High Notes, the world’s first addiction and recovery podcast set in the music business, returns today with three new episodes.
Today – Tuesday, March 23, 2021 – Haulix.com, the music industry standard for promotional distribution, and leading metal label Season of Mist are thrilled to share a new season of HIGH NOTES, the critically-acclaimed podcast about addiction and recovery in the music business. The three-episode series is available now on all podcast platforms, including the Music Biz YouTube Channel. https://linktr.ee/highnotes
“We at Season of Mist are extremely thankful for the meaningful work that [host] James Shotwell is doing with High Notes. We are so proud of our artists and friends of the label who came together to share their stories of addiction and recovery, a feat that requires much courage as there is still a dark stigma attached to this often misunderstood illness. We hope to help erase that stigma and, more importantly, that these stories will help those who are struggling to know they are not alone and that recovery is possible.”
Guests on the latest season of High Notes include Aðalbjörn “Addi” Tryggvason of Sólstafir, Roger LeBlanc of Numenorean, and influential artist manager Erin Lynch. Descriptions for each episode are as follows:
Episode 1: Aðalbjörn “Addi” Tryggvason of Sólstafir is a metal legend. For the better part of thirty years, he has brought Icelandic post-metal and black metal to the masses. His music is influencing up-and-coming artists worldwide, and hopefully, his journey in recovery will as well. Addi recounts how a wild night involving sex, drugs, alcohol, and a symphony orchestra changed his life forever. He also recounts tales of debauchery, including trashed hotel rooms, and how his sense of what it means to be a quote/unquote “rock star” has changed with time.
Episode 2: Roger LeBlanc is the vocalist and guitarist of Numenorean, a Canadian metal band that joined the Season of Mist roster in 2016. Roger led a typical life of touring and drinking until his partner said his behavior needed to change. That single interaction, coupled with a lifetime of watching people succumb to their demons, lead Roger to make major changes in his outlook on life. Roger tells us why it’s so important to destroy the stigma surrounding addiction and mental health struggles, especially in the world of heavy metal.
Episode 3: Artist Manager and live event extraordinaire Erin Lynch is the first non-musician to appear on High Notes. She has never topped the Billboard charts or rocked a crowd of thousands at a music festival, but Erin plays an integral role in helping countless artists achieve their dreams. Her presence on our shows shines a light on the reality of life for those who work behind-the-scenes to make rock and roll exist. She also offers guidance for those who want to change but are hesitant about confiding in those around them.
The first podcast of its kind, HIGH NOTES features exclusive, in-depth conversations with rock and alternative musicians in various stage of recovery. Guests from the first two seasons include Shannon Larkin of Godsmack, Brian “Head” Welch of KoRn, Craig Mabbitt of Escape The Fate, Eric Christopher of Hospital Bracelet, Clint Lowery of Sevendust, Amanda Lyberg of Eva Under Fire, Donovan Melero of Hail The Sun, Bert McCracken of The Used, Anthony Green of Circa Survive, and more. Each episode delves into a different guest’s journey to sobriety and the role the music business played in helping (or hurting) their recovery.
“At Haulix, in addition to taking care of our customers, we take pride in using our industry reach to educate and shine light on topics less heard about, like addiction and recovery,” says company founder and CEO Matt Brown. “Our High Notes series lets us tap into real world experiences spoken by the artists themselves.”
Seasons 1 and 2 of High Notes are available now on all streaming platforms. The show is produced with support from the amazing teams at heartsupport and the Global Recovery Initiatives Foundation.
High Notes, the world’s first addiction and recovery podcast set in the music industry, returns in March.
Today – Tuesday, February 23, 2021 – Haulix.com, the music industry standard for promotional distribution, announces an exciting content development partnership with leading independent record label Season of Mist. The two long-running and successful music companies are joining forces to create a mini-season of HIGH NOTES, the critically-acclaimed and first of its kind podcast about addiction and recovery in the music industry. The new episodes will debut in March on all streaming platforms. https://linktr.ee/highnotes
“We at Season of Mist are extremely thankful for the meaningful work that James and Haulix are doing with High Notes,” says Katy Irizarry, North American Publicist for Season of Mist. “We are so proud of our artists and friends of the label who came together to share their addiction and recovery stories, a feat that requires much courage as there is still a dark stigma attached to this often misunderstood illness. We hope to help erase that stigma and, more importantly, that these stories will help those who are struggling to know they are not alone and that recovery is possible.”
