Artist Update: What’s to come!

 

Highlights include:

    * So What selects Greg Haver to produce their album
    * Mysti Mayhem completes album recording
    * Electric Eel Shock album expected in early 2009

It’s hard to believe that it’s been less than two years since SellaBand was launched, and during that time 12 albums have already been released with 11 more in the pipeline. And for the first issue of the new season’s Tribune, we thought this would be the perfect opportunity to update you on the status of these 11 recording artists and what you can expect from their SellaBand albums.


Francis Rodino – UK

 

Francis and producer Steve Bush (Stereophonics, Corinne Bailey Rae) are currently carrying out the final overdubs and mixing sessions for the album “Circles and Squares” at Steve’s West London studio. Francis is also rehearsing with the newly expanded line up for SellaBration ’08 and promises to put on a very special show to match the high standard his music now has after a gruelling period of recording.

Bullet Proof Messenger – USA

 

It may seem like forever, but over the past few months Bullet Proof Messenger have been focusing their time on writing and producing new material for their SellaBand album. Ten new tracks have been written to date and fully demoed - the band plans to complete five more before deciding which tracks will make the final cut. The album will include some new sounds and styles whilst maintaining the familiar BPM sound, and if all goes well everything should be ready for release before the end of the year once recording details are finalised.

Thomas Boissy – France

 

Thomas has just completed mixing his album entitled “Quelque chose dans l’air” with producer Ralph Salmins and engineer John Gallen at The Bunker Studios in Welwyn Garden City. All that’s left to do is the final mastering which will be taking place in the coming week, and finishing up the artwork. Thomas is also working on a video for the song “Elle s'ennuie,” and the completed album is expected for release in September.

Mysti Mayhem – USA

 

The album is now recorded, mixed and mastered, and “Diversity” will be released in time for her upcoming performance at SellaBration ’08. Mysti co-produced with Highway 101 drummer Cactus Moser and Chris Stamey, who also mixed the album at Modern Recorders facility in North Carolina.

LUNIC (Kaitee Page) – UK

 

LUNIC have just completed an 18 date tour across America, and together with her bass player, Murphy, Kaitee is currently in New York writing new material for the SellaBand album. While in America she will be meeting with US SellaBand A&R reps and producers and plans to begin full pre production sessions in August with the album to be released by the end of the year.

Ellie Williams – UK

 

The final core line-up of musicians for the recording of Ellie’s album has been confirmed and will feature bassist Dave Hodge, guitarist John Gardner, and drummer John Eschbaecher. Along with Ellie on vocals and keyboards they will be rehearsing the repertoire for the album which will contain some exciting new songs. Producer Tony Platt is currently looking into studio options and recording is set to commence in October. Ellie has also just launched her excellent new website www.elliewilliams.co.uk.

So What – The Netherlands

 

The band came over to the UK recently and met with producer Greg Haver (Manic Street Preachers, Lost Prophets) and are now delighted to announce that they will be working with him on their SellaBand album. Plans are underway for the band to start recording in October at Modern World Studios in England, with the results expected for release in early 2009. This summer they have also got a couple of big gigs coming up, including Schollenpop (a big free festival on the beach in The Hague) on August 2nd, and playing at SellaBration ‘08 in the main hall. So What are also giving a live performance on Radio West on Wednesday 30th July, and are keeping a diary of their activities on the Dutch website 3voor12.

 

Daniel Ward-Murphy – UK

 

Daniel and his band together with producer Tony Platt have now completed most of the recording which took place at West Point Studio in West London. Final overdubs and editing will take place over the next few weeks, with mixes expected by the end of August and ready for release in October.

Angie Arsenault – Canada

 

Angie and her producer Daniel Cinelli have recorded all the bass, drums and strings at Planet Studios in Montreal, and are now concentrating on Angie’s vocals and piano overdubs. After final overdub sessions, mixing will start at the end of August and the album is on schedule for release in October/November 2008.

Lady Haideé – UK

 

Lady Haideé is currently in pre-production and planning her SellaBand album and hopes to be in the studio recording before the end of the year, with a release date in early 2009.

