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7 Clever Ways to Profit From Your Music

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Seven Clever Ways to Profit From Your Music

 

In this blog post you will learn some of the best proven strategies used by some of the most successful musicians around today.  If you have been a professional musician for decades or are just starting out today this article is for you.  These seven clever ways to profit from your music have been tested and proven by some of the best musicians out there.  This article will help you monetize and maximize the impact of your new musical release.

 

7:  Sell Stems

An other strategy that caters to musicians is to enable people to buy the ‘stems’ (individual tracks or instruments) that comprise a song. This strategy will likely only make you money from other fellow musicians. For instance a rudimentary version of this strategy is to sell an instrumental version of your track and remove the vocal stem from the final product. You could also sell just the vocal stems. Perhaps if you are Carlos Santana you could sell the guitar parts only. It is up to you how you slice up your songs and sell the parts. Some musicians refuse to show the listener ‘under the hood’ of the artwork. It is revealing when you tear apart a song into its components. The purpose (from the consumer’s end) is to isolate individual sounds to create a better remix or sample of the song. If you want to encourage others to remix or sample your song, you should consider releasing the stems to one or all of your songs.

 

 

6: Sell High Quality Files for More Money

One clever strategy is to enable the purchase of your music in multiple file types. MP3s, the most common musical file type, is compressed. Compressed files are great to conserve space and to pack as many songs as possible on an iPod or your phone. Compressed files are not high quality. Some careful listeners (a.k.a. Audiophiles) will be able to notice the difference between a compressed file and an uncompressed file if the song is played on high quality speakers or headphones. If you want to make more money from your music, sell different file types at different price points. One great platform that enables you to sell different audio files is Bandcamp.

 

 

5:  Sell a Package Deal

Give your customers incentive to buy all of your albums or an album rather than a song.  Some clever musicians prevent the purchase of particular single songs on iTunes and encourage people to buy the album to gain access to that particular song. You can also sell a package that includes your music as well as apparel or memorabilia.  You can give a relative discount, compared to buying each item separately,  to your fans for buying the package.

 

 

4: Touring Up-sales

As you tour, you can and should maximize your reach by selling products at the show. You can sell apparel such as hats or shirts. You can sell memorabilia such as posters or stickers. You can sell your music by offering physical sales of your album. The key to this strategy is hiring someone to manage and run your merchandise table while you are focused on preforming. You need to make sure that your sales will continue while you are on and off stage. Collect emails and make sure to reach out to your fans!

 

 

3: Raise Money From A Crowdsourcing Platform

This technique is especially useful for young musicians or musicians who are tight on cash. Are you ready to get into the recording studio but the price tag is intimidating you from pulling the trigger? As your fans for support in exchange for an exclusive offer or bonus. Your fans can help you raise the money needed to get into the recording studio and create that album you have always dreamed of. Crowd funding reduces the risk of launching your album to the sound of crickets and a negative bank account. Every musician should understand that there is a huge investment of time and money to create, record, and promote their music. With some support from your fans, you will know that people want to hear what you are working on.  Not only will you be assured that people are interested in your upcoming release, after your first sale, you are in the green and making profit.  You no longer have to worry about ‘breaking even’. Your expensive recording costs will disappear.  Your ‘studio time’ will be already covered and you now have a solid base of fans to help you promote your work when the launch date arrives. There are many crowd funding platforms that are popping up but two of the most popular platforms are: Kickstarter, and Indiegogo.  For a great resource to compare the two platforms: click here

  

 

2: Pre-sell Your Album

If you have an established fanbase, one of the more lucrative strategies is to presell your upcoming album. Pre-sales create excitement, anticipation, and money for you, the artist. When the album is finally released you can be sure that all of your pre-order customers will be thrilled to finally get their ears on your music. Your pre-order customers will help generate a boost to the awareness of your music. Your music depends on word of mouth and people becoming aware of your music. By pre-selling your album, your album will launch from a solid base of passionate fans who will help you every step of the way. Imagine launching your album knowing that you already have 1,000 people who have already bought your album at $10. That is right, you just earned $10,000 prior to the first day, and you now have 1,000 excited fans sharing your album all over social media! Compare that to launching with no guarantee that your album will sell to anyone. Of course if you do your homework by creating incredible music, touring to create enthusiastic fans, and promoting your music on all of your platforms you will likely not launch to the sound of crickets. What is there to loose? Nothing. By Pre-selling your album, you will only extend the time you are able to sell your music. You can even use some of that revenue prior to launch to hire the best mixing and mastering engineers to give your album even more value.