Hosted by Haulix’s Director of Customer Engagement, James Shotwell, HIGH NOTES features exclusive, in-depth conversations with rock and alternative musicians in various recovery stages. Guests from the first two seasons include Shannon Larkin of Godsmack, Brian “Head” Welch of KoRn, Craig Mabbitt of Escape The Fate, Eric Christopher of Hospital Bracelet, Clint Lowery of Sevendust, Amanda Lyberg of Eva Under Fire, Donovan Melero of Hail The Sun, Bert McCracken of The Used, Anthony Green of Circa Survive, and more. Each episode delves into a different guest’s journey to sobriety and the role the music business played in helping (or hurting) their recovery.
“At Haulix, in addition to taking care of our customers, we take pride in using our industry reach to educate and shine a light on topics less heard about, like addiction and recovery,” says company founder and CEO Matt Brown. “Our High Notes series lets us tap into real-world experiences spoken by the artists themselves.”
Besides sharing new episodes, HIGH NOTES is also debuting a new logo for use exclusively in their partnership with Season Of Mist. The logo is the craftsmanship of designer Nick Ferran, who created all promotional art for the series.
Seasons 1 and 2 of HIGH NOTES are available now on all streaming platforms. The show is produced by Landon Defever, with additional help from programming consultant Laura Haggard. The show’s theme music is from the band You, Me, And Everyone We Know. https://linktr.ee/highnotes.
Three of the brightest minds in music publicity come together for a one-hour discussion that offers something for everyone pursuing a career in entertainment.
We never knew Haulix LIVE! would become an event series. The plan at launch was to host one or two events that shared insight into how the current pandemic was changing the music business. As soon as the first panel ended, however, we knew we would never look back. The conversations and sense of community were too great to give up.
On July 16, representatives from Season of Mist, Napalm Records, and Asher Media Relations came together for a one-hour discussion of all things music PR. There were laughs, educational tidbits, and lots of outspoken affection for Deftones. It was the kind of event that not only soothed our worried souls, but it also reminded us why we all started our careers in the first place. We’re here for the music, and as much as COVID-19 may change our ways of operating, it cannot take away the art we love.
But we know not everyone caught the broadcast as it happened. We know you have lives that keep you busy, and we respect that. We always record our events for this reason, and we are now able to share the full panel, free of charge, to anyone that wishes to catch up. Check it out:
About the panelists:
Katy Irizarry is an NYC native who currently lives in Philadelphia. She started her music career in 2007 as an intern and eventual writer for Metal Edge magazine. Since then, she has worked for Sirius XM, Eddie Trunk, Skateboard Marketing, Freeman Promotions, Revolver Magazine, Loudwire, Minus HEAD Records, and many others in which she has done production, journalism, marketing, social media, and publicity. Currently, she is employed full time with Season of Mist as North American publicist where she works with a variety of bands from extreme metal to folk music, such as Abbath, Heilung, Archspire, Rotting Christ, Gorguts, Solstafir, and more. Ever the over-achiever, she also still contributes to Loudwire, produces Eddie Trunk’s podcast, and co-hosts the “Last Words” podcast via The Pit. She is also a proud cat mom who loves traveling, pin-up culture, horror movies, and of course, heavy metal!
