Jun

27

BeatPick Artist Signs with SRC/Universal

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Recently, Heavy Mojo, a band we are particularly proud of here at beatpick.com, notified us that they had been signed with SRC/Universal Motown, a major record label! As sad as we are to see them leave, we are ecstatic for them!

When it comes to Indie artists, us BeatPickers do all we can to commission an artist’s creation. Not only do we make our artists some extra cash but we promote their music professionally at no cost or loss of creative rights. Artists finally have a fair outlet into the the music industry, film and tv. As for Heavy Mojo, a band of this a high caliber super ceded the services that any Indie Label like BeatPick could offer.

With a killer live show that could rival any hardcore band, Heavy Mojo continues to revolutionize and revitalize hip hop, so its no wonder that they have been signed by such a major label! SRC Records is a joint venture between Rifkind and Universal Motown Records, a division Universal Music Group, and the world’s leading music company with wholly owned record operations and licensees in 77 countries. They have worked with artists such as David Banner, Terror Squad, Akon and Young Jeezy.

They are currently recording their first major label release and we can’t wait to hear it! If you are interested in licensing some of Heavy Mojo’s songs before they’re gone, then do it by July 25th, when Beatpick must say goodbye to its artist and wish them a happy and successful career with SRC/Universal!

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Jun

26

Beatpick Track of the Week : “Pollution Sunrise” by cato_six

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As our more loyal followers surely know, Beatpick.com is home to many young and upcoming experimental Electronica artists, from Glitch and IDM scientists to more outer-space, kraut-inspired material.

London-based Jamie Cato, aka cato_six, started his experimenting at the end of the 90s, inspired both by Aphex Twin and more traditionally “Rock” artists such as Nick Cave and Sonic Youth. After handling many high profile remixes, his style found a precise composing method based on the use of the Reaktor software combined with acoustic samples and “on the fly” granular processing (often executed through the use of personally modified Drum Machines, samplers and Sound FX).

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“Pollution Sunrise” is the second track from his 2005 EP offering uc8ic16, and is a wonderful example of what Jamie has in store for those who wish to explore his mysterious and avant-garde soundscapes. As a female voice recites names of cities from each continent, a harmonious dialectic takes place between epic keyboards/acoustic samples and hectic yet almost melodic Glitch beats.

In fact, in close connection with the occasional male voices’ phrase (”this song’s for her, wherever she may be“), the processed beats seem to actually take emotional life and participate in the sense of longing the ideal protagonist is living, in not knowing where his inspirational muse may be on the globe. The constant stop-and-go structure (a common characteristic of Cato’s work) almost perfectly traces the rhythm of thoughts running through a puzzled and lonely mind, a further demonstration of the profound sensitivity in play on this track.

Jamie is definitely rising to cult notoriety after collaborations with musicians such as the Black Cherry Company, video artists such as Julian Ledlin, and even a recent live Second Life exhibition for Electronic Music Club Trash Palace. For more cato_six tracks, visit his profile on Beatpick.com.

To download this track for free, click here.

More Glitch/IDM maestros at Beatpick include Hungarian whiz-kid Cooler, Italian sound experimenter Tobor Experiment, melancholic noise composer Kingbastard, drone-sound project One Man Nation, and many others in our Glitch/IDM section.

Jun

25

Cryout Loud for Righteous Medication for the Soul

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untitled1.PNG Jerry Criner, also known as Cryout, has been spreading his righteous reggae beats for more than 15 years. Cryout’s latest album released, Righteous Medication for the Soul is just that, and is rumoured to be destined as a cult recording. Like typical reggae, the lyrics are optimistic and socially conscious of the things affecting the soul. You could even say this album in particular, is therapeutic reggae in its own genre of funky jazzy blues tones. “Negative Vibes“, is just one example of how the tracks on this album not only suggest medicating your soul but actually is the medication itself! With blues trumpet and reggae break beats the lyrics bluntly state that you should get on a positive vibe.

The albums first track “Talking about my baby”, is lyrically Motown wrapped in reggae beats and distant bongos. “La“, track number 2, makes you want to see the positive side to Los Angeles. It has just a taste of funkiness, but still holds true to the medium slow tempo reggae that the rest of this album embodies. A surprising song on this album is “Drop of Water”, track 5. Its electronic entrance and blues vocals to reggae beats makes this track an amazing addition to this album. “Drop of Water“ may be a hint of what’s to come in future albums by Cryout. Like other reggae albums true to its roots, Righteous Medication for the Soul, “Funky Rasta” song is a tribute to Bob Marley as well as, to the albums other major influences, James Brown.