 

 

1: Sell Your Free Music

How can you sell you free music? Great question and the answer is not necessarily obvious. You can sell your music in exchange for an email address (example: enter your email to download). An other strategy is to take the middle path. You can also leverage multiple platforms and cater to those customers. For example: Pretty Lights a Colorado native has demonstrated this strategy with extraordinary prowess. Pretty Lights enables free downloads from his website while simultaneously selling the same music in iTunes. Derik Vincent Smith, the mastermind behind Pretty Lights, has said that he earns $100,000 from iTunes per month! (Source: Fast Company)

 

 

Thats it! You have now know the 7 Clever Ways to Profit From Your Music.

 

Still Want More?

Join the conversation by commenting. What is your favorite strategy?

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Learn how to market and launch your music with our free e-mail course: ‘5 Steps to Better Market Your Music‘

Learn how to create a spectacular performance and convert fans into customers:  ‘Marketing for Musicians 101‘

Wonderfruit 

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Take a look at Wonderfruit’s official trailer for “Journey to Wonderfruit”. This one of a kind festival kicks off Dec 17-20th. Take a look at what really makes Thailand a special destination for what’s being called Thailand’s socially-conscious, eco-friendly version of Coachella.

Wonderfruit has added new acts to the lineup: Yasiin Bey (aka Mos Def), Rhye, Lucent Dossier Experience, Daedelus, Catching Flies, Greasy Café and more join a hyped 1st wave roster including The Faint, The Submotion Orchestra, and the world premiere of Jon Hopkins x Chris Levine’s audiovisual collab, iy_project.

The festival aims to be part of a shifting paradigm in Asia.

Date: December 17th-20th 2015

Country: Thailand

Festival: Wonderfruit

More details:

PATTAYA Chonburi, Thailand – Wonderfruit Festival Thailand’s pioneering, sustainability focused and eco-friendly festival, featuring world-class international live acts and DJs. From hip-hop and electronic to alt-R&B, Thai folk, techno and circus arts, as well as a variety of regional Asian acts, Wonderfruit is set to spellbind audiences with the best music and performances from around the globe.

The second wave is led by legendary hip hop artist Yasiin Bey (aka Mos Def), R&B duo Rhye and the breathtaking, twirling, fire-breathing cirque performers of Lucent Dossier Experience. The international line up also includes Heartthrob, Elektro Guzzi, Daedelus, Goldroom, Viceroy, Catching Flies, Com Truise, Papercutz, Anchorsong, Arjun Vagale, Ocean Lam and Gaby Endo. Meanwhile, not to be outdone, Thai artists on the bill include Pongsit Kampee, Greasy Cafe, Boy Thai, Kidnappers and Dan Buri. They join a stand-out first wave including the world premiere of Jon Hopkins x Chris Levine’s iy_project, The Faint, Submotion Orchestra, Howie B, Dapayk Solo, and more.

Get a deeper glimpse into the magic of what’s to come with the official “Journey to Wonderfruit” trailer. The forthcoming mini-film from The Confluence is teased here with stunning shots of Thailand, the festival’s home, which mingle with visages showcasing the beauty of Wonderfruit’s people coming together to celebrate art, creativity, and individuality.

Providing homes to this diverse spectrum of artists are the highly conceptualized Wonderfruit stages. The Main Stage will be transformed by artist Joel Dean Stockdill into a sculptural paradise using locally sourced materials, while the Solar Stage will be designed by Los Angeles-based Vita Motus, renowned for their innovative stage designs for Coachella’s Do LaB stage and Boom Festival. Leading Thai contemporary fashion house, Issue will team up with architecture collective, Bang Bang to embellish the Soi Stage by layering specially designed printed fabrics with alluring chinoise architectural elements. The festival grounds will be further brought to life with incredible art installations that interact with the local ecology as well as Wonderfruit guests.