Jon Asher, known for being a regular fixture on the Montreal music scene, founded ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS in September 2007 to aid bands and labels in celebrating their headbanging tunes to the world. A musician himself, and a McGill University graduate in public relations, Jon had his epiphany – to help out the struggling artists and help them gain the attention they need to support their music. He has worked with a number of independent and established artists such as Annihilator, Gene Hoglan (Testament, Death, SYL, Fear Factory), Quo Vadis, Fuck The Facts, Striker, Psychostick, Necronomicon, Hibria, Titans Eve, Kill Devil Hill ft. Rex Brown (Pantera) + Vinny Appice (DIO, Black Sabbath)), Drum Wars (Vinny Appice vs. Carmine Appice), Nephelium, Ninjaspy, Scythia, All Else Fails, Auroch, Fatality, Sanktuary, Mutank, Planet Eater, Vesperia, Rockshots Records, Wacken Metal Battle Canada/USA, Armstrong Metal Fest, Loud As Hell MetalFest, Calgary Metalfest, Metalocalypstick Fest, Obscene Extreme America Fest and many more. He has also guest lectured at McGill University on Music Publicity for the public relations program plus has spoken on panels for Alberta Music (Calgary), Indie Week (Toronto), Noctis Fest (Calgary), Halifax Pop Explosion and mentoring sessions at SXSW (Austin, TX).
Philadelphia born and Maryland raised, Natalie Camillo began her music industry trajectory during her studies at York College of Pennsylvania, majoring in Communications with a focus in Music Industry/Recording Tech and radio. As Program Director and reporting Metal Music Director at her college radio station, WVYC, she attended/networked at several CMJ and Intercollegiate Broadcasting System conferences. By mingling with industry professionals at said events, she secured internships with radio promotions firm Heavy Hitter Inc., Relapse Records and MetalSucks. She also interned in the sales/marketing department at WCYR 98.5 The Peak, an classic rock format FM station based in Hanover, PA, took part in onsite “street” marketing for The Syndicate and published news clips for Metal Insider, all before graduating in 2009. Upon graduation, Natalie took a position as a publicist at renowned boutique PR firm Adrenaline PR, and along with the team led by PR icon Maria Ferrero, represented artists such as Lamb of God, Dethklok, Motorhead, Ronnie James Dio, John 5, Twiztid and more, and massive events such as the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival and Alternative Press Music Awards. After departing the company as Campaign Manager/Senior Publicist after 10 amazing, formative years, she accepted her current position as North American Public Relations Manager at esteemed Austria-based international rock and metal record label Napalm Records. Alongside her PR teammates in North America and Germany, Natalie currently represents premier artists such as Dee Snider, DevilDriver, Jinjer, Alestorm, Life of Agony, Candlemass, Mushroomhead, Warbringer and many others. Outside of her work at Napalm, she also serves on the Board of Trustees of the Great South Jersey Chorus, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, singer-managed organization. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time in nature, playing video games (PlayStation Nation), listening to a questionable amount of electro-pop and binging costume dramas, can be found spending countless hours scoring deals in thrift/consignment shops, and considers herself a certified RuPaul’s Drag Race superfan. You betta work!
Haulix LIVE! is your chance to learn from and engage with the greatest minds in music publicity today.
With Coronavirus making music conferences and festivals impossible, Haulix LIVE! is here to fill a void in the entertainment business. Twice a month, Haulix brings together the greatest minds in music publicity and promotion to share their knowledge with anyone hoping to hear it. These events are 100% free, and they are open to everyone.
Join us on Thursday, July 16, at 2PM EST for a free PR roundtable with special guests Katy Irizarry (Season of Mist), Jon Asher (Asher Media Relations), and Natalie Camillo (Napalm Records). The event will cover the evolving role of publicity in music promotion, emerging trends in the field,, and advice for people hoping to work in music PR. Viewers will also have an opportunity to ask our guests questions. Click here to register.
About the panelists:
Katy Irizarry is an NYC native who currently lives in Philadelphia. She started her music career in 2007 as an intern and eventual writer for Metal Edge magazine. Since then, she has worked for Sirius XM, Eddie Trunk, Skateboard Marketing, Freeman Promotions, Revolver Magazine, Loudwire, Minus HEAD Records, and many others in which she has done production, journalism, marketing, social media, and publicity. Currently, she is employed full time with Season of Mist as North American publicist where she works with a variety of bands from extreme metal to folk music, such as Abbath, Heilung, Archspire, Rotting Christ, Gorguts, Solstafir, and more. Ever the over-achiever, she also still contributes to Loudwire, produces Eddie Trunk’s podcast, and co-hosts the “Last Words” podcast via The Pit. She is also a proud cat mom who loves traveling, pin-up culture, horror movies, and of course, heavy metal!