Righteous Medication for the Soul, consists of nine tracks of smooth reggae at its best. Its chill and upbeat lyrics carries the percussion just enough to keep your head moving and your arms swaying. Its smooth blues influenced beats joined with classic reggae is a winning combination of two very different genres. Not only does Cryout’s reggae give into the sultry rhythms of blues but Cryout also carries some Motown flavour. Chill out, relax, be happy and hear it here at BeatPick.com.

Jun

19

Beatpick Track of the week: “Radio” by The Sugar People

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Does every day life get you down? Feel like you have no control on your life? The Sugar People’s solution is a simple yet ever-functional one: tune into the radio and look for that special tune to lift your spirits…

And a very special tune it is indeed: ever since up and coming musette from Michigan Brandy Sweat hits the first note on the chorus, the listener is immediately locked into the melody, and the ride that follows concedes no give-up. The structure of the tune rotates around two opposing moments: (lead singer) Jake Stamper’s almost motown, yet somewhat moody, verses are the description of every day stress in the modern era, while the chorus opens the song up to a solar, uplifting feeling – ideally, the moment when the main character “Turns it up, it’s on the Radio“.

As much of an ode to the first musical mass-media as Queen’s “Radio Ga-Ga”, “Radio“’s strength lies heavily in the arrangement department. Oscillating with ease between a soft RnB feeling and a more guitar-driven Funky attitude, the song reaches its climax with the sudden entrance of orchestral samples in the Bridge section: a high-point underlined by Stamper’s existential questioning “is there an answer to this mystery?”.

The Sugar People “Sugaroses Black”

Sugaroses Black is The Sugar People’s third album, a further confirmation of the crystal-clear talent the band has to offer, and very probably their most valuable songwriting effort to date, where their love for a soft-edge contamination between white pop and black funk/soul reaches its full potential. The record, an ideal prosecution of 2005’s “Sugaroses red” features other classic tunes such as “Honey“, “In the Colour Blue” and “Syncopate”.

Download the track for free!: click here.

Want to hear more Sugar People songs? Streamline them from Beatpick!

Jun

14

OHNs’ Revolutionary Revolution

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ohn.jpg Calling on all synthesizers, break beats, trumpet, saxophone, electronic, jazz and down-tempo lovers, OHN has sparked an electronic revolution! OHN is an Austin, Texas based band thriving in the lime light of their newest album, Revolutionary Revolution, their 3rd album released by Ill Dough Productions. Not only are their songs climbing the charts of radio stations such as CMJ RPM radio but a video for their third track Big Lie is already in the works with RobotBoy Films. It’s no wonder, because these new tracks are finger-snapping good. Revolutionary Revolution is soaked in smooth jazzy beats that intertwine with electronic sound, giving you a chilled relaxed feeling with a dash of energy.

Their first track Attention, is literally that. Its driving beats will grab your attention and lead you into a sweet guitar break. But don’t be fooled, the tracks to follow are a mix of medium and fast tempo with just as much instrumental creativity. The World is Beautiful for instance, begins with a touch of Latin spice that gradually enhances into a beautiful electronic sound with lyrics to match.

The album’s vocals by Allison Sharf, are a touch of Madonna yet silky, with each track having something great to offer, whether it sample vocals, some funk, sultry rhythms, flute or sexy guitar solos, you will find yourself wanting more. Need a better picture of how sweet this album is? Picture yourself in a chic sushi bar with groovy upbeat customers and rolled cigarettes-where everyone is sexy. Enjoy the sweetness here, at BeatPick.com.

OHN Band Members: Bildeaux, Allison Sharf, Chris Forshage, Andrew Tachovsky, Brad Houser, Joe Santori, Bob Amonett, Laura Scarborough.

Jun

4

Freies Radio Kassel, Germany

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Here at BeatPick, we are always on the look out for interesting contacts to publicize our artists even further. Working with Radio DJ’s is a great way to get our new artists out there and create a more diverse fan base, making a musician from the United States popular overseas and visa-versa. Freies Radio Kassel is a non-profit German Radio station that has a monthly show to promote free music, also known as “Open Source Audio”. This past June 5th 2007, four of our many artists were chosen to be broadcasted by Freies Radio. These artists’ works were also aired the following night June 6th and will eventually be available as a podcast download.

Freies Radio broadcasting will build a new German fan base for the chosen artists, something that -even through a non profit radio station- should be taken advantage of! So Congratulations to Autobam, Cato_six, Kingbastard and Cooler for their amazing selected beats!

Here is the link (its in German!) http://www.freihoch2.de.vu/

The Podcast Download is Here!!

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http://www.archive.org/details/freihoch2-2007-06-05-FRK-1900

http://freihoch2.nerdbox.de/2007/06/intelligente-musik-bei-freihoch2 (in german)