Younger festival goers too can get creative with the activities in dedicated kids’ area, Camp Wonder. From free running workshops with champions Team Farang and a kids’ disco, to foraging and traditional kite-making, plus storytelling, magic and a puppet show from Chao Khun Thong, it’s the perfect place for little ones to express themselves and for parents to join them in having fun and exploring Wonderfruit’s sustainable ethos. What’s more, with a professional nanny service on hand, grown ups can drop the tots off while they explore the delights of the field.

Joining award-winning Chef Gaggan in the Theatre of Feasts is noted mixologist, Shingo Gokan, owner of Speak Low in Shanghai, who will design a signature cocktail to be served to feasters. Foodie favorites Hong Bao, Bad Motel, Fillets, Broccoli Revolution, Maison Jean Philippe, Moo Ping Hea Owen and more than 20 traditional Thai street food outlets are set to join hungrily anticipated food and drink vendors Knock, Rocket, Surface and Peppina. Stay tuned for the full epicurean lineup and list of vendors for Wonderfruit 2015.

As well as delectable eats, Wonderfruit offers food for thought; brand new for this year, Scratch Talks presents global thought leaders including Dream Rockwell – the founder of Lucent Dossier Experience, legendary music producer Howie B and noted architect Duangrit Bunnag for a series of perspective-altering interactive discussions. Additionally, The Sharing Neighbourhood, presented by SC ASSET, provides a platform for passionate individuals to share their unique skills and deliver engaging workshops from handicrafts and mask-making to yoga, dance and meditation. Further outward-bound activities include human foosball, tug of war, aqua-volleyball and silly circuit training at Wonder Boot Camp, while indulgent treatments are available in the Healing Village from energetic body mapping to reiki.

From December 17-20, 2015 in The Fields at Siam Country, just 150 kilometers southeast of Bangkok, Wonderfruit presents not only an unforgettable party but a transformative experience, rooted in their ethos of social responsibility.

For more info visit: WonderfruitFestival.com

Countdown: 7 Days – Arise Music Festival 2015

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Its official, there are only 7 days left to buy your tickets to Arise Music Festival without missing a beat!  If you are like us, you are trying to squeeze in as much entertainment into your summer as your wallet can buy and your boss will allow, listen up.  Ticket prices increase August 1st, so act now and buy your tickets here.  To find out more info about who is playing, the daily schedule and driving directions: click here.  If you have already attended the festival in past years please leave your impressions of the festival below in the comments. A quick festival check list for you is below. Add any items we may have missed in the comments below.

When:

August 7-9th. (Early camping for 3day pass holders starts the 6th at 4pm.


What to bring:

Water bottle
Camping equipment: sleeping bag & tent (or a snuggly friend)
Artistic clothes, instruments, structures, face paint, and
Hat & sunscreen
Warm and cold clothes (day and night).
*If you plan for bad weather you will have a blast regardless what nature throws at you; so bring that rain coat!
Food, Money, and Snacks
Friends
A positive attitude, a large lasting smile and a camera for those special moments.

Arise Music Festival is truly one of a kind. In the state of Colorado, there has never been a comparable event. Arise will take place again at the extraordinarily beautiful and welcoming Sunrise Ranch, just outside of Loveland, Colorado.   The location is spectacular and the festival has improved every year since its inception.  With new amenities, artists, and attractions this year is poised to be the best Arise Festival yet.  Colorado’s flourishing artistic community will be present and your arrival will be icing on the cake. We hope to see you there!

For more information, keep on reading ~ . . .

The 2015 installment of theARISE Music Festival is set to kick off on August 7-9 at the scenic Sunrise Ranch in Loveland, CO.

The three-day camping event will feature headlining performances with Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, The Polish Ambassador, Emanicpator Ensemble, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, Ozomatli, Trevor Hall, Rising Appalachia alongside over 100 live performances across 6 stages.