Jon Asher, known for being a regular fixture on the Montreal music scene, founded ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS in September 2007 to aid bands and labels in celebrating their headbanging tunes to the world. A musician himself, and a McGill University graduate in public relations, Jon had his epiphany – to help out the struggling artists and help them gain the attention they need to support their music. He has worked with a number of independent and established artists such as Annihilator, Gene Hoglan (Testament, Death, SYL, Fear Factory), Quo Vadis, Fuck The Facts, Striker, Psychostick, Necronomicon, Hibria, Titans Eve, Kill Devil Hill ft. Rex Brown (Pantera) + Vinny Appice (DIO, Black Sabbath)), Drum Wars (Vinny Appice vs. Carmine Appice), Nephelium, Ninjaspy, Scythia, All Else Fails, Auroch, Fatality, Sanktuary, Mutank, Planet Eater, Vesperia, Rockshots Records, Wacken Metal Battle Canada/USA, Armstrong Metal Fest, Loud As Hell MetalFest, Calgary Metalfest, Metalocalypstick Fest, Obscene Extreme America Fest and many more. He has also guest lectured at McGill University on Music Publicity for the public relations program plus has spoken on panels for Alberta Music (Calgary), Indie Week (Toronto), Noctis Fest (Calgary), Halifax Pop Explosion and mentoring sessions at SXSW (Austin, TX).
Philadelphia born and Maryland raised, Natalie Camillo began her music industry trajectory during her studies at York College of Pennsylvania, majoring in Communications with a focus in Music Industry/Recording Tech and radio. As Program Director and reporting Metal Music Director at her college radio station, WVYC, she attended/networked at several CMJ and Intercollegiate Broadcasting System conferences. By mingling with industry professionals at said events, she secured internships with radio promotions firm Heavy Hitter Inc., Relapse Records and MetalSucks. She also interned in the sales/marketing department at WCYR 98.5 The Peak, an classic rock format FM station based in Hanover, PA, took part in onsite “street” marketing for The Syndicate and published news clips for Metal Insider, all before graduating in 2009. Upon graduation, Natalie took a position as a publicist at renowned boutique PR firm Adrenaline PR, and along with the team led by PR icon Maria Ferrero, represented artists such as Lamb of God, Dethklok, Motorhead, Ronnie James Dio, John 5, Twiztid and more, and massive events such as the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival and Alternative Press Music Awards. After departing the company as Campaign Manager/Senior Publicist after 10 amazing, formative years, she accepted her current position as North American Public Relations Manager at esteemed Austria-based international rock and metal record label Napalm Records. Alongside her PR teammates in North America and Germany, Natalie currently represents premier artists such as Dee Snider, DevilDriver, Jinjer, Alestorm, Life of Agony, Candlemass, Mushroomhead, Warbringer and many others. Outside of her work at Napalm, she also serves on the Board of Trustees of the Great South Jersey Chorus, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, singer-managed organization. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time in nature, playing video games (PlayStation Nation), listening to a questionable amount of electro-pop and binging costume dramas, can be found spending countless hours scoring deals in thrift/consignment shops, and considers herself a certified RuPaul’s Drag Race superfan. You betta work!
Hello, everyone. Thank you for joining us for the very first Artist Spotlight column of July. We received such a positive reaction to our piece with Tombs’ Mike Hill last month that we decided to make this series a regular part of our content programming. This edition still dwells in the world of metal, albeit a completely separate subgenre, but in the weeks and months to come we will highlight voices from around the music industry. If you have any questions regarding the content of this blog, or if you would like to learn more information about the services offered by Haulix, please email james@haulix.com and share your thoughts. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.
Every now and then a band comes along that defies all logic. They may have a silly name or wear ridiculous outfits, but when you cut out all the marketing trickery they still produce great music that more people need to know exists. The problem, which many of these artists encounter again and again throughout their career, is reaching a point of popularity where people can see past the jokes and appreciate what’s really taking place inside each song.
