Clémence reaches 50k in less than 90 days
Lightning strikes twice!
A mere five days after Second Person finished their 50K recording budget, there was excitement all over again. This time it was Clémence, who had a very special Saturday night in mind to race to the finish. Just here and say, a couple of thousand of her close friends, were watching, chatting and most of all buying Parts like crazy. Below is a piece that Clémence wrote for us, the morning after her grande finale.
"Sellaband is an opening gate to the whole world"
By Clémence
“I spent a very exciting evening, surrounded the whole time by all my Believers. Just as I saw that the goal was reached, it was like fireworks's a grande finale invading me. What is wonderful about SellaBand is that links have been established betweensome artists who don't only see, just as me, the competition's aspect. The whole concept of artists and Believers creates an energy that is extremely motivating. This is an extraordinary engine to bring forward. SellaBand is an opening gate to the whole world and when I discovered this new concept, the desire to take part in seemed to me an obvious fact. It's an instantaneous mean to come into contact with an international audience.
By discovering me, Believers bet on what I inspired them. It was a great lesson of generosity, love, solidarity; meetings ... and that's only the beginning! I have already lived strong musical experiences. Through Sellaband, I have now discovered a different opening: a universe where the artist doesn't assert to the public, but where the public itself chooses the artist who brings them emotion and happiness. Both parties find themselves concerned and involved.
Graph provided by Whaley
My plan now, thanks to SellaBand, is to record my album in English , making room of course for some songs in French, and to honour the confidence that my Believers and all the people behind Sellaband haven shown me. I really intend to share my experience on SellaBand with all the artists who need this boost.
Once again, I want to thank my talented friend Brice Davoli thanks to whom I discovered SellaBand and also all the artists that supported me such as Vegas Dragons, Lily, Maitreya, Daniel Ward-Murphy, Nearfield, Wetwerks, Cubworld, Nemesea, Mandyleigh, Second Person, Trail, Elleanore, Luna Assassins and so many others.
In conclusion, I sincerely and particularly thank : Walter Braunsteiner, Empire of One, Basile, Mukee, the Ultimate Consumer, Hans Van Nuffelen, De Marees, and as much as them all the others!”
A word from our sponsors…
To get to $50,000 so fast, Clémence drew the attention of a number of big spenders. And just like Nemesea, some of them went ‘overboard’ and spent up to $5,000 in Parts. What makes them do this? And, are they so confident that they will earn their money back, or do they just don’t care. We just had to ask…
Walter Braunsteiner (517 Parts)
You've invested so much money in Clémence. Why is an 18 year old French singing girl such a safe bet for you?
“Well, nothing is safe, but I have the good feeling, that my invested money will return or maybe a little more. Clémence has a brilliant voice, her songs are melodic and, well, she is very pretty, too. This is a great combination for the future.”
Where do you think Clémence will be, 5 years from now?
“If she manages to keep both feet on the ground she will have international success. There is no limit. What Celine Dion and Madonna have accomplished is possible for Clémence, too. Why not? Clémence has the better voice than these two!”
Empire of One (500 Parts)
You’ve invested so much money in Clémence. Why is an 18 year old French singing girl such a safe bet for you?
“I visited her profile just a few hours after she joined, when she had only 1 song and no information posted yet. That one song alone was still enough to impress me, and I've been revisiting her page regularly ever since. Each new song that she releases confirms my opinion that she is incredibly talented, but the story doesn't end there. She also has a creative and supportive family, a very well produced French album that will serve as the foundation for her new CD, experience in the studio and also in front of a TV camera. If those advantages aren't enough, she also has a sweet personality and is very friendly to her fans.”
Where do you think Clémence will be, 5 years from now?
“All the signs are there, and point to a fantastic career ahead for this young woman. This is just the beginning of her great adventure, and I am happy to have a role in opening the door.”
Lidewy (100 Parts)
You've invested so much money in Clémence. Why is an 18 year old French singing girl such a afe bet for you?