The ARISE Music Festival first came to life at the picturesque Sunrise Ranch just west of the town of Loveland, CO in the summer of 2013 — bringing forth a full-bodied, innovative festival experience with a tangible uplifting vibe.  While the two main stages and the electronic zone will always be the ARISE Festival’s primary attractions, the 3-day gathering is also filled with yoga classes, health-oriented workshops, celebrity and environmentally active presenters, along with a children’s village and parades each day.

Much more than just a concert experience, ARISE offers an array of interactivedaytime activities, camping opportunities and a vending village that showcases a bohemian-style specialty coffee shop with a full espresso bar, unique craft vendors, delicious organic and natural food vendors and trucks, and unique goods from around the world.

At every twist and turn, ARISE offers a visual feast for the eyes and an experience for the senses. As roving puppeteers, stilt walkers, large-scale art installations and live painters dot the valley, it is clear that the annual ARISE Festival devotes as much energy into showcasing varied art forms as it does it’s main attraction…live music. Arise Alive Studios

Taking a peek under the proverbial hood of the festival one might find that ARISE Festival’s mechanics are grounded in conscious environmental ethics. Located on an organic farm with over 100 acres of festival grounds, ARISE puts a considerable amount of effort into greening up the “leave no trace” event by implementing high standards of sustainability practices and environmental stewardship. Local event service provider ZERO HERO empowers attendees with the knowledge and systems needed to easily recycle and compost and divert waste. The event also prides itself in providing FREE drinking water to festival attendees, choosing not to allow the sale of water in plastic bottles, and encouraging festival-goers to bring their refillable water bottles. ARISE has also aligned with Fort Collins-based non-profit Trees Water & People to plant a tree for every ticket sold.

For music fans interested in sustainable gardening techniques, The Polish Ambassador will host a Permaculture Action Day at Sunrise Ranch on Thursday, August 6th. The Action Day includes earth-based, hands-on projects and educational techniques in the study of permaculture design. For those who want to dive deeper, The Polish Ambassador also be hosting an Intensive Permaculture Course in the 3 days leading up to the festival at Sunrise Ranch. The course is a comprehensive program that will take students through the permaculture design process; touching on soils, water, forest gardening, appropriate technology, and several other aspects of whole systems design. With a focus on catalyzing social transformation, intensive attendees will learn techniques for regenerating ecology, as well as explore community building through action-oriented organizing. The Intensive Permaculture Course will only be available to 30 preregistered guests and will be an additional cost for participants. (Details for the Action Day can be found here).

Perhaps one of things that makes ARISE stand out from most of the other festivals in Colorado’s vibrant music scene is a commitment to book distinct artists covering diverse musical genres that brings a richly well-rounded approach to live entertainment.  Day and night, festival goers can enjoy over 100 live bands at any of the six stages or just take in the pristine views from one of the onsite bars or beer gardens.

2015 highlights include daily playshop sessions with featured artists along with a rousing discussion on engagement in social issues with Alex Ebert (Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros) and Josh Fox (award winning writer/director of HBO’s Gasland documentary films).

The festival will run from August 7-9 at Sunrise Ranch in Loveland CO, just over an hour from Denver, 45 minutes from Boulder and less that 25 minutes from Fort Collins, in the Colorado Foothills. A full range of upgrade options including VIP passes, Early Camping, Car Camping and Day Passes are available on the event website.

It is also worth noting that ARISE Music Festival is a family friendly event, with free tickets for children 12 and under and half priced Youth Tickets for 13-17 year olds.For the full music line-up and schedule, and to purchase tickets check out www.AriseFestival.com.

Front Country – Concert & Album Review

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It was the night of May 5th at Swallow Hill Music Hall in Denver, Colorado. The rain turned to sleet and the sleet turned to heavy snow. The arrival of the Californian Bluegrass band was greeted by nasty weather and a packed house filled with music lovers of all ages. The night began with Rail Splitters from Boulder, Colorado warming up the theater with their quick pick’n and melodic music.  By the time Front Country took the stage the audience was ready for steady rhythmic bluesy bluegrass.  Front Country is one of those bands who cannot be easily fit into a box or genre. They expand upon all of their individual strengths to blend, mold, and shape the sound until it’s profound.

