returning to that some day in the future. I do see New Music Inferno evolving in the future. I would love to see it get syndicated on local radio stations and not just online. It would be amazing to see that these small unknown acts that I have on get some recognition somewhere they never thought they’d be found.

H: You’ve featured a number of young artists on your program. Where do you turn when hoping to discover new music?

JR: A lot of my finding new music is by chance. I get about 30-50 emails daily from publicists regarding their clients possibly landing a spot on my show. The television show on NBC called The Voice has helped me to have some of their contestants and “rejects” on my show and I really love learning of new music from them. I also read Alternative Press and learn a lot of bands from their due to album reviews & the AP&R section. Finally some bands are just random due to Twitter adds and I check them out via Facebook.

H: Let’s turn the tables and say people are coming to you. What advice would you offer artists to help them stand out from the competitors vying for your attention?

JR: This is so tough to answer. I feel the most common answer but the best advice I can give to them is: “Be yourself and just keep practicing.” Some bands I have seen out there in the “scene” are trying to be a lot like other bands that are already successful and that where the downfall of bands can begin besides the relationships within the bands. Don’t try and be like anyone else out there already, no one will sign you unless you have some bigger and better than what is already out on the mainstream.

H: Internet radio has become increasingly popular in recent years. What is it about the content offered by New Music Inferno that gives you an edge over the competition?

JR: The opportunities that are given to both fan and artist gives me the edge over the competition. A lot of shows or sites really don’t give the fan the opportunity for them to interact with artist or vice versa. It is my utmost important to make the listeners and artists happy(smiling through the phone) or laugh on air. It makes it easy for everyone and the vibe of the show goes smoother if everyone doesn’t feel like its going to be a mundane monotone interview.

H: You have done a lot of interviews on your show. Who have you yet to feature that you would like to interview?

JR: There is definitely a list of musicians that I haven’t interviewed that I would love to have on the show and put them in the proverbial hot seat.I would definitely branch outside of the music realm as well to cover some entertainers(Adam Scott, Nick Offerman, Aziz Ansari) or film directors(Kevin Smith). The list of musicians include but not limited to: Staind, Adam Levine, Gavin Degraw, Jason Mraz, Pearl Jam,Taking Back Sunday, John Mayer, Eminem, Jay Z, & Justin Timberlake.

H: I do not know of any advertising associated with your program. Have you monetized your efforts with New Music Inferno? If not, will you?

JR: The deal with advertising is tough for me. I really want to have businesses to advertise/support but every time I try to get someone they back out for some unknown reason. I’ve tried local businesses or even people who do their own selling of products(ThirtyOne or other companies) and no one took a bite. I wouldn’t mind bands either doing ads of themselves for the show. I do make a little bit of money on the side from the website due to a built in ad revenue that is built into the Blogtalkradio website.

H: Some people believe there is no need for critics in the digital age. Do you agree? (Support your response)

JR: No,I fully disagree. Without critics everyone would be just full of pent of anger. Everyone has an opinion and its good to read what people have to say for the better or worst. I have an opinion and I give it to people all the time even if its the truth it will hurt.

H: When it comes to receiving music for feature consideration, which services do you prefer and why?

JR: I really enjoy receiving the music through Haulix or WeTransfer. These two sites are the easiest and seems like most of the people who send me music use them. I also don’t mind just receiving the music in just individual emails in MP3 format from artists themselves.

H: What is the hardest part of this ‘job’ you’ve made for yourself?

JR: Honestly… The hardest part is not having enough hours in the day to have everyone on the show. I know not everyone is top material or peoples’ choice in music but I just love how people express themselves in music.

H: If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?

JR: I would change the format of the whole radio station world. I mean there are millions of artists out there and not just one song by them. We shouldn’t be a “single-based” community. Artists are out there busting their heads in to make a complete record for you to listen to and it should all be heard.

H: What is your ultimate career goal?

JR: My ultimate career goal would to take my show and do it for a living. Get it heard on mainstream but break the mainstream rules. I am no Howard Stern but sometimes I push the boundaries.

H: Before we let you go, can you tell us a bit about what you have planned in the months ahead?

JR: In the months ahead, I have planned the annual Holiday/End Of Year Special. This year it will be happening on Dec. 12th @ 5pm est – 7pm est. This is where I have past guests from the year come on to spread holiday cheer and possibly give away some merchandise. I also just plan on having the most fun and exciting interviews with some of your soon to be favorite artists. I just want to thank everyone at Haulix for this opportunity and all my friends(I have no fans) for listening into the show and supporting the global music community. If anyone wants to chat with me they can message me on my personal twitter @jrnmi or on the show’s twitter @newmusicinferno. Hope everyone has a great day and remember support your local music scene.

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