“ First of all I'd like to congratulate Clémence with reaching the 50K. Her success on SellaBand is proof enough that her songs have an international appeal. My reason to buy parts in Clémence wasn't motivated by her age or her nationality. I listened to the 3 songs on SellaBand, watched the Video and loved what I heard. There's such power in her vocal expression, her compositions are fresh and harmonic and her performance is honest and totally convincing. Enough reasons to become a firm Clémence Believer.”
Where do you think Clémence will be, 5 years from now?
“Clémence will be an established artist, not only in France I'd think. I could see her with her own show on the bigger European stages. She's a storyteller, using the stage and her musical compositions to tell her stories. However, I could see how she would appeal to the American audience as well.”
Adam’s Apples
Dear Bands ‘n’ Believers – only one short week ago I was writing this weekly column sitting on my balcony bathed in sunshine while today I’m looking out the window watching the falling snow with the radiators turned up to 11. But what a fantastic week it’s been - with Second Person and Clémence making it all the way to 50K it just goes to show that if you’re talented, work hard and eat your vegetables every day, you too can be a member of this prestigious club of Sellaband successes. And that leads us nicely into this week’s batch of new arrivals who are trying to achieve exactly that.
Have you listened to Eutopia yet? Well you really should because they’re special. They call themselves a “Power emo pop band” and their three excellent tracks here sound like they could have been recorded anytime in the last thirty years – that’s meant to be a complement! All I can really tell you about them is that they’re a UK based quartet as their info page is full of hyperbole about how great they are (although it’s doesn’t come close to the screaming over-the-top-ness info of Antonio!) Keep it real guys as Believers are smart and their bullshit detectors work over great distances. But BB Connected and Jodi and others with no info at all on their page take note – no info, no apples. Only darkness and pain.
So as a complete contradiction to the above here’s Beats Working - a band with absolutely no information at all on their site except for the words: “Life’s short. Take it easy.” Lots of pictures of beaches and resorts – no people on them though. No clues either but these nicely analogue-sounding demos (only because of the naff drum machine) are superbly performed rock with sweeping choruses, big arrangements and strong, confident vocals.
Beats Working
There are at least two lead singers here with an approach almost reminiscent of Jefferson Airplane at their best on the excellent “Colours”. Both “Heaven I Know” and “Futuroot” are great songs too. This is frankly one of the best things I’ve heard for a long while (I know, I often say that) but I really really mean it this time.
Silver Apples of Distinction this week go to….
Beinhard who play classic guitar boogie rock ‘n’ roll without any frills or finesse – and that’s a good thing! Play my favourite “She Goes Down” first which has nothing at all to do with elevators.
Beinhard
Stig Nergard is a film music composer and all the tracks and video on his page are truly wonderful. I particularly like “The Wardrobe” which is only a minute and a half long but a little gem of a track.
And thanks to Queen of Believers Lucretia for hipping me to Mark Rapp - a New York trumpeter with a beautiful Harmon mute tone who plays a more accessible style of jazz without ever going into Chris Botti-style schmaltz.
Baked Apple a la mode (did you know that means with ice cream?) for Crazy Name of the Week easily goes to We Seem To Have Misplaced Our Igloo. Not much else one can say, apart from well done chaps - now you can write some songs that live up to your name!
A couple of apples that fell out of the fruit bowl recently that deserve a mention - Wildcat’s “Ex Static” which has a brand new video and the simple but arresting “Somehow” by Moorlandt.
And finally, anyone out there want to help out a damsel in distress? Franny has just signed up and needs help as to how to get started. I can suggest Empire Of One’s excellent Artist Starter Kit
Franny is also looking for a collaborator as she’s “got songs but needs a producer to turn them into something cool”. Could this be you? Do you also teach guitar?
Franny
Thanks for all your notes, gifts and cheques (note that paypal is accepted…) – you’ll find me at adam@sellaband.com and I always look forward to hearing from you. So until next week, Bands ‘n’ Believers…….Adam Out!