Front Country’s songs are inspired by a range of topics including but not limited to the snowy state itself, Colorado, and an old time song about a gold mine prostitute. When Melody picks up the Kashishi she woos the crowd with her shakin’ while both Adam and Jacob trade instruments between songs to bring a new sound.

Front country’s album, Sake of the Sound, was created by a sextet (six members). Three of the six band members on the Album have jobs outside of the music industry. The momentum the band is riding keeps gaining speed, propelling that ‘Gospel Train’ around the country.  With diverse musical backgrounds, they feed off each other musically to break through traditional boundaries. They have earned University degrees studying, jazz guitar, vocals, classical guitar, and jazz bass. They have worked hard to get to where they are today and it is clearly paying off.

Sake of the Sound

Album Credits: Released 16 September 2014. Mandolin by Adam Roszkiewicz, Guitar and Vocals by Jacob Groopman, Guitar and Vocals by Melody Walker, Banjo and Vocals by Jordan Klein, Violin by Leif Karlstrom, Stand-up Bass by Zach Sharpe. Produced by Kai Welch. Engineered by Scott Bergstrom. Engineered by Scott Bergstrom at 25th Street Recording – Oakland, CA. Mixed by Erick Jaskowiak at J Studio – Nashville, TN. Mastered by Eric Conn at Independent Mastering – Nashville, TN. All songs arranged by Front Country. Photography by Robert Perry. Album Art by Danielle Diessner

They dedicated 10 consecutive (16+ hour) days to the recording of their debut album, Sake of the Sound. While many bands struggle to find a collective sound due to their individualistic desires, Front Country is a band of stars, shining together.  Their collaborative spirit is revealed as they dynamically alter their music for maximum impact.

If you enjoy acoustical harmonies with some fast pick’n solos, this band is not one to miss. If you missed the show, the good news is that Front Country will be back in Colorado and touring the country once again in a few weeks. With stops at festivals, such as Campout for the Cause and Meadow Grass, this band is only getting started. They won a place on the main stage at Telluride Bluegrass Festival, and they are on their way to a city near you.

To check the latest Front Country tour info: click here

To listen to the FreioMusic interview with Front Country:  click here

Front Country – Interview

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In this exclusive artist interview, FreioMusic sat down with three members of the up and coming Bay Area band, Front Country.  Front Country’s Adam Roszkiewicz, Jacob Groopman, and Melody Walker generously shared their time and stories prior to their first ever performance in Denver, Colorado at Swallow Hill Music Hall.

To Listen, Click on the Track Below:

Front Country – Exclusive FreioMusic Interview 5/9/2015

Click to read more about the band

Click to listen to Front Country’s new album, Sake of the Sound

Envision Festival 2015

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Envision Festival 2015

  Vive La Experiencia!!

 

The fifth annual Envision Festival returns to the breathtaking shores of Uvita, Costa Rica,

February 26 through March 1, 2015 with the release of their Official 2015 Video and first music headliner announcement.

Get inspired. Watch the video here.

The festival just announced the first musical headliner, The Polish Ambassador, the world’s funkiest diplomat, with the rest of the lineup to be released soon. Past Envision headliners include Beats Antique, Tipper, Alex Grey, Nahko and Medicine for the People, Emancipator, Rising Appalachia, Papadosio, Rootz Underground, Midnite, The Lucent Dossier Experience, Quixotic, Random Rab, and Costa Rican favorite Sonámbulo.

Now in its fifth year, the magic of previous incarnations of Envision Festival has driven travelers of all types to the scenic beaches and exotic jungles of Costa Rica each February for world-class music, adventure tours, stimulating education, meeting new friends — and one epic party. In this little slice of paradise, explorers find more than a music and art festival, with an abundance of life-changing experiences that enrich the senses and open the mind.  Globally-renowned performance artists create whimsical environments, along with interactive art installations and live painters. Yoga teachers from around the world teach rapturous classes for all levels, from those looking to expand their existing master practice to those  stepping onto the mat for the first time.

