Open Letter of Advice to Emerging Artists

Dear Emerging Artists,

Hope 2013 is treating you well and your career is headed in the right direction.  Hopefully you have already made some strides in 2013.  If you haven't - and you are trying to understand why - maybe the first place you should look is in the mirror.

While I will passionately defend an artist and zealously represent them - nothing I do for an artist can replace an artist actually trying themselves.  The artist's effort doesn't stop at just making great music and releasing it to the world.  An emerging artists needs to be their own publicist, their own best marketer, own icon... If you're an artist and you are trying to build a brand, an experience, an identity that is more than just the music that comes out of your mouth or thru your hands - you need to work on that.
Too often I consult or work with artists who just expect the sun, the moon and the stars because they put out a good record.  Artists all over the world create and release good records everyday.  There are more artists and more good records than there are highly lucrative opportunities for exposure so simply having a good record isn't a license to get paid.  You have to do more.  You have to a do a lot more.

If you've got a team - they should be helping you do more, but an artist shouldn't rely solely on their team.  An artist that makes little to no money shouldn't expect that just having a good song along with a  manager or publicist is the perfect recipe for success.  You actually have to put additional effort into that recipe as the artist.   To expect someone to turn you from zero to hero and get rich quickly is pretty unrealistic.  Like finding a needle in a haystack.  And most artists will say they are that needle in a haystack...but are you?  Look in the mirror and ask yourself these questions.

Do you have a voice that is uniquely different than other talented artists?
Are you an exceptionally talented musician/instrumentalist that stands out from other instrumentalists?
Do you produce and also write?
Do you have a studio you can access for free and make high quality sound recordings?
Do you have a fan base and network already that approaches 100,000?
Are you comfortable performing on stage?
Do more than 250 people come out to see you in your hometown?
Are you drop dead gorgeous?
Are you below the age of 22?
Do you have an innate cool and swagger to you that is undeniable?

Unless the answer to all those questions is yes - you're not the needle in the haystack and my advice would be to work harder - even if you don't think that is possible.  So...good luck in 2013. 

Artists that are working hard and on their grind - contact me at brandon@supergoodmusic.com about opportunities - including performances at SXSW and recording with Jam In The Van.

Sincerely,

Brandon Dorsky

Krissy Krissy - "Dream"

Low budget video.  Surprisingly catchy hook.  Singing real truth.  #supergoodmusic

Tic Tic Boom! Release Before The Sun Rises

Tic Tic Boom! released a brand new EP today - Before The Sun Rises - and its admittedly pretty damn good.  The release comes amidst a hectic three months that already included multiple Official SXSW performances, 5 sets at Coachella and a handful of other shows and also brings a residency all the month of May at Lot 1 Cafe.

Starting on Wednesday May 2nd you can expect to hear a handful of Tic Tic BooM! originals each week of May at Lot 1 Cafe.  I strongly encourage you not to miss the opportunity because Boom's latest record shows a lot of growth.  Not only have they begun incorporating more electronics and self-made vocal samples,  but the hooks are pretty catchy ("Constellation Boy" is a rocker).  Before The Sun Rises is a welcome departure from lots of the melancholy LA indie rock I'm used to these days and also a fresh take on synth pop.   Judging by their recent climb up Hype Machine's popular charts with "For Feeling" (reached #9 on the popular twitter chart) - it seems the blogosphere agrees.  

You can sample the new sounds on their website and you can watch them jam some of their latest tunes live in Jam In The Van below.





For a taste of their older material - check out this relatively new video for "The Open" which was on their 2011 release Reasons and Rhymes.

Tic Tic Boom! Release Before The Sun Rises

Tic Tic Boom! released a brand new EP today - Before The Sun Rises - and its admittedly pretty damn good.  The release comes amidst a hectic three months that already included multiple Official SXSW performances, 5 sets at Coachella and a handful of other shows and also brings a residency all the month of May at Lot 1 Cafe.

Starting on Wednesday May 2nd you can expect to hear a handful of Tic Tic BooM! originals each week of May at Lot 1 Cafe.  I strongly encourage you not to miss the opportunity because Boom's latest record shows a lot of growth.  Not only have they begun incorporating more electronics and self-made vocal samples,  but the hooks are pretty catchy ("Constellation Boy" is a rocker).  Before The Sun Rises is a welcome departure from lots of the melancholy LA indie rock I'm used to these days and also a fresh take on synth pop.   Judging by their recent climb up Hype Machine's popular charts with "For Feeling" (reached #9 on the popular twitter chart) - it seems the blogosphere agrees.  

You can sample the new sounds on their website and you can watch them jam some of their latest tunes live in Jam In The Van below.





For a taste of their older material - check out this relatively new video for "The Open" which was on their 2011 release Reasons and Rhymes.

New Release/Video: Dean Risko - "Trouble"

As the opener for a heavy hip-hop slated Kosha Dillz presents OY VEY LA event at The Viper Room on Wednesday February 15th, the young opener Dean Risko delivered an unexpectedly soulful set of quasi pop-tunes, including "Trouble," a potential future hit that he just released a video for.