Q + A Light
“One voice can change hearts”
A few days after we had approached her for the Q+A, Elise Azavedo, better known as Light, and her husband were involved in a car accident. Bruised, but still determined, Elise sat behind her computer and wrote her very personal answers. This is her motto: “One voice can change hearts”
Hi Elise, please tell us a bit more about yourself.
“I am American by birth, but Portuguese at heart. I quit my ‘career’ and moved to Lisbon almost 6 years ago where I launched a non-profit association for disadvantaged youth living in orphanages and youth centres. I wanted to create opportunities to help kids discover and develop talents, skills and dreams they would otherwise consider impossible. Anything from a drum lesson, to a ride in a Ferrari can change a kid’s outlook on life, allow them to hope again. It was in the process of pushing kids to get up and sing at a ‘music night out’ that I suddenly found my own ’voice’ and began to write in both English and Portuguese. That was almost four years ago – although I didn’t take myself or the music seriously until 2005 when both my parents suddenly passed away. One of the last things my mother said to me was that if what I do, or my voice, make one little difference in one life – it would make my life worthwhile. So, a month after her death and three weeks before I returned to Lisbon I decided to use my inheritance in recording the double CD ‘Afflicted’. Although it was quick and low production – the owner of the studio did a great job and I’m am very lucky to have had the opportunity.”
What is your musical background?
“Other than singing along with Barbra Streisand, Tom Jones, Ray Charles and Blood, Sweat and Tears while I grew up – I sang in a choir in high school. I really don’t play any instruments. It works like this, I simply get a feeling that I need to stop and write a song - so I invent and plunk out chords on my guitar – but I couldn’t tell you what note I am playing. Probably 75% of the songs I write are written in 10 – 20 minutes. Then I work on changes or style by explaining to Ivan, my guitarist, the sound I want. It’s that simple! I have been working with a great band for the past year – they are talented professionals and have helped my own talent grow immensely. We are currently performing concerts promoting the first CD, but as I easily have enough music for another full work, we also mix in a lot of new themes.”
How did you come to join SellaBand?
“Actually a childhood friend of my husbands, Alexx of Nearfield is the one who convinced me to join which wasn’t easy because I was very hesitant at first. I watched it for awhile before I actually joined. What did it for me was the platform of communication it allows between an artist and the listener/believer. I have a lot of respect for my listeners and appreciate the chance to learn about them and from them. I don’t view SellaBand as a race to a finish line, but rather a venue through which an artist can grow, prepare oneself and find their audience base at an international level. SellaBand allows an artist to build their listener base and simultaneously interact and learn from them.”
What are your ambitions?
“My husband says I’d be satisfied with filling a concert hall as Barbra Streisand would – although he claims her voice is weaker than mine, haha Since I’m not of Portuguese origins – yet sing in both English and Portuguese, I have two main ambitions. At the national level I expect to have one of my Portuguese songs in the tops by 2008 – hopefully ahead of Nelly Furtado! Secondly, rather than have a high number of CD sales, I am much more focused on increasing my visibility both nationwide as well as internationally – and live performance. If I can make even the slightest difference through either the lyrics or my voice in the lives of those who either listen to one of my recordings – or more importantly are able to hear me live – then I have been faithful to not hiding my talent and message.”
You have 9 children. There must be a special story behind it...
“Well there used to be a popular television show in the states back in the 1970s, the Brady Bunch, and everyone jokes with us since we each also had three kids when we married. Of course, we then wanted our ‘own’ so we adopted three more; ages range from 11 – 21. However, not to panic because 6 already live out of the home, so there are only 3 in the house permanently….until this Summer when we are expecting our final three through an international adoption. Hey, that should qualify us for our own ‘futebol’ team right? I would assume that listeners wonder how I could possibly have time to be a serious artist. My husband and I are very fortunate that our jobs are the association and my music career which allows us to work closely together with no outside distractions. Armando sold his business last year to help promote and organize the business end of the music. He has done a superb job at getting my music out nationally on radios, television appearances and we are now scheduling concerts for late spring, summer and fall. Our kids are always arguing over who gets to attend which concerts – it’s nice when you have children who actually like your music and aren’t embarrassed to see their mom jam on stage.”