Dance under the stars all night and play all day — swimming, surfing, cliff diving and more. Hike to an enchanted waterfall and make lifelong connections in the Village. As the sun dips below the rim of the Pacific, hundreds of beautiful smiling faces glow in the remaining crimson rays on the beach, gathering to grow, celebrate and create together, to implement permaculture principles, and manifest plans that have been years in the works.

Keep your eyes peeled for the initial lineup coming soon. Discount Early Bird tickets are on sale now. Please sign up for the newsletter, read more about previous Envision Festivals on the website, and visit the links below.  Pura Vida!

 

Envision Media Links:

Envision Facebook

Envision Instagram

Envision Website

Envision Ticketing

 

About Envision Festival:

Envision festival is an annual gathering in Costa Rica that seeks to provide a platform for different cultures to inspire one another to co-create sustainable community and practice yoga, spirituality, art, music, dance performance, education, and acknowledge our fundamental connection with nature.
At the festival’s core, the Envision organizers are leaders of a sustainable permaculture movement that is blossoming throughout Costa Rica.  With initiatives such as banning single use tableware in lieu of bamboo and banana leaf alternatives, a festival wide composting system, green building and multiple spaces dedicated entirely to environmental education, it is clear that the intention runs deep.  Costa Rica, a world leader in eco-local awareness, serves as the perfect backdrop for such initiatives and the festival itself is designed to provide an example of a style of communal living that is more attainable than ever in an impressively hospitable and lush growing environment.

The Confluence – TheConfluenceGroup.com

If you’re not convinced on going…check out these shots from the amazing photographers who attended previous Envision Festivals.

Arise 2014 Video

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Official FreioMusic Arise Festival 2014 Video

Arise Festival 2014 in Loveland, Colorado. Freio Music’s talented team captures the cultural gathering with energy with style. Arise Festival features artists from across the musical spectrum. Share it. Enjoy it. See you next year!

Credits:
Produced by Freio Music

Directed by Joe Morahan & Daniel “Buddy” Thomas

DP by Daniel “Buddy” Thomas
Editing by Daniel “Buddy” Thomas

Time-Lapse Photography by
Melissa Harrison, Isaiah ‘Scott’ Brown, & Michael Morahan

Music by
Polish Ambassador

Arise Festival At SunRise Ranch

Arise Festival 2014 in Photos

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Arise 2014

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The 2nd Annual Arise Music Festival:

By the time the gates were finally open, the energy began to pick up.  With the people came art, laughter, color and flavor.  As the camping area began to fill up it was clear that this year was much larger than last.  The same beautiful location shared by thousands of new attendees.  With ‘dualing stages’, two stages set up right next to each other intended to minimize musical downtime, the music continued and the crowd stayed close.  The electronic stage, Souls Rising, had a stacked lineup of talented young and established acts.  The energy by Souls Rising stage kept a steady group of dancing bass faces content.  While the Souls Rising stage was considerably smaller than the other two main musical stages, it was the destination for many festival goers and it delivered.  The stage and surrounding area was decorated ornately from the lasers beaming around the ground to the CDs hanging reflectively from the trees.

 

Photo taken by Molly ‘Mojo’ Buckiewicz

 

This year’s attendance appeared to be at least double, possibly triple, the previous year’s attendance.  The festival was prepared and there was ample water, food, and portable toilets.   The vender village was one of a kind with an array of smells coming from the food stands, and an array of colors coming from the vender stands.  Artists are now migrating to Arise festival from all over the USA, contributing to its colorful diversity.  Arise is Colorado’s best and most diverse music festival.

Once again SunRise Ranch played the role of the gracious host and one can only hope that they received the support and recognition they deserve for sharing the incredible valley to all of us who attend.  With out the support of SunRise Ranch this event would not be possible in its current form.  The artists also deserve a huge shoutout for making the experience what it was, and sharing ideas, thoughts, and emotions through their sound and visions. Equally the fan, the festival goer, the music lover, the ‘escape the 9-5 artist’, anyone who attended a festival, deserves a huge thank you.  With out listeners how could music work?  It is you who make this possible and for that all of us here at FreioMusic, Thank You!