Electric Eel Shock – Japan

 

Electric Eel Shock is currently in the UK and Ireland touring – check out the club section of the Website for dates and venues! The band will be spending the rest of the summer playing gigs and festivals, including SellaBration ’08, with many in Holland. In September EES will return to Japan for a few performances and will then go into pre-production for their SellaBand album. In October the band is returning to the UK to headline at the Bizarra Ball and will go on to play a handful of dates in Holland, Belgium and the UK – the ideal opportunity to road-test and finalise the new songs for the album! Recording for the album will start and the end of October in Japan, with the completed album expected for release in early 2009!
 
We hope that gives you a little taste of what’s to come from all of the artists who are currently in the ‘Recording’ section of SellaBand. Next week we will take a look at the ones who have their albums out already and see what they are up to...

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Extra tickets available

 

Tickets will be sent out next week! 


August 15 is approaching fast and furiously. Now only something like two weeks away, we can safely say that everything is on track. No cancellations so far, no behind the scenes dramas (well, almost...) and a very healthy ticket demand. Speaking of which...


People who have applied for tickets will receive their ticket(s) next week. It will be an e-ticket with a unique code. Print it out and take this document with you on August 15. It will guarantee your entrance to SellaBration ’08.

Posters & Flyers


 

We have increased the number of available tickets for Artists and Believers, so please apply asap if you want to be part of our second anniversary festival. Tickets are priced €10,-- via Paradiso.nl, but are absolutely FREE for members of our community. Pictured here (above) is the official flyer/poster that you will find everywhere across (greater) Amsterdam in the coming days and months.


SellaShirts

As mentioned before, there will be a special incentive for early birds. We want as many people as possible to watch all performances, including the opening act. People who show up early will be rewarded with a specially created shirt that will only be available on the night, while stock lasts. Pictured here is what the shirts (front and back) will look like...



Business and pleasure

Many representatives from the (international) media and press will attend SellaBration ’08. As will be our friends and partners at Amazon, The Orchard, AT, etcetera. It’s the one time per year where we mix business and pleasure in an offline environment. Doors will be open at 18:45, the first band will be on stage at 19.30 and the last act will play the last song just before midnight. More news and updates in the upcoming Tribune(s)...)     
 
We've opened a special website dedicated to SellaBration'08. For more information please visit www.sellabration.nl


“Deals, Directions & Discussions”


Date: August 15, 2008
Time: 13.30 - 17.30
Location: Sugar Factory, Amsterdam
Capacity: 150
Program:
  • SellaBand 2.0 Presentation / Partnership announcements
  • Artist Panel
  • Expert Panel: The Future of Music and where does SellaBand fit in
  • Open Dialogue: Artists / Believers / HQ
Full details: Next Tribune

Q + A
Highway 101

 

Back in 1988 they enjoyed major chart success and saw their status confirmed with a number of Grammy nominations, the US’s most prestigious music award. Twenty years onwards, Highway 101 are back in business and, more importantly, they want to be in business with you, the Believers of SellaBand. Drummer Cactus Moser tells the story...


Who are Highway 101?

“Highway is Cactus Moser, drums and vocals; Curtis Stone, bass and vocals; Nikki Nelson, vocals and guitar; and Andy Gurley, lead guitar.”

The band has a very rich history. What would you consider to be the highlights of your career, so far?

“Well, we have been blessed to have won CMA and ACM Vocal Group of the year four times. We have also been nominated for Grammy's and won the International Group of the Year, on two occasions from the European Press! Highway 101 has sold two and a half million records worldwide, yet many times we think of shows that we have done as our favourite memories. We have toured a year at a time, with so many great artists, like Hank Williams Jr., which is wild, George Strait who is a true friend and The Judds who also great friends. Plus countless other shows and festivals with everyone from Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson and Dwight Yoakum to Steven Stills Steve Miller, Greg Allman and Ted Nugent. We still look at every show as a brand new experience!”

What made you sign up with SellaBand?

“Mysti Mayhem and Spellbox are friends and artists that both Curtis Stone and I have worked with. I have been involved in Mysti's SellaBand record and much of her earlier recording also. They made me aware of SellaBand for the last nine months or so. I am very much looking at new ways to make music and different interaction with the music fans. Highway 101 did an independent record a few years back that we did with just our fans advancing us the budget. So in a way, we did a SellaBand type record ourselves. That record was called ‘Big Sky.’”