So what does a day in the 'Light' household look like?
“Our household isn’t very typical, although we try to maintain some routine. Everything we do evolves around our kids and the work we do with youth. We have an open door policy, so there are always people and youth coming and going. Our refrigerator is always less than half full – and I should have purchased stock in Kellogg’s Cereals years ago since my kids like to describe my cooking as cereal for breakfast, lunch and dinner.”
Are there any other SellaBands you particularly like?
“My family and I already are Believers in so many – so they already know how we feel. I would like to mention a few on my wish lists whose music has touched me and whom I’m also hoping to see move ahead on SellaBand, in particular Kane Sole, Mua’Dib and The Awakening, Silly Motel, Matt Byers, and Layout.”
Why should people believe in Light?
“First, the power of my voice live. My voice is much stronger live than it comes across in recordings – in studio they always comment to me that I have the opposite problem of many artists. Although difficult to describe, it’s sort of like a mix between the sound, depth and strength of Tracy Chapman, Dionne Warwick and Josephine Baker. I have an uncanny ability to switch styles from rock to jazz to simple folk acoustic, in addition to the fact that I rarely sing off tune. Secondly, my lyrics. They may not be for everyone or any mood, but I think are best described by one of my believers – Logical One - to whom I’ll always be tremendously grateful. She said, ‘I see your music as having very hard hitting lyrics, but comforting and soothing at the same time… like “hey – yeah, it’s broke, but we can fix it!!!….like… sometimes harsh reality, but delivered in a way that says all hope is not lost…’ Finally, I am at a place in my life where I have the foundation and support which frees me to be a successful artist. Obviously I am determined and true live, but even more importantly I have no fear, and I am patient and interested in my audience and being true to them. I’m not looking for a ‘quick fix’, but rather to be a committed, consistent and long-term artist.”
Weekly update
There’s good news, and there is bad news. The good news is that again, a lot of money was spent on SellaBand in the past 7 days. The bad news is that most of it was spent on Clémence... However, if you step away one moment from those hard facts, it is not necessarily a bad thing that one artist gets all this attention. As long as it stops at one point, and that’s exactly what happened. And look what Second Person’s achievement did for us in the United Kingdom; a major feature in The Guardian, several BBC Radio outlets reported about us (BBC Ulster, BBC Scotland, Radio 5), and ITN made a special news report. Man, even those too cool for this world cats from the NME finally got their heads around SellaBand and wrote something that wasn’t actually very nasty...
Next week we’ll return with a ‘full’ weekly update, hopefully some exciting news on the Forum front and perhaps one or two other surprises as well...
The dream is very much alive!
And so we will travel to Paris next week, to meet a beautiful, 18 year old singer and discuss with her how to use 50,000 us dollars, to record an album. Just like we are in London this week, to have a similar discussion with a state of the art pop group, called Second Person. Oh, and we were in New York last month to make plans for a US singer/songwriter, who will start pre-production on his CD as we speak with one of today’s most sought after young producers in the Big Apple.
Sometimes it’s hard to imagine that all this is really happening... Less than a year ago, SellaBand was not even a company, let alone a full fledge website. It was a dream, a theory, in the mind of one Pim Betist. He had only just met Johan Vosmeijer and they were looking at how to get this new, online music revolution going. Music marketing expert Dagmar Heijmans got involved, serious financial backing was found and months were spent, thinking the whole concept through and leaving out all eventualities.
Today, SellaBand is very much a reality. Seven months after the launch of this platform, the international media are all over us, thousands of people have become True Believers and an army of incredibly hungry and talented musicians have joined, totally dedicated to this new way of doing things.