Enter Cannabis Corpse. After forming in 2006 as a pun-laden tribute to the metal gods known as Cannibal Corpse, the group quickly began developing a following that allowed them to have an identity all their own in the world of death metal. Eight years and a handful of releases later, the band is still going strong and still releasing pun-filled material that is far more satisfying than their jokey titled may lead you to believe. Their new album, From Wisdom To Baked, offer some of their best material to date and one of the best album covers you will see all year. You can view that artwork below:
Pretty great, right? These guys know how to nail a parody, but they also create killer music that would sound just as great regardless of the art or track names, which is why I knew after hearing From Wisdom To Baked that the time had come to feature them on our blog.
The interview below took place earlier this week between myself and vocalist/bassist Landphil. You may know LandPhil from his work in Municipal Waste and Iron Regan, but for the purposes of these feature we stuck mainly to Cannabis Corpse and the band’s journey from a group of friends playing in an apartment to a critically acclaimed death metal band that understands how to inject humor into their work.
For more information on Cannabis Corpse, be sure to visit their official Facebook page. You should also pick up From Wisdom To Baked, which is available right now. Regardless of your stance on marijuana, I think it’s safe to say everyone could use a little more metal in their lives.
H: Hello! Thank you for taking the time to speak with me. Before we begin, please take a moment to introduce yourself:
CC: Hello my name is Landphil I play in the bands Cannabis Corpse, Municipal Waste and Iron Reagan.
H: I’m excited we finally have the opportunity to make this interview happen. I’ve been listening to the new record for a couple of weeks and really like the direction you’ve taken now that you, LandPhil, have taken over vocals. I know Andy was not involved in the early days of the band’s creativity, but I am curious how you feel your creative process has changed, if at all, in the time since he left the band?
CC: It has been a long time since we had the old singer in Cannabis Corpse. At least two years gave gone by since the change was made. Now that I sing in Cannabis Corpse it allows me to produce the music at a much faster rate. I do not have to wait for anyone to keep the ball rolling, I am a workaholic and this fact plus having the luxury of a home studio has increased my creative output 100%
H: How did you feel about taking over vocal duties? Did you initially consider bringing in another member, or was the plan always for you to step in?
CC: The original line up of Cannabis Corpse before blunted at birth had me as lead vocalist, we have gone back to the original vision. In hindsight there is a part of me that wishes I would have taken care of the vocals since day 1. I love nit picking the vocal performance and making sure everything is exactly the way I want it. This was something that was hard to do when I wasn’t the one doing all the instruments.
H: I’d like to step back a bit and talk about the band a bit more broadly. We like to use a bit of each interview to discuss the business side of things and I think your group has a one of a kind story. You’ve been at this since 2006, and every time you put out a new release it seems you stir up a bit of a viral sensation around the latest weed pun you’ve put to good use. Did you ever think this project would see the kind of attention and buzz it has built over the better part of the last decade?
CC: Yes of course! I knew since the moment my brother and I came up with the name that it would stand out and people would appreciate the humor. We had a good feeling that the name would get people talking, The titles to the songs and albums are what connects us to the death metal community. People can feel like they are a part of band because we encourage their participation in creating these song titles. The humor in our band is very important to the overall vibe. The viral aspect of Cannabis Corpse should tell people that there is a very strong marijuana culture out there.
H: Your band was created as a heartfelt tribute to Cannibal Corpse, but over the years you have developed an identity and following entirely your own. What has been the most difficult aspect about getting your music out there and having it taken seriously? Do you even worry about that kind of thing?
CC: I am not worried about being taken seriously anymore. I think people should just relax and appreciate Cannabis Corpse for what it is. I know that anyone that likes death metal can appreciate the time and effort it takes to write and record an entire death metal album, including the artwork which is just as important to us. At this point all of my musical projects are signed to highly respected labels, I think my music is getting taken seriously as a whole by this point.
H: Have you spoken to anyone from Cannibal Corpse about your project? If so, how did they react?