The 23 year old Johannesburg, South Africa native sings, raps and even has a little b-boy steeze wrapped up in his skinny, stylishly fashioned frame. His whole ethos and style reminds me a lot of Mike Posner, just with less cheesy lyrics and a swagger that seems a bit more authentic. Its like Risko is doing what Posner does better than Posner does it. Maybe its because Risko is a better dancer, because Risko is more attractive (doesn't he look a little like the white guy from Chromeo) or maybe it's just because Dean hasn't been cast in the limelight yet. I can't really put my finger on it, but there is certainly something that I am feeling a bit more than I felt "31 Minutes Til Take Off." Go see Dean's live show if you're not convinced by the song, writing and video. (Caveat - Mike Posner's live show is still superior to Dean's. Dean is solid and carries a performance well - but Mike's got a bit more experience and a whole band.)

Dean penned "Trouble" himself and with hooks like "I don't know where you're from, but you're in the wrong place if you're looking for love. Now, if trouble is what you want. Well, come and get you some, come and get you some" - Dean is hitting on themes that resonate for many. The Echo Park resident carries himself with a casual demeanor, but an intense hunger to succeed, and with tracks like "Trouble" it is only a matter time before he does.

Follow dean on twitter at www.twitter.com/deanrisko.

The "Trouble EP" is his first official release and is available for download/purchase at deanrisko.bandcamp.com.

New Release/Video: Dean Risko - "Trouble"

As the opener for a heavy hip-hop slated Kosha Dillz presents OY VEY LA event at The Viper Room on Wednesday February 15th, the young opener Dean Risko delivered an unexpectedly soulful set of quasi pop-tunes, including "Trouble," a potential future hit that he just released a video for.

The 23 year old Johannesburg, South Africa native sings, raps and even has a little b-boy steeze wrapped up in his skinny, stylishly fashioned frame. His whole ethos and style reminds me a lot of Mike Posner, just with less cheesy lyrics and a swagger that seems a bit more authentic. Its like Risko is doing what Posner does better than Posner does it. Maybe its because Risko is a better dancer, because Risko is more attractive (doesn't he look a little like the white guy from Chromeo) or maybe it's just because Dean hasn't been cast in the limelight yet. I can't really put my finger on it, but there is certainly something that I am feeling a bit more than I felt "31 Minutes Til Take Off." Go see Dean's live show if you're not convinced by the song, writing and video. (Caveat - Mike Posner's live show is still superior to Dean's. Dean is solid and carries a performance well - but Mike's got a bit more experience and a whole band.)

Dean penned "Trouble" himself and with hooks like "I don't know where you're from, but you're in the wrong place if you're looking for love. Now, if trouble is what you want. Well, come and get you some, come and get you some" - Dean is hitting on themes that resonate for many. The Echo Park resident carries himself with a casual demeanor, but an intense hunger to succeed, and with tracks like "Trouble" it is only a matter time before he does.

Follow dean on twitter at www.twitter.com/deanrisko.

The "Trouble EP" is his first official release and is available for download/purchase at deanrisko.bandcamp.com.

1st Coachella Performance We're Checking Out Is....WALE

Since checking out the schedule, we've had to make some hard decisions on who we're going to see, who we're not going to see and when we're going to attend some of the amazing satellite parties we've been hearing about.

One thing is certain though, I'm trying to make Wale my first performance of Coachella 2010. The rising MC, managed by Elitaste, is performing from 2:35 - 3:25 on the Coachella stage, so you'll hear him when you are walking in the festival grounds. He first popped on my radar at the 2007 MTV I've been a fan since before "Nike Boots," and I imagine if you read this blog, you've at least heard of the rapper born Olubowale Victor Akintimehin. If you haven't heard about Wale, you probably don't listen to radio, have been absent from the music blogosphere and/or have no love for hip-hop. If you haven't heard of him - but want to check out a little more about him and hear one of his songs - go to this blog/site - http://mixtapemaestro.net/2010/04/wale-breakup-song.html

The Interscope signed artist released his debut album, Attention Deficit, in November 2009 which featured a few dope singles, including Chillin' (featuring Lady Gaga) that made its way onto a few SUPERGOODMUSIC mixes and World Tour (featuring Jamie Sullivan) which is on our April Showers Bring Coachella Flowers mix.

He has the lyrics, the beats and the charisma to be a hip-hop staple for a while, so don't sleep on this opportunity to see him while he is still a rising star...

Article by Brandon "Boom D" Dorsky

Mashers of The Year - The Hood Internet

The Hood Internet is taking the remix and mash-up world by storm - and this is nothing new if you're from Chicago or have been up on your blogroll. After impressing the industry at SXSW just a few weeks ago - they've embarked on a brief tour alongside Black Moth Super Rainbow's Tobacco that recently took them through Los Angeles, to both Echo and Detroit Bar.

The rest of their tour takes them to the following cities before ending in at Empty Bottle their hometown of Chicago:

Saturday 3/27 - Bottom Of The Hill, San Francisco CA
Sunday 3/28 - WOW Hall, Eugene OR
Monday 3/29 - Holocene, Portland OR #
Tuesday 3/30 - Chop Suey, Seattle WA
Friday 4/2 - Triple Rock Social Club, Minneapolis MN ^
Saturday 4/3 - Empty Bottle, Chicago IL

My new favorite mash-up heroes just seem to get it right every time. From mixing Drake with Miike Snow to Dr. Dre with Class Actress, this duo knows how to take the good things from popular music and the good things from indie culture and bring it together to make something infectiously danceable, repeatable and awesome. I wish these guys would DJ every party I ever had.

You can check out a lot more about the group on their own site -http://www.thehoodinternet.com/ - as well as get free downloads to their zipped mixtapes and other songs.