So far our existing community has jumped on board in a very generous way. Are you counting on your own, existing fan base to join the ranks of Believers as well?

“I certainly hope they will! Since we are new at it ourselves, we are learning how to relate the concept and to excite them! Getting the word to them is our quest. We really started with SellaBand at a time that maybe we should have waited until we were a bit more ready. This month has been a case of flying all day, land and then drive three hours, go to the show (which have all been later in the evening shows), then get to a hotel room at midnight and check out at 3.00am to drive back to the airport and do THAT ALL OVER AGAIN! Yes I hear the violins playing too!!!! Our Website has been SO in need of updating and we have just been sending people to the MySpace/Highway101 noise page for quite a while and not getting to the Website dealt with. We now are working to give it a much needed face-lift. We are getting so much grief from everyone, but that is a good thing and we thank you ‘for being yourselves, again!’ to loosely quote an old Sly Stone Lyric.”

Highway 101 seems to be a real touring band. How many live-gigs do you play every year, on average?

“It can be anywhere from 150 to 70 depending on the year and how busy we can stay pushing the agency and working on it ourselves. The live market is so different from year to year. It is of course very different when you have a record in the charts. Then they come to you as fast as you can work out the travel details! Working on travel detail is a full time job, especially this time of year. We have to work the airlines nonstop for deals. Now that this ‘GAS WHATEVER’ is going on all that comes right out of the profit so you really want to look for something great on all the Websites and catch them just right. Tour travel has been hit really hard. Many artists are having to get very creative. We have been a flying band for quite a while because it has been more economic than taking busses as we use to do nonstop! Plus you can cover so much of the country from day-to-day. Detroit one night and Los Angeles the next.”

Did you have some time already to consider what kind of album you would like to make with SellaBand?

“We have been talking about a new record now for a while now. It will be something with a more raw edge. We have been writing and listening to songs now for a while. It is so tuff to pick songs that we have written and look at what will be right. You often have songs that you really like but they may not fit the vibe of the project. It is tuff love to let songs that feel like are your babies go! Yet great to get them all put in place and ready to fly.”


What kind of ambitions does a band still have who has 'seen it all and done it all’?

“We are on fire right now to just be out and playing. I don't know why but it feels like we are starting over in a way and it seems kind of "freeing!" It's hard to explain but in these last months, on the road as hard and sleepless as they have been, we have been really feeling like a band that is in full stride. We all are getting into the idea of the next great record and getting it to the people. Even now it would be sweeter than ever to hear the new songs out there on the radio next to the old songs that are still being played. There could easily be some we told you so in that too! Hey whatever it is, I can't wait to get to the next level of who we are! In the past we did have some voices at the record company always wanting us to revisit some of the sound of the early records and that always was a bit of a burden.”

Why should people believe in Highway 101?

“You know that is a question that I feel odd answering. We have been Highway 101 for 20 years as of this year. So it just seems like a life choice at this point for all of us. You know we all do other musical stuff I produce and play on other people's music. Curtis Stone and Nikki Nelson also do the same and Andy is playing nonstop also and, we all have to get the time in to write. It always leads us back to the stage, being Highway 101. I guess that is all I can say. We don't and haven't stopped BELIEVING FOR THIS LONG SO I WOULD HOPE THE SELLABAND BEIEVERS "could hang on and go for a ride with HIghway101." We really do think this is a great concept of letting the people be in control. I really hope that we can understand it as well as all who have already hit their 50k can. We do interviews here for the shows we play and we are talking about it in everyone of them. It's funny what some of the radio DJs come back with. It's a great conversation piece. I've seen some people doubting our motives, we are just the same as every artist on SellaBand; we love music and love to make it. That is a common thing, no matter where you have been in a career. We have been on every TV show and in every type of arena and venue, yet as I said we go up on the stage everyday and feel like we’re only as good as the show were going to put on that night! God Bless the Believers from all over this big spinning Rock, third one from the sun!!!!!”