CC: I asked Paul from Cannibal if we could go forward with this project before we recorded the first song. He was like “sure whatever” I don’t think we realized how far we were going to take this thing. All the Cannibal dudes are super down to earth and approachable. I appreciate everything they have done to get me excited about music. And I also appreciate the positive things they have said about the band too. It is not uncommon to see one of them wear a Cannabis Corpse t shirt. That is like a dream come true for me.
H: Puns run rampant throughout your song and album titles. I know you just put out a new album, but are there any titles you’re kicking around that have yet to find a song or album to call their own?
CC: A ton of song titles didn’t get used on this record, we generally come up with a big list and pick the ones that make us laugh the most.
H: Are you active in any efforts to legalize marijuana, or have you ever put thought into doing so? Music can be a powerful force for change.
CC: We have touched very lightly on this subject in our music, maybe a death metal band is not the right choice for a marijuana advocate, I am however a poster child for weed being a creative stimulant and also weed killing a lot of brain cells.
H: Do you think we will see weed legalized anytime in the near future? The tide certainly seems to be changing, but I’m not sure how fast.
CC: We have made significant steps towards legalization and it is a good thing for sure. The money generated by legal weed would be staggering, the government has to see the benefits of the extra income.
H: If you were to try and start Cannabis Corpse today, what would you do differently, if anything at all?
CC: I would not have had a lead singer on the first couple albums. I would have kept the band in the “family” I have learned a lot over the years on how to survive on the road and keep relationships healthy with band mates. In the early days I was very driven to do something special and I would push to get the best out of everyone around me. Some people are not wired that way and only react negatively to being pushed creatively, this causes tension. In hindsight I would have searched harder for people to collaborate with who shared my drive to work as much as is needed to achieve our mutual musical goals.
H: When people come to you and ask what advice you can offer on making a career out of music, what do you say to them?
CC: My main piece of advise is to tour like crazy. Everything that has ever happened for us in our musical career is because of getting out there and playing shows all year round, no one is interested in pushing a weekend warrior type of band, the bands that can prove themselves on the road are always going to be in front of the pack.
H: Let’s get back to the band. You’ve all made name for yourselves in projects outside Cannabis Corpse. Is it a struggle to find time to work on the band as a result? I know it has been three years since your last release.
CC: Sometimes it can be. I plan my year out way in advance including time for recording/writing ect. I can only do so much at one time so I have to go where the best offer is. I love being able to live off of the music that I am making and appreciate everything that I have earned, I plan on taking this as far as I possibly can.
H: What are you most proud of on From Wisdom To Baked?
CC: The thing that I am most proud of on From Wisdom To Baked is collaborating with so many musical Greats like Trevor strnad of black dahlia and Ralph Santolla. But the biggest thrill of them all was getting Chris Barnes to sing on a song, he is of course one of the all time greatest death metal singers that has ever existed. Getting the chance to work with him has been a huge thrill. He has been one of the nicest dudes ever to Cannabis Corpse, he also loves smoking weed so singing on a Cannabis Corpse song was a no brainer!
H: I know you’ve got a slew of shows lined up in Europe, but can North American fans expect a Cannabis Corpse tour before 2014 is over?
CC: We are hoping to get out there as much as we can in 2014, we have a small batch of shows booked around Denver black sky festival in Denver Colorado.
H: For those who have never caught you live, what should people expect when they attend a Cannabis Corpse show?
CC: Total sadistic reefer worshipping carnage.
H: We are two years away from your tenth anniversary as a band. Have you given any thought to how you might celebrate?
CC: I feel old! It seems like yesterday I was in my buddies kitchen recording Blunted At Birth on an 8 track. 10 years of Cannabis Corpse seems so crazy to me. I hope I can keep it going for another 10 years. It would be hilarious to be as prolific as Cannibal is.
H: Okay, this is getting pretty long. I want to thank you for taking the time to speak with us and wish you the best of luck in the months to come. Before I let you go, do you have any final thoughts you would like to share with our readers?
CC: I want to thank everyone for listening to my music. I appreciate the fans coming to the shows and showing us support, without them I would not be able to do this.