Four artists have already raised $50,000. Four artists, from four different countries and four different musical genres. This is more than any new music company could wish for. Phase 1 of the concept has now been proven. It is possible to find enough fans who are willing to put their money where their mouth is an pre-pay for your next recording. Phase 2, recording that professional CD is now in operation. We are totally convinced that all four acts will do a great job and will not disappoint anyone.
Phase 3 is now under construction. This is the very crucial element that will commence right after we’ve sent out the first CD’s to participating Believers. We don’t know yet, which album will be ready first. That is the beauty of SellaBand, it is all work in progress and anything can happen. Nemesea and Cubworld are in the studio or about to get started, Second Person are in pre-production and Clémence says she has all the songs ready and is dying to get started.
The SellaBand Forum is coming soon, and so are other new and (hopefully) useful features and applications. The Download Portal will be ready as soon as the first album is done. We will keep you updated on anything interesting and newsworthy in the coming weeks and months. Please do reach out to us with your ideas, concerns and comments. Because, if there is one thing we have learned from the moment we stepped away from the drawing board and dived into the real world, it is that YOU are SellaBand as much as we are. Thank you so much for turning this dream into reality...
The SellaBand Team, March 20, 2007.
I’m a Believer
The French revolution on SellaBand started in October, with the arrival of hundreds of Bands & Believers from la douce France. So, in the week the Clémence From France reaches the ful 50K, we turn to the city of light for ‘I’m A Believer’. He calls himself Alfromanticats and has asked us to respect his privacy. Although we will not mention his real name, he does want to tell us why he is a Believer and he even sent us some pictures to prove he is a real human being…
Who is Alfromanticats?
I'm 36 years old, born in Haute Savoie (home of the the Mont Blanc in the French Alps). I'm living in Paris as a freelance IT security and risk management consultant and Internet entrepreneur. I have a liking for wild landscapes, old cities, all sort of games where money is not involved, and things that talk with zeros and ones.
What made you join SellaBand?
“I must say I'm rather irritated by way the big music industry goes, with big companies only thinking through their money-greedy lawyers brains, trying to fix their (supposedly) sinking boat with ridiculous so-called secure technical solutions, freedom-threatening laws, unfairly generated taxes on digital storage media, and selling music for a ridiculously high price that can only push people to flee from music shops and turn to the dark side that is music piracy. Not to mention all the excellent artists that are disregarded because they don't fit the ‘standards’, standards which don't take music itself much into account… I think SellaBand proposes a deal that is fair, transparent and in phase with the real world. And more, it promotes the music people really want, and not the one they are brainwashed with. It really matches the Internet spirit : communicating, discovering, sharing. All these elements gave me the desire to be part of it, and invest in some artists. First of all to help them to develop their music and audience, secondly with the hope to get some financial return nice enough to cover the initial investments and to invest on more artists. If I remember it well, I Believed right away in Second Person, Lola Perrin and Nemesea, the day I registered on SellaBand!”
You were one of the first French Believers to join SellaBand. How does it feel for you to now see three French artists on our Top 10?
“ I really don't care about which country artists come from. I guess that the variety of music I've been raised on did open my ears to all kinds of music (which doesn't mean I like all music), that's why my taste is a bit eclectic. Internet is a great way to break borders, so I'll stick to that! The real nice thing with French artists is I can go and see them on stage far easier that the others. I'm really happy that T-ka does so well. She's so nice and hardworking, and it's always a great experience seeing her at her gigs.”
To be honest, we never expected so much love from France for our concept, aren't you supposed to be inward looking?
In fact the idea of SellaBand should have been FRENCH, as WE are the ones who get the best ideas. Only joking of course. Well, I guess that the issues about low music quality in mass media, artist visibility and artistic rights are the same in France as anywhere else. We've got many excellent artists seeing only closed doors when looking for a label, we've got laws that add taxes to blank CD, DVD and hard disks to pay for artistic right, but artistic rights are still managed more or less in the same unchanged and unsatisfying way (for artists as well as for consumers). So people feel there is something wrong, and look for alternatives. And once you're used to Internet you don't really care were the solution comes from if it sounds good. I also feel that the “French attitude” you are referring to is changing, with new generations, and many thing can be accountable for that: more international relations in scholarship, Europe (hoho, I can read your mind here ;-p ) and surely Internet.”
You've already bought quite a few Parts. What does and artist need to get your support?
“The first thing is to cause emotions. I can feel that by drifting to a new world, having goose bumps, starting to rock and dance, or feeling the start of a lump in my throat. Or having my hair stand on end... well... forget this one. Then, I appreciate when an artist shows he/ she has a real project to believe in, and that they'll have all the needed tracks to complete a CD. To finish with participating in gigs is a good thing, as is shows that the artist is used to “real life” performance and can benefit from the feedback she'll get when playing publicly.”
Who, if push came to shove would be your absolute favourite artist, and why?
“Well, I first prepared some hopefully cleaver answers to dodge this cruel and tricky question, but eventually I'll really answer it, because I'm sure all artists I believe in (or wish to) know how much I care for what they do. So ... my answer is Lola Perrin, because she's a magician who turns images into beautiful music, and music into living dream worlds. But I can't help mentioning some of the first ones I believed in, and still strongly do : the so dark-is-my-mind Emily's Playground, the so fun-and-inventive Knaeckebroedt, the so how-can-you-live-without-them Headphone and Miriam Ingram, and the so striking-without-warning Luna Assassins.”
What are your plans for all the Nemesea, Cubworld and Second Person CD's that you will own?
“They will be perfect gifts for family and friends. I'll also keep one as a collector, and I guess I might sell some too if there are some good opportunities, but maybe only after the 3rd world tour of our artists!”
Is there anything you'd like to change/add to our website?
“ A very good and constant work is done there already. The main addition I'd like is to see the number of believers and “in wish list” on the artist pages.”
A song inspired by….
"SIN CITY" maitreya ft cubworld
By Maitreya
I think one of the ways I really started to get noticed on SellaBand was through my remixes. I began with Kane Sole's brilliant "Here We Go", and then remixed cubworld's "My World". To remix "My World" was a great challenge because it was a certified hit on SellaBand and such a delicate song to begin with. My remix was received well and that was the beginning of Cub and my friendship, which has culminated in writing "Sin City".
Jake (cubworld) told me he was coming to New York to meet producers and look at studios for his up coming SellaBand album and I was really excited when he said he wanted me to come along and check them out with him and Johan V. The night he arrived I went up to his hotel in Time Square and we basically spent the first hour catching up on 4 months of SellaBanding!!! Pretty soon we began jamming on the songs we were scheduled to record for an Internet TV Show the next day. Without warning Cub changed to another hook, one he had written a couple years earlier..."Sin City, Sin City Cry..."
I was mesmerized by that hook and immediately began rhyming a verse I had previously written. Time stopped for me at that point. Everything fit perfectly and we kept jamming on that hook and those verses until we felt we had something. The song remained in my head the whole week as we checked out studios and met an incredible array of producers. I am so grateful to Jake and Johan for inviting me along with them and will always remember it. The week is well documented in Mai Video Diary: Episode Four, check it out if you haven't yet. Once the meetings were all over and business was taken care of we got down to recording…
We recorded "Sin City" in my bedroom/studio that you have seen in my other Video Diaries. The thing I love most about collaborating on music is the X-factor you get by bringing your different talents and strengths together. When artists are able to share and create together successfully, the results can equal far more than anyone expects from the outset. This is one of those songs. I also brought in Te Awanui Reeder from the NZ group Nesian Mystik for some harmonies, he adds his own very subtle flavor quite beautifully. Once everything was together, I spent a week or so adding piano's, strings, bass and tricking out the drums etc to the point I was happy. I sent Cub a couple versions and once we agreed on one I mixed it down and posted it up!
There's not too much I need to say about the song, it's a pretty simple and delicate song about growing up in Christchurch, New Zealand … but that's how it happened. Thanks for taking the time to read about it.
Love & Light, maitreya
Lisen to "Sin City" here