 

 

 

Top 5 Moments of Unexpected Sonic Perfection at Sonic Bloom ’14

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Sonic Bloom 2014-American Safari Ranch

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Daytime at the CO Dome

My favorite part about music festivals is discovering new artists to incorporate into my daily repertoire of jams. While I was beyond stoked for some of my highly anticipated favorites like Opiuo, the reigning king of future funk, Kalya Scintilla’s sweaty tribal inspired bass, or Tipper’s careful dissection and rearrangement of the contents of my brain with the scratching mastery of a surgeon, these were all very predictable (and immensely enjoyed) highlights of my weekend. My most authentic musical experiences of Sonic Bloom came from the unexpected sets and unfamiliar artists that I have not had the chance to fully explore and appreciate. Whether the artists were newer cats on the scene or seasoned veterans to which I simply hadn’t yet been exposed, I came back from Bloom with an inspired and expanded understanding of some of the dopest jams to ever rattle my eardrums.

1. Mr. Bill

Okay, Mr. Bill is certainly no newcomer on the scene. Prior to Bloom I was familiar with Mr. Bill’s status as a veteran of the rich Australian glitch movement. My expectations were absolutely blown out of the water after, what was easily, my favorite set of the weekend. Late Sunday night in the middle of the dusty and heavy vibin’ coDome audience, I found myself wondering how something so unconventionally melodic can get a crowd moving so hard. Mr. Bill’s heavy bass lines, break beat switches and a cornucopia of strange tunes and tones meld together into an unpredictably perfect stew of glitch perfection.

Mr. Bill will be holding down the Souls Rising EDM stage at Arise Music Festival August 8-10th this year in Loveland, CO for what will surely be another set not to miss.

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2. The Librarian

I took a leap of faith on Friday night as we left Tipper’s downtempo set in search of something to get my booty shaking a bit more. We encountered what I quickly realized to be one of the baddest bitches of bass, Andrea Graham, throwing down a super sexy low-end set that had me floating on a cloud of sweet, sweet ghetto booty bass. The Librarian’s nuanced, sexy bass stood out from the overtly raw and in your face bass that tends to dominate the scene. Her riddim inspired jams and seriously hard drops that got the crowd moving for one of the greatest booty bass grooves of the weekend.

The Librarian is also a founding organizer of Bass Coast and will be playing this August 1-4th in Merritt, British Columbia.

 

3. Sixis

If you know me, you know that I am a serious sucker for smooth psychedelic dubby sounds that seem more likely to be alien transmissions than creations from the human kind. When I cruised over to Sixis’s midday Friday set, I didn’t know much about his music and was just looking for a solid warm-up for the stacked schedule with the future glitch goodness of kLL sMTH, Fort Knox Five and then onto the highly anticipated psychedelic trance-inspired Aussie master Whitebear. But when I got to the dusty coDome, I was totally blown away by Sixis’s melodic, spacious and layered sounds. In an increasingly saturated psy-bass scene, Sixis stood out with his consciously more minimal, understated approach to interplanetary auditory travel. Sixis created intricate, imaginative soundscapes that resonated in my ears for the rest of the weekend.

Up next, Sixis will be playing at Stilldream Festival in Belden, California July 31st- August 4th.

4. Defunk

If you don’t know of Defunk yet, you better educate yourself! Canada native Defunk dropped one of the funkiest sets of the weekend for a serious dance party in the coDome late Saturday afternoon. Addicting hooks, glitchy breaks, and inspired retro influences drive his music in a future forward way. Collaborations with soulful female vocalists and looping guitarist Sam Klass gives Defunk’s glitchy tunes a sense of soulful authenticity.

Catch Defunk at the Valhalla Sound Circus this Thursday, July 3rd in Quebec.

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5. The Malah

Live electronic artists The Malah brought their A-game to wrap up the first evening of Bloom in a most epic fashion. Intricate, precise guitar licks and organic high-energy rhythms create a driven sound that got the coDome moving and grooving along properly. I thought their jam-inspired approach was a refreshing addition to Bloom’s bass heavy lineup, and by the infectious buzz from the crowd on Thursday night I’m certain they all agreed.

The Malah doesn’t have any immediate shows coming up but the Denver-local band is surely not one to miss when they come through